Experts have long been warning that a sell-off of Brazilian talent is seriously damaging domestic football. Restoring "the beautiful game" will be difficult, if not impossible. Brazilian football has seen better days. The country's Olympic team failed to qualify for Paris 2024, while Brazil's full men's national team, the "Selecao," are languishing in sixth place in the South American World Cup qualifying standings. Utterly unacceptable for a team who have won a record five World Cups. On Saturday, Dorival Junior became the fifth man in the past two years to take his place in the Selecao's coaching zone — for their friendly against England at Wembley. It seems as if the record-breaking world champions have lost their footballing identity. Former Brazilian stiker Grafite, who led Wolfsburg to their sole Bundesliga title in 2009, told DW the  "jogo bonito" — the "beautiful game" for which former Brazilian stars such as the late Pele were admired — is no longer recognizable. "This type of Brazilian football no longer exists today," said Grafite, who, as an expert for Globo TV, is a keen observer of the development of football in his homeland. Several hundred transfers abroad annually It's not as though Grafite was the first to raise the alarm. After the 2014 World Cup when the Selecao were humbled 7-1 by the eventual world champions Germany in the semifinals, Mario Zagallo, a World Cup winner as both a player and coach, warned of a sell-out of home-grown talent. Zagallo warned that Brazilian football was in peril of losing its identity as a result. It's been around 20 years since a change in European law effectively made it easier for non-EU citizens to ply their trade in Europe. This sparked a wave of transactions that continues to this day. Brazil now loses hundreds of footballers to the rest of the world every year. "This affects the development of the identity of Brazilian soccer," historian David 'Dere' Gomes told DW. Gomes has been researching the history of football in Rio de Janeiro for years. The most talented players, those capable of deciding a game in the Brazilian way, are being deprived of the time needed to sufficiently develop their talent in their own country, Gomes said. The Brazilian way is, among other things, the spectacular dribbling that can lift fans out of their seats. It's a big part of the country's footballing identity. Top transfers not the only problem The focus is usually only on the top transfers of exceptional talents such as Vinicius Junior in 2018 or Endrick to Real Madrid last summer. However, the Brazilian league is constantly losing substance and quality, not just at the top of the talent pool. Many transfers go largely unnoticed. One could compare this to the exploitation of raw materials. The only difference is that it is not copper, oil or lithium that the rich industrialized countries are buying up, but footballing talent. "It's normal for Brazilian players to adapt to the style of European soccer, but Brazil hasn't kept pace," Grafite said. Footballers who play in Brazil have a different rhythm and speed than those who play in Europe, the now 44-year-old added. The game simply has a different dynamic overseas. These two identities then clash within the national team at a Copa America or a World Cup and lead to coordination problems. "This was quite evident at the last World Cup," Grafite noted.  In Qatar, at the end of 2022, Brazil were eliminated by Croatia in the quarterfinals. Premier League success at the expense of others The Premier League is currently considered the measure of all things in club football worldwide. "But how can the Premier League be the biggest league in the world if England has neither the best players nor a tradition of winning the World Cup?" asked historian Gomes rhetorically. "It only works by importing players," he answered. "Talent from Latin America and Africa. And Brazil is one of the biggest treasure troves for this talent. Imagine how strong a Brazilian football league would be if it had players who earn their money in England, like Douglas Luiz, Lucas Paqueta, Joao Gomes, Bruno Guimaraes, Richarlison — or in other European leagues, like Vinicius Junior or Rodrygo." Dere Gomes is well aware that with billions of euros changing hands every year, reversing this trend would be a very tall task indeed. "Building a strong league in Brazil would require good club management coupled with financial fair play," he said. "You'd also need to find a way of reducing the clubs' dependence on large revenues." And, he said, politics would also have an important role to play.

International women's football star Sam Kerr is facing trial in England after pleading not guilty to a racially aggravated offence against a London police officer, prosecutors said. The Chelsea striker and Australia captain was charged following an incident in January last year, when the Metropolitan Police said they were called to a dispute over a taxi fare. The 30-year-old Kerr, born to an Anglo-Indian father and Australian mother, is a treasured sporting figure in Australia and one of the most famous players in women's football. Australia's all-time leading scorer last year graced the cover of the FIFA video game alongside Kylian Mbappe. She is expected to face trial in February 2025. The charge, relating to "threatening, abusive or insulting" behaviour, can carry a fine or custodial sentence if proven. The alleged incident occurred before last year's World Cup, which was held in Australia and New Zealand, but was not publicly disclosed until now and appeared to take Australian football bosses by surprise. Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson said he had only found out about the allegation on Tuesday and was yet to speak to his skipper. "I was informed this morning and obviously I was surprised," he said. "I can't comment on the offence because it's a legal matter at this point. The only thing I can comment on is my experience and interaction with Sam as a person, and as a footballer. "And I have only had positive experiences," he said. Gustavsson said it was too early to say whether the allegation would rule Kerr out of selection for this summer's Paris Olympics. Kerr has been sidelined since January with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. "I think it's a bit too early to look at selection at this time and as we all know with Sam's serious injury in January, there's obviously a very big question mark whether she will even be up for selection," said Gustavsson. Very serious Football Australia CEO James Johnson called the allegation "unsettling" and "very serious". "We've got our own questions that we'd like to know. We've got to find out what actually happened," he said. "It's regarding racism, and there's no place for racism in our sport. At the same time. Sam has rights, natural justice rights, procedural rights, that she's going to work her way through and we're respectful of that." Former Australia men's team captain Craig Foster said the news was unexpected and distressing. "Racism is a very serious issue (not only) in sport. Let's acknowledge the rights of the other person involved and hope that February absolves Sam," he posted on X, formerly Twitter.  Pace, agility Kerr has been credited with helping drive the booming popularity of the women's game both in Australia and globally. She played Australian Rules football as a youngster and was convinced she would one day represent her beloved West Coast Eagles, like her elder brother. She switched to football aged 12 and made her full international debut against Italy in 2009, a precocious talent aged just 15 at the time. Known for her pace, agility and heading ability -- as well as her trademark backflip goal celebrations -- Kerr left for the United States in 2013. She went first to Western New York Flash, then Sky Blue FC in New Jersey and finally Chicago Red Stars. After moving to Chelsea in 2020, Kerr rose to a new level. The 2023 Ballon d'Or runner-up scored the only goal in Chelsea's 1-0 win over Manchester United in last season's FA Cup final. As her star has continued to rise over the years, Kerr has signed lucrative endorsement deals with the likes of Nike and Mastercard. She has scored 99 goals in 128 games in all competitions for Chelsea. In 2019, Kerr became the first Australian, man or woman, to score a hat-trick at a World Cup.   Source: BSS

Last year, Bangladesh national team's captain Jamal Bhuiyan signed an official contract with Argentine Club social y Deportivo Sol De Mayo which is a third division football club of Argentina.  Jamal was warmly welcomed by the Argentine team as the first Bangladeshi footballer. But this time the national team's captain has complained to FIFA against the club. Jamal's contract with Sol De Mayo was for one and a half seasons. Jamal has already played half a season for the team. According to the contract, the Bangladesh captain was supposed to get $ 12,000 per month. Jamal's notice to FIFA states that he has not received a month's salary from Sol de Mayo!

Legend Franz Beckenbauer, who left a unique imprint on German football as player, captain and coach, has died at the age of 78, the German football association said Monday (Jan 8).   "Beckenbauer was definitely the biggest German footballer of all time, and above all one of the greatest men who I have known," said DFB vice president Hans-Joachim Watzke. Beckenbauer, one of only three men to win the World Cup as player and as a coach, passed away Sunday. Former captain of the German team in the 1970s, Beckenbauer had in the last years been suffering from health problems and lived mostly withdrawn from the public eye in Salzburg, just across from the German border. Known in football-obsessed Germany as “Der Kaiser” meaning “the Emperor”, Beckenbauer played a central role in some of the country's greatest sporting achievements, but his legacy was later tarnished for his involvement in scandals surrounding Germany's successful bid to host the 2006 World Cup.  Born in Munich in 1945, Beckenbauer helped establish Bayern as his country's strongest club.  

One man, five World Cup finals. Mario Zagallo won it as a player and as Brazil's coach and later assistant coach. He stewarded the 1970 stars led by Pele, for many still the finest international side there ever was. Brazilian football legend Mario Zagallo died aged 92 on Friday, with the exact cause of death not immediately shared. Zagallo won two World Cups as a player, one as a coach and another as an assistant coach for Brazil.  He became the first person ever to win the World Cup both as a player and manager back in 1970, and has been revered among Brazilian football fans for generations.  Brazilian soccer confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement early on Saturday that Zagallo "is one of the biggest legends" of the sport. "We offer solidarity to his family members and fans in this moment of grief for the departure of this great hero of our soccer," Rodrigues said.   Many Brazilian clubs where Zagallo played and coached also expressed their sorrow for his death. A post on his Instagram page called him "a dedicated father, a loving grandfather, a caring father-in-law, a loyal friend, a victorious professional and a great human being." "A gigantic hero. A patriot that leaves us a legacy of great achievements," the post added. Long stint as player and coach As a young boy, Zagallo wanted to become an airline pilot but could not pursue that due to poor eyesight. He then decided to become a footballer, despite some opposition from his father. Zagallo was associated with nearly every major chapter in Brazil's football history. He began his career in the 1950s as a striker with Rio's America and later also played for Flamengo and Botafogo clubs. He played as the national team's forward in 1958 when it won the World Cup in Sweden, and also in 1962 in Chile.  He stopped playing professionally in 1965 and began his career as a manager with Rio de Janeiro club Botafogo in 1966.  Zagallo was Brazil's national team coach in 1970, becoming the first three-time champion and the first World Cup-winning player to then claim the trophy from the dugout. The star-studded team in Mexico that year included players like Pele, Jairzinho, Gerson, Roberto Rivellino and Tostao. Zagallo's side won the final comfortably with a 4-1 win over Italy, and is still frequently mentioned in discussions about the best or most dominant World Cup winners ever.   More than two decades later, Zagallo served as assistant coach to Carlos Alberto Parreira when Brazil won in 1994 in the US. And next time out, in 1998, Zagallo was back in charge as head coach, but  Brazil lost 3-0 to hosts France in the final. This also rounded out a record five trips to the World Cup final for one individual. His final coaching role with the national team was as Parreira's assistant in 2006 in Germany, where Brazil lost in the quarter finals. He was known for his unique personality and unapologetic nationalism.    Zagallo was known to be superstitious, and was fond of the number 13. He said it was his lucky number because it carried the last two digits of birth year, 1931. He got married on the 13th of the month, and once even joked he would retire from the game at 13:00 on July 13, 2013. He was also known for his repeated use of the phrase "You will have to put up with me," often used at his critics.

FIFA has provisionally suspended the Luis Rubiales, the head of Spain's national football association, almost a week after he kissed player Jenni Hermoso allegedly without her consent after the team won the Women's World Cup. "The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee... has decided today to provisionally suspend Mr Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level," FIFA said in a statement on Saturday. The action was taken to preserve "the fundamental rights" of Hermoso. FIFA also ordered Rubiales and the Spanish football federation not to contact Hermoso or those around her. The suspension period will initially last for 90 days, pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings that FIFA opened against Rubiales on Thursday. The Spanish football federation later said Rubiales would defend himself against the suspension. "Luis Rubiales has stated that he will legally defend himself in the competent bodies, he fully trusts FIFA and reiterates that, in this way, he is given the opportunity to begin his defense so that the truth prevails and his complete innocence is proven," the federation said in a statement. The entire women's team and many more players said the would no longer represent Spain until Rubiales steps down. Spanish football federation threatens legal action The suspension comes after the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) threatened to take legal action against Hermoso. In a statement published late on Friday, it said it would take "as many legal actions as necessary to defend the honor of the President of the RFEF." Rubiales meanwhile said this week that he considered himself the target of a "social assassination."  It said that it had attempted to contact Hermoso but was unsuccessful in receiving a response. "In a state governed by the rule of law, as [Rubiales] has argued, opinions are countered with facts and evidence and lies are refuted in court," it said. It did not specify what the legal action would consist of. The RFEF said that the federation would prove that claims that had been "spread either in [Hermoso's] name [...] or by the player herself" were "lies." In its statement, the federation published three photos and claimed they showed that Hermoso had lifted Rubiales up during a hug, meaning that the federation boss "could not exert any force." However, the photos were seemingly taken before Rubiales kissed Hermoso on the lips. Earlier, Hermoso said: "I want to make clear that, as was seen in the images, I did not at any point consent to the kiss he gave me and of course I definitely did not try to lift up [Rubiales]." The player also said that she felt "vulnerable and like the victim of an assault." RFEF had claimed that Hermoso said that the kiss was a "mutual gesture" between her and Rubiales, which the player later said was falsely attributed to her. "I won't tolerate anyone putting in doubt my word and even more so that anyone invents words that I did not say," she said. Spanish sports council demands Rubiales' suspension Spain's National Sports Council (CSD) submitted a request for the country's administrative court for sports (TAD) to suspend Rubiales over "unacceptable behavior." The council said that it considered that Rubiales had abused his authority and had committed public acts that had infringed on dignity or decorum in sports. "Both infringements are considered 'very serious,' which allows for the adoption of a measure of provisional suspension of Luis Rubiales as the president of the [RFEF]," it said in its petition. Rubiales on Friday refused to resign following broad condemnation of his conduct. FIFA has also launched its own proceedings against the Spanish football boss. "Mr Rubiales has not lived up to what was expected of him," CSD president Victor Francos said. "His reaction has disappointed us." Player's union calls for action, FIFA launches probe On Wednesday, the Spanish player's union, FUTPRO, issued a joint statement calling for action to be taken against Rubiales. The England women's team, who lost against Spain in the World Cup final, expressed their solidarity on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter, saying: "We all stand with you Jenni Hermoso and all players of the Spanish team." They also slammed the "Unacceptable actions allowed to happen by a sexist and patriarchal organisation. Abuse is abuse and we have all seen the truth." Meanwhile, the head of Germany's FC Bayern Munich Karl-Heinz Rummenigge defended Rubiales' behavior, saying it was "absolutely OK," comments for which he drew widespread condemnation. "When you become a world champion, you get emotional. And what he did there is, with all due respect, absolutely OK," he said, adding that he had "kissed men" when the team won the 2020 World Cup. On Saturday, German Bundesliga fans condemned both Rubiales' behaviour and Rummenigge's defense of him. During a match against Werder Bremen, Freiburg fans held held a banner that read: "A fist instead of a kiss for Rubiales and Rummenigge — sorry, with all due respect — absolutely OK." freiburg supporters also held another banner reflecting on the week-long saga. "Balance of power played out perfectly again," it read. "Women win the World Cup — everyone's talking about toxic masculinity."

Bangladesh football team captain Jamal Bhuyan signed a contract with an Argentine club named "Sol de Mayo". On Saturday, National Football team captain posted some photos of signing ceremony on his social media page, where he was seen with his jersey.  A day before he signed the contract, then he posted a video for his fans. According to that live video, Jamal was seen standing beside club officials in front of a table with a number of Bangladesh flags and his new jersey before signing the contract. “I came here to represent Bangladesh. I’m signing for Sol de Mayo today. I hope you follow me,” he told it for his fans. “Bangladesh is my love. As a Bangladeshi I’m really proud. I want to show my skills and performance. If I play well I hope two-three or more Bangladeshis would come and play here." he added.  The length of the new contract will be 15 months. Last season Jamal played for Bangladesh Premier League outfit Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra. 

Harry Kane has signed his contract with FC Bayern Munich, the German team announced on Friday and is expected to be eligible to play in the Supercup against RB Leipzig on Saturday.  The 30-year-old captain of the England national team signed a contract with the Bavarian club to stay there until 2027. The deal was preceded by long negotiations with Kane's hometown club Tottenham Hotspur.  "I am very happy to be able to be a part of FC Bayern now. FC Bayern is one of the biggest clubs in the world and I have always said that I want to compete and prove myself at the highest level in my career. FC Bayern is characterized by its winning culture — it feels very good to be here," Kane was quoted as saying in a press release.  In the hours before, fans and media had intensively followed Kane's movements on his way to Munich. After his somewhat delayed arrival at Oberpfaffenhofen airport near Munich, he completed his medical check and then arrived at the club's premises on Säbener Straße in the evening. Videos circulating on the internet showed Kane waving to Bayern fans from a window.  Kane now has become the first Bundesliga addition to receive a transfer fee of more than 100 million euros. His contract was expected to include a salary of €25 million in Munich. The transfer fee is expected to be around €115 million.  Warm welcomes from FC Bayern   Thomas Müller welcomed Harry Kane to the German champion team ahead of the expected announcement of his move to Bayern Munich. "What a blockbuster transfer for our FC Bayern," the 2014 World Cup winner wrote on his Instagram account, saying: "A warm welcome to @HarryKane at this point." "Welcome to Munich, Harry Kane! We are very happy about this new top-class acquisition. The transfer required tenacity, bite and perseverance — a big compliment to everyone involved at FC Bayern in these negotiations," said Bayern president Herbert Hainer. "Harry Kane will not only strengthen FC Bayern, but will also look good to the entire Bundesliga," he added. Jan-Christian Dreesen, Bayern's chief executive officer, said: "Our fans can look forward to one of the best goal scorers of our time."

4 women and the national women's football team have received Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Padak-2023 for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields. On August 8, Prime Minister  Sheikh Hasina today handed over the Award. The award giving ceremony organised by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs on the occasion of 93rd birth anniversary of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib.   The ceremony was held in Dhaka’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium. Who Gets the award Advocate Sahara Khatun (posthumous) in politics, Anima Mukti Gomes in education, Nasima Jaman Bobi in culture and sports, and Dr Senjuti Saha in research and national women football team got the award. In 2021, the prestigious award was introduced to commemorate the contribution of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib. Maximum five women and teams are given the award every year. 

4 women and the national women's football team have received Bangamata Fazilatunnesa Mujib Padak-2023 for their outstanding contributions to their respective fields. On August 8, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today handed over the Award. The award giving ceremony organised by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs on the occasion of 93rd birth anniversary of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib.   The ceremony was held in Dhaka’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium. Who Gets the award Advocate Sahara Khatun (posthumous) in politics, Anima Mukti Gomes in education, Nasima Jaman Bobi in culture and sports, and Dr Senjuti Saha in research and national women football team got the award. In 2021, the prestigious award was introduced to commemorate the contribution of Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib. Maximum five women and teams are given the award every year.