Tag: footballer

  • Crocodile kills footballer who jumped in river in Costa Rica

    In a tragic turn of events, a well-known Costa Rican football player, Jesus Alberto Lopez Ortiz, popularly known as Chucho, has been killed by a crocodile.

    Chucho dived off a bridge into the Canas river in a spontaneous act that turned fatal, according to police reports.

    The 29-year-old footballer was in the company of a friend and a cousin at the time of the incident. Despite their attempts to discourage him from jumping into the crocodile-infested river, Chucho went ahead. Eyewitness footage shows the terrifying moments of Chucho battling the crocodile as it hauled him away.

    Local villagers made desperate attempts to save the footballer by attacking the crocodile. However, the beast did not loosen its grip. Videos shot after the attack show the massive reptile swimming in the river while still holding onto the footballer’s body.

    In a last-ditch effort, villagers shot and killed the crocodile to recover Chucho’s body. Despite the prohibition on killing protected species, including crocodiles, in Costa Rica, it remains unclear if any charges will be filed against the locals.

    Local police quoted by the Daily Mail stated, “All efforts were made to rescue the body of the deceased person without causing damage to the reptile, but it was not possible.”

  • Reporter asks female footballers why they wear ‘knickers’, Twitter tells him to ‘get a life’

    Reporter asks female footballers why they wear ‘knickers’, Twitter tells him to ‘get a life’

    A Lahore-based reporter is receiving criticism for asking a bizarre question during a media interaction with Pakistan Women Football Team. The interaction was held in Lahore. The video was shared by Sports journalist Muneeb Farrukh.

    The reporter asked the panel why they could not play in leggings instead of shorts.

    Adeel Rizki, the head coach of the Pakistani women’s football team while responding to the question said that one should think progressively when it comes to sports. He added that the issue of uniforms is not in his control.

    The reporter is facing backlash for moral policing female athletes and questioning their choice of dressing.

    Have a look at Twitter reactions:

    The women team footbal team participated in an international event after a gap of 8 years and showed an excellent performance against Maldives (7-0).

  • Messi wins record seventh Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo slams false claims

    Messi wins record seventh Ballon d’Or, Ronaldo slams false claims

    The Paris Saint Germain (PSG) star Lionell Messi has grabbed another record seventh Ballon d’Or on Monday night.

    Messi, 34, effectively retained the trophy he last won in 2019 — controversially, the award was not handed out by France Football last year because of the coronavirus pandemic — after a year in which he ended his long wait for an international honour, winning the Copa América with Argentina, and left Barcelona, the club where he had spent all of his career, for Paris St.-Germain.

    “It’s incredible to be here again,” Messi said. “Two years ago I thought it was the last time. Winning the Copa América was the key.”

    “I don’t know how many years I have left,” he added, “but I hope many more.”

    The Argentinian footballer also took to his Instagram to express his joy on winning the award again. He also thanked people who supported him.

    Messi finished with 613 points in the voting, only 33 more than the runner-up, Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski. In 2019, the last time the trophy was awarded, Messi beat Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk by only seven points.

    Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo has hit back at the editor of France Football who claimed the Manchester United forward’s only ambition is to “retire with more Ballons d’Or than Lionel Messi”.

    Ferré told the New York Times: “Ronaldo has only one ambition and that is to retire with more Ballon d’Or [awards] than Messi. I know because he has told me.”

    However, Ronaldo has disputed that version of events and took to Instagram to claim that Ferré “lied” during the interview.

  • ‘Expecting Twins’: Ronaldo announces pregnancy with girlfriend Georgina

    ‘Expecting Twins’: Ronaldo announces pregnancy with girlfriend Georgina

    Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has announced pregnancy with his girlfriend Georgina Rodríguez, while sharing that they are expecting twins.

    Taking to Instagram, the footballer shared two pictures with Georgina and his kids. In one of the pictures, he shared the ultrasound report while in another picture, he and his kids can be seen pointing two fingers citing the twins.

    “Delighted to announce we are expecting twins. Our hearts are full of love – we can’t wait to meet you,” he wrote.

    Model Georgina, 27, is now three months pregnant with the Manchester United star’s babies, according to Spanish magazine Hola.

    Ronaldo, 36, is already a dad of four with three of his children born to two surrogate mothers.

    Reportedly, Ronaldo had admitted in 2017 he wanted seven children while Rodriguez last year said: “My desire for motherhood is stronger than anything. I hope to have more children.”

  • Man who fell from US plane in Kabul is a young Afghan footballer

    Man who fell from US plane in Kabul is a young Afghan footballer

    One of the people who tragically fell from a C-17 US military plane departing from Kabul on Monday was a young Afghan footballer, according to the General Directorate of Physical Education & Sports in Afghanistan.

    As per details, Zaki Anwari, a young footballer, died on Monday after falling from a US military aircraft. The Afghan National Football Team’s Facebook page confirmed the identity and death on August 18, 2021. The news was confirmed by the Sports Directorate the next day.

    Anwari was one of thousands of Afghans who flocked to the Hamid Karzai International Airport  on Monday, the day after the Taliban captured Kabul, hoping to get on a plane out of the country. He reportedly climbed onto a C-17 plane that was about to depart from the capital.

    Anwari played on the Afghan national youth football team.

    A video published on August 16 shows people sitting on the landing gear flap of a plane taxiing for takeoff as people run alongside the aircraft.

    Several videos circulating on Monday showed people falling from a C-17 aircraft that had taken off from Kabul airport. Later, reports said that several bodies had been found in locations east of the airport.

    News of Anzari’s death comes as the US Air Force investigates the deaths, after human remains were found in the wheel well of one of its C-17 planes that departed from Kabul.

  • Tears and standing ovation mark Messi’s farewell to Barcelona

    Tears and standing ovation mark Messi’s farewell to Barcelona

    Lionel Messi wept on Sunday as he bade farewell to his boyhood team FC Barcelona.

    The 34-year-old Argentine’s emotional news conference followed Barca’s announcement last week that it could no longer afford him after a glittering two decades.

    French newspaper L’Equipe reported on Sunday that Messi will travel to Paris either Sunday or Monday to undertake a medical and finalise a deal with the Qatar Sports Investment-owned club.

    Spanish newspaper Marca reported PSG formally sent their offer to Messi on Sunday morning, just as the football star held a news conference.

    While Messi did not confirm he would definitely join the Parisians, he said that his plans were to carry on playing as long as possible, adding he still harbours ambitions to win another Champions League trophy.

    “As long as I go on being competitive and as long as my body responds (I’ll carry on playing),” he told a news conference.

    “As long as I can, I will carry on competing.”

    “I tried to behave with humility and respect and I hope that is what remains of me when I leave the club,” said an emotional Messi as hundreds of fans, many wearing his No. 10 jersey, amassed outside Barca’s Camp Nou stadium to bid farewell to the player they called Messiah.

    Messi broke down as he walked onto the stage before conducting his news conference and was handed a tissue by his wife Antonella Roccuzzo as he fought back the tears.

    “This is the toughest moment of my career. When the club told me, I just froze. This is all like a bucket of cold water has been poured over me and we are still coming to terms with it,” he sobbed.

    “When I get home, I’m sure it’ll be even worse. But I’ll be surrounded by my loved ones and I’ll carry on playing football, and when I do so, I’m sure it’ll become a bit easier.”

    It had been widely reported by local media that Messi was set to stay at Camp Nou, with the player admitting he had agreed to a five-year deal involving a 50% pay-cut.

    The six-time Ballon D’or winner has been at Barcelona for 21 years and became its all-time top goalscorer with 682.

    Meanwhile, many notables wished him luck.

  • Eriksen collapses during Denmark’s Euro 2020 match against Finland

    Eriksen collapses during Denmark’s Euro 2020 match against Finland

    Denmark star Christian Eriksen collapsed on the field in the first half of his team game against Finland at Euro 2020 on Saturday in Copenhagen.

    Eriksen was walking alone near the sideline of the ground in the 42nd minute when he stumbled and then fall forward.

    His teammates immediately sensed trouble, rushing to him and waving frantically for trainers to come to his aid.

    Eriksen’s teammates, some of them in tears, then formed a circled to shield him as the medical team tried to resuscitate Eriksen with CPR and a defibrillator on the field.

    This went on for nearly 20 minutes before Eriksen was transferred to a stretcher and was carried off the field.

    The match was initially suspended but later it was decided that it would resume.

    Eriksen was taken to a hospital and is said to be stable now.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with Christian Eriksen and his family,” Cristiano Ronaldo said on Instagram. “The world of football stands together hoping for good news. I’m counting on finding you soon back on the pitch, Chris! Stay strong!”

    Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza was also heartbroken to know about this incident.

    As per reports, Eriksen had a Facetime call with his teammates from the hospital and asked them to play the game tonight, as “he feels better now.”

  • Muslim football player Wesley Fofana opens Ramzan fast during game

    Muslim football player Wesley Fofana opens Ramzan fast during game

    Muslim football player Wesley Fofana was given permission to break his Ramzan fast during a match of the English Premier League (EPL) on Monday. Fofana later thanked the EPL management and the Crystal Palace FC team for allowing him to do so.

    Halfway through Leicester’s 2-1 win, the Crystal Palace FC goalkeeper waited to take a goal kick to allow Fofana to drink some liquids before returning to play.

    The short in-game delay was agreed upon in the captain’s meeting prior to the game. 

    Thanking the management, Fofana wrote: “Just wanted to thank the Premier League as well as CPFC, Vicente Guaita [and] all the Foxes for allowing me to break my fast tonight in the middle of the game.”

    “That’s what makes football wonderful,” added the French footballer.

    Fofana was able to play the entire game after previously playing 61 minutes in a 3-0 win over West Bromwich Albion — all while fasting. 

    “He’s a young player in the middle of Ramadan so he’s obviously not eating during the day,” Leicester coach Brendan Rodgers told reporters. “I think it’s absolutely remarkable.”

    Meanwhile, it is believed to be the first time in Premier League history that a game has been paused to allow Muslim players to eat and drink mid-game.

  • Hajra Khan appeals to President Alvi, PM Khan to resolve PFF issues

    Hajra Khan appeals to President Alvi, PM Khan to resolve PFF issues

    Pakistan National Women Football Team captain Hajra Khan has urged President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to resolve issues pertaining to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF).

    In a video message, Khan said: “Today I speak in utmost sadness that the Pakistan Football Federation was suspended today for the second time in the last five years.”

    “I speak on behalf of all those football players, whose hard earned bread came from the sport. It came from representing Pakistan. We’ve worked hard, blood and sweat, to represent this country and we’ve taken it to the podium, we’ve won championships in the past,” said Khan.

    “Where do we go next? What is next for us? What sport do we switch to? Who do we rely on? Where do we express our love for the country, how do we do it,” she questioned.

    Requesting the President and Prime Minister, Khan said: “Today I request the President of Pakistan Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to take notice of the matter. There is still hope and we are expecting a response from you two. We expect the country to back us when we need them the most right now.”

    “It is a request, it might not be humble anymore, but it is a request. It is a need, it is a representation from all football players and again, it all relies on you,” she added.

    Reiterating her point, Khan in the caption said: “Players have all been affected roughly. Football as a sport has been ridiculed over time in Pakistan.”

    “Who’s answerable,” she questioned.

    Meanwhile, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has said that they are “surprised” by the ban, expressing that the decision was taken in “haste.”

    PSB director-general Col (retd) Asif Zaman while talking to The News, said that Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza had requested patience during her press conference held a couple of days back.

    “We were not expecting such a hasty decision from the football’s governing body. It has shocked us as the game of football will be the ultimate sufferer after such a decision. The minister had assured her help for resolving the issue in the best interest of the game,” said Col Zaman, adding: “Though the government does not want any interference, for the sake of the game’s future we wanted an amicable settlement of the issue.”

    Zaman said he was expecting FIFA to carry out a detailed and thorough review of the prevailing situation.

    “We were taken by surprise by this hasty decision that I feel would serve no good to the future of the game. We were expecting a rational review of the situation by the game’s governing body before imposing a suspension on the PFF,” said the DG.

    The FIFA in a handout issued on Wednesday said the decision to suspend Pakistan was prompted by the recent takeover of the PFF’s Headquarters in Lahore by a group of protesters and an alleged decision by certain individuals to remove the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee of the PFF led by Haroon Malik and to hand over the leadership of the PFF to Syed Ashfaq Hussain Shah.

    When PFF president Ashfaq Shah was approached in Islamabad where he was nursing his minor surgery, he said he was disappointed by the decision like any other Pakistani.

    In 2009, Khan was selected in the Pakistan national team for the 2010 South Asian Games in Dhaka, Bangladesh. After Khan’s participation at this event, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) selected her for a FIFA women’s football coaching course in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In December 2010, she played in the inaugural SAFF Women’s Championship, helping Pakistan reach the semi-final.

    21 year old Hajra Khan made history for Pakistani national women football team when she invited to top three German football clubs SGS Essen, FSV Gütersloh 2009 and VfL Sindelfingen to play, she spent three weeks there and played preseason trials. Being a Pakistani international footballer that opportunity was an important milestone in her career, she said.

    She was the first Pakistani women footballer to sign an international contract in 2014 with Sun Hotels & Resorts Football Club to play in the Maldives National Women’s league.

  • Ronaldo becomes the first person to reach 250 million followers on Instagram

    Ronaldo becomes the first person to reach 250 million followers on Instagram

    Juventus star forward Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved an impressive milestone outside the football field, becoming the first person in the world to hit the 250 (251 now) million mark on Instagram.

    With 19.7 million likes, Ronaldo also managed to hold the record of the most-liked post of 2020. The Portuguese star’s post mourning the death of soccer legend Diego Maradona got the most number of likes on Instagram last year.

    Ronaldo himself follows only 458 people on Instagram. 

    The five-time Ballon d’Or enjoys a great fan-following across the globe and is one of the most prominent sportspersons in the world.

    The second most followed sportsperson on Instagram is Ronaldo’s arch-nemesis, Lionel Messi, with 175 million followers. Meanwhile, Brazil’s Neymar has 144 million followers.

    Sharing the news on Instagram, Ronaldo wrote: “What an incredible number! Thank you all, you’re part of this journey.”

    According to Forbes, Ronaldo earns nearly USD 1 million per sponsored post on Instagram.

    Meanwhile, Ariana Grande is the second most-followed individual and most-followed woman on Instagram, with over 214 million followers. Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is the third most followed person with over 210 million followers.