Suarez astounded by 13-year-old Tanishka’s nutmegging skill in Wankhede!
Despite the fact that Wankhede Stadium on Sunday was mesmerized by Lionel Messi’s presence during the GOAT tour after Kolkata, one moment stole the show. Messi indulged in passes with the girls on the pitch, and the moment unfolded when a 13-year-old Tanishka Kawade found herself with the ball at her feet. She then instinctively and fearlessly nutmegged Luis Suarez! The Uruguay World Cupper, who, along with Rodrigo D’Paul, also accompanied Lionel Messi in the tour, was seen astounded by Tanishka’s skill. His expression frozen in disbelief, before a smile slowly followed. It was a brief exchange, but one that instantly became unforgettable. For Tanishka, the moment was surreal. Later, while speaking to The Indian Express, Tanishka said, “He didn’t say anything. He just looked at me with a surprised expression. It was a great feeling because my dream was to meet Ronaldo, but I met Messi – that was also a big dream.” However, Wankhade Stadium was packed to capacity, buzzing with noise and anticipation, as thousands of ardent fans gathered to catch a glimpse of Lionel Messi. Every seat in every stand was filled, every phone held high, as the global icon made his way around the ground. For 60 kids inside the venue, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share the pitch with one of the all-time greats in football history and pass the ball around with him.
I-League also without a ‘commercial bidder’ like ISL!
I-League also failed to generate interest among potential investors, as the All India Football Federation‘s second-tier competition didn’t receive any bids for commercial rights in its tender, according to a report from News9 Sports. AIFF floated the ‘Request for Proposal (RFP)’ on 8th November, and the deadline for submission was 13th December. But at the time of the opening of bids on Sunday, none had landed in the federation’s lap. An indication that the tender was failing to attract any proposals became apparent when no entity attended AIFF’s pre-bid meeting on 5th December to seek clarifications. But the Federation, in its tender, set prices Rs 6 crore (I-League: Rs 4 CR + I-League 2: Rs 1.25 CR + I-League 3: Rs 75 Lakh), and also the terms and conditions, similar to those set for the Indian Women’s League (IWL). Still, the failed tender reflects that the possible bidders who have shown interest in India’s club football fraternity seemed not willing to get further clarifications. Now, AIFF officials would have to scratch their heads on how to resume the league after floating a tender till the end of its 2029-30 season, even as they have been assuring the clubs about the resumption of the I-League, also like the ISL. Companies or three-member consortia with a minimum turnover of Rs 30 crore at the end of the 2024-25 financial year were eligible to place bids. AIFF is yet to issue any statement on the matter and has very little time to come up with a plan, with half of the season already over without a match being held. I-League club officials had earlier met the Union Sports Minister to raise concerns over its organisation. The budget for its elite I-League was already reduced by Rs 4.02 crore to Rs 10.18 crore from Rs 14.20 crore in the last financial year. A separate tender for IWL and IWL 2 at Rs 3 crore attracted one bid (Capri Sports).
Messi faces the mess! Salt Lake turns fiery; why was Messi’s plan of circling the ground in a hood-open car changed?
After almost a decade, the renovated Salt Lake Stadium turned tumultuous. Nearly 45 thousand ‘madding crowd’, completely down in the dumps, burst out of anger and vandalized a major portion of the seats in the stadium’s lower tier, threw water bottles relentlessly to the ground, cracked the banners set on the galleries and finally flooded themselves to the ground, breaking the barrier! The ground was turned into a sea of rampaging spectators towards the police. A few of the police personnel even got injured. In return, police also beat them, and even photographers who were doing their duties were attacked. The reason can be assumed. The passionate fans wanted to see their hero in Lionel Messi’s first GOAT tour that started with Kolkata on Saturday, 13th December at Salt Lake Stadium. They were waiting for the legend since morning. But Messi was not visible! He entered the stadium at 11.30 sharp, coming out of a car and started walking down the pitch. Immediately after he, along with his two Inter Miami mates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, began to walk, a chunk of people, consisting of security, officials, and a section of the organizing team, surrounded them like a beehive! And despite repeated announcements to free the ground so that the spectators could see him, they never left the pitch! According to sources close to West Bengal Police, plans had been made to arrange a hood-open car for the legendary footballer who was supposed to circle the stadium ground before walking down the pitch and participating in a brief session with the kids who were waiting for their hero since Saturday morning on the ground. Why was the plan changed, and under whose instruction? One of the police officers revealed on condition of anonymity, “Rehearsal was also made on Thursday and Friday. Two hood-open cars were arranged. One was scheduled to take Messi, and Chief Minister Mamata Bandopadhyay, also invited to the function, was supposed to circle the ground. We do not know how it changed in the eleventh hour.” Messi, who unveiled his 70-foot iron statue virtually from the hotel on Saturday morning, was also supposed to watch the exhibition football match, which could not be played for more than 15 minutes. He was supposed to stay at the stadium for one hour, but he was there for only 14 minutes! Shah Rukh Khan, also invited to the function, could not step in. Amidst the furious fans’ agitation across the stadium complex, seeking a refund of the high-priced tickets, King Khan returned after waiting for around 20 minutes. Director General of West Bengal Police Rajeev Kumar told the media during his post-event briefings, “Organizer of the Messi’s GOAT tour Satadru Dutta has been arrested. He has also given in writing that all the spectators will get refunds. Chief Minister has set a two-member committee for the investigation of the event, as it was a big chaos.” Chief Minister, who also had to return before entering the stadium, has sought an apology to the crowd, to Lionel Messi in her tweets. But, football-loving Kolkata had already suffered a face-losing by that time!
Aneek Dhar composes a song for Lionel Messi; The Kolkata singer thrilled to perform on stage in front of Lio
Kolkata singer Aneek Dhar, who earned prominence in a music reality show, is mesmerized to have obtained the opportunity to perform in front of Lionel Messi on stage on Saturday during the Argentine legend’s visit to Kolkata. Dhar, speaking to Parallel Sports on Friday, revealed, “I have composed a song for the legendary footballer exclusively, which I will deliver in my performance on Saturday.” When asked about his feelings, the 35-year-old singer said, “I am speechless. Lionel Messi is like a god. Not only as a footballer, I feel Messi can be an ideal example as a human being, too. I am thankful to Satadru Dutta, the organizer of this GOAT tour, for giving me the opportunity.” Dhar has not yet thought about what he would say to Messi if the opportunity comes for a handshake. “I do not know what I will say to him. I might be hypnotized.” Dhar is aware of the language barrier as Messi speaks Spanish or Portuguese. “I only know how to say ‘hello’ in Spanish. Still, I will do homework, try to speak a few more words if I get a chance,” said Aneek Dhar.
Vinesh Phogat to break retirement! decides to prepare for 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat, who was disqualified from the wrestling finals at the 2024 Olympics because of being overweight, has decided to return, breaking his retirement, and will now compete in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Vinesh was disqualified after weighing 100 grams more than the permissible limit in the morning weigh-in before the gold medal match. Though she appealed against the decision at the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS), there was no change in the conclusion. Soon after the CAS verdict, Vinesh announced retirement on 8th August, 2024, one that she reversed more than a year later on Friday. “People kept asking if Paris was the end. For a long time, I didn’t have the answer. I needed to step away from the mat, from the pressure, from the expectations, even from my own ambitions. For the first time in years, I allowed myself to breathe,” Vinesh wrote on Instagram. “I took time to understand the weight of my journey, the highs, the heartbreaks, the sacrifices, the versions of me the world never saw. And somewhere in that reflection, I found the truth: I still love this sport. I still want to compete.” “So here I am, stepping back toward LA28 with a heart that’s unafraid and a spirit that refuses to bow. And this time, I’m not walking alone; my son is joining my team, my biggest motivation, my little cheerleader on this road to the LA Olympics,” Vinesh added.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi breaks Youth ODI world record! Strikes a blistering 56-ball century in the Under-19 Asia Cup
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s authoritative batting form continues in other formats of the game as he smashed a blazing 56-ball century in India’s Under-19 Asia Cup opener against the United Arab Emirates at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday. Opening the batting after the UAE chose to field, Suryavanshi went on his usual prowess, powering the ball to all parts of the park. The dashing opener stormed to his century in only 56 balls on the back of a feast of boundaries. Suryavanshi then broke another world record, hitting his 13th six as he approached the 150-run mark, the most sixes ever hit by a batsman in a Youth ODI innings. He surpassed the previous record of 12 sixes, held by Michael Hill for Australia U-19 against Namibia U-19 in 2008. The 14-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, also became the first batter in history to amass over 50 Youth ODI sixes in their career as he waltzed past his 150 in only 84 balls. Suryavanshi recently broke several records in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s domestic T20 tournament. Recording his maiden SMAT ton in only 17th T-20 innings, Suryavanshi became the first teenager in the world to record three T-20 centuries during his young career. Only his U-19 teammate Ayush Mhatre, who struck two successive centuries in the ongoing SMAT edition, and France’s Gustav Mackeon have recorded two T-20 centuries before turning 20.
ISL clubs send strong reply! seek amendment in AIFF constitution in the next AGM
All ISL clubs, except East Bengal, have sent a strong reply to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) telling that the discussions of hosting by the consortium set by the clubs themselves would only be purposeful if two crucial articles in the AIFF constitution, Article 1.54 and 63 are not amended at the earliest. The letter, sent on Thursday, comes a day after AIFF’s Deputy Secretary General, M. Satyanarayan, wrote to the clubs asking for a call to explore the possibility of jointly hosting the league, to which the reply reads ‘deflects responsibility onto the Clubs while simultaneously citing constitutional restrictions as justification for the Federation’s inaction’. The Article 1.54 and 63 pertain to the power of authorisation of ownership of the league and its entities, both of which are owned by the AIFF. “The Clubs remain open and committed to working with the AIFF towards a club-led model, consistent with global best practices. However, for such a model to be financially and operationally viable, Clubs must have commercial flexibility—including the ability to attract sponsors, investors, and long-term partners,” the letter, written by Vinay Chopra, the director of Mohun Bagan Super Giant, on behalf of all clubs, read. “This is not possible until the commercially restrictive clauses in the AIFF Constitution are amended or removed. Without this change, no sustainable league structure can be built, regardless of good intentions.” The letter also has mentioned that If the process of finding out a suitable commercial partner through the initiative of AIFF, Union Sports Ministry and the clubs after amendment of the two said articles fails, then Federation may hand over the long-term rights of the league to the clubs, who are prepared.
Two Indian-origin cricketers included in the Australia Under-19 World Cup squad
Two Indian-origin players — Aryan Sharma and John James — have been selected in Australia’s 15-member squad for the men’s Under-19 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6. Aryan, an all-rounder who is an effective batsman and a slow left-arm spinner, and James, a right-arm medium pace all-rounder, were both part of the squad that played against India in the youth Tests and one-day internationals in September. Besides cricketers of Indian heritage, the squad features two players of Sri Lankan (Naden Cooray and Nitesh Samuel) and one of Chinese Origin (Alex Lee Young). Australia enters the tournament as defending champions, with Oliver Peake as captain. “We’re delighted to announce a strong and well-balanced squad for the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Our focus has been on selecting a group with complementary skill sets that provide the best chance of success in the tournament,” head coach Tim Nielsen said in a release. “The players named have impressed with their performances during the U19 series against India in September and at the recent National U19 Championship in Perth. “It’s an exciting group; some have already experienced senior training environments, while others are progressing rapidly through our pathway.” Australia is placed in Group A alongside Ireland, Japan, and Sri Lanka. The team will reach Namibia in early January and play warm-up matches from January 9–14. “The World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for these young cricketers to showcase their talent and test themselves against the best in the world,” Nielsen said.
Is BCCI planning to deduct Rs 2 Crore each from Virat and Rohit’s salaries?
There is a buzz already floating in the country’s cricket fraternity that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is mulling over deduction of Rs 2 crore each from the annual salaries of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma! The central contracts for players across 4 categories annually. These contracts are the official retainers that bind the nation’s elite cricketers to the national team. The nature of the contract and the remuneration that comes with it, however, depend upon the contribution of the player in the three formats of the game. The BCCI last awarded the central contracts to its players in April 2025, but the news of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma facing a pay cut in the next cycle has already started buzzing. The central contracts are a carefully calibrated mechanism designed to reward performance, incentives for participation, especially in the Test format, while also maintaining the highest standards of professionalism within the squad. The BCCI’s contract system is divided into four distinct grades — A+, A, B, and C — each carrying a fixed annual salary, known as the retainership. This amount is paid to the player regardless of how many matches they play throughout the year, standing separate from their match-fee earnings. The allocation of grades, however, is an annual exercise undertaken by the BCCI, working in close consultation with the selection committee, head coach and the team captain. Here’s how the grades are decided: Placed in the A+ category at present, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may be demoted to ‘A’ category as they are no longer active players in the Test and T-20I format. Rabindra Jadeja retired from T20Is too, might remain in the A+ category as he is still an active member of India’s Test team. If Kohli and Rohit do get dropped to the A category, they would each earn Rs 2 crore less in the ‘A contract’ (Rs 5 crore), in comparison to the ‘A+ contract’ (Rs 7 crore).
AIFF’s reply to the ISL clubs; Willing to discuss about their consortium proposal
The All India Football Federation Deputy General Secretary, M Satyanarayan, in a reply email sent to FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskar and the CEOs of all the ISL clubs on Wednesday, urged them to become united and find a solution through a mutual understanding between the ISL clubs and the AIFF to get rid of the ongoing stalemate of the Indian Super League this year. The ISL clubs sent an email to the AIFF Deputy General Secretary on 5th November, seeking resolution of the 12 crucial issues. Satyanaraya acknowledged the clubs’ anxiety and said the situation has come to quick conversations and practical steps to solve the crisis, which is deepening gradually. “We assure you that the AIFF will take all necessary steps, strictly in accordance with the Constitution and by following the direction of the Supreme Court, to address the concerns raised by you and the prospective bidders. At the same time, we believe that a comprehensive solution cannot be achieved overnight,” the letter read. The Deputy General Secretary pointed out that some of the 12 points raised by the ISL Clubs carried contradictions or remained stuck in legal proceedings. Yet, he still asked the clubs to move forward together. He argued that Indian Football had benefited from joint investments over the past decade, and therefore, time lost now would only deepen the damage. “We request you to work towards finding a possible solution. It goes without saying that over the last 10–15 years, the marketing partner and clubs have jointly made significant investments and footballs to bring meaningful changes to Indian club football. To safeguard these investments, it is necessary that we work on a war footing to minimize any loss of time. We agree that a long-term solution is needed. However, football must not lose its continuity, and therefore, the league should commence at the earliest,” the letter said. Satyanarayana also emphasized coming to a comprehensive solution before the forthcoming executive committee and the AGM on 20th December. Significantly, the Deputy General Secretary also conveyed the support of AIFF regarding the ISL clubs’ previous proposal to form a consortium and make an agreement with the AIFF to resume the ISL, where the participating clubs themselves will be the owners of the League. Satyanarayan acknowledged Point 12 of the club’s email, which mentioned the consortium idea. His e-mail said, ‘The AIFF was open to exploring that framework, but it requires internal approval and constitutional compliance. The letter also states that any decision must follow due process at the Executive committee meeting and the AGM.
