Sports
Barca Resolve Dispute With Ter Stegen
Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been reinstated as Barcelona captain and disciplinary proceedings against him dropped in a dramatic 24-hour turnaround.
The German keeper had been stripped of the armband on Thursday because of a dispute centred around surgery on a back injury in July.
Barcelona would reportedly have been able to clear 80% of his wages until mid-season if the 33-year-old was classed as a long-term absentee, freeing up funds to allow them to register new players.
However, Ter Stegen recently published a post on social media saying he would be out for three months, whereas La Liga rules require a player to remain sidelined for at least four to be considered a long-term absentee.
He had also been unwilling to allow Barca to share his medical data with La Liga.
But Barca said Ter Stegen has now signed the relevant forms giving them authorisation to send the medical report.
In a social media post earlier on Friday, the keeper said he was “fully willing to collaborate with the club’s management to resolve this matter and to provide the requested authorisation”.
Ter Stegen added the suggestion his injury absence was being used as tool for Barcelona to register new players was “both unfair and inaccurate”.
“I would also like to clarify that all of the club’s signings and contract renewals were completed prior to my surgery,” he said.
“At no point could I consider that my unfortunate circumstances with the new surgery I had to undergo would be necessary for the registration of other colleagues whom I greatly respect and look forward to share [a] locker room with for many seasons.
“I understand that difficult moments can generate tension, but I trust that, through dialogue and responsibility, we can resolve this situation constructively.”
The La Liga champions’ summer signings have included the arrival of keeper Joan Garcia from Espanyol and England striker Marcus Rashford on loan from Manchester United.
Ter Stegen has made more than 400 appearances for Barcelona since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014, and his honours include winning the Champions League and six La Liga titles.
Nigeria’s national basketball team, D’Tigers has released a 12-man roster yesterday according to inside camp sources as the team rounded up its preparations for the FIBA AfroBasket 2025 holding from August 12 to 25 in Angola.
With key players Caleb Agada, Ike Nwamu, Josh Okogie and Stan Okoye in camp, Coach Abdulrahman Mohammed and the rest of the technical crew will decide who makes the final 12-man list.
Also in camp are Mohammed Abdulsalam, Kaodirichi Akobundu-Ehiogu, Talib Zanna, Mike Nuga, Devine Eke, and Christian Mekowulu. Also present are Martins Igbanu, Ugo Andrew Simon, Emmanuel Omogbo, Fola Fayemi, Peter Olisemeka, and Kareem Joseph.
Of the lot, only three, Caleb Agada, Ike Nwamu, and Josh Okogie, were part of Nigeria’s squad at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which was held in 2021.
The first and only time Nigeria won Afrobasket title was in Tunisia (2015). Nigeria came close to repeating the feat in 2017 but was stopped by Tunisia.
The Nigerian team is billed to leave Nigeria on Sunday for Angola barring any last minute changes and will be looking to return to the podium again but will have to survive the group stage, where they are drawn alongside defending champions Tunisia, Mozambique, and Cameroon.
A second Japanese boxer has died from a brain injury suffered at an event in Tokyo.
Hiromasa Urakawa, 28, died on Saturday after he was beaten via knockout in the eighth round of his fight with Yoji Saito on 2 August.
It follows the death of Shigetoshi Kotari on Friday from injuries sustained during a separate bout on the same card at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall.
Both boxers underwent surgery for subdural haematoma, a condition where blood collects between the skull and the brain.
The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) said, external it “mourns the passing of Japanese boxer Hiromasa Urakawa, who tragically succumbed to injuries sustained during his fight against Yoji Saito”.
It added: “This heartbreaking news comes just days after the passing of Shigetoshi Kotari, who died from injuries suffered in his fight on the same card.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends and the Japanese boxing community during this incredibly difficult time.”
Following the event, the Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) announced all Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) title bouts will now be 10 rounds instead of 12.
Japanese media reports, external the JBC has launched an investigation and is planning to hold a meeting in September to discuss the deaths.
Urakawa is the third high-profile boxer to die in 2025 after Irishman John Cooney passed away in February following a fight in Belfast.
Cooney died aged 28 after suffering an intracranial haemorrhage from his fight against Welshman Nathan Howells.
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has called out Uefa over a tribute to Palestinian footballer Suleiman al-Obeid it posted on social media which failed to refer to the circumstances surrounding his death.
On Thursday, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said Obeid was killed in an Israeli attack while waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip the previous day.
The 41-year-old, who was known as the “Pele of Palestinian football” according to the PFA, scored more than 100 goals during his career, including two in 24 international matches.
In a post on X on Friday, Uefa said: “Farewell to Suleiman al-Obeid, the ‘Palestinian Pele’.
“A talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times.”
On Saturday, Egypt international Salah, 33, responded, “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?”
Israel began its military offensive in Gaza after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Since then, more than 61,300 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israeli military operations.
At least 38 people have also been killed and 491 injured as a result of Israeli military activity over the past 24 hours, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Saturday.
The UN reported earlier this month that 1,373 Palestinians have been killed seeking food since late May, when a new US and Israeli-backed organisation Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) set up aid distribution sites.
Salah has previously advocated for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza and called for “world leaders to come together to prevent further slaughter of innocent souls” amid the conflict.
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