Asia

In China, Devoted Fans Are Fighting To Keep Corporate Sponsors On Club Names

HONG KONG — When the Chinese Super League (CSL) kicks off its 2021 season much will have changed since Jiangsu Suning defeated Guangzhou Evergrande to claim their first title in early December.

The imposition of a neutral name rule, first mooted two years ago, by Chinese football authorities means professional clubs must remove references to corporate sponsors from team names and crests ahead of the new season, which is expected to start in April.

Los Botines Rosa De André-Pierre Gignac Llevan A Tigres A Las Semifinales Del Mundial De Clubes

Los historiadores del fútbol dicen que el danés Nicklas Bendtner, en el año 2008, fue el primer futbolista en usar botines rosa dentro de un campo de juego. Decenas lo siguieron: Franck Ribéry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Jaime Vardy y Kylian Mbappé, por nombrar unos pocos. Hoy, en el Mundial de Clubes de la FIFA, André-Pierre Gignac siguió el testimonio y con rosa en los pies lideró a Tigres en la victoria por 2-1 sobre el Ulsan Hyundai de Corea del Sur.

Ulsan Hyundai Warns Tigres: "We Are Not An Easy Team"

The 2020 FIFA Club World Cup will feature a meeting of felines in the second round. Ulsan Hyundai (nicknamed "The Tigers") of the K-League will face Tigres de UANL for a place in the semifinals in a duel that will not be easy for the Mexican team.

Rafa Benitez Leaves Lucrative CSL Contract Over Pandemic Difficulties

Rafa Benitez has left Chinese Super League side Dalian Pro, with the Spaniard saying on Saturday that the COVID-19 pandemic was a factor in his decision.

The former Liverpool and Real Madrid head coach was hired on a lucrative contract worth a reported 12 million pounds ($16 million) per year after he left Newcastle United in 2019.

"Unfortunately, like so many things in the last year, COVID-19 has changed our lives and our projects. From today, both my coaching staff and I will sadly no longer be coaching Dalian," Benitez said in a statement.

Don’t Say Puskás, Don’t Say Puskás… This Fantastically Unique Goal Is Certainly Worthy Of An Award

An incredible goal was scored in the Saudi Pro League on Tuesday. The goal was so spectacular that it honestly deserves an award. The exact title this goal deserves will go unnamed as I hate to admit that I have mentioned it one too many times. 

Suspicious Scenes As Club Wins Cup Final And Celebrates With Referee In Private Room

A strange scene took place after the Final of the Kuwait Crown Prince Cup when the winning team, Kuwait SC, was filmed celebrating with the referee in a private room. In a video the team celebrates with referee by throwing him up in the air, giving hugs and even kisses.

This totally isn’t suspect.

The Greatest Underdog Sports Stories That Won’t Get The Disney Treatment

Occasionally sport coughs up the sort of matchup that you cannot tear your eyes from — not so much a David vs. Goliath battle as it is a 50-car pileup on the highway. We’re talking “how the hell did they find themselves here?” sort of situations. 

These were the games that stayed with you, the games that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. 

The Best Underdog Stories In Sports History 

The Korea women’s ice hockey team at the 2018 Winter Olympics

Watch This Defense Leave Its Goalkeeper For Dead To Face 5 Attackers At Once In Mad Scramble

A goalkeeper from the Indian Super League won’t be thanking his teammates anytime soon after they practically left him to the wolves during Friday’s league game. This funny soccer goal is akin to what parents would expect to see when their 8-year-olds play.

Hyderabad goalkeeper Laxmikant Kattimani tried everything in his power to ensure his side went into halftime with the lead. In the final moments of the half, Kattimani’s side led 2-1 when all hell broke loose in his box.

FC Tokyo Wins J.League Cup In Front Of Over 24,000 Spectators

Brazilians Leandro and Adaílton fired FC Tokyo to a 2-1 victory over Kashiwa Reysol in the final of the Levain Cup on Monday in front of more than 24,000 fans at Tokyo's National Stadium.

Ronaldo Uses ‘Player Of The Century’ Speech To Warn Son Over Dangers Of Fanta Orange

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the “Player of the Century 2001-2020” at the Globe Soccer awards gala in Dubai. Although the decision might seem controversial given the fact that Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or six times over that period compared to five for Ronaldo, (1) the decision is totally in line with the 10-year history of the award show and (2) who cares — we all know they’re both really good.  

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