CONMEBOL eases Copa America warm-up rules after Brazil’s complaints

CONMEBOL eases Copa America warm-up rules after Brazil’s complaints
Luany of Brazil celebrates after scoring her side’s opening goal during a Women’s Copa America soccer match in Quito, Ecuador, July 16, 2025. (AP)
Short Url
Updated 18 July 2025
Follow

CONMEBOL eases Copa America warm-up rules after Brazil’s complaints

CONMEBOL eases Copa America warm-up rules after Brazil’s complaints
  • “This decision was made after a detailed assessment of the condition,” said CONMEBOL
  • Tournament organizers had barred outfield players from warming up on the pitch

BUENOS AIRES: CONMEBOL announced on Friday that it has adjusted pre-match procedures at the Women’s Copa America in Ecuador to allow players to warm up on the pitch, following criticism from Brazilian players and coaching staff.

“From now on, in addition to goalkeepers who already had a 15-minute warm-up period on the field, outfield players will also be allowed to warm up on the pitch for the same duration,” the South American soccer governing body told Reuters.

“This decision was made after a detailed assessment of the condition of the playing surfaces at the competition’s stadiums to date, and after taking into account feedback from some participating teams.”

Tournament organizers had barred outfield players from warming up on the pitch to preserve the playing surface, with each stadium hosting two matches in a day during the group stage.

Brazil captain Marta, midfielder Ary Borges, and head coach Arthur Elias voiced their frustration after their dominant group-stage win over Bolivia, as both teams had been forced to warm-up in a shared room of about 15 square meters that smelled of paint.

They also criticized the restrictions after their tournament opener against Venezuela, saying they were unable to properly assess Kerolin’s fitness, which ultimately led to the Manchester City striker being sidelined.

Defending champions Brazil top Group B with two wins and will face Paraguay on Tuesday.


Lewandowski a doubt for Barca’s season opener after thigh issue

Lewandowski a doubt for Barca’s season opener after thigh issue
Updated 59 min 9 sec ago
Follow

Lewandowski a doubt for Barca’s season opener after thigh issue

Lewandowski a doubt for Barca’s season opener after thigh issue
  • Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has suffered a hamstring injury and may miss the start of the La Liga season, the Catalan club announced on Friday

BARCELONA: Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has suffered a hamstring injury and may miss the start of the La Liga season, the Catalan club announced on Friday.

“The first team player Robert Lewandowski has a hamstring problem in his left thigh,” Barcelona said in a statement, without specifying how long the Polish striker would be out of action.

The 36-year-old is “unavailable” for Sunday’s friendly match against Como, which casts doubt on his presence in the matchday squad for Barcelona’s La Liga opener against Mallorca on August 16.

Lewandowski netted 42 times in 52 appearances in all competitions for the Catalan club last season as Hansi Flick’s side won the Spanish league, cup and super cup.


Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister in contention for Crystal Palace match after recovering from injury

Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister in contention for Crystal Palace match after recovering from injury
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister in contention for Crystal Palace match after recovering from injury

Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister in contention for Crystal Palace match after recovering from injury
  • The Argentina international missed some of Liverpool’s preseason preparations when recovering from injury

LIVERPOOL: Alexis Mac Allister will be in Liverpool’s squad for Sunday’s Community Shield match against Crystal Palace.

The Argentina international missed some of Liverpool’s preseason preparations when recovering from injury. But he played in the last two friendlies against Yokohama F. Marinos and Atletico Madrid and will be in contention to play some part of the game against Palace at Wembley, coach Arne Slot said.

“He was out for two months I think, or longer because we didn’t play him in the last four games of the season. He trained with us since a week now, played 30 minutes, 45 minutes,” Slot said Friday. “So that’s not a situation where you would start a player... play him for 90 minutes. Starting is possible but definitely not for 90 minutes.”

The 26-year-old Mac Allister’s last competitive game was against Arsenal on May 11. He missed the Premier League champion’s last two games of the season.

Last month the midfielder said his absence was due to a series of issues, rather than one specific injury.

“It’s hard to explain because it’s not just one spot that you say, ‘OK, we have to focus on this,’” Mac Allister said. “It’s like two or three different things that I’ve been struggling (with) for a couple of months.

“At the end, we found the solution; we have been working a lot in the gym, on my structure.”

Liverpool defender Joe Gomez has been ruled out of the match with a “minor” injury, Slot said.


PSG to sign Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier: source

PSG to sign Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier: source
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

PSG to sign Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier: source

PSG to sign Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier: source
  • European champions Paris Saint-Germain have reached agreement with Lille to sign highly-rated goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Friday

PARIS: European champions Paris Saint-Germain have reached agreement with Lille to sign highly-rated goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Friday.

The move is likely to pose questions over the future of Italian international ‘keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma at PSG.

Donnarumma, who was outstanding in PSG’s 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the Champions League final in May, is in the final year of his contract and would likely interest Premier League clubs.

Chevalier, 23, will sign a five-year contract and command a fee of around 40 million euros ($46.5 million).

He was nominated on Thursday for this year’s men’s Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or gala after exceptional performances in Ligue 1 and the Champions League last season.

Lille finished fifth in Ligue 1 last season and qualified for the Europa League.


UAE national jiu-jitsu team in China for 2025 World Games 

UAE national jiu-jitsu team in China for 2025 World Games 
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

UAE national jiu-jitsu team in China for 2025 World Games 

UAE national jiu-jitsu team in China for 2025 World Games 
  • The event brings together nearly 5,000 athletes from 118 countries competing across 34 sports

ABU DHABI:  The UAE national jiu-jitsu team landed in China on Thursday to take part in the 2025 World Games, hosted in Chengdu from Aug. 7-17.

The UAE team, sponsored by Mubadala Investment Company, will begin its campaign on Aug. 10 when the jiu-jitsu competitions kick off, running through to Aug. 12.

The national team previously participated in the 2017 World Games in Wroclaw, Poland, winning two medals — one gold and one silver. They delivered a strong showing again at the 2022 event in Birmingham, the US, securing five medals: Two gold, one silver and two bronze.

The 2025 event will bring together nearly 5,000 athletes from 118 countries competing across 34 sports, making it one of the most prominent international sporting events.

Mubarak Saleh Al-Menhali, director of the technical department at the UAE Jiu-Jitsu Federation, or UAEJJF, said that the team was aiming to achieve a new milestone that would further strengthen the UAE’s position regionally and globally. He said that the current squad featured experienced male and female athletes who had consistently performed at the highest level.

“We are confident our athletes are fully prepared for the championship. They’ve put in a lot of work through both local and overseas training camps, which helped enhance their physical and mental readiness. They also completed intensive technical and fitness sessions to ensure they are in peak condition heading into the competition.”

Former Emirati jiu-jitsu champion, Faisal Al-Ketbi, who is traveling with the team, added: “Our team has a good chance of winning medals at the World Games, especially as they’re currently among the top-ranked. We held a training camp in Brazil before the event, focusing on sharpening technique and improving overall fitness. The team is ready, morale is high, and after winning two gold medals last time, we’re aiming for more this year.”

The men’s team includes Mohammed Al-Suwaidi (69kg), Mehdi Al-Awlaki (77kg) and Saeed Al-Kubaisi (85kg). On the women’s side, the team features Asma Alhosani (52kg), Shamsa Al-Amri (57kg) and Shamma Al-Kalbani (63kg).


Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation unveils new logo ahead of world masters championship

Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation unveils new logo ahead of world masters championship
Updated 08 August 2025
Follow

Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation unveils new logo ahead of world masters championship

Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation unveils new logo ahead of world masters championship
  • One of the sport’s four major global tournaments underway in Jeddah from Aug. 8-16

JEDDAH: The Saudi Billiards and Snooker Federation has launched its new logo ahead of the World Masters Snooker Championship — one of the sport’s four major global tournaments — scheduled from Aug. 8 to 16.

The launch took place on Thursday evening on the sidelines of the Roundtable Conference at the Media Center in the Green Halls of Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City in Jeddah.

The unveiling ceremony brought together the federation’s President Naif Al-Jaweini, World Snooker Tour CEO Simon Brownell, former world champion Ken Doherty, and Saudi Arabia national team player Ziyad Al-Qabbani.

The logo features a modern, stylized aesthetic with symbolic elements, including a depiction of Saudi Arabia’s map, reflecting the federation’s national identity and its alignment with future strategic goals.

Al-Jaweini said the new logo represents a pivotal milestone in the federation’s journey to build a distinctive visual identity that embodies its ambitions.

He said the timing of the launch coincides with the Kingdom’s hosting of the World Masters Snooker Championship, one of the sport’s most prestigious tournaments.