World Cup 2022; FIFA sanctions six African FAs but no replays.

World Cup 2022; FIFA sanctions six African FAs but no replays

Sports
May 05, 2022

Real Madrid will be playing host to Manchester City in the second leg of the champions league Semi-final at the Santiago Bernarbeu, with Real Madrid fresh from winning their 35th Laliga title.

Andy Murray beat 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem comfortably to reach the second round of the Madrid Open.

Gab ELISON has more

World Cup 2022; FIFA sanctions six African FAs but no replays.

FIFA has sanctioned six African football associations following March’s 2022 World Cup play-off matches but not ordered the replays requested by Algeria and Egypt. Instead Senegal, Nigeria and DR Congo have all been ordered to play one match behind closed doors as well as being fined. Algeria, Egypt and Morocco have all been handed financial fines by football’s world governing body. The list of decisions published by FIFA does not include any instructions for any replays or overturning of results. Algeria had lodged a demand with FIFA for a replay of their second-leg loss to visiting Cameroon that saw the Desert Foxes eliminated on the away goals rule. Instead the only sanction issued by FIFA was a $3,000 fine to Algeria for “order and security at matches(throwing of objects and lighting of fireworks)”. Nigeria, who were also knocked out on away goals, were fined $154,000 and must play one match without supporters after their Fans invaded the pitch following their second leg in Abuja against Ghana. Senegal are set to pay a fine of $180,000. Egypt were fined $6,000, DR Congo $123,000 for fans invasion on the pitch and a further $5,000 for throwing of objects during their second leg game against Morocco. Morocco themselves have to pay a fine of $30,000 for lighting of fireworks and throwing of objects.

FIFA Under-17 women’s world cup qualifiers.

Ethiopia and Tanzania advance to the final rounds despite second leg defeat.

The duo completed the remaining two spots in the six-team fourth round stage as Ethiopia bowed 1-0 at home at the Abebe Bikila stadium, Addis Ababa, while at Amaan stadium, Zanzibar City, Tanzania bowed 2-1 at home to Burundi. In Addis Ababa, the Ethiopians were cruising from a 3-0 first leg win in Johannesburg in a fortnight but they ended up suffering a big shock at home as Andrielle Malihlohonolo Mibe's 34th minute strike gave Bantwana an away win. The away win was not enough to see the South Africans through as the East African progressed with a 3-1 aggregate win and were rewarded with a final round date with Nigeria. Elsewhere, in Zanzibar City, the Tanzanite came off a 4-0 away thumping of Burundi in Ngozi two weeks ago but ended up crumbling at home in the second leg against their ambitious CECAFA rivals.

Russia handed further sanctions by UEFA.

Russia have been barred from competing in this summer’s women’s Euro 2022, while Russian clubs will also be banned from UEFA competitions next season, says Europe’s football governing body. UEFA has announced that Russia’s bid to host the men’s Euro 2028 or Euro 2032 tournaments is now ineligible too. The sanctions come amid Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine. In February, Russian clubs and national teams were suspended by FIFA and UEFA “until further notice”. On Monday, UEFA announced that Portugal, who lost to Russia in the play-offs, will replace them at Euro 2022, which takes place in July. Russia’s women’s national team will also no longer compete in European qualification for the 2023 world cup, while the men’s side is barred from the 2022-23 Nations League. They will automatically be ranked fourth in group two of League B, meaning they will be relegated at the end of the group phase. The ban imposed on clubs means there will be no Russian teams in the men’s and women’s champions league, Europa League or the Europa Conference League during the 2022-23 campaign.

UEFA Champions League.

Real Madrid vs Manchester City.

Real Madrid will be playing host to Manchester City in the second leg of the champions league Semi-final at the Santiago Bernarbeu, with Real Madrid fresh from winning their 35th Laliga title. Manchester city won the first leg at the ETIHAD stadium 4-3 in a high scoring encounter. A win for City can see them qualify for consecutive champions league finals. Manchester City have never won this competition in their history and Pep Guardiola will be hoping this year might be their turn. It will not come easy because there will be locking horns with another experience side in the competition who have won it 13 times and will know how to handle such games despite their first leg defeat.

Tennis.

Madrid Open; Andy Murray beats Dominic Thiem to reach round two.

Andy Murray beat 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem comfortably to reach the second round of the Madrid Open. In his first match on clay since August 2020, the impressive Briton won the high-profile first round match 6-3 6-4. Former world number three Thiem is continuing his own comeback after eight months out with a wrist injury but Murray proved the far stronger player. They embraced at the end as Murray told Thiem; “Keep going. It takes a lot of time but you’ll be fine.” He added: “I hope you feel better soon mate. Great to see you back.” The 34 year old, who has had his own well documented injury troubles, is fourth British man into the second round after Cameron Norrie joined Dan Evans and wildcard Jack Draper in progressing earlier.