Kuwait Club, Al-Arabi strengthen positions in Zain Premier League
Al-Fahaheel take a positive step away from relegation zone Ratcliffe proposed bid moves nearer to completion Man U gets approval from FA to sell minority stake
KUWAIT CITY, Feb 14: In the fifteenth round of the Zain Premier League, both Al-Kuwait and AlArabi emerged victorious, further solidifying their positions at the top of the league. Al-Kuwait’s narrow win against Al-Qadisiya not only helped them recover from relinquishing the Amir’s Cup title but also increased their lead over Al-Qadisiya to four points.
Al-Arabi, on the other hand, bounced back from their elimination in the Crown Prince’s Cup by defeating Al-Jahra, restoring balance to the team and overcoming the setback of the previous “Derby” loss. This win maintained their strong standing in the league, waiting for the anticipated seventeenthround fixtures.
Despite Al-Qadisiya’s astonishingly lackluster performance against Kuwait Club, they maintained their third-place position, struggling to break through their opponent’s organization. AlSalmiya continued to impress, securing another victory over AlShabab, firmly holding the fourth spot in the league with 34 points.
While Al-Fahaheel took a positive step away from the relegation zone with a crucial 2-1 win over AlNasr, the latter team faced setbacks, dropping to fifth place. Kazma, after a goalless draw with Khaitan, finds itself in seventh place, raising concerns about potential relegation if they don’t recalibrate in the remaining two rounds.
Al-Shabab, now in eighth place, is increasingly at risk of the relegation battle, particularly as Khaitan remains stagnant at the bottom with 8 points. Al-Jahra, with only two points, appears destined for relegation unless a miraculous turn of events occurs in the final rounds.
Adel Oqla, the Vice President of the Football Authority in Kuwait, has initiated negotiations with AlQadisiya player Eid Al-Rashidi, signaling a departure from the widely enforced code of honor in Kuwaiti football. Oqla emphasized his club’s right to engage in talks,
MANCHESTER, England, Feb 14, (AP): Jim Ratcliffe’s proposed bid to buy a 25% stake in Manchester United moved nearer to completion on Wednesday after the Premier League club said the deal had been approved by the English Football Association.
The Premier League has already cleared Ratcliffe to take up a minority share under its rules regarding who is allowed to be an owner or director of a soccer club.
The British billionaire has until February 17 to complete his purchase, although confirmation could come later than that.
In a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday, United said the FA had given its approval for the deal
highlighting the renewal of defender Meshari Ghanem’s contract as a strategic move to thwart other clubs’ interest in the player.
Reflecting on the recent victory over Al-Qadisiya, Oqla noted the acquisition of three crucial points and acknowledged the lengthy nature of the league. He emphasized the need to shift focus to the upcoming match against Al-Fahaheel.
Meanwhile, Al-Qadisiya’s coach, Muhammad Al-Mishaan, conceded that Kuwait Club deserved the win in their recent encounter,
to go ahead. League approval was confirmed on Monday.
Ratcliffe is one of Britain’s richest
attributing the loss to individual mistakes made by his team’s players. Al-Mashaan acknowledged Kuwait Club’s dominance in possession and aerial duels, even managing to maintain defensive and offensive balance despite being numerically disadvantaged.
Al-Mishaan took responsibility for the defeat and pledged to work with the players to rectify the situation in the upcoming matches, with the goal of restoring balance to the team.
people and the owner of petrochemicals giant INEOS. He agreed a deal to buy a stake in United in December after owners the Glazer family had put the club up for sale in 2022.
The Glazers, who also own the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, eventually opted to sell a minority of the 20time English champion after also fielding bids from Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.
The 71-year-old Ratcliffe has paid $1.3 billion for “up to 25%” of the club and will invest a further $300 million for “future investment into Old Trafford,” United has said.
He will provide $200 million upon completion of the deal and a further $100 million by the end of 2024. That additional investment will eventually take Ratcliffe’s stake up to 29%. The Glazer family will have a 49% stake under the deal.
Racliffe’s INEOS Sport division will take over control of United’s soccer operation.
Fan has been disillusioned with the team’s onfield decline since the retirement of former manager Alex Ferguson in 2013. United has not won the title since Ferguson’s final season and has repeatedly missed out on qualification for the Champions League during that period.
Many United fans have campaigned to drive the Glazers family out.
While fans hoped for a complete buyout of the club, there is optimism Ratcliffe, who was a boyhood United supporter, can help return it to its glory days.