"Punished a girl who has had friend," then apologizes to the message!

A boy sent his wife to an emoji 'sad' WhatsApp, after allegedly raping her.

Ryan Falconer, 24, is accused of raping the complainant, a 21-year-old, in her parents' home in Bradford.

According to foreign media, the two met and had struck up a friendship a few years ago, and often talk with each other in WhatsApp.

Despite that Falconer has been in a relationship and had a little boy, he often sent suggestive messages 20-year-old, asking her to send him nude photos and to give him oral sex.

Although she had ever returned messages, it usually had "refused" because she loved him and not considered only as a friend.

And on the evening of May 16 last year, she had invited Falconer in her home where she lived with her parents.

As was stated in court, followed Telegraph, he arrived there about 8:45 and the two went into the girl's bedroom, where the alleged rape occurred, adding that Falconer had sex with the girl, although she refused.

She told the court that he had not asked for help, because "just froze" and did not want "someone to see rape".

She then sent a message in WhatsApp Falconer saying "I told you not to do, but you did it anyway." And he answered: "I'm sorry, (".

But Falconer has denied rape and sexual assault, and insists that the sex was consensual.

The trial, which is expected to end this week, continues./ShikoNews

Guardiola hails clinical hat-trick hero Aguero

Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola praised Sergio Aguero's natural goalscoring ability after his hat-trick on Wednesday helped defeat Borussia Moenchengladbach 4-0 in their opening Champions League Group C match at the Etihad Stadium.

Aguero opened the scoring on eight minutes with a clinical finish and added a second just before the half-hour mark from the penalty spot.

The Argentina striker netted his ninth goal in five games this season when he slotted past visiting keeper Yann Sommer in the 77th minute.

Guardiola, who joined City in the close season from Bayern Munich, refused to take any credit for Aguero's blistering start to the campaign, but said he is encouraging the striker to work hand in hand with his team mates.

"Sergio is good because he is good. He was good with (former City manager) Manuel (Pellegrini) and he is good with the national team," Guardiola told reporters.

"He just has a talent to score goals that is natural, I cannot teach him that.

"What I can tell him is there is a team behind him that is going to help him. I want to convince him to help them and if it happens in that way he's going to score a lot of goals, just like Kele (Kelechi Iheanacho) and all our strikers."

Guardiola was thrilled with the cultured debut in midfield of Ilkay Gundogan, who was the Spaniard's first signing for City but was making his first appearance after suffering a dislocated knee.

Gundogan replaced David Silva in City's starting lineup.

"That shows how good he is, to play like that after three or four months out. We spoke with him (before the game) and he said 'I am ready'," said Guardiola, who added that Spain playmaker Silva has a minor injury and may not be fit for Saturday's Premier League game against Bournemouth.

"He is so intelligent, he knew how to control his efforts. I thought he wasn't ready to play 90 minutes but he did it because he is so intelligent. He doesn't lose the ball, he can arrive in the box, he has quality in both feet."/ShikoNews

Conte's Chelsea get early chance to top Premier League

The Premier League table has returned to familiar type after last season's delightful anomaly featuring Leicester City, with Manchester City and Chelsea now setting the pace and Manchester United back in the top four.

Between them, those three teams have won the title in 11 out of the past 12 campaigns and are already marked out as favourites to contest the title this time round too.

Antonio Conte's Chelsea have an early chance to set the weekend pace with the Friday night visit of Juergen Klopp's Liverpool, who return to London for the third time in five games after winning at Arsenal and drawing with Tottenham Hotspur.

Stamford Bridge will be the backdrop to an intriguing subplot involving two of the most excitable managers in the league and goals should trigger wild celebrations on the touchline.

On their day, Klopp's side are a match for the 'big three' and arrive on the back of the 4-1 demolition of last season's champions, Leicester. Although he did not score at Anfield, Daniel Sturridge looked back to his best and produced a stunning assist to set up Sadio Mane.

Not surprisingly, Klopp is looking for more of the same. Asked on Wednesday how they would reach the same high pitch, the German said it was a case of "staying greedy".

"The movements were brilliant. Daniel was involved in three or four goals. For the first one, it was a brilliant run," he added.

Liverpool know they must nullify the threat of Diego Costa, who has scored four goals in as many Premier League games, but the Brazilian Oscar has been almost as influential in Chelsea's strong start.

Statistics released this week by oulala.com show that since being handed a more deep-lying role by Conte, Oscar has made more successful passes and tackles and created more chances than in any of his four previous seasons with the Londoners.

Victory would only put Chelsea top for less than 24 hours should Manchester City, still defending a 100 percent record since Pep Guardiola took the reins, then defeat Bournemouth, a team they have never lost to, at the Etihad on Saturday.

Everton sit just behind Chelsea in third place and will be favourites to pick up another three points against Middlesbrough, particularly now that Romelu Lukaku, who scored a hat-trick against Sunderland on Monday, is back among the goals.

At 35, Everton's Gareth Barry is expected to become only the third player to play 600 Premier League games, with only Frank Lampard (609) and Ryan Giggs (632) ahead of him.

Leicester will hope their debut Champions League victory in Bruges in midweek will give them impetus to push their way back up the table after a poor start to their title defence as they entertain promoted Burnley.

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will be looking for an early response from his players, whom he felt lacked the right mentality to win last week's Manchester derby.

A trip to Watford, who were buoyed by last week's stirring comeback win at West Ham United, will test their mettle.

Stoke City's Mark Hughes and West Bromwich Albion's Tony Pulis are the managers most in need of wins, against Crystal Palace and West Ham respectively, as early-season pressure begins to build./ShikoNews

Mourinho: United's league bid tougher due to Europa League

Manchester United's chances of winning the Premier League could be hindered by their Europa League campaign, manager Jose Mourinho has said.

United face Dutch league leaders Feyenoord in their opening group game in Europe's second-tier competition on Thursday, with Mourinho opting to rest the likes of captain Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia and Luke Shaw for the trip to Rotterdam.

The Portuguese, who lifted the trophy with Porto in 2003 when it was the UEFA Cup, said the congested fixture list was not ideal for his side to challenge for their 21st English league title.

"It's more difficult, yes (to win the Premier League when you are playing in the Europa League)," Mourinho told reporters.

"It would be better if we had the privilege of playing on a Monday after a Thursday game to have one day (recovery) but we didn't get that privilege.

"In fact, the gift we have is to play Liverpool on the Monday before, not the Monday after. So (next month) we play Liverpool on the Monday, Fenerbahce on the Thursday and Chelsea on the Sunday.

"So we know that we are not going to have any kind of support on that."

United missed out on a Champions League spot after finishing fifth in the league last season, and the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager said that the three-time European champions would respect the Europa League.

"It is not a competition that United wants. It is not one I want or the players want but it is a competition where we are and that is the reality," Mourinho added.

"I think you can see by our selection that we come to respect our opponent and we come to win the game. We want to win the competition."/ShikoNews

Sampaoli: Sevilla played a great game given the opponent and stage we're at

After a credible 0-0 draw against Juventus in Italy, Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli was extremely happy with the performance of his side given it was arguably their toughest Champions League Group H game.

Playing in a more conservative way than is usual with Franco Vazquez isolated for most of the game, and the Rojiblancos registering one shot on target during the 90 minutes, Sampaoli had warned that his team can adapt to different opponents and situations.

"Against the team we were playing, we didn't do ourselves a disservice," Sampaoli told the press. "We played with a high intensity. We had control of play but without much to show for it.

"The point is worth a lot to us, but so is how it was earned. The truth is that the value of this result will be seen at the end of the group stage.

"We defended like every ball was our last. The changes made at the beginning of the game were to minimise the workload on our players."

Goalkeeper Sergio Rico made a number of excellent saves throughout, particularly at the death when he denied Alex Sandro with his outstretched hand.

"He [Rico] was very mature, confident with his feet and calm," the coach went on. "He made a very important save at the end and encapsulated the strength of the team."/ShikoNews

Allegri: Juventus would have beaten Sevilla on another night

Despite a poor display against Sevilla at the Juventus Stadium, Bianconeri coach Massimiliano Allegri felt his side could have easily won the game on another night, and urged fans not to get depressed with the 0-0 result.

Juventus had won each of their last 21 games at home, yet failed to create the number of chances a team with the likes of Paulo Dybala, Miralem Pjanic and Gonzalo Higuain should.

"The performance was good," Allegri told the press. "In the first half we tried hard, but when trying to get the ball back, we struggled.

"We pressed a lot at the start then fell away in the second half, and we must work to improve on that.

"I'm sorry the score was only 0-0 as everyone expected a 3-0 win. In Europe you have to stay calm, but here you can go from euphoria to depression, and they didn't even have a shot on target."

When pressed on who exactly goes from euphoria to depression whether that be the fans, players or press, Allegri became irate and defended the showing of his team and played down expectations after Juventus spent over 150 million in the summer.

"Juventus haven't won the Champions League for 20 years," he went on. "We have had an excellent transfer window, but because we have spent a lot, it doesn't mean we will win all the time.

"There were seven excellent chances, which we would normally have scored, and as a result won the game.

"The team shouldn't be disappointed with this performance, or the result. It is the first time we haven't won the opening game [in the Champions League] which might be a good thing."/ShikoNews

Rooney rested for Feyenoord clash in Europa League

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been rested for Thursday's Europa League clash with Feyenoord, manager Jose Mourinho said on Wednesday.

Rooney has played in all of United's Premier League games this season and also captained England in their World Cup qualifying win over Slovakia earlier this month.

Mourinho said he wanted to keep his 30-year-old captain Rooney fresh for Sunday's league game at Watford.

"He (Rooney) has played every game since the start of the season. He has also played 90 minutes for the England team," Mourinho said.

"I want him to be fresh for the next Premier League match. In the position he plays, I have lots of solutions and people that it has been really hard to have a chance."

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard, who were taken off in the first half of United's 2-1 defeat by Manchester City in the league on Saturday, have also missed out on the trip to Rotterdam.

Timothy Fosu-Mensah was included in the squad as key defenders Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia were also left out.

Mourinho said striker Marcus Rashford would start for the first time this season while Memphis Depay, Ashley Young and Michael Carrick have also been included in the 20-man squad./ShikoNews

Alderweireld hails Simeone influence

Although the 2013/14 season was a memorable one for both Atletico Madrid and Toby Alderweireld, the defender failed to make a great impression at the LaLiga champions, and yet the Belgian claims to have learned a lot during his stay in Spain.

After being awarded a league winners' medal and appearing in the Champions League final, Alderweireld looks back fondly on his time working under Diego Simeone.

"It was a privilege to work with Simeone, he taught me a lot," the centre-back told.

"I was very happy at Atletico, I did not play much but I was always ready. I would have preferred to participate more, yet I was certainly part of the team.

"We managed to win LaLiga and I played in the Champions League final, and although we lost it was a great experience and I was very proud."

Having achieved success in England with Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, the defender is happy to be settled into Premier League life.

"After the season in Madrid I needed to play and prove myself at the highest level" explained Alderweireld.

"In Southampton things went well and it became clear I could sign for Spurs, many others were interested but I was clear in my intentions.

"I became a better player [in LaLiga] but the Premier League is fantastic and I'm happy. You never know [about a return to Spain]."

Next up for Alderweireld his first Champions League outing since that night in Lisbon, as Spurs face Monaco at Wembley Stadium to kick off their Group E campaign./ShikoNews

Klopp expects tough challenge at resurgent Chelsea

Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp enjoyed the first win of his Premier League career at a stumbling Chelsea last October but expects a much tougher challenge when his side return to Stamford Bridge on Friday.

Liverpool have been buoyed by the 4-1 thrashing of Premier League champions Leicester City last weekend but Chelsea now have Italian Antonio Conte in charge and have made a strong start after last year's slump.

"I'm very excited, games against Chelsea are always special things in the Premier League," said the German, whose team won 3-1 in west London last year with Philippe Coutinho scoring twice.

"They're a strong side and in a good moment. They're competitive, physically strong (and have) learned from the experience of last year.

"Last season was not a Chelsea season, obviously, and now they are back on track and that's how it is and so we need to be ready for a real challenge."

Former Juventus and Italy coach Conte, dubbed the 'Pep Guardiola of Turin' by Klopp, joined Chelsea after Euro 2016 and has led the former champions to three wins in four league games this season putting them second in the table.

The Italian, like Klopp, has become renowned for his goal celebrations and in his case also volcanic eruptions even at near-misses.

"I don't know Antonio well enough to say why, but he looks quite emotional when they don't score," said Klopp, who last weekend urged his own supporters to stop chanting his name until the game was over.

The German was confident Liverpool, who are three points behind Chelsea in sixth place, could surprise Conte's side but said there would be plenty of mutual respect.

"We have a challenge and we want to go there and create real problems for them," he told a news conference. "I feel good when I think about it. That doesn't mean anything, unfortunately, but I'm looking forward to it."

Liverpool's Croatia defender Dejan Lovren will return to the squad after missing the Leicester game with a bruised eye but midfielder Emre Can is still returning to fitness after an ankle injury sustained in August.

"Emre is not injured any more, which is good, but now he needs to train, so that's how it is," said Klopp./ShikoNews

Emery: PSG on the right path despite slow start

Paris St Germain's 1-1 home draw with Arsenal is not the kind of result they wanted in their Champions League opener but coach Unai Emery is confident his team are on the right path despite their stuttering start to the season.

The former Sevilla coach took over from Laurent Blanc in the close season as the French champions hope to get past the quarter-finals in Europe's premium club competition after four successive exits at that stage but PSG have yet to shine.

They started brilliantly against Arsenal with Edinson Cavani scoring after 44 seconds but the Uruguay striker wasted several other chances the visitors eventually equalised through Alexis Sanchez in the 78th minute of the Group A clash.

"I am happy with the work of the team," said Emery, who led Sevilla to three successive Europa League titles. "I want all our players to play the way we did today. The players ran, worked, made good use of the ball."

It was probably a veiled reference to forward Hatem Ben Arfa, whose defensive work has not been sufficient and who was left out of the squad for Tuesday's game at Parc des Princes.

"I hope we will do better next time but we are on the right path. It's the team that I want, a team with guts."

Emery has made many changes to his starting team in four games in Ligue 1, where PSG have managed just seven points, and he made more alterations on Tuesday, notably replacing ever-present goalkeeper Kevin Trapp with Alphonse Areola.

In the first half, PSG were all over Arsenal, pressing high, looking solid and creating chances, unlike in their first league outings. "It's the game that gives us an identity," said Emery.

But PSG have to solve their finishing problems after Cavani missed a couple of sitters that would have killed off Arsenal.

Emery believes the Uruguayan just needs more confidence, having lived in the shadow of Swedish talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who left for Manchester United this season.

"He's creating chances. It's the first step. Then, with confidence and hard work, he's going to score goals," he said.

PSG's next Champions League game is away to Bulgarian champions Ludogorets on Sept. 28 while they visit Caen in Ligue 1 on Friday hoping to move up from seventh place./ShikoNews

BREAKING NEWS: Police mistakenly kills a 13-year-old had air pistol

Police officers in Ohio hit a 13-year-old boy after he drew a gun from the band, which later turned out to be air pistol, American media reported today.

The incident occurred after police received a call that there was an armed robbery in the robbery involved several people, reports lajmi.net.

When police arrived at the scene, the person who reported the robbery told them that they were a group of men and one gun were also members.

A police officer said he saw three men who appeared in accordance with the description of the suspects and that they tried to take them into custody, but they tried to flee.

"The officers attempted to take the suspect into custody, but one of the suspects tried to pull the gun from generation," police said in a statement

And then a policeman fired bullets suspect notify statement.

The suspect was later identified as 13-year-old Tyree King, and he was transferred to Children's Hospital, but later died of his wounds.


Police investigations revealed that the boy had a armer, air pistol with laser beam./ShikoNews

Arsenal's Giroud blames Verratti for sending off in PSG draw

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has blamed Paris St Germain midfielder Marco Verratti for tricking the referee after they were both sent off in Tuesday's 1-1 Champions League draw.

Giroud, who was a second-half substitute, and Verratti were each shown a second yellow card by Hungarian official Viktor Kassai following an off-the-ball incident in stoppage time.

The Frenchman also said PSG defender Marquinhos pushed him during the incident at the Parc des Princes.

"I'd already been booked so didn't want to make trouble. I made a small challenge on Verratti but he threw himself on to the ground," Giroud said.

"I didn't understand, so I asked him: 'What are you doing? Then he got up quickly and Marquinhos pushed me from behind. I don't know how Verratti fell over a second time."

"I didn't go looking for trouble so it's frustrating. I think that the referee was tricked. Verratti was also on a yellow, so I was surprised by his behaviour," Giroud added.

The France striker will miss Arsenal's next Group A game at home to FC Basel on Sept. 28, while Verratti will be sidelined for PSG's match away to Bulgarian champions Ludogorets./ShikoNews

Ceferin: Cristiano Ronaldo's battle with Messi is good for football

The successor to Michel Platini at the president's desk in UEFA's Nyon office has been confirmed as Slovenian Aleksander Ceferin.

Winning by 42 votes to 13, the 48-year-old has fought off competition from the likes of Dutch FA head Michel Van Praag and now the unassuming lawyer has the biggest job in European football.

MARCA sat down to chat with the new UEFA president.

Why did you want to become UEFA president?

"I think I can do important things for football. I'm not here for revolution, not even close, but I think football needs an evolution. When some presidents of the domestic FAs told me that UEFA needed changes, I thought it was time to help football. I can do that."

What is your opinion of Michel Platini?

"He was a good president, doing many good things for football such as solidarity and bringing football to all countries. I am a lawyer and will not go over what's happened [with his suspension]. He was a very charismatic president."

What do you think of Angel Maria Villar, your rival until the last week of elections?

"I respect Villar, a person who has been fighting for football for many years. He took the UEFA presidency [as acting president] at a difficult time and has done well. I never criticised or belittled him when he wanted to stay."

How will your evolution take shape?

"UEFA will bring together the federations, as they need to play a more important role. We must limit the number of mandates; for example 24 teams in the European Championship is nice but having more than one country as a host leads to unnecessary travel. There is no sense there so from 2024 I will change it."

"I do not like that small countries find it harder to reach the Champions League, that's not fair, and communication has been lacking in these changes."

Are you not surprised that Slovenia send less teams to European football?

"We're a small country but can get results. We have no problems with anyone and are well placed."

Who's your team?

"The Slovenian national team. My club was Hadjuk Split when Slovenia was Yugoslavia, but they're now Croatian. I'm more about the players than the teams."

For example?

"Ronaldo Nazario. He's the best, awesome."

And today, is the best Ronaldo or Messi?

"They're both good for football, one has certain things better than the other. Ronaldo is pure power, strength, determination, whereas Messi is more of an artist. Who is better? It's the same as question for Real Madrid or Barcelona. They're both good for world football."

Do you mind Spain's domination of European football?

"It only bothers me when Atletico and [Slovenian goalkeeper, Jan] Oblak don't win (laughs). If you are the best, then you win."/ShikoNews

Wenger: Ospina to retain Arsenal place after PSG heroics

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger suggested that David Ospina will retain his place in the team's next Champions League clash following the goalkeeper's heroics in Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Paris St Germain.

Ospina, who made his first appearance for the Premier League club this season, pulled off a string of fine saves to thwart the French champions at the Parc des Princes.

Wenger said Colombian Ospina, who made an error in Arsenal's Champions League defeat by Olympiakos Piraeus last season, has silenced his critics.

"He showed his detractors, those who doubted him, that he is a very good goalkeeper. Last year he made a mistake in the Champions League and everyone jumped all over him," Wenger told British media.

"On what he delivered, he has the right to stay in the team for the next Champions League game."

Opsina played just four league games last season, with Petr Cech the first-choice in goal since joining from Chelsea last June.

Wenger expected Ospina to feature more for the club this season.

"He showed what he's about. I have two world-class goalkeepers. I can give them both games. If they do not play, you can't keep two world-class goalkeepers. We have a rule that the keepers know," Wenger added.

"It's important to have clear rules like that. They know what the rules are for the season. It's down to performances."

Arsenal will host Basel on Sept. 28 in their next Group A Champions League game./ShikoNews

German FA boss condemns Beckenbauer's 2006 sponsor payment

Germany's Football Association (DFB) President Reinhard Grindel sharply criticised Franz Beckenbauer on Wednesday over payment from a sponsor of the 2006 World Cup the football great had headed.

Beckenbauer, who led the organising committee for the World Cup in Germany and had said he had done the work on a voluntary basis, received 5.5 million euros (4.66 million pounds) from a deal involving event sponsor Oddset.

He had not been paid directly by betting company Oddset but through the DFB as part of a deal that was only revealed on Tuesday.

"It was known that Franz Beckenbauer had been active in advertising for Oddset during the 2006 World Cup. It was not known to us that he received the noteworthy sum of 5.5 million euros out of the organising committee pot," Grindel told reporters.

"With this background one can certainly not claim that his activities within the organising committee were on a volunteer basis," Grindel, speaking on the sidelines of a UEFA meeting in the Greek capital, said.

Beckenbauer, who also faces a criminal investigation over the awarding of the World Cup, has not been available for comment.

The former World Cup winning coach and player appeared in adverts for Oddset during the tournament but had always insisted his work for the organising committee was unpaid.

Grindel took over in April following the resignation of his predecessor Wolfgang Niersbach late last year over another World Cup 2006 scandal.

"For me it is incomprehensible why the organising committee insisted on that for so long," Grindel said.

"For me this frustrating issue is more proof the organising committee of the World Cup wanted to block out things, that there was no transparency there and that the public was partly misled. I condemn that."

Beckenbauer is already under investigation by Swiss authorities, who have opened criminal proceedings against him and two former presidents of the DFB in connection with its successful bid for that World Cup.

The Swiss Attorney General's office said the proceedings relate to allegations of fraud, criminal mismanagement, money laundering and misappropriation.

Earlier this year, the DFB commissioned a report into alleged irregularities over the awarding of the World Cup.

The report, published in March, said that, while there was no evidence of Germany paying world football's governing body FIFA members in return for votes, payments were made to at least one former FIFA official.

These were made through a web of accounts involving several other firms or individuals, including Beckenbauer.

Beckenbauer, who captained West Germany to the 1974 World Cup title and was coach when they won again in 1990, has previously admitted to making mistakes but has repeatedly denied wrongdoing./ShikoNews

Wenger lauds Arsenal's resilience after Paris revival

Manager Arsene Wenger hailed Arsenal's resilience after they recovered from a dreadful start to draw 1-1 at Paris St Germain in their Champions League Group A opener on Tuesday.

Edinson Cavani netted for PSG after 44 seconds and had the Uruguay striker not been wasteful in front of goal, the home team would have finished the Londoners off before the break.

Arsenal improved as the game went on and equalised with one of their few chances when Alexis Sanchez fired home 13 minutes from time.

"We did not start so well and ... could have conceded a second goal on several occasions but we stayed in the game mentally," Wenger told reporters. "To our credit we came out strong in the second half.

"We also benefited from the fact PSG were not as good in the second half. In the first half we were drowning.

"When you start so badly against a team with such qualities, if you have no experience you can be caught out. But we did not panic, we showed resilience and it's linked to experience."

PSG coach Unai Emery, who has had a tough start since taking over from Laurent Blanc in the close season, was satisfied with him players.

"It's not the best result but I'm happy with the game my team played. We deserved to win, having had seven clear chances," Emery said.

PSG took one point from their previous two Ligue 1 games but looked better against Arsenal.

"The fact that we created those chances is the most important thing for me," Emery said.

"I have full confidence in Edinson. He presses well, the whole team must trust him."/ShikoNews

Slovenia's Ceferin elected as UEFA president

Slovenian football boss Aleksander Ceferin was elected as the new head of European football's governing body UEFA at an extraordinary Congress on Wednesday.

Ceferin, 48, beat Dutchman Michael van Praag, the only other candidate, by 42 votes to 13 and will succeed Frenchman Michel Platini, who resigned in May after being banned from football for four years for ethics violations.

Ceferin, who is not a member of UEFA's executive committee, was little known outside his own country until he announced his intention to run in June.

"I am not a showman, I have no ego issues and I am not a man of unrealistic promises," he told delegates before the vote. Each of UEFA's 55 member associations had one vote in the election. He added that the "wind of change" was blowing through European football.

Both candidates had promised to help the smaller countries and leagues in the face of a growing divide between a handful of rich clubs and everyone else

Both agreed that the process which led to last month's reformulation of the Champions League in favour of clubs from big countries was flawed and said they would fight any attempt to set up a breakaway Super League.

Ceferin did not say, however, whether he would review the decision.

The Slovenian did say though that he would look again at the new structure of the European Championship, with matches spread across several countries leading to semi-finals and final in one place, which comes into place in 2020 and was the brainchild of Platini.

"It's a great honour but at the same time a great responsibility," said Ceferin after the decision was announced by acting president Angel Maria Villar.

"My small and beautiful Slovenia is very proud about it and I hope that one day you will also be very proud about it."

Van Praag said: "Alex and myself have the same goal, look at our programmes. He wanted to do it his way and I wanted to do it my way and today democracy has spoken."/ShikoNews

Platini says he has done nothing wrong in UEFA farewell speech

Disgraced former UEFA president Michel Platini insisted he had done nothing wrong and said his conscience was clear as he gave a farewell speech to European football's governing body at their extraordinary Congress on Wednesday.

The Frenchman, who resigned in May after being banned for from the sport for four years for ethics violations, was given a round of applause by the delegates but did not get a standing ovation.

"Thank you. Thank you for these nine years. I think we did a great job... Friends of football, farewell," said Platini, who was first elected in 2007, at the end of his seven-minute speech.

His replacement will be Slovenia's Aleksander Ceferin, who beat Dutchman Michael van Praag.

Despite Platini's ban, FIFA's ethics committee said an exception had been made for the event as a "gesture of humanity."

"It's very emotional for me to be here but I'm also delighted to be here because this will be my last speech to a UEFA Congress," Platini began.

"You are going to continue this wonderful mission without me for reasons I don't want to go into today.

"I have a clear conscience, I am certain not to have made any mistake and will continue to fight this in the courts."

One of the finest players of his generation who went on to become a powerful sporting official, Platini was suspended over his dealings with fallen world football chief Sepp Blatter during the scandal which shook the sport's global governing body last year.

Platini was banished along with Blatter over a payment of two million Swiss francs (1.57 million pounds) made to the Frenchman by FIFA with Blatter's approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier.

Platini said that football was "a game rather than a product, a sport rather than a market, a show not a business."

"There isn't one football for large nations and one for small nations, there is a single football, a single sport, it doesn't belong to FIFA or UEFA, it belongs to the whole world," he said.

"That is why I wanted to come today to say thank you and, friends of football, farewell."/ShikoNews

Europe to rally against Spanish dominance

Champions League football kicks off again on Tuesday night and 28 of the 32 teams involved have one common objective: to put an end to the Spanish dominance.

LaLiga has had a monopoly on European success over the past few seasons, having produced half of the Champions League semi-finalists in the past five seasons, half of the finalists in that time, and the past three winners.

Spooling back to consider the previous decade, the Iberian Peninsula nation's dominance was not quite as complete, but it is true that half of the past ten winners have been Spanish.

That's not to mention the success of Sevilla in the Europa League, a team which qualifies for the premier tournament this campaign, having defeated Liverpool in last season's Europa League final.

As such, there are four Spanish teams in the group stages - although there could have been five had Villarreal won their play-off qualifier with Monaco.

The Yellow Submarine miss out, along with other historic names such as Manchester United, Chelsea, Inter and AC Milan, while the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic return.

Ultimately, however, there are only seven clear contenders for next May's glory: Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico will be looking to bring the trophy back to Spain, while Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Juventus are also in the mix.

From Tuesday onwards we'll see if the rest of Europe can prize the trophy away from Spanish football's tight grasp, as we saw happen several times in MARCA's look back at the 25 greatest Champions League moments./ShikoNews

The Champions League is back!

Alfredo Di Stefano, a member of that all-conquering side, always claimed that the playing field was more levelled during the competition's early days, when it was restricted only to the champions of a country's respective top league. The traditional knock-out format also ensured that there was minimal room for error due to the risk of elimination in the two-legged play-off.

Real has since extended their domination to a record-breaking 11 titles, including two of the last three finals as they and Barcelona have seen LaLiga dominate the competition. Los Blancos' most recent triumphs were also all-Spanish finals with Atletico Madrid providing the opposition on both occasions, in 2014 and 2016.
The Champions League in numbers
16 titles and 11 runners-up Spanish teams have achieved more in the competition than the rest of Europe combined.
1.3 billion euros.Those competing in the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup have the chance to win part of a bumper 1.3 billion euros prize fund. Winners of the competition can earn up to 56.7m.
158 matchesIker Casillas currently holds the all-time record for appearances. Behind him stand Xavi (157), Ryan Giggs (151), Raul (144), Paolo Maldini (140) and Cristiano Ronaldo (131).

Spain's grip on the Champions League is undisputable; with 16 trophies won and 11 runners-up, while the competition's three highest scorers - Cristiano Ronaldo (94), Lionel Messi (93) and Raul (71) - all belong to LaLiga. The same can be said of its record appearance holders in Iker Casillas (158) and Xavi (157) while Real's total of 47 seasons in the competition outstrip those of Bayern Munich (33) and Barcelona (27).

Problems retaining the title

Successful defences of the Champions League, however, have become easier said than done since the competition's advent in the 1992/93 campaign. Despite Real and Barcelona becoming the leaders of the tournament, with a combined seven titles between them, neither has managed to achieve the feat since Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan retained their title in the 1989/90 season.

That hoodoo threatens to loom over Real's hopes of securing a third European crown in four years by reaching this season's final at Cardiff's Milennium Stadium.

Increased prize money

The rewards associated with the competition will also increase this season with 1.3 billion euros set to be distributed to those vying in the Champions League thanks to increased broadcast revenues.

Providing they can top the group stages, the eventual winners can reap as much as 56.7m euros - 2.5m on last season - in revenue. The 32 clubs taking part in the group stages can expect to receive up to 12.7m euros from participating, equating to 1.5m per win and half that figure for a draw. Reaching the knock-out stage is worth 6m euros per club, with the figure rising to 6.5m for quarter-finals, 7.5m for the semi-final while the winners receive 15.5m and 11m goes to the runners-up.

Shares of the 507m euro revenue from broadcasting is distributed among participants in relation to the TV audience of clubs in the competition.

Half will be split on the league positioning which allowed the club to qualify for the Champions League and the other half dependent on the number of matches in which they participated.
LaLiga trio among favourites

Real, Barcelona and Atletico are among this season's favourites alongside the likes of Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus.

Fellow LaLiga rivals and Europa League holders Sevilla, Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal and Napoli all find themselves in the second tier of the competition's expectations.

But the greatest challenge to Spain's current dominance lies in Bayern, now under the tutelage of former Real coach Carlo Ancelotti and armed with the arrival of Renato Sanches to strengthen an already formidable attacking line.

Juventus, too, have strengthened with the captures of Gonzalo Higuain, Dani Alves and Miralem Pjanic while Pep Guardiola's appointment at City will see the two-time Champions League winner attempt to add a third to his CV./ShikoNews

Shocking story: Raped every day for seven years, 23 hours a day spent in the wood box!

Stan Coleen was 20 years old when he was abducted in May 1977 by Cameron Hooker and his wife, Janice, to be sent to their home in northern California. 

It was held as a sex slave by the couple for years and was closed for 23 hours a day in a wooden box. From there it leaves only when raped.

"I thought I would die," said Stan, now 59 years old, as he was interviewed for the film that is realized based on her life.

She told People magazine that when he had first met the couple who was traveling, they behave very well with him and with him were a child. But half an hour later, Hooker had stopped the car and threatened him with a knife forced to get into a box.


After this moment, her life would be like never before. She was raped every day, connected with chains and torture for seven years - until he managed to escape from the country in 1984.

Hooker had beaten him in the beginning after objections that it did, and every day he had remembered that if she was telling someone would kill her and her family. She even went to meet her family, but was too scared to tell what was happening to him, the family had thought he had joined a cult special kind.

Stan said that trying to stay focused and think about the good things and happy moments, in order to escape from the ugly reality of her life.

"I learned to go everywhere with my mind. Just remove yourself from the situation with the real mind and go where I wanted, "she said.


After Stan managed to escape from her captors, Hooker was sentenced to 104 years in prison, and his wife won immunity since testified against him. Since that time, Stan was treated with various therapies and now years later it is grandma.

"Thirty years have passed, I am better, I am healed, I have a better life," said AJ./ShikoNews

Mourinho: City more dangerous without Aguero

Jose Mourinho believes Manchester City could be a more difficult proposition without suspended Sergio Aguero than with him in Saturday's eagerly-anticipated Premier League derby.

The Manchester United manager made the curious comment during a news conference ahead of Saturday's lunchtime kickoff when he also played down the significance of a match in which he will lock horns with City boss Pep Guardiola for the 17th time.

Both managers have enjoyed 100 percent starts in their new posts, winning all three games in the Premier League.

But while Mourinho has a full cast list at his disposal, Guardiola will be deprived of Aguero's lethal firepower after he was banned for three games following an elbowing incident against West Ham United.

Aguero, top scorer for City every year since joining in 2011, has scored six goals this season and has seven career goals against United, but Mourinho refused to accept his unavailability tipped the balance his side's way.

"Yes it changes because it is more difficult," Mourinho said. "When Aguero is available we know that he plays, we know their formation and their dynamics - nobody has doubts.

"If he is ready, he will play. But now he doesn't play, they have an amazing squad in terms of options and there are many things (Guardiola) could do."

Leroy Sane, the 20-year-old winger signed for 37 million pounds ($49 million) from Schalke, is one option for Guardiola who has suffered only three defeats to Mourinho teams.

The Portuguese knows Guardiola will have something up his sleeve, but insists that players, not managers, will decide the outcome of the game.

"He could decide to play with (Kelechi) Iheanacho or (Raheem) Sterling," Mourinho said.

"He could decide to play with Silva as a fake number nine between the lines. It is clear that they have many options," Mourinho added.

"That for us, in the preparation of the game, makes us have to go step-by-step with every situation because we are trying to reduce the unpredictability of the game.

"To try to do this now is more difficult."

Mourinho said that so early in a long season no match, even one against City, was more important than any other.

But landing an early jab on the chin of Guardiola would be an irresistible carrot for the Portuguese who has transformed the mood at Old Trafford since his arrival, following the departure of the unpopular Louis van Gaal.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic amongst the goals and Paul Pogba adding much-needed zest to United's engine room, they look slight favourites to take the points.

"We are ready, we are waiting," Mourinho said, refusing to get drawn on the inevitable spotlight at the renewal of hostilities between himself and former Barcelona boss Guardiola.

"I know what the derby means to the fans but I have to stay under emotional control," he added./ShikoNews

Guardiola: Bravo ready to start in goal against United

Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo could be given a baptism by fire by making his Manchester City debut against Manchester United in Saturday's derby clash after manager Pep Guardiola confirmed that the Chilean was fit to play.

Bravo was signed from Guardiola's former club Barcelona in the close season after City's new manager professed himself unconvinced by England international Joe Hart's ability with the ball at his feet.

"Claudio is OK, he had a little bit of a problem in his leg but he's trained the last two days," Guardiola told reporters on Friday, while dismissing the notion that nerves might affect the keeper in the febrile atmosphere of a derby showdown.

"Bravo is fit and ready - he's 32, 33 years old - he has experience. No problem with that. He has to save the goals."

Much of the build-up to the game in the media has focussed on Guardiola renewing his rivalry with Jose Mourinho in the opposition dugout, but the Spaniard was at pains to insist that the relationship between the two managers is cordial.

"I said it many times - I have a lot of respect for Mourinho, I always try to learn from all of my colleagues - it's the same with him," Guardiola added.

"The rivalry is more from the media and we can't control that... Of course, I'll accept a glass of wine after the game if he invites me."

City captain Vincent Kompany is back in full training with the squad, but Guardiola said the Belgium defender was unlikely to be risked on Saturday given his recent injuries problems.

The manager also issued a word of warning to his team about the threat posed by United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a player Guardiola sold when he was in charge of Barcelona.

"There's no doubt about Ibrahimovic's quality," Guardiola said.

"I have a lot of respect for what Zlatan has done for football.

"He's one of the best players and of course the best players impact the way they arrive in the clubs with the talent immediately. Some players have to understand the league - the best players do it quickly and he's one of the best ones."/ShikoNews

Henry: Ibrahimovic born for Manchester derby

If ever a fixture was made for striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic it is Saturday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford, according to his former Barcelona team mate Thierry Henry.

The vastly-experienced Swedish striker has graced some of the world's biggest club clashes during stints with Juventus, Barca, Inter Milan and Paris St Germain and this weekend will lead Manchester United's attack against rivals City.

A global television audience of 900 million is estimated for the Premier League match that pitches United new manager Jose Mourinho into renewed battle with City's Pep Guardiola.

Ibrahimovic, who arrived at Old Trafford on a free transfer has scored four goals in four appearances, and Henry earmarked the Swede as a key player in Saturday's lunchtime kickoff that will feature around 600 million pounds ($798 million) of talent.

"Zlatan was born for these types of games, he demands these types of games, and he usually performs," Henry, who played with him in the 2009-10 season at the Nou Camp, told Sky Sports.

"Zlatan obviously has a bit of an edge on him now, he's not the young player he used to be, but there is something, he usually backs it up when he talks.

"He maybe hasn't controlled games yet, but it doesn't matter for Zlatan, he has scored, and that's the impact you want. That is something I like about him, he brings a winning mentality," the Frenchman added.

"He doesn't like second best, wherever he went he won the league."

Henry also offered his insight into how City's manager Guardiola will be preparing for a match that will surpass even his many Barcelona v Real Madrid 'clasicos' in terms of sheer hyperbole.

"He will be very relaxed and sure about what he wants from his players, he usually gives you the perfect plan," Henry said.

"Then it's up to the players to execute it. He will have an answer for any problem the other team pose."

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, a veteran of umpteen derbies and now a Sky colleague of Henry's, said the excitement levels had returned to the fixture after United's two-season slump took some of the sting out of it.

"The introduction of the two managers and I think for United with Pogba coming and Ibrahimovic coming it's a huge thing," Neville said. "The expectancy is back.

"Guardiola's record is incredible and Mourinho's is incredible and it does feel like Manchester is the most talked about city in the world at the moment for a football point of view, and I would say that's how it should be.

"Both teams now feel like they are competing for the league."/ShikoNews

Sepp Blatter facing FIFA investigation over salaries

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter and ex-secretary general Jerome Valcke, already banned from football for ethics violations, are facing a fresh investigation, this time over the salaries and bonuses they received in office.

In a separate decision, former FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb was been given a life ban from any soccer-related and fined one million Swiss francs ($1.02 million).

FIFA's ethics committee said its investigators had opened formal proceedings against both Blatter and Valcke, along with former finance director Markus Kattner, for possible ethics violations which included bribery and corruption.

The suspected violations were "in the context of salaries and bonuses paid to Mr Blatter, Mr Valcke and Mr Kattner as well as other provisions included in the contracts of these three individuals," it said.

They are also suspected of having breached rules on general conduct, loyalty, conflicts of interest and "offering and accepting gifts and other benefits."

Valcke's lawyer declined comment while Blatter and Kattner could not immediately be reached although they have previously denied wrongdoing.

Blatter has said his earnings were in line with top officials from professional sports leagues around the world.

Soccer's global governing body is attempting to recover from the worst graft scandal in its history which has seen 42 people, including former FIFA executive committee members, indicted in the United States since May last year.

Criminal investigations are also under way in Switzerland, where FIFA has its headquarters.

Those 42 include Webb, ex-president of the confederation covering North and Central America and the Caribbean, who has pleaded guilty in the United States to offences linked to racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

FIFA's ethics committee has conducted its own investigation into the Cayman Islander and announced on Friday that was guilty of breaking ethics violations, including bribery and corruption.

FIFA said in June that an internal investigation revealed that the three officials had received 79 million Swiss francs ($81 million) in compensation over five years, calling them "massive payouts".

FIFA's lawyers Quinn Emanuel, which conducted the investigation, said the evidence revealed a coordinated effort by the three to "enrich themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses and other incentives."

Blatter, 80, who led FIFA from 1998 until 2015, has already been banned for eight years, later to reduced to six following an appeal.

The ban was imposed for ethics violations related to a payment of 2 million Swiss francs that FIFA made to then European soccer boss Michel Platini with Blatter's approval in 2011 for work done a decade earlier.

He has appealed to sport's highest tribunal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and is awaiting a verdict.

Valcke was fired in January and has since been banned for 12 years, reduced to 10 on appeal, for ethics violations which included using FIFA expenses for sightseeing trips and destruction of evidence.

Kattner, who took over as acting secretary general after Valcke's dismissal, was fired by FIFA in May./ShikoNews

Wenger wants 'world-class' Wilshere to end career at Arsenal

Manager Arsene Wenger has backed midfielder Jack Wilshere to return to Arsenal after his loan spell at Bournemouth and see out the rest of his career at the London club.

The England international was loaned to Bournemouth on deadline day after an injury-disrupted season in which he made three Arsenal appearances, leading to speculation his career at the Emirates could be nearing the end.

But Wenger insisted the 24-year-old's move was designed to ensure he will get adequate playing time this season so he could regain his competitive edge.

"He is a world-class player, he doesn't have to show me his quality," the Frenchman told a news conference on Friday.

"I hope personally that he stays his whole career here."

Wenger also revealed that the decision for Wilshere to go out on loan was one he took after consultations with the player.

"We had a chat together. He felt ready to play," the manager added.

"I couldn't guarantee that and it looked logical to give him time -- the challenge is to play the games."

Arsenal will be looking for their second Premier League win of the season when they play Southampton on Saturday while Wilshere is expected to make his debut for Bournemouth who are hosting West Bromwich Albion./ShikoNews

Butland out for ten weeks

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has confirmed that goalkeeper Jack Butland will be out of action for at least 10 weeks after undergoing surgery on a long-standing ankle injury.

The England international joins Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri and Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf on the sidelines, with none of them available for the Premier League visit of Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Geoff Cameron and Egyptian winger Ramadan Sobhi could also miss out against Spurs after returning from international duty on Thursday, increasing the selection headache for a team still seeking their first Premier League win of the season.

"All reports are that (Butland's) operation went really well," Hughes told reporters on Friday.

"It was a little bit of scar tissue that was restricting movement of his tendon. The likelihood is that it will be between six and 10 weeks until we see him."

Stoke lost 4-0 to Tottenham in the corresponding fixture last season, but Hughes said his team would take encouragement from their 1-0 victory at White Hart Lane.

"(Tottenham) have made a steady start, they are an outstanding team. Their performance here was arguably the best we came up against last season," he added.

"We are working hard to make sure we make a better fist of it than we did last time out," Hughes said.

"It's been a week of frustration because we wanted a positive result leading into the break but we didn't manage to do that./ShikoNews

Pardew: Flamini will bring winning mentality to Palace

Mathieu Flamini will give Crystal Palace a "winning mentality", manager Alan Pardew said on Friday having landed the former Arsenal midfielder on a free transfer.

The Frenchman, 32, made more than 200 appearances for Arsenal in two spells but was a free agent this summer, enabling him to sign a one-year deal with Palace.

He will travel with the squad for Saturday's Premier League fixture at Middlesbrough.

"Whenever I watched Arsenal when Mathieu was in the side, he always gave them that winning mentality, that will to get the team over the line," Pardew told a news conference.

"That mentality is what I want to add here. I bought him not just as a player but as a figurehead.

"He'll be pushing the likes of Joe Ledley and Yohan Cabaye -- and I think he will push them very, very hard."

Pardew also confirmed that on-loan French striker Loic Remy faces seven or eight weeks out after suffering a thigh injury in training.

Remy, who joined on a season-long loan during the transfer window, is expected to return to parent club Chelsea to recover.

"The figures that are being pushed around are about right, seven or eight weeks, something like that," Pardew said./ShikoNews

Fellaini: I feel the trust of Mourinho

Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has vowed to repay manager Jose Mourinho's faith in him by making a big impression in Saturday's derby against rivals Manchester City.

The Belgian has often been singled out for criticism from the Old Trafford faithful ever since he followed former manager David Moyes to United from Everton in 2013.

His troubles did not ease during Louis van Gaal's ill-fated reign, but the 28-year-old has been given a fresh lease of life under Mourinho, playing every minute of United's three Premier League games so far this season.

"Louis van Gaal trusted me, I played a lot of games. This season, though, I'm playing in my position and I feel the trust of the manager," Fellaini told Sky Sports.

"He has given me confidence and I will give everything. (Mourinho) has had a big impact on me because when someone trusts you 200 percent you have to repay that."

Fellaini added that the team were fired up for the derby on Saturday, a game that will also see Mourinho renew his touchline rivalry with old foe Pep Guardiola in the opposition dugout.

"Everyone wants to play these games, it's a big game, a derby and everyone in the world will watch this game so it is an important game for both teams," Fellaini said.

"When you play against Liverpool and City the tension is there but I think it is very big this season because there are new managers and players.

"There will be a lot of challenges, the crowd will be behind us so it will be a good game."/ShikoNews

Andy Cole: Swagger is back for fearsome United

Jose Mourinho has injected the "fear factor" back into Old Trafford, and Manchester United's swagger is back, former striker Andy Cole said ahead of Saturday's derby with City.

"All the players are talking about what he (Mourinho) wants to win. The few games we've had so far you can see the fear factor returning and that's what Manchester United is all about," said the forward who made 275 appearances for United from 1995 to 2001, before joining City late in his career.

"These past few years teams have gone to Old Trafford believing they can win. When you played under Sir Alex Ferguson teams would just hope they wouldn't get beat by five.

"Mourinho is bringing that back now and they're starting to look like the old United," Cole said in a column for online bookmaker 888sport www.888sport.com/blog/.

United, who finished last season in fifth place, won the last of their record 20 English league titles in 2013.

The former England front man likened Mourinho to the manager who bought him in 1995 for a then-British record seven million pounds.

"Jose has the same great aura about him as Sir Alex. Look at what he's done in the game - going to Italy and Spain and doing it out there - and now he's trying to emulate his phenomenal record in England."

After a modest playing career, Portuguese Mourinho has enjoyed something of a Midas touch as coach. He won six trophies at Porto including the UEFA Cup and the Champions League; seven at Chelsea; five at Inter Milan including a second Champions League trophy; and three at Real Madrid.

Expectation at Old Trafford is sky-high, but Cole said it was impossible to call who would have the upper hand this season.

"If I knew who would do best in the next three years then I'd head straight to the bookmakers," he said.

After three games of the season, City, Chelsea and United all boast a 100 percent record, with City top on goal difference.

Something will have to give on Saturday when United welcome neighbours City to Old Trafford, while Chelsea visit Swansea City on Sunday./ShikoNews

Religion and technology: What will happen this year Hajj in Mecca, is unprecedented

What will happen in the next Hajj is a perfect example. The activity most likely will be shared and followed by millions of times through social media, although in previous years, as cameras were not allowed. 

It is offering an unprecedented window to the Muslim world - its beauty, its diversity, and how it is developing over time, in the digital space

When Snapchat-published an article on Mecca (live) during Ramadan in 2015, it was the first time that the world viewed closely, what happened in one of the leading countries for 1.6 billion Muslims in the world.

Worshipers were busy posting pictures that express who they are and what is important to them, combining many physical rituals of Ramadan, the pilgrimage to the virtual spaces of social media.


Millions of Muslim pilgrims are gathering again in Mecca, as is expected to begin hajj.

It highlights the Islamic concept of the ummah, the global Muslim nation, where all Muslims, regardless of wealth, race, language or culture are bound together as one body.

This has historically been an emotional and spiritual connection, expressing love and solidarity distances.

It was a matter of the heart and of those less fortunate who can not travel.But for today's generation of young Muslims, through social media, "Ummah" is made real in a way that was never before.


I allowed them to cross geographical borders, family and community, to connect with Muslims around the world, to hear the news, to exchange ideas about what it means to be a Muslim, through values joint, and to build a community of purpose.

The role of the internet in the emergence of this new segment, which believes that religion and modernity can go hand in hand, has been especially true for women. It is a space where they can ask questions, build solidarity with the larger Muslim movement for women's rights.

These young Muslims do the shopping here.

In their aspiration to preserve and express their faith, they have made great strides, and when they saw that was missing were returned to the Internet, where they set up their new businesses.

Cyberspace has given access to a wide audience, and internet economy has allowed their businesses to thrive.

And in the same way, access via the Internet to a large array of products and services tailored specifically to their hope for a life full of Muslims were allowed to buy these products and to reinforce identity their common Muslim.

The democratization of knowledge that provides internet has opened new avenues for Muslims to learn from the scholars and religious teachings in a way that had never before been possible.

This has had many positive effects, including religious academies on the Internet, a researcher who once sat on pedestals, and today make sermons in Snapchat.

This has led to the emergence of scholar famously, whose lectures shared online with tens of thousands of times, and whose quotations become "meme". New music, bloggers and influencers ave with footage ranging from rogue fashion designers, was given a platform.

The challenge lies in the fact that the volume and quality of the internet can be a cover for religious misrepresented information. And we know that his risk lies precisely in corners of dark sleeper.

But this is a small part of a much bigger story, where Muslim youths have found a space for them is as powerful as the real world.

They use social media campaign, which oppose stereotypes prevalent, to create and disseminate materials to express themselves on their own terms, and use - as happens with Hajj - as an integral part of their religious devotions.

What will happen in the next Hajj is a perfect example. The activity most likely will be shared and followed by millions of times through social media, although in previous years, as cameras were not allowed. It is offering an unprecedented window to the Muslim world - its beauty, its diversity, and how it is developing over time, in the digital space./ShikoNews

Pep vs. Mou: The 2 billion euro showdown

Right now, Manchester has become the epicenter of world football, and Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola, even more so than those on the pitch, are the protagonists.

Each coach has been able to lure some of the best players in football to their sides throughout their careers, for a sum that adds up to 2 billion euros.

Mourinho has spent 1.2 billion at Porto, two spells at Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid and now Manchester United whereas Guardiola has invested 748.5 million to strengthen his Barcelona, Bayern and Manchester City squads.

Because the Portuguese boss has been coaching since 2003 while the Catalan since 2008, a better measure is how much each have averaged in amount spent per season in their years in charge. The Special One averages 82.6m per season, with Guardiola a bit more at 93.5m. For each trophy won that means Mourinho has spent 53.9m for 23 trophies, whereas Guardiola just 35.6m.

City led the way in this summer's total spending with 213m on players like John Stones, Leroy Sane, Nolito, and Ilkay Gundogan.

Mourinho's United was not far behind at 185 on the four pillars the new boss demanded: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Eric Bailly and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Mourinho's record-breaking spending

Never in his career had Mourinho spent so much on one single player, Pogba, or in one single transfer window. He hardly spent a dime when he famously won the Champions League with Porto, and most of his transfers were spread out over two spells at Chelsea, not in one window.

The Premier League has seen an unprecedented amount of spending this time around and Mourinho and Guardiola have been at the forefront. The results will be clear, in front for all to see during Saturday's Manchester derby. It is a match well worth seeing, one it'd pay not to miss./ShikoNews

UEFA was scared of big clubs, says leagues' boss

UEFA was unnecessarily scared of the big clubs when it negotiated with them over the Champions League's format, the head of the organisation representing Europe's domestic football leagues said on Thursday.

UEFA announced significant changes to the Champions League last month, with more group stage places set aside for teams from the top four leagues -- effectively Spain, England, Germany and Italy -- and fewer for teams from smaller leagues.

The changes staved off the threat that a breakaway Super League independent of UEFA could be created by the big clubs, a possibility which sources said had been discussed at private meetings.

However, Lars-Christer Olsson, president of EPFL umbrella group for 24 European domestic football leagues, said UEFA had over-estimated the breakaway threat and denied that the clubs were united in agreeing to the change.

"UEFA has gone to bed with a limited number of clubs without taking into account the wishes and needs of everyone else," said Olsson, who was UEFA chief executive from 2003 to 2007.

"I think UEFA was afraid for no real reason," said the Swede in a telephone interview from Amsterdam, where he chaired an EPFL meeting.

"For the majority of clubs, domestic leagues are more important than international competitions and more important than a breakaway league," he said.

Sponsors would also shy away if there was a split, he added.

"The last thing they want is to have a conflict in the market, they would never put their money in under those circumstances," he said.

The EPFL has vehemently opposed the new system, saying it is detrimental to domestic football and will increase the already large financial gap between a handful of wealthy clubs and the rest.

"We are asking UEFA to revoke the current decision and start the process all over again, I think it is a possible solution," said Olsson.

He warned that European football was heading towards a situation like the one in basketball where a single professional league, the NBA, is regarded as the only one which counts.

Olsson was also concerned at UEFA's decision to create a subsidiary to manage its European club competitions, fearing that power was being handed over to the big clubs.

According to UEFA, the subsidiary will have an equal number of managing directors from UEFA and the European Club Association (ECA), who each appoint half of the senior representatives on the board of the company.

"That is the first step on a European franchise system based on North American models," said Olsson.

North American professional sport is generally organised in closed leagues where each club is treated as a franchise while European football operates on a pyramid system with promotion and relegation between the tiers./ShikoNews

Lloris available for Tottenham's trip to Stoke

Tottenham Hotspur's France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is fit for Saturday's Premier League trip to Stoke City after being ruled out since injuring his hamstring on the opening day of the season.

Dutch keeper Michel Vorm has deputised since and despite Lloris's availability, manager Mauricio Pochettino said he faced a tough decision over who will start in goal.

"Hugo Lloris is ready and available to play. He's in a good condition to travel," Pochettino told reporters on Thursday.

"It's always a tough decision for me to pick the starting 11, it's difficult with every (position) but that is football."

Left back Danny Rose is ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained while playing for England against Slovakia.

Tottenham, who have picked up five points from their first three league games and face Monaco in the Champions League on Wednesday, are also without midfielder Mousa Dembele who is serving the last game of a suspension.

"We're very disappointed that (Rose) got injured in the national team. But we hope it's not a big problem and that he recovers as soon as possible," Pochettino said.

"He is out for Stoke and for Monaco."/ShikoNews

Leicester's Slimani ready for Premier League debut at Liverpool

Leicester City's club record signing Islam Slimani is ready to make his Premier League debut in Saturday's clash with Liverpool, manager Claudio Ranieri said on Thursday.

The 28-year-old Algeria striker moved from Sporting Lisbon for an initial 30 million euros (25.52 million pounds) hours before the transfer window closed.

Slimani, who was in Algeria's squad for their African Nations Cup qualifier against Lesotho earlier this week, scored 27 league goals in 33 appearances as Sporting finished second in the Portuguese championship last season.

"Slimani arrives this evening or tomorrow. I didn't see him yet. He's available for Saturday. He could play. We bought him because we believe in his ability," Ranieri told reporters on Thursday.

"He cost a lot of money but if you see the market it's a crazy market."

Ranieri also said goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was ready to return to action after having surgery on a hernia. None of his players had been injured on international duty, he added.

Ranieri, who led 5,000-1 outsiders Leicester to the league title last season, backed Liverpool, who ended last season in eighth place, to challenge for the league title this campaign.

"Liverpool is one of my favourites to win the league," he said.

"They are ready to fight for the title. We go there to try and win. We are the champions. It'll be difficult for us but also for them."

Both teams are on four points in the table, with a win a loss and a draw from their opening three games.

Leicester became the first Premier League champions to lose their season opener when they were beaten 2-1 away at Hull City on Aug.13./ShikoNews

Sanches faces battle to force his way into Bayern team

Portugal's impressive midfielder Renato Sanches is finally ready for his Bayern Munich debut although the 19-year-old Euro 2016 winner still faces a tough challenge to claim a regular place in the team.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that Sanches could make his debut away to Schalke 04 on Friday (1830 GMT) if Arturo Vidal is still worn out after his long trip from South America, where he played two World Cup qualifiers for Chile in five days.

If he does play in Gelsenkirchen, Sanches will need to grab the opportunity to impress Ancelotti with both hands.

The competition for places is intense with Vidal, battle-hardened former Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso and Thiago Alcantara all ahead of Sanches in the pecking order.

Sanches, who was unavailable for the start of the season because of a thigh injury, could go the way of Austria full back David Alaba who forced his way into the team as an 18-year-old and has not looked back since.

Other youngsters have also been successful such as Joshua Kimmich and Kingsley Coman who broke into the team last year.

But there are less encouraging examples such as Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaquiri and Germany forward Mario Goetze, who both arrived amid great fanfare but slunk out through the back door after failing to establish themselves.

It was all very different for Sanches at previous club Benfica, who sold him to the Bavarians for around 35 million euros (29.64 million pounds).

Sanches made his professional debut only last October but showed a maturity beyond his years as he stamped his authority on the midfield, helping Benfica bounce back from a slow start to win the Portuguese league.

His fate will be important for the Portuguese national side where he provided added bite to the midfield during Euro 2016 after being drafted into the team for the quarter-final against Poland, scoring in the 1-1 draw which Portugal won on penalties.

He was sorely missed when the Portugal lost 2-0 to Switzerland on Tuesday in their opening World Cup qualifier.

Portugal coach Fernando Santos would not comment on whether he felt that Sanches had made the right move in joining Bayern, or whether he should have stayed at Benfica where he was sure of regular football.

Santos said that it had nothing to do with him whether Sanches got into the Bayern team.

But it is hard to imagine that Santos will be happy if Sanches spends much of the season warning the substitutes' bench, denying him experience and match practice./ShikoNews

Raiola: Guardiola doesn't have the balls to sit with me

In an astonishing outburst, 'super agent' Mino Raiola, the representative for many top-class footballers, has suggested that Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola is running scared of him.

Not content with pulling in vast amounts of cash over the summer for securing the deals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba to Manchester United among others, the Italian is pulling no punches about certain characters within the game.

Speaking to Partidazo Cope, Guardiola in particular was on his radar.

"I don't hate Guardiola but I don't like him as a person and his football is very boring.

"He's not my kind of man, I like people who have a different character to Pep.

"Everyone knows what happened with Zlatan in Barcelona, and he still doesn't have the balls to sit down with me."
Florentino

The ex-Barcelona coach wasn't the only person in the firing line either as Real Madrid president Florentino Perez also got it with both barrels.

"I have neither a good nor bad relationship with Florentino because the truth is I never talk to him.

"I've no need to be a friend or foe because I deal only with Jose Angel Sanchez."
Pogba

Regarding why Paul Pogba ended up in Manchester when Real were clearly interested, the Italian was clear in his mind that his client is better served at Old Trafford.

"Pogba is the best player in the world in his position and he is where I wanted him to be."

Suggestions that Raiola is setting himself up to be the world's best agent were also brushed off.

"For me, it's not important to be the best agent in the world. "

"The players are like my children and Dad doesn't have the same relationship with everyone, but everyone wants his dad.

"The record for the most expensive signing is just a detail to me, what matters is that the player is happy where he is.

"I am very discreet with my clients information and I have to be very quiet when talking business with the press because anything you say can be a success or a failure for my business."
Zlatan

There are a number of high-profile clients on Raiola's books and he enjoys a different, but healthy relationship with them all.

"Zlatan is more demanding and is a great professional.

"I'm proud to be more than a representative to him, because he is more than a player to me and if only Balotelli was like him, he would be one of the best players in the world.

"If Donnarumma [AC Milan goalkeeper] continues to grow as he is, he will be the best," the Italian concluded./ShikoNews

Bilic: West Ham's Payet ready to start against Watford

Attacking midfielder Dimitri Payet is likely to make his first Premier League start of the season for West Ham United in Saturday's clash with Watford, manager Slaven Bilic said on Thursday.

The 29-year-old, who has suffered niggling injuries, last featured for West Ham as a substitute in their opening league game against Chelsea last month, but made an appearance in France's World Cup qualifier against Belarus on Tuesday.

Payet scored 12 goals in all competitions last season after joining from Olympique Marseille in June last year.

The Frenchman was also the joint second-top scorer at Euro 2016 with three goals and was named in the team of the tournament.

"I have just seen Payet and he has not played for us since the Chelsea game," Bilic told reporters.

"He has played for France and we will see today. I am expecting him to be fit and ready to start the game. We have missed him. It is the same for every club. France missed him."

Bilic also confirmed that Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini, who suffered a knee injury in July, has returned to full fitness.

"Lanzini is fully fit and all the guys who were involved in international duty have not picked up any injuries," Bilic added./ShikoNews

Familiar story unfolding in Serie A

A familiar story is already unfolding in Serie A where Juventus are dominant, Napoli are trying to reinvent themselves, Palermo embroiled in chaos and the Milan clubs have made indifferent starts.

Although only two rounds of matches were played before the first international break, there was already enough to suggest that little will change from the previous seasons.

Juventus, runaway favourites to win a sixth successive title, flexed their muscles by winning two difficult opening matches against Fiorentina and Lazio, continuing where they left off last season.

"Today, Juve are on another planet from every point of view," former Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini told Gazzetta dello Sport this week.

Juve host Sassuolo on Saturday (1700 BST).

Napoli, runners-up last season, are rebuilding after Juve snapped up their prolific forward Gonzalo Higuain, himself hired three seasons ago after Edinson Cavani departed.

Napoli have already scored six goals in two games with Higuain's replacement Arkadiusz Milik, signed from Ajax, grabbing two in a 4-2 win over AC Milan.

It all suggests that, once again, Napoli are the team most likely to give Juventus competition for the title.

On the other hand, AS Roma are suffering the recriminations of their Champions League playoff defeat to Porto.

Daniele De Rossi, sent off against the Portuguese side, has been stripped of the captaincy and there is also the question of how to deal with Francesco Totti.

The 39-year-old, in his 25th and last season at Roma, wants a rousing send off but has yet to get on the pitch.

Inter Milan, enduring their fifth season without Champions League football, have made a stuttering start under new coach Frank de Boer, taking one point in two games.

AC Milan, meanwhile, are unlikely to be a force until their takeover by a Chinese consortium, led by investment fund Haixia Capital and Yonghong Li, chairman of management company Sino-Europe Sports Investment Management Changxing, has been completed.

They have one win and a defeat under their belt and everything points to another season in the middle of the table.

There has also been little change at Palermo, who have already seen their first coaching switch of the season with Roberto De Zerbi, previously at third-tier Foggia, replacing Davide Ballardini, who resigned in protest at a lack of new signings after two games.

Ballardini was among the seven different coaches employed by Palermo last season, when he was sacked in January and re-hired in April, and helped save the Sicilians from relegation.

"I chose De Zerbi because I've always tried to appoint coaches that are young and, above all, with a winning mentality," said club president Maurizio Zamparini.

De Zerbi, however, will be suspended for Saturday's match at home to Napoli (1945 BST) after being sent off in his last game with Foggia./ShikoNews

UEFA under fire over changes to Champions League

The recently-announced changes to the Champions League are detrimental to domestic football in Europe and will increase the gap between the wealthiest clubs and the rest, Europe's domestic football leagues (EPFL) said on Thursday.

The EPFL, the umbrella grouping for 24 European domestic leagues, also called upon the next UEFA president to reconsider the changes which made fewer places available in the Champions League group stage to teams from smaller countries.

It was the first major criticism of the reforms of the lucrative competition, which were announced in Monaco in August after secretive negotiations between European football body UEFA and the clubs.

UEFA rearranged the group-stage slots in favour of its four top-ranked leagues - in effect Spain, England, Germany and Italy - by guaranteeing them four places each.

Places for the winners of the 11th and 12th ranked leagues were cut and the number of places reserved for teams from the remaining leagues, who play their way through a qualifying competition, was reduced from five to four.

UEFA also announced changes in the distribution of revenue with more emphasis placed on the historic sporting results of the clubs and less on the value of their television market.

The changes came amid reports that the biggest clubs had been discussing the creation of a so-called Super League.

EPFL said one possible consequence would be an end to the agreement with UEFA under which leagues refrain from scheduling domestic games on the same night as days earmarked for European club competition.

"A major change in European football has been announced without the support and consensus of the organisers of domestic league football in Europe," the EPFL said in a statement.

"This decision will have a detrimental impact on domestic competitions and will lead to an exponential growth in the financial and sporting gap between the biggest clubs in Europe and all the others," it added.

"The European Leagues believe the way this process has been conducted by UEFA to be unacceptable for an organisation that claims to be the governing body of football in Europe.

"The EPFL believes that UEFA has breached the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations."

It warned that such a breach "would give all European Leagues total freedom to schedule their matches as they see fit - including on the same days and at the same kick-off times as UEFA Club Competitions."

Dutchman Michael van Praag and Aleksander Ceferin from Slovenia are standing in UEFA's presidential election on Wednesday.

"The European Leagues stand ready to meet the new UEFA President to discuss these matters," the statement said./ShikoNews