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Reuters
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Palmeiras and Botafogo set to rekindle heated rivalry on global stage
PHILADELPHIA, June 27 (Reuters) - In a nation where bitter football feuds typically simmer across generations, Botafogo and Palmeiras are poised to add another chapter to Brazil's explosive new rivalry when they meet in the last 16 of the Club World Cup on Saturday. The feud, which erupted in 2023, has seen dramatic twists both on and off the pitch. Palmeiras, spearheaded by teenage sensation Endrick, overturned a three-goal deficit to defeat Botafogo 4-3, a result that triggered the Rio club's collapse in the Brazilian championship race. Palmeiras subsequently clinched the league title, sparking tensions that spilled into public exchanges between club officials. Palmeiras president Leila Pereira called Botafogo's owner John Textor "an idiot" and suggested he should be "banned from Brazilian football" after the American alleged referee bias in favor of Palmeiras. The rivalry defies Brazil's traditional city-based football feuds, with Palmeiras hailing from Sao Paulo and Botafogo from Rio de Janeiro. Unlike the century-old feuds of Flamengo-Fluminense or Atletico-Cruzeiro, this cross-country animosity has evolved into a pressure-cooker dynamic, with each encounter carrying heightened stakes. Botafogo exacted revenge in the 2024 Copa Libertadores, eliminating Palmeiras in the round of 16 en route to claiming the continental title. When the two met again in the Brazilian league at Palmeiras' home ground, Botafogo won again and eventually secured a domestic and international double. Since that 2023 defeat, Botafogo have gone unbeaten against Palmeiras in five consecutive matches. Saturday's encounter at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field will test the limits of a rivalry that has transcended mere competition, with local commentators describing it as "collective catharsis" for fans and players alike. 'It means a lot. The last few games between Botafogo and Palmeiras have been high-level and intense,' defender Alex Telles told reporters on Friday. 'It's a healthy rivalry for Brazilian football. It's great to see two Brazilian teams facing each other in the Club World Cup and also to have all four teams advancing (to the last 16).' On Saturday in Philadelphia, a new chapter will be written in this captivating and intense rivalry that has gripped the South American nation.
CNA
18 hours ago
- Sport
- CNA
Palmeiras and Botafogo set to rekindle heated rivalry on global stage
PHILADELPHIA :In a nation where bitter football feuds typically simmer across generations, Botafogo and Palmeiras are poised to add another chapter to Brazil's explosive new rivalry when they meet in the last 16 of the Club World Cup on Saturday. The feud, which erupted in 2023, has seen dramatic twists both on and off the pitch. Palmeiras, spearheaded by teenage sensation Endrick, overturned a three-goal deficit to defeat Botafogo 4-3, a result that triggered the Rio club's collapse in the Brazilian championship race. Palmeiras subsequently clinched the league title, sparking tensions that spilled into public exchanges between club officials. Palmeiras president Leila Pereira called Botafogo's owner John Textor "an idiot" and suggested he should be "banned from Brazilian football" after the American alleged referee bias in favor of Palmeiras. The rivalry defies Brazil's traditional city-based football feuds, with Palmeiras hailing from Sao Paulo and Botafogo from Rio de Janeiro. Unlike the century-old feuds of Flamengo-Fluminense or Atletico-Cruzeiro, this cross-country animosity has evolved into a pressure-cooker dynamic, with each encounter carrying heightened stakes. Botafogo exacted revenge in the 2024 Copa Libertadores, eliminating Palmeiras in the round of 16 en route to claiming the continental title. When the two met again in the Brazilian league at Palmeiras' home ground, Botafogo won again and eventually secured a domestic and international double. Since that 2023 defeat, Botafogo have gone unbeaten against Palmeiras in five consecutive matches. Saturday's encounter at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field will test the limits of a rivalry that has transcended mere competition, with local commentators describing it as "collective catharsis" for fans and players alike. 'It means a lot. The last few games between Botafogo and Palmeiras have been high-level and intense,' defender Alex Telles told reporters on Friday. 'It's a healthy rivalry for Brazilian football. It's great to see two Brazilian teams facing each other in the Club World Cup and also to have all four teams advancing (to the last 16).'
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Blow to Crystal Palace's Europa League hopes as relegated Lyon strike deal with UEFA
Crystal Palace 's hopes of playing in next season's Europa League were delivered a blow on Friday when Lyon announced that they had reached an agreement with UEFA to play in the competition. The south London club qualified for Europe in the first time in their history when they won last season's FA Cup with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Man City in the final. However, their participation in the Europa League has been under threat due to UEFA's rules on multi-club ownership. Eagle Football Holdings — who have a 43 per cent stake in the club — are also the owners of Lyon. UEFA prevent clubs who share owners competing in the same compeition and, under their rules, Lyon are set to take the Europa League spot because they finished higher (sixth) in their domestic league than Palace (12th). John Textor, who owns the group, has agreed to sell the stake in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson in a desperate attempt to keep the south London side in the competition. A decision on whether that will be enough to allow both clubs to compete in the competition has been expected by the end of the month after Palace official flew to UEFA HQ in Switzerland for a crunch summit. Palace hopes were raised this week when Lyon were relegated from Ligue 1 following an audit of their finances by Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG), the body responsible for overseeing the finances of French football clubs. Lyon's demotion was seen by a 'game-changer' by insiders at Selhurst Park who believe that they should now be regarded as the higher-placed club should only one of the two clubs be allowed into the Europa League. Lyon, however, released a statement on Friday which suggests they are still in the box seat. 'After validating its financial viability procedure, Olympique Lyonnais (OL) has signed an agreement with UEFA's club financial control body,' the statement read. 'The club could thus participate in the Europa League competition next season, subject to a favorable outcome during the appeal of the DNCG's decision. 'OL thanks the UEFA representatives who supported it in this procedure.' Palace remain confident of finding a resolution given that no facilities, players or resources are shared with Lyon. The relegation of the club, who faced off against Manchester United in the Europa League quarter-finals last season, will mean former Premier League stars could line up in the second tier next season. Former United and Chelsea man Nemanja Matic is on the club's books, as well as ex-Arsenal duo Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Alexandre Lacazette. They are seven-time Ligue 1 champions, last winning the league in 2008 — their seventh domestic title in a row.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Lyon included in Ligue 1 fixtures despite demotion
Lyon have been included in the Ligue 1 fixtures for next season despite being relegated to French football's second tier because of the poor state of their the schedule released on Friday, Lyon have been earmarked to play Lens in their opening game of the 2025-26 campaign - which starts on the weekend of 16-17 were provisionally demoted in November by the DNGC, the body which oversees the accounts of French professional football officials, including owner John Textor, met with the DNGC earlier this week but failed to convince the body that the club had improved their financial situation enough to lift the punishment. Last October Textor's Eagle Football Group, which owns a 77% stake in Lyon, announced debts of £ previously described the DNGC's decision as "incomprehensible" and have taken steps to Gones finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season and qualified for the Europa League. Their relegation could prove significant to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, whose hopes of playing in the Europa League next season are under threat because of Uefa rules which prevent multiple teams under one multi-club ownership structure competing in the same European owns stakes in both clubs although he agreed a deal to sell his 43% share in Palace on executives met on Friday to discuss the matter, and the outcome of the hearing had been expected to be announced later in the day, but the meeting is now set to resume at the start of next week.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Crystal Palace forced to wait on crunch Europa League decision from Uefa chiefs with new date revealed
One team has already been kicked out of Europe CRYSTAL BALL Crystal Palace forced to wait on crunch Europa League decision from Uefa chiefs with new date revealed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CRYSTAL Palace will have to wait until at least Monday to discover if they have been cleared to play their first European campaign. Palace's 'Multi Club Ownership' issues were among a number of similar matters being considered by Uefa finance chiefs. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Crystal Palace will find out if they are in Europe on Monday Credit: Reuters 2 John Textor has sold his stake in the club Credit: AFP But the meeting at Uefa headquarters in Nyon has so many cases to consider that final verdicts will not be announced until after the weekend. Palace legal beaks and executives pleaded their case to Uefa's Club Financial Control Body, with their arguments strengthened by Lyon's relegation from France's top flight over the club's soaring debts. The Selhurst club have been made to wait for the green light since their FA Cup Final win over Manchester City because Lyon are owned by the Eagle Football group owned by US businessman John Textor, who had a 44.9 per cent stake in Palace despite being kept at arms length by Steve Parish and Americans Josh Harris and Dave Blitzer. Despite his limited role at Selhurst Park, Uefa were concerned that Textor's ownership stake breached regulations stating that clubs which are part of a shared ownership group cannot compete in the same competition. Those rules saw Manchester United owners Ineos park their shares in French side Nice in a blind trust to allow both to play in the Europa League last season, with Chelsea owners BlueCo withdrawing from their hands-on role at Strasbourg. And Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis stepped back from any official role at the City Ground in April, to meet the Uefa requirements, when he hoped the East Midlanders would qualify for the Champions League alongside Greek side Olympiacos. Palace, though, did not make any changes to the ownership structure ahead of the Uefa deadline for next season - a situation complicated by Blitzer's ownership of Danish side Brondby, who qualified for the Conference League. And as Lyon finished sixth in Ligue 1, compared to Palace's 12th-placed ranking in the Prem, they take priority over the South East London side. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Despite that, the FA have backed the Eagles and Palace's cause was also aided by Textor's announcement that he is selling his Palace shares to New York Jets owner and former US ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson in a £190m deal. That sale still has to be cleared by the Premier League, although it is not expected to be held up. Crystal Palace could be KICKED OUT of Europa League before a ball is even kicked Textor now faces being ejected from the Lyon hotseat as well, with investment fund Ares, who loaned the US businessman £330m to fund his takeover in 2023, seeking to install new leadership. Lyon's relegation means they would not be nominated to take up their Europa League place, although the club are appealing against the decision of French football's financial regulator. But if Lyon were to win their appeal after being excluded from the official entry list, Nyon chiefs anticipate they are likely to apply to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to be reinstated. That would probably be at the expense of Strasbourg, who finished seventh in Ligue 1 and are expected to be nominated in Lyon's place. However, insiders anticipate that Palace would not be retrospectively prohibited from competing if Uefa has cleared their entry. Meanwhile, Irish side Drogheda has been expelled from the Uefa Conference League. This is due to multi-club ownership rules in a similar circumstance to Palace.
