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Messi Wins Record Sixth Ballon d’Or
IRISH EXAMINER | December 4th, 2019

ionel Messi has claimed a record former club Ajax reaching the
sixth Ballon d’Or crown at the 64th Champions League semi-finals. Liverpool Derby To Be Highlight Of
Lceremony in Paris. Alisson Becker lifted the inaugural FA Cup’s Third Round
Argentina striker Messi moved ahead Yachine Trophy to reward the top goal-
of great rival Cristiano Ronaldo to take keeper, with the Liverpool man also fin- Rivals Liverpool and Everton
outright ownership of the Ballon d’Or ishing seventh in the overall Ballon d’Or will meet in the FA Cup third
record haul, seeing off Liverpool’s Virgil vote. round.
Van Dijk and Juventus’ Ronaldo. Megan Rapinoe won the Women’s Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League
Messi struck 54 goals for club and Ballon d’Or after leading the United leaders will have home advantage
country in the 2018-19 season, and found States to the Women’s World Cup title, in the cup Merseyside derby,
the net nine times in seven games in scoring six goals and laying on three which will take place from
October and November. assists. January 3-6.
The 32-year-old held off the challenge England’s Lucy Bronze came second Holders Manchester City land-
of Holland center-back Van Dijk, whose as the Lyon full-back starred in the ed a home tie against Port Vale,
talismanic performances helped Lionesses’ run to the semi-finals. C while Manchester United will visit
Liverpool to the Champions League Wolves, the club that knocked
title. them out of last season’s competi-
Messi added another Ballon d’Or to tion at the quarter-final stage.
the Best FIFA Men’s award in 2019, The draw, conducted at
while Liverpool’s Van Dijk had claimed Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium by Tony Adams and Micah Richards, landed
UEFA’s Men’s Player of the Year. dream opportunities for some of the non-league sides in the hat.
Van Dijk could have been the first National League AFC Fylde will mark their first third-round appearance with a
defender to lift the Ballon d’Or since trip to Sheffield United, with National League North Boston hosting Newcastle if
Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro in 2006 but they beat Rochdale in a second-round replay.
Messi scuppered the Liverpool man’s Elsewhere, Eastleigh or Crewe will entertain Championship strugglers
chances. Barnsley, with Hartlepool going to Oxford if they get past Exeter, and Solihull
Juventus defender Matthijs De Ligt Moors or Rotherham hosting Hull.
claimed the 2019 Kopa Trophy for the Leicester, second in the Premier League, entertain Wigan, with Frank
young player award. Lampard’s Chelsea welcoming Nottingham Forest to Stamford Bridge.
The center-back helped Holland to Premier League relegation candidates Watford host League One Tranmere,
the final of the Nations League, with his Southampton are at home to Huddersfield and Brighton meet Sheffield
Wednesday.
League Two Newport, FA Cup conquerors of Leicester and Middlesbrough
SSlliiggoo--NNeeww YYoorrkk GGAAAA last season, visit Millwall, with all-Championship ties including Swansea’s trip to

QPR, Charlton hosting West Brom and Brentford tackling Stoke. C
DDiinnnneerr DDaannccee
Ceferin Insists That UEFA
Does Care About Rascism
SSaattuurrddaayy DDeecceemmbbeerr 1144tthh
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin insists the organization is “trying” and “we
care” over the fight against racism in football.
M Maannhhaattttaann MMaannoorr aatt RRoossiiee OO''GGrraaddyy''ss A number of high-profile incidents in recent weeks – including racist abuse
hurled at England players in Bulgaria and chants aimed at Romelu Lukaku and
201 West 52nd Street (at Seventh Avenue)
Mario Balotelli in Italy- served to underline the problem.
New York, NY 10019e
It has seen UEFA come under fire for what is viewed in many quarters as their
lack of appropriate disciplinary action.
H Hoonnoorreeeess In an interview with the Mirror, Ceferin said: “I don’t blame the players for
what they say. I understand that the players are desperate because of the punish-
GGuueesstt ooff HHoonnoorr ments and the incidents that are happening again and again.
“Of course you want to say (to UEFA): ‘Go to hell!’ I know.
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“But I am not so naive to think that we’ve done all we can and now everything
S Slliiggoo PPeerrssoonn ooff tthhee YYeeaarr is finished. We haven’t.
“We are trying and we care. We are not just some guys in Nyon sitting eating
D Deeccllaann HHeennrryy fancy food and driving Ferraris.

S Slliiggoo NNYY SSeenniioorr PPllaayyeerr ooff tthhee YYeeaarr “I went recently to the European Union. We speak with governments. We are
trying to do something.”
V Viinnnnyy CCaaddddeenn Asked if he accepted personal responsibility for a widespread lack of faith in
UEFA, he added: “Of course I do. Many people have pointed out that I’m the face
S Slliiggoo NNYY JJuunniioorr PPllaayyeerr ooff tthhee YYeeaarr of UEFA.

N Niiaallll JJuuddggee “Do you know what is the destiny of the presidents of an organisation like ours
is? It’s that you are mainly connected to the negative stuff. If we are successful,
2 2001199 SSeenniioorr CChhaammppiioonnsshhiipp aanndd LLeeaagguuee CChhaammppiioonnss nobody cares.
“I was the same. But then you come to the system and you see, it takes time. It
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takes a lot of effort, a lot of discussion.”
One of the major moves lined up by UEFA looks set to be an overhauling of its
MMuussiicc:: MMccLLeeaann AAvveennuuee BBaanndd disciplinary panels, making them more diverse.
Ceferin said: “You have to have different perspectives, then you have a more,
Tickets $125.00 let’s say, clear view on what is right and what is wrong.
“We want to be specific. So we are working on that we will change our statutes
gaanysligo@hotmail.com
about it in March, the next committee.” C