A New Ibra: Arijon Ibrahimović Scores 1 and Sets up Another in Frosinone Win Over Empoli 

Frosinone's Arijon Ibrahimović celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Frosinone and Empoli at Olimpic Stadium, Frosinone, Italy, Monday Nov. 6, 2023. (AP)
Frosinone's Arijon Ibrahimović celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Frosinone and Empoli at Olimpic Stadium, Frosinone, Italy, Monday Nov. 6, 2023. (AP)
TT
20

A New Ibra: Arijon Ibrahimović Scores 1 and Sets up Another in Frosinone Win Over Empoli 

Frosinone's Arijon Ibrahimović celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Frosinone and Empoli at Olimpic Stadium, Frosinone, Italy, Monday Nov. 6, 2023. (AP)
Frosinone's Arijon Ibrahimović celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Frosinone and Empoli at Olimpic Stadium, Frosinone, Italy, Monday Nov. 6, 2023. (AP)

There’s a new Ibrahimović making waves in Serie A.

Arijon Ibrahimović set up one goal and then scored another for Frosinone in a 2-1 win over Empoli on Monday.

The 17-year-old German midfielder became the youngest player in Europe’s top five leagues this season to score and assist in the same match.

On loan from Bayern Munich, Ibrahimović grew up admiring his namesake, Zlatan Ibrahimović, who starred at Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan before retiring at the end of last season.

First, Arijon Ibrahimović provided a cross for Marvin Cuni, who redirected the ball in with an airborne backheel volley. Then he scored from the edge of the area with a rising shot under the bar.

Francesco Caputo pulled one back for Empoli in the closing minutes.

Arijon Ibrahimović also scored when Frosinone beat Torino 2-1 in the Italian Cup last week.

Promoted Frosinone moved up to 11th place while Empoli remained second to last.

Also, Nikola Vlasic scored the winner as Torino beat visiting Sassuolo 2-1 to move up to 12th.



Iraq Decline to Play Palestine World Cup Qualifier in Jerusalem or Jordan

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group B - Iraq v Palestine - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - October 10, 2024 Palestine fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group B - Iraq v Palestine - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - October 10, 2024 Palestine fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo
TT
20

Iraq Decline to Play Palestine World Cup Qualifier in Jerusalem or Jordan

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group B - Iraq v Palestine - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - October 10, 2024 Palestine fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - Asian Qualifiers - Third Round - Group B - Iraq v Palestine - Basra International Stadium, Basra, Iraq - October 10, 2024 Palestine fans inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani/File Photo

Iraq want their World Cup qualifier against Palestine next month moved from the Jordanian capital of Amman, having also knocked back a Palestinian proposal to stage the match just outside Jerusalem.
The last soccer international played in the Palestinian territories was in October 2019 and Palestine have since staged their "home" fixtures at neutral venues in Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait and Malaysia.
Palestine are due to host Iraq in a Group B match in the third round of Asian qualifying on March 25 and, after the proposal to play the match in the Palestinian territories was turned down, FIFA proposed Amman as the neutral venue.
According to Reuters, the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) said in a statement on Thursday that it had written to soccer's world governing body asking for the match to be moved to another city as playing in Amman would breach FIFA's own rules on neutral venues.
"This decision raises serious questions about the integrity and fairness of the competition, given the highly competitive nature in Group B," the IFA statement read.
"Iraq, Jordan and Palestine are direct competitors in the group and the gap between Iraq and Jordan in the standings is currently very close."
Iraq are in second place in the group with 11 points, leading Jordan in third by two points and trailing leaders South Korea by three points. The top two teams in the group progress directly to the 2026 World Cup finals in North America.
The Palestine Football Association (PFA) released a statement on Thursday regretting Iraq's decision not to allow the match to go ahead at Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium in Al-Ram, Jerusalem.
The PFA said FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had inspected the stadium and agreed the match could be played there, but only with the agreement of the Iraqis.
"We were surprised to learn that our colleagues in the Iraqi Football Association had unilaterally decided to decline playing in Palestine and directly communicated this to the AFC and FIFA without consulting the PFA," the statement said.
"Despite this decision, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to reclaiming our right to host matches on our home soil -- a right we have fought tirelessly to secure and uphold over the years."
The IFA said "despite our keenness to hold the match in beloved Palestine, and to stand with Palestinian sports at this time", the body had decided to refuse because of the lack of VAR technology in the stadium.
Reuters has contacted FIFA and the AFC for comment.
Palestine are bottom of Group B with three points after six matches. Neither Palestine nor Jordan have previously qualified for the World Cup finals, while Iraq lost all three games on their one appearance in Mexico in 1986.