FIFA have awarded Qatar the right to host the 2019 and 2020 Club World Cups.

Qatar will host the 2019 and 2020 FIFA Club World Cups

The FIFA Council met in Paris on Monday and approved the plan to stage the next two editions of the tournament in the Gulf state.

Speaking to reporters in Paris, the chairman of Qatar 2022’s organising committee Hassan Al Thawadi said: “We’re looking forward to hosting the World Cup in 2022.

“Now we’ve got the Club World Cups in 2019 and 2020, so it’s exciting times for us, and there’s no doubt the Club World Cup will be an important test event.”

Liverpool will compete in the 2019 tournament after winning the Champions League

Liverpool will compete in the 2019 tournament after winning the Champions League and fans have been assured they will be allowed to drink if they visit Qatar.

Al Thawadi added: “We’ve answered that question many times but yes, everyone will be welcome, everybody will be able to enjoy the tournament.

“I’ll give you the full operational details later but I can say it will be a great learning opportunity for us, too.”

Liverpool will be competing for the title against the champions of world football’s other five confederations and the national champions from the host country.

Gianni Infantino has pushed ahead with plans to expand the Club World Cup to 24 teams

So far, the other qualifiers are Mexico’s Monterrey, Tunisia’s Esperance and Hienghene Sport, the Oceania champions from New Caledonia. The Asian and South American champions will be decided in November.

The current Qatari champions are Al Sadd, whose manager is former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi, who recently took up the post.

As European champions, Liverpool would enter at the semi-final stage. The Reds lost 1-0 to South American champions Sao Paulo in Yokohama in the 2005 final, their only previous appearance in the competition in its current format.

The next two editions in Qatar will be the last before FIFA revamps the competition in 2021 by expanding it to 24 teams and holding it every fourth summer, in the slot currently held by the Confederations Cup.

Source – Sky Sports

The Spanish giants are keen to have the Belgian put pen to paper sooner rather than later.

Photo by Getty/Goal

Real Madrid are sending a representative to London to meet with Chelseadirector Marina Granovskaia as Los Blancos commit to a final push to get a transfer deal for Eden Hazard over the line, Goal understands.

Negotiations over the Belgian’s future at the Santiago Bernabeu have been going on for months but the Spanish capital side are now keener than ever to wrap up proceedings, as they hope to make an official announcement this week after agreeing upon a fee.

Chelsea’s ideal scenario would see Hazard snapped up for €130 million (£115m/$146m), while Madrid hope to pay closer to €100m (£89m/$112m), but there is a firm expectation that a deal will inevitably be done.

Indeed, some close to the ongoing talks feel that an agreement could be reached at around €120m (£106m/$135m) to end the protracted saga.

Hazard has long wanted the move and admitted in an interview that he is likely to leave in the summer after scoring twice in a 4-1 Europa League final win over Arsenal.

“I have made my decision already and now I’m waiting on both clubs,” the attacker said in Baku Olympic Stadium on Wednesday. “I think it is goodbye, but in football, you never know.”

The west London side have been under pressure to sell Hazard due to his contract expiring in June 2020, with the player having rejected offers to renew and become the club’s highest paid name several times in the past year or so.

This has helped the Belgium captain to negotiate his exit as the Blues look to bring in a significant fee for their talisman.

Hazard is also keen on linking up with Zinedine Zidane, who returned to Madrid after both Santiago Solari and Julen Lopetegui were dismissed from the dugout last season.

Both clubs are also working on the timing of the deal, with Madrid wanting the announcement to make maximum impact.

Meanwhile, Chelsea look to negotiate for Mateo Kovacic and will see Maurizio Sarri leave the club for Juventus. Madrid tried to include Kovacic, their loan star at Stamford Bridge, in the talks but Chelsea refused and wanted to do the deal separately.

The ending of the loan puts additional pressure on the Blues, who are able to sign the Croatia international permanently despite the transfer ban but need to do so before the end of their current deal.

It is no longer a secret at either club that Hazard is set to move and is widely spoken about in both dressing rooms. Real captain Sergio Ramos gave his blessing over Los Blancos’ incoming big move after announcing he is staying at Santiago Bernabeu, amid speculation that he would leave.

“I consider Eden Hazard to be a really, really top player,” the Madrid captain said.

Hazard’s friend and international team-mate Thibaut Courtois will be helpful for his compatriot in the early days of the move as he bids to get by without speaking Spanish. Courtois is fluent in Spanish, English and French, which should come in useful in training sessions.

Source – Goal.com

Arsenal and the wider world of European football paid emotional tribute to José Antonio Reyes on Saturday after the 35-year-old was killed in a car accident in Spain.

‘A wonderful player, superb teammate and exceptional human being’ – Thierry Henry has paid tribute to his former Arsenal teammate. Photograph: Lee Mills/Action Images

His boyhood club Sevilla had earlier announced the news, tweeting: “We couldn’t be confirming worse news. Beloved Sevilla star José Antonio Reyes has died in a traffic collision. Rest in peace.”

Atlético Madrid, where Reyes won the Europa League in 2010 and 2012, said: “The Atlético family is in mourning. [He] will forever be in our hearts.” Barcelona, meanwhile, hailed “a brilliant, charismatic player … an outstanding figure”.

Reyes made his senior debut for Sevilla aged just 16, quickly attracting attention with a potent mix of pace and clinical finishing. Arsenal paid £10.5m to bring the then-20-year-old to England in 2004, where he played a part in their remarkable unbeaten league season. Arsène Wenger led tributes from former colleagues, writing: “I am devastated to hear the terrible news. To his family and friends, all support from everyone in the Arsenal family. He will remain forever in our hearts.”

Former teammate Freddie Ljungberg said he was “numbed by the news … Gone far too soon. My thoughts are with his family and friends.” Thierry Henry wrote: “I’m devastated to hear the sad news … Wonderful player, superb teammate and exceptional human being. I wish his family and friends continued strength and courage.”

Arsenal loaned Reyes to Real Madrid in 2006 before selling him to Real’s city rivals Atlético a year later. A return to his home club Sevilla followed in 2012, after which he moved on to play for Espanyol, Córdoba, and then China’s Xinjiang Tianshan Leopard. He returned home at the start of this year, signing a five-month deal with Extremadura.

Reyes won the Europa League five times – three times with Sevilla, and twice with Atlético Madrid. Photograph: Marc Atkins/Offside/Getty Images

During his storied career, Reyes also won 21 caps for Spain between 2003 and 2006, and was part of their 2006 World Cup squad.

Of all his career honours across Europe, Reyes always rated the silverware won with his boyhood club as the most special. Talking before the 2014 Europa League final, which Sevilla won 4-2 on penalties over Benfica, Reyes said: “When I was small, I dreamed of winning a title with Sevilla. Winning a title is the nicest thing there is. You feel something special, like you’ve done a really good job. It’s also great to see the fans so happy. In all the teams I’ve been at I’ve done very well. But Sevilla is my home.”

A minute’s silence was due to be observed before the Champions League final between Liverpool and Tottenham. The Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin, said: “He had a glittering career and won numerous honours wherever he played. I am shocked and saddened that his life has been so tragically cut short.”

Reyes leaves his wife Noelia López, whom he married in June 2017, and three children: daughters Noelia and Triana and son José Antonio Jr from a previous relationship.

Source – The Guardian

Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar has denied he raped a woman he met on Instagram and insisted he is the victim of attempted blackmail.

Neymar signed for PSG for a world record £198m

Reuters and Associated Press say they have seen a document filed in Sao Paulo alleging the footballer drunkenly assaulted his accuser at a hotel in Paris, where he plays for Paris Saint-Germain.

The former Barcelona player, who signed for PSG for a world record £198m, is alleged to have met the woman after they exchanged messages on the social media site.

His assistant is said to have sent the woman plane tickets on 15 May and the pair checked in to a hotel.

According to the claims in the police report, after Neymar and the woman “caressed” the footballer became “aggressive”, then used “violence” and “practised sexual intercourse against the will of the victim”.

The player posted a seven-minute video on Instagram on Sunday in which he denied the accusation and insisted it was “a set-up”.

“Anyone who knows me, knows of my behaviour, knows that I would never do something like that,” he said.

The video included intimate images and WhatsApp messages he says he exchanged with the accuser in a friendly way days later.

“There was a relationship between a man and a woman between four walls,” he said, adding that “the next day nothing happened”.

“I hope investigators read the messages and see what happened,” said the striker.

A statement issued by Neymar’s management on his website said the 27-year-old forward completely repudiated the allegations and that he was a victim of blackmail.

“Although he was surprised by the news, the facts were already known to the player and his staff, considering that a few days ago he was the victim of an attempted extortion, practised by a lawyer from Sao Paulo who said he represented the interests of the alleged victim,” it said.

“The player’s lawyers were immediately notified and have since taken all appropriate steps.

“We completely repudiate the unjust accusations and, above all, the exposure in the press of an extremely negative situation.

“All evidence of attempted extortion and non-rape will be submitted to the police authorities in a timely manner.”

The woman told police about the incident when she returned home to Brazil, saying she did not report it in Paris because she was “emotionally shaken and afraid to register the facts in another country”.

Earlier, Neymar’s father and agent, Neymar Sr, said his son had consensual sexual relations with the accuser and was blackmailed by her lawyer after they broke up.

He said his son was innocent, but said the family were going through a “tough” time.

PSG have not commented on the allegation, nor has the hotel where it is said to have taken place.

Neymar is currently in Brazil, training with the national team ahead of the Copa America tournament this month.

Source – Sky Sports

Liverpool enjoyed a heroes’ welcome after returning to Merseyside from their triumphant 2-0 Champions League final victory over Tottenham in Madrid.

Liverpool’s players enjoyed a triumphant return to Merseyside after winning the Champions League

Close to 750,000 fans flooded the streets of the city and suburbs on Sunday to celebrate the win as Jurgen Klopp’s men took to a red open-top double-decker bus emblazoned with the words ‘Champions of Europe’.

Starting at Allerton Maze, the parade travelled towards The Strand to a chorus of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ before ending in a celebration on the Mersey waterfront.

A sea of red adorned every inch of the eight-mile stretch, with flares and tickertape launched throughout as supporters waited for a glimpse of their heroes from any vantage point possible – from tables and chairs, to traffic lights and railings.

Others decided to walk alongside the bus while serenading their heroes throughout – captain Jordan Henderson orchestrating the singing from the front of the bus with one hand carefully on the coveted trophy.

Among the obligatory flags and banners, there were also cardboard cut-outs of Klopp and Mo Salah as well as a number of inflatable European Cups.

“It’s amazing, absolutely amazing,” Henderson remarked as he spoke to Liverpool’s website.

“We were looking forward to it straight after the party last night, to get back. It’s amazing to come back with the trophy to show the fans.”

Liverpool players show off the Champions League trophy during a packed-out victory parade back on Merseyside.

As the bus approached their final destination, almost four hours later, the fireworks started in a spectacle that had many on the bus, including Klopp himself, almost lost for words.

“It’s emotional,” Klopp told Liverpool’s website. “I cried a little bit as well because it was so overwhelming what the people are doing.

“When you have direct eye contact and you see how much it means to them, that’s touching, to be honest. It’s brilliant.”

Many supporters have been thanking the players for their achievements – a gesture that was not lost on the scorer of Liverpool’s second goal, Divock Origi.

“We know what Liverpool means in the world as a club, as a football club, so I think we can be happy that people make that statement,” Origi said.

“It means a lot to the people. I can see it in their eyes, in their reaction.

“It means so much and it’s beautiful for us because we give so much on the pitch and then whenever you come back and you get a welcome like this, it’s always good.”

Source – Sky Sports

The Manchester City boss was quick to congratulate his fellow manager and make a pledge for next season.

Photo by Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp has revealed he spoke to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola shortly after Liverpool’s Champions League final victory against Tottenham.

The Reds beat their Premier League rivals 2-0 in Madrid on Saturday courtesy of Mohamed Salah’s early penalty and a late Divock Origi strike to lift the trophy for the sixth time in the club’s history.

It is also Klopp’s first trophy as Reds manager after four years in charge at Anfield and is likely to go some way towards erasing the painful memories of Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in last year’s Champions League final in Kiev.

The win ensures Liverpool’s season ends on a successful note after the disappointment of missing out on the Premier League title, despite amassing 97 points and losing just one game.

It was Guardiola’s City who ultimately claimed the trophy by a single point after a thrilling title race between the two sides that went all the way to the final weekend of the season.

City also won both cup competitions to become the first men’s side to win the English domestic treble, though their hopes of Champions League glory were dashed following a dramatic defeat by eventual runners-up Tottenham in the quarter-finals.

Speaking shortly after the final whistle at the Wanda Metropolitano, Klopp revealed that his title rival Guardiola had phoned to congratulate him on Liverpool’s victory.

The Spaniard also pledged to go toe-to-toe with the Merseysiders for trophies again next year.

“A second ago I spoke to Pep Guardiola on the phone. Our head physio [Lee Nobes] worked for Manchester City at the start of the year but he wanted to win the Champions League… no, it’s a joke,” Klopp told reporters.

“We promised each other that we will kick each other’s butts again next season. We will go for everything and see what we get.

“Getting 97 points in the Premier League and winning the Champions League is an unbelievable long way to go and we did it. That’s incredible.

“Now we’ve won something, we will carry on. We will win things. That is big. I am really happy.”

Source – Goal.com

Andre Villas-Boas has been appointed the new coach of Marseille on a two-year deal to succeed Rudi Garcia, who guided the club to a fifth-placed finish in Ligue 1 last season.

Andre Villas-Boas is back managing in Europe after leaving Shanghai SIPG. VCG via Getty Images

The former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss has been out of a job since leaving Shanghai SIPG in November 2017 and previously said he was keen to manage in the Bundesliga.

However, the 41-year-old ironed out the details of his new role with Marseille club president Jacques-Henri Eyraud and sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta at a recent congress in Monaco.

“We’re delighted to bring in a coach whose success has been recognised at the highest level in Europe and the world,” Marseille owner Frank McCourt said.

“The philosophy and approach to the game of Andre Villas-Boas fits with what we want for OM and will contribute to revitalising our project after a disappointing season. Our expectations are still just as big and we will make the necessary chances to achieve our objectives.”

Villas-Boas, the youngest coach to win a European trophy when he guided Porto to the Europa League in 2011 aged 33, arrived at Stamford Bridge amid much hype in summer 2011.

But the man who had been part of Jose Mourinho’s successful backroom staff at Chelsea lasted less than a season in west London, while his spell at Spurs was barely any longer and proved just as underwhelming.

He took Zenit St. Petersburg to the league title in two years in Russia before succeeding ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson in Shanghai.

The Portuguese coach now faces the challenge of reviving the fortunes of the 1992-93 Champions League winners, who have fallen some distance behind arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain as well as Lille and Lyon domestically.

The futures of a number of high-profile squad members, notably the out-of-contract Mario Balotelli, remain unclear, while how much U.S. owner Frank McCourt is willing to invest in the summer transfer market is also unknown.

Source – ESPN

Gehad Grisha disallowed a goal and failed to award a penalty to Wydad Casablanca as they drew 1-1 with Esperance de Tunis.

Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

African football’s governing body CAF has suspended one of its referees following a poor performance in the first leg of the African Champions Leaguefinal.

Egyptian official Gehad Grisha has been removed from his duties for six months after a complaint was made about decisions he made when Wydad Casablancahosted Esperance de Tunis in Morocco last week.

The Moroccan Football Federation raised the issue with the governing body after Grisha disallowed a goal for Wydad and failed to award them a penalty, with both decisions made after consulting with VAR.

Wydad played most of the second half with 10 men after having their captain, Ibrahim Nakash, red carded for two bookings inside five minutes at the Stade Moulay Abdallah in Rabat.

A statement from CAF said: “CAF decided to suspend the Egyptian referee Gehad Grisha for six months due to his poor performance at the first of leg of Champions League final match between Wydad Casablanca and Esperance de Tunis which ended in a 1-1 in Morocco last Friday.

“The Moroccan Football Federation sent a complaint against Grisha yesterday after huge anger and demands of Wydad board and fans from the performance of the Egyptian referee that may cost the Moroccans the CL title as they think.”

The second leg is due to take place on Friday at the Olympic Stadium in Tunis, with the scores level at 1-1 after the controversial first game.

Fousseny Coulibaly gave the visitors the lead in Casablanca shortly before half time, and at that stage the Tunis side looked a good bet to retain their title.

But the hosts hit back late on, despite being down to 10 men, with Cheik Comara scoring in front of the home fans to leave the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg.

Tunisian champions ES Tunis are the current holders of the Champions League title, and have dominated their domestic league for the last two decades, winning 15 of the last 20 titles.

Wydad last lifted the trophy in 2017 and are aiming to win the Champions League for the third time having also triumphed in 2002.

Source – Goal.com

Brazil have been given an injury scare ahead of the Copa America after star forward Neymar limped out of training on Tuesday, having appeared to damage his left knee.

Neymar was stripped of the Brazil captaincy a day earlier following a series of disciplinary issues

Brazil are seeking to win a first major trophy since lifting the Copa America in 2007, and will face heightened expectations as they host the competition for the first time since 1989.

They have been drawn alongside Venezeula, Peru and Bolivia, who they will open the tournament against on June 14 in Sao Paulo, but will first face Qatar and Honduras in warm-up fixtures.

The injury capped a tough 48 hours for Neymar, who was understood to have lost the captaincy largely due to disciplinary issues.

The former Barcelona forward was banned for three matches by the French football authorities earlier this month for hitting a fan after PSG’s cup final loss to Stade Rennes, and was also reportedly involved in a dressing-room fracas with his team-mates.

Source – Sky Sports

Tottenham have made a bid of about 60m euros (£53m) for Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.

Lo Celso scored 16 goals for Real Betis last season

But Lo Celso has a 100m euro (£88m) release clause and it is understood Betis want to sell him for a fee closer to that amount.

Spurs will face competition for the 23-year-old Argentine with other Premier League clubs interested.

The Londoners have not signed a player since January 2018 when they paid Paris St-Germain £23m for winger Lucas Moura.

Tottenham’s record signing is Davinson Sanchez – they spent £42m on Ajax’s Colombia centre-back in August 2017.

Lo Celso initially joined Betis on a season-long loan in August 2018 from PSG but the La Liga club triggered their option to buy the player in April for 22m euros.

He scored 16 goals and registered six assists in 45 games for Betis last season and has been named in Argentina’s squad for the Copa America, which starts on 14 June in Brazil.

Source – BBC News