BIRMINGHAM (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – An important victory with a Champions League flavour, a tearful farewell that for the Aston Villa fans has the bitter taste of a potential farewell.

It all happened last night in Birmingham, the home team beats Tottenham 2-0 and, with one round to go, remains in the running for qualification for the top European competition. An important victory, certainly, but not to the point of moving a world champion like Dibu Martinez.

Yet the Argentine goalkeeper says goodbye to the fans and leaves the pitch in tears, just as happens when a fan favourite knows that his professional life is about to change. According to the British tabloids, the future of “Dibu” will no longer be at Aston Villa despite a contract until 2029, he has pharaonic offers from Saudi Arabia, but he has already said no because he wants to continue playing at the top levels. A prospect that other big teams in the Premier League and in general in the best European leagues are ready to offer him.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has joined six other countries in signing a joint declaration highlighting the urgent need to restore humanitarian aid access to Gaza, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced following the sixth European Political Community (EPC) summit held in Albania.

The declaration, co-signed by Malta, emphasizes the critical importance of allowing life-saving assistance into Gaza, where basic necessities remain scarce due to ongoing conflict and blockades.

“You cannot have a situation where hundreds of thousands of people are suffering from hunger and thirst, deprived of the most basic and sanitary living conditions-immense suffering that is beyond description. That is precisely why this declaration is so important”, Prime Minister Abela stated.

The EPC summit, a French-led initiative designed to promote political dialogue and cooperation across Europe, brought together 47 heads of state and government, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The summit served as a platform for bilateral talks and roundtable discussions on irregular migration-another issue high on Maltàs foreign policy agenda.

The summit also focused heavily on the ongoing war in Ukraine, with European leaders presenting a united front. The summit closed with strong calls for unity in the face of geopolitical crises, underscoring the EPC’s role as a key platform for coordinating Europès responses to shared challenges.

– Photo DOI –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL) (ITALPRESS) – A few hours after the dismissal of the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, Ednaldo Rodrigues, by the Court of Rio de Janeiro, The CBF has announced that on Sunday, May 25, a vote will be held to elect a new president. It’s not a day like any other: 24 hours later, on May 26, the new coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to arrive in Brazil, he who was chosen, long pursued and then hired by Rodrigues.

The Italian coach is meanwhile preparing the first calls for the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador and Paraguay. Fernando Sarney, appointed by the Court to manage the electoral process, according to the Brazilian press is one of the most accredited candidates for the position of new president. Among the possible successors of Rodrigues will not be Ronaldo O Fenomeno. The other names mentioned: number 1 of the Paulista Federation, Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos, or Samir Xaud, 41 years old, who according to Uol Esporte, could also be chosen for his young age.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

“The FA Cup was not the our first choice but once we are here we want to win it,
is extremely important”. Pep Guardiola does not hide that FA Cup was not among the priorities but after the premature exit from the Champions and a Premier who did not never seen Manchester City in the race for the title, the final with the Crystal Palace becomes a contest not to be missed.

“It’s final of the FA Cup, an honour and privilege. Of course we have to perform well. We travel to London and we will try to win the title”, he says.

“Last year we were disappointed with our performance. To win the trophy you have to be there and win previous games and we have done it many times in previous years”, Guardiola added.

“It is a fantastic team. They have had a good season, second part. More than a year with Oliver Glasner working with the same players”, he concluded talking about Crystal Palace.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

 

Source: medNews

ZURICH (SWITZERLAND) (ITALPRESS) – The play-off between Giroud and Lloris’ Los Angeles FC and Mexicans Club America has been set for May 31 at 7:30 p.m. local time, at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, to secure the last available spot at the next Club FIFA World Cup to replace Leon, excluded by the CAS because the admission criteria relating to timeshare were not met as the company is headed by the same majority shareholder as Pachuca, another team admitted to the tournament.

The play-off – which includes extra time and penalties in the case of a draw – will therefore pit LAFC, the finalist of the 2023 Concacaf Champions League won by Leon, against Club America, the first of the excluded teams according to the ranking. The winner will be placed in Group D with Flamengo, Fenerbahce and Chelsea.

– foto IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROMA (ITALPRESS) – Diplomatic incident among international soccer’s top brass in Paraguay. A number of European leaders, including Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin, left the proceedings of the 75th Fifa Congress because they were annoyed by the delay of Uefa President Gianni Infantino, who was returning from a trip he made to the Middle East along with U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Changing the work schedule at the last minute for reasons that appear to be simply related to private political interests does soccer no favors and risks putting its interests on the back burner,” Uefa reported in a note.

“As Fifa president, my responsibility is to make decisions in the interest of the organization. I had to be there (in Qatar and Saudi Arabia) to represent soccer and each of you,” Infantino said instead about his trip.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela is among 47 European leaders in Tirana for the sixth summit of the European Political Community (EPC).

The EPC, established through an initiative by French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to enhance dialogue among European nations on key political and security challenges. The summit, held under the theme “New Europe in a New World: Unity – Cooperation – Joint Action,” tackles pressing issues ranging from regional security to economic resilience, against the ongoing backdrop of the war in Ukraine.

-Photo DOI-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LA VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has triumphed at the Eurovision Song Contest, securing a place in the grand final thanks to a powerful performance by singer Miriana Conte. Her song Serving captivated audiences and judges alike during Thursday night’s second semi-final in Basel, Switzerland, clinching a coveted spot in Saturday’s final.

This marks Malta’s first qualification to the Eurovision final since 2021, breaking a four-year drought and reigniting national excitement around the contest. Conte’s emotionally charged delivery and stage presence earned praise across social media and Eurovision fan communities, even as Serving had previously stirred some controversy over its provocative title.

Miriana Conte’s qualification has sparked renewed optimism among Maltese Eurovision fans, many of whom hope her bold and unforgettable performance of Serving can push Malta toward its long-sought first Eurovision win.

Malta was one of 16 nations competing in Thursday’s semi-final, from which only 10 advanced. Joining Malta in the final are Armenia, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, and Luxembourg.

These countries now join the 10 who qualified from Tuesday’s first semi-final, alongside the five automatic qualifiers – the “Big Five” (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) – and this year’s host country, Switzerland, completing the 26-strong lineup for Saturday’s final showdown.

The Eurovision Grand Final will take place on Saturday, May 18, live from Basel’s St. Jakobshalle.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

RIO DE JANEIRO (BRAZIL) (ITALPRESS) – The Court of Justice in Rio de Janeiro has ordered the removal of Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) President Ednaldo Rodrigues, declaring “null and void” the agreement that had kept him in office.

This decision comes just days after the CBF appointed Carlo Ancelotti as coach of the five-time world champion Selecao, just over a year before the 2026 World Cup.

Fernando Sarney, vice-president, was given the post of interim number one, with a request to hold elections “as soon as possible.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

SEOUL (SOUTH KOREA) (ITALPRESS) – Tottenham striker and captain Son Heung-min has reported to South Korean police an extortion attempt against him. According to Yonhap news agency, a woman in her twenties contacted Son last year claiming to be pregnant with his child and asking for money in exchange for silence. Subsequently, a man in his 40s came forward last March also attempting to extort money from the footballer. Both blackmailers have already been arrested by Gangnam police.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews