The alleged incident happened in the final minute of the Group C match in Baku.
Immediately following the allegation, England head coach Matt Thorpe was seen on the match coverage on DAZN asking for the referee to come over, before calling his players off the pitch.
After an initial report from Thorpe, the referee told England’s coaching staff, “I cannot hear”.
One of Thorpe’s assistant coaches can then be heard telling the referee “we are reporting racism”, before adding “we do not want to play”.
When another official came over, talking about what would happen after the match, the assistant told him: “No, our players do not want to play”.
He was later heard saying that a player was “upset”.
Heated words were then exchanged between each set of coaching staff, with both saying they were trying to protect their players.
This is the first time the U15 World Cup and Festival has been played, and involves 189 countries and territories.
Matches are played in an eight-a-side format, on smaller pitches, with 20-minute halves.
England are scheduled to play their next match against Zimbabwe at 20:45 local time (16:45 GMT) on Monday, with Republic of Ireland facing Cambodia at the same time.
Australia edged to a 36-22 victory in a pulsating match against Fiji to book their place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.
Having lost their previous five meetings against Australia by an aggregate score of 246-16, a stunned Brisbane crowd watched Fiji enjoy territorial advantage in the first half and take a 16-12 lead after the break.
However, the momentum switched back to Kevin Walters’ side in a crucial 60-second spell.
Solomone Saukuru raced in to seemingly put Fiji 20-12 ahead – but when it was ruled out for obstruction, Australia immediately went up the other end and Tom Trbojevic scored to bring the teams level.
Trbojevic, who looked vulnerable in defence, crossed twice more for Australia and Jacob Preston added a further try after Semi Valemei had completed his hat-trick for Fiji.
“There are definitely some areas to improve on,” Trbojevic told Premier Sports. “We didn’t start as we wanted to and couldn’t get a flow. We just needed to play our style of footy.
“We weren’t at our best but we came away with two points. We need to improve. We’ve got to enjoy a win but we’ve got to be our harshest critics too.”
Brisbane Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs had opened the scoring for Australia on his home ground, while Sam Walker capped his debut with a try and 12 points with the boot.
But the manner in which their pack were outmuscled – and in which they allowed Taane Milne and Valemei to score – will be a concern for Walters, whose team head into the last four despite delivering two unconvincing performances in beating New Zealand and Fiji.
New Zealand will take on Fiji in a make-or-break final pool game on Saturday, 31 October (04:30 GMT), having overcome an early scare themselves in their 82-16 victory over the Cook Islands in Christchurch.
Barrow has placed an emphasis on developing young talent. Post-match, he referenced the DiSE programme,, external which started in 2019 to provide a pathway for young players to develop after leaving high school.
In his 17-player squad to face Australia, he named 11 players aged 23 or under – including the all-Wigan half-back pairing of Isabel Rowe and Jenna Foubister, both 19.
“We are here to compete, but with a group like this we are hopefully bleeding them in for the 2030 World Cup,” Barrow added.
“There are a lot of 19, 20 and 21-year-olds in our group, who are going to gain a load of experience from this.
“Our aim is to give them every experience we can to make them better for the future.”
In contrast, Jess Skinner’s Australia only had two players below the age of 25 in their 17 and had an average age of almost 28.
And the greater experience, power and pace of the seasoned professionals told against England, who only fielded three NRLW players, and have a squad largely comprised of players who have full-time occupations away from the sport.
“When they get on a roll like that I don’t think any team in the world can compete with them,” Barrow added. “They are just too quick, too skilful and too fast for our girls at that stage.
“They don’t face that week in, week out. So when it comes at them quickly, it can be a shock to the system but they will learn from it. I thought they competed and tried in the second half but we never had the ball.”
After 23 minutes, England found their breakthrough as captain George Williams – overwhelmed by Tonga last week and initially nervy here – broke the line before a clever behind-the-back pass set up Young to score in the corner.
England had, belatedly, arrived at this World Cup as a force to be reckoned with. Soon after, full-back AJ Brimson – whose direct runs pierced France time and again – led a breakaway before finding Matty Ashton.
The wing had knocked on over the try line early on to spill a seemingly certain England opener, but made no mistake here for his seventh try in six Tests.
Harry Smith spotted the gap before setting up Farnworth for his first try on 27 minutes. And after a period of defence against a France side – who threatened sporadically but made too many simple mistakes – Farnworth scored again nine minutes later.
Williams powered over under the posts for 30-0, and then came England’s best move of the World Cup just before the break – slick through the hands to the right before Young set Farnworth back in for his third.
Eight minutes after the break, Young chased down a grubber kick to bring up 40 points – before Jez Litten and Williams cut through a tiring defence and Victor Radley scored unopposed.
England needed to repel another French siege, before overpowering at the other end for Litten – who impressed as an interchange – to score. Another Brimson surge led the way for try number 10, scored by Mikey Lewis.
A dreadful short kick-off was caught by Young, who raced through for his hat-trick. Jack Welsby got on the act for try 12, a third score in four minutes, as the French surrendered.
The 13th try – scored by Lewis who broke through two weak tackles – ensured England surpassed Samoa’s 74-point winning margin against the French.
After a frustrating few minutes where they had to defend deep for their clean sheet, England finally reached 80 as Brimson scored a deserved try.
Hugo Savala was also a key figure with superb kicking. He only missed one goal from 14 attempts, adding 26 points.
England are far from perfect. They made six errors in the opening 20 minutes – and a better side than France, who haven’t reached the semi-finals since 1992, would have taken advantage.
But it all comes down to points on the scoreboard – and England must hope they have enough.
After Samoa thrashed Papua New Guinea 62-6 earlier, England were a massive 150 behind the Samoans on points difference – which, if Tonga beat Samoa next weekend, would be the deciding factor between the teams as to who reaches the semis.
A hefty win here helps the English cause, but they still need work and luck to avoid missing the World Cup last four for the first time ever.
Samoa score 14 unaswered tries as they thrash Wales 76-0 to secure their first win in Pool A at the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup, whilst the result leaves Wales with two defeats from two.
With England’s points difference currently 92 worse than Ben Gardiner’s Samoa team in a combined Pool B and C table, they will almost certainly also need to defeat Papua New Guinea on Friday, 30 October (09:05 GMT), to have any chance of reaching the last four.
The format of this tournament features an unbalanced group stage, which has not helped England’s prospects.
Pool A has four teams – Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands – fighting for two semi-final places in a round-robin format.
But Pools B and C are combined into one six-team league, from which only the top two will make the semi-finals. England, drawn in Pool B, are playing the three Pool C teams – Tonga, France and Papua New Guinea.
Tonga are currently in pole position to make the knockout stages after adding to their win over England with a 36-0 victory over Lebanon on Friday.
Sione Katoa and Jojo Fifita scored two tries each against a spirited Lebanon side who had chances themselves before fading in the final 20 minutes.
Lebanon might reflect on a key moment towards the first half when, trailing 10-0 and chasing a try to bring them back into the match, Alex Conti tried to kick towards the corner for Jason Saab, who was unable to collect and only batted it back for Tonga centre Tolutau Koula to run the length of the field and score at the other end.
Paul Alamoti and Leka Halasima scored the other Tonga tries against opponents playing only their third game since the previous World Cup and with only a couple of a youthful squad that lost to Italy in 2025 still involved.
“We had 12 debutants last week, so we just need more footy,” said Lebanon coach Michael Cheika.
“We tried to get a warm-up game here. We weren’t allowed, but I don’t know who [which governing body] it was [that stopped us]. We need to have a warm-up game.
“We can prepare and start to get ready. It’s not easy for us. We haven’t played a game since the last World Cup.
“Last year we tried to get the spot against the team who had the bye in the second tier of the Pacific Championships, so either a Papua New Guinea or [someone of that ilk] another. They put a line through it.
“They said: We’re lining it up with the teams individually. They put a line through it. I don’t even know why. We never got an answer. So it’s really out of our hands.”
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto says it will be difficult for Saudi Arabia to host next year’s tournament as scheduled.
Published On 23 Oct 202623 Oct 2026
The ongoing security situation in Saudi Arabia makes it difficult for the country to host football’s 2027 Asian Cup as scheduled, Japan Football Association President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto has warned.
Several major sporting events in Saudi Arabia have been cancelled or postponed amid escalating attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, raising doubts over whether the continental tournament can take place as planned from January 7 to February 5 next year.
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“Based on what I’ve learned from the news, the situation is still unsafe, so at this point, I don’t think it would be easy to hold the [Asian] Cup there,” Miyamoto told reporters at the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) extraordinary congress in Tokyo.
“I just had a meeting with the Saudi side and they said that their top priority is the safety of the players, the fans, and everyone who would be attending the tournament.”
“They said they would work with the AFC to decide whether the tournament can go ahead, so they did mention that it would take some time (to make that decision).”
Asian football chief Salman bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa said last week a postponement until 2028 remained a possibility if necessary, but the local organising committee (LOC) later said it was sticking to the original schedule.
“Preparations across all organisational and operational areas are progressing according to the approved schedule, including work on venues, facilities and supporting services,” the LOC had said in a statement last week.
“(The LOC) will continue to monitor developments relevant to the tournament and ensure the appropriate conditions are in place for its successful delivery.”
Earlier this month, golf’s Asian Tour postponed the Saudi International indefinitely and cycling’s Urban World Championships were cancelled following a deadly attack on Riyadh’s international airport, which killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300.
Other events have also been disrupted. The Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament in Riyadh was moved from October to December, while FIFA postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026 video game competition in Jeddah until an unspecified date.
The Saudi government has invested heavily in sport through its Public Investment Fund (PIF) in recent years and the Asian Cup was pitched as an early rehearsal for hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2034.
Jasmin Strange’s withdrawal from the England squad with a knee injury is a “devastating blow” to their World Cup prospects says head coach Stuart Barrow.
Strange, 23, whose mother was born in Yorkshire, was one of five NRLW players included in Barrow’s squad to face the reigning world champions Australia in Perth.
“Jasmin joined us when we arrived here and has been outstanding. She’s mixed with the girls really well and to lose her yesterday in training was a devastating blow for all the girls,” said Barrow.
“It was almost a freak accident. It was a defensive session but Jasmin was with the ball, did a step and unfortunately suffered a serious knee injury. It was a real disappointing outcome for someone who has been excellent for us.
“It’s affected the camp but Jasmin will want us to recover and bounce back and she’s coming back into camp this evening so the girls will get around her.
“It flatlined the group and it flatlined the coaching staff but we’ve bounced back today. Within seven hours Jas had a scan and got the results. I went to the hospital with her last night and the scan confirmed our worst fears.”
Strange, 23, who comes from a rugby league family, had looked set to be a key player for Barrow’s new-look side which has altered significantly since England fell to a record defeat 90-4 defeat to the Jillaroos in March 2025.
Barrow confirmed that Leeds Rhinos second-row Lucy Murray will replace Strange this weekend and that there are no plans to bring in another player for the remainder of the tournament.
“She [Jasmin] played very well at the weekend so we lose a bit of quality but we’ve brought 23 players who are all competing for shirts so we are confident we can cover that loss,” Barrow added.
“It’ll be a straight swap. Lucy [Murray] was very close in the first selection and was close again this week so with Jas playing that back-row spot, Lucy will come straight in.”
England women: Fran Goldthorp, Anna Davies, Molly Jones, Connie Boyd, Amelia Brown, Isabel Rowe, Jenna Foubister, Liv Wood, Keara Bennett, Hollie-Mae Dodd, Lucy Murray, Eva Hunter, Megan Williams.
In a letter outlining 42 questions, UEFA gives FIFA until November 2 to release documents on Infantino’s aborted plans.
Published On 20 Oct 202620 Oct 2026
UEFA has given FIFA a deadline of November 2 to release documents relating to its president Gianni Infantino’s aborted attempts at a secretive investment plan for the World Cup and other governance issues.
The latest move in a power struggle between the global and continental governing bodies was revealed on Monday, days after European football’s top officials were disappointed by what they perceived as a lack of clarity from Infantino over the issues at a FIFA Council meeting last week.
Among the 42 questions to which UEFA is demanding answers are: Infantino’s personal remuneration package, financial payments made to singer Marc Anthony, the handling of USA striker Folarin Balogun’s disciplinary case, business and political relationships involving US President Donald Trump and his family, and the operational independence of FIFA’s judicial, electoral and ethics committees.
UEFA asked US federal courts to authorise subpoenas compelling the production of documents and sworn testimony about the abandoned investment plan called FIFA Forward Enterprise.
FIFA lawyers have claimed UEFA is harassing Infantino.
Al Jazeera reached out to FIFA for a comment but did not receive a response.
Deep dissatisfaction
The formal letter, signed by UEFA general secretary Theodore Theodoridis on behalf of European FIFA Council members, stated Infantino’s apology for his actions and subsequent explanation failed to address their core concerns.
“These explanations have not begun satisfactorily to address a number of fundamental questions raised by Council members. Others remain unanswered, and the information and documentation requested have not been [provided],” the letter said.
“The withdrawal of FFE, the recognition of mistakes, and the announcement of ‘potential governance reforms’ do not answer how the relevant decisions were taken or why the FIFA Council was not involved at the appropriate stage.”
According to media reports, the letter further said: “Any refusal to disclose information or documents should be justified individually, with a clear explanation of the specific grounds relied upon.”
Tight timeline
UEFA submitted 42 detailed questions to FIFA, demanding responses by November 2 — 16 days before the nomination deadline for the presidential election on March 18, 2027.
With the next FIFA Council meeting scheduled for December 16 in Doha, Qatar — after nominations close — UEFA insisted that answers cannot wait.
“These questions require answers now. They cannot be deferred until the next meeting of the FIFA Council — nor can future governance reforms substitute for scrutiny of decisions already taken and accountability for them,” the letter emphasised.
The earlier deadline would give federations time to assess FIFA’s answers — or its failure to answer — while they can still nominate or endorse a challenger.
“This process will require several weeks, with the CAS Award expected at the end of November 2026,” the court said in a statement on Monday.
Senegal are contesting the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to declare Morocco champions, despite Senegal beating the hosts 1-0 after extra time in January’s final in Rabat. Their arguments, plus those of Morocco and CAF, were heard by CAS in Lausanne on October 8.
At the time, CAS said it expected a decision within days but has now decided to issue a complete ruling, including legal grounds, known as a CAS Award.
Senegal walked off the pitch for 14 minutes after a penalty was awarded against them late in regulation time, with several players returning to the dressing room in protest before they resumed play.
Morocco missed the spot kick, sending the match into extra time, where Senegal scored the winner to secure victory.
However, they were stripped of the title two months later after CAF’s Appeal Board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match by walking off the pitch, overturning the result and awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco.
Senegal quickly followed with an appeal to CAS, which was lodged on March 25 but heard some six months later. The basis of their arguments is that the referee’s decision is final and he allowed the match to be completed.
“I know it’s a long wait for the fans, a few months after the final between Senegal and Morocco,” CAS Director General Matthieu Reeb said outside the hearing earlier this month.
“The facts are set, are clear and the discussions will be on some procedural issues and legal aspects,” he added.
The CAS panel is presided over by French sports law expert Gerald Simon, with the assistance of Italian international law professor Luigi Fumagalli and Hamburg-based lawyer and professor of law at the University of Zurich, Ulrich Haas.
CAS decisions are called awards and hold the same value as a national court judgement. CAS awards may be enforced by sports federations or state courts, depending on the circumstances.
Tries: Chessum, Van der Flier Cons: Searle 2 Pen: Searle
Leicester Tigers began their Champions Cup campaign with a 41-17 defeat by French club Pau.
Portugal international Rodrigo Marta crossed for two of the home side’s five tries, with a late burst helping them earn a bonus point from their Pool One opener.
Despite falling behind to an early Pau penalty, Leicester did well in the early exchanges, their tactical kicking game keeping them camped in their opponents’ territory.
Billy Searle’s 50-22 put the Tigers in superb field position and they capitalised through captain Ollie Chessum, who was making his first appearance of the season after recovering from a foot injury.
Pau fought back well, however, showing their quality with three tries in a 20-minute spell either side of half-time.
They had already seen a Sacha Zegueur try ruled out for a knock-on before Marta, the leading try-scorer in this season’s Top 14 with six in five appearances, and prop Jon Zebala touched down late in the first half.
Centre Marta raced in again from 30 metres to extend Pau’s lead after the interval.
Archie van der Flier powered over in the corner to move Leicester back within seven points, but that would be the final time Leicester would be within range of a losing bonus point, as Pau scored 17 points without reply.
Fly-half Axel Desperes added a further penalty, Theo Attissogbe sent winger Aaron Grandidier Nkanang over unchallenged in the corner and Fabien Brau-Boirie intercepted a Leicester pass to complete the scoring.
Leicester’s remaining Pool One matches are against Clermont Auvergne, Glasgow Warriors and Leinster.
Four years ago, England were left shocked and shattered by Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.
Now in 2026, Tonga – another Pacific island nation – have done the same with a victory to put England’s Australian campaign in immediate jeopardy.
Tonga combined classy attacking play with staunch defence, mixed with a pinch of luck – while being cheered on by a ferociously partisan crowd in Perth – to cause a major upset.
It was expected that Brian McDermott’s team – ranked third in the world – would have enough to open their Group B-C campaign with victory over opponents ranked fifth.
But they will now have to pick themselves up for coming group games against France and Papua New Guinea to try to secure a top-two finish in the combined six-team group table and secure a semi-final spot.
England’s day came apart amid seemingly endless mistakes, wastefulness and a few dodgy refereeing decisions.
Arguably the turning point came on 22 minutes, when England got to within a few yards of the opposition line but Victor Radley knocked on after an absolute boneshaker from Tonga captain Jason Taumalolo.
The ball was turned over, and the Tongans scored two minutes later. Stefano Utoikamanu streaked through after Isaiya Katoa’s superb inside pass cut out George Williams and Kai Pearce-Paul, to the delight of the massed Tongan fans in Perth.
For England, it seemed as if the universe was against them.
The impressive Katoa converted two penalties given following debatable calls. First, Harry Smith was penalised for obstruction when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak ran into him. Then, Herbie Farnworth conceded a sloppy penalty on the verge of half-time when accidentally tripping Watene-Zelezniak off the ball.
England badly needed half-time, and they came out refreshed.
Their first flowing move of the home game led to a try for full-back AJ Brimson after being set up by a sensational driving run from Young, holding off two tacklers over 20 metres.
Waves of England attacks began to crash on the Tongan defence, but Tonga stood firm and benefited from a moment of fortune as Haumole Olakau’atu pounced after his sketchy first grubber kick was kicked on behind the England line.
And with England wobbling, Tonga landed a one-two punch when Tolutau Koula drove over the line.
Young went over in the corner to give England false hope, but in front of their delirious fans Tonga scored their fourth try as Katoa’s grubber kick exploited defensive gaps for Olakau’atu to touch down.
While Wales provided threat going forwards, in defence they provided little resistance as England’s powerful attack pierced through with frightening ease.
A slick move after three minutes resulted in Amelia Brown scoring the England opener, before Wales got their time in the sun.
A series of England errors allowed Wales to apply pressure, and they deservedly scored through Travis – who represented England at the World Cup four years ago.
The shock concession brought England focus, and a well-constructed move ended in Georgia Wilson scoring in the corner.
From then, England were motoring.
Hollie-Mae Dodd’s drive and offload ended in Boyd scoring her first, before Dodd deservedly got on the scoresheet herself, following up after Fran Goldthorp was held up on the line.
On 27 minutes, a quick move of the ball through hands to the left allowed Boyd to power through, before Davies ran more than half the length of the field to score under the posts.
Rowe got a try of her own before the interval, making it 40-6 at half-time.
The heavy scoring continued after the break.
Another debutant, Jasmin Strange – one of two heritage players not born in England – also bagged her first try, before Rowe rolled over her second.
The match was summed up by England’s 10th try, when a promising Wales attack involved a chipped kick to the corner, but the bounce went kindly for Brown behind her own try line.
Brown raced 109 metres up to the other end to score one of the longest-range tries in women’s rugby league history, and thoroughly demoralise Wales.
Boyd and Davies wrapped it up with three tries in the final five minutes.
When England and Wales met for the first time, at Headingley in 2024, England won 82-0 in a match which could be best described as women against girls.
Two years down the line, they took to the field as teams who had each earned their spot on the World Cup stage – but England showed why they remain by far the more dominant force.
IT’S easy to get into the festive spirit at a Christmas market and they’re even better on the cheap.
In one city that Brits can reach in three hours for less than £30, hotels are £15 per night, and mulled wine at festive stalls is as little as 82p.
Sibiu Christmas has stalls, rides and mulled wine for less than £1Credit: AlamySibiu can be reached from the UK with direct flights that take 3 hoursCredit: Alamy
Sibiu in Romania is the ideal city for a festive break and it was even named as the 18th most underrated destination by Time Out last year.
Not to mention it’s cheap, eurochange has compared the prices of mulled wine across 55 Christmasmarkets across Europe, and Sibiu came out on top.
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A warm cup of infused red wine can be bought from 82p which is hugely cheaper than in the UK, where it can more than £7 a cup.
And you’ll be able to buy it soon too, as its Sibiu Christmas Market is set to open on November 13 all the way through until January 3, 2027.
Held in the Grand Square, the Christmas Market is completely free to enter.
There’s plenty to do, from hopping on the Ferris Wheel, to visiting Santa in his workshop, ice skating, and relaxing at the Chalet where festive drinks (including mulled wine) are served.
On certain evenings, the Chalet will even turn into a party spot with a live DJ.
One visitor described is as ‘magical’ and a ‘photographer’s playground’.
Outside of the Christmas market, there’s lots to see like The Bridge of Lies which has lots of legends and myths behind it – and when lit up at night, can make for a great picture spot too.
Another must-see spot in Sibiu is Muzeul Astra, the largest open-air museum in Europe.
The Christmas market in Sibiu will open in early NovemberCredit: Alamy
Talking to Sun Travel, one Wizz Air flight attendant explained why Sibiu is a must-visit destination.
Niko said: “I’ve been to Sibiu in Romania several times already.
“You have the mountains, so there’s lots of nature, the food is amazing, everything is cheap and the people are so friendly.
“And you should try Papanasi. It’s a Romanian dessert that’s like a doughnut. It tastes amazing, but not good if you’re on a diet.”
It’s not just mulled wine in Sibiu that’s affordable – the price of a local pint of beer is less than £2 on average, according to Wise.
The price of a meal can be bought for less than £5 and coffee on average is also less than £2.
Brits can fly directly from London Luton to Sibiu three times a week with Wizz Air and one-way fares start from £26.99.
On Booking.com, one-night stays during November in Sibiu can cost less than £30 per night – or £15 each.
The Old Town is filled with pretty cafes and restaurantsCredit: Alamy
Here are the cheapest place for mulled wine in 2026…
Here are eurochange’s cheapest places for mulled once – and the average price of a cup…
Sibiu, Romania – 82p
Brașov, Romania – £1.63
Craiova, Romania – £1.63
Sofia, Bulgaria – £1.76
Olomouc, Czechia – £1.77
Brno, Czechia – £1.77
Gothenburg (Christmas at Liseberg), Sweden – £1.89
Asian Cup preparations continue for January, but Asian Tour delays golf’s Saudi Invitational after Houthi attacks.
Published On 16 Oct 202616 Oct 2026
The Asian Cup football tournament is on track to take place in Saudi Arabia early next year, local organisers say, but golf’s Asian Tour has postponed the Saudi International indefinitely in the aftermath of a series of attacks on Riyadh.
Yemen’s Houthi group claimed responsibility for the deadliest attack, which took place on Saturday on Riyadh’s international airport. It killed 14 people and wounded more than 300.
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Australia also withdrew its team from the urban cycling World Championships on Friday, citing safety concerns over travelling to Riyadh, where the event is scheduled to take place in early November.
The Six Kings Slam exhibition tennis tournament in Riyadh has already been moved from October to December while FIFA on Thursday postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026 video game competition in Jeddah until an unspecified future date.
In that environment, serious questions were being asked about whether the 24-team Asian Cup could still go ahead in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5.
Three Saudi Pro League matches, including one featuring Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, were postponed this week while Al-Nassr’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League game on Monday was delayed by an hour after Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence said it had intercepted a missile fired towards Riyadh.
AFC chief Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa said earlier this week that a postponement of the continental championships until 2028 was possible if necessary, but the local organising committee (LOC) said on Friday that it was sticking to the original schedule.
“Preparations across all organisational and operational areas are progressing according to the approved schedule, including work on venues, facilities and supporting services,” it said in a statement.
The LOC “will continue to monitor developments relevant to the tournament and ensure the appropriate conditions are in place for its successful delivery”.
Attacks in Saudi Arabia disrupt sport calendar
The $5m Saudi International, which is sponsored by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), is the flagship event on the Asian Tour and had been scheduled to take place at Riyadh Golf Club on November 18-21.
“The decision to postpone was taken following an assessment of the organisational and logistical challenges associated with hosting the tournament and ensuring the event is delivered to a standard befitting its international stature,” an Asian Tour statement said.
AusCycling said its decision to withdraw the Australian team from the urban World Championships was made “with the safety and wellbeing of our athletes and staff our highest priority”.
The Australian government is advising travellers to “reconsider” trips to Saudi Arabia in general and Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport in particular “due to recent security incidents”.
The Saudi government has invested heavily in sport through the PIF in recent years, and the Asian Cup was pitched as an early rehearsal for hosting football’s FIFA World Cup in 2034.
Australia beat New Zealand 24-22 in a dramatic Rugby League World Cup opener in Sydney, with debutant Jack Bostock scoring a hat-trick to see the hosts snatch victory late on.
