Spanish prosecutors accused former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu of disloyal administration on Tuesday, according to documents obtained by AFP. Bartomeu and other former club officials face allegations of making unjustified payments between 2015 and 2019. Court records indicate prosecutors claim the former president caused harm to the club by failing to meet diligence and loyalty requirements inherent to his position.
Bartomeu, who led Barcelona from 2014 to 2020, must explain alleged hidden commissions paid in transactions such as the 2018 signing of Brazil winger Malcom from Bordeaux for more than 40 million euros. Apparent irregularities also involve the Neymar transfer case and the Espai Barca stadium renovation project...
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique likened Barcelona midfielder Pedri Gonzalez to the fictional character Harry Potter on Tuesday and expressed hope that the Spanish player would leave his magical abilities at home for their Champions League meeting on Wednesday. The coach praised the 22-year-old's talents from their time together with Spain's national team and said PSG would attempt to limit his involvement in the match at Olympic Stadium. Luis Enrique faces uncertainty about the availability of midfielders Vitinha, Joao Neves, and Fabian Ruiz, along with winger Bradley Barcola, and confirmed that forwards Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia would miss the contest.
The former Barcelona player and coach said...
Kylian Mbappe scored three goals as Real Madrid defeated Kairat 5-0 in Kazakhstan on Tuesday in Champions League action. The French forward opened the scoring from a penalty in the 25th minute after goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza fouled Franco Mastantuono. Mbappe added his second goal seven minutes into the second half when Thibaut Courtois sent a long pass that allowed him to chip the ball over Kalmurza. He completed his hat trick when Arda Guler passed to him near the box, and he finished sharply in the 73rd minute.
Eduardo Camavinga headed home in the 83rd minute, and Brahim Diaz scored in stoppage time to complete the victory. Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso praised Mbappe's performance and said the striker remains decisive in nearly...
Victor Osimhen converted a penalty to secure Galatasaray's 1-0 Champions League victory over Liverpool on Tuesday, while Chelsea defeated Jose Mourinho's Benfica, and Kylian Mbappe scored three goals for Real Madrid in Kazakhstan. Osimhen beat Alisson Becker from the spot in the 16th minute at Istanbul, handing Liverpool their second consecutive defeat after losing to Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Liverpool believed they earned a late penalty when Ibrahima Konate fell, but the referee reversed his decision after review.
Chelsea claimed a 1-0 win against Benfica at Stamford Bridge when Richard Rios deflected an Alejandro Garnacho cross into his own net in the 18th minute. Tottenham salvaged a 2-2 draw with Bodo/Glimt after Micky...
India captain Shubman Gill announced on Wednesday that his squad intends to wear down opponents on spin-friendly surfaces as the team opens its home season with two Tests against the West Indies. The first match begins on Thursday at Ahmedabad's stadium, the world's largest cricket venue, with India heavily favored to sweep the series. Gill leads a youthful Indian side that earned a 2-2 draw against England in a five-Test series that ended in August, marking his debut as captain following the retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
The 26-year-old acknowledged that Indian pitches create unique difficulties for visiting teams. He noted that recent Tests in India typically finish before the fifth day, unlike...
Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon cautioned England on Wednesday against fielding an all-pace attack in the upcoming Ashes series, emphasizing that pitch conditions will demand bowling diversity. England announced a 16-man squad last week dominated by five fast bowlers, with specialist spinner Shoaib Bashir and all-rounder Will Jacks providing the only spin options for the five-Test series beginning in Perth on Nov. 21.
Lyon, who has claimed 562 Test wickets across 139 matches since 2011, insisted spinners remain essential despite Perth and Brisbane traditionally favoring fast bowling. The veteran said variation disrupts game tempo and can prove highly effective when bowlers possess suitable skills. Lyon has taken 268 wickets on...
Brazil's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Paulo Fernando Dias Feres, met with Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday afternoon at the party's Bashundhara office. The ambassador opened the conversation by asking about Rahman's health and expressing wishes for his complete recovery, according to a statement from the party.
The two discussed relations between their nations, potential cooperation opportunities, development projects, and shared concerns. Representatives from both sides voiced confidence that the relationship between Bangladesh and Brazil would grow stronger, and Feres pledged Brazil's ongoing support for Bangladesh.
Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Jamaat's assistant secretary general and head of the central publicity...
India defeated Sri Lanka by 59 runs in the ICC Women's World Cup opener on Tuesday in Guwahati. Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur scored half-centuries to help India reach 269 for eight in the rain-shortened 47-over match. Sri Lanka began strongly at 82 for one in 15 overs before Indian spinners triggered a collapse.
Deepti dismissed Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu for 43 runs and later partnered with Amanjot in a crucial 103-run seventh-wicket stand. Amanjot finished with 57 runs while Deepti contributed 53. Sri Lanka bowler Inoka Ranaweera took four wickets, but dropped catches undermined her team's efforts.
The tournament features eight teams competing for a prize pool of $13.88 million. More than 23,000 spectators attended the...
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin expressed anguish over the abrupt removal of his portraits from embassies and consulates worldwide in a letter to Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday. The president said the overnight action humiliated him through media coverage and social media posts across the globe. Investigative journalist Zulkarnain Saer shared the letter on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday.
Shahabuddin questioned whether officials could have handled the matter more tactfully while respecting his position. He noted his consistent support for the government, issuing nearly 50 ordinances and endorsing a zero-portrait policy for government offices. The president said he never sought an exemption for his...
