عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Chelsea’s American Owners Agree To Buy Stake in French Top-Tier Soccer Club Strasbourg

The logo of the RC Strasbourg Alsace is pictured in the press room of the Meinau stadium ahead of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and FC Lorient at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg on November 13, 2022. (AFP)
The logo of the RC Strasbourg Alsace is pictured in the press room of the Meinau stadium ahead of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and FC Lorient at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg on November 13, 2022. (AFP)
TT
TT

Chelsea’s American Owners Agree To Buy Stake in French Top-Tier Soccer Club Strasbourg

The logo of the RC Strasbourg Alsace is pictured in the press room of the Meinau stadium ahead of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and FC Lorient at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg on November 13, 2022. (AFP)
The logo of the RC Strasbourg Alsace is pictured in the press room of the Meinau stadium ahead of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and FC Lorient at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg on November 13, 2022. (AFP)

Chelsea ownership group BlueCo has agreed to buy a stake in French top-tier club Strasbourg in a significant step forward in its plans for multi-club ownership.

The consortium, which purchased the Premier League club in May last year, are to become new shareholders “subject to a consultation process with the relevant employee representative bodies.”

A statement said Thursday: “The shareholders of Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace today announced an agreement with BlueCo, the consortium which purchased Chelsea FC in May 2022.

“The agreement would mark a new chapter in Racing’s history as the ownership consortium commits to accelerate sustainable investment in the club’s growth, including in the first teams and in the Academy, in continuity with the project implemented by Marc Keller, who would remain president of the club, supported by his current management team.”

The statement added that “In accordance with Professional Football League regulations, the project was presented today to the Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG), whose assessment is expected in the coming weeks.”

Financial details of the intended deal were not announced. Strasbourg won its only French league title in 1979 and the last of its three French Cups in 2001.

“This strategic investment would further our presence in European football, alongside our ownership of Chelsea,” BlueCo said. The consortium includes American investment fund Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly, a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Multi-club ownership creates opportunities to share resources and knowledge while also giving parent clubs the option of greater control of transfer market business.

FIFA has weighed regulating the ownership model while UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has said it could look at relaxing its rules designed to limit clubs that share owners both playing in European competitions.

The UEFA rules were drafted 25 years ago to protect the integrity of competitions.

Neither Chelsea, the 2021 Champions League winner, nor Strasbourg qualified to play in UEFA’s club competitions next season.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Psychologist in Maradona Death Trial Says Star Had Bipolar Disorder

FILE PHOTO: Psychologist Carlos Angel Diaz walks on the day of a court case against people charged in connection with the death of Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 11, 2025. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Psychologist Carlos Angel Diaz walks on the day of a court case against people charged in connection with the death of Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 11, 2025. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
TT
TT

Psychologist in Maradona Death Trial Says Star Had Bipolar Disorder

FILE PHOTO: Psychologist Carlos Angel Diaz walks on the day of a court case against people charged in connection with the death of Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 11, 2025. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Psychologist Carlos Angel Diaz walks on the day of a court case against people charged in connection with the death of Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, March 11, 2025. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian/File Photo

A psychologist charged in the trial over Diego Maradona's death told an Argentine court on Thursday that the soccer great had bipolar disorder and was a narcissist, and required a zero-alcohol treatment plan, Argentine media reported.

Carlos Diaz, 34, is facing the charge of manslaughter with reckless intent for prescribing the wrong medication. He is one of seven defendants accused of criminal responsibility in the death of the former Argentine captain and national coach.

"There was bipolar disorder and narcissism," newspaper El Clarin cited Diaz as ⁠saying at the ⁠trial in Buenos Aires. "He could bring a country to its knees, but one glass of alcohol could bring him to his knees."

Diaz said he met Maradona on October 26, 2020, 29 days before the former footballer died, and that Maradona was drinking wine ⁠on a couch at the time, La Nacion Argentina reported.

"The first image shocked me because he was just like my father, an alcoholic, who had died a few months earlier," the newspaper cited Diaz as saying.

Diaz told the court he believed Maradona wanted to change his lifestyle and tailored the star's treatment based on abstinence from alcohol, El Clarin reported. According to Reuters, he also said the toxicology report showed Maradona's life ended after 23 ⁠days without ⁠drug use.

The attacking player won trophies with teams including Boca Juniors, Barcelona and Napoli, and captained Argentina to the World Cup title in 1986.

He died on November 25, 2020, aged 60, after surgery for a subdural hematoma.

The trial is examining whether members of his medical and care team bear criminal responsibility for his death.

Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, another defendant, also testified on Thursday, saying Maradona's home hospitalization was appropriate and was not intended to function as an intensive-care unit, El Clarin reported.

Sports

Palestinian, Israeli Soccer Officials Refuse to Shake Hands During Tense FIFA Congress Moment

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) interacts with the President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub as the Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman (L) looks on during a heated moment in the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Don MacKinnon / AFP)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) interacts with the President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub as the Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman (L) looks on during a heated moment in the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Don MacKinnon / AFP)
TT
TT

Palestinian, Israeli Soccer Officials Refuse to Shake Hands During Tense FIFA Congress Moment

FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) interacts with the President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub as the Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman (L) looks on during a heated moment in the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Don MacKinnon / AFP)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C) interacts with the President of the Palestine Football Association Jibril Rajoub as the Vice-President of Israel Football Association Basim Sheikh Suliman (L) looks on during a heated moment in the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Don MacKinnon / AFP)

Palestine Football Association President Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands with Basim Sheikh Suliman, the vice president of Israel’s soccer governing body, during a tense moment at the FIFA Congress on Thursday.

After the two men addressed the congress, they were called on stage by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. They stood far apart from each other and Rajoub protested loudly away from microphones before leaving the stage.

Speaking before the congress, Rajoub called on FIFA to address the Palestine Football Association's allegations that Israel has breached anti-discrimination regulation by allowing clubs based in the West Bank settlements.

He confirmed that the PFA is taking the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after FIFA ruled in March not to suspend Israel over its West Bank clubs. FIFA cited the unresolved and complex legal status of the West Bank.

But in a separate matter involving an Israeli club, FIFA fined the Israel Football Association $190,000 on disciplinary charges relating to “discrimination and racist abuse,” plus “offensive behavior and violations of the principles of fair play."

After the two men left the stage at the Vancouver Convention Center, Infantino thanked them for addressing the delegates and made an appeal.

“President Rajoub, Vice President Suliman, let's work together. Let's work together to give hope to the children. Let's work together for that,” Infantino said.

Following the congress, Rajoub gave an impassioned plea, asking whether Israel has “the right to even be part of FIFA.”

“From my side I still respect and follow all the legal procedures through FIFA institutions but I think it's time to understand that Israel should be sanctioned because of the violations of the statutes of FIFA, the human rights,” The Associated Press quoted him as saying.

Yariv Teper, acting general secretary of the Israel Football Association, would not comment on the specifics of Rajoub's comments but said the IFA would be willing to work with the Palestinian counterparts.

“We are in the FIFA Congress,” Teper said. “Our mission is to promote football and a better future for all regions, and this is our mission.”

Palestinian soccer officials have long argued — including at FIFA annual congresses across the past 15 years, before Infantino was president — that Israel violates statutes by letting teams from settlements in the West Bank play in Israel's national league.

The disciplinary investigation of Israeli soccer also was opened 18 months ago in response to a second objection by the Palestinian federation.

Sports

Blockx Converts Late Madrid Call-up Into Breakthrough Semi-final Run

Belgium's Alexander Blockx celebrates beating Norway's Casper Ruud during their 2026 ATP Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament quarter-final singles match at the Caja Magica in Madrid, on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Belgium's Alexander Blockx celebrates beating Norway's Casper Ruud during their 2026 ATP Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament quarter-final singles match at the Caja Magica in Madrid, on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
TT
TT

Blockx Converts Late Madrid Call-up Into Breakthrough Semi-final Run

Belgium's Alexander Blockx celebrates beating Norway's Casper Ruud during their 2026 ATP Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament quarter-final singles match at the Caja Magica in Madrid, on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)
Belgium's Alexander Blockx celebrates beating Norway's Casper Ruud during their 2026 ATP Tour Madrid Open tennis tournament quarter-final singles match at the Caja Magica in Madrid, on April 30, 2026. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)

Alexander Blockx arrived at the Madrid Open expecting to play the qualifying rounds, but the Belgian has made the most of his late promotion to the main draw after a string of withdrawals, riding a wave of confidence to the semi-finals.

The 21-year-old toppled seeded players including Brandon Nakashima, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Francisco Cerundolo before ending the title defense of Casper Ruud with a 6-4 6-4 win on Thursday to set up a last-four meeting with Alexander Zverev.

Currently ranked 69th in the world after sitting outside the top 100 ⁠two months ago, ⁠Blockx can enter the top 30 with another upset, but the Belgian said the week had already gone beyond anything he imagined.

"I was already happy with getting into the main draw ... at the last minute on Friday, just before the deadline. Winning my first match (against Cristian Garin) ⁠was already a bonus," Blockx said.

"Then all the other matches, I never thought I'd get that far. But once you get confident and you feel your game, a lot can happen."

Blockx has struggled for momentum on the ATP Tour following his run to the Next Gen ATP Finals title clash in December, but he showed his potential with a run to the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters last month.

His Madrid campaign and the win ⁠over two-time ⁠French Open finalist Ruud offered further validation for a player still building belief on clay.

"It's nice beating the defending champion, whose favorite conditions are here. That shows I can play well on clay too," Blockx added, according to Reuters.

"The ranking is going up really fast. It's nice to be able to play bigger tournaments now. I don't know the ceiling, I'll just see match by match, and hopefully get as high as I can."

Blockx meets Zverev later on Friday while world number one Jannik Sinner meets Arthur Fils in the other semi-final.