Other Leagues
Never too late as Brazilian club crowned champions belatedly after 86 years!
It took 86 years, but Atletico Mineiro have finally been crowned as Brazil’s first club champion after the country’s football confederation (CBF) officially recognised their winning of the 1937 “Tournament of Champions” as comparable to a Brazilian Serie A Championship.
Atletico can now add a third title to their history along with the 1971 and 2021 victories thanks to the decision of the body headed by Ednaldo Rodrigues to grant the club recognition of the long-standing title.
“The Tournament of Champions played in 1937 was extremely relevant at the time amid debates and divisions generated in Brazilian football due to the defence of the implementation of professionalism between clubs,” said the official CBF document signed on Friday.
The pioneering interstate tournament brought together five state champions of 1936 from different regions of Brazil and a delegation of the sports club of the navy. It was the first of national relevance to involve clubs that moved to the professional model, such as Fluminense and Atletico itself.
After claiming the “Brasileirao” in 2021, Atletico requested recognition of the title they won almost a century ago.
Club president Sergio Goelho held multiple meetings with the confederation and submitted a 60-page document with infographics, newspaper annexes and letters to demonstrate the importance of the tournament.
The long-awaited confirmation of the old title came as part of a club celebration coupled with the opening of its new home, the MRV Stadium, which was inaugurated with a 2-0 win over Santos on Sunday.
-Reuters
A goal scored under soccer’s experimental “daylight” offside rule was allowed for the first time in a professional match on Saturday, with Pacific FC forward Alejandro Diaz on target in a 2-2 draw with Halifax Wanderers in the Canadian Premier League.
The strike would have been ruled out under the standard International Football Association Board Laws of the Game, but stood under the CPL’s ongoing trial conducted in cooperation with FIFA.
The Canadian league is testing the rule this season as part of efforts to reduce marginal offside decisions and encourage attacking play.
Under the system, an attacker is only deemed offside if there is clear “daylight” between them and the second-last defender, rather than being penalised for narrowly being ahead.
The concept, long advocated by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in his role as FIFA’s head of global football development, is being assessed in Canada as a potential change to the offside law.
Diaz’s goal marked the first in-game application of the interpretation, which resulted directly in a goal, offering a glimpse of how the rule could alter attacking patterns and defensive positioning.
The CPL, which launched the trial earlier this month, has provided FIFA with a professional testing ground for the proposal as soccer’s world governing body evaluates whether to expand its use more broadly.
Reuters
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Al-Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy was handed a four-match ban after striking a referee on the head following a 1-1 draw with Ceramica Cleopatra, the Egyptian Pro League said on Thursday.
The Egypt international, who was on the bench for Tuesday’s game, was incensed after Al-Ahly’s appeal for a penalty following a handball in stoppage time was denied.
“He handed a four‑match ban and fined 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($942) for assaulting the referee by pushing or pulling (use of the hand without violence),” the league said in a statement.
The ban means El-Shenawy, who is expected to be Egypt’s starting goalkeeper at the World Cup in North America, will be sidelined until the final week of the league play-offs.
Al-Ahly are third on 41 points, five points behind leaders Zamalek.
-Reuters
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Galatasaray have strengthened their squad with another Napoli player, announcing on Friday that Dutch winger Noa Lang has joined the Turkish champions on loan for the remainder of the season, linking up with former Napoli player, Victor Osimhen in Istanbul.
The Super Lig giants confirmed that they have reached an agreement with Napoli for the temporary transfer of the 15-cap Netherlands international, with the deal including a non-mandatory purchase option that Galatasaray may activate at the end of the season.
Under the terms of the agreement, Galatasaray will pay €2 million as a loan fee to Napoli, while Lang will earn a seasonal salary of €1.75 million, according to a statement released by the club.
Lang joined Napoli last year from PSV Eindhoven but struggled to fully establish himself in Italy. He featured in 27 matches across all competitions, scoring once during his time with the Serie A side.
His arrival adds attacking depth to Galatasaray and further strengthens the Napoli connection at the club, with Osimhen already a central figure in their squad as they continue to push for domestic success and progress in European competition.
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