Uruguay Boss Bielsa Says His Authority Was Affected after Suarez Criticism

Uruguay's Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa gestures during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Peru and Uruguay at the National stadium in Lima, on October 11, 2024. (AFP)
Uruguay's Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa gestures during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Peru and Uruguay at the National stadium in Lima, on October 11, 2024. (AFP)
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Uruguay Boss Bielsa Says His Authority Was Affected after Suarez Criticism

Uruguay's Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa gestures during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Peru and Uruguay at the National stadium in Lima, on October 11, 2024. (AFP)
Uruguay's Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa gestures during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Peru and Uruguay at the National stadium in Lima, on October 11, 2024. (AFP)

Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa said his authority was somewhat affected after striker Luis Suarez slammed his coaching style, but the Argentine added that he was prepared for the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifier against Peru with utmost seriousness.

Uruguay's all-time leading goal-scorer Suarez, who retired from internationals in September, earlier this month accused Bielsa's coaching style of having divided the squad because of how he trains and that some players were considering quitting.

The Inter Miami player added that some things happened at the Copa America in the United States, where the 15-times champions Uruguay finished third, that he did not agree with but chose to keep quiet.

Bielsa said his side's commitment was unaffected in their shock 1-0 loss away at Peru on Saturday.

"What happened during the week does not condition or explain how we played, nor do I think it has had an effect because it was a week with a lot of effervescence," Bielsa told reporters after the defeat.

"As for how the situation affected me, I don't ignore what happened, and I know that my authority was affected in some way, but I prepared for the game with the utmost seriousness, and the response I got from the players was the same as I have always had since I started working here.

"It didn't alter the conviction with which the match was prepared and the way the group and the coaching staff worked. The preparation was the same as always."

Uruguay, third in the World Cup Qualifying standings with 15 points from nine matches, next host fifth-placed Ecuador.



Riyadh to Host FIFAe Finals 2024 on December 5-12

General view of Riyadh/ File Photo-AAWSAT
General view of Riyadh/ File Photo-AAWSAT
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Riyadh to Host FIFAe Finals 2024 on December 5-12

General view of Riyadh/ File Photo-AAWSAT
General view of Riyadh/ File Photo-AAWSAT

The FIFAe Finals 2024 will mark the first time that the event includes multiple esports titles, establishing itself as the ultimate stage for both the FIFAe World Cup™ featuring Rocket League and the FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball™ on console and mobile, respectively.
Hosted at the Saudi Esports Federation (SEF) Arena at BLVD Riyadh City, the event will unfold in two stages. It begins with the FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League from December 5 to 8, followed by FIFAe World Cup featuring eFootball™, on both console and mobile, that will run December 9 to 12, SPA reported.
Ahead of the eagerly anticipated tournaments, SEF chief executive Turki Al-Fawzan said, "As we continue to strengthen Saudi Arabia's position as a global leader in esports, hosting the FIFAe Finals 2024 is a proud moment for us. This event not only highlights the Kingdom's commitment to the esports ecosystem but also provides an unparalleled opportunity for players from across the world to showcase their talent and passion on a global stage. We're excited to witness the next chapter of esports history unfold right here in Riyadh."
Meanwhile, FIFA secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom said: "This year's addition of multiple new titles marks a major expansion for football esports tournaments, offering players from diverse ecosystems the chance to compete on the biggest stage under the FIFAe banner. We're excited to continue this momentum together with the SEF and look forward to bringing this event to life in December together with our partners and publishers."
The prestigious event offers players the opportunity to represent their nations and lift the official FIFAe World Cup Trophy on the biggest stage. With 16 countries competing in Rocket League and up to 18 countries going head-to-head in eFootball™, the tournaments promise to be an exhilarating showcase of the world's top talent, fueled by intense national pride for the first time in these esports ecosystems. Full details on the competing nations and the tournament format can be found at FIFA.GG.
In line with Rocket League's third-party regulations, the prize pool for the FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League stands at $250,000. The prize pool for both eFootball™ competitions, console and mobile, totals $100,000 each, bringing the total prize distribution for the FIFAe Finals 2024 to $450,000.
Boasting a gaming-savvy population, strong participation in FIFAe competitions, and a legacy of world champions, Riyadh was chosen as host of the FIFAe Finals 2024. With SEF as a presenting partner, the FIFAe Finals are continuing to expand, engaging local and global communities in this growing ecosystem. All days of the FIFAe Finals 2024 are open for the public on a walk-in basis.
The FIFAe Finals 2024 are the second FIFAe event of this year after the inaugural FIFAe Next Gen event in Liverpool, England, which included the first-ever FIFAe World Cup featuring Football Manager, alongside the FIFAe Fame Your Game Cup.