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Sports

Ronaldo wins 4th Ballon d'Or

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or for the fourth time ahead of Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann.

The 31 year-old scored 51 goals in 54 game in 2016, winning the Champions League with Real Madrid and the European Championship with Portugal in the process.

Reacting to the honour, the Portuguese who was unavoidably absent at the ceremony which took place today in Zurich as his side travelled to Japan to prepare for the Club World Cup said, “It is a special moment. It means that all my sacrifice was worth it. I feel very happy to win this. I worked very hard,” Ronaldo said in accepting the award.

“A lot of people helped me get here, and it is not easy to get here. You can count on one hand players who maintain this level year after year. I am one of them, and that is a source of pride for me.”

He continued, “This has been the best year of my career from both a team and individual level. “To win the title for Portugal was what was left to achieve on my résumé, and it was one of the most important moments. But to win Champions League as well with Real Madrid was huge.

“It is a huge honour to win the Ballon d’Or. I am very happy. This is a dream come true, and it is the fourth time. I feel very proud. This win is for my teammates in both the club and the national team. It is incredible to earn this trophy again.”

 

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Up Blues! Chelsea stars claim Premier League prizes for November

 
Top of the log, back to back wins; Chelsea are definitely not joking this season.
And this scintillating form has earned three key players of the team accolades.  The Blues coach, Antonio Conte beat David Moyes, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola to win the Manager of the Month Award for November; Diego Costa; the league’s joint-top scorer on 11 goals was named Player of the Month, edging put teammate Pedro, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Aguero, Jordan Pickford and Matt Phillips to the honour. And lastly, Pedro’s strike against Tottenham was voted the goal of the month.

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Atletico Madrid unveil new stadium and club badge design.

 
 
Atletico Madrid have unveiled their new 67,000-seater stadium and a new club badge.
The club which will be ready for the summer of 2017  will be named Wanda Metropolitano.The new stadium takes its name from the Wanda Group, an international real estate company, and is planned to accommodate 67,000 fans.
A club statement read, “The club has decided to prioritize the spaciousness, the comfort and the safety of the supporters before the option of a having a larger capacity.
“However, it is not yet a final number since it will depend on the final choice of the seat models.”
 

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Real Madrid issue statement on Ronaldo's tax evasion allegations

 
Real Madrid have issued a statement in the wake of tax evasion allegations levelled against Cristiano Ronaldo. A German newspaper, Der Spiegel had claimed that leaked documents show that the Portuguese may have ‘hidden 150 million euros in tax havens in Switzerland and the British Virgin Islands’.
Shortly after the accusations were made, Jorge Mendes’ agency, Gestifute, who represent Ronaldo, released a statement along with a letter from the Spanish tax authority ‘confirming that Cristiano Ronaldo is up to date on his obligations’.
Real Madrid have also reacted to the allegations, “In view of the stories published over recent days and in consideration of the certificate issued by the Spanish Tax Agency which confirms that our player Cristiano Ronaldo is up to date with all of his tax obligations, Real Madrid C. F. call for the utmost respect to be shown towards Cristiano Ronaldo, whose conduct has been absolutely exemplary throughout all of his time at our club.

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Rigobert Song pictured for the first time after suffering stroke.

 
Cameroon legend, Rigobert Song is recovering well in France hospital two months after suffering stroke. The former Liverpool player was erroneously dead after he slipped into a two-day coma at Yaounde Emergency Centre on Tuesday, October 4, 2016. He has since been at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital (Groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière) a teaching hospital in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, France.

“I’m grateful to God for another chance, appreciate the love from all.” The African legend said.

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Sports

Sepp Blatter loses appeal against his six-year ban from football.

 
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed Former Fifa president, Sepp Blatter’s appeal against his six-year ban from football.
The 80-year-old Swiss who served as the president of the world football’s governing body from 1998 to 2015 was banned for allegedly making a “disloyal payment” of 2 million Swiss francs ($1.98m) to Michel Platini, then the UEFA president, in 2011; a payment that was described as “an undue gift” with “no contractual basis”.
FIFA is still investigating why Sepp Blatter paid himself bonuses totalling £26 million between 2010 and 2015. Germany got £20 million for winning 2014 World Cup in Brazil and he got £8.5 million bonus for helping to organise it.
After the hearing, Blatter said “no other verdict could be expected. “I have to accept this decision. I have experienced much in my 41 years in Fifa. I mostly learned that you can win in sport, but you can also lose.”
In its verdict, Cas said Blatter “requested the annulment of the ban but did not request a reduced penalty” adding that “In any event, the panel determined that the sanction imposed was not disproportionate.”
Both Blatter and Platini were banned for eight years last December, they however had their bans reduced to six years by its appeals committee.
 

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Sports

Chapecoense awarded the Copa Sudamericana 2016

 
The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) have confirmed that Chapecoense are champions of Copa Sudamericana 2016. The honour was posthumously bestowed upon the Brazilian team at the request of opponents Atletico Nacional following the Colombia plane crash that killed 71 people on board a week ago.  Atletico Nacional have been given a Fair Play award to acknowledge their “spirit of peace, understanding and fair play. They also received $1m while Chapecoense were given the $2m in prize money.
 
“CONMEBOL have testified that they will crown Chapecoense as champions of the Copa Sudamericana. We are receiving support from all federations. The CBF, CONMEBOL, FIFA, and especially the people of Chapeco.
“Right now we are beginning to rebuild the team. People want football, people love football in Chapeco.
“Therefore, we must continue this. Let’s talk and do well, let the dust settle and rebuild the team for next year.”
“Atletico Nacional have invited CONMEBOL to deliver the Copa Sudamericana title to the Chapecoense Football Association as an honour for their great loss and in posthumous homage to the victims of the tragic accident that has our sport in mourning.
“For us, and forever, Chapecoense shall be the Copa Sudamericana champions for 2016.” Chapecoense interim president Ivan Tozzo, said in a statement.

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Sports

Sergio Aguero banned for 4 games

Manchester City striker, Sergio Aguero has been banned for four matches following his tackle on David Luiz during Manchester City’s game against Chelsea.

This is the second time the Argentine will be punished for violent conduct this season. The 28 year-old will miss City’s games against Leicester, Watford, Arsenal and Hull.

 

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Marca explains why Pep Guardiola ignored Cesc Fabregas' handshake

 
Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola is in the headlines for some petty reasons.
Shortly after his side lost to Chelsea, 3-1 on Saturday, three Chelsea players; Willian, César Azpilicueta and Cesc Fàbregas approcahed the Spaniard for a handshake but he completely ignored them and that elicited strong reactions amongst football fans.
While it might have a lot to do with Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho‘s suspension following their tackles on David Luiz and Cesc Fabregas, Spanish outlet, Marca claims there’s more to the ex Bayern Munich coach’s actions.
Their explanation below:
“Although publicly there has been no real hint of animosity, Fabregas’ Barcelona return when Guardiola was on the bench was not at the request of the tactician, who had no real interest in seeing him return to the Camp Nou. Fabregas’ move back to the Blaugrana largely came about as a result of Tito Vilanova’s insistence and pressure from key dressing room figures such as Gerard Pique and Lionel Messi, who are close friends with the ex-Arsenal man. Their coexistence in the dressing room was far from ideal and they did not part on the best of terms, with Fabregas going on to join Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2014 doing little to improve their relationship.”
 
Weren’t 3 players snubbed?

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Ronaldinho, Gudjohnsen offer to play for Chapecoense for free!

 
Great Gesture!
In the wake of the Colombia plane crash that killed 71 people, including members of Brazilian football team Chapecoense, a week ago, while going for their Copa Sudamericana final first leg against Atletico Nacional, Brazilian football legend, Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, also known as Ronaldinho, has reportedly come out of retirement to sign for Chapecoense and will play for them for free.

Former Iceland international, Eidur Gudjohnsen, has also offered his services to Chapecoense adding that a reunion with his former Barca team-mate would be an added bonus.

 Gudjohnsen posted on Twitter: ‘Out of respect I would play for Chapecoense if they have a place for me! ‘If not just to play with Ronaldinho again.’

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