Latest News in the World of Sports: UEFA Champions League to expand from 32-36 teams from 2024.
The number of teams in the champions league will rise from 32 to 36 from the 2024-25 season under changes approved by UEFA. Under the new format, each team will play eight games over 10 match weeks. Two of the additional four places will be awarded on the basis of the highest performing countries in each individual season of UEFA club competition. UEFA president Alexander Ceferin said it meant “the dream to participate will remain for all clubs”. A previous proposal to award two Champions League places to clubs on the basis of their historic performance in European competition will not come into effect. Under that rejected proposal, those places would have been assigned on the basis of a club’s coefficient. Another change from the original plans has seen the number of games in the group phase increased from six to eight rather than a proposed 10. Ceferin said the new format had been approved unanimously by UEFA’S executive committee, with the agreement of Europe’s league bodies and national associations. He added: “Qualification will thus remain purely based on Sporting performance and the dream to participate will remain for all clubs.”
Manchester City reach agreement with Dortmund for the transfer of Haaland.
Erling Haaland will join Manchester City a permanent deal from Borussia Dortmund on July 1st, 2022. Manchester City have confirmed that Erling Haaland will be joining them in the summer transfer window, with the reigning Premier League champions agreeing to pay the £64 million fee that will trigger a release clause in the striker’s contract at Borussia Dortmund. The prolific Norway international has been attracting interest from leading sides across Europe since he burst into a champions league scene at Red Bull Salzburg in 2019, with the decision taken to head for Germany during the January window of that campaign. A remarkable strike rate has been maintained at Dortmund, with 85 goals recorded through 88 appearances and the 21 year old’s stunning skill set will now be added to star-studded ranks working under Pep Guardiola at the ETIHAD stadium. City have announced the signing of Haaland in a statement via their official website, which reads; “Manchester City can confirm we have reached an agreement in principle with Borussia Dortmund for the transfer of striker Erling Haaland to the club on 1st July 2022. “The transfer remains subject to the Club finalising terms with the player”.
Tennis.
Emma Raducanu retires injured against Bianca Andreescu in Italian Open.
British number one Emma Raducanu was forced to retire from her Italian Open first-round match when she was again hampered by a back injury. Raducanu has been managing the issue in recent weeks but, after needing off-court treatment, could not continue against Canada’s Brianca Andreecu. The 19 year old trailed 6-2 2-1 in Rome when she decided to stop. It is the latest in a series of niggles that have dogged the US Open champion in her first full year on the WTA Tour. “I was definitely disappointed with how today went, but I guess I wanted to give it a try,” Raducanu said. “I never really knew how bad it was until I kind of went out there. I’m still learning when it’s right to push my body and push through it and when it’s not. I guess that’s something I’m learning at these tournaments. “After Madrid, I thought that maybe taking one, two days off, it would just go away because a lot of the other small niggles I’ve had, they’ve kind of gone away after taking two days off.” Raducanu, ranked 12th in the world, will be hoping the injury improves before the French Open starts. The clay-court Grand Slam begins on 22 May and Raducanu will be playing in the main draw for the first time.
Gab Ellison Reporting for undaunted-ABC AMBA NEWS
