US says Iran players welcome at World Cup amid Italy uproar
Iran’s footballers will be welcome at this year’s World Cup, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday, distancing the US government from a proposal that Italy could take their place in the tournament, Reuters reported.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Rubio denied that Washington had asked the Iranian team not to come to the World Cup – but warned that the United States may yet bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation it judged to have ties to Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is regarded as a terrorist organization by Washington and several other governments.
No-one “from the US has told them they can’t come”, Rubio said of Iran’s World Cup participation.
Yamal scores but injured as Barcelona beat Celta to restore La Liga lead
Lamine Yamal was injured while converting a penalty in Barcelona’s Spanish league win against Celta Vigo, Aljazeera reported.
Yamal scored Barcelona’s first goal in the 40th minute on Wednesday and immediately looked to the bench and signalled that he was hurt.
The narrow win restores Barcelona’s nine-point lead at the top from fierce rivals Real Madrid, who won 2-1 against Alaves on Tuesday.
Bayern beat Leverkusen 2-0 to reach first German Cup final in six years
Treble-chasing Bayern Munich beat hosts Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Wednesday with goals from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz to reach the German Cup final for the first time in six years, Reuters reported.
The hosts were no match for the Bavarians, who were fresh from securing the league title on Sunday and in control for much of the game. Bayern also travel to Paris St Germain next week for their Champions League semifinal first leg.
Leverkusen tried to stay competitive for about 20 minutes but then found themselves 1-0 down with Kane drilling in from close range in the 22nd minute for his seventh goal in the competition this season.
Man City go top and relegate Burnley with narrow Turf Moor win
Manchester City ended Arsenal's six-month stay on the Premier League summit and condemned Burnley to relegation with a labored 1-0 victory at Turf Moor on Wednesday, Reuters reported.
Erling Haaland's clinical finish after five minutes could have ‌paved the way for a boost to City's goal difference but they lacked a cutting edge as Burnley dug deep.
Haaland hit the post and had other chances as City tried to give themselves a safety margin but Pep Guardiola's side had to make do with a surprisingly narrow victory.
