عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

New Murabba Announces Strategic Sponsorship with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal Club Company 

The agreement was signed by New Murabba chief executive Michael Dyke and Al-Hilal Club Company chief executive Esteve Calzada. (SPA)
The agreement was signed by New Murabba chief executive Michael Dyke and Al-Hilal Club Company chief executive Esteve Calzada. (SPA)
TT
TT

New Murabba Announces Strategic Sponsorship with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal Club Company 

The agreement was signed by New Murabba chief executive Michael Dyke and Al-Hilal Club Company chief executive Esteve Calzada. (SPA)
The agreement was signed by New Murabba chief executive Michael Dyke and Al-Hilal Club Company chief executive Esteve Calzada. (SPA)

New Murabba, a Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) company, signed on Tuesday a sponsorship agreement with Al-Hilal Club Company, one of Kingdom’s most iconic football teams. Through the sponsorship, the New Murabba logo will be prominently featured on the lower chest area of the kits worn by Al-Hilal Women’s First Football Team, as well as Al-Hilal’s Male Youth Teams.

The agreement was signed by New Murabba chief executive Michael Dyke and Al-Hilal Club Company chief executive Esteve Calzada.

Dyke said: “Al-Hilal represents excellence and legacy in Saudi football. This sponsorship is a step forward in supporting the Kingdom’s ambitious sports ecosystem, in line with Vision 2030.”

“By supporting youth and women’s football, we are not only investing in the future of Saudi sport, but we are also setting the stage for future generations,” he added.

“We hope this sponsorship showcases the harmony between New Murabba’s vision and the momentum of sports in Saudi Arabia. Together, we’re creating unforgettable experiences, enriching lives, and powering ambition,” Dyke said.

Calzada expressed his delight with the sponsorship with New Murabba, noting that it will bring together two entities with deep historical roots, reflecting a solid legacy and a forward-looking vision grounded in leadership, excellence, and ambition.

This sponsorship supports one of the board’s key goals: diversifying investments and seizing available opportunities, which is well embodied through Al-Hilal’s women’s and youth football teams, he stressed.

He added that the sponsorship with New Murabba represents an ideal opportunity, given the company’s rich and inspiring history and bright future, making it a hub for creativity, sports, and entertainment.

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

Arsenal Faces Pivotal Week with Key Games in the Champions League and Premier League

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta arrives to take a team training session at London Colney, north of London, on April 14, 2026, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, quarter-final, second leg football match against Sporting Lisbon. (AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta arrives to take a team training session at London Colney, north of London, on April 14, 2026, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, quarter-final, second leg football match against Sporting Lisbon. (AFP)
TT
TT

Arsenal Faces Pivotal Week with Key Games in the Champions League and Premier League

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta arrives to take a team training session at London Colney, north of London, on April 14, 2026, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, quarter-final, second leg football match against Sporting Lisbon. (AFP)
Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta arrives to take a team training session at London Colney, north of London, on April 14, 2026, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, quarter-final, second leg football match against Sporting Lisbon. (AFP)

A crucial week for Arsenal starts Wednesday night against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Mikel Arteta's team faces two huge games in its pursuit of a Premier League and Champions League double this season.

Leading 1-0 against Lisbon after the first leg in Portugal last week, Arsenal is closing in on a place in the semi-finals for the second successive year. Then on Sunday it faces Manchester City in a top two showdown in the Premier League.

Arteta said there was “zero fear” ahead of a potentially pivotal few days.

“We are in April, we have an incredible opportunity ahead of us. Let’s confront it, let’s go for it by really putting absolutely everything into it,” he said.

Arsenal's form has slumped in recent weeks — losing the English League Cup final against City and then being dumped out of the FA Cup by second division Southampton. Last weekend it was beaten at home in the league by Bournemouth, allowing City to close the gap at the top of the standings to six points with a game in hand.

For now, the focus is on the Champions League, a trophy Arsenal has never won.

“I said to the players, ‘guys, we are trying to do something that hasn’t been done in the history of the club in 140 years. So that tells you the difficulty of what you are doing,’” Arteta said.

Declan Rice faced a late fitness test after missing practice on Tuesday. Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber were also doubtful starters.

Arsenal or Lisbon will face Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals after the Spanish club beat Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate.

Sports

Raphinha Criticizes Referees After Barcelona’s Champions League Elimination, Says Club Was ‘Robbed’

Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 14, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Raphinha look dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 14, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Raphinha look dejected after the match. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Raphinha Criticizes Referees After Barcelona’s Champions League Elimination, Says Club Was ‘Robbed’

Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 14, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Raphinha look dejected after the match. (Reuters)
Football - UEFA Champions League - Quarter-Final - Second Leg - Atletico Madrid v FC Barcelona - Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - April 14, 2026 FC Barcelona's Lamine Yamal and Raphinha look dejected after the match. (Reuters)

Barcelona forward Raphinha criticized the refereeing after Barcelona's elimination against Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday.

Raphinha, who didn't play because of a hamstring injury, also gestured toward Atletico fans after the game, apparently indicating that the team will be eliminated in the next round. He also made a “robbed” sign with his hands toward the crowd at the Metropolitano stadium.

Barcelona won 2-1 on Tuesday but it wasn't enough to overcome a 2-0 loss at home last week.

“To me, it was robbed,” he told reporters. “Not only this match, but the other one as well. The refereeing was very bad. Incredible the decisions that they made. Atletico made a lot of fouls and the referee didn't show a single yellow card.”

Barcelona had Pau Cubarsí sent off in the first half of the opening game, and Eric García was shown a red card on Tuesday in the 79th minute.

Barcelona also complained of other refereeing decisions during both matches. It made a complaint to UEFA about a possible penalty in its favor in the first leg, and players complained of another penalty on Tuesday.

“I wish I could understand the fear that they have to see Barcelona winning,” Raphinha said.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick complained after the first game but said after the return leg that he wouldn't talk about the referees. He said his team deserved better luck after how it played.

“When you see both matches ... we were much better than Atletico,” Flick said. “But at the end it's like that, and we have to accept it.”

Barcelona's next match is against Celta Vigo in the Spanish league. The Catalan club leads the league by nine points over second-place Real Madrid after 31 rounds.

Sports

Griezmann Dares to Dream After Atletico Oust Barca in His Farewell Season

Atletico Madrid's French forward #07 Antoine Griezmann and teammates celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on April 14, 2026. (AFP)
Atletico Madrid's French forward #07 Antoine Griezmann and teammates celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on April 14, 2026. (AFP)
TT
TT

Griezmann Dares to Dream After Atletico Oust Barca in His Farewell Season

Atletico Madrid's French forward #07 Antoine Griezmann and teammates celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on April 14, 2026. (AFP)
Atletico Madrid's French forward #07 Antoine Griezmann and teammates celebrate at the end of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and FC Barcelona at Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on April 14, 2026. (AFP)

Atletico Madrid forward Antoine ‌Griezmann is daring to dream of a fairytale finale after his side survived a fierce Barcelona fightback to reach their first Champions League semi-final in nine years on Tuesday.

A 2-1 home defeat was enough for Diego Simeone's side to progress 3-2 on aggregate, the Metropolitano crowd exhaling at the final whistle as Atletico edged into the last four.

For Griezmann, 35, it was a night thick with emotion.

The Frenchman has already announced he will leave at the end of the season to join MLS side Orlando City, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable spell in Madrid.

A World Cup ‌winner with France ‌in 2018, Griezmann first arrived at Atletico from ‌Real ⁠Sociedad in 2014.

He ⁠departed for Barcelona in 2019 before returning three years later, rebuilding his bond with supporters and becoming one of the enduring faces of Simeone's 15-year project.

His numbers underline that impact: 211 goals and 97 assists, making him Atletico's all-time leading scorer.

Yet silverware has been scarce. The 2018 Europa League remains the only major trophy of his time with the Colchoneros, leaving this ⁠campaign as a final opportunity to sign off with ‌something special.

Atletico will face either Arsenal ‌or Sporting in the semi-finals, with the London side leading 1-0 ahead of Wednesday's ‌second leg. Atletico are now two matches away from a first ‌Champions League final since their appearances in 2014 and 2016.

"I'm very happy," Griezmann told reporters.

"It doesn't matter who we face, as long as we're still in it and as long as we're on top form right until the end. It's ‌been a brilliant but tough tie against a top-class side who play really well in Barcelona. It's been ⁠a struggle, ⁠but we're still in it."

In Spain glory could come as soon as Saturday with the Copa del Rey final against Real Sociedad in Seville, Griezmann's boyhood club, with Atletico chasing their first domestic cup since 2013 and an end to a four-season wait for any title.

"It's going to be a great match, a tough one, so we'll need to get some rest. Now it's time to start thinking about Saturday. What a great feeling," Griezmann said.

“I hope I can help my team mates to do something beautiful this season, something historical. Our fans deserve it.

"After the match was over, I stayed on the pitch with them for several minutes, just enjoying the songs and the atmosphere, which was fantastic. Let’s keep going.”