Dambulla Thunders’ contract was terminated on Wednesday following the arrest of team owner Tamim Rahman in Colombo

Andrew Fidel Fernando23-May-2024

Lanka Premier League organisers have said they are “in the final stages of confirming the new ownership” of the Dambulla franchise, a day after Dambulla Thunders co-owner Tamim Rahman was arrested.As a result of the arrest, under Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Offences Related to Sports Act, the Thunders franchise was terminated by Sri Lanka Cricket and the IPG group (which runs the tournament), on Wednesday. Although the scheduled start of the next LPL is a little over five weeks away, IPG has announced that the tournament will go ahead with its “full schedule and roster of matches, featuring five teams.”Since its inception in 2020, the LPL has been a five-team competition. On Tuesday, SLC hosted the player auction for this year, with Dambulla Thunders filling out their roster. If new owners take over, they will likely inherit that roster, with the other teams having also filled out their player lists.Through the course of its history, the LPL has struggled to hold on to its franchise owners. In fact, Dambulla’s next owner would be the fifth owner of that franchise in five years, with previous teams having been called Dambulla Aura, Dambulla Giants and Dambulla Viiking.”IPG has always upheld the highest standards of propriety and integrity as the Event Rights Partner of the Lanka Premier League,” IPG said in the same statement. “Our dedication to maintaining these standards remains unwavering. We assure all players, fans, and stakeholders that the league’s integrity and the spirit of cricket will be preserved throughout the tournament.”The tournament is scheduled to run from July 1 to July 21. Matches will be played in Pallekele, Dambulla, and Colombo.

يبحث النادي الأهلي عن مدير فني أجنبي لقيادة الفريق في المرحلة المقبلة، بعدما أنهى تعاقده مع الإسباني خوسيه ريبيرو مؤخرًا نتيجة تراجع النتائج وعدم الاستقرار الفني.

ورغم تداول عدة أسماء على طاولة إدارة القلعة الحمراء، برز اسم المدرب السويسري أورس فيشر، المدير الفني السابق لنادي يونيون برلين.

لكن وفقًا لمصدر مقرب من فيشر، هناك شرط جوهري قد يقف عائقًا أمام فكرة انتقاله لتدريب الأهلي في الفترة الحالية.

اقرأ أيضًا.. روبن باراخا يكشف عبر بطولات موقفه من تدريب الأهلي خلفًا لـ ريبيرو

المصدر قال في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات: “فيشر رجل سويسري أصيل، يعشق البقاء في بلده، والمال لا يعني له الكثير”.

وأضاف: “ما يهمه هو وجود مشروع رياضي واضح يستطيع من خلاله التخطيط لسنوات، تمامًا كما فعل مع يونيون برلين لكي يخرج من سويسرا”.

وعمل فيشر في أندية زيورخ، ثون، بازل وله تجربة وحيدة خارج سويسرا في يونيون برلين استمر فيها لمدة 5 سنوات حتى غادر في نوفمبر 2023 ولم يدرب بعدها حتى الآن.

ومن المنتظر أن يحسم الأهلي خلال الأيام المقبلة خياراته التدريبية، في ظل وجود أسماء أخرى مطروحة قد تتناسب أكثر مع طبيعة المرحلة.

Djed Spence will soon sign a new contract with Tottenham after breaking into the starting XI under Ange Postecoglou last season.

• New contract for Spence
• Finally given minutes last season
• Impressed on right and left flanks

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Spence is set to sign a new contract with Tottenham, according to Paul O'Keefe and Fabrizio Romano. The Spurs defender joined the north London side back in 2022 but was given next to no first-team opportunities for three years before finally coming back into the starting XI picture at the start of last season.

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  Under former boss Postecoglou, Spence made 35 appearances in all competitions during the 2024-25 season, helping Tottenham win the Europa League. His previous deal was due to expire in 2028 but it's thought his new terms will extend beyond that and feature a pay rise.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Spence had a rough start to his Tottenham career, admitting the treatment he received at the hands of former manager Antonio Conte "shattered my confidence". The Italian had labelled the full-back a "club signing" and had no intention of playing the youngster, who had impressed with Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest. He was sent out on loan to Rennes, Leeds and Genoa before finally being given a chance by Postecoglou.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SPENCE?

  Spence started Tottenham's defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night and will hope for similar involvement when Thomas Frank's side get their Premier League campaign underway on Saturday against Burnley.

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Após o empréstimo de Jeffinho ao Lyon, muitos torcedores do Botafogo criticaram a negociação nas redes sociais e colocaram em xeque as intenções do John Textor. De acordo com oCEO do clube francês, Jean-Michel Aulas, em entrevista ao jornal “L’Équipe”, o atacante já está a caminho da França e o empresário norte-americano está muito preocupado com a reação de milhares de torcedores alvinegros.

+ Veja novidadesdo Botafogo no mercado da bola

– Serão três jogadores de ataque, estamos aguardando consultas médicas. O Jeffinho está chegando, está no avião, e o John (Textor) está muito preocupado com a reação de milhares de torcedores do Botafogo. Esperamos Amin Sarr (Heerenveen). Para Isidor é complicado, continuamos discutindo com o Lokomotiv Moscou – explicou Aulas.

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Mesmo sendo uma negociação envolvendo dois clubes de Jonh Textor, o Botafogo irá receber a quantia de cerca de 5 milhões de euros (R$ 27,5 milhões, na cotação atual) pela cessão do atacante de 23 anos, anunciado como reforço da equipe francesa no sábado. O empréstimo terá duração até junho, período em que Jeffinho será avaliado. A informação dos valores foi inicialmente divulgada pelo portal ‘ge’ e confirmada pelo LANCE!.

Cabe salientar que o Alvinegro é é dono de 60% dos direitos econômicos de Jeffinho. O Resende, clube que o revelou, tem os 40% restantes. Desse modo, caso o Lyon adquira o jogador de forma definitiva, o valor a ser pago terá de ser dividido.

+ Confira e simule a tabela do Campeonato Carioca

Sendo assim, se os franceses não quiserem ficar com Jeffinho, o atacante retornará ao Botafogo no segundo semestre de 2023.

– Laurent Blanc (técnico) queria um zagueiro e um volante como prioridade. Dejan Lovren chegou, mas para o meio é complicado, porque queremos um jogador superior aos que temos. Mas, vamos quebrar parte do nosso cofrinho para vencer nessa janela de transferência com o Textor – finalizou o dirigente, ao citar sobre a necessidade do Lyon se reforçar nos últimos dias da janela europeia.

Alisha Lehmann has confirmed that she is leaving Juventus after one title-winning season, with Douglas Luiz reacting to her emotional statement.

Moved to Italy alongside Luiz in 2024Savoured Serie A title glory in TurinReady to embrace another new challengeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Switzerland international, who recently represented her country at a home European Championship, moved to Italy in the summer of 2024. She bid farewell to the WSL at that point, having represented the likes of West Ham and Aston Villa.

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Lehmann headed to Turin alongside partner Luiz, but the pair have since split up. They are now going their separate ways, with more transfers being lined up. Lehmann is severing ties with Serie A champions Juve in order to link up with Como.

WHAT LEHMANN SAID

She has said on Instagram: “I want to say thank you for this amazing year, especially to my teammates and the amazing fans. The hard work we have put in last season and won titles, a team that I will never forget.

“I didn’t just have teammates, we were a family and I made friends for life. To leave such an amazing club and people that are close to me, was a very difficult decision. This club, this team and those fans will always have a special place in my heart.”

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Brazil international Luiz ‘liked’ that post despite no longer being romantically tied to Lehmann. He could soon be on the move himself, with the ex-Villa midfielder seeing a return to the Premier League speculated on.

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Com a lesão de Filipe Luís, sofrida no Marrocos, Guillermo Varela passou a treinar também na lateral esquerda durante as atividades do Flamengo. O próprio jogador revelou o “improviso” em entrevista à FlaTV. De acordo com o uruguaio, a ação foi conversada com o técnico Vítor Pereira, que acabou precisando utilizá-lo na função na última quarta, contra o Volta Redonda, pelo Carioca.

– Não é a primeira vez. Já joguei no Dínamo de Moscou (RUS) três ou quatro vezes pela esquerda e também no Copenhague (DIN). É uma posição que se me chamar, já estou habituado. Eu prefiro jogar na lateral direita que na esquerda, mas não me exige tanto – afirmou Varela, complementando:

+Resende x Flamengo: onde assistir, escalações e desfalques do jogo do Campeonato Carioca

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– Já no Marrocos eu disse a Vítor Pereira, quando Filipe Luís teve problema no pé. Conversei com ele no treinamento, que poderia cumprir papel tanto na direita quanto na esquerda. Então, nos últimos três ou quatro dias, eu treinei na esquerda, para me preparar quando o time precisar de alguém na esquerda – finalizou o lateral-direito aos canais do clube.

Sem Filipe Luís e Ayrton Lucas sendo substituído na etapa final do jogo contra o Voltaço, o técnico Vítor Pereira precisou pôr Matheuzinho em campo, o que “empurrou” Varela para a lateral esquerda.

Neste início de trabalho, VP tem alternado a titularidade no lado direito. Varela iniciou cinco jogos, enquanto Matheuzinho foi titular três vezes.Os dois têm uma minutagem próxima na temporada. O uruguaio soma 429 minutos em cinco jogos, enquanto o cria do Ninho, em sete partidas, atuou por 425 minutos. Com quatro assistências, Matheuzinho é o garçom do Flamengo na atual temporada.

Do outro lado, Ayrton Lucas assumiu a titularidade diante dos problemas físicos enfrentados por Filipe Luís, que só disputou dois jogos em 2023. Se não quiser recorrer ao improviso de Varela, uma outra alternativa para o técnico português é dar as primeiras chances a Marcos Paulo, do Sub-20.

Jonathan Rowe and Adrien Rabiot sparked chaos in Marseille’s dressing room as Medhi Benatia reveals why the club chose to sell both players.

• Dressing room clash unsettled Marseille squad
• Benatia cites leadership breakdown behind sale
• Club acts swiftly to restore order

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Marseille’s season has exploded into chaos just one match in, as tempers flared inside the dressing room  following their 1-0 defeat to Rennes in the Ligue 1 opener. What started as angry words over the team’s performance spiralled into a violent altercation between Rabiot an Rowe. According to witnesses, punches were thrown, security had to step in, and one young player even collapsed amid the tension.

  The fallout was immediate. Within days, Rabiot was informed he has no future at the club and England U21 winger Rowe is being sold to Serie A. It was a drastic but decisive move from Marseille’s hierarchy to re-establish control after what sporting director Benatia described as a “scene of chaos” rarely seen in football.

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  Instead of focusing on late-window reinforcements, Marseille now find themselves forced into damage control, negotiating exits for two players they expected to rely on this season. With Rowe already close to Bologna and Rabiot attracting Serie A interest, OM’s market plans may be reshaped entirely. And with Champions League qualification a priority, losing squad depth to internal conflict could prove disastrous.

• WHAT BENATIA SAID

  Speaking to , Marseille’s football director Benatia didn’t hold back when recounting the extraordinary events: "There are key players who came back frustrated, who started to make comments to the whole team, about the defeat, about the behavior, that we have to do more, we're at Olympique de Marseille, you can't afford to go and lose like that against a team that's been 10 against 11 for an hour, etc. So until then, well, it was just words and then it started to get a bit heated, it got up… You know how it goes in a locker room, people get up, they shout, there are always normally two, three guys who come, who separate.

  "I was there, normally you calm down. There are still matches left and the season has just started. Not here, we got into physical confrontations, punches. We had a kid (Bakola) who at that moment had a kind of vagal malaise, who fell to the ground, and all that in a locker room… A scene of chaos, I've never seen that. I spent, I don't know, 17-18 years in a locker room, I argued as captain. In clubs, we can sometimes have heated exchanges. Reflections that maybe you can take a little badly after a defeat, it happens… It's the truth, but that said, it can get a little heated. But you can't get to a physical assault, a punch in the mouth and stuff, and security coming to separate you, but where are we? We're here to play football."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?

  The priority now for Marseille is restoring order, Roberto De Zerbi must steady the ship quickly to prevent the locker room’s combustible atmosphere from wrecking the season. At the same time, the club faces a tight transfer deadline. 

AC Milan have confirmed interest in Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund after he was dropped by manager Ruben Amorim for Sunday's clash with Arsenal.

Milan confirm interest in HojlundStriker dropped for Arsenal clashCould now be heading back to ItalyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Hojlund appears to be surplus to requirements at Old Trafford after the Red Devils splashed out to sign Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. Amorim then dropped Hojlund for his team's Premier League opener against Arsenal, suggesting he will have to move if he wants regular minutes in the 2025-26 season.

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Serie A giants AC Milan have been linked with a move for Hojlund, with the striker's father reportedly claiming his son is now open to a move to San Siro. Hojlund shone previously in Serie A with Atalanta, and Milan sporting director Igli Tare has admitted the Rossoneri are keen on the Denmark international.

WHAT AC MILAN SAID

Tare told Mediaset: "Højlund is a good option for us. We are thinking about him, but in the transfer market, you never know what could happen."

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Amorim also spoke about Hojlund after Sunday's defeat at Arsenal. He told reporters: "He is our player — we have to make choices. We have players that have to stay helping the team from the outside. He has to fight for his place. We will see what's going to happen. Rasmus has the same characteristics as Sesko, so sometimes we need to choose."

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Nada é tão ruim que não possa piorar. O velho ditado popular nunca fez tanto sentido no São Paulo. Com uma extensa lista de desfalques, o clube do Morumbi viu um novo integrante se integrar a trupe de lesionados: Calleri. Diagnosticado com uma entorse no tornozelo direito, não deve mais defender o Tricolor no restante do Campeonato Paulista.

O argentino atuou por apenas 42 minutos na derrota para o São Bernardo em pleno Morumbi lotado, no último sábado (25). Após um choque com um rival da equipe do ABC, viu o quadro de dores piorar e não teve condições de continuar em campo.

+ ATUAÇÕES: Ninguém vai bem no São Paulo, e substituições de Ceni não têm efeito na derrota

Calleri vinha sentindo dores na região há pelo menos 15 dias, conforme o LANCE! apurou com fontes internas do clube. Mesmo assim, por faltas opções para a posição, vinha atuando no sacrifício.

Sem o seu camisa 9, o técnico Rogério Ceni vai ter problemas para definir o ataque são-paulino. Erison, contratado por empréstimo junto ao Botafogo, sofreu um estiramento no posterior esquerdo e não tem previsão de volta.

Conforme o L! revelou, o clube encaminha um acerto contratual com Talles Wander, artilheiro são-paulino na última Copa São Paulo de juniores, e que pode ser promovido ao profissional para ser o reserva da posição.

Quem vem atuando na posição de centroavante improvisado quando necessário é outro argentino, Galoppo, principal destaque tricolor até aqui na temporada e um dos artilheiros do Paulistão.

Com Calleri, a lista atual de contundidos do Tricolor chega a 13 nomes. Mas nem tudo é só notícia ruim pelos lados do CT da Barra Funda. Orejuela, Welington e David iniciaram a transição nesta segunda-feira (27), durante uma atividade para reservas e lesionados.

Se juntam a Diego Costa, Igor Vinícius e Caio Matheus, que já vinham nesse estágio de recuperação. O plano é que o sexteto esteja à disposição de Ceni para as quartas de final do Estadual.

Além dos seis em transição, também, nomes como Moreira e Rafinha realizam com os fisioterapeutas atividades nos campos do CT. Podem aparecer em breve na transição.

> Confira jogos, classificação e simule os resultados do Paulistão-23

OS CONTUNDIDOS DO SÃO PAULO

Calleri (entorse no tornozelo direito) – sem previsão de volta

Ferraresi (cirurgia no joelho direito) – volta só no segundo semestre

Moreira (cirurgia no joelho esquerdo) – é esperado apenas para o segundo semestre

Arboleda (tendinite no joelho direito) – é esperado para o mata-mata do Paulistão

Rafinha (entorse no tornozelo esquerdo) – é esperado para o mata-mata do Paulistão

André Anderson (pubalgia) – não deve mais jogar pelo São Paulo

Orejuela (transição após estiramento no posterior direito) – é esperado para o mata-mata do Paulistão

Welington e David (transição após estiramento no posterior esquerdo) – são esperados para o mata-mata do Paulistão

Erison (estiramento no posterior esquerdo) – sem prazo

Diego Costa (transição após cirurgia no joelho esquerdo), Igor Vinícius (transição após pubalgia) e Caio Matheus (transição após cirurgia no joelho direito) – são esperados para o mata-mata do Paulistão

🆕 Orejuela, Welington e David, que se recuperam de lesões, iniciaram a transição com a preparação física.

O trio teve a companhia de Diego Costa, que já estava nesta etapa de recuperação.#VamosSãoPaulo 🇾🇪 pic.twitter.com/5DOx6kRiSL

— São Paulo FC (@SaoPauloFC) February 27, 2023

West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen has issued an apology for his furious outburst at a West Ham fan after his team's Carabao Cup defeat to Wolves. The Hammers threw away a lead to lose 3-2 in the second round tie, piling more misery on under pressure head coach Graham Potter.

West Ham collapse deepens early-season crisisBowen apologises after heated fan clashPotter calls for unity as pressure buildsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Bowen, visibly incensed as he and the squad walked over to acknowledge the travelling support, pointed into the crowd at one fan who appeared to be shouting in his direction, before attempting to climb over the advertising boards to confront him. He was dragged back by team-mates before the situation could escalate further. The winger then ripped off his captain’s armband, trudging down the tunnel with his head bowed.

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Hours later, the England international took to Instagram to express regret for his behaviour. “Apologies to the fans for tonight's reaction. I’m someone who is passionate and will fight every time I step on the pitch,” Bowen wrote. “But I need to set a better example. You fans know how much I love you and this club. We ride through he bad times together, and I'll see you all Sunday.”

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The defeat is the latest setback for West Ham boss Potter, who has now started the season with three successive losses. Prior to the Wolves clash, West Ham had suffered league defeats against Sunderland and Chelsea, leaking eight goals in the process. Supporters are restless, results have been dire, and the captain’s outburst has added fuel to the fire.

However, speaking post-match, Potter played down Bowen’s flare-up and called for unity.

"Our supporters have been fantastic," said Potter. "They are hurting because of the results we have had and Jarrod obviously cares about the club and the team. He gave everything again and it was just an exchange of views by people who care.

"The most important relationship at a club is between the fans and the team. We need our fans and everyone to stick together. The team is suffering at the moment. We are all hurting, I can assure you no-one is celebrating or happy about what we're doing. We're all in pain."

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The fixture list offers no respite. West Ham return to Premier League duty on Sunday against Nottingham Forest, a match that already feels pivotal despite the season being only weeks old. Another defeat would intensify the scrutiny on Potter and further strain the fragile relationship between the fans and players.