Former Dutch international Quincy Promes has joined United FC of Dubai, marking his return to football while facing extradition to the Netherlands for a drug trafficking conviction. The 32-year-old striker was sentenced to six years in prison in absentia and is appealing the verdict.
Libya played its first international match in Tripoli in over a decade, drawing 1-1 with Rwanda in the opening round of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The match marked the return of international football to the refurbished stadium in Tripoli, which had been closed for nearly a decade due to civil unrest. Other opening day matches saw Sudan defeat Niger, while Gambia and Comoros drew, and Tanzania and Ethiopia played out a goalless draw.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or nominations have been unveiled, marking a historic moment as neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi feature for the first time since 2003. The list showcases a new generation of talent, with England’s Jude Bellingham and Spain’s 17-year-old Lamine Yamal among the notable nominees. Real Madrid and Barcelona dominate with seven and six nominees respectively, highlighting their global dominance in men’s and women’s football.
Palestine’s national football team is facing significant challenges in their World Cup qualifying campaign, including the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that has disrupted their preparations and caused heavy losses within the Palestinian football community. Despite these difficulties, the team remains hopeful for a positive result as they take on one of Asia’s top teams, South Korea.
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has joined Turkish club Galatasaray on loan from Serie A champions Napoli. The move comes after Osimhen signed a contract extension with Napoli last December, but he was not included in their squad for the current season. Galatasaray will pay €6 million for the loan and Napoli retains the option to extend his contract until 2027.
Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida has criticized Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior’s comments suggesting Spain should not host the 2030 World Cup if racism persists. Vinicius, who has experienced racist abuse in Spain, believes progress against racism is essential for the country to deserve hosting rights.
The Indian Super League (ISL) has announced several rule changes for the upcoming 11th season, including a mandatory Indian assistant coach for all clubs, concussion substitutes, and the ability to appeal against wrongful red card decisions. These changes aim to enhance the quality of the league and provide more opportunities for Indian players and coaches.
Mohun Bagan’s new head coach, Jose Molina, is gearing up for the new ISL season, aiming to build on the team’s success last year. The Mariners, fresh off a Shield win and ISL Cup runner-up finish, face Mumbai FC in their opening match. Molina emphasizes a uniform game plan for all competitions, including the AFC Champions League Two, while also looking forward to the return of midfielder Ashique Kuruniyan from a career-threatening injury.
Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug is embracing the new era for the national team after the retirement of several experienced players, including World Cup winners Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, and Toni Kroos. Fullkrug believes the lack of experience can be turned into an advantage, as the younger squad will be hungrier for success. He acknowledges the absence of Muller’s presence, both on and off the pitch, but emphasizes the team’s desire to achieve success despite the changes.
Irish striker Callum Robinson expects England midfielder Jack Grealish to receive a hostile reception from home fans during Saturday’s Nations League clash in Dublin. Grealish, who represented Ireland at youth level before switching to England, was recently recalled to the England squad after being dropped for Euro 2024 qualifiers.
