Team News

The semi-final match of the Africa Cup between DR Congo and Ivory Coast, has presented a special episode before the ball rolled on the field of play.

The DR Congo footballers have decided to hold a unique protest in front of the cameras, in a message of awareness about what is happening in their country.

The players, instead of singing their country’s anthem, put a gun-like hand to their head and covered their mouths with the other.

They had decided this as a way of raising public awareness of what is happening in the African country, which is facing a humanitarian crisis after the massacres of the M23 rebel group.

The Tutsi ethnic group is at war with the government and is responsible for many massacres in different areas of the country, including women and children.

Most recently, he attacked the city of Sake, displacing an estimated 1 million people from the countryside and surrounding areas in an unprecedented crisis.

Therefore, the players thought that by appearing on the continent’s most important football stage in this way, they would show the world what their country was currently suffering, in an armed conflict that has lasted for many years.

👁️[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS]

After 2024, all three European Club Cup events will change format. Instead of 32 participating teams, as it was until now, a total of 36 teams will participate in the Champions League from the next edition.

The UEFA Season Rankings give an extra place to the top two leagues. 8 matches are played in the group, instead of the usual 6 duels. No return matches, but 8 direct opponents decided by group draw. The 36 teams will be drawn into 4 groups of 9 teams, based on the club rankings, with the league champions as the group heads.

So 36 teams, divided into 4 groups of 9 teams, based on the ranking of clubs in UEFA, will play 8 matches in each group. There is no second leg, but 8 opponents decided by the draw to be made in August in Monte Carlo. After the group matches, the best 8 in the ranking go directly to the 1/16 round.

Those from 9th to 16th place face those ranked from 17th to 24th place. The 8 winners reach the 1/8 finals.

The teams that are eliminated no longer have the chance to go down to the Europa League. There will be only one draw, the one in August after the 36 teams are determined. A minimum of 15 games to win the Champions League, unlike the 13 that were played before.

The new system also revolutionizes the Europa League and the Conference League. These two tournaments will also have the same formula with 36 teams. It remains to be seen how it will work in reality.

👁️[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS]

It should have been a day of celebration in Hong Kong, but the fans of this team were left very disappointed in the end.

Even the Hong Kong government has asked for explanations for the absence of the best soccer player of the last two decades on the field.

Inter Miami faced a team of “stars” from Hong Kong in the Asian tour, but the Argentine “star”, Lionel Messi, disappointed everyone: instead of being applauded, he was booed. About 40 thousand fans present in the stadium had paid from 120-600 euros for the ticket to see the eight-time winner of the golden ball, but the coach of the team from Florida (Tata Martino) did not throw him on the field even for a few minutes.

Inter Miami won 4-1, but for the Hong Kong fans and government, nothing made sense without Messi on the pitch. The organizers of this friendly must provide explanations for non-respect of the agreement.

“We love Messi”, shouted the fans in the stadium even before the start of the match when it was learned that Messi would be on the bench.

Frustration mounted as the minutes passed. A request that was not fulfilled, since the Argentinian champion did not set foot on the field.

👁️[WPPV-TOTAL-VIEWS]