PSG signing Neymar a PR coup for isolated Qatar

LONDON » If world soccer’s transfer record is obliterated by Neymar’s move to Paris SaintGermain, it will be a coup for the French club — and the tiny energy-rich emirate of Qatar.

By signing the Brazilian star for its flagship sporting asset, Qatar would be projecting a business-as-usual image to foreign allies and investors after two months locked in a bitter diplomatic dispute with its neighbors.

While a footnote in monetary terms in Qatar’s wider investment portfolio, the immensely wealthy 2022 World Cup host nation has long used sports as a way to elevate its stature.

Meeting Neymar’s mandatory fee of $262 million would be the most significant move yet to join the soccer elite by PSG as it prepares for its seventh season under ownership this is closely linked to Qatar’s ruling family.

“They are trying to literally score a point here,” said Christopher Davidson, who teaches Middle East politics at Durham University in northeast England.

Qatar has been waging a public relations offensive to fend off accusations by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain that it supports extremists.

Beckham moving closer to his expansion MLS team for Miami

MIAMI » David Beckham is now officially on the brink of finally being awarded an MLS expansion franchise for Miami.

Major League Soccer owners voted to move into final stages with the soccer icon toward closing the deal on his longawaited team, one that may begin play in a new Miami stadium in 2020. Beckham has been trying to bring a team to Miami for more than four years through his right to pay $25 million for an expansion franchise.

“We’re not announcing MLS Miami today,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “But I am confident that we’ll be able to do that sometime ...”