VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Valletta FC have appointed Italian coach Alessandro Piscina as Head Coach of Competitive Teams and the Gen V programme, in a move aimed at strengthening the club’s focus on elite youth development.

Piscina, who hails from Italy, brings with him a wealth of experience from top-tier youth football. A UEFA A license holder, he spent five seasons with Pisa Sporting Club, coaching both the U17 and U19 sides. He also gained valuable insight at AC Milan, working with their U17 squad at Milanello and learning the club’s renowned youth development methodologies.

In his new role, Piscina will take immediate charge of Valletta’s U21 team and will oversee all competitive squads, working in synergy with the club’s technical leadership under head coach Thane Micallef and his assistants.

“This is a key appointment for the future of Valletta FC,” said club president Claudio Grech. “Piscina’s Italian background in elite youth football, combined with his passion and tactical intelligence, aligns perfectly with our Gen V vision.”

Piscina also served as a coach educator for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), mentoring aspiring coaches across Italy. His philosophy emphasises attacking football, intelligent systems, and holistic player development.

“I’m honoured to join Valletta FC,” said Piscina. “The Gen V Programme is bold and ambitious. I believe Maltese football has the potential to grow on the international stage, and I’m eager to contribute.”

– Photo Valletta FC –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

MONTECARLO (MONACO) (ITALPRESS) – Paul Pogba is starting again from the Principality. The 32-year-old French midfielder has officially signed with Monaco: a two-year contract until June 30, 2027.

Pogba arrives as a free agent after terminating his contract with Juventus due to the doping case. The former Juventus player, who has not played since September 2023, hopes to relaunch himself in Monte Carlo and convince Deschamps to take him to the 2026 World Cup.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – The outbreak of Newcastle Disease that hit Maltese poultry farms last month has been successfully contained, prompting the Veterinary Regulation Directorate (VRD) to lift most of the restrictions imposed to curb its spread.

Newcastle Disease, a highly contagious virus affecting both domestic and wild birds, was first reported in two poultry farms in May. Though the virus poses little risk to humans—causing mild or no symptoms and not transmitted between people—it can prove deadly for birds, particularly in confined settings like farms.

Acting swiftly, the VRD designated Malta as a protection zone on 22 May, even before the outbreak was made public. The measure was followed by a sweeping ban on bird-related activities announced in the 3 June Government Gazette, halting bird trade, pigeon racing, and falconry.

Nearly a month later, the situation appears under control. No new cases have been detected, and authorities now consider the outbreak contained.

While the general prohibitions have been lifted, several precautionary measures remain in force. These include:

• Mandatory restricted health marking on locally sold chicken.
• Ongoing surveillance of high-risk poultry farms.
• Compulsory vaccination of all broilers and layers.
• A continued ban on pigeon movements for racing outside Malta.
• Export of birds to EU countries only with prior written consent from the receiving country’s authorities.

The VRD has urged poultry farmers and bird owners to remain vigilant, noting that while the worst appears over, biosecurity must remain a priority.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Al-Nassr has chosen Stefano Pioli‘s successor on the bench. According to the Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the Saudi club has reached a basic agreement with Jorge Jesus and the aim is to close the deal as early as next week. Fresh from his experience at Al-Hilal, Jorge Jesus is expected to sign a two-year contract with Al-Nassr, who have already secured the renewal of Cristiano Ronaldo. Last March, the Portuguese coach had good words for CR7, calling him “an example who takes care of himself like no other player in the world”.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – A new suitor for Angelino. According to the Catalan newspaper “Sport“, in addition to Al Nassr and Sunderland, Girona are also interested in the Roma full-back. The yellow-reds, for reasons of financial fair play, are in a hurry to raise money between now and June 30 and could settle for 12-13 million euros to sell the player.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

PALM BEACH (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – Good news for Real Madrid, less so for Juventus. Kylian Mbappè has now recovered and aims to be on the pitch on Tuesday, in the eighth-finals of the Club World Cup against the Bianconeri.

The French striker, who ended up in hospital with acute gastroenteritis, was forced to miss the entire first phase but yesterday he did the entire session with his teammates and between now and Tuesday he will have time to get minutes in his legs to claim a starting shirt alongside Vinicius.

– Photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – “Absolute madness: the worst thing ever experienced in football”. This is what Jurgen Klopp, former Liverpool coach and now manager of the football section of Red Bull, said in the German newspaper “Die Welt”, about the Club World Cup, currently underway in the United States, from which Salzburg (of the Red Bull galaxy) exited the scene at the end of the groups.

“The players no longer have time to recover, neither physically nor mentally. Last year there was the America’s Cup and the European Championship, this year the Club World Cup and next year the World Cup. When should they rest?”, Klopp asks.

“I fear a wave of injuries never seen before. They are expected to play every match as if it were a final, 70 or 75 times a year. We can’t go on like this. Without breaks, even the product loses value”, concluded the former German coach.

– Foto IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS)

Source: medNews

ROME (ITALPRESS) – Two members of the United States House of Representatives have introduced a bill in Congress aimed at designating the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization.

The initiative, titled the “Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act,” is led by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina—an influential Trump ally—and Democratic Congressman Jimmy Panetta. Both lawmakers characterize the Polisario as a militia supported by Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia, which provides Iran with a strategic outpost in Africa and destabilizes the Kingdom of Morocco, a U.S. ally for 248 years.

In the United States, only a decision by the Department of State can officially designate a group as a foreign terrorist organization, in accordance with the current legal framework. The Polisario Front Terrorist Designation Act proposes the imposition of financial, diplomatic, and legal sanctions against the Polisario Front.

In the document submitted to the relevant House committee, the Polisario Front is described as a separatist movement founded in 1973, operating primarily in the Sahara region. The bill raises regional security concerns, highlighting the group’s “alleged ties” to powers hostile to American interests. The legislation aims to place the organization within the legal framework established by U.S. law governing the designation of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)—a mechanism that allows for measures such as asset freezes and travel restrictions on its leaders and supporters.

The final decision on whether to blacklist the Polisario Front rests with the U.S. Department of State.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PORTO (PORTUGAL) (ITALPRESS) – Francesco Farioli is winking at Porto. Martin Anselmi is set to leave the Dragoes after just five months, the club is looking around for a new coach and among the candidates there is also the former coach of Nice and Ajax who, according to “A Bola”, has said he is interested.

First, however, Porto will have to terminate Anselmi’s contract: only then will they be able to sign the new coach. Among other things, already in January, after the dismissal of Vitor Bruno, Porto had contacted Farioli who however preferred to stay in Amsterdam. Braga, more recently, had also sounded out the Italian coach but received a no and veered towards Carlos Carvalhal.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

(BELGIUM) (ITALPRESS) – The spokesperson for the European Union’s Foreign Affairs department reaffirmed on Friday that “neither the EU nor any of its member states recognize the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (RASD).”

According to Morocco’s MAP news agency, the statement followed the EU-African Union ministerial meeting held earlier on the same day in Rome.

The EU spokesperson highlighted that such ministerial meetings are “co-chaired and co-organized by both the EU and the AU,” and clarified that “each party is responsible for inviting its own members.”

The spokesperson thus attributed the presence of the RASD—an entity not recognized by the United Nations—to the African Union, denying that the EU had extended any invitation to it. “Invitations to African participants are issued by the African Union,” he stated.
In this context, the spokesperson reiterated the EU’s stance: “The EU’s position is well known—neither the EU nor any of its member states recognize the RASD,” adding that the presence of the entity at the EU-AU ministerial meeting “has no bearing whatsoever on this position.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews