Sports across Malaysia
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Messi called up by Argentina for October 6 farewell match
Lionel Messi has been called up by Argentina to make a farewell appearance in a home friendly in Buenos Aires on October 6 following his international retirement. Argentina will face Benin at the Monumental Stadium, after playing Bolivia in Cordoba and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires during the FIFA window.
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James Rodriguez announces retirement from Colombia duty at 35
James Rodriguez has retired from international football, ending a Colombia career of 131 caps and 31 goals. The 35-year-old announced the decision in a video on social media, days after signing for Atletico Nacional. He won the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot after scoring six goals in Brazil.
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Webb admits VAR error let Haaland winner stand in Manchester derby
Referees' chief Howard Webb said he was disappointed after a VAR mistake allowed Erling Haaland's winning goal in Manchester City's 1-0 derby win over Manchester United at Old Trafford. The VAR officials involved, Matt Donohue and Blake Antrobus, have been stood down for this weekend's Premier League matches.
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Lens sack coach Toppmoeller after six matches
RC Lens have ended Dino Toppmoeller's tenure as head coach after only six matches, the Ligue 1 club announced. The German, appointed in June, could not agree to a restructuring of his coaching staff, and his two assistants also leave. Lens sit 10th in Ligue 1 and face Monaco on Friday with Yannick Cahuzac in charge.
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Nagoya Asian Games ticket sales sluggish, women's football matches draw few spectators
Ticket sales for the Nagoya Asian Games are sluggish overall, especially for football and other events in large venues. Women's football matches began on the 14th in Osaka, Shizuoka and Gifu, with many matches drawing only a few hundred spectators, and even the host Japan women's team match had only 1,202 attendees. The organizing committee is taking emergency measures to boost sales.
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Inter Miami appoint Cristian 'Kily' Gonzalez as head coach until 2028
Inter Miami have named Argentine Cristian 'Kily' Gonzalez as their new manager, with the deal running to June 2028. He takes over a squad that has won only one of its last five MLS matches despite having Lionel Messi, and was due to run his first training session on Tuesday before the Campeones Cup tie with Cruz Azul.
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Spain coach Luis de la Fuente agrees deal to stay until 2030 World Cup
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has agreed a contract extension that runs until the 2030 World Cup, according to media reports. He had been under contract to 2028 after leading Spain to the Euro 2024 title and the World Cup in July. The new deal would keep him in charge when Spain co-host the 2030 tournament with Morocco and Portugal.
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SIC roars again: 19 years of F1 history at Sepang
Sepang International Circuit (SIC) hosted Formula One for 19 years, from its first race in 1999 to its final edition. The article recalls key moments including wins by Eddie Irvine and Michael Schumacher, Alex Yoong's 2002 appearance, the record 126,690 crowd in 2008, and the MH370 minute of silence in 2014.
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Malaysia should make the most of hosting Bahrain GP at Sepang, says ex-SIC CEO
Malaysia will host the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit from 2 to 4 October after the race was cancelled in Bahrain due to geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Former SIC chief executive Datuk Razlan Razali said hosting F1 brings international exposure and economic impact through hotels, F&B and tourism, though much of the event management is handled by Bahrain.
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Azlan Johar and Zainal Abidin contest FAM exco seat
Two former national and Selangor strikers, Azlan Johar and Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan, will compete for the single expert exco seat in the FA of Malaysia election on Thursday. Azlan says his business and management experience sets him apart from his close friend Zainal, though he admits Zainal had the better playing career. The seat is reserved for representatives of the coaches, players and referees associations under FAM's new statutes.
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JDT held 1-1 by 10-man Buriram United at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium
Johor Darul Ta'zim drew 1-1 with Buriram United in their AFC Champions League Elite East Zone opener at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri. Bergson Da Silva missed a second-half penalty, while Buriram played with 10 men after captain Kenneth Dougall was sent off.
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PGA Tour rules out return scheme for LIV golfers, commissioner says
PGA Tour commissioner Brian Rolapp said the tour is not currently considering a returning-member program that would let LIV Golf players rejoin, a week after LIV filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New Jersey. LIV's biggest names, including Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, are listed as top unsecured creditors, and the Saudi-backed circuit hopes to exit bankruptcy by early 2027.
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Sivasangari reaches Qatar Classic semi-finals after Gilis withdraws
S. Sivasangari advanced to the Qatar Classic semi-finals in Doha without playing after Belgium's Tinne Gilis withdrew with a knee injury. She will face Egypt's world No. 1 Hania El Hammamy, while compatriot Rachel Arnold beat eight-time world champion Nour El Sherbini to set up a quarter-final against England's Jasmine Hutton.
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Jack Draper ends season early with arm injury, targets January return
Jack Draper will not play again this season because of bone bruising in his serving arm, the former world number four has said. The 24-year-old, now ranked 155, plans a gradual return to training and hopes to be back on tour early next year.
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MPAJ backing drives Melayu Selangor's double title hunt
Melayu Selangor retained the Agong Cup for a fourth straight year after beating Kuala Lumpur 2-0 at Stadium Sungai Besar in Sabak Bernam. Coach Ahmad Fairuz Mohd Yunus credited the support of Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) as the backbone of the team's success. The side now targets the Raja-Raja Gold Cup, which starts Friday.
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National athletics squad to camp in Sendai ahead of Asian Games
Malaysia's national athletics squad will hold a seven-day final training camp in Sendai, Japan before the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026. Head coach Thabo Matebedi stressed training, recovery and nutrition, and building chemistry in the 4x100m quartets. Athletes involved include Muhammad Azeem Mohd Fahmi, Shereen Samson Vallabouy, Danish Iftikhar Muhammad Roslee and Umar Osman.
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Carrick wants United to bounce back against Brighton in League Cup
Michael Carrick wants Manchester United to channel their frustration from the defeat to Manchester City into a win against Brighton in the League Cup. United lost at Old Trafford after a controversial Erling Haaland goal, and now prepare for Wednesday's third-round tie.
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Pidcock leads Britain at Montreal worlds, chasing road-cross double
Tom Pidcock will lead a strong British team at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal this month, aiming to become the first man to hold the cross-country and road world titles in the same year. He finished sixth at the GP de Montreal last week and says the Mount Royal circuit suits him, though he names Isaac Del Toro and Paul Seixas as favourites.
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Hakim Danish targets stronger result at Austrian GP
Malaysian Moto3 rider Muhammad Hakim Danish Ramli aims to carry his San Marino GP momentum into this weekend's Austrian GP at the Red Bull Ring. He sits eighth in the championship with 94 points after 14 rounds.
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Peak-Wei to reunite after Asian Games, target LA Olympic gold
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik will pair up again once the Nagoya Asian Games end, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic gold medal as their stated goal. Speaking at the Malaysian Badminton Academy on Tuesday, Chia said the pair know what BAM expects and will go all out when Olympic qualifying begins next May. The coaching team had been testing different men's doubles combinations since June, and the pair's runner-up finish at last month's World Championships in New Delhi prompted the reunion.
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Flick backs Yamal's Ballon d'Or bid, calls him self-confident
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said he will support Lamine Yamal's bid to win the Ballon d'Or, praising the teenager's self-confidence. Yamal, who won the World Cup with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona, said he believes he deserves the award, which will be decided on Oct 26.
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Lim You named in 25-player Malayan Tigress B-17 squad
New Malayan Tigress B-17 head coach Takayoshi Ishihara has called up 25 players for centralised training ahead of the AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Lim You, 14, who plays for a Portland club in the United States, is again among the squad's main prospects, with five players including three newcomers called up. Group E will be played at Stadium Majlis Perbandaran Selayang from 5 October against Syria, Iraq and India.
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UEFA picks Munich and Barcelona for 2028 and 2029 Champions League finals
UEFA has named the Allianz Arena in Munich and Camp Nou in Barcelona as hosts of the 2028 and 2029 Champions League finals. The Women's Champions League finals will go to Lyon-Decines in 2028 and Cardiff's Principality Stadium in 2029. Camp Nou is still being redeveloped, while the Allianz Arena is ready to stage its third final.
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Amanda Yap sets balance beam final as target for Asian Games debut
Singapore gymnast Amanda Yap, 16, is aiming to reach the balance beam final at her first Asian Games, held in Japan. She comes in off a Commonwealth Games silver in Glasgow in July and a SEA Games silver in Bangkok, though a back injury has forced her to modify training.