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FOOTBALL - National 26 May, 2023

Football News: PFF names Scrutiny Advisory Committee for election

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE:-The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee (NC) has announced the formation of an eight-member Scrutiny Advisory Committee aiming to coordinate the scrutiny of football clubs across the country as the first step toward free and fair PFF elections.According to an official of PFF, the members of the Scrutiny Advisory Committee are Akhtar Moheyuddin, Mohammad Siddique, Usman Usmani, Mohammad Arif, Rizwan Hameed, Irfan Khan Niazi, Zulfiqar Shah, and Imtiaz Ahmad. The committee will be responsible for overseeing the scrutiny process of the football clubs.The PFF has already announced the starting its elections, which will begin on May 27th (Saturday) in selected districts. The advisory committee will coordinate the entire process. Subsequently, the scrutiny process will be extended to all districts of the country in the following days.The objective of conducting thorough scrutiny of the clubs is to ensure that the Electoral College, which will participate in the PFF elections, is well-vetted and meets all the requirements. This scrutiny will contribute to maintaining the integrity and fairness of the election process within the PF

FOOTBALL - National 25 May, 2023

Football News: PFF and MCB Islamic sign MoU for Opening accounts of clubs

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE:-The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and MCB Islamic Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday here at the FIFA House aiming to simplify and speed up the process of opening bank accounts for clubs, a basic requirement for the club to become a voting right holder.Zargham Khan Durrani, President MCB Islamic Bank, Mohammad Hamid Yasin, Group Head CF, Usman Ali Alvi, Business Head, Ashar Iqbal, Head RBG North, Agha Mohammad Ali, National Sales Manager CF, Amer Baig, Head CFI, Azhar Iqbal, Head Institutional Sales, PFF NC Chairman Haroon Malik, NC members Mohammad Shahid Niaz Khokhar and Haris Azmat attended the signing ceremony.President, MCB Islamic Bank, Zargham Khan Durrani said:"We are pleased to announce our partnership with the PFF. This MoU reflects our dedication to supporting and assisting local communities with the aim of making the registration process easier, faster, and more accessible for all the stakeholders, particularly football clubs, under the umbrella of Pakistan Football Connect."Chairman, PFF NC Haroon Malik said:"The opening of the account for any club is one of the key requirements of the PFF Statutes, which needs to be fulfilled in order to get the club registered and become a voting right holder. To make this process more convenient for the clubs, we have made the decision to collaborate with MCB Islamic Bank, while signing a MoU in this regard to facilitate the football clubs and effectively overcome the obstacles faced during the account opening process for clubs. With this assistance and support of MCB Islamic Bank, we are committed to ensuring that all clubs can now successfully open their accounts with comprehensive guidance and support.”NC member Shahid Khokhar said:“NC is focused to support the clubs by all means to bring them to a stage from where they can kick start their journey of professional football development and to focus on the club's sustainable business models.”

FOOTBALL - Int News 07 Apr, 2023

TCL announces a new partnership deal with Arsenal Football Club

Sports Bulletin Report LAHORE: TCL, a Global top 2 TV brand, has announced a new partnership with Arsenal Football Club. The collaboration will give Arsenal supporters in the UK, Middle East and Africa more opportunities to engage with the club, while also increasing TCL’s expanding footprint in sport by becoming the club’s Official Regional Consumer Electronics Partner in those markets. With a mission to Inspire Greatness, TCL understands the impact sport has on people around the world and the new partnership aims to engage supporters around their common passion for football. TCL will provide Arsenal supporters with exclusive club content and exciting deals on a product range including TVs, white goods and home appliances. Supporters will have the opportunity to participate in competitions and games with the lucky winners receiving official Arsenal gifts and merchandise. TCL will also invite its customers to watch live matches at Emirates Stadium as well as meet and greets with current players and legends. "We are thrilled to partner with Arsenal Football Club, one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world," said Sunny Yang, General Manager TCL Middle East and Africa. " This partnership will allow us to bring our innovative and high-quality products to Arsenal's passionate and loyal supporter base in the Middle East, Africa and the UK. Our values of progression, positivity and inspiration are aligned to those of Arsenal and we’re excited to work together to engage supporters around the world in their common love for football." Juliet Slot, Arsenal's Chief Commercial Officer, said: "We are delighted to welcome TCL to our family of partners. This partnership represents an exciting opportunity for both Arsenal and TCL to engage with our supporters in the Middle East, Africa and the UK. We look forward to working closely with TCL to bring the best viewing experience to our fans in the region."

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 06 Apr, 2023

Argentina spot on top in new FIFA World Ranking after 6 years

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD: Six years after last topping the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking, Argentina (1st, plus 1) are once again at the summit of world football. Recent friendly wins against Panama (2-0) and Curaçao (7-0) helped the world champions dethrone Brazil (3rd, minus 2), who paid a high price for defeat in their friendly against Morocco (2-1). Not only did A Seleçao surrender top spot, but they also saw France (2nd, plus 1) move ahead of them. Les Bleus’ ascent to second is down to back-to-back wins in UEFA EURO 2024 qualifying against the Netherlands (4-0) and Republic of Ireland (1-0). Outside the leading trio, there were no other movers among the Top 10. Belgium (4th, -) remain just outside the podium places, closely followed by England (5th, -). In fact, the swapping of places by Senegal (18th, plus 1) and Denmark (19th, minus 1) were the only other notable changes in the Top 20. Further down the Ranking, however, there has been no shortage of movement, with the strides made by Serbia (25th, plus 4), Algeria (34th, plus 6), Egypt (35th, plus 4), and Scotland (36th , plus 6) among the most significant. No less impressive is the progress of Romania (46th, plus 6) and Canada (47th, plus 6), who move into the Top 50 at the expense of Mali (53rd, minus 8) and Saudi Arabia (54th, minus 5). However, the most improved side in this edition are Central African Republic (122nd, plus 10). By twice beating Madagascar, at the time ranked 30 places above them, Les Fauves du Bas-Oubangui rose 10 places in the global standings, outperforming other notable movers such as Namibia (106th, plus 7), Malaysia (138th, plus 7) and The Gambia (120th, plus 6)

FOOTBALL - Clubs & Schools 17 Mar, 2023

Gianni Infantino re-elected by acclamation at historic FIFA Congress

Sports Bulletin Report Kigali (Rwanda): Gianni Infantino will serve a second term as FIFA President after being re-elected unopposed to lead global football’s governing body for another four years, during the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali, Rwanda. President Infantino said: “Being FIFA President is an incredible honour, an incredible privilege, and it is also a great responsibility. I am truly humbled and touched by your support, and I promise you that I will continue serving FIFA, serving football all over the world and serving all 211 FIFA member associations.” For the first time in its history, an elective FIFA Congress took place in Africa. The proceedings were opened by His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda. In his address, President Kagame welcomed delegates from the 208 gathered member associations to his country, and congratulated President Infantino on his impending re-election. The FIFA President stressed FIFA’s role to organise competitions and to develop football. The President revealed that the 32-team FIFA Women’s World Cup™ in Australia and New Zealand later this year will receive an extensive increase in prize money to over USD 150 million – more than three times the value from the last tournament in 2019, and ten times more than in 2015. President Infantino also referenced impending changes to the FIFA Under-17 World Cups at boys’ and girls’ level, which will see those tournaments played on an annual basis, as well as the launch of the FIFA World Series and the revised 32-team FIFA Club World Cup with the intention of giving teams from every confederation more opportunities to compete on the global stage.

FOOTBALL - Rugby 12 Mar, 2023

Rugby League: Lahore Hawks overcome Desert Campbells 24-23 in final

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Lahore Hawks team edged out Desert Campbells Rugby Club by 24-23 in the final to win the 8th Servis Tyres Rugby League, well-organized by Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU). At half time, Lahore Hawks had a healthy lead of 17-3. In the second half, the Fort Abbas players played brilliantly and came back into the game. The first try was scored by Israr, the second by Muneeb and the third by Dawood while Ahmed Wasim scored a try by Lahore Hawks in the second half. All the tries were scored by Desert Campbells Fort Abbas in the second half, with Umar Daraz scoring two and Wasim one. The chief guest of the final was President Pakistan Rugby Union Chaudhry Arif Saeed. He was accompanied by PRU Secretary Salman Sheikh, Moazzam Shah, Shakeel Malik, Punjab rugby officials and a large number of rugby lovers.Earlier, Director Servis Tyres Ch Arif Saeed was introduced to the players and then the match started. In this 15-a-side league, the teams of Lahore Hawks and Desert Campbells Fort Abbas won two matches each, while the teams of Lahore Rugby Football Club and Islamabad Jinns won one match each. Therefore, the last match had become the final for both the teams, in which Lahore Hawks and Desert Campbells teams played very well, but Lahore Hawks team was able to win the Servis Tyres 15-a-side Rugby Championship for the first time by only one point. In the closing ceremony, Pakistan Rugby Union President Chaudhry Arif Saeed distributed trophies and prizes among the players. The man of the match was awarded to Dawood Gul of Lahore Hawks while man of the tournament was awarded to Aqib Siddiqui of Desert Campbells Rugby Club.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 01 Mar, 2023

FIFA World Cup for Women 2023: Fan Festival

Sports Bulletin Report ISLAMABAD: The FIFA Fan Festival™ will be rolled out in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand this year 2023 for the first time ever at a FIFA Women’s World Cup. All nine Host Cities across the two countries will offer a FIFA Fan Festival, all of which will be free to enter. The FIFA Fan Festival goes beyond football, offering fans a vibrant setting to enjoy the best in football, music, entertainment, local culture, food and games FIFA has confirmed that all nine Host Cities will have a FIFA Fan Festival during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023. This is the first time that FIFA Fan Festivals will be rolled out at a FIFA Women’s World Cup, in keeping with the tournament’s theme of firsts. All FIFA Fan Festivals will offer free entry to people of all ages, providing a vibrant destination to celebrate the global game and experience the best in football, music, entertainment, local culture, food and games. Fans will be able to watch the tournament drama unfold on big screens at each venue. FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said: “Whether you are an avid fan or a football newcomer, the FIFA Fan Festival provides an exciting entertainment space that brings people together beyond football." “Our mission is to make football truly global, accessible and inclusive, and these exciting events provide an opportunity to experience football in new ways in a fun festival environment.” There will be a FIFA Fan Festival in every Host City at various times during the tournament, which will run from 20 July to 20 August 2023. To provide the best possible experience for visitors, the events at each venue will be tailored to the local climate, matchdays and kick-off times.

FOOTBALL - Int News 20 Feb, 2023

FIFA Women World Cup: Trophy to visit 32 participating nations

Sports Bulletin Report Melbourne/Naarm: The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy Tour Send-Off event took place in Melbourne / Naarm on Saturday, coinciding with the arrival of the Unity Pitch in the city. The Trophy Tour’s Skills Drills will inspire women and girls worldwide to get involved in the excitement and show support for their country ahead of FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ The stage is set for an extraordinary FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy Tour after a special Send-Off event in Melbourne / Naarm on Saturday marked the start of a global journey that will inspire the next generation of female football stars. The celebration took place in the shadow of the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, which will host six matches during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™, ahead of the first official stop on the Trophy Tour in Japan on 25-26 February. The Send-Off event coincided with the arrival of the Unity Pitch, which was in Melbourne / Naarm for the day and will tour all nine Host Cities ahead of the start of the tournament. Female Football Freestyle world champion Lia Lewis was on hand to help open the Unity Pitch by inspiring dozens of youngsters in attendance with an astonishing display of her skills before passing on her tips. “Before freestyle football, I was a ballet dancer. I did 18 years of ballet, five years ago, thinking back, I couldn’t kick a ball. Five years later, I can’t believe I’m here,” Lia Lewis said. “This Trophy Tour is all about Going Beyond, and through the Skills Drills, we are making football accessible, creative and fun. Skills Drills will showcase incredible women’s talent and, more importantly, inspire women and girls worldwide to take part in something inspirational.” USA national team legend Kristine Lilly, the most capped international footballer of all time, was also in attendance, engaging with the youngsters and sharing her Women’s World Cup experiences. Speaking in anticipation of the tournament, she said: “The growth of the women’s game and the support behind it has been incredible. To be at 32 teams in the World Cup is so great for so many reasons – for all these countries who haven’t had the opportunity but now they do, it’s incredible.” “The growth of the game and how many teams are going to be competing in this World Cup is going to create so much more hype and excitement and challenge those countries that have been there for a while. So, it’s going to be exciting to watch the games and you can get your tickets now, so please do, and support the women’s game.” The FIFA Women’s World Cup™ Trophy Tour will visit all 32 of the tournament’s participating nations, and will return to Melbourne / Naarm on 14-16 June, inspiring people across the globe ahead of the big kick-off on 20 July.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 11 Feb, 2023

FIFA unfolds final three names for FIFA male and female player awards

Sports Bulletin ISLAMABAD: FIFA has announced the finalists for both The Best FIFA Women’s Player and The Best FIFA Men’s Player awards as well as for The FIFA Puskás Award ahead of the 2022 edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards™. Names of final three nominees women Beth Mead (England / Arsenal WFC) Alex Morgan (USA / Orlando Pride / San Diego Wave) Alexia Putellas (Spain / FC Barcelona) Names of final three nominees men Karim Benzema (France / Real Madrid CF) Kylian Mbappé (France / Paris Saint-Germain FC) Lionel Messi (Argentina / Paris Saint-Germain FC) These two awards are given to the outstanding players in women’s and men’s football as voted for by an international jury respectively comprising the current coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams (one per team), the current captains of all women’s/men’s national teams (one per team), one specialist journalist from each territory represented by a national team and fans registered on FIFA.com. The full voting and award process is detailed in the Rules of Allocation.

FOOTBALL - FIFA News 10 Feb, 2023

Finalists for The Best FIFA Coaches males and females revealed

Sports Desk ISLAMABAD: FIFA has announced the finalists for The Best FIFA Women’s Coach and The Best FIFA Men’s Coach awards for the 2022 edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards™. The final three nominees (female coach) Sonia Bompastor (Olympique Lyonnais) Pia Sundhage (Brazilian National Team) Sarina Wiegman (English National Team) The final three nominees (male coach) Carlo Ancelotti (Real Madrid CF) Pep Guardiola (Manchester City FC) Lionel Scaloni (Argentinian National Team) These two awards are given to the outstanding coaches in women’s and men’s football as voted for by an international jury respectively comprising the current coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams (one per team), the current captains of all women’s/men’s national teams (one per team), one specialist journalist from each territory represented by a national team and fans registered on FIFA.com. The full voting and award process is detailed in the Rules of Allocation. All the winners of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2022 will be crowned at a special ceremony on Monday, 27 February 2023 in Paris.