Football - Sport bulletin

Football

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 17 Jul, 2020

FIFA World Cup 2022: Match schedule confirmed

SPORTS DESK ISLAMABAD (July 17, 2020):-The iconic image of FIFA World Cup™ champions France lifting the trophy at Luzhniki Stadium is still fresh in the memory of every football fan. Exactly two years after that historic occasion on 15 July 2018, the unveiling of the match schedule for the next edition invites the football world to dream of a new beginning – one that, now, has a precise time and place to start. Al Bayt Stadium, a 60,000-capacity arena that takes its name and shape from the traditional tents used by nomadic peoples in the Gulf region, will be the stage for hosts Qatar to kick off the tournament on Monday, 21 November 2022 at 13:00 local time* (11:00 CET). The local kick-off times for group matches have been set for 13:00, 16:00, 19:00 and 22:00, with the simultaneous kick-offs for the last round of group games and knockout-stage timings being 18:00 and 22:00. Khalifa International Stadium will be the setting for the play-off for third place on 17 December. The final will kick off one day later at 18:00 at Lusail Stadium in front of an 80,000 crowd. With the aim of providing all teams with optimal rest between their matches, the group stage will last 12 days and, with four matches per day, it promises a full and exciting schedule for fans. The tournament’s compact nature – with no air travel needed to move between the venues – will allow organisers, for the first time, to optimise specific match demands for the benefit and comfort of fans, teams and media. This will be achieved through the assignment of the group fixtures for each matchday to a stadium and kick-off time only after the final draw, currently planned for after the March 2022 international match calendar qualifying window. Once the pairings are known, the possibility will be discussed of providing a more beneficial kick-off time for audiences at home, or indeed for fans in Qatar with regard to the stadium allocation. That additional flexibility is possible without affecting any technical aspects since all stadiums are located within a compact radius and the climate is perfect at that time of year in Qatar, whether it is an early or a late kick-off. On top of that, this will potentially give fans the opportunity to attend more than one match a day during the group stage. For those eager to book their seats at Qatar 2022, hospitality sales are scheduled to start in late 2020. Ticket sales for the general public will be conducted solely via FIFA.com/tickets, where details on the timeline, phases, categories and prices will be communicated in due course.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 08 Jul, 2020

PFF appoints Daniel Limones as Technical Director

ABDUL JABBAR FAISAL ISLAMABAD (July 8, 2020):-The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee has appointed Daniel Limones from Spain as the technical director. Limones was previously associated with Spanish La Liga giants Club Atletico de Madrid and was working with the club's academy in Lahore as head coach and academy manager simultaneously. He also worked with other Spanish clubs including Rayo Vallecano. As PFF's Technical Director, Limones will design and execute strategies which would lead to the development of football in Pakistan. PFF Normalisation Committee Chairman Humza Khan said that the appointment was a step in the right direction by the PFF. "We're excited to have Limones aboard. We fully believe his addition to the setup will help Pakistan football to flourish, “he added. Limones said that there was massive potential for football in Pakistan to grow. "The opportunities and possibilities are innumerable, since football in Pakistan start. Players, coaches, clubs and the federation can be shaped in future for the new generations, working together under the banner of PFF, “he concluded.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 22 Mar, 2020

Lorenzo Sanz: Former Real Madrid president dies after contracting coronavirus

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD (March 22, 2020):-Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz died on Saturday after being taken to hospital with coronavirus. Sanz, 76, was president at the Bernabeu from 1995-2000, a period in which Real won the Champions League twice. "My father has just died," wrote Sanz's son Lorenzo Sanz Duran on Twitter. "He did not deserve this end in this manner. One of the best, most courageous and hard working people I have seen in my life. His family and Real Madrid were his passion." Sanz signed players such as Roberto Carlos, Clarence Seedorf and Davor Suker during his time in charge of the 33-time Spanish champions. He lost the 2000 presidential election to Florentino Perez, which sparked Real's big-spending 'Galatico' era. Sanz's son Fernando, 46, played for Real Madrid from 1996-1999 before spending the final seven years of his career at Malaga.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 26 Dec, 2019

Costa Rica and Panama to host FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2020

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD:-FIFA inspection visited to Costa Rica and Panama as well as further discussions with the two relevant member associations, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has confirmed that the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup 2020 will be played in August in Costa Rica and Panama. The 16 participating teams will be divided into four groups of four with the best two of each group advancing to the quarter finals. This will be the first ever co-hosting of a FIFA youth tournament and the second co-hosting of a FIFA tournament since the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan™. The number of stadiums to be used for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica and Panama 2020 will be discussed and confirmed with the two member associations. Details on the tournament’s timeframe and match schedule will follow. “We would like to thank the Costa Rican and the Panamanian football associations for their commitment towards women’s football and the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in particular. We are looking forward to a fantastic competition in August”, says FIFA’s Chief Tournaments and Events Officer Colin Smith. “After the highly successful FIFA Women’s World Cup in France this year, it is important that we build on the momentum at all levels of the game. The U20WWC in Costa Rica and Panama next year is a perfect opportunity for us to continue driving the popularity of the game and with it being the first jointly hosted tournament – we can make the impact even greater”, says Sarai Bareman, Chief Women’s Football Officer.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 13 Dec, 2019

Bid for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023

Bid for FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 Sports Desk ISLAMABAD:-The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ bidding process, which has seen an unprecedented interest from member associations, has reached an important milestone, with the following four bids having been submitted by the deadline of 13 December 2019: Joint submission by the Football Federation Australia and New Zealand Football Submission by the Brazilian Football Association Submission by the Colombian Football Association Submission by the Japan Football Association All of the bid books, along with their respective executive summaries, are available on FIFA.com. FIFA will now implement an assessment process, including inspection visits to the member associations which are expected to take place across January and February 2020. Once finalised, the evaluation report will be published on FIFA.com and all eligible bids will be presented to the FIFA Council, which is set to select the host(s) of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 at its meeting in Addis Ababa in June 2020. Following on from the astounding success of this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in France and the subsequent unanimous decision by the FIFA Council, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will be the first edition of the women’s showpiece to feature 32 teams. “France 2019 was certainly a watershed moment for women’s football, and now it is FIFA’s responsibility to take concrete measures to keep fostering the game’s incredible growth. With the FIFA Women’s World Cup generating an unprecedented interest across member associations, we are ensuring that the process to select the hosts is seamless, objective, ethical and transparent. By the time the FIFA Council announces the hosts, there should be no doubt whatsoever as to why that choice was made,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 08 Dec, 2019

National Women’s Football Championship, Army stun KPK 22-0

National Women’s Football Championship, Army stun KPK 22-0 By Abdullah Asjad ISLAMABAD:-Pakistan Army stunned Khyber Pakhtun Kawa (KPK) 22-0 in the National Women’s Football Championship 2019 at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Saturday. Hawks got walkover against Frontier College Peshawar, as the visitor team could not reach in the arena in time. Malika Noor was the top scorer for the winners, who sent the ball nine times in the net. Aliza scored five goals while Sobia and Aline three each for Pakistan Army. Ramein scored two goals. It is important to mention here that this tournament is being played under the control of Army Sports Directorate.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 06 Dec, 2019

Gilgit Baltistan qualify for National Women’s Football Championship 2019

Gilgit Baltistan qualify for National Women’s Football Championship 2019 Abdullah Asjad Islamabad ISLAMABAD:-The Gilgit Baltistan women’s football team qualified for the final round of the National Women’s Football Championship 2019 after finishing 1-1 draw against Young Rising Football Club Rawalpindi here at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Friday. Earlier, they had defeated hosts Islamabad 3-0 at same venue. On Friday, the important fixture of the qualifying round, Young Rising Stars Club and Gilgit teams displayed excellent skill of the game. In the first half, Shahzadi scored the first goal for Gilgit in 34th minutes of the match and led her team 1-0. Later on, in the second half Farah equalized the match after netting the ball in the 60th minutes of the match. The match ended in draw 1-1. Both teams were awarded each one point. Gilgit qualified the National Women’s Football Championship 2019 from Islamabad region. The tournament is being played under the control of Army Sports Directorate.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 29 Nov, 2019

Russia cleared to compete at Euro 2020 despite threat of four-year sports ban

Russia cleared to compete at Euro 2020 despite threat of four-year sports ban Sport Desk ISLAMABAD:-Russia will be able to compete in Euro 2020 next summer even if a four-year ban from sporting events comes into effect. Investigators from the World Anti-Doping Agency found inconsistencies in laboratory data obtained from the Russian anti-doping agency in January and WADA's independent compliance review committee is recommending Russia be barred from hosting and competing in major international events for four years. However, it is understood that next summer's football European Championship, which Russia have qualified for and where St Petersburg will serve as one of 12 host cities, will not be affected even if WADA's executive committee and the Court of Arbitration back the proposed sanctions.

Sports Bulletin