Saudi Arabia to Host Mr. Universe Bodybuilding Championship

IFBB President Rafael Santonja. Photo: IFBB website
IFBB President Rafael Santonja. Photo: IFBB website
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Saudi Arabia to Host Mr. Universe Bodybuilding Championship

IFBB President Rafael Santonja. Photo: IFBB website
IFBB President Rafael Santonja. Photo: IFBB website

Saudi Arabia will host the Mr. Universe Bodybuilding Championship, organized by the Saudi Arabian Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Federation, September 29-30 in the Al-Khobar Governorate in the Eastern Province.

The event is a competition for amateurs and professionals, and it qualifies directly for the Mr. and Ms. World Championship, the largest tournament in the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB).

The tournament will witness the attendance of IFBB President Rafael Santonja, his deputy, the President of the Arab and Egyptian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federations Dr. Adel Fahim el Sayed, several arbitrators, presidents of Arab and international federations, and several foreign arbitrators in their capacity as guests of honor.

During the championship, Saudi bodybuilders will be selected from the tournament to participate in the World Championship to be held in Spain. Citizens and residents of the Kingdom will also be allowed to participate, and the first of each category of professionals will receive an invitation to the Mr. and Ms. World Championship.



Italian Banned for 10 Matches for Racist Abuse of Wolves Striker Hwang

Wolverhampton Wanderers' South Korean striker #11 Hwang Hee-chan reacts during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on September 28, 2024. (AFP)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' South Korean striker #11 Hwang Hee-chan reacts during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on September 28, 2024. (AFP)
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Italian Banned for 10 Matches for Racist Abuse of Wolves Striker Hwang

Wolverhampton Wanderers' South Korean striker #11 Hwang Hee-chan reacts during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on September 28, 2024. (AFP)
Wolverhampton Wanderers' South Korean striker #11 Hwang Hee-chan reacts during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on September 28, 2024. (AFP)

Italian defender Marco Curto has been banned for 10 matches for racially abusing South Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan while playing for Como against Wolverhampton Wanderers in a pre-season friendly in July.

Curto, who is currently on loan from Como to Serie B club Cesena, will serve half of the punishment immediately with the other half suspended for two years.

"The player Marco Curto was found responsible for discriminatory behavior and sanctioned with a 10-match suspension," a FIFA spokesperson said.

"The player is ordered to render community services and undergo training and education with an organization approved by FIFA."

Wolves said the club would file a complaint with UEFA after the incident in the Spanish resort of Marbella that sparked an angry response from Hwang's teammates and led to the dismissal of winger Daniel Podence for punching a Como player.

"We welcome FIFA's decision to sanction Marco Curto following the discriminatory incident during our pre-season friendly against Como 1907," the Premier League club's Director of Football Matt Wild said in a statement.

"The suspension issued to the player sends a clear message that racism and discriminatory behavior will not be tolerated in football or society.

"Wolves will always stand firmly against racism and discrimination in any form, and we remain fully committed to creating an environment where everyone feels respected and included."

Como representatives were not immediately available for comment outside business hours.

In July, while condemning racism, Como said that Curto had referred to Hwang as "Jackie Chan" - the Hong Kong movie star - after hearing the Wolves players calling the forward by his nickname, "Channy".

"As far as our club is concerned our player did not say anything in a derogatory manner," the club said. "We are disappointed that the reaction of certain Wolves players has seen the incident blown out of proportion."

At the last FIFA Congress in Bangkok in May, President Gianni Infantino launched what he described as a "global stand against racism".

The governing body promised five areas of action, including mandatory sanctions for incidents of racism in or around matches.

"Racism is a scourge that exists in our society and is one also that is infiltrated in football," Infantino told the gathering of football officials from around the world.

"For too long we were not capable of dealing with it in an appropriate way. We need to stand up and fight racism and defeat racism all together."