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Saudi Arabia to Host World Rally Championship for First Time

Saudi Arabia will host the World Rally Championship (WRC) for the first time in its history. SPA
Saudi Arabia will host the World Rally Championship (WRC) for the first time in its history. SPA
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Saudi Arabia to Host World Rally Championship for First Time

Saudi Arabia will host the World Rally Championship (WRC) for the first time in its history. SPA
Saudi Arabia will host the World Rally Championship (WRC) for the first time in its history. SPA

The Ministry of Sports has announced that Saudi Arabia will host the World Rally Championship (WRC) for the first time in its history, under the name “Saudi Rally,” for 10 years starting in 2025.

The event is organized by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) and Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports in collaboration with the WRC.
The signing ceremony of the groundbreaking sports agreement took place on the island of Sardinia, Italy, in the presence of the President of SAMF and SMC, Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al Faisal, and the Director-General of the WRC, Jona Siebel.

“We are delighted to welcome the World Rally Championship [WRC] to the array of global sports events that have made Saudi Arabia a preferred and ideal destination, thanks to the generous support of our wise leadership,” said Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal, Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC).

“The arrival of another prestigious global racing series to the Kingdom signifies that our country has become a preferred destination for sports and athletes in various disciplines, including motorsports.”

He added that this significant event joins a list of other activities such as Formula 1, Formula E, Extreme E races, and the Dakar Rally, marking another success in the series of achievements in hosting events on Saudi soil.

The Kingdom's winning of this hosting bid marks the first of its kind in the Middle East since 2011 when the championship was held in Jordan.

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Sports

Sport Ministry Wins Three Global Awards at Clio Sports 2025

Sport Ministry Wins Three Global Awards at Clio Sports 2025
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Sport Ministry Wins Three Global Awards at Clio Sports 2025

Sport Ministry Wins Three Global Awards at Clio Sports 2025

The Saudi Ministry of Sport has won three international awards at Clio Sports 2025, presented by The Clio Awards in New York, United States, among the world’s leading honors in sports marketing and media.

The film 'Overtake the Future' received the Silver Award in the Sound Design category of the Film Craft track, while 'Race the Sunset' won the Bronze Award for Best Cinematic Film, SPA reported.

In addition, 'Year of the Camel' earned the Bronze Award in the Best Cinematic Film category.

This achievement comes as part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts to develop sports-related media and marketing content and to document sporting stories and events through diverse and innovative production approaches.

Sports

Lebanon Name Madjid Bougherra as New Coach

Lebanese national flag flutters in Beirut, Lebanon, August 18, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Lebanese national flag flutters in Beirut, Lebanon, August 18, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
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Lebanon Name Madjid Bougherra as New Coach

Lebanese national flag flutters in Beirut, Lebanon, August 18, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Lebanese national flag flutters in Beirut, Lebanon, August 18, 2020. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

Lebanon have appointed former Algerian international Madjid Bougherra as their new coach, the national football association said.

Local media said it was a four-year deal.

The 43-year-old had previously been in charge of Algeria’s A team and won the Arab Cup with them in 2021 but resigned after they failed to defend their title in Qatar in December.

Bougherra captained Algeria at the 2014 World Cup and also played at the 2010 finals.

The French-born central defender began his playing career at Gueugnon before moving across the English Channel playing at Crewe Alexandra, Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton Athletic and Rangers in Scotland.

His first match in charge will be Lebanon’s Asian Cup qualifier against Yemen in Qatar on March 31 where they only need a draw to qualify for the 2027 finals in Saudi Arabia.

Sports

Senegal and Morocco Fined and Players Banned after African Cup Final Walk-off and Chaos

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw (Reuters)
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw (Reuters)
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Senegal and Morocco Fined and Players Banned after African Cup Final Walk-off and Chaos

Senegal coach Pape Thiaw (Reuters)
Senegal coach Pape Thiaw (Reuters)

Africa's soccer body issued fines worth more than $1 million and banned Senegal's coach and Senegalese and Morocco players Wednesday following a shambolic African Cup soccer final this month that involved a walk-off protest by one of the teams, fans trying to storm the field and fights among journalists.

The bans only apply to African games and not the World Cup kicking off in June that Senegal and Morocco have both qualified for, The AP news reported.

The sanctions announced by the Confederation of African Football included fines totaling $615,000 for the Senegalese soccer federation and $315,000 for the Morocco federation for unsporting and improper conduct by their players, coaching staff and supporters, among other offenses.

The Jan. 18 African soccer showpiece was marred by Senegal players walking off led by coach Pape Thiaw in protest against a penalty awarded late in regulation time to host Morocco. Thiaw was banned for five African games and given an individual fine of $100,000 for bringing the game into disrepute, the African confederation said.

The game restarted after a delay of around 15 minutes, Morocco missed the penalty, and Senegal won the African title 1-0 after extra time.

The heated final in Rabat also saw supporters trying to storm the field, Morocco and Senegal players scuffling on the sidelines, reporters from the two countries fighting in press areas, and a bizarre sequence where Moroccan ball boys attempted to seize a towel being used by Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy — in an apparent bid to distract him and help their team win the continental title.

That behavior by the home team's ball boys led to a $200,000 fine for Morocco's federation, which will be a co-host of the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal and has come under scrutiny for the chaotic African final.

Morocco was hoping to host the 2030 World Cup final at the under-construction Hassan II Stadium, set to be the largest soccer arena in the world with a capacity of 115,000 after its planned completion in 2028. But this month's African final reflected badly on it.

Morocco coach Walid Regragui said the game had given African soccer a “shameful” image.

Senegal players Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr were banned for two African games, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi was also banned for two games, with one suspended, and Morocco's Ismael Saibari was banned for three games and fined $100,000 for unsporting behavior.

The African soccer body dismissed an appeal by Morocco to have the result canceled and Morocco declared the winner because of the Senegalese walk-off.

The game even strained diplomatic ties between Senegal and Morocco, prompting political officials in both nations to pledge to stay friends and call for calm. In Morocco, rights groups denounced what they called hate speech targeting sub-Saharan African residents in the country.

Senegal Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko said on an investment-related trip to Morocco days after the game that the reaction to it should be seen as “emotional outbursts produced by fervor and not as political or cultural rifts.”