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Ex-Germany Midfielder Ozil Announces End of Playing Career

12 October 2016, Lower Saxony, Hannover: Germany's Mesut Ozil looks on during the national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Germany and Northern Ireland at the HDI Arena. (dpa)
12 October 2016, Lower Saxony, Hannover: Germany's Mesut Ozil looks on during the national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Germany and Northern Ireland at the HDI Arena. (dpa)
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Ex-Germany Midfielder Ozil Announces End of Playing Career

12 October 2016, Lower Saxony, Hannover: Germany's Mesut Ozil looks on during the national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Germany and Northern Ireland at the HDI Arena. (dpa)
12 October 2016, Lower Saxony, Hannover: Germany's Mesut Ozil looks on during the national anthem ahead of the FIFA World Cup qualifier match between Germany and Northern Ireland at the HDI Arena. (dpa)

Germany's World Cup-winning midfielder Mesut Ozil announced his retirement from football at the age of 34 on Wednesday.

The former Real Madrid and Arsenal player was a key member of Germany's World Cup-winning side in Brazil in 2014.

He retired from the squad in 2018 amid a political debate in Germany about an influx of migrants and after backlash over a photograph taken with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying he faced "racism and disrespect" over his Turkish ancestry.

"I've had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for the opportunity," Ozil, who most recently played for Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir, said in a statement on Instagram.

"But in recent weeks and months, having also suffered some injuries, it's become more and more clear that it's time to leave the big stage of football."

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Sports

Fiorentina Owner Rocco Commisso Dies at 76

FILE - Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso gestures to club fans from the field ahead of the Conference League Final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, on May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)
FILE - Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso gestures to club fans from the field ahead of the Conference League Final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, on May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)
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Fiorentina Owner Rocco Commisso Dies at 76

FILE - Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso gestures to club fans from the field ahead of the Conference League Final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, on May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)
FILE - Fiorentina President Rocco Commisso gestures to club fans from the field ahead of the Conference League Final soccer match between Olympiacos FC and ACF Fiorentina at OPAP Arena in Athens, Greece, on May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris, File)

Rocco Commisso, the outspoken owner of Italian soccer club Fiorentina and chairman of New York-based Mediacom Communications, has died. He was 76.

Both Fiorentina and Mediacom announced Commisso’s death early Saturday without providing a cause.

“After a prolonged period of medical treatment, our beloved president has left us, and today we all mourn his passing,” Fiorentina said. “His love for Fiorentina was the greatest gift he gave himself.”

After making Mediacom into one of the United States’ biggest cable television companies, Commisso purchased Fiorentina in 2019 and became known for speaking out against Italy’s bureaucracy and inability to build new stadiums.

Commisso was born in Calabria and immigrated to the United States at the age of 12.

He also owned the New York Cosmos, and played soccer at Columbia University, the Ivy League school that he continued to support philanthropically. The university’s soccer stadium is named for him.

According to The Associated Press, the Cosmos called Commisso “a passionate leader who dedicated his life to the game of soccer and to the future of the sport in this country.

“Rocco fought for what is best for American soccer, believing in the growth of the game, the importance of community, and the power of clubs to inspire the next generation,” the New York club said on X.

At Fiorentina, Commisso celebrated reaching the Conference League final in 2023 and 2024.

But the team has struggled this season and is currently in Serie A’s relegation zone.

Commisso is survived by his wife, Catherine, and two children, Giuseppe and Marisa.

Sports

Jeddah to Host Opening Round of UIM E1 World Championship

Hosting the season premiere aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and promote sports tourism. SPA
Hosting the season premiere aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and promote sports tourism. SPA
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Jeddah to Host Opening Round of UIM E1 World Championship

Hosting the season premiere aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and promote sports tourism. SPA
Hosting the season premiere aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and promote sports tourism. SPA

Jeddah is set to host the opening round of the third season of the E1 Series, the world's first all electric raceboat championship, on January 23 and 24.

Organized by the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation in partnership with the Public Investment Fund and the UIM, the event underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to modern sports and environmental sustainability.

The 2026 season features eight international rounds. Following the Jeddah opener, the series will travel to Lake Como (Italy), Dubrovnik (Croatia), and Monaco, followed by a second unannounced European round. The championship then heads to Lagos (Nigeria) and Miami (US), before reaching its grand finale in the Bahamas.

Hosting the season premiere aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and promote sports tourism. As Jeddah's shores transform into a global hub for advanced electric marine racing, the event solidifies the Kingdom's status as a leading destination for major international sporting competitions.

Sports

Djokovic Says 'Addiction' to Tennis Keeps him Going at 38

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 17, 2026 Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the press conference REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 17, 2026 Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the press conference REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
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Djokovic Says 'Addiction' to Tennis Keeps him Going at 38

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 17, 2026 Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the press conference REUTERS/Tingshu Wang
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 17, 2026 Serbia's Novak Djokovic during the press conference REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

Novak Djokovic said Saturday he still gets a "drug-like" adrenaline rush from tennis and is not thinking about retiring anytime soon.

The 38-year-old is about to embark on his 21st Australian Open and remains among the top contenders, behind defending champion Jannik Sinner and top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz.

Melbourne Park is his favorite hunting ground, claiming 10 titles.

Despite scaling back his tournament appearances in recent years the Serbian great remains confident he can still compete with the best and is not ready to leave the sport behind.

"I'm still living my dream to be honest," the former world number one said on the eve of the opening Grand Slam of the year.

"It's passion and love for the game. It's the interaction with people. It's the energy that you feel when you walk out on the court.

"That adrenaline rush, it's almost like a drug.

"I think that a lot of the top athletes from different sports can relate to that. I have been at least hearing them speak about that.

"It's so addictive, you know, the feeling of competing."

His long-time rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have both hung up their racquets and Djokovic said he constantly got asked about when he would join them.

"I have been asked a lot about obviously when is the end date going to come for me, but I don't want to talk or think about it yet because I'm here, I'm competing," AFP quoted him as saying.

"When that arrives and kind of becomes ripe in my head, I'll share it with you, and then we can all discuss on the farewell tour.

"But right now I'm still number four in the world, still competing at the highest level, and I feel like there is no need to draw the attention to that discussion."