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Saudi Ministries of Sport, Investment Announce Launch of Sport Investment Forum

The forum is scheduled to take place from April 7 to 9, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh. SPA
The forum is scheduled to take place from April 7 to 9, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh. SPA
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Saudi Ministries of Sport, Investment Announce Launch of Sport Investment Forum

The forum is scheduled to take place from April 7 to 9, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh. SPA
The forum is scheduled to take place from April 7 to 9, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh. SPA

The Saudi ministries of sport and investment have announced the launch of the Sports Investment Forum (SIF) under the theme "Ambitious Sports Investment."

The forum is scheduled to take place from April 7 to 9, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh. It will feature a distinguished lineup of international and local speakers, as well as leaders in the sports sector from both regional and international levels, reflecting its status as the largest global gathering for sports investment.

The announcement was made during the forum’s launch event, held on Sunday at the Ministry of Investment headquarters. The event was attended by Ministry of Sport Undersecretary for Media and Marketing Adel Al-Zahrani and Ministry of Investment Undersecretary for Investment Sector Development Mohammed Al-Sahib, alongside other officials from both ministries.

The SIF aims to expand investment opportunities in the sports sector and highlight promising ventures in related fields. It will feature several high-level keynote sessions, with extensive participation from private sector stakeholders and international entities. Representatives from global sports federations will also attend, creating a platform to propose innovative ideas, address challenges in the sports sector, and focus on enhancing sustainability while developing investment opportunities in sports.

As part of the forum's efforts to attract investments, establish global headquarters, and foster partnerships, it will announce several significant agreements and collaborations expected to contribute to the development of sports infrastructure and the promotion of investment activities in the sector.

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Japanese Trailblazer Nishikori to Retire at End of Season

Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after defeating Thiago Monteiro of Brazil during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP)
Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after defeating Thiago Monteiro of Brazil during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP)
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Japanese Trailblazer Nishikori to Retire at End of Season

Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after defeating Thiago Monteiro of Brazil during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP)
Kei Nishikori of Japan reacts after defeating Thiago Monteiro of Brazil during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP)

Kei Nishikori will hang ‌up his racquet at the end of the 2026 season, the 36-year-old said on Friday, bringing down the curtain on a professional career that saw him break new ground for Japanese tennis.

Nishikori became the first Japanese player to reach a Grand Slam singles final at the 2014 US Open and was the second Asian man after Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan to make it into the top 10.

He ‌reached a career-high ‌ranking of number four in ‌2015 ⁠and won 12 ⁠titles on the ATP Tour, but has been plagued by injuries for years and has fallen to 464 in the world rankings.

The last time he was ranked in the top 10 was in October 2019 and last month he admitted he ⁠was "barely hanging on" in terms of physical ‌fitness.

"Reaching the ATP Tour, ‌playing at the highest level of competition and maintaining ‌a presence in the top 10 is something ‌I am extremely proud of," Nishikori wrote in a post on social media.

"Whether in victory or defeat, the special atmosphere I felt in packed arenas is irreplaceable ... ‌To be honest, I still wish I could continue my playing career. Even ⁠so, looking ⁠back on everything up to this point, I can proudly say that I gave it my all.

"I am truly happy to have walked this path. I will cherish every moment of the remaining matches and fight to the very end."

Nishikori's most recent appearance in a tour-level event came at last year’s Cincinnati Open, though he has played in five Challenger events this year.

He also won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, defeating Spain's Rafael Nadal in three sets.

Sports

Villa Coach Emery Hits Out at VAR after Europa League Loss to Forest

30 April 2026, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts after the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa at the City Ground. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
30 April 2026, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts after the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa at the City Ground. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
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Villa Coach Emery Hits Out at VAR after Europa League Loss to Forest

30 April 2026, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts after the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa at the City Ground. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa
30 April 2026, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Aston Villa manager Unai Emery reacts after the UEFA Europa League semi-final first leg soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa at the City Ground. Photo: Mike Egerton/PA Wire/dpa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery was scathing in his criticism of the Video Assistant Referee's (VAR) decisions in the Europa League first-leg tie against Nottingham Forest, taking issue with a tackle by Eliot Anderson.

Anderson made a sliding tackle on Ollie Watkins in which he won the ball but caught the English forward's ankle with his studs, with VAR reviewing the incident briefly before clearing it.

"It's a clear red card - ⁠I don't understand ⁠why the VAR is not calling the referee because it's so clear," Emery said after Thursday's match, which Forest won 1-0 courtesy of a Chris Wood penalty in the 71st minute.

"And it's very, very ⁠important. It's a huge, huge mistake. VAR is responsible. The referee - fantastic, fantastic job, 10 out of 10. I appreciated how he managed the match for 90 minutes.

"But I watched it back - wow. Huge. He could break his ankle. Wow, VAR - where are you?

Please. It is your responsibility, we are professionals. You are doing very bad work ⁠because it ⁠was so clear for everybody. He could break his ankle."

Despite the severity of the challenge Watkins played the full 90 minutes, a boost for Villa's Champions League hopes for next season as this season comes to a close, Reuters reported.

Watkins is Villa's top goalscorer this season, netting 15 goals so far in all competitions.

Villa, currently fifth in the Premier League table, face relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

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
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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.