• Home
• Archives
• LiveScores
• LeagueTables
• Trophies

News Feed

Pompey accept Al Fahim’s resignation

Portsmouth have confirmed they have accepted UAE businessman Sulaiman Al Fahim’s resignation as non-executive chairman.

Al Fahim announced earlier in the day that he was to stand down from the board and give his 10 per cent shareholding to the Portsmouth’s Supporters’ Trust.

Pompey director of communications Gary Double confirmed: “We have received his resignation, which has been accepted by the board.”

However the club are mystified as to why Al Fahim posted his ‘private and confidential’ resignation letter on a public website before informing the club of his intentions.

Al Fahim claimed he had not been made aware of the club’s financial situation despite repeated requests.

In October, Fahim sold 90 per cent of the club’s shares to Saudi businessman Ali al Faraj. Chainrai has since become the club’s fourth owner in less than a year

Despite relinquishing ownership to Al Faraj, he retained a 10 per cent stake in the club and was also given the position of non-executive chairman at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth face a winding-up petition from Britain’s Revenue and Customs office in the High Court on March 1, for unpaid taxes. They club had appealed for permission to sell players in a bid to raise urgent funds but the Premier League declined their request.

British media have reported that the club have debts of more than £70 million.

There is no guarantee that the club, English champions in 1949 and 1950 and FA Cup winners twice, will still be in existence to play their next scheduled home match against Birmingham City in the FA Cup sixth round on March 6.

His intention to step down initially came as a surprise to the south coast club.

Tags: al fahim, Al Faraj, birmingham city, Britain, customs office, english champions, executive chairman, fa cup winners, faraj, financial situation, Fratton Park, Gary, home match, pompey, Portsmouth, premier league, resignation letter, saudi businessman, shareholding, south coast club, sulaiman, UAE, winding up petition

Related posts

• Jacob tells Pompey fans to lay-off Al-Faraj (0)
• Portsmouth players to be paid at last (0)
• Storrie vows to stay at Pompey despite snub (0)
• Storrie plays down Pompey plight (0)
• Premier League reject Portsmouth player sale plan (0)
• Portsmouth may have to sell more stars – chairman (0)
• Pompey´s Traore loaned to Birmingham (0)
• Pompey set to offload James (0)
• Hart predicts new investment soon as Pompey win at last (0)
• Fulham add to Pompey´s problems (0)
• Al Fahim gets green light for Portsmouth takeover (0)
• Portsmouth FC taking legal steps over sanctions (0)
• Portsmouth chief exec Storrie in talks to buy Fratton Park club (0)
• Pompey exec faces tax charges, team urged to unite (0)
• Pompey boss Grant pleads for sympathetic court verdict (0)

Atlante looks ahead to Barcelona, but not too far

Atlante is looking forward to a potential match against FC Barcelona – just not too much.

“It’s an attractive possibility but we have a team to play before and we have to respect that team as well as preparing ourselves to play well and win,” captain and goalkeeper Federico Vilar said Wednesday. “Then we can think about that possible game against Barcelona.”

At a news conference to celebrate Atlante’s participation in the Club World Cup December 9-19 and send it off to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Vilar expressed the mood of the CONCACAF Champions League winner, which will have to face the winner between UAE champion Al Ahli and Auckland City FC before it can think about a semifinal meeting against Barcelona.

“We have to be focused on our first game and not think about Barcelona because we have to win in order to play against them,” midfielder Santiago Solari said. “If the opportunity does arise, it will be great, and today in soccer everything is very even and anything can happen.”

The best any CONCACAF team has done at the Club World Cup was third place. Mexico’s Necaxa outlasted Real Madrid on penalties in 2000, and Saprissa beat Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad 3-2 for the No. 3 finish in 2005.

The past two years, Mexico’s Pachuca has represented CONCACAF, eliminated by Etoile Sportive du Sahel in its opener in 2007, and beating Egypt Al Ahly to open last year’s event before falling to Eucador’s Liga de Quito in the semifinals.

“I have prepared my whole life to play this tournament,” midfielder Gabriel Pereyra said. “This tournament is a showcase for every player and we are going to take advantage of it as much as we can. We have working hard, training twice each day and are very anxious to take part in the competition.”

MEXICO CITY

Concacaf

Tags: abu dhabi, Al Ahli, Al-Ittihad, attractive possibility, auckland city, Barcelona, champion al, club world cup, concacaf champions league, Egypt, egypt al, etoile sportive du sahel, eucador, fc barcelona, federico vilar, gabriel pereyra, league winner, liga de quito, MADRID, Mexico, mexico city, Necaxa, Quito, real madrid, Santiago, santiago solari, saprissa, saudi arabia, UAE, united arab emirates

Related posts

• Atlante to face Barcelona, beats Auckland at Club World Cup (0)
• Real Madrid, Juventus among teams at 4th Peace Cup (0)
• Kaka begins pre-season training with Real (0)
• Juventus beat Real to reach Peace Cup final (0)
• Atlante succumbs on penalties at Club World Cup (0)
• Wounded Real ready to forget Liverpool humiliation (0)
• Villarreal finally win away as Llorente sinks Atletico (0)
• Time for Spain coach Del Bosque to reward Valdes? (0)
• Spanish reunion as Torres, Benitez return to Madrid in Liverpool?s colours (0)
• Spanish reunion as Torres, Benitez return to Madrid in Liverpool?s colours (0)
• Saviola wants to play, no matter where (0)
• Saviola linked with PSV Eindhoven (0)
• Ronaldo´s Real held to 1-1 Peace Cup draw by Al-Ittihad (0)
• Ronaldo, Kaka eye new golden Real Euro era (0)
• Ronaldo poised to return as Real target Zurich win (0)

Barcelona denies Robinho transfer

Barcelona’s secretary Txiki Begiristain has played down all speculation linking the European champions with a move to sign Manchester City forward Robinho.

The Brazilian is reportedly unsettled in England and pushing for a transfer from Eastlands in January, although those rumours were today quashed by City’s executive chairman Garry Cook.

City are currently preparing for Thursday’s friendly against the UAE national side in Abu Dhabi, and the arrival of a Barcelona delegation in the Gulf state has increased speculation over Robinho’s future.

But he insisted that talk of meeting City representatives is premature and revealed a possible bid for Robinho has not been a topic of discussion between himself and Barca coach Pep Guardiola.

“We won’t be meeting with City,” Begiristain told the club’s website.

“There’s a prior stage missing, which is a meeting between Guardiola and me. Once the decision has been taken, we will follow the strategy for any signing.

“This meeting – between the manager and the technical secretary – hasn’t taken place yet.

“So we’re going to see the City match and that’s all.”

Mark Hughes insists that talk of Robinho being unsettled is mischief-making and the City boss is hoping to have his record signing back from injury for the match at Liverpool on November 21.

Anurada Bhat

Tags: abu dhabi, Barcelona, bhat, CITY, city boss, city representatives, delegation, Eastlands, England, european champions, executive chairman, Garry Cook, Liverpool, manchester city, Mark Hughes, meeting city, mischief, pep guardiola, Robinho, rumours, speculation, technical secretary, The Gulf, txiki, UAE

Related posts

• Hughes confident Robinho has long future at City (0)
• Benitez claims Fergie is worried about City (0)
• Barry has grand plans with City´s big spenders (0)
• Vieira set for home debut as City aim to revive campaign (0)
• Santa Cruz ready for Man City striker battle (0)
• Robinho backs City’s Terry chase (0)
• Moyes slams ´disrespectful´ City (0)
• Mancini won´t write off Robinho despite latest flop (0)
• Mancini replaces sacked Hughes as City boss (0)
• Manchester United eye historic football record (0)
• Man City will fine Robinho (0)
• Hughes to stay on at Man City (0)
• Hughes defiant after Forest humble City (0)
• Everton turn down City bid for Lescott (0)
• English clubs mostly in frugal mood as new season starts (0)

United States advances to U-17 knockout round again

The United States advanced to the knockout stage at the Under-17 World Cup for the fourth straight time on Sunday, beating the United Arab Emirates 1-0 with Jack McInerney’s second goal of the tournament.

McInerney converted a rebound in the 35th minute of a game the United States had three times as many shots on goals as the Emirates but struggled to finish several prime opportunities.

The result left the United States second in Group E and headed to a second-round match on Wednesday against the winner from Group F, likely Italy. The victory sent the Americans along with Mexico to the single-elimination phase, giving CONCACAF two of its four teams berths in the knockout round.

The United States, the only country to qualify for all 13 U-17 World Cups, created several chances before McInerney put the Americans ahead.

Luis Gil dribbled across the top of the penalty area before sending the ball with outside of his right foot to Nick Palodichuk.

Palodichuk volleyed a low shot with his left foot from the edge of the area that UAE goalkeeper Ahmad Shambih was able to block but not hold. McInerney, lurking near the goal, pounced on the loose ball and poked a left-footed shot past Shambih.

The Americans quickly pressed for an insurance goal with Shambih needing to produce saves to thwart Gil, Stefan Jerome and Alex Shinsky over the next nine minutes.

The United States continued to test Shimbih in the second half, with Gil driving a shot from distance that the goalkeeper hat to leap and stretch across his body to tip away in the 63rd.

U.S. goalkeeper Earl Edwards had a relatively lighter match, but had a handful of saves including one to deny Mohammad Sebil in the 61st.

IJEBU ODE, Nigeria

Source

Tags: ahmad, Ahmad Shambih, Alex Shinsky, concacaf, earl edwards, emirates, gil, Goalkeeper, Italy, jack mcinerney, knockout stage, left foot, loose ball, Luis Gil, Mexico, Mohammad, Mohammad Sebil, Nick Palodichuk, nigeria, pounced, prime opportunities, rebound, right foot, sebil, Stefan Jerome, straight time, U.S, UAE, united arab emirates, United States, world cups

Related posts

• United States capitalizes to beat Malawi 1-0 at U-17s (0)
• U.S. U-17s fail to exploit early advantage, fall 2-1 to Spain (0)
• Korea subdues Mexico on penalties at U-17 World Cup (0)
• USA routs Cuba 5-0 to open CONCACAF U-17 Championship; Honduras draws 1-1 with Canada (0)
• World Cup berths left to satisfy U-17 championship hopefuls (0)
• United States beats Honduras, qualifies for sixth consecutive World Cup (0)
• U.S. wears down Mexico 2-1 (0)
• Pavon lifts Honduras over Central American rival El Salvador 1-0 (0)
• Milutinovic´s Iraq side to face Poland, Egypt (0)
• Italy eliminates United States from U-17 World Cup (0)
• El Salvador wins CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship for first regional title since 1943 (0)
• Canada, United States head into semis as favorites (0)
• Bahamas enters CONCACAF Beach Soccer Championship for first time; Canada returns after two-year absence (0)
• Where does U.S. win over Spain rank in list of upsets? (0)
• USA wins third straight 3-0; Honduras reaches U-17 semifinals despite loss (0)

Costa Rica beats UAE 2-1 to reach U-20 semis

Marcos Urena scored in the 122nd minute to lift CONCACAF champion Costa Rica to a 2-1 victory over the United Arab Emirates on Saturday and earn a semifinal match against Brazil at the Under-20 World Cup.

Urena ran onto a rebound at the top of the area after Allen Guevara’s shot was blocked by United Arab Emirates goalkeeper Yousif Abdulrahman. Guevara reacted quickly after Hamdan Al Kamali’s header of a long free kick all out of the back didn’t have enough pace to reach Abdulrahman.

Guevara flicked a shot from the middle of the area that Abdulrahman was able to block with his body, but the ball bounded to the top of the area, where Urena volleyed a low shot into the net.

Costa Rica, the last team to qualify for the knockout round and the only team from CONCACAF to advance past the group stage, next plays on Tuesday against Brazil – which has outscored its opponents 13-3 in five games and beat Germany 2-1 in extra time in its quarterfinal earlier Saturday.

The goal came against a United Arab Emirates side that had been reduced to 10 men three minutes earlier when Mohamed Fawzi was ejected for a two-footed tackle that upended second-half substitute Ricardo Blanco. The Emirates created more quality chances in the extra periods, outshot Costa Rica nearly two-to-one in the match and also had nearly twice as many corners and more possession.

The United Arab Emirates took the lead in the 33rd minute when Ahmed Khalil outraced Roy Smith on the right and send a ball across the face of goal, where Ahmed Ali beat David Guzman to redirect it past Costa Rica goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado.

The Ticos equalized four minutes later when Brian Oviedo sent in a cross from the left and Josue Martinez outleapt the UAE defense to drive a header into the top corner.

CAIRO, Egypt

Source

Tags: abdulrahman, ahmed ali, Ahmed Khalil, Allen Guevara, brazil, Brian Oviedo, Cairo, cairo egypt, Costa Rica, david guzman, Egypt, emirates, Esteban Alvarado, fawzi, five games, free kick, Germany, Goalkeeper, group stage, guevara, josue, kamali, Marcos Urena, Ricardo Blanco, roy smith, semifinal match, semis, ticos, UAE, united arab emirates, urena, yousif

Related posts

• Brazil tops Costa Rica 1-0 in U-20 semifinals (0)
• Costa Rica stuns Egypt 2-0 at U-20 World Cup (0)
• Costa Rica beats Australia to boost U-20 prospects (0)
• 2009: Costa Rica carries CONCACAF flag to U-20 World Cup semis (0)
• Hungary tops Costa Rica on penalties for third place at FIFA U-20 World Cup (0)
• Costa Rica advances at U-20 World Cup despite loss to Czechs (0)
• Ghana seek Brazil revenge in U20 World Cup final (0)
• Costa Rica tops Canada 2-1; Ticos, Trinidad claim last semifinal berths in CONCACAF U-20 Championship (0)
• WYC: Costa Rica eliminate hosts Egypt (0)
• United States tops Egypt 3-0 to reach semifinals of Confederations Cup (0)
• United States advances to U-17 knockout round again (0)
• UAE come back from behind to beat Venezuela (0)
• UAE beat Honduras and advance to round of sixteen (0)
• Trinidad gets host Egypt for U-20 World Cup; USA draws Germany, Cameroon Korea Republic (0)
• Stuttgart stay in German title race with win at Schalke (0)

UAE come back from behind to beat Venezuela

The United Arab Emirates came back from behind to beat Venezuela 2-1 and advance to the quarter finals of the World Youth Championship in Egypt.

Venezuela started well at Giza’s Mubarak International Stadium, with a goal from Jose Rondon in the 12th minute.

But Mohamed Ahmed equalized ten minutes later, after which things remained balanced until minute 83 when Ahmed Khalil netted the winner for the UAE.

The UAE face Costa Rica in the quarter finals on Sunday, in a match that will certainly deliver a surprising semi finalist.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Costa Rica, Egypt, khalil, match, mohamed ahmed, mubarak, quarter finals, rondon, UAE, united arab emirates, venezuela, world youth championship

Related posts

• WYC: Costa Rica eliminate hosts Egypt (0)
• WYC: Brazil just need one half to beat Uruguay (0)
• UAE beat Honduras and advance to round of sixteen (0)
• Nigerian heartbreak as Germany advance to quarter finals (0)
• Costa Rica stuns Egypt 2-0 at U-20 World Cup (0)
• Costa Rica beats UAE 2-1 to reach U-20 semis (0)
• Youth Championship: Venezuela join Spain in round of sixteen (0)
• WYC: Paraguay clinch second place in Group A (0)
• World Youth Championship: Honduras too strong for Hungary (0)
• United States capitalizes to beat Malawi 1-0 at U-17s (0)
• UAE at the double to thrash Malaysia (0)
• Sudamericano Sub 20: Venezuela, Argentina and Colombia advance (0)
• S. America Under-20: Venezuela draw with Argentina (0)
• Quick Report: Nigeria 3-0 Mozambique (0)
• Paraguay and Italy draw at U-20 World Cup (0)

UAE beat Honduras and advance to round of sixteen

The United Arab Emirates are the new leaders in Group F of the World Youth Championship and secured a spot in the next round thanks to Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Honduras.

Honduras went into this game with a 3-0 win over Hungary in the pocket, and looked to secure qualification for the round of sixteen against UAE.

Things went quite different at Alexandria Stadium however. UAE were awarded a free kick in the 41st minute and 18-year-old Ahmed Khalil directed it past keeper Reyes for what turned out to be the only goal.

For Honduras, things got worse in the fifth minute of extra time when Reinieri Mayorquin conceded a second yellow card. The midfielder will therefore miss Saturday’s crucial match against South Africa.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Ahmed, Ahmed Khalil, alexandria, Alexandria Stadium, extra time, free kick, game, Honduras, Hungary, jonathan, match, midfielder, new leaders, Reyes, roorda, South Africa, UAE, united arab emirates, world youth championship, yellow card

Related posts

• World Youth Championship: Honduras too strong for Hungary (0)
• Korea too strong for Paraguay at Under-20 World Cup (0)
• Hungary beat Czechs on penalties at World Youth Championship (0)
• Costa Rica beats Australia to boost U-20 prospects (0)
• Costa Rica advances at U-20 World Cup despite loss to Czechs (0)
• WYC: Paraguay clinch second place in Group A (0)
• US caps camp with friendly against Honduras (0)
• Youth World Cup: Hosts Egypt lose to Paraguay (0)
• WYC: Costa Rica eliminate hosts Egypt (0)
• WYC: Brazil just need one half to beat Uruguay (0)
• UAE come back from behind to beat Venezuela (0)
• Tunisia beat Mozambique and dominate group (0)
• Trinidad gets host Egypt for U-20 World Cup; USA draws Germany, Cameroon Korea Republic (0)
• The time is now for Costa Rica (0)
• Sudamericano Sub 20: Venezuela, Argentina and Colombia advance (0)

World Youth Championship: Honduras too strong for Hungary

Honduras lead Group F of the 2009 World Youth Championship after a convincing 3-0 win over Hungary on Sunday.

Valerenga midfielder Mario Roberto Martinez was of great importance to the Central Americans, scoring in the 35th and 70th minutes to give his team a comfortable lead.

A third goal was added by 20-year-old Arnold Peralta in the 84th minute.

Honduras lead Group F ahead of South Africa and UAE, who held each other to a 2-2 draw earlier on Sunday.

Next Wednesday, Honduras play their second match against UAE while Hungary face a difficult task against South Africa.

Jonathan Roorda

Tags: Arnold, Arnold Peralta, Central Americans, Honduras, Hungary, lead group, mario, Mario Roberto Martinez, match, midfielder, peralta, roberto martinez, South Africa, UAE, valerenga, world youth championship

Related posts

• UAE beat Honduras and advance to round of sixteen (0)
• US caps camp with friendly against Honduras (0)
• Korea too strong for Paraguay at Under-20 World Cup (0)
• Honduran midfielder Thomas signs for Wigan (0)
• Wigan set to secure Under-21 Irish star McCarthy (0)
• UAE come back from behind to beat Venezuela (0)
• U.S.-Costa Rica tilt highlights play as final round of World Cup qualifying hits midpoint (0)
• The time is now for Costa Rica (0)
• Romero scores two late goals to rally El Salvador to 2-2 draw with Trinidad (0)
• Quick Report: New Zealand 0-5 Spain (0)
• Penalty leads Honduras past Canada in Gold Cup quarters (0)
• Mourinho and De Rossi hit with fines (0)
• More work needed for US to taste South Africa success (0)
• Mikel Obi out of Nigeria World Cup tie (1)
• Mexico down USA 2-1 in key World Cup qualifier (0)

Another Premier League set for a foreign ownership from Middle-East

Another Premier League club could be passing into Middle-Eastern ownership after the official United Arab Emirates news agency reported that Ahmed bin Saqr al-Qassimi, a member of the UAE ruling family, had bought a majority stake in an unnamed club.

According to the unsourced report al-Qassimi, a member of the ruling family of Ras al-Khaimah, would be taking a 60 per cent stake and be appointed honorary chairman this week. A Premier League spokesman said they had no knowledge of an imminent takeover.

Ras al-Khaimah is one of seven members in the UAE federation which also includes Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Last year Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan bought Manchester City, while Portsmouth is the subject of a bid from another Abu Dhabi investor, Sulaiman al-Fahim.

A spokesman for al-Fahim denied Portsmouth was al-Qassimi’s target, while a source close to Anfield’s owners denied Liverpool was the club in question.

Should al-Qassimi take a stake in one of the British-owned clubs in the league it will make overseas investors a majority round the Premier League table.

Ten clubs are in foreign ownership: Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Sunderland, West Ham, Fulham and Manchester City.

Written by: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, abu dhabi, Ahmed, aston villa, CHELSEA, Dubai, emirates news agency, English Premier League, fulham, honorary chairman, Liverpool, majority stake, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, overseas investors, Portsmouth, premier league, ras al khaimah, sheikh mansour, Sunderland, target, UAE, united arab emirates, united arab emirates news, west ham, zayed al nahyan

Related posts

• United shuffle pack as Gerrard bolsters Liverpool (0)
• Liverpool in search of Arsenal revival (0)
• Big freeze truncates English Premiership programme (0)
• Tottenham test for stuttering Manchester United (0)
• Minnows share spotlight with Man Utd in Cup drama (0)
• Kuyt tells United not to take Premiership title for granted (0)
• 18/07/09: Transfer Rumors (0)
• Wenger looks to prove title point against Pompey (0)
• Relegation drama on Premier League´s final day (0)
• ManUtd´s mettle to be tested at Fulham (0)
• Man Utd start title defence at home to Birmingham (0)
• Man United title drive runs into injury minefield (0)
• Liverpool display authority of old to reopen title race (0)
• Liverpool can maintain pace, Benitez warns Chelsea, United (0)
• Hughes didn´t seeMan City sack coming (0)

Gomez ends goal drought in the desert against UAE

DUBAI (AFP) – Mario Gomez inspired Germany to a thumping 7-2 victory over United Arab Emirates here on Tuesday in an international friendly with a four goal haul for his first international goals in 14 months.

The four goals from the new record 30million euros Bayern Munich signing – who had a disastrous Euro 2008 finals after going into it hailed as the man to watch for Germany – allowed the Germans to end their much criticised mini Asian tour with a resounding victory.

They had been held 1-1 by China in Shanghai last Friday.

Initially it looked as if the Germans – who went on the tour without regulars such as Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings – would also struggle in this match against a side ranked a lowly 120th in the FIFA world rankings.

Manuel Neuer had shown two moments of great solo class on his debut but with no reward for it and the Germans had to wait till the 29th minute to open the score with defender Heiko Westermann hitting the back of the net.

From then on, though, the Emirates collapsed and the Germans were 4-0 up by half-time as Gomez grabbed two of his goals and winger Piotr Trochowski also scored.

Gomez – who hadn’t scored for the national side in 15 appearances since March 28 last year – rounded off the victory with two more goals in the second-half with the other German goal an own goal.

The Euro 2008 finalists next international rendezvous is a 2010 World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan in Baku on August 12 – the Germans presently lead their group by four points ahead of Euro 2008 semi-finalists Russia, though the Russians have a game in hand.

Tags: asian tour, back of the net, Baku, Bayern, bayern munich, Bundesliga, China, Dubai, euro 2008, FIFA, fifa world rankings, Germany, goal drought, Heiko Westermann, international goals, international rendezvous, manuel neuer, mario gomez, Michael Ballack, piotr trochowski, resounding victory, russia, semi finalists, Shanghai, solo class, torsten frings, UAE, united arab emirates, westermann, winger, World Cup, world cup qualifier

Related posts

• Loew recalls Enke and Gomez back for Germany (0)
• Loew expects Ballack for Germany´s Far East tour (0)
• Goalkeeper Enke fit to tour with Germany (0)
• Ballack on duty, Frings overlooked for Germany (0)
• Absent stars devalues Germany´s summer tour: Loew (0)
• China hold Germany in friendly (0)
• Goal-scorer Gomez pulls out of training (0)
• Dropped Frings blasts Germany coach Loew (0)
• Dominance is the key for Germany says Ballack (0)
• Ballack´s charm offensive on Germany team-mates (0)
• Total focus on Russia game, insists Ballack (0)
• Three-star Wiese puts Bremen in German Cup final (0)
• Stuttgart stay in German title race with win at Schalke (0)
• Police receive complaint over Podolski (1)
• Oliver Kahn launches reality TV show in China (0)

Next Page »