“It was a long career — really long; thank you to everyone who gave me the strength, the adrenaline and the emotion to continue.”

AC Milan’s Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic expressed gratitude towards his supporters as he hung up his boots at the age of 41, after a trophy-laden career playing with some of Europe’s top clubs.

Ibrahimovic announced his immediate retirement from football at the end of an emotional night at San Siro on June 4. The striker was handed a guard of honour by his teammates as he struggled to hold back tears after the match. “The time has come to say goodbye to soccer, but not to you,” he announced

Ibrahimovic scored over 500 goals — including over 62 international goals — in his lengthy career, making him Sweden’s all-time top goal scorer.

But he has struggled with injuries and only made four appearances this season after undergoing a knee operation last year.

Ibrahimovic began his career at Malmo FF in 1999 and left for Ajax Amsterdam in 2001 before embarking on a journey that has included seasons at Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, Paris St Germain, Manchester United and Milan.

Premier League to allow Muslim players to break fast by pausing play in games during holy month of Ramadan. ️

Refereeing bodies have told Premier League and English Football League match officials to pause play so players can break their fast during the holy period of Ramadan.

Match officials have been issued guidance so players can break their fast by taking on liquids, energy gels or supplements on the touchline during a pause in play.

Referees have also been encouraged to identify players who are fasting prior to kickoff and agree an estimated time for the pause in play.

Source - @independent.ie

#muslim #islam #ramadan #football #soccer

Football fans threw thousands of stuffed toys onto the pitch on Sunday during the Turkish Super League game to show solidarity with the children affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria. The death toll from the earthquakes surpassed 50,000.

Besiktas fans organized the event as part of relief efforts to cheer up the children survivors in the affected region. The game paused after four minutes and 17 seconds because the earthquake struck Turkiye at 4:17 am local time on February 6.

According to the UN, the earthquakes have directly impacted approximately 23 million people across Turkiye and Syria. At least 7 million children have been affected by earthquakes.

#turkiye #TurkiyeEarthquake #syriaearthquake #children #football #soccer #besiktas #footballfans #stuffedanimals

Qatar plans to send 10,000 cabins and caravans from last year's World Cup to provide shelter for survivors of the Turkish earthquakes, officials said.
The gas-rich Gulf nation says it had always planned to donate the mobile homes. They were needed to help house some of the 1.4 million fans who descended on the small country during soccer's biggest tournament.

An initial batch of 350 structures was shipped out on Sunday, the Qatar Fund for Development said.

The magnitude 7.8 and 7.5 quakes that struck nine hours apart on Feb. 6 killed more than 35,000 people in southeastern Turkey and war-torn northern Syria. The toll is expected to climb even further as search and rescue teams find more bodies.

Tens of thousands of buildings were destroyed or severely damaged, leaving millions homeless. As shelters filled up in the days after the quake many were forced to sleep outside in wet, wintry weather.

Qatar and other wealthy Gulf countries have joined the global effort to send rescuers and aid to the stricken region. The United Arab Emirates has pledged $100 million for relief efforts. Saudi Arabia has dispatched eight planes loaded with supplies to Turkey and Syria.

Senegal have won the treble (2022 AFCON, 2022 CHAN and 2022 Africa Beach Soccer Cup).

Ronaldo has arrived in Riyadh
Cristiano Ronaldo posed for a picture with children on his arrival at a private airport in Riyadh, on the eve of his grand unveiling before thousands of fans at Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr club.

Ronaldo, 37, sealed a deal estimated at more than €200 million.

The Portuguese soccer star was presented with flowers after arriving at the airport with his wife, Georgina Rodriguez.

Ronaldo, a five-time winner of the Ballon d'Or, touched down in the capital late on Monday, Al Ekhbariya state-run TV reported, and is staying at a luxury hotel with his entourage.

"He brought a big team of assistants and even a private security firm," an official told AFP.

Ronaldo left Manchester United under a cloud after slamming the club in a TV interview. He will appear at Al Nassr's 25,000-capacity Mrsool Park in Riyadh at 7pm on Tuesday, officials said.