黑料社区

Saudi鈥檚 Al-Qahtani to headline PFL MENA postseason action in Riyadh

Saudi鈥檚 Al-Qahtani to headline PFL MENA postseason action in Riyadh
PFL MENA 3 playoffs will take place in Riyadh on Sept. 20. (PFL)
Short Url
Updated 28 August 2024

Saudi鈥檚 Al-Qahtani to headline PFL MENA postseason action in Riyadh

Saudi鈥檚 Al-Qahtani to headline PFL MENA postseason action in Riyadh
  • The Kingdom鈥檚 leading MMA fighter faces Abdelrahman Alhyasat in the Featherweight Semifinal Main Event
  • Jarrah Al-Selawe meets Omar El-Dafrawy in the welterweight semifinal co-main event

RIYADH: The Professional Fighters League has announced the semifinal matchups set to take place at PFL MENA 3, which is being held at Boulevard City on Sept 20.

Fighters in the bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions will compete for a spot in the PFL MENA Finals and will look to move one win away from becoming among the inaugural PFL MENA champions.

In the main event, 黑料社区鈥檚 own Abdullah Al-Qahtani (9-1) takes on Jordan鈥檚 Abdelrahman Alhyasat (4-0) in the featherweight semifinals. Meanwhile, the co-main event will feature PFL veteran and former two-division champion Jarrah Al-Selawe (20-6) of Jordan taking on Egypt鈥檚 Omar El Dafrawy (11-6) in a welterweight semifinal bout.

PFL MENA 3 will air live in primetime on MBC Action, with the free-to-air broadcasts accessible to fans across the region. In addition to PFL MENA, MBC Action will air the PFL Global Season, PFL Europe, Bellator Champions Series and PFL鈥檚 Pay-Per-View Superfight Division events.

Other semifinals matchup will feature Algeria鈥檚 Souhil Tairi (7-4-1) taking on Mohsen Mohammadseifi (5-1) of Iran in the lightweight division, while Iraq鈥檚 Ali Taleb (10-1) meets Jordan鈥檚 Jalal Al Daaja (11-8) in the bantamweight division.

Jerome Mazet, general manager of PFL MENA, said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e very excited to be heading into the playoffs of the inaugural PFL MENA season. Fighters in the bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, and welterweight divisions are competing for a spot in the finals and are looking to become the first PFL MENA champions. We鈥檙e building stars here, and we can鈥檛 wait to see who makes it to the finale.鈥

The complete PFL MENA 2 fight card is as follows:

Featherweight semifinal bout:

Abdullah Al-Qahtani (9-1) vs. Abdelrahman Alhyasat (4-0)

Welterweight semifinal bout:

Jarrah Al-Selawe (20-6) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (11-6)

Welterweight semifinal bout:

Mohammad Alaqraa (6-0) vs. Badreddine Diani (8-3)

Lightweight semifinal bout:

Souhil Tairi (7-4-1) vs. Mohsen Mohammadseifi (5-1)

Bantamweight semifinal bout:

Ali Taleb (10-1) vs. Jalal Al Daaja (11-8)

Featherweight semifinal bout:

Islam Reda (11-1) vs. Marouaune Bellagouit (5-0)

Bantamweight semifinal bout:

Elias Boudegzdame (19-8) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (14-3)

Lightweight semifinal bout:

Georges Eid (9-4, 1NC) vs. Omar Reguigui (4-0, 1NC)

  • Georges Eid will face Omar Reguigui, replacing Abdullah Saleem who didn鈥檛 pass the in-competition drug test.

Alternate featherweight showcase bout:

Adam Meskini (8-3) vs. Yazeed Hasanain (3-1)


Pakistan suspends cricketer Haider Ali over UK police criminal investigation

Pakistan suspends cricketer Haider Ali over UK police criminal investigation
Updated 13 sec ago

Pakistan suspends cricketer Haider Ali over UK police criminal investigation

Pakistan suspends cricketer Haider Ali over UK police criminal investigation
  • PCB says probe being conducted over incident that reportedly occurred during Pakistan Shaheen鈥檚 recent tour of England
  • Board says it has ensured that Haider Ali has received 鈥渁ppropriate legal support鈥 to protect his rights during the investigation

Islamabad: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Thursday it has decided to place cricketer Haider Ali under provisional suspension, saying it was informed that the Greater Manchester Police was conducting a criminal investigation against the athlete. 

Without sharing details of the investigation, the PCB said the probe relates to an incident that reportedly occurred during the Pakistan Shaheens鈥 cricket team鈥檚 recent tour of England.

The board said in line with its duty to ensure the welfare and legal rights of all its players, the PCB has ensured that Haider Ali has received 鈥渁ppropriate legal support鈥 to protect his rights throughout this process. The cricket board added that it respects the legal procedures and processes of the UK and acknowledges the importance of allowing the investigation to run its due course.

鈥淎ccordingly, the PCB has decided to place Haider Ali under provisional suspension, effective immediately, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation,鈥 it added. 

The cricket board said that once the legal proceedings conclude and all facts have been duly established, the PCB reserves the right to take 鈥渁ppropriate action鈥 under its Code of Conduct.

鈥淯ntil such time as the legal process reaches its conclusion, the PCB will not offer further comment on the matter,鈥 the board concluded. 

Ali, 24, is a right-handed aggressive batter who has featured for Pakistan in only two ODIs but 35 T20Is and 164 T20s. In T20Is, he has scored 505 runs at an average of 17.41 and made three half-centuries. In T20s, the batter has scored 3,141 runs and scored 17 fifties.

He has played for renowned Pakistan Super League franchises such as Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi. 


Frankfurt sign Japan winger Ritsu Doan for its Champions League return

Frankfurt sign Japan winger Ritsu Doan for its Champions League return
Updated 07 August 2025

Frankfurt sign Japan winger Ritsu Doan for its Champions League return

Frankfurt sign Japan winger Ritsu Doan for its Champions League return
  • Doan joins on a five-year contract from fellow German club Freiburg
  • 鈥淚鈥檓 very happy and honored to be here,鈥 he said in a translated video message to Frankfurt fans

FRANKFURT: Eintracht Frankfurt have signed Japanese winger Ritsu Doan to strengthen a squad depleted by the sale of Hugo Ekitik茅 as they prepare to return to the Champions League.

Doan joins on a five-year contract from fellow German club Freiburg, where he was top scorer with 10 goals as the team placed fifth in the Bundesliga.

鈥淚鈥檓 very happy and honored to be here,鈥 Doan said in a translated video message to Frankfurt fans. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to play in front of the supporters.鈥

Frankfurt are heading back to the Champions League this season after a third-place Bundesliga finish but will have a new-look attack after striker Ekitik茅 was sold to Liverpool for a fee of 69 million pounds ($93.5 million).

The 27-year-old Doan will be expected to team up with another new signing for Ekitik茅鈥檚 center-forward role, ex-Mainz striker Jonathan Burkardt.

Doan won the Dutch Cup with PSV Eindhoven in 2022 and has played 57 games for the Japanese national team. That includes all of its games at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and a role in securing qualification for next year鈥檚 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Doan could make his Frankfurt debut Aug. 17 in a German Cup game against fifth-tier Engers. Frankfurt鈥檚 first Bundesliga game of the season is six days later at home to Werder Bremen.


Ex-international footballer dubbed 鈥楶ele of Palestine鈥 dies in Israeli Gaza raid

Ex-international footballer dubbed 鈥楶ele of Palestine鈥 dies in Israeli Gaza raid
Updated 07 August 2025

Ex-international footballer dubbed 鈥楶ele of Palestine鈥 dies in Israeli Gaza raid

Ex-international footballer dubbed 鈥楶ele of Palestine鈥 dies in Israeli Gaza raid
  • Palestinian Football Association mourned the death of Suleiman Al-Obaid on X saying he was killed in an Israeli strike targeting civilians
  • Eric Cantona condemns 鈥榞enocide鈥 by Israel over the killing on Instagram

BEIRUT: A Palestinian former footballer, who was once nicknamed 鈥楶ele of Palestine,鈥 died on Wednesday in an Israeli airstrike at a Gaza aid distribution center while queuing for food for his five children.

The Palestinian Football Association mourned the death of Suleiman Al-Obaid, who played for the national team, Khadamat Al-Shati Club and other local clubs, on their X handle.

鈥淭he former Palestine national team player Al-Obaid was killed in an Israeli strike targeting civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip,鈥 wrote the PFA.

It said in a media statement that 41-year-old Al-Obaid was regarded as one of the most talented attacking midfielders to play in the Gaza Strip League and was nicknamed 鈥淧ele of Palestine.鈥

French former player Eric Cantona condemned the killing of Al-Obaid on Instagram.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

鈥淗e was named 芦 The Pel茅 of Palestine 禄 HOW MUCH LONGER ARE WE GOING TO LET THEM COMMIT THIS GENOCIDE??? FREE PALESTINE,鈥 the former Manchester United forward wrote.

Palestinian former national football star Jamal Al-Khatib mourned Al-Obaid鈥檚 鈥渟addening death鈥 and paid tribute to his family, former clubmates and PFA.

鈥淕azans have been suffering a lot because of Israel鈥檚 unstoppable atrocities. Thousands have martyred, including many footballers. Al-Obaid鈥檚 death is a tragic loss for the Palestinian football community,鈥 Al-Khatib told Arab News on Thursday.

The former Al-Nijme and Al-Ansar forward added that people from all levels of society, including footballers and athletes, have been paying a hefty price for what Al-Khatib described by 鈥渕urderous Israeli attacks on hungry civilians.鈥

According to the PFA, Al-Obaid represented the national team 19 times in the Asian Cup, Pan Arab Games, FIFA World Cup qualifiers and other friendlies. His debut was against Iraq in the West Asia Championship in 2007 and his last match was against Qatar in 2013.

Besides playing for Khadamat Al-Shati, he also played for Shabab Al-Amari and Gaza Sport, in positions including centre forward, right winger and right midfielder.

A father of two sons and three daughters, Al-Obaid scored 17 goals when he played for Gaza Sport and won the top scorer title in the Southern Governorates Premier League in the 2015-2016 season.

With Khadamat Al-Shati he won the league鈥檚 top scorer title in the 2016-2017 season, scoring 15 goals.

The number of dead from the Palestinian Football Association has reached 321, including players, coaches, administrators, referees, and club board members.


黑料社区 Snooker Masters set to begin in Jeddah

黑料社区 Snooker Masters set to begin in Jeddah
Updated 07 August 2025

黑料社区 Snooker Masters set to begin in Jeddah

黑料社区 Snooker Masters set to begin in Jeddah
  • Second richest tournament on 2025 World Snooker Tour takes place at Green Halls from Aug. 8-16

JEDDAH: The 2025 黑料社区 Snooker Masters begins on Aug. 8 at the Green Halls in Jeddah and boasts the participation of 128 World Snooker Tour players.

Joined by 16 wild cards from 黑料社区, the international field will be competing for a prize fund in excess of 拢2 million, making it the second-richest tournament on the 2025 WST. It concludes on Aug. 16.

Steve Dawson, WST鈥檚 chairman, said: 鈥淲e are excited to stage the event in Jeddah for the first time and to bring the all-time greatest players to new fans.

鈥淥ur expansion into 黑料社区 is a huge step forward for snooker and a key element in our strategy to develop our sport globally. We are working closely with our partners in the region on the ambition to develop our sport at all levels, from the elite major events to grassroots participation. In years to come we would love to see professional players and even tournament winners from 黑料社区.鈥

Judd Trump won the first edition of the event last year in Riyadh, beating Mark Williams 10-9 in the final.


Alhada Cup to headline Taif racing鈥檚 week three

Alhada Cup to headline Taif racing鈥檚 week three
Updated 07 August 2025

Alhada Cup to headline Taif racing鈥檚 week three

Alhada Cup to headline Taif racing鈥檚 week three
  • Trial winner Falah Zain bids to follow up in main event at King Khalid Racecourse on Saturday
  • Many familiar names will take to the track in Friday鈥檚 feature, the 2,000m Al-Shafa Cup Prep Open with a full field of 18 declared

TAIF: Racing returns to King Khalid Racecourse this weekend with recent comeback winner Falah Zain (黑料社区) set for a crack at the SR150,000 ($40,000) prize in Saturday鈥檚 feature Alhada Cup Local Bred Horses Open.

Trained by in the in-form Thamer Al-Daihani and ridden by Muhammad Aldaham for Kuwaiti owner Sheikh Abdullah Hamoud Almalek Alsabah, the colt landed the trial for this on the first weekend of racing last month 鈥 and now faces 11 rivals in the final event restricted to three-year-olds over 1,400m.

Saudi Cup weekend form will be on display as the Ahmed Alshaia-trained Karimi, the mount of Abdulaziz Alfouraidi, bids to advertise the form of his runaway win in the Sarawat Cup.

However, he was only eighth in the trial two weeks ago behind Zain, and also has to reverse form with the runner-up, Fallat Kheir (黑料社区) for jockey Abdullah Alfairouz, trainer Ahmed Mohamoud and the powerful white stable of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Sons.

The daughter of Prospect Park boasts strong form, having been beaten less than three lengths in the Fillies Mile on Saudi Cup on Friday.

Another name to note on Saturday is Lacy Des Vialettes (France) who makes her return to action for trainer Mustafa Almosa in the opening Arabian Horses Fillies Open over 1600m.

Jockey Aseel Alsarhani鈥檚 mount was unbeaten in three starts at Taif last season, before winning in Riyadh and then losing her unbeaten tag behind the legendary Tilal AI-Khalediah in the Group 1 Obaiyah Arabian Classic. She could have a lot more to offer this campaign.

Many familiar names will take to the track in Friday鈥檚 feature, the 2,000m Al-Shafa Cup Prep Open with a full field of 18 declared.

This could arguably be the most absorbing event of the weekend with the eight-year-old Almaan (US) making his return to action for trainer Gaith Alghaith and jockey Abdullah Alawfi following a string of high-class efforts in Riyadh earlier this year, including fifth places to Rattle N Roll in The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Scotland Yard in the Tuwaiq Cup.

Derevo (Great Britain) was seventh in the Tuwaiq and reopposes for handler Hadi Gharawi, while Al-Daihani is represented by the highly tried Western City (US) for jockey Mohammad Alhubail and the Muhammad Aldaham-ridden National Gallery (Ireland).