United News of Bangladesh

The six times champions Dhaka Abahani Limited consolidated their claim for the runners-up position in the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football despite of playing 1-1 draw with mediocre Rahmatganj MFS at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Saturday. In the day’s other match, last time champions Bashundhara Kings made their runners-up hope uncertain after playing 1-1 draw with Fortis FC at the home ground of Bashundhara Kings Arena Saturday evening. Dhaka Mohammedan SC, which clinched the first-ever BPL crown with three matches spare earlier, now bagged 39 points from 17 matches with 12 win, three draw and two defeats and will play lowly Youngmen’s Club Fakirerpool in their remaining match on next Tuesday (May 29). The sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani Ltd, which bagged 32 points from 17 encounters with nine win, five draw and three defeats, now needed just a draw against Brothers Unions Club in their remaining match on next Tuesday to assure league runners-up spot. After a barren first half in Cumilla, Nigerian forward Emeka Ogbugh scored first for Dhaka Abahani Ltd in the 64th minute (1-0) while Ghanaian striker Samuel Boateng neutralized the margin for Rahmatganj MFS in the 74th minute (1-1). At the Kings Arena, midfielder Mohammad Abdullah put Fortis FC ahead in the 67th minute (1-0) while national colored forward Shekh Morsalin leveled the margin for the Kings in the 80th minute (1-1).. Bashundhara Kings, bagged 29 points from 17 matches with eight wins, five draw and four defeats, now have to win their remaining match with lowly Dhaka Wanderers Club on Tuesday and also have to await for Dhaka Abahani’s defeat against Brothers Union to decide their fate. In the day’s another match, Bangladesh Police FC beating relagated side Chittagong Abahani Limited by 2-1 goals at the Mymensingh District Stadium Saturday afternoon. Al Amin scored both the goals for Police FC in 11th and 49th minutes while MS Islam netted the lone goal for port city team Chittagong Abahani in the 64th minute. 

Real Madrid made it official on Friday that Carlo Ancelotti is leaving the club after the end of the Spanish league this weekend. Ancelotti had already been announced as the next Brazil coach but the Spanish club had yet to make any announcement about his departure. Ancelotti had another year left on his contract. “Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have reached an agreement to bring an end to his time as Real Madrid coach,” the club said in a statement. “Our club wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation for a man who is a true legend of both Real Madrid and world football.”  Messi's favorite goal, a header for Barcelona in 2009 Champions League final, to become work of art Madrid will pay tribute to Ancelotti on Saturday during the team's final match of the league season against Real Sociedad in the Spanish league at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Also bidding farewell on Saturday will be veteran midfielder Luka Modric. “Carlo Ancelotti will forever be part of the great madridista family," Madrid club president Florentino Pérez said. "We feel incredibly honored to have had the chance to enjoy a coach who has helped us achieve so much success, but who has also embodied our club’s values in such exemplary fashion.” Madrid had not released any reaction or statement about its coach since Brazil’s announcement. The official announcement of Ancelotti's departure opens the way for Madrid to announce its next coach, who is widely expected to be Xabi Alonso. The former Madrid player recently confirmed he is leaving Bayer Leverkusen. Ancelotti is leaving after four mostly successful years in his second stint with Madrid, which won both the Champions League and the Spanish league last season. Ancelotti also coached the club from 2013-2015. In total, he was in charge of Madrid in more than 350 matches and helped it win three Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups, two Spanish leagues, two Copa del Reys, three UEFA Super Cups and two Spanish Super Cups.  Man United faces more financial turmoil after Europa League final loss Madrid began the season by winning the UEFA Super Cup title but has mostly struggled since then. Many Madrid fans blamed Ancelotti for its relatively poor season, saying he lost control over the squad and wasn’t able to get the team ready for the clasicos against Barcelona, which won the league. Madrid lost all four matches against the Catalan club this season.

Lionel Messi has revealed his favorite goal, and it wasn't one of the hundreds he has scored with his legendary left foot. It was a header — one that sealed Barcelona's 2009 Champions League final win over Manchester United. The Inter Miami star, World Cup champion for Argentina and eight-time Ballon d'Or winner made the announcement on Thursday, saying that goal from 16 years ago stands above the many he has logged for club and country over his unparalleled career. “I’ve scored many goals that might have been even more beautiful and valuable — also because of their importance — but the header in the Champions League final against Manchester United has always been my favorite,” Messi said. Messi had plenty of options to choose from: He’s scored more than 800 goals for Argentina, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami. The reason that he picked one to stand out is for charity. A depiction of that goal is being turned into a work of art, one that will be auctioned off to raise money for various causes. Messi and the artist, Refik Anadol, will both sign the art piece, which will be unveiled by auction house Christie’s on June 11. Lionel Messi speaks after latest Inter Miami loss, says reeling team must stick together There will be a public exhibition period, along with an auction from July 15-22. A statement from Inter Miami on Thursday said that people within Christie's “suggest this one-of-a-kind work has all the makings of a record-breaking sale.” “Leo Messi’s goal is more than a defining moment in sport — it is a complex expression of human intent, memory, and motion," Anadol said. “By integrating biosensing technologies and advanced AI systems trained on data from that singular event, we are exploring a new frontier in AI art — one in which data becomes emotion, and memory becomes form.” The goal put Barcelona up 2-0 in the 70th minute, and that was the final score of the match. It was like few others in Messi's career. Barcelona's Xavi Hernández came down the right side of the field and lofted a chip into the penalty box. Messi — not known for headers — leaped to reach the ball that was estimated to be nearly 9 feet (2.70 meters) in the air, redirecting it with his head past Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van de Sar. Messi tumbled to the ground, losing one of his cleats in the process. He picked up the shoe and took off in celebration. “I already knew how special Refik Anadol’s work is, and after we had the chance to meet in Miami, it’s going to be exciting to see how he can transform a goal — a moment in sports — into a unique piece of art, like the ones he creates,” Messi said. Allende scores twice to help Inter Miami tie the Earthquakes 3-3 in Messi's MLS Bay Area debut Proceeds from the sale will benefit multiple nonprofits, the team said, including the Inter Miami CF Foundation’s global partnership with UNICEF.

Real Madrid’s captain Luka Modric has confirmed he will leave the club following their FIFA Club World Cup campaign this summer. The 39-year-old Croatian midfielder, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2018, is set to play his final match at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday when Real face Real Sociedad in their last La Liga fixture of the season. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Modric said, “The moment has arrived—one I never wanted, but that’s football. In life, everything has a beginning and an end.” Since joining Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, Modric has won 28 titles, including six UEFA Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles. Man United faces more financial turmoil after Europa League final loss “I came in 2012 with the dream of playing for the best club in the world and aiming high, but I could never have imagined all that followed,” he reflected. “Playing for Real Madrid changed my life—both as a player and as a person. I’m proud to have contributed to one of the most successful periods in this club’s storied history.” Real Madrid will begin their Club World Cup campaign on June 18 against Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia, with group stage matches also set against Pachuca (Mexico) and RB Salzburg (Austria). Source: BBC  

The financial consequences of Manchester United losing in the Europa League final should be painful and affect the club for years. It was a zero-sum game Tottenham won 1-0 on Wednesday: Winner goes into the Champions League — plus the UEFA Super Cup game in August — and loser is out of Europe next season and gets nothing. United lost a drab match despite, as soccer finance expert Kieran Maguire noted on Thursday, having higher revenue than Tottenham and spending 64% more on wages for a more expensively acquired squad of players. Tottenham also beat United twice in the Premier League this season, and in the domestic League Cup. “If I was teaching this at management school (I) would conclude that there is something seriously wrong with the culture of the organization … which is set by senior management,” Maguire wrote on X. Beyond the loss of sporting opportunities and reputational prestige, the club owned by the Glazer family from the United States and British billionaire industrialist Jim Ratcliffe has short and longer-term financial hits ahead. Tottenham players left without medals after Europa League final victory No Champions League play next season is an instant loss of at least 80 million euros ($90 million), and approaching 150 million euros ($169 million) for a run deep into the knockout stage. United also misses out on the 4 million euros ($4.5 million) Tottenham will get from UEFA for playing the Super Cup against the Champions League titleholder — either Inter Milan or Paris Saint-Germain — on Aug. 13 at Udinese’s stadium in Italy. The winner gets a bonus of 1 million euros ($1.1 million). After failing to qualify for the 2025 Club World Cup — which has a $1 billion prize fund from FIFA and should pay more than $100 million to a successful European team — United is now far behind in qualifying for the 2029 edition. European teams qualify for the FIFA event only by being in the Champions League, either winning the title or building consistent results over four seasons. United already will miss the entire first half of the 2024-28 qualifying period, and it is hard to project the team that last won the Premier League 12 years ago both qualifying for and then winning a Champions League title within three years. One clear solution to growing financial issues and the ability to comply with Premier League rules is selling the club’s best players, like captain Bruno Fernandes and out-of-favor forward Marcus Rashford, or its homegrown prospects. Some already earn high wages which are problematic for potential buyers. A talent drain risks speeding a spiral of decline on and off the field if coach Ruben Amorim is left trying to rebuild with a weaker pool of players. While United is still one of Europe's highest-earning clubs, UEFA's annual research shows its advantage is in decline, even though revenue was a club record 661.8 million pounds ($887 million) last year. A UEFA chart showed that over five years from 2019-24 — pre-COVID-19 through to the post-pandemic recovery in the soccer industry — United’s revenue grew at a slower rate than all of its biggest English rivals except Chelsea. Europa League final: It's all or nothing for Man United and Tottenham Revenue now risks dropping, and another income cut is coming from falling to 16th in the Premier League standings with one round left on Sunday. Premier League prize money based on final position in the standings means dropping from eighth a year ago to 16th is a difference of 22 million pounds ($29.5 million) less. It all adds up to another loss-making season after a 113.2 million pounds ($152) deficit last season. The three previous years totaled losses of 236 million pounds ($316 million). The league’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) allow clubs to lose 105 million pounds ($140.7 million) over a three-year period or face sanctions, though United can cite some exemptions. Ratcliffe, who has operational control despite being a minority shareholder, is already the public face of unpopular cuts to jobs and staff benefits, and rising ticket prices for fans. “This is not sustainable," the club told fans in January, "and if we do not act now we are in danger of failing to comply with PSR/FFP (financial fair play) requirements in future years and significantly impacting our ability to compete on the pitch.”

Striker Son Heung-min was among the Tottenham players left without winner's medals during the awards ceremony for the Europa League final on Wednesday. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin appeared to be caught by surprise when the medals ran out before all Tottenham players had received them following the team's 1-0 win over Manchester United, AP reports. UEFA later said that the problem occurred because Tottenham sent too many people to receive their medals during the ceremony. Tottenham and Man United fans clash ahead of Europa League final Soccer's European governing body said the clubs had been informed that only 30 medals would be presented on stage to each club. It said 20 further medals were given to the club following the ceremony for distribution to players and staff. Son, who lifted the trophy in front of his teammates in the awards ceremony, was among the few players who didn't receive his medal on the field. It was Tottenham's first major title since 2008.

Three members of the Bangladesh national team will not travel to Pakistan for the upcoming three-match T20I series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on Wednesday. Pace bowler Nahid Rana, strength and conditioning coach Nathan Kelly, and fielding coach James Pamment have all opted out of the tour due to personal security concerns.  UAE elect to field first in third T20I vs Bangladesh BCB’s cricket operations chairman Nazmul Abedin Fahim told reporters at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium that Rana was particularly affected by his experience during the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which coincided with the cross-border conflict between India and Pakistan earlier this month. “Nahid Rana expressed discomfort over traveling to Pakistan after his PSL experience. He was in the country during the tense days of the India-Pakistan conflict and does not feel safe returning,” Fahim said.  Tanzid Hasan breaks into ICC top 100 after T20I fifty Kelly and Pamment have also cited similar reasons. All three will return home after the UAE series concludes. The BCB, following government clearance, recently confirmed Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan from May 28 to June 1. However, players and staff were given the option to opt out if they felt unsafe. The rest of the squad will travel to Lahore from the UAE on May 25.

Newly crowned Dhaka Mohammedan SC conceded 2nd defeat in the 10-team Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football losing to mediocre Rahmatganj MFS  by 3-4 goals at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla on Wednesday. Mohammedan SC tasted the first defeat against lowly Youngmen's Club Fakirerpool in  the last match of the first phase league and they played draw with Dhaka Abahani and Fortis FC in the 2nd phase of the ongoing league. The match between Mohammedan and Rahmatganj was abandoned after 18 minutes on Tuesday for unplayable ground following inclement weather when Dhaka Mohammedan SC were leading by 2-1 goals. The traditional black and white Mohammedan SC, which assured their first- ever professional league crown with three matches to spare last Saturday, today appeared the field at 1:15 pm to play the remaining part of 72 minutes and conceded three goals in the time scoring only one. Ghana forward Samuel Boateng, who scored one goal on Tuesday, today (Wednesday) completed a hattrick for Rahmatganj MFS scoring three goals while Tajuddin netted the remaining goal for Rahmatganj MFS. Long serving Mali booter Souleymane Diabate struck twice and Nigerian Emmanuel Sunday scored one goal for Mohammedan. UAE elect to field first in third T20I vs Bangladesh In the day's other match, Dhaka Abahani Limited consolidated their claim for the league runners-up position outplaying relegated side Chittagong Abahani Limited by 5-0 goals also at the Shaheed Dhirendranath Datta Stadium in Cumilla Wednesday afternoon. Enamul Islam Gazi scored twice, Emeka Ogbugh ,  Asaduzzaman  Bablu, Raphael Augusto scored one each for Dhaka Abahani. The day's another match between Fortis FC and Police FC ended in 1-1 draw at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Wednesday. Al Amin put Police FC ahead in the 44th minute while Gambian striker  Pa Omar Babou leveled the margin for Fortis SC in the 67th minute.  After the day's 16th round matches,  champions Dhaka Mohammedan SC have secured 38 points, Dhaka Abahani brightened their chance for league runners up position collecting 31 points, Bashundhara Kings bagged 28 points,  Rahmatganj MFS and Brothers Union bagged 26 points each, Police FC earned 24 and Fortis FC bagged 23 points.

Clashes between fans of Tottenham and Manchester United have been reported ahead of the Europa League final in Spain on Wednesday. Confrontations took place in the center of Bilbao and in some nearby cities where many of the supporters were staying to avoid overpriced accommodation in the host city, AP reports. More than 50,000 English fans were expected in the Basque Country city of Bilbao, according to local officials. Europa League final: It's all or nothing for Man United and Tottenham There were no reports of serious injuries in the confrontations, which happened mostly overnight as fans arrived. Images reproduced by Spanish media showed the supporters clashing on the streets of Bilbao, with some throwing tables, trash bins, bottles and other objects at each other. There were also reports of confrontations in San Sebastian and Santander, other Basque Country cities filled with English fans, many without tickets for the final. UEFA this week warned fans about buying unauthorized tickets that were unlikely to get them into the stadium. The clubs were each allocated 15,000 tickets in the 50,000-capacity venue, with some priced at just 40 euros ($45). Prices in the thousands of euros have been demanded on secondary ticketing websites.

It's all or nothing when Manchester United and Tottenham meet in the Europa League final on Wednesday. For the winner of the all-English showdown in Bilbao there is the mother of all get-out-of-jail-free cards with entry to the Champions League. For the loser, the abyss of no European soccer next year, the indignity of so many unwanted records broken, and uncertainty hanging over the futures of those who have presided over such a spectacular fall. That's what's on the line at Estadio de San Mamés when two English soccer giants get one last shot at salvaging the season. Seasons of woe Long gone are the days when United dominated the Premier League and challenged the summit of European soccer on a regular basis. But even after 12 years without winning the English title, this season has represented a new low. United is 16th out of 20 in the standings after a club-record 18 defeats in a single campaign since the Premier League began in 1992. It is also certain to register its worst-ever points total in the era, as well as its lowest finish. “We have bigger things to deal with to get this club back on top. Tomorrow can help, and give us the strength to do what we have to do,” Man United coach Ruben Amorim said Tuesday. "People will look at our team in a different way if you win a European title. It will help us for the future. But it doesn’t change the season.” Tottenham is one place below United having lost 21 times in the league — also a club record in the modern era. Guardiola: I'd Quit Man City before having a aloated squad “It’s hard to contextualize the last couple of years," Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou said Tuesday. "I’ve tried to stick to the process of getting the club to where they can compete for trophies while rejuvenating the squad. It has been a fair challenge, but tomorrow there is the opportunity to achieve the main objective.” Spurs — Champions League runner-up in 2019 — are aiming for a first trophy since the 2008 English League Cup. Champions League lifeline It is rare that such a major final has so much riding on it beyond the trophy itself. Neither team has looked capable of challenging for a top five position in the Premier League, which would secure Champions League qualification. But in a season when both teams occupy the last safe spots before relegation, they have a mind-boggling lifeline to the Champions League via the Europa League. The Champions League offers the prestige of playing beside teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona, draws prospective signings, and comes with huge financial rewards. Real Madrid earned almost $154 million from winning the competition for a record-extending 15th time last season. Total prize money has increased from $2 billion last season to $2.7 billion in this expanded season. “It’s a great prize, and we know the significance of playing in the Champions League," Postecoglou said. "But the club has been in the Champions League before; we haven’t won a trophy in a very long time.” United, in particular, could do with some of that money at a time of job losses and cuts under new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe, while Amorim hopes to rebuild his squad in the offseason. Trophy drought While a return to the Champions League is also enticing for Tottenham, the chance to end its trophy barren run may be even more appealing. Not even top class managers like Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho or Antonio Conte ended Spurs' wait for major silverware. Lionel Messi speaks after latest Inter Miami loss, says reeling team must stick together It could be destiny that Postecoglou is the man to end the drought, having boldly predicted early in the season that he always wins a trophy in his second year. That was true at previous clubs Brisbane Roar, Yokohama F Marinos and Celtic — but it would be remarkable if he continued that run on the back of such a desperate campaign. “It’s not for the want of world-class players. This club has had world-class players,” Postecoglou says. “It’s not for the want of world-class managers. They’ve had world-class managers. It’s something else that’s going to change this club.” By contrast, United has continued to win trophies despite its failure to win the Premier League since former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. This could be the third straight year United ends the season with silverware after winning the 2023 League Cup and the 2024 FA Cup. Under pressure Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag as United coach in November but has not been able to turn its form around. He's lost 14 of his 26 league games, including six of the last eight. While there has been no suggestion his job is under immediate threat, he has raised doubts about his position, admitting he is embarrassed by his team's form. Postecoglou is two years into the job at Spurs and became the club's fourth permanent manager in four years when joining from Celtic in 2023. A major trophy would put a different complexion on a season in which Spurs have dramatically fallen since he led them to a fifth-place finish in his first year. He and Amorim have spoken of the similarities about their positions. SAFF U-19 Champs: Bangladesh finish runners-up losing to hosts India in penalty shootout “I guess from an emotional standpoint and the noise around the club," Postecoglou says, "we’re kind of dealing with similar things of something that is so fantastic in terms of a European run, and also something that’s obviously the opposite of that, the other extreme in the league."