Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi welcomed a decision from soccer's world governing body FIFA to lift a ban on hosting competitive international soccer matches at stadiums in three Iraqi cities.
The All India Football Federation on Thursday said the I-League clubs have agreed to the concurrent running of two leagues this season, a development which will set to rest the uncertainty prevalent in the domestic circuit at least for this year.
Chhetri expressed his desire to play the Asian Cup on home soil
A summary of Sunday's action in the Premier League.
Defending I-League champion Mohun Bagan was defeated by Aizawl Football Club (AFC) 2-1 at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, in Aizawl, on Saturday.
Head coach Thomas Dennerby was a witness to the 'incident' and it was he, who immediately informed the AIFF.
'Historically, Qatar has done wonders as I don't think this will ever be possible with the new format of the World Cup.'
The SC named a Committee of Administrators (CoA), headed by Justice (retd) AR Dave, with SY Qureshi, former Chief Election Commissioner, and Bhaskar Ganguly, former captain of the Indian football team, to run the day-to-day affairs of the national football federation.
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
I don't think that India should dream about being at world level even after 100 years, said Mohamed bin Hammam.
Talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri will return to the national team during next month's Asian Cup qualifiers
FIFA president Gianni Infantino will be in Goa to attend the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Extraordinary Congress on September 27 to elect three additional AFC members to the FIFA council.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
A summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
Sunil Chhetri became the 8th top scorer in international football after equalling Brazil legend Pele's goal tally.
One of the greatest midfield maestros of all time, he helped redefine the art with his creative mind, pinpoint passing and sublime ability to read the game.
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
"The Asian Football Confederation expresses its disappointment and sadness at Wednesday's events in Zurich whilst opposing any delay in the FIFA Presidential elections to take place on Friday May 29 in Zurich," the AFC said in a statement posted on its website (the-afc.com) on Thursday.
FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has signed an amended version of an Amnesty International pledge to end human rights abuses and corruption in the sport should he win election to soccer's top job later this month.
Indian football head coach Igor Stimac hailed Sunil Chhetri, saying the talismanic captain was one of those who "glorified" Indian football with his dedication in the 15 years of his illustrious career. The 35-year-old Chhetri on Friday became only the second Indian after legendary Bhaichung Bhutia to complete 15 years in Indian jersey.
There is speculation about his retirement and the Indian captain happily responds with a smile that 'I don't know yet'.
In a series of tweets, Bajaj lashed out at the AIFF for getting the permission to use the stadium cancelled.
Of 23 coaches attending the course, only three are from the football powerhouse.
India have been drawn in Group C along with China, Vietnam and Uzbekistan.
India went down to Iran by a solitary goal in their last group match of Asian Football Confederation qualifier in Tehran on Saturday night. Following the defeat, India finished fourth in Group B with four points.
'This is a wonderful opportunity, but there is also a lot of work ahead of us and I am eager to get onto the training ground to start working with the players.'
Striker Jeje Lalpekhlua scored twice as India recovered from a one-goal deficit to thrash Laos 6-1 in one of the biggest ever wins and book a berth in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup football Qualifiers.
The Al Duhail forward was in rampant form for the Qataris as he became only the fourth player in Asian Cup history to score four in a single game.
Dilip Kumar 'got annoyed and was about to leave the stage before things were brought under control'.
The Asian Football Confederation has confirmed Indonesia's immediate ban from all international football, including next week's 2018 World Cup qualifiers, because of government meddling in the country's domestic league.
A former Playboy model has completed a takeover of debt-ridden top division club AFC Hermannstadt.
Mohammad Rafi and Steven Dias scored the Mumbai outfit beat Maldivian club New Radiant 2-0 in an away match on Tuesday.
Minerva Punjab FC will take on Indian Super League side Jamshedpur FC on April 2 in the inaugural Super Cup football tournament which begins in Bhubaneswar on March 31.
Bengaluru FC will begin their I-League title defence against Shillong Lajong at home at Kanteerava Stadium in the inaugural game of the new season on January 7.
India lose to Bahrain 0-1, crash out of AFC Asian Cup.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Friday
The AIFF admitted that professionalism in Indian football is still a distant dream, as only six clubs satisfy the guidelines proposed by the Asian Football Confederation.
India skipper Sunil Chhetri, who had struck a hat-trick in the final when India won the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, stressed on the importance of not resting on past laurels and said he is focussed on leading the team's campaign in the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers.
I-League set to resume in early March.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
