Author: tngadmin

Benfica are set to sell Uruguayan forward Darwin Nunez to England’s Liverpool for €75 million (approximately $78.5 million), the Portuguese football club announced on Monday, saying the parties have reached an agreement.

Benfica said in a statement that it has informed the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) that it has “reached an agreement with Liverpool FC for the sale of all rights to the player Darwin Nunez for the amount of 75 million euros.”

Benfica added that the sale could total €100 million (approximately $104.7 million) with additional add-ons.

Nunez, 22, scored 34 goals in 41 appearances for Benfica this season.

He scored two goals against Liverpool in the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.

The Uruguayan forward, who has been with Benfica since 2020, will join Liverpool once his personal terms with the English Premier League club are agreed upon and medical tests are completed.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Oil prices decreased on Monday after new mass testing and partial lockdown measures in parts of China signaled lower fuel demand.

International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $120 per barrel at 0705GMT for a 1.65% decrease after closing the previous session at $122.01 a barrel.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) was at $118.66 per barrel at the same time for a 1.67% loss after the previous session closed at $120.67 a barrel.

Infection rate in China is low but the country is carrying out a zero-COVID-19 policy which some experts believe is disruptive to economy.

In Shanghai, 11 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 26 local asymptomatic cases were reported on Sunday which led to mass testing while Beijing registered 46 new local cases on Saturday.

The country has taken various measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 since the new cases ranging from closing of nightlife spots, stores and embassies to stopping sports activities for teens.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Türkiye’s current account balance posted a deficit of $2.7 billion in April, up $1.22 billion on a yearly basis, according to official figures released on Monday.

The Central Bank announced that the 12-month rolling deficit totaled $25.7 billion.

Excluding gold and the energy trade, the current account balance saw a surplus of $4 billion, increasing from $1.13 billion.

The goods item saw a net deficit of $4.43 billion, while services indicated a net surplus of $2.7 billion.

“Under services, travel item recorded a net inflow of $1.59 billion,” added the Central Bank.

Direct investments saw net inflows of $323 million.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Daily electricity consumption in Türkiye decreased by 12% on Sunday compared to the previous day, totaling 759,625 megawatt-hours, according to official figures of Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEIAS) on Monday.

Hourly power consumption peaked at 35,005 megawatt-hours at 22.00 local time (1900 GMT), data from TEIAS showed. The country’s electricity usage dropped to the lowest level of 26,708 megawatt-hours at 07.00 local time (0400 GMT).

Electricity production amounted to 747,173 megawatt-hours on Sunday, marking a decrease of 12.41% compared to Saturday.

Electricity production from hydro power plants constituted 18.3% of total generation, while lignite and imported coal plants contributed 17.4% and 17.1%, respectively.

On Sunday, the country’s electricity exports amounted to 8,984 megawatt-hours and imports totaled 21,432 megawatt-hours.

Source: Anadolu Agency

A 10-year liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) supply agreement was signed between the Turkish investment company BDY Group and Vitol, one of the world’s largest commodity trading companies.

According to the information obtained by Anadolu Agency, Vitol will supply at least 400 thousand tons of LPG annually to BDY Group within the scope of the agreement.

Vitol, who also owns Petrol Ofisi in Türkiye, uses the Dortyol region as a center for trade with neighboring countries.

On the other hand, besides the supply agreement, a storage agreement was also signed between the companies.

According to the agreement, Vitol will pay BDY Group on a ton basis for storage and export-based loading for 10 years. Thus, a net foreign currency inflow will be provided to Türkiye. The deal was signed on a ‘use or pay’ condition.

Market experts consider LPG as an alternative fuel in case of possible interruptions in natural gas flow and supply problems.

LPG, which can be used in autogas and cooking as well as in heating in the world, also plays an important role in the Turkish energy market.

Consuming more than 4 million tons of LPG annually, Türkiye is the country that consumes the most autogas in the world.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini confirmed on Monday his move to US top-tier league MLS (Major League Soccer) club Los Angeles FC, leaving Serie A side Juventus.

In a video uploaded on his social media accounts, the 37-year-old is wearing an LAFC cap and shirt with the caption: “The next chapter.”

Joining from Fiorentina in 2005, Chiellini played with the Serie A team for 17 years. He bagged nine Serie A titles and represented the club in 561 games.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Football’s ruling body on Monday has permanently ratified the five-substitute option during a match in top-level competitions.

In a statement, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) said it accepted recommendations, with “strong support from the entire football community,” and permanently introduced the five-substitute option into the Laws of the Game for the 2022-23 season.

The option of extra substitutions was temporarily introduced in May 2020 to protect players’ welfare during the coronavirus pandemic.

In top local and international competitions, teams were then allowed to use up to five substitutes in a match, which was a maximum of three before the pandemic.

The current provision was extended many times.

“In addition, the members decided to increase the maximum number of named substitutes listed on the team sheet from 12 to 15 at the discretion of the competition organiser.”

The Laws of the Game for the upcoming 2022-23 season will come into effect on July 1.

Separately, artificial intelligence-driven VAR (video assistant referee) offside detector, SAOT, is closer to being used in competitions that will help game officials make quicker and correct decisions in difficult and tight offside positions.

“The AGM (Annual General Meeting) was updated by FIFA on innovations that could allow more competitions to use video assistant referee (VAR) technology (VAR ‘Light’), which has been trialled in over 100 matches, and on successful tests with systems to help video match officials determine offside situations more quickly and accurately (so-called ‘semi-automated offside technology’). A video support solution is also being considered for potential trial,” the IFAB said.

“The AGM was clear that these and any other trials require permission and will be supervised by The IFAB and FIFA,” it added.

FIFA previously said it tested the SAOT during the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup held in Abu Dhabi in February 2022.

The same technology was also trialed in the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup.

The world football’s governing body previously said it is also expected to be used at the 2022 FIFA World Cup that will begin on Nov. 21 in Qatar.

FIFA calls the SAOT “an extension of the VAR system,” and it has been employed in 47 countries and at least 100 competitions, including all FIFA contests.

“Ten dedicated cameras, as well as several television broadcast cameras, are set up in the stadium to track 18 data points of each individual player, giving their position on the pitch. The number of data points is expected to increase to 29 points per player by the time of the FIFA World Cup,” FIFA said.

FIFA’s head of Football Technology Sebastian Runge said they are also tracking players’ arms and legs to judge whether a player is on or offside when the ball is kicked.

“We’re also tracking the limbs – we’re tracking the arms and the legs – and we know exactly where all those players are at every moment in the game,” Runge remarked and added that FIFA tracks with “50 frames per second,” and that they are doing the same for the ball.

After a player was said to be offside, 3D animations are also shown on big screens in stadiums for fans watching it on television and in football venues, while the offside animation does not help the decision-making process.

Source: Anadolu Agency

Peru will take on Australia on Monday, while Costa Rica will face New Zealand on Tuesday, with the winners taking the final two berths at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar this November.

Both international playoff clashes will be played at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar which has a capacity of 50,000.

Australia, who aim to qualify for a fifth consecutive World Cup event, claimed a 2-1 win over the UAE to set up the playoff last weekend.

In the South America qualification (CONMEBOL), Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Ecuador secured qualifying berths, but Peru came fifth to miss out on an automatic spot.

The winner in Australia vs. Peru game will play against France, Denmark and Tunisia in Group D.

The Peruvians have played the World Cup five times (1930, 1970, 1978, 1982 and 2018).

Meanwhile, Costa Rica look to qualify for a third successive World Cup in the match against New Zealand.

Having the same points, Costa Rica finished behind the third-placed USA on goal difference in CONCACAF qualifiers.

The All-Whites qualified for the playoff round after a 5-0 win against Solomon Islands, keeping alive their dreams of a first World Cup group appearance in 12 years. Kiwis participated in 1982 and 2010 world cups.

The winners will take place in Group E against Spain, Germany, and Japan.

Qatar, in Pot 1 as the FIFA World Cup host nation, are set to face Ecuador in the opening game on Nov. 21.

The tournament is scheduled from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18 with 32 teams in eight groups.

Qatar 2022 groups

Group A: Qatar (hosts), Ecuador, Senegal, the Netherlands

Group B: England, Iran, US, Wales

Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland

Group D: France, Denmark, Tunisia, Inter-confederation playoff winner 1 (Peru or Australia)

Group E: Spain, Germany, Japan, Inter-confederation playoff winner 2 (Costa Rica or New Zealand)

Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia

Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon

Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea

Source: Anadolu Agency

English champions Manchester City signed Norwegian football star Erling Haaland from Germany’s Borussia Dortmund on Monday.

“Manchester City are delighted to confirm the signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

“The 21-year-old will join the Club on 1 July after penning a five-year deal which keeps him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2027,” the English club said in a statement to welcome their new player.

Manchester City also posted several photos of Haaland on Twitter, showing him wearing the club’s iconic home shirt.

“This is a proud day for me and my family,” Haaland said after completing his move to the club.

His father Alf-Inge, 49, was a former Manchester City player as well.

“I want to score goals, win trophies and improve as a footballer and I am confident I can do that here. This is a great move for me and I can’t wait to get started in pre-season,” Haaland added.

Meanwhile Manchester City are excited to sign Haaland as Txiki Begiristain, the club’s football director, said they have been “monitoring Erling for several years,” and they are “delighted” to add him to the Man City squad.

“This is a very exciting signing for our club, and I am sure our fans will enjoy watching Erling perform in this team,” Begiristain said, calling Haaland a “huge talent.”

“His rise has been remarkable, but he is still only 21. His best years are ahead of him and we are confident he can get even better working with (Man City manager Guardiola) Pep,” Begiristain added.

Haaland played for Borussia Dortmund in 2020-2022 to win a German Cup.

He scored 86 goals in 89 appearances for the German team.

The Norwegian international won the German Bundesliga Player of the Season award in the 2020-21 campaign.

Haaland, who was born in England’s Leeds, played for Norwegian clubs Bryne and Molde, Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg, and Borussia Dortmund, respectively.

Source: Anadolu Agency