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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, praised the Egyptian national football team for its courageous performance in a thrilling World Cup encounter, describing the match
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International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry. (Reuters) More than four years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Olympic Committe (IOC) on Tuesday lifted some restrictions allowing their athletes compete in team events and qualifying competitions for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. "We made it clear that we wanted to ensure all athletes have the possibility to compete at the Olympic Games and not be held responsible for their government's actions," IOC president Kirsty Coventry said at a meeting in Lausanne. However, the IOC kept in place the ban on the Russian national anthem being played and the flag being displayed, for the time being, but stipulated returning Russian athletes would have to pass "multiple" doping tests before being allowed to participate. The accompanying statement, laying out a host of conditions, said individual sports could decide whether to allow the flag and anthem at their own events or stage competitions in Russia. As for the Games, with the Los Angeles Olympics two years away, the IOC said it "will take a decision in relation to the display of the Russian flag, anthem, colours or any identifications for the Olympic Games at the appropriate time". Russia welcomed the decision. "The IOC is sending a clear signal: the Olympic movement must remain free from politics," Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev said on Telegram, adding Russia planned to participate in qualifiers for the Los Angeles Games.Russia's return remains more limited than that of Belarus, which was allowed back by the IOC in early May without any restrictions on national anthem or colours.The IOC said to address "the lack of confidence" after a series of Russian doping scandals, "all athletes newly coming back to international competition must have been tested multiple times prior to their return". The ban was imposed in October 2023, more than 18 months after the invasion of Ukraine, when the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) decided to include sports organisations in annexed territories as members. "The ROC confirmed that it does not, and will not, conduct any activities in these territories," said the IOC statement adding it will "closely monitor the situation". The statement added: "The IOC condemns wars, armed conflicts and violence that cause human suffering wherever they occur." World Athletics inflexible However, IOC Sports Director Pierre Ducrey warned that the return of Russians to the global sports fold will take place within a "fractured landscape" that varies by discipline.On Friday, World Athletics maintained the total exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes, noting no "tangible movement towards peace negotiations having materialised". The global governing bodies for judo and swimming did not wait for the IOC's green light to fully reinstate athletes from both countries in November and April respectively, like the International Paralympic Committee had done for the Milan-Cortina Games. A major sporting nation, Russia has been barred from competing under its national colours in the Olympic arena since 2016 - initially due to a state-sponsored doping scandal.Just after the Beijing Winter Olympics concluded in February 2022 the Russian army invaded Ukraine with the support of Belarus, triggering a wave of sports sanctions. Following a period of total exclusion, the IOC had gradually begun reintegrating athletes starting in March 2023 under a neutral banner, subject to strict conditions, and excluding team events, specifically for the Paris 2024 and Milan-Cortina Games. For several months, Coventry had hinted at a more complete reintegration, emphasising the importance of "keeping sport a neutral ground. A place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments". In late June, during the IOC's 146th session in Lausanne, this principle was further enshrined in the Olympic Charter that the organisation's role was "to apply neutrality at all times, free from governmental, cultural, societal or economic pressure". Furthermore, the IOC Executive Board had last December recommended the return of Russian and Belarusian athletes to junior competitions, including team sports, under their national flags and anthems. Related Story
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Norwegian Torstein Traeen claimed the coveted race leader’s yellow jersey as Denmark's Mads Pedersen won the fourth stage of the Tour de France on a day of Nordic delight on Tuesday.Traeen stripped reigning champion Tadej Pogacar of the jersey just two days after Norway stunned five-time winners Brazil at the World Cup thanks to a brace from Erling Haaland.Pedersen, who was world champion in 2019, stormed to victory in a sprint finish ahead of Lidl-Trek team-mate Quinn Simmons in second with Spaniard Raul Garcia taking third at the end of the 182km stage from Carcassonne to Foix in scorching temperatures which topped 40C at one point.It was Pedersen's third stage victory at the Tour following one each in 2022 and 2023 and was enough to see him take the green points jersey.Traeen, who had started the day just over five minutes behind reigning champion Tadej Pogacar in the race lead, was part of an initial 34-man breakaway which formed around 25km into the stage.That had been whittled down to 10 over the day's final climb and Traeen came home in eighth.With the peloton finishing 13 minutes after the stage winner, Traeen now leads the yellow jersey standings by 28 seconds from American Sean Quinn, a fellow breakaway companion who finished ninth on the stage.Pedersen's Lidl-Trek team-mate Mathias Vacek, who finished the stage 10th, is now third overall at 3min 50sec and now leads the young rider's white jersey competition.Pogacar dropped to fourth at 7min 53sec, on the same time as his arch rival Jonas Vingegaard in fifth.For Traeen, 30, it will be the second time he has led a Grand Tour, having worn the leader's red jersey at last year's Vuelta a Espana for four days.He is the third Norwegian to wear the Tour's yellow jersey after Thor Hushovd, who is now Traeen's Uno-X Mobility team manager, did so in 2004, 2006 and 2011, and Alexander Kristoff, who held it for one day in 2020.A 34-man breakaway group went clear in the first 25km and it was soon clear that Pogacar's UAE Emirates-XRG team had no intention of controlling the gap, or holding onto the yellow jersey.Sprinters Biniam Girmay and Jasper Philipsen dropped out of the break after the intermediate sprint, won by the Eritrean ahead of the Belgian.A couple more riders were shed on the 10km-long Col de Coudons just after the halfway point of the race but the true battle for the stage win - and the yellow jersey- took place on the 7km-long Col de Montsegur at 1,059m. Over the top with 35km left, 10 riders went clear with the peloton more than 11 minutes behind.Quinn tried to drop Traeen on the climb but the Norwegian would not budge and had the yellow jersey in his sights.Several riders tried to drop Pedersen - who was by far the fastest sprinter in the group - but the 30-year-old dug in and kept in contact.He had two team-mates in Simmons and Vacek to help control the run-in to the finish and when he launched his sprint 300-metres from the end, he streaked clear to win by several bike lengths.
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England's forward Harry Kane. (AFP) Harry Kane said England need to "calm down" after the emotionally draining win over Mexico that took them through to the World Cup quarter-finals.Thomas Tuchel's 10-man team won 3-2 on Sunday after a memorable backs-to-the-wall performance against the co-hosts in Estadio Azteca.England, back at their training base in Kansas City, are enjoying some downtime ahead of Saturday's quarter-final against Erling Haaland's Norway in Miami."Into the next round. Incredible night, we appreciate the support. I know we had loads in the stadium and loads watching back home staying up late," England captain Kane said in a video on social media."The connection with everyone is even stronger now and we feel that more than ever."We recover now, we calm down, we have a couple of days relaxing and then obviously get prepared for a massive quarter-final."Kane, whose second-half penalty proved decisive, said the Azteca experience and the nature of the win made it one of his favourite games in an England shirt."Going into that game was so special, the atmosphere, the stadium... everyone was so excited to be there and play in this iconic game," he said."To come through the adversities in the game and battle through the way we did and put our bodies on the line and the boys covering every blade of grass was just incredible to be part of, to be honest."It's one of my favourite games in an England shirt, without a doubt."The 32-year-old Bayern Munich forward will come up against Golden Boot rival Haaland on Saturday.Kane has six goals so far at the World Cup - one behind top-scorers Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Haaland. Related Story
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Fired-up Belgium brought the United States’ World Cup party to a shuddering halt on Monday, thrashing the tournament co-hosts 4-1 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Spain.Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken punished a goalkeeping howler, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a fourth to settle a last-16 clash that had been overshadowed by the pre-match uproar surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun.Balogun, named in US coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line-up after FIFA suspended a one-game ban following lobbying by US President Donald Trump, was largely anonymous throughout Monday's knockout tie at Seattle's Lumen Field.Instead, a rampant Belgium ruthlessly dismantled the USA's hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years, in a bitterly disappointing end to a campaign that had captivated the host nation.Belgium captain Youri Tielemans said the furore over Balogun had motivated his team-mates."Let's be honest: we held a meeting when we heard the news," Tielemans said."We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch. That's what we did today. I'm very proud of the team," the Aston Villa midfielder told Belgium's RTBF broadcaster.US coach Pochettino said his team had not turned up on the day."Today we were not the same team that we have been during the tournament," Pochettino said. "It was a very bad day - it wasn't our day in a collective and individual way."De Ketelaere fired Belgium ahead after nine minutes, and although Malik Tillman's deflected free-kick leveled it in the 31st-minute, the US fightback was shortlived.De Ketelaere headed Belgium back in front in the 33rd minute, and Vanaken made it 3-1 in the 57th minute after a dreadful blunder by US goalkeeper Matt Freese, who was dispossessed after charging out of his penalty area to clear.Veteran striker Lukaku piled on the misery with a fourth in stoppage time.The defeat capped a tumultuous 24 hours for the World Cup co-hosts, who were lifted by FIFA's shock reprieve of Balogun on Sunday -- a decision which brought widespread condemnation across the football world.Belgium football chiefs had challenged Balogun's eligibility for the game earlier on Monday but saw their appeal dismissed out of hand by FIFA."There was a sense of injustice within the squad," Belgium's Nicolas Raskin said. "We were determined to respond on the field." Related Story
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When Vietnamese athlete Nguyen Thanh Hien Linh stepped into her first virtual taekwondo competition in Singapore in 2024, she had little idea what she was doing."I was just kicking into the air," recalled the 21-year-old.
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Portugal coach Martinez to leave after World Cup exit to Spain: Reuters Saying Portugal's national team needs "a new voice," manager Roberto Martinez confirmed he is stepping down after the 1-0 loss to Spain on Monday in their round of 16 match in Arlington, Texas.Martinez has coached Portugal since 2023 and planned to leave his post after the team's run to what he hoped was a World Cup championship. His contract was due to expire after the tournament. "Yes, this is my last game with the national team," said Martinez, a native of Spain who turns 53 on July 13. "I'm proud. I've had 45 games, and I felt welcomed in Portugal and loved. It's a memory I'll take with me always. "It was a pleasure, a source of pride and responsibility. It's hard, but it's the end of a cycle and in the context it makes absolute sense." Martinez said, "It's important to have a new voice now" and added that it was fair for Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca, who was appointed last year, to be able to choose his own manager. "I want to thank the president and the board for their support and for providing me and my coaching staff with all the necessary conditions," Martinez said. "I appreciate their strength and support, but it is the end of a cycle."Portugal is a co-host of the 2030 World Cup along with Spain and Morocco and is automatically qualified.Martinez managed Belgium's national team from 2016-22 and also coached Everton, Swansea City and Wigan Athletic. He led Portugal to the 2024 European Championship quarterfinals, then the UEFA Nations League title in June 2025.Portugal finished second in this World Cup in Group K, going 1-0-2 (5 points) with a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan and draws against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (1-1) and group winner Colombia (0-0). Last Thursday, Portugal held off Croatia 2-1 in the round of 32 before elimination on Monday, which also marked the final World Cup game for legendary attacker Cristiano Ronaldo, 41. "We didn't fail," Martinez said. "We lost a game against a team that's one of the favorites. We showed incredible individual talent. Winning or losing is about details in the big games, with big teams. ... You fail when you don't try to win, and we tried to win until the last minute."Martinez said to those thinking Ronaldo should have been subbed for late in the game that he was physically capable of playing at least 90 minutes and delivering the needed goal."This is not the time to look for anything beyond the fact that we are talking about a football icon," Martinez said of Ronaldo."There aren't many Cristiano Ronaldos. I will forever appreciate what he tried to do in this World Cup, because his dream was to win it. He was an incredible example of a captain, both on a footballing level and a human level. "His impact inside the dressing room and within the group of players is something the entire coaching staff and all the players will carry with us forever. He is an example of football, of an athlete and of the human being behind the athlete." Related Story
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Cristiano Ronaldo waves to fans after losing the round of 16 football match between Portugal and Spain:AFP Cristiano Ronaldo was tearful after the last game of his sixth and final World Cup, Portugal's 1-0 loss to Spain in the round of 16 on Monday decided by Mikel Merino's stoppage-time winner. But the five-time Ballon d'Or winner insisted -- just as he did Sunday before the match -- that in the big picture, he remains secure in his legacy with his national team. "Well, it's normal, sad, to leave the World Cup like this," Ronaldo said through an interpreter. "But, as I said yesterday at the press conference, I gave it my all, I gave my best. And I leave with a clear conscience. "That's football, that's the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And it has to move on. It was my last World Cup, yes, but the rest ... I have time to think, be with my family, not make decisions in the heat of the moment and move on with life."Ronaldo will retire without a World Cup title or even a World Cup final appearance to his name. His team's best performance with Portugal came in his first appearance, a 2006 run to the semifinals and a fourth-place finish.But by any standard, he still finished as one of the tournament's all-time great performers, scoring 11 times in 27 matches and joining Argentina's 39-year-old Lionel Messi -- whose team plays Tuesday -- as the only men to play in six World Cups.He was arguably better in the European Championships, where he scored 14 times in 30 matches and helped the Selecao das Quinas to the 2016 title."Before Cristiano, Portugal hadn't won any titles," he said. "So, I'm happy. The truth is that the biggest title I won with the national team was in 2016, which for me has the same significance as the World Cup, honestly."Therefore, I repeat, I leave with a clear conscience, having done my best, and that's it. Tomorrow will be a new day, and life goes on."Ronaldo is under contract for one more season with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, the club where he's spent the past four seasons. This coming season may be his last, though that has not been confirmed. Related Story
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CAIRO: As Egypt bowed out of the World Cup with a dramatic 3-2 defeat to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina in the last 16 on Tuesday, supporters in Cairo rose to applaud a team that had
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John WEAVER Lionel Messi's Argentina face Egypt for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as the maestro looks to reclaim the lead in a fiercely contested Golden Boot race.The defending champions meet the African nation, spearheaded by Mohamed Salah, in Atlanta for the right to play Switzerland or Colombia in the semi-finals.Argentina survived a huge scare from World Cup first-timers Cape Verde in the last 32, edging through courtesy of Diney Borges' own goal in energy-sapping extra time.They will hope to resume normal service against Egypt, who have never been beyond the round of 16 on football's biggest stage.'We are on the alert just like we were before the match against Cape Verde,' said Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni. 'Egypt is also a good rival.'It's a very good team. They have important players and a coach that has been working with them for a while now. They play good football and always make it difficult for their rivals.'Salah is a great player -- it will be a pleasure to face him. Our team knows how to face these great players and we always work hard for it.'Scaloni confirmed Messi, 39, is fit to start despite playing the full 120 minutes last week against Cape Verde.Messi, France star Kylian Mbappe and Norway's Erling Haaland all have seven goals in the race for the Golden Boot, with the Frenchman leading the way due to his two assists.Messi and Mbappe are also locked in a battle for the title of leading goalscorer in World Cup history, with the Argentine just one goal ahead, on 20.The South Americans know they will need to up their game against unbeaten Egypt, who eliminated Australia on penalties in the last 32.Salah, currently without a club after leaving Liverpool, has scored just once in four matches so far.Egypt coach Hossam Hassan said he had been preparing his players 'regardless of the colour of the opponent's shirt, or what name they have, and what ranking they have'.'This is a World Cup, a great opportunity to prove ourselves and that we belong here,' he said.- Dangerous Diaz -Switzerland and Colombia meet in Vancouver in another clash between two unbeaten teams.The South Americans, supported by hordes of passionate yellow-clad fans, have been tipped as dark horses for the tournament.Nestor Lorenzo's men have conceded just one goal so far and boast the attacking prowess of Luis Diaz and 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez.Switzerland have not reached the quarter-finals since 1954, when they hosted the tournament, but impressed in a 2-0 win against Algeria in the last 32.All four teams will be vying to join the heavyweight line-up for the last eight so far -- France, Morocco, Norway, England, Spain and Belgium.Spain ended Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup dream on Monday, beating Portugal 1-0 while Belgium crushed the United States 4-1.Defeat for Mauricio Pochettino's men means none of the host nations remain in the 2026 tournament following the earlier exits of Canada and Mexico.The build-up to the game in Seattle was overshadowed by controversy after forward Folarin Balogun was cleared to play despite being sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina last week.It emerged that the bombshell ruling followed a personal call by President Donald Trump to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino urging him to review Balogun's punishment.
