GABRIEL JESUS SUFFERS BROKEN EYE SOCKET IN FRIENDLY
Brazil’s football federation says striker Gabriel Jesus sustained a broken eye socket during the 1-0 loss to Argentina in a friendly.
The Manchester City player was taken off the field on a stretcher late in Friday’s game after being hit by an errant elbow during an aerial challenge with club teammate Nicolas Otamendi.
Gabriel Jesus was initially given the all-clear after precautionary tests but the CBF says Saturday that, after a more detailed examination, a fracture was diagnosed in the bone that protects his left eye.
Brazil will not call up a replacement for Tuesday’s friendly with Australia, also in Melbourne.
MESSI HOMETOWN BRACES FOR HIS WEDDING DAY
Lionel Messi’s Argentine hometown is preparing to host footballing and showbiz celebrities when he marries childhood sweetheart Antonella Roccuzzo this month in Latin America’s wedding of the decade.
Colombian popstar Shakira, wife of Messi’s Barcelona teammate Gerard Pique, has said she hopes to attend.
Media such as local Rosario newspaper La Capital also expect other current and former Barcelona stars, such as Luis Suarez, Neymar, Cesc Fabregas and Xavi Hernandez, to be among the invitees.
The Barcelona forward’s agents confirmed in a statement that the couple will wed in Rosario on June 30, a week after Messi’s 30th birthday.
The guest list, venue and party details are the subject of a swirl of rumors.
Sources in the city’s cathedral denied reports that Messi and Roccuzzo would have a religious wedding ceremony there.
The couple still have friends and family in this northern city, where Messi discovered his love of football – and of his brunette future bride.
It is also where their two children were baptized – Thiago, 4, and one-year-old Mateo, both born in Barcelona.
Some media predicted 600 guests, but La Capital report that no more than 250 were expected, including 21 Barcelona players.
National newspaper Clarin said Argentine singer Karina, wife of Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, will be a guest and also hired to sing at the wedding.
A source in the city hall sait it was considering security measures for the crowd of major football stars visiting.
“Messi always moves around naturally in the city, but we have to gauge the implications of the arrival of world football stars in Rosario,” the source said.
In a country where football and politics are closely linked, the wedding planner is reported to be Barbara Diez, the wife of a close ally of President Mauricio Macri.
La Capital said the bride would wear a dress by Spanish designer Rosa Clara.
Some 20 hairdressers will be hired for the guests, it reported.
As wedding gifts, the couple have reportedly asked for donations to the player’s children’s charity, the Leo Messi Foundation.
Shakira recently denied rumors that she would miss the wedding due to a quarrel with Roccuzzo.
“If I can go to her wedding, we will go, because Gerard and Leo have been friends since they were little,” she said in an interview on Argentina program Telenoche.
MASS PLAYER BRAWL AHEAD OF UNDER-20 FINAL in SOUTH KOREA
Uruguay and Venezuela players were involved in a mass brawl at their South Korean hotel on the eve of the U20’s World Cup final, witnesses told AFP on Saturday.
The two sides had met on Thursday in the semi-finals with Venezuela beating Uruguay on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
But when the players crossed paths at the Suwon Ramada Hotel on Saturday, insults were exchanged before the dispute swiftly descended into a free-for-all.
Some 20 Korean police officers rushed to the scene to break up the brawl around 9pm and remained for three hours to make sure order was maintained, with four officers also staying at the hotel overnight.
“We regret that this happened. Fifa has always been in favour of fair play on or off the pitch,” a Fifa spokesman said, confirming the incident.
Venezuela will play England, who are hoping to end a 51-year wait since any of their sides won a World Cup, in Sunday’s final.
AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFYING KICKS OFF
Qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon began this weekend with a 10-goal rush as Libya scored five and Madagascar three when winning.
Libya trounced the Seychelles 5-1 in a Group E match moved from Tripoli to Egyptian capital Cairo for security reasons.
Madagascar stretched a perfect run to six matches since French coach Nicolas Dupuis took charge this year by winning a Group A clash with Sudan 3-1 in Al Obeid.
Neither Libya nor Madagascar are considered likely qualifiers for the next edition of the biennial 16-nation African football showcase.
The Libyans, prevented from playing at home because of post Moamer Kadhafi-era violence, are in the same mini-league as higher-ranked Nigeria and South Africa.
For Madagascar to make a first Cup of Nations finals appearance, they will have to finish above star-stacked Senegal or be one of the best three runners-up.
France-based captain Faneva Andriatsima netted twice and Carolus Andriamahitsinoro once for Madagascar, who led 1-0 at half-time. Atha Eltahier was the Sudanese scorer.
Goals from Anis Saltou, Ahmad Ben Ali and Hamdou Elhouni gave Libya a 3-0 advantage by the break.
Abdussalam Zaebiaa and Muaid Ellafi extended the lead to five goals before Kelvin Coralie claimed a last-minute consolation for the Seychellois.
South Africa recorded their first-ever competitive victory over Nigeria on Saturday, winning in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo 2-0.
Nigeria and South Africa had clashed 12 times before, during which time Bafana Bafana’s only victory was in a friendly 13 years ago.
Tekelo Rantie headed South Africa in front after 54 minutes when he powered home a cross from the right past goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi with the Nigeria defence guilty of ball watching.
South Africa doubled their lead in the 80th minute through Percy Tau, who rounded Akpeyi to score after a fine through ball.
However, Libya lead Group E after trouncing the Seychelles 5-1 in Cairo, Egypt.
The Super Eagles had actually enjoyed more of the ball in the first 45 minutes, but could have gone behind Akpeyi spilled a cross from the left, but Themba Zwane’s shot from inside the box came back off the post.
Nigeria had created several chances but Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi fired wide on 11 minutes while Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune had to rush out of his area on 20 minutes to deny Kelechi Iheanacho a shooting chance.
Two minutes after that, Etebo Oghenekaro missed Nigeria’s best opening of the half when prodding Iheanacho’s cross just past the post.
The visitors played with greater adventure following the break and, after Rantie had opened the scoring, Zwane hit the post for a second time with the Nigeria defence all at sea.
The visitors had a penalty appeal turned down by the Tunisian referee after Keegan Dolly appeared to have been fouled by Chidozie Awaziem.
But Tau’s strike ensured they would be going home victorious.
DENMARK’S LERAGER AGREES DEAL WITH BORDEAUX
A week after making his Denmark debut Lukas Lerager is set for a switch from Belgian outfit Zulte-Waregem to Ligue 1 club Bordeaux, the French club said.
The 24-year-old, who won the Belgian Cup this season, will cost Bordeaux in the region of US$3.9 million (Dh14.3m), reports in Belgium suggest.
His dynamic midfield performances in the Belgian top flight last season saw him earn his first cap with Denmark last week in a 1-1 draw with Germany.
KLUIVERT OUSTED AT PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN
Patrick Kluivert has left his post as director of sports at Paris Saint-Germain, the French Ligue 1 club said.
The writing had been on the wall for the 40-year-old former Netherlands marksman since Paris hired Antero Henrique in the same role last week.
According to French sports daily L’Equipe, PSG had offered Kluivert a lesser role and the former Ajax, AC Milan and Barcelona striker declined.
The new director is answerable directly to club president, Qatari businessman Nasser Al Khelaïfi, the club said.
PSG – winners of four consecutive French Ligue 1 titles between 2013 and 2016 – finished second last season to Monaco.
* Agencies
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