Thailand Aims for F1 Street Race in 2028 After Domenicali Talks 

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali (L) speaks to Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (R) during a meeting at the Government House in Bangkok on March 18, 2025. (AFP)
Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali (L) speaks to Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (R) during a meeting at the Government House in Bangkok on March 18, 2025. (AFP)
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Thailand Aims for F1 Street Race in 2028 After Domenicali Talks 

Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali (L) speaks to Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (R) during a meeting at the Government House in Bangkok on March 18, 2025. (AFP)
Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali (L) speaks to Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra (R) during a meeting at the Government House in Bangkok on March 18, 2025. (AFP)

Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met Formula One chief Stefano Domenicali on Tuesday and said the government would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.

Formula One already has a crowded schedule of 24 races around the world with four in the Asia-Pacific region, including the Singapore Grand Prix in Southeast Asia.

Thailand has an FIA accredited track in Buriram in the northeast of the country, which currently hosts a round of the MotoGP motorcycling world championships, but the proposal is for a street race in the kingdom's capital.

"We had the opportunity to discuss the opportunity of Thailand to host the Formula 1 race, which is a great sport with a worldwide following," the Thai Prime Minister posted on X after the meeting with Domenicali at Government House.

"The government confirmed that it will study this joint investment, including the study of the race route, the investment budget, and the value for Thailand to receive from hosting the race."

Paetongtarn said she thought hosting a race would be an opportunity to upgrade Bangkok's infrastructure -- the city's roads are notoriously clogged -- and attract more tourists from abroad, particularly visitors in the "high-end" market.

"I believe that all Thai people will benefit from organizing this event, whether it is large-scale infrastructure investment, job creation, new income generation, and importing new technologies and innovations," she added.

"I am confident that this project will be successful. It is another important opportunity for the country to organize a world-class event."

Formula One chief executive Domenicali also posted a statement on X, describing the plans for a Bangkok race as "impressive". "I am looking forward to continuing our discussions in the weeks and months ahead," the Italian added.



Chelsea’s Maresca Rues ‘Easy Goals’ Conceded in Loss to Atalanta 

Chelsea's coach Enzo Maresca leaves the pitch after losing the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Atalanta BC and Chelsea FC, in Bergamo, Italy, 09 December 2025. (EPA)
Chelsea's coach Enzo Maresca leaves the pitch after losing the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Atalanta BC and Chelsea FC, in Bergamo, Italy, 09 December 2025. (EPA)
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Chelsea’s Maresca Rues ‘Easy Goals’ Conceded in Loss to Atalanta 

Chelsea's coach Enzo Maresca leaves the pitch after losing the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Atalanta BC and Chelsea FC, in Bergamo, Italy, 09 December 2025. (EPA)
Chelsea's coach Enzo Maresca leaves the pitch after losing the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Atalanta BC and Chelsea FC, in Bergamo, Italy, 09 December 2025. (EPA)

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was disappointed by how his side conceded two second-half goals to throw away their lead and slump to a 2-1 Champions League defeat at Atalanta on Tuesday.

Joao Pedro broke the deadlock for Chelsea after 25 minutes, but Serie A side Atalanta returned with far more intent after the break and overturned the deficit through goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere.

Maresca said his side should have taken the chances they had to add to their first-half lead.

"After we conceded the 1-1 (goal), we lost a little bit of control of the game, and then we conceded the second one," he told reporters.

"I think both goals, we can avoid both of them. They're quite easy goals."

The win put Atalanta near the top of the Champions League table, putting them in the mix for direct qualification for the round of 16 with 13 points, while Chelsea have 10.

If the Premier League club do not win their remaining games against Cypriot side Pafos and Italy's Napoli, they will likely finish outside the top eight and be forced to play a two-legged playoff match.

"Probably with two wins, probably with 16 points, you can be in the top eight," the Italian manager added.

"Not sure about that, but now the focus has to be the next game. And then the next one, for sure. If we want to try to finish top eight, we need to win both.

"Otherwise, we try to play the playoff and then go to the next round."

Chelsea next host Everton in a league match on Saturday.


Specter of Salah Still Hangs Over Liverpool Despite Win Over Inter 

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot gestures after the Champions League, league phase, soccer match between Inter Milan and Liverpool in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Dec.9, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot gestures after the Champions League, league phase, soccer match between Inter Milan and Liverpool in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Dec.9, 2025. (AP)
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Specter of Salah Still Hangs Over Liverpool Despite Win Over Inter 

Liverpool's manager Arne Slot gestures after the Champions League, league phase, soccer match between Inter Milan and Liverpool in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Dec.9, 2025. (AP)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot gestures after the Champions League, league phase, soccer match between Inter Milan and Liverpool in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Dec.9, 2025. (AP)

The shadow of Mohamed Salah's bust-up with Liverpool hung over the team as they faced Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday and the Egyptian forward's situation looks a long way from being resolved after they eked out a narrow 1-0 win.

Salah was left out of Tuesday's squad by coach Arne Slot after his withering comments on Saturday, when he accused the club of throwing him under the bus having been left on the bench during a 3-3 Premier League draw with Leeds United.

When asked ahead of Tuesday's game if Salah had played his last game for the club, Slot said he had "no clue".

With the travelling fans singing the coach's name after the final whistle against Inter, Slot took a slightly more conciliatory line towards Salah, suggesting that the player may have spoken in the heat of the moment after the disappointing draw with Leeds.

Yet he also suggested the responsibility may rest with Salah to repair the damage.

"You concede, and then a lot of things are being said. Normally, that affects players as well, because he's been so influential for the club and the players, so it's never nice when something happens to their team-mates," Slot said.

"Everyone makes mistakes in life, but does the player know he's made a mistake? Should the initiative (to make things right) come from him or me? That's another question," he added.

Liverpool have one more Premier League game against Brighton & Hove Albion before Salah departs to play with Egypt in the African Cup of Nations on Dec. 15.

Salah is the third-highest scorer in Liverpool's history behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt with 250 goals in all competitions and defender Andy Robertson said he hoped the Egyptian's time at the club was not over.

"That'll be up to other people. It's not up to me, but I love playing with Mo Salah, and I hope to continue to play with him," the 31-year-old said.

Crowned Premier League champions under Slot last season with Salah contributing 34 goals and 18 assists in 52 games across all competitions, Liverpool have struggled to find their best form so far this term, but Tuesday's win might give them some breathing-room.

"We know we're in not the best moment, we know the results haven't been good enough, we know the performances haven't been good enough. So it's important that this club is in the Champions League, and then when you are you have to compete in it," Robertson said.

"The supporters expect us to go far in it (the Champions League), so we need to up our performances to get through and then to hopefully build momentum, so it was a huge result for all of us."


Kobe's Sasaki Scores Late Penalty to Claim Draw in Asian Champions League

Soccer Football - Friendly - Vissel Kobe v FC Barcelona - Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - June 6, 2023 Vissel Kobe players pose for a team group photo before the match REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo
Soccer Football - Friendly - Vissel Kobe v FC Barcelona - Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - June 6, 2023 Vissel Kobe players pose for a team group photo before the match REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo
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Kobe's Sasaki Scores Late Penalty to Claim Draw in Asian Champions League

Soccer Football - Friendly - Vissel Kobe v FC Barcelona - Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - June 6, 2023 Vissel Kobe players pose for a team group photo before the match REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo
Soccer Football - Friendly - Vissel Kobe v FC Barcelona - Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan - June 6, 2023 Vissel Kobe players pose for a team group photo before the match REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

Hosts Vissel Kobe salvaged a 2-2 draw with Chinese Super League outfit Chengdu Rongcheng through Daiju Sasaki's 90th-minute penalty in the Asian Champions League Elite on Tuesday to bring down the curtain on coach Takayuki Yoshida's time in charge.

Yoshida announced last week that he was standing down after three-and-a-half years in charge having led the club to the J-League title in 2023 and 2024, but Kobe were unable to give the 48-year-old a winning send-off.

Yoshinori Muto put Kobe in front in the 18th minute when he scored on the turn from eight yards out but Chengdu forward Felipe lashed in the equaliser from distance in first half stoppage time, Reuters reported.

The Brazilian was on target again from the penalty spot with 13 minutes remaining, although Sasaki was also successful with his spot kick in the final minute to earn Kobe a point.

The draw means Kobe are two points clear in the eastern league phase standings of second-placed Machida Zelvia, who cruised to a 3-1 win over Ulsan HD from South Korea.

Asahi Masuyama gave the home side the lead when he deflected Hokuto Shimoda's volley past Jo Hyeon-woo in the sixth minute and Takuma Nishimura doubled the advantage 15 minutes later.

Oh Se-hun's header two minutes into the second half extended Machida's lead before Um Won-sang slid in to score a consolation for Ulsan in the 55th minute.

GOALKEEPER CHEN DENIES JOHOR DARUL TA'ZIM

Johor Darul Ta'zim moved up to sixth with a 0-0 draw against Shanghai Port with the Malaysian side thwarted by a stellar performance from Chinese goalkeeper Chen Wei while Bergson and Nacho Mendez hit the woodwork for the hosts.

Buriram United, meanwhile, were frustrated by a late penalty decision that earned Gangwon FC a 2-2 draw in Thailand after Mark Jackson's side had come from behind to lead.

Mo Jae-hyeon put the visitors in front in the 33rd minute but Ko Myeong-seok's header levelled the scores 13 minutes into the second half.

Suphanat Mueanta's calm finish from an angle put Buriram in front in the 65th minute before Guilherme Bissoli was judged to have fouled Park Ho-yeong in the area. Kim Dae-won converted the 74th-minute spot kick to earn his side a point.

The first eight finishers in the 12-team league phase will advance to March's last 16 in both east and west Asia with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final to be played in a centralized venue in Saudi Arabia in April.