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Saudi Arabia: Governor Crowns Winner of 2024 Hail Toyota International Rally

The Governor of Hail region has crowned Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi with the title of the 2024 Hail Toyota International Rally in its 19th edition. SPA
The Governor of Hail region has crowned Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi with the title of the 2024 Hail Toyota International Rally in its 19th edition. SPA
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Saudi Arabia: Governor Crowns Winner of 2024 Hail Toyota International Rally

The Governor of Hail region has crowned Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi with the title of the 2024 Hail Toyota International Rally in its 19th edition. SPA
The Governor of Hail region has crowned Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi with the title of the 2024 Hail Toyota International Rally in its 19th edition. SPA

The Governor of Hail region, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, and Chairman of the Hail Region Development Authority (HRDA), has crowned Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi with the title of the 2024 Hail Toyota International Rally in its 19th edition.
Organized by the Ministry of Sport in cooperation with HRDA and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), the rally represents the first round of the 2024 World Rally Cup "Baja" category.
It is also considered the first round of the 2024 Middle East Rally Championship, and part of the Saudi Toyota 2024 Championship.
The ceremony took place at Al-Maghwah Entertainment Park in Hail on Saturday, in the presence of the President of SAMF, Prince Khalid bin Sultan bin Abdullah bin Faisal, the Deputy Governor of Hail region and HRDA Vice Chairman, Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Meqrin bin Abdulaziz, and Princess Haifa bint Abdulmohsen bin Abdulaziz.
Prince Abdulaziz, who is also the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, crowned the champions of the 2024 Hail Toyota International Rally. Al-Rajhi, accompanied by his German co-driver Timo Gottschalk, managed to clinch the title for the seventh time in its history, aboard a Toyota Hilux. They covered the distance of the special stage, which was 164 km long, in one hour, 42 minutes, and 55 seconds.
The Portuguese, Joao Ferreira, came in the second place in the overall standings, with a narrow margin of 38 seconds to Al-Rajhi. Lithuanian Rokas Baciuska came in third place behind them, with a time difference of one minute and 9 seconds.
Rally driver Saleh Al-Saif managed to win the 2024 Hail Toyota International Rally in the "Challenger" category, surpassing Portugal’s Joao Dias and the Argentine, Diego Martinez, who placed second and third respectively.

At the end of the ceremony, Prince Abdulaziz praised the support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and the Crown Prince for sports.

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Sports

De Zerbi to Stay at Tottenham Next Season ‘No Matter What’

Football - Premier League - Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion - Brentford Community Stadium, London, Britain - April 3, 2024 Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi applauds fans after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion - Brentford Community Stadium, London, Britain - April 3, 2024 Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi applauds fans after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
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De Zerbi to Stay at Tottenham Next Season ‘No Matter What’

Football - Premier League - Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion - Brentford Community Stadium, London, Britain - April 3, 2024 Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi applauds fans after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Brentford v Brighton & Hove Albion - Brentford Community Stadium, London, Britain - April 3, 2024 Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi applauds fans after the match. (Action Images via Reuters)

New Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi confirmed he will remain at the club next season even if they suffer relegation from the Premier League as he welcomed the biggest challenge of his career.

The Italian was appointed on a five-year deal on Tuesday with Spurs perilously poised just one point above the drop zone.

De Zerbi has just seven games to try and save Tottenham, who have not experienced life outside the top flight since 1978.

Reports suggested the former Brighton and Marseille boss had not keen to join Spurs before the end of the season, but was convinced by a lucrative five-year deal that put him among the highest paid coaches in the Premier League.

And he dismissed any suggestion of a clause in his contract that would allow him to leave if Spurs did go down.

"I signed five years of (a) contract because for me it is a big challenge," De Zerbi told an interview with the club's in-house media channel.

"I will be the coach of Tottenham next season no matter what.

"Tottenham, especially in this moment, is maybe the most important challenge in my career. I'm ready to start this challenge."

De Zerbi established a positive reputation for himself in England during a two-year spell as Brighton boss between 2022 and 2024.

His time at Marseille also started well, with the club finishing second to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 last season to qualify for the Champions League.

But he left the French club in February after failing to make it out of the Champions League league phase and following a humiliating 5-0 defeat by PSG.

His appointment has not been universally welcomed by the Tottenham fanbase.

Some fan groups have raised objections to his support for Mason Greenwood during his time at Marseille.

Former England international Greenwood was suspended by Manchester United in January 2022 following allegations of attempted rape and sexual assault.

Prosecutors dropped charges against Greenwood in February 2023, who always denied the allegations, and he joined Marseille not long after De Zerbi in July 2024.

"I've never wanted to downplay the issue of violence against women or violence against anyone in general," De Zerbi added, speaking in his native Italian.

"Those who know me well know that I'm not the kind of person who compromises to win one more match, or to win one more title.

"I'm sorry if I've offended anyone with this topic. I have a daughter and I'm very sensitive to these things. I hope that as time passes, people will get to know me better and understand that I didn't mean to take a stance."

Sports

Lego to Continue Sports Expansion with Football Players

LEGO Design Master Beatrice Amoretti and model designer Freddy Charters sit next to a display of the LEGO Editions sets of footballers Vinicius (Vini) Jr, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappe in Billund, Denmark, March 27, 2026. (Reuters)
LEGO Design Master Beatrice Amoretti and model designer Freddy Charters sit next to a display of the LEGO Editions sets of footballers Vinicius (Vini) Jr, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappe in Billund, Denmark, March 27, 2026. (Reuters)
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Lego to Continue Sports Expansion with Football Players

LEGO Design Master Beatrice Amoretti and model designer Freddy Charters sit next to a display of the LEGO Editions sets of footballers Vinicius (Vini) Jr, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappe in Billund, Denmark, March 27, 2026. (Reuters)
LEGO Design Master Beatrice Amoretti and model designer Freddy Charters sit next to a display of the LEGO Editions sets of footballers Vinicius (Vini) Jr, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappe in Billund, Denmark, March 27, 2026. (Reuters)

Danish toymaker Lego will continue its expansion into the sports market this year with a collaboration with four of the world’s most famous football players.

Sets celebrating Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be made available ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In total, seven sets have been made – four featuring letter-shaped designs representing each footballer which cost $29, as well as display models of Ronaldo ‌and Messi ($79).

World ‌Cup winner Messi also has his own ‌1,427-piece ⁠of 3D wall ⁠art which will feature him in his signature victory pose ($179), while each player will also have his own mini-figure available with the cheaper sets.

"Similar to football, LEGO play is all about building and rebuilding, trying new things, learning from mistakes and celebrating successes," said Messi. "I love ⁠how these LEGO sets bring my pitch ‌moments to life in ‌a fun and imaginative way."

Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. said he hoped ‌the project would help promote his passion for ‌inclusivity.

"It doesn't matter where you're from or what language you speak, people connect through creativity and that's really powerful," he said.

"I didn't have much growing up, but I used to play ‌with LEGO at school, for example. Like a lot of kids, I loved building ⁠things, creating ⁠my own world, using my imagination. That’s something that stays with you, even as you get older.”

Lego, founded nearly 100 years ago and still privately owned, is betting big on the World Cup, having launched a replica trophy set in March.

It has already had success in the motor sport market, and last year its designers built 10 functioning Formula One cars for the Miami Grand Prix.

Julia Goldin, Lego's Chief Marketing and Product Officer, said there would be a wider football program to coincide with the World Cup, including fan zone experiences.

Sports

Italy Soccer President Resigns after Azzurri Miss Third Straight World Cup

Italy players react after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Italy players react after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
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Italy Soccer President Resigns after Azzurri Miss Third Straight World Cup

Italy players react after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Italy players react after losing in a World Cup qualifying playoff final soccer match between Bosnia and Italy in Zenica, Bosnia, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)

Italy's soccer federation president resigned amid political pressure on Thursday, two days after the Azzurri failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.

Gabriele Gravina's decision will likely lead to the ouster of Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso, too.

Italy Sports Minister Andrea Abodi called for a change in the country’s soccer leadership after Gravina oversaw two sets of disappointing World Cup qualifiers, The AP news reported.

“It’s evident to everyone that Italian soccer needs to be overhauled,” Abodi said on Wednesday, “and that process needs to start with new leadership at the FIGC (federation).”

Italy’s chances of reaching this year’s tournament in North America ended on Tuesday after a penalty shootout loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a qualifying playoff.

Gravina took charge of the federation in 2018 replacing Carlo Tavecchio, who also stepped down after Italy failed to reach that year’s World Cup.

The defeat to Bosnia added more misery for four-time champion Italy after being eliminated by Sweden and North Macedonia, respectively, in the qualifying playoffs for the last two World Cups.

Italy’s World Cup struggles go back all the way to 2010 and 2014 when it failed to advance from its group on both occasions.

The Azzurri’s last World Cup knockout match was in 2006 when they won the title by beating France in the final after a penalty shootout.

Gravina did oversee Italy’s European Championship trophy in 2021.

An election was called for June 22 to elect a new FIGC president.

Gravina also announced that he would attend a hearing in Italy’s parliament next Wednesday to discuss “the wellbeing of Italian soccer.”

Mancini, Inzaghi, Conte, Allegri Gattuso took over from the fired Luciano Spalletti in June with the squad already in crisis mode following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.

The Azzurri then went on a six-match winning streak before losing again to Norway in November to finish second in their group and end up in the playoffs again.

Among those being mentioned to replace Gattuso are Roberto Mancini, Simone Inzaghi, Antonio Conte and Massimiliano Allegri.

Mancini coached Italy to the European Championship title in 2021 then failed to get the Azzurri to the next year’s World Cup.

Conte coached Italy at the 2016 European Championship and is currently at Napoli.

Allegri is at AC Milan.

Gravina is a UEFA vice president Gravina is also Aleksander Ceferin’s top vice president at UEFA.

UEFA statutes require that executive committee members are also senior FA officials but Gravina could stay in the UEFA role as a lame duck as long as the FIGC’s new leadership doesn’t demand his removal.

Gravina was re-elected last year by UEFA so he has three more years in his current term.

“Gabriele is my first vice president and is very important to me,” Ceferin said in Thursday’s Gazzetta dello Sport after attending the playoff in Bosnia.

Euro 2032 Besides revitalizing the national team, whoever replaces Gravina will be tasked with getting Italy’s dilapidated stadiums ready to host the 2032 European Championship.

Italy is slated to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey.

“I hope that the infrastructure is ready,” Ceferin said. “Otherwise the tournament won’t be played in Italy.”