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FIFA to Seek Legal Advice on Palestinian Proposal to Suspend Israel from Int’l Football 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts during an address after Brazil won the bid to host the Women's World Cup, during the 74th FIFA Congress at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2024. (Reuters)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts during an address after Brazil won the bid to host the Women's World Cup, during the 74th FIFA Congress at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2024. (Reuters)
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FIFA to Seek Legal Advice on Palestinian Proposal to Suspend Israel from Int’l Football 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts during an address after Brazil won the bid to host the Women's World Cup, during the 74th FIFA Congress at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2024. (Reuters)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino reacts during an address after Brazil won the bid to host the Women's World Cup, during the 74th FIFA Congress at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand, May 17, 2024. (Reuters)

FIFA will seek independent legal advice before holding an extraordinary council meeting by July 25 to make a decision on a Palestinian proposal to suspend Israel from international soccer because of the conflict with Hamas.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino outlined the plan at the FIFA congress on Friday after representatives of the Palestinian and Israel football federations had a chance to speak in front of the 211 member associations.

"FIFA will mandate as of now, independent legal expertise to analyze the three requests (from the Palestinian FA) and ensure the statutes of FIFA are applied in the right way," Infantino said. "This legal assessment will have to allow for inputs and claims of both member associations. The results and the recommendations ... will be forwarded to the FIFA council.

"Due to the urgency of the situation, an extraordinary FIFA Council will be convened and will take place before July 25 to review the results of the legal assessment and to take the decisions that are appropriate."

The Palestine Football Association proposal to 211 member federations called for "appropriate sanctions, with immediate effect, against Israeli teams," according to FIFA documents released a month before the congress and council meeting sin Bangkok.

The motion noted "international law violations committed by the Israeli occupation in Palestine, particularly in Gaza" and cited FIFA statutory commitments on human rights and against discrimination.

The Palestinian FA wrote that "all the football infrastructure in Gaza has been either destroyed, or seriously damaged, including the historic stadium of Al-Yarmuk" and said it had support for the motion from the federations of Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Yemen.

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Arteta Shrugs off Criticism Over Arsenal’s Set-Piece Tactics

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
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Arteta Shrugs off Criticism Over Arsenal’s Set-Piece Tactics

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta gestures during the English Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC in London, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remained defiant on Tuesday over criticism of his team's set-piece tactics, dismissing accusations of time-wasting while expressing frustration that his side doesn't score even more from corners.

The Premier League leaders have netted 16 goals from corners this season to tie the league record with nine games remaining, but the feat has also sparked debate about the tactical evolution of set-pieces.

It has also drawn criticism from Wednesday's opponents Brighton & Hove Albion, whose ‌coach Fabian Huerzeler ‌took aim at Arsenal's corner routine, claiming ‌the ⁠London side sometimes "spend ⁠over one minute" to take a corner.

But Arteta had little sympathy for such complaints, telling reporters: "I'm upset that we don't score more (from corners) - and we concede as well. We want to be the best and the most dominant team in every aspect of the game."

The Spanish coach shrugged off criticism as "part of the job" given ⁠football's tactical transformation, arguing that teams increasingly neutralize ‌open-play opportunities.

"Before, when you used to ‌do a game plan and you would invert a full back or ‌bring an extra player into midfield or a false nine, ‌four vs three inside, two vs one inside, everyone behind the ball," Arteta said.

"Teams are adapting, teams know after every sequence of play - whether it is a throw-in, a restart of play, an open-pitch situation - they ‌know exactly what they have to do and everything is almost man-to-man.

"So it is not going ⁠to be ⁠a different game unless we change the rules, because the evolution of the game is that."

However, Huerzeler called for clearer regulations around time management, arguing supporters deserve value for money.

"Every supporter who pays a lot of money to go to the stadiums and watch our games should see the same net game time because they pay a lot of money," the German coach said.

"We have a net game time of 50 minutes (with the ball in play) instead of sometimes 65 minutes, so the game is changing so much."

Arsenal hold a five-point lead at the Premier League summit, having played a game more than second-placed Manchester City.

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Man United ‘Hungry for More’, Says Carrick

Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
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Man United ‘Hungry for More’, Says Carrick

Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)
Manchester United Manager Michael Carrick in action during the English Premier League match of Manchester United against Crystal Palace, in Manchester, Britain, 01 March 2026. (EPA)

Michael Carrick said Tuesday that Manchester United are "hungry for more" after their spectacular recovery under his leadership as they target a return to Champions League football.

United climbed to third in the Premier League with Sunday's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, a sixth victory in seven games since Carrick was appointed, in mid-January, as manager until the end of the season.

The Red Devils, who have the best form of any side in the league since Carrick's arrival, travel to face Newcastle on Wednesday.

They are six points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, with the top five almost certain to qualify for the Champions League thanks to the strong showing of English sides in Europe this season.

But Carrick said it was important to stay "in the moment" as United seek to maintain their momentum.

"We certainly won't get carried away," he said. "I think you've got to feed off the confidence and understand that runs of wins are hard to come by.

"But we're hungry for more, for sure, and we need to try and make it as long as it can last and stay consistent."

The former United midfielder said it was important not to look too far ahead as the three-time European champions seek to return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023/24 season.

"I think we're in a good position and we've kind of earned it," he said. "The boys have earned it and we've got to try and make the most of it from now on.

He added: "Talent-wise, ability-wise, I think the boys have shown what they can do.

"And then there's that balance of good habits, good behaviors, and actually looking after each other in the certain times you've got to really dig in and show that good spirit and team spirit, so I can't speak highly enough of the players."

Sports

Brazil’s Rodrygo Ruled Out of World Cup with Torn ACL, Real Madrid Say

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
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Brazil’s Rodrygo Ruled Out of World Cup with Torn ACL, Real Madrid Say

Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #11 Rodrygo celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League league phase day 6 football match between Real Madrid CF and Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on December 10, 2025. (AFP)

Real Madrid forward Rodrygo will miss the rest of the season and the World Cup after tearing ligaments in his right knee during the 1-0 LaLiga defeat by Getafe, the club said ‌on Tuesday.

The ‌25-year-old Brazil international ‌had ⁠been returning from ⁠over a month out with a muscle injury when he came off the bench in the 54th minute of Monday's ⁠game.

In the 66th ‌minute, while ‌being challenged on the left ‌wing, Rodrygo's leg got ‌caught as he tried to accelerate. He immediately showed signs of pain, briefly falling to ‌the turf before continuing and completing the match.

"Following ⁠tests ⁠carried out today on our player Rodrygo by Real Madrid's medical services, he has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and a torn outer meniscus in his right leg," Real Madrid said in a statement.