Dortmund fans throw fake money to protest UEFA’s planned reforms
Dortmund, Nov 8: Borussia Dortmund fans threw fake money and fake bars of gold onto the field during the team’s 2-0 win over Newcastle in the Champions League on Tuesday to protest UEFA’s planned reforms of the competition. The supporters held a huge banner across nearly the whole length of one of the goal-ends saying, “You don’t care about the sport – all you care about is money!” Another banner depicted FIFA president Gianni Infantino flanked on either side by Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli. The banner showed Infantino wearing a cap stating, “Cash rules everything about me,” while Al-Khelaifi was depicted with money stuck in his ears. UEFA wants to increase the number of participants and games in the Champions League. “It’s about the fan in front of the screen and an increase in the number of games that can be consumed in front of the screen,” the supporters group said. “This results in higher TV revenues and therefore more money for associations and clubs – at the expense of players, fans and national competitions.” (AP)
Palestinians to play Australia in ‘home’ game at neutral Kuwait
Sydney, Nov 8: Football Australia says its Socceroos will play Palestine in a second-round 2026 World Cup qualifier at the neutral venue of Kuwait on Nov. 21. “As a result of current circumstances in the region, the Asian Football Confederation formally requested that this designated home fixture for Palestine be held at a neutral venue,” Football Australia said in a statement. Australian football administrators said the match would be played at Jaber Al-Ahmed International Stadium in Kuwait, five days after the Socceroos open the second round of Asian qualifying against Bangladesh in Melbourne. (PTI)
Israel to play UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches in Hungary
Budapest, Nov 8: Even before last month’s Hamas attacks in Israel, the leader of Hungary had long promoted his country as the safest in Europe for Jews. Now, the Israeli men’s team is taking his word and heading to a tiny Hungarian village as it prepares to play its remaining home games in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying tournament. Now, they’ll be in an opulent stadium thought to be the pet project of a well-known football fanatic: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán himself. Israel will host “home” games against Switzerland next Wednesday and Romania three days later as it chases a qualifying place in the continental championship, which would be its first since joining the European football federation in 1994. (AP)