Saudi team arrives in Doha for three-nation tournament

Doha, Qatar: The Saudi senior national basketball team has arrived in Doha to begin its preparatory camp and participate in the international friendly tournament, featuring Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.

The competition will be staged from August 20 to 22 at Al Janoub Arena. newsindata.org

Saudi Arabia’s participation comes as part of its preparation program for the upcoming phase, particularly the next window of the FIBA Asia Qualifiers for the Basketball World Cup 2027.

Meanwhile, the Bahrain Basketball Federation has announced that its national team delegation will arrive in Doha on August 19.

The three-day tournament will open with Qatar facing Bahrain on Thursday at 7pm. On Friday, August 21, Bahrain will meet Saudi Arabia, before the competition concludes August 22, with the highly anticipated clash between Qatar and Saudi Arabia at 7:00pm.

The event holds particular importance for Qatar, who enter a decisive phase of their preparation program ahead of resuming its campaign in the FIBA Asia Qualifiers for the Basketball World Cup 2027.

In parallel with the qualifiers, Qatar are also preparing for participation in the Asian Games Aichi–Nagoya 2026 in Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4.

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Stars League (QSL) held its technical meeting for the first leg of the 2026-2027 League at The Torch Hotel yesterday, bringing together QSL officials and representatives of the participating clubs.

The meeting reviewed key organizational and administrative procedures ahead of the new season, including matchday operations, stadium arrival times, accreditation, official stadium areas and player roster submissions.

Officials also discussed team kits, including home and reserve sets, and stressed the need for clubs and match officials to follow established procedures to ensure smooth matchday operations.

QSL Director of Competitions Ahmed Salman Al Adsani called for continued co-operation and co-ordination among the league, clubs and all stakeholders.

For his part, the representative of Referees Department stressed the importance of co-operating with the refereeing teams and adhering to their decisions during matches.

This contributes to creating a suitable environment for managing matches and promoting discipline on the field.

The meeting formed part of QSL’s preparations to ensure an organized start to the 2026-2027 Doha Bank Stars League season.

اختار الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم ويفا الحكم الصومالي عمر عرتن الذي مُنع من دخول الولايات المتحدة قبيل انطلاق كأس العالم 2026، لإدارة مباراة الكأس السوبر الأوروبية، وفق ما أعلنت الهيئة الكروية الأعلى في أوروبا الخميس.
وقال ويفا في بيان: عقب مشاورات مع الاتحاد الشقيق، الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم (كاف)، قرر ويفا اليوم تعيين الحكم الصومالي عمر عرتن لإدارة مباراة الكأس السوبر الأوروبية 2026.
ومن المقرر أن تُقام المباراة التي تجمع بين باريس سان جرمان الفرنسي بطل دوري أبطال أوروبا وأستون فيلا الإنكليزي بطل مسابقة الدوري الأوروبي يوروبا ليغ في 12 آب/أغسطس بمدينة سالزبورغ.

تتواصل فعاليات معسكر حكام النخبة بالاتحاد القطري لكرة القدم المقام في فندق إنتركونتيننتال، والذي يختتم أعماله اليوم، وسط برنامج متكامل من المحاضرات النظرية والتطبيقات العملية، استعداداً للموسم الكروي الجديد.
وشهد المعسكر أمس حضور أحمد العدساني، مدير إدارة المسابقات بمؤسسة دوري نجوم قطر، حيث ألقى محاضرة متخصصة أمام الحكام تناول خلالها عمليات يوم المباراة، مستعرضاً عدداً من الجوانب اللوجستية والتنظيمية المرتبطة بإدارة المباريات بالإضافة إلى عرض آخر تحديث للوائح إدارة المسابقات في المؤسسة.
وتطرقت المحاضرة إلى الإجراءات والترتيبات التي تسبق وترافق إقامة المباريات، بما يسهم في تعزيز التنسيق بين مختلف الأطراف المعنية، ورفع مستوى الجاهزية لدى الحكام
ويختتم المعسكر اليوم، بعد سلسلة من الفعاليات والمحاضرات والتدريبات التي ركزت على تطوير قدرات الحكام والارتقاء بمستوياتهم.

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Argentina superstar and inspiration behind his country's 2022 World Cup victory Lionel Messi said Wednesday he has "serious doubts" about continuing to play football for "much longer" after the death of his father Jorge Messi.

"I don't know what I'll do without you, I don't know how to go on. I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer," Messi, 39, wrote in a message on social media after his father, who was also his agent, died last week aged 68.

In the message, Messi, whose contract with Major League Soccer outfit Inter Miami runs till the end of the 2028 season, reflected on the final months of his father's life, which coincided with the 2026 World Cup.

"I kept telling you we would reach the final so you could make the trip," said Messi, who returned to the United States on Tuesday night following his father's funeral on Sunday.

"We made it to the final, but you couldn't be there. I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one. I couldn't, my legs just gave out.

"This time I tried to push past my physical limits, but I couldn't. I never felt right," Messi said in his first comments after the 1-0 loss to Spain in the final in New Jersey.

Messi highlighted his father's pivotal role in his life and career: "You were a father, a friend, and an agent. You were always exactly who you needed to be in every moment, and you never put a foot wrong."

Jorge Messi's unusual absence from the World Cup in June had already attracted attention.

Messi's family asked the media for "humanity" during the tournament amid persistent rumours over Jorge's health.

After bursting into tears after scoring against Algeria in a group match, Messi had admitted to dealing with "a situation outside of sports".

On Sunday, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner bid farewell to his father during a private ceremony with close family and a few Argentina teammates in the town of Perez, adjacent to Rosario.

The cause of death was not disclosed.