New Delhi, June 9 (IANS) Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan says his dream of officiating at the FIFA World Cup 2026 has been shattered after he was denied entry into the United States despite traveling with what he described as valid documentation and a proper visa.Artan was expected to be the first Somali referee to officiate at a World Cup finals. However, on Monday, he was removed from FIFA’s list of tournament officials after US immigration authorities prevented him from entering the coun…
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New York, June 9 (IANS) Somali referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan due to officiate in the FIFA World Cup has been denied entry to the United States, according to an official from his country’s sports ministry. Artan was among the 52 referees announced by Fifa to officiate at the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States, which runs from June 11 to July 19. He was set to be the first Somali referee to take charge of a game at the World Cup.An official in the Somali national football lea…
Lausanne, June 5 (IANS) The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) on Friday said the World Youth Championships 2026 will be held in Istanbul, Turkiye, from November 21 to 28 after a change of host from Bahrain, with the event dates remaining unchanged.The Bahrain Table Tennis Association decided to withdraw after close consultation with the ITTF, prioritising the safety and well-being of all athletes, officials, and delegations participating in the event due to the war in West Asia. ITTF …
Birmingham, May 16 (IANS) Aston Villa secured qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League after a commanding 4-2 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League on Friday, with Ollie Watkins starring with a brilliant brace.The victory moved Aston Villa up to fourth spot on 62 points from 37 games, knocking Liverpool down to fifth on 59 points and leaving them with an anxious battle to secure their own Champions League place.Unai Emery’s side produced a clinical attacking display at Vi…
Kathmandu, May 11 (IANS) Passengers aboard a Turkish Airlines flight whose landing gear caught fire during landing at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Monday morning were safely evacuated, a senior official of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) said. A fire suddenly broke out in the rear landing gear of a Turkish Airlines plane arriving in Kathmandu from Istanbul at around 6:35 a.m., prompting authorities to initiate evacuation measures.Gyanendra Bhul, information officer at CA…
New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) Doing around 8,500 steps a day can help people keep weight off after dieting, according to new research.To be presented at the ‘European Congress on Obesity’ (ECO 2026) in Istanbul, Turkey, from May 12-15, the study showed that there was a clear link between increasing step count and preventing weight regain. Specifically, it was important to increase step count during the weight loss phase and maintain this increase during the weight maintenance phase. Patients who …
Birmingham, May 8 (IANS) John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia powered Aston Villa into the UEFA Europa League final, courtesy of a 4-1 aggregate victory over Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals, triumphing 4-0 in a pulsating second leg at Villa Park.Villa will face Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League final at Istanbul’s Besiktas Park on May 20.Aston Villa, the 1982 European Cup winners, are through to their second major UEFA final. The Villans have not won a major trophy since 1996, losing four cup …
Berlin, May 8 (IANS) SC Freiburg reached the Europa League final for the first time in the club’s history after beating Sporting Braga 3-1 in the second leg of their semifinal to overturn a 2-1 first-leg deficit and set up a meeting with Aston Villa in Istanbul.Julian Schuster’s side advanced 4-3 on aggregate after the match was transformed almost immediately by Braga’s red card. Mario Dorgeles, scorer of the Portuguese club’s winner in the first leg, was dismissed in the sixth minute for a last…
Berlin, May 6 (IANS) Freiburg coach Julian Schuster has called for patience and discipline as his side looks to overturn a first-leg deficit and reach the 2026 UEFA Europa League final.Speaking ahead of Thursday’s semifinal second leg against Portugal’s Sporting Braga, Schuster said he remained confident his team could turn the tie around. “We have often done it this season, turned games,” the 41-year-old said.Freiburg trail 2-1 from the first leg after conceding a late goal, but their strong ho…
Manchester, May 1 (IANS) Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has paid an emotional tribute to defender John Stones, who will leave the club at the end of the ongoing season, while highlighting his immense contribution to the team’s success.Guardiola recalled his early memories of Stones, reflecting on their first meeting and the defender’s growth into a key figure during one of the most successful eras in the club’s history. “One of the first times I remember perfectly travelling to Lo…