Football

In a thrilling encounter at San Mamés, Athletic Bilbao defeated Girona 3-2, halting the Catalans' impressive unbeaten streak and serving as a reality check for their lofty LaLiga title aspirations. Girona, who had been the season's early pacesetters, had gone 15 league games without a loss before suffering a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Real Madrid nine days prior. Their recent struggles continued, with only one win in their last five games across all competitions, leaving them vulnerable to being overtaken by Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the standings.The match began with Athletic Bilbao dominating possession and dictating the tempo. Their dominance paid off early when Alex Berenguer intercepted a pass from Aleix Garcia and slotted the ball past Girona goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga in just the second minute. Despite their early advantage, Athletic Bilbao missed several chances to extend their lead, including a glaring miss from close range by Inaki Williams in the seventh minute.Girona showed resilience and managed to equalize in the 49th minute through Viktor Tsyhankov, who tapped in a cross from Ivan Martin. However, Athletic Bilbao regained the lead seven minutes later when Berenguer struck again, this time with a composed finish. Williams then extended their advantage in the 60th minute, capitalizing on another Girona defensive error.Girona refused to give up and pulled one back in the 75th minute through Eric Garcia, who converted a free kick from Aleix Garcia. Despite their late push, Athletic Bilbao held on to secure their seventh consecutive home win, keeping their hopes of a top-four finish and a place in next season's Champions League alive.After the match, Athletic Bilbao forward Inaki Williams expressed his pride in the team's performance and emphasized the importance of looking up and continuing to dream. The result was a significant setback for Girona, who now face an uphill battle to maintain their position in the top three.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has launched an extensive investigation into allegations of betting and match-fixing in the Delhi Premier League. The probe was initiated after a Delhi league match on Monday raised suspicions of foul play. Ahbab FC, who were leading 4-0, conceded two questionable own goals late in the match against Rangers FC, ultimately winning 4-2.The video footage of the two own goals quickly went viral, prompting the AIFF to summon Football Delhi chief Anuj Gupta for an explanation. AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey announced that the federation would approach the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to conduct a thorough investigation and uncover the betting syndicate responsible.Chaubey emphasized that the investigation would not be limited to Delhi alone. He stated, "Our investigation will not be limited to Delhi. We have reasons to believe through evidences, such practice in other cities too, and will form a wider network for our investigations."The AIFF served an email notice to the Delhi Soccer Association, demanding clarification on the incident involving the February 19, 2024 match under the Delhi Premier League. An emergency meeting was held, attended by AIFF officials and DSA President Anuj Gupta, to discuss the incident and the host association's stance on the issue.Chaubey expressed the AIFF's commitment to investigating not just the specific match but the entire league. He said, "Several incremental evidences have been found which cast serious doubts on the entire league."To aid in the investigation, Chaubey plans to meet with the Joint Commissioner of Police, Anti-Corruption Bureau. He also advised the DSA to file a First Information Report (FIR) immediately.In response to the allegations, Football Delhi has taken swift action. The emergency executive of Football Delhi has suspended Ahbab FC with immediate effect until further notice. A show cause notice will also be served to Delhi Premier League Sub Committee Chairman Rizwan Ul Haq.Football Delhi has also announced its intention to file a complaint with the Delhi Police to investigate any "match fixing" in the Delhi Premier League.Football Delhi President Anuj Gupta acknowledged the allegations of unsporting behavior in the recently concluded Delhi Premier League 2023/24. He emphasized the need for strict measures against such incidents to ensure the development of football in Delhi.

India's senior women's football team is set to kick off their campaign at the Turkish Women's Cup 2024 in Alanya, Turkey, on Wednesday, February 15. This marks the third time India has participated in this prestigious tournament, having previously competed in 2019 and 2021. The team will face Estonia, Kosovo, and Hong Kong in a round-robin format, aiming to showcase their improved skills and determination.Seasoned defender Dalima Chibber expressed her excitement about the tournament, highlighting the team's familiarity with the environment and the positive impact of the ongoing Indian Women's League (IWL) season. She emphasized the importance of gaining experience through game time and utilizing it to deliver a strong performance in Turkey.Head coach Langam Chaoba Devi acknowledged the strength of Estonia as a physically and technically proficient team. However, she remained confident in India's abilities, emphasizing the team's unique qualities that can make a difference on the field. The Indian team has not seen action since their three games in the second round of the Olympic qualifiers in November 2022.Currently ranked 65th in the FIFA Women's World Rankings, India will face Estonia, ranked 98th. In 2023, Estonia faced Kosovo and North Macedonia, resulting in a 1-2 loss and a 1-1 draw, respectively. The Estonian team is led by former internationals Anastassia Morkovkina and Sirje Kapper, and features a young squad with thirteen players born after 2000.The Turkish Women's Cup 2024 serves as a valuable opportunity for India to gauge their progress and prepare for upcoming challenges. The team will look to build on their experiences and deliver a commendable performance against their opponents.

In a dramatic turn of events, AC Milan's Luka Jovic was handed a two-match ban in Serie A for his impulsive act of slapping Monza's Armando Izzo during their intense 4-2 defeat at Monza. The incident occurred early in the second half, with Milan trailing by two goals. Jovic's moment of indiscretion resulted in his dismissal, leaving his team a man down.Despite the setback, AC Milan displayed remarkable resilience. Olivier Giroud and Christian Pulisic stepped up to the challenge, scoring crucial goals in the dying minutes to level the score. However, Monza had the final say, delivering two stunning last-gasp strikes through Warren Bondo and Lorenzo Colombo, securing a memorable victory.Jovic's suspension will see him miss crucial matches against Atalanta and Lazio, both of whom are vying for a spot in the revamped Champions League next season. The Serbian forward's absence will be a significant blow to AC Milan's aspirations.In a separate incident, Lazio's sporting director, Mariano Fabiani, was slapped with a month-long suspension for his outburst against officials during their 2-1 defeat to Bologna. Fabiani's tirade at the end of the first half, where he aggressively contested the referee's performance, led to his ejection from the field. His behavior continued in the tunnel, where he reportedly pushed the referee in anger.Serie A's disciplinary committee took swift action, imposing a heavy ban on Fabiani for his unacceptable conduct. The incident highlights the need for maintaining sportsmanship and respecting officials' decisions in competitive matches.

The 77th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy is set to commence on Wednesday at the Golden Jubilee Stadium near Arunachal Pradesh's capital Itanagar. Defending champion Karnataka will lead the challenge in the final round, joined by 11 other teams divided into two groups of six each.The group stage qualifiers produced nine teams, while host Arunachal Pradesh and last year's finalists Karnataka and Meghalaya received automatic qualification. The addition of quarterfinals to the knock-out phase adds an extra layer of excitement, with the top four teams from each group advancing.The two groups appear evenly matched, with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Goa, Assam, Services, and Kerala in Group A. Group B consists of holder Karnataka, Maharashtra, Delhi, Manipur, Railways, and Mizoram. Notably, traditional powerhouses Bengal (32-time champion) and Punjab (eight-time winner) failed to make it to the final round.The opening day of the tournament features three matches. Meghalaya will face Services in the morning session, followed by Kerala's clash with Assam in the afternoon. The evening session will witness host Arunachal Pradesh taking on a formidable Goa side.The group stage will conclude on March 2, followed by the quarterfinals on March 4 and 5. The semifinals are scheduled for March 7, leading up to the grand finale on March 9.

Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine footballer, has been embroiled in a public relations crisis in China and Hong Kong following his absence from an exhibition match in Hong Kong on February 4. The incident sparked widespread disappointment and criticism, leading to the cancellation of two friendly matches in China and a barrage of negative comments on Chinese social media.In an attempt to address the controversy, Messi released a video message on Chinese social media platform Weibo on February 19, explaining his decision not to play in Hong Kong. He vehemently denied any political motivations behind his absence, stating that he had a legitimate groin injury that prevented him from participating in the match.Messi emphasized that he has a deep connection with China and its fans, having visited the country numerous times and expressing his admiration for its culture. He expressed regret for the disappointment caused by his absence and assured fans that he would never intentionally disrespect them.Despite Messi's apology, the damage to his reputation in China appears to be significant. The Global Times, a state-run newspaper, published an editorial suggesting that Messi's actions were politically motivated and aimed at embarrassing Hong Kong. This sentiment was echoed by many Chinese netizens, who expressed their anger and disappointment on social media.The fallout from the incident has resulted in the cancellation of two friendly matches involving Argentina in China. The sports bureau in Hangzhou canceled a match between Nigeria and Argentina, while the Beijing Football Association announced that the city had no plans to organize matches involving Messi.The organizer of the Hong Kong match, Tatler Asia, has apologized for the disappointment caused by Messi's absence and offered a 50% refund to ticket holders. The organizer stated that it would refund a total of 56 million Hong Kong dollars ($7.2 million), resulting in a loss of 43 million Hong Kong dollars ($5.5 million).Messi's attempt to address the PR disaster remains to be seen. It is unclear whether his apology will be enough to appease Chinese fans and restore his popularity in the country. The incident highlights the challenges faced by international athletes and celebrities when navigating the complex political and cultural landscape of China.

Roy Hodgson, the oldest manager in the English Premier League at 76, has stepped down from his position at Crystal Palace after a brief illness during a training session. The decision was made to allow the club to move forward with its plans to appoint a new manager. Austrian coach Oliver Glasner has been brought in as Hodgson's replacement until the end of the 2025-26 season.Hodgson, who had previously managed Palace from 2017 to 2021, returned to the club last March and successfully guided them to safety in the league after a poor run of form under Patrick Vieira. He expressed his gratitude for his time at Palace, emphasizing the club's special place in his footballing life.The former England coach, who has had a long and illustrious career, has managed several high-profile clubs, including Inter Milan and Liverpool. He also led the England national team from 2012 to 2016. Hodgson's departure marks the end of an era at Palace, as he was a respected and experienced figure in the Premier League.Oliver Glasner, the new Palace manager, has a reputation for success. He led Eintracht Frankfurt to the Europa League title in 2022 and has a proven track record of developing young talent. Palace chairman Steve Parish expressed his confidence in Glasner's ability to get the most out of the club's talented squad.Hodgson's exit from Palace raises questions about his future in football management. He had previously stated that he would retire after his first spell at Palace, only to return to the sport eight months later. It remains to be seen whether he will continue his coaching career or step away from the game altogether.