Sports
Ballon d’Or Football Award Winners To Get NFTs
Published
2 years agoon
By
EditorThe winners of this year’s Ballon d’Or, the top award for individual footballers, will receive digital tokens to go with their gleaming trophies, the organisers told AFP on Thursday.
The France-based award, run by the Equipe media group, has feted the beautiful game’s best players for 66 years, bestowing on them global acclaim and a trophy in the shape of a golden football.
But this year Equipe is seeking to move into the crypto sector, offering a range of digital tokens (NFTs) — free for the winners but with hundreds more being sold to the public.
Sport is awash with NFT projects as organisers, clubs and players seek to cash in on their fame.
The tokens are pieces of computer code stored on a blockchain, the digital ledger that holds information about digital assets.
They can be linked to a piece of art, a video game avatar or a real-world object, as with the Ballon d’Or.
NFTs are generally bought by people who hope to sell them on at a profit, their value based on supposed scarcity and collectability.
But the whole of the crypto sector has suffered a rout this year with the value of currencies and assets such as NFTs taking a pummelling.
Nevertheless, Equipe said the Ballon d’Or NFTs were part of a longer term strategy.
“This first collection will be followed by others as the Ballon d’Or, and more broadly the Equipe and Amaury groups, wish to project themselves in a sustainable way into the world of web3, the new age of decentralised internet,” said the media group.
READ ALSO: Ballon d’Or 2022: Shock As Organizers Snub Messi, Neymar In 30-man Shortlist
Equipe said it would auction three NFTs that would give the holders “VIP access” to the awards ceremony on 17 October, followed by hundreds more after the ceremony.
Karim Benzema, the France and Real Madrid striker, is runaway favourite to win the men’s award this year.
Appropriately enough, he launched his own NFT collection earlier this year.
AFP
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Sports
Former Manchester United Striker, Carlos Tevez Rushed To Hospital
Published
2 days agoon
April 24, 2024By
EditorFormer Argentina international Carlos Tevez has been admitted to hospital after suffering chest pains.
The former Manchester United and Manchester City striker reportedly spent the night at a clinic in the upmarket Buenos Aires neighbourhood of San Isidro after seeking medical help.
He was due to undergo more tests today at another nearby hospital.
The club he manages, top-flight Argentinian side Independiente, confirmed his hospital admission overnight as it said the initial results had been ‘satisfactory.’
READ ALSO: Two Premier League Stars Arrested In R@pe Probe, Suspended By Cub’
Local reports have linked the problems to stress. Tevez has yet to make any official comment.
Independente said in an overnight statement on X, formerly Twitter after initially denying the father-of-three had been admitted to the hospital: ‘Our coach, Carlos Tevez, went to the La Trinidad Hospital in San Isidro with chest pain.
‘They carried out the corresponding tests and they were satisfactory.
‘Today he will continue with a series of tests scheduled in advance as part of a general check-up.’
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It added in a subsequent message: ‘Carlos Tevez will be hospitalised as a precaution until the corresponding tests are completed.’
It was not immediately clear whether he would be able to attend a club training session scheduled for later today.
The hospital where he is set to undergo further tests has been named the Finochietto Hospital in Buenos Aires.
Tevez is understood to suffer from high blood pressure and regularly undergoes medical checks.
Sports
Two Premier League Stars Arrested In R@pe Probe, Suspended By Cub’
Published
2 days agoon
April 24, 2024By
EditorTwo Premier League stars who were both arrested in a police rape probe have now reportedly been suspended by their football club.
The two unnamed footballers, both 19, are from the same club and were arrested over the weekend after the alleged victim made a report to police.
One player, 19, was reportedly spoken to by police on suspicion of assault and aiding and abetting a rape at the club stadium before he was formally arrested after leaving the grounds.
He was detained overnight and was later questioned by police under caution.
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The other player, who is also 19, was arrested the next day and was later quizzed by officers on suspicion of rape.
He was detained overnight and was later questioned by police under caution.
The other player, who is also 19, was arrested the next day and was later quizzed by officers on suspicion of rape.
Both players have since been released on bail pending further enquiries, police have said.
The alleged rape reportedly took place on Friday night, with the alleged victim contacting police and filing a formal complaint hours later.
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The force said: ‘Officers have arrested two men following a report of a rape.
‘A 19-year-old man was arrested on Saturday (20 April) on suspicion of assault and aiding and abetting a rape. A second 19-year-old man was arrested on Sunday (21 April) on suspicion of rape.
‘Both men have since been released on police bail.’
A club spokesman told The Sun yesterday: ‘As the matter is now in the hands of the police, the Football Club will not be making further comment at this stage.’
Police officers arrived at the stadium to speak to the footballer and spoke with him in a private room, a source told the paper.
They said the player left with another person and was arrested that night.
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It is not the first time the Premier League has been at the centre of a police investigation over an alleged rape.
Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood, 22, was charged with attempted rape, assault and coercive behaviour in October 2022.
The case against him was subsequently dropped in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew. Greenwood denied all the allegations against him.
After an internal club investigation, the decision was taken to send Greenwood out on loan to Spanish club Getafe.
Sports
20-year-old English Midfielder, Bellingham Wins 2024 Laureus World Sports Breakthrough Award
Published
3 days agoon
April 23, 2024By
EditorJude Bellingham has been awarded the 2024 Laureus World Sports Breakthrough of the Year prize in recognition of his startling season for Real Madrid and England.
The 20-year-old English midfielder established himself as the Spanish giants’ main man since moving to the club from Borussia Dortmund last summer,
Bellingham, who has a tally of 21 goals produced another starring role in Sunday’s El Clasico victory over Barcelona.
He scored the late winner that secured a 3-2 win over Barcelona.
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Jude Bellingham wins 2024 Laureus World Sports Breakthrough of the Year award
Elsewhere, Novak Djokovic and Aitana Bonmati were the other big winners at the ceremony held in the Galeria de Cristal in Madrid on Monday night.
Djokovic was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year for a record-equalling fifth time after winning the Australian Open, French Open, and US Open to lead the way with 24 grand slam men’s singles titles.
‘I am incredibly honoured to have won my fifth Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award,’ said Djokovic.
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‘I think back to 2012, when I won it for the first time as a 24-year-old. I am very proud to be here 12 years later, reflecting on a year that brought me and my fans a lot of excitement and success.
‘It was thrilling to return to Australia last January and win my 10th title. It is a tournament that is so dear to my heart and set me up for an incredible 12 months.
‘I could not have achieved so much success without an incredible team behind me, and inspirational rivals who have always pushed me to be the best version of myself.’
The 25th Laureus World Sports Awards took place on Monday 22 April in Madrid, celebrating the leading names in sport from across the globe.
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