18 Wednesday, May 22, 2019 Sports QFA president visits team ahead of FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland Tribune News Network coach Bruno Miguel. are in Group D in the World Cup with Ukraine, President of the Qatar Nigeria and the United States Football Federation (QFA), and will play in the city of Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Teche. On May 24, Annabi will Ahmed al Thani, attended the open against Nigeria, followed national U-20 national team by Ukraine on May 27 and the training ahead of the FIFA United States on May 30. U-20 World Cup in Poland. The tournament will kick of on Qatar U-20 team list: May 23 until June 15. Hammam al Amin Ahmed, His presence at the train- Abdullah Saaie, Salah Zakaria Hernandez is presented with a framed jersey by the officials of ing session was to motivate (Auben), Shehab Mamdouh al Iranian club Persepolis. the players and to oversee Leithi, Nasser Saleh al Yazidi, their preparation. During the Ahmed Sibai (Al Duhail), Nasser visit, the president expressed Abbas, Issa Ahmed, Khalid his confidence in the team’s Mohammed and Yousef Ayman Iran’s Persepolis abilities. (Qatar). The youth team had a Abdulrahman Ibrahim, Marwan training camp in dur- Sharif, Mohammed Wa’ed, honour Xavi ing which they played a friend- (Al Ahli), ly against Auben of Belgium, and Yousuf Abdul Razak (Arab), which they won 3-2, before Andrea Siabutra (Al Gharafa), leaving for Poland to contin- Bahaa Mamdouh al Liithi (Al as legend bids ue their preparations under Sadd) Al Khor) and Ali Mal Allah the leadership of Portuguese (Al Wakra). farewell AFC worn in his career. Tehran But Al Sadd’s second defeat in a row, following their 4-1 de- Xavi Hernandez’s dazzling feat by domestic rivals Al Duhail Mkhitaryan to miss Europa career came to a low-key end in last week’s Amir Cup final in when his Qatari side Al Sadd Doha, meant Xavi’s illustrious were beaten 2-0 by Islamic Re- career ended in a low-key fash- public of Iran’s Persepolis in ion. League final over safety fears their last group match of the Xavi, who became the first 2019 AFC Champions League player in history to play 150 on Monday. UEFA Champions League afp had done all they could to ensure The 39-year-old midfield matches, has indicated that London Mkhitaryan’s safety in . genius, who helped Spain win he will stay in Qatar to begin a “Working alongside Arsenal the World Cup in 2010 and won coaching career, probably re- Arsenal manager Unai Em- FC, UEFA sought and received four UEFA Champions League maining in a role with Al Sadd, ery said Armenian assurances regarding the play- titles and eight La Liga titles rather than return to Spain. Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s decision er’s safety in Azerbaijan from with Barcelona, was cheered “The idea is to start as a to miss the Europa League final the highest authorities in the by fans at the Azadi Stadium in coach in Qatar, to test myself against Chelsea in Baku was a country,” a UEFA statement Tehran where already-eliminat- and get some experience,” Xavi “personal” one amid fears over read. ed Persepolis produced an im- told Spain’s Efe agency in Teh- his safety. “As a result of these guar- proved display to register only ran just hours before facing Mkhitaryan’s well-being antees, a comprehensive se- their second win in six matches. Persepolis. was a concern for Arsenal due curity plan was developed and Of the 11,000 spectators “I think football has bid to the tense political dispute be- given to the club. While the present, mostly wearing the farewell to one of the best play- tween and final hosts club acknowledges the efforts red of Persepolis, several home ers in the world ... it was beau- Azerbaijan. The that UEFA and the Azeri gov- fans brandished banners read- tiful to work with a player with club have decided against Mkhi- ernment have gone to in this ing “Adios Xavi” to show their Xavi’s calibre,” Al Sadd’s cur- taryan travelling with the rest of matter, we respect the personal appreciation of the player who rent head coach Jesualdo Fer- Emery’s squad for the game on decision not to travel with the with Andres Iniesta formed the reira said after the match. May 29. player.” backbone of one of Barcelona’s Ferreira has predicted Xavi “It’s bad news, but we can- Mkhitaryan had featured greatest ever sides. “will be a great manager”. not do anything for this issue,” in 11 games during the Europa Xavi was also honoured by Fellow Al Sadd midfielder said Emery. League campaign and his ab- the Persepolis management Gabi also paid tribute to his cap- “I spoke this morning with sence will be a big blow as Ar- who presented him with a jersey tain and fellow Spaniard, calling Mkhitaryan. It’s a very personal senal look for the victory they featuring the number six he has him a “role model”. decision. He wants to play and need to qualify for next season’s to help us, but they spoke, both Champions League. family and him, and decided to Arsenal have also expressed not go... I cannot push him to their displeasure at the selection come with us.” of Baku as host city for the game Arsenal said all options had Arsenal’s Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan (right) with teammate Lucas Torreira attend a training given the logistical problems been explored to guarantee the session at Arsenal’s Colney training centre in St. Albans on Tuesday, ahead of their Europa League final and huge cost faced by fans for a midfielder’s safety. match against Chelsea on May 29. (AFP) near 5,000 mile round trip from “We are very disappointed London. to announce that Henrikh Mkh- his family we have collectively “Armenian sports figures not to travel with the squad to “We have written to UEFA itaryan will not be travelling agreed he will not be in our trav- have already taken part in nu- the UEL Final against Chelsea. expressing our deep concerns with the squad for our UEFA elling party.” merous major sporting events “It’s the kind of game that about this situation,” the Arse- Europa League final against Azerbaijan’s foreign minis- that Azerbaijan has welcomed doesn’t come along very often nal statement added. Chelsea,” an Arsenal statement try spokeswoman, Leyla Abdul- previously. One shouldn’t mix for us players and I must admit, “We’re also very sad that a announced on Tuesday. layeva, told AFP that “in spite of up sport and politics,” she said. it hurts me a lot to miss it. I will player will miss out on a major “We have thoroughly ex- the difficult relations between But Mkhitaryan had earlier be cheering my teammates on! European final in circumstances plored all the options for Micki Azerbaijan and Armenia, Mkhi- tweeted: “Having considered all Let’s bring it home.” such as this, as it is something to be part of the squad but after taryan can play in the Europa the current options, we had to UEFA, European football’s that comes along very rarely in Fans display an image of Xavi during the AFC Champions League discussing this with Micki and League final in Baku”. take the tough decision for me governing body, insisted they a footballer’s career.” match between Al Sadd and Persepolis at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran. beIN launches summer Al Rayyan go down to Lokomotiv in Quick read promotional campaign Firmino returns to AFC Champions League Round 6 Liverpool training ica Brazil 2019 tournament as Marbella: Liverpool forward Promotion includes well as benefit from 3 months Roberto Firmino returned to major summer events for free. Tribune News Network full training on Tuesday as he Subscribers to the summer Doha stepped up his recovery ahead of including AFCON and promotion also have access to next week’s Champions League Copa America beIN’s exclusive Total Africa Qatar’s Al Rayyan went final against Tottenham Hotspur. Cup of Nations Egypt 2019 and down fighting to Uzbekistan’s Firmino took part in Juergen Tribune News Network Copa America Brazil 2019 chan- Lokomotiv 2-3 in Round 6 of Klopp’s first session of the Doha nels beIN SPORTS MAX HD 1, the AFC Champions League squad’s Marbella training camp beIN SPORTS MAX HD 2, beIN at the Lokomotiv Stadium in after missing three matches with To celebrate what promises to SPORTS MAX HD 3 and beIN Tashkent on Tuesday. a muscle strain. be an exciting summer of sport, SPORTS MAX HD 4 from 14 Both teams had already The 27-year-old Brazil interna- beIN has launched its summer June to 19 July. New subscrib- bowed out of the tournament tional’s last appearance for promotion. New subscribers ers to the summer promotional even before their last group Liverpool was from the bench can watch unlimited amounts campaign also have the option game. against Barcelona on May 1 when of beIN’s exclusive content for to subscribe to any of beIN’s The visitors got off to a they lost 3-0 in the first leg of the 3 months including the much- packages for two years and flying start, taking the lead Champions League semi-final. anticipated Total Africa Cup of get access to the best tourna- within just 57 seconds of kick- “Roberto Firmino today trained Nations Egypt 2019 and Copa ments this summer has to of- off. Lokomotiv players looked alongside his teammates follow- America Brazil 2019. fer for free, along with the beIN shaky in possession as they at- ing a muscle strain that ruled him The summer promotion, SPORTS MAX HD channels. tempted to build up from the out of liverpool’s last three match- which is valid until 10 June Current beIN subscribers back, allowing Al Rayyan play- es,” a statement on liverpool’s 2019, allows new subscribers can also benefit from the special ers to apply pressure high up website revealed. to beIN’s Elite package to watch summer promotion for a chance the field. “The Brazilian took part in the beIN SPORTS’ exclusive Total to watch some of the most ex- Goalkeeper Mamur Ikra- Action from the AFC Champions League match between Al Rayyan and Lokomotiv in Tashkent on Tuesday. Reds’ first session of their Mar- Africa Cup of Nations Egypt citing summer sports tourna- mov failed to deal with a back- bella training camp on Tuesday 2019 tournament, Copa Amer- ments around. pass, hoofing the ball into the tom corner to make it 2-0. side. minute in a similar fashion to morning as he works his way path of who A lapse in concentration al- Within just two minutes the side’s second . back to full fitness. Firmino has intercepted the ball inside the lowed Lokomotiv a way back of the restart, Arslanmurat This time around, Amanov been working with the club’s box and fired into the back of into the game as Husniddin Amanov had advanced down dribbled deeper into Al Rayy- medical staff on his rehabilitation the net to hand Al Rayyan the Gafurov supplied an outside- the right and played a cross- an’s box before whipping a from the issue and his reintroduc- perfect start. of-the-boot pass for Sardor field pass to Temurkhuja Ab- low cross that Abdukholikov tion into full team training will be Things looked rosier for Mirzayev who found himself in dukholikov who controlled met first time into the back of carefully managed under their coach Gilson Souza as Al Rayy- plenty of space inside Al Rayy- and calmly placed the ball past the net to complete the hosts’ supervision, with specialised an doubled their lead halfway an box and curled in his side’s Al Rayyan goalkeeper Fahd comeback. programmes planned over the through the opening period. first of the game. Younis from a tight angle to Lokomotiv ended the cam- coming days.” Tabata curled an outswing- The goal gave the home bring the match to square one. paign with seven points in Firmino has scored 16 goals in ing corner that was met by the side a morale boost and An- Amanov and Abdukholik- third place in Group B, four 47 appearances for Liverpool this head of Gonzalo Vieira who drey Fedorov’s men came from ov combined again to seal the more than Al Rayyan who fin- season. (Reuters) placed his header into the bot- the half-time break a different win for Lokomotiv in the 61st ished last.