‘The better team lost, PSG told us’: Arsenal manager Arteta after UCL semis loss; Enrique disagrees
Trophy-hungry Arsenal will end one more season without any silverware after losing 2-1 and 3-1 on aggregate to Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League at Parc des Princes on Thursday, failing in their bid to become only the third team in the tournament’s history to reach the Champions League final after losing the first leg of its semifinal at home. Although Arsenal’s play was good throughout the semifinal in both legs, they lost both matches to a rock-solid PSG. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believed Arsenal were the better side. “I think so (the better team lost). Especially for 160 minutes. They (PSG) told us,” he said, referring to PSG admitting it, too. “It was a case of most of the performance was there, but just the finishing of the chances wasn’t.” Arsenal enjoyed most of the possession in the second leg in Paris. The Gunners had 61 attacks compared to PSG’s 26, including 19 attempts at goal. However, PSG manager Luis Enrique said Arteta is his great friend, but he disagreed with his point of view and believed PSG deserved to proceed to the finals. Arteta also pointed out that PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had been the best player in both legs with his decisive saves. “He has won the game for them,” Arteta said. “We know that, to win a competition, someone in one of the two boxes has to do something special, to win it for you and make it happen.” Arsenal have not won major silverware since lifting the FA Cup nearly five years ago in manager Mikel Arteta’s first season in charge. They lost the Champions League final to Barcelona in 2006 and the semi-finals to Manchester United in 2009 and have not been back to the last four since.
Sunil remains, but Gurpreet out of the probables for the Thailand friendly and the Asian Cup qualifier; Suhail Bhat gets maiden call
India head coach Manolo Márquez announced a 28-member probables’ squad for the national camp in Kolkata on 18th May before the June FIFA International window. Mohun Bagan Super Giants striker Suhail Ahmad Bhat has received a maiden call-up for his impressive performance in the Super Cup, while the country’s leading custodian, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, remains out of the side. He last played for India in a friendly against Malaysia last year, where his blunder gifted a goal to the opponent in a 1-1 draw. He was kept out of the squad for India’s first two games of 2025, a friendly against the Maldives and the Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh, with Vishal Kaith replacing him between the sticks. However, in a bid to regain his form Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has gone back to his former Norweian club Stabæk Fotball, which currently plays in the Norwegian first division league, which is the second tier in the country to undergo an intense training with the first eleven. He posted on the social media recently that he got permission to train only with the club’s first eleven for around two months. The Bengaluru FC shot-stopper would be training under his former goalkeeping coach, Espen Granli. India is currently eyeing three consecutive qualifications in the AFC Asian Cup, and is drawn in Group C with Bangladesh, Hong Kong China, and Singapore in the third round of qualifiers. The Blue Tigers’ next big competitive fixtures will be against Hong Kong, which they will play away on 10th June at the Kai Tak Sports Park, in Kowloon City. The first two qualifiers in Group C, between India and Bangladesh in Shillong, and between Singapore and Hong Kong, China, in Singapore, ended in stalemates, leaving all four teams with a point apiece. As part of its preparations for the qualifier, India will have a 10-day training camp in Kolkata, followed by a friendly against Thailand on 4th June.
Pakistani cricketer dies on the field while playing PCB Challenge League
Pakistan’s cricketing community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 24-year-old fast bowler Aleem Khan, who suffered a fatal cardiac arrest during a PCB Challenge League match in Bannu on 5th May. The young pacer collapsed in the middle of his bowling run-up, prompting immediate medical attention. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital. Hailing from Bannu, Aleem had been steadily making a name for himself in Pakistan’s domestic cricket scene. While he had yet to break into top-tier competitions, his performances in regional leagues showcased his potential. His recent outings, as reported by CricHeroes, highlighted his talent—he took seven wickets across T20 matches and also contributed valuable lower-order runs, including a knock of 11 runs, reinforcing his ability as a bowling all-rounder. The PCB Challenge League, an initiative aimed at nurturing emerging cricketers, now faces scrutiny over medical preparedness and player health safeguards in domestic tournaments, especially in remote venues. Umpire Inamullah Khan, who witnessed the tragic incident, described how Aleem suddenly collapsed mid-bowl. Medical assistance was called immediately, but despite swift action, his life could not be saved. Expressing sorrow, PCB Director of Domestic Cricket, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, called Aleem’s passing an irreplaceable loss for Pakistan cricket. The shocking incident has reignited discussions on the physical demands placed on athletes and the urgent need for enhanced health monitoring systems in domestic cricket to prevent similar tragedies.
IPL to continue as schedule despite Operation Sindoor
The Indian Premier League will continue as per schedule amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. A top source in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told India Today that there is no change to the IPL schedule at present, even as the board closely monitors the situation. A total of 56 matches out of 74 have been played in the IPL 2025 season, with the race to the playoffs heating up. The IPL, which began on 22 May, has carried on even as terrorists killed 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on 22 April. On Wednesday, India launched Operation Sindoor a tri-service counter-offensive that saw coordinated strikes on nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam. Notably, a group calling itself The Resistance Front (TRF), recognized as a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack. “BCCI is monitoring the situation and depending on circumstances, a call will be taken. For now, the IPL will run as per schedule,” a top BCCI source said. While speaking to India Today about the IPL’s contingency measures, he said, “The IPL Governing Council is keeping an eye on the situation. There are a lot of speculative things going on; we cannot do anything about that. But whenever the time comes to take such a decision where it seems that something needs to be done in the country’s interest, then the BCCI will stand in solidarity with the government and the nation.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s eldest son gets maiden Portugal U-15 call-up
Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo’s eldest son Cristiano dos Santos has been called up to the Portugal U-15 football team for the first time on Tuesday. The development of Dos Santos getting selected in the youth national team was shared by the Al Nassr star who took to Instagram to share the exciting news. Like his father, the 14-year-old Dos Santos currently plays for the Al Nassr youth team in Saudi Arabia. He also had spells at Juventus and Manchester United- Ronaldo’s former clubs. Portugal U-15 will face the likes of Japan, Greece and England at the Vlatko Markovic youth tournament in Croatia scheduled to be held from May 13 to 18. Beaming with pride, Ronaldo wrote on Instagram, “Proud of you, son.” Dos Santos’s made a move to Al Nassr from Manchester United in 2023 after Ronaldo left the Old Trafford following a fall out with then Red Devils boss Erik Ten Hag. Prior to that, Dos Santos represented Juventus at the youth level. Following his move to Al Nassr, Dos Santos impressed everyone in the Saudi Arabian youth division. He has also been at Real Madrid academy. According to a BBC report, Dos Santos has scored as many as 58 goals in a season during his time with Juventus. He has also played alongside former Manchester United great Wayne Rooney’s son, Kai, at the Old Trafford during Ronaldo’s second stint with English giants. Notably, Dos Santos is also eligible to play for the United States – his country of birth – and Spain because of Ronaldo’s residency when his father was playing for Real Madrid.
Coach says support staff and physiotherapist are the ‘unsung heroes’
Sudeep Pakrashi Bengal football has been facing criticism and disappointment over the vacuum in producing promising footballers from the state, but Bengal Football Academy (BFA) is setting an example. A contingent that consists of footballers, coaches, and even the state administrator has drawn the attention of the country’s football fraternity through an inspiring performance in the ongoing AIFF Elite Under-17 league in Guwahati. Subrata Bhattacharya, the team’s Under-17 coach however opined his support-staff, especially the team’s physiotherapist Gautam Mitra are the unsung heroes behind the team’s consistent show. BFA has been in stupendous form in the elite phase of the ongoing AIFF under-17 elite league, being unbeaten with four consecutive victories and a draw against AIFA to ensure a berth in the quarterfinal. Before their convincing 2-0 victory against Mohun Bagan on Tuesday, BFA humbled the teams like Kerala Blasters, Sreenidi Deccan and Mohammedan Sporting. The significant part of their consistency is the fitness of the team and the exuberance the boys have been showing on the pitch despite the crude reality that they are getting only one-day rest between the two matches. Bhattacharya when asked about the key factors behind the consistent show, explained, “I do not want to mention Tuesday’s victory only against heavyweight Mohun Bagan. The important thing is the boys’ consistency despite the lack of adequate rest between the two matches. We are getting only one day’s rest between two matches.” He continued, “This has been possible only due to our support-staff, especially physiotherapist Gautam Mitra’s huge contribution. He has been showing magic, helping even an injured footballer to recover and play his next match within only a day. The other coaches of this team and the physiotherapist are the real heroes.” Simultaneously, the experienced coach praised the BFA’s Chief Executive Officer Deep Krishna Hazra for his tireless hard work for the boys, off the field. “Despite being busy with administrative activities, he has been with us in Guwahati for the last two weeks and making arrangement of everything the boys and coaches need every day. His support has become a big motivation for the boys.” Bhattacharya also lamented that Tanbir Dey who struck 50 goals already this season is still being overlooked for the youth national call-up. “The 16-year-old boy has scored 50 goals this season already. Is not it enough to get a national call-up? I feel sad to have noticed that nowadays in the case of national call-ups, only players’ height and weight are observed, not his skill,” explained Bhattacharya. But at the same time, the coach heaped praise on other footballers also saying, “Not only Tanbir, other boys have also been in excellent form especially defender Roshan Chhetri and Ishan Debnath, the midfielder have been performing brilliantly.” Under-16 national coach Isfaq Ahmed is presently in Guwahati to scout potential footballers. It is learned that he is impressed by Tanbir’s performance so far. BFA will face Punjab FC in the quarter-final on Thursday.
Goa raise questions over the transparency of AIFF awards
GFA president Caitano Fernandes sent a letter to the All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey about the ‘twisted and unjustified’ manner in which the AIFF Awards were selected and handed out”. Significantly, GFA did not receive any recognition at the annual ceremony. According to a report from News9 Sports GFA president, in his letter extended congratulations to all the deserving award winners and Member Associations, but wrote, “I also write with a sense of anguish and a need for clarity regarding the selection process and the rationale behind the award categories, particularly those for Member Associations. Specifically, I would like to understand who within the AIFF, or which specific committee, was responsible for deciding the AIFF award categories for Member Associations for the year 2025.” Fernandes pointed out how Goa, with approximately 6800 players registered on AIFF’s centralized registration system (CRS) out of a population of 15 lakh was overlooked for the winning members association, whose registrations amount to 0.04% of its population (5 lakh out of a population of 127 million) was overlooked by the AIFF. Goa also organized over 1400 matches this season where almost 200 registered clubs took part. “We feel that this is a very skewed method of identifying the winner in this category because the smaller states will always fall behind even though technically football is more popular amongst the populace,” was Fernandes’ observation. “We are probably the only state that organizes l6 leagues and have a well-structured youth competition for both boys and girls, which was even commended by the (AIFF) League Committee,” commented Caitano while speaking to News9 Sports. Not only Goa, but a few other officials of a few other state associations also expressed wonder and disappointment while speaking to News9 Sports as they were also ignored in the AIFF award function, held on 2nd May in Bhubaneswar.
Shikhar Dhawan Steps into entertainment with music video ‘Besos’ Featuring Jacqueline Fernandez
Cricket’s beloved Gabbar, known for his thunderous cover drives and infectious smile, is set to steal hearts once again–this time, not on the field, but in front of the camera. Shikhar Dhawan is expanding his presence in the world of entertainment with a brand-new avatar: a performer in a high-energy music video titled ‘Besos’. And he is not alone. Bollywood’s dazzling actress, Jacqueline Fernandez has joined him in the music video. The two are collaborating for the first time, and the pairing has already sparked excitement among fans, according to a release. The track, described as funky, vibrant, and full of flair, is expected to bring out a playful, rhythmic side of Dhawan that fans have not seen before, according to the media release. Whether it is matching steps with a Bollywood superstar or bringing his signature swagger to the screen, Shikhar seems ready to show that his talents go well beyond cricket stadiums. Set to release on YouTube on May 8, 2025, Besos promises to be more than just a song–it is an experience, a vibe, and perhaps the beginning of a new chapter for the cricketer-turned-entertainer. This is not Dhawan’s first foray into entertainment. Fans may remember his brief cameo in the 2022 Bollywood film Double XL. But Besos marks his most prominent role yet in front of the camera, the release said. Dhawan played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, 68 T20Is, and scored 10,867 runs in international cricket. He has played 222 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches and scored 6,769 runs. He retired from international cricket and all forms of Indian cricket last year.
Saudi Arabia wins hosting rights of U-17 Asian Cup football for three years; India to start campaign in SAFF U-19 from 9th May
Saudi Arabia has won the hosting rights of Under-17 Asian Cup men’s football competition for the next three consecutive years for 2025, 2026 and 2027. After Fifa announced that the Under-17 men’s World Cup football championship will take place every year starting from 2025, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has decided to stage the under-17 Asian Cup every year. Along with Saudi Arabia, China and Iraq expressed desire to get the hosting rights for the next three years. Among the three countries China and Saudi Arabia fulfilled all the terms and conditions in their biddings. Saudi finally won the rights. Incidentally, the last Under17 Asian Cup men’s football competition took place in Saudi Arabia last month from 3rd to 20th April. Uzbekistan clinched the title defeating the hosts for the second time. Meanwhile, 23-member under-19 Indian squad for the forthcoming SAFF Under-19 championship has been announced by the chief coach Bibiano Fernandez on Tuesday. Among the 23 footballers, 13 from North East states have ensured their berths in the final team. The tournament will take place at Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh from 9th to 18th May. Six countries, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan Maldives and Sri Lanka will vie for the title. India will start their campaign on 9th May against Sri Lanka.
Argentina’s World Cup-winning defender Luis Galvan dies at 77
Former Argentine Wold Cupper defender Luis Galvan died on Monday at the age of 77, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said. Galvan was a member of the World Cup-winning Argentine squad in 1978 which defeated Netherlands 3-1. Local media reported that Galvan had been in the Reina Fabiola Clinic in Cordoba with pneumonia for several weeks. “The AFA and its entire leadership extend heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends during this painful time,” the association said in a statement on Monday. Galvan played as a centre-back in Argentina’s 3-1 win over the Netherlands in the 1978 World Cup final in Buenos Aires. He also represented Argentina at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, earning a total of 34 caps for the national team. He retired from the international game in 1983. Galvan continued playing for boyhood club Talleres de Cordoba, setting a club record with 503 appearances over 17 seasons in two spells, first from 1970 to 1982 and later from 1986 to 1987.
