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France-Maroc : l’arbitre argentin Facundo Tello aux commandes
L’arbitre argentin, Facundo Tello dirigera jeudi le quart de finale entre la France et le Maroc près de Boston. trojkonferencja2024.pl
La FIFA a désigné le corps arbitral pour le quart de finale de la Coupe du monde entre la France et le Maroc qui se disputera au Gillette Stadium de Foxborough près de Boston. L’arbitre argentin, Facundo Tello officiera pour la sixième fois dans un Mondial, le troisième dans cette édition 2026. En 2022, il avait arbitré la victoire 1-0 du Maroc en quart de finale face au Portugal et n’avait jamais encore croisé les Bleus dans un Mondial.
En phase de groupe, l’arbitre de 44 ans a dirigé Canada-Bosnie (1-1) où il a distribué 5 avertissements, mais aussi Afrique du Sud-Corée du Sud (1-0) dans lequel deux joueurs ont été sanctionnés d’un carton jaune. Il sera assisté de deux compatriotes à la touche Juan Pablo Belatti et Gabriel Chade. Le quatrième arbitre est aussi argentin, Darío Herrera.
The post France-Maroc : l’arbitre argentin Facundo Tello aux commandes appeared first on AfricaFootUnited.
Sony’s baffling decision to region lock Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls has united the FGC, as its potential as an esport now hangs in the balance
Sony is on a generational speed run of bad PR in recent days after announcing its intent to completely discontinue disc production for its consoles. However, I believe that the biggest issue they have right now involves Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls and its region lock in over 130 countries, according to SteamDB.
It’s such a huge issue that it has united the fighting game community (FGC), a community known for infighting and debates over what the best fighting game really is. So, what exactly is happening here?
- “EWC isn’t about prestige, it’s about value”: Arslan Ash on too many Evo’s, getting more W’s ahead of retirement, and being alone at the top
- Okay, Evo Vegas 2026 changed my mind about 2XKO: It will survive, but only as an esport
- “I want to be an icon like SonicFox”: Hikari wins 2XKO tourney at Evo Vegas 2026
Sony seems to have forgotten the Helldivers 2 lesson
In my opinion, it’s most likely that developers Arc System Works have nothing to do with Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls’ region lock. The developers have been around the FGC since the late 90’s and have produced amazing fighting games such as Guilty Gear, BlazBlue, and Dragon Ball FighterZ. The last one is particularly important, as it falls into the same category as Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, a developer using an existing IP to make a fighting game out of it.
So, what exactly is the “Helldivers 2 lesson?” This refers to the time when Sony was forced to remove all region locks on their PC games after player backlash. It started when Sony announced in 2024 that the game would require players to have a PlayStation Account to log in.
Hearing this, Helldivers 2 players began review-bombing the game, forcing the company to eventually lift the restrictions not just for Helldivers 2 but also for other Sony studio games available on PC a little over a year later. It’s also worth noting that during the controversy, Arrowhead Studios, the developers of Helldivers 2, apologized even though the decision to region-lock the game is entirely Sony’s decision.
Now, Sony is attempting another Helldivers 2 situation with Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls. As the former owners of Evo, I can’t fathom what’s going on in their heads when they set up the game to be like this. The company should know that fighting games are a universal language. Even if players don’t speak the same spoken language, everyone understands the frustration of jumping in and getting hit by Guile’s flash kick five times in a row.
With that said, the FGC is fighting back, but I have my own concerns.
The FGC fights back, but is it enough?
The Helldivers 2 situation worked out because of the sheer number of people who fought back against the corporation. Funnily enough, Helldivers 2 is all about spreading democracy, and a company region-locking a game is not democratic at all. But I digress; the problem I’m talking about is numbers.
Let’s face it: it’s true that fighting game player numbers can’t compare to first- or third-person shooter numbers. Helldivers 2, at its most popular, had almost half a million players on Steam alone. Street Fighter 6, the most popular fighting game at this time, only had around 76,000 players at its most popular phase, according to SteamDB. That’s only a fraction of the people Helldivers 2 had.
Now, my concern is: Does the FGC have enough voice or power to convince a huge corporation like Sony? Sure, top players such as Justin Wong and Michael “Yipes” Mendoza are speaking out about the problem, but is it enough? The main strength of the FGC is that the game is specifically created for the community. That same community also doesn’t have the same player pool as other genres.
Some fans, after finding out that the game would be region-locked, have been second-guessing whether to buy it. With player counts already being a problem in the FGC, players have been cautious about investing in another fighting game that might eventually die after a few months at worst or a year at best. While this doesn’t sound like a good thing, this is actually the FGC’s biggest weapon against Sony.
As I’ve mentioned, the FGC already has a limited pool of players, and companies want to maximize their profits. If that’s Sony’s intent, then there’s no reason for them to region-lock the game. Now, people are talking about boycotting the launch and letting their wallets speak, but there’s also a petition launched to show Sony that the game should be available for all players who want to play it.
As of writing, the petition is about to reach 2,000 signatures.
The Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls’ region lock could wreak havoc on the competitive scene
If Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls releases with region lock still in place, this might be the first modern-day fighting game that will release in that way.
Back then, when arcade cabinets were the console of choice for fighting games, Japan usually had the advantage in tournaments because the cabinets were released there first. The United States would get them a few months later, and in the worst case, this could take years. This practice was also prevalent in home console releases, with games such as Tekken 4 releasing first in Japan on PlayStation 2. The NA and EU versions followed six months later.
In recent years, fighting game developers have adopted simultaneous worldwide releases to ensure that every competitor and player starts on a level playing field. However, Sony might have other ideas this time. Personally, I really don’t understand why the company is so insistent on requiring a PlayStation account for all their games, when the service isn’t even available in all countries.
In the case that Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls launches as is, fighting game communities of those locked out from the game’s release would fall behind in competition compared to those who have been playing it since launch. There was already outrage in tournaments when 2XKO’s competitive integrity was challenged because a certain tournament allowed beta testers to participate in tournaments, as they were allowed to play champions that weren’t released to the public yet.
And that was only a couple of hours, maybe days, of playtesting.
Ultimately, I really have no idea what the outcome of this whole situation will be. The petition is getting considerable attention, and the top players are voicing their disappointment in Sony’s decision.
Marvel has always been close to the FGC’s heart. Marvel vs. Capcom 2 is a beloved game in the community and is widely considered one of the best fighting games ever made. Robbing the new generation of a new Marvel game will be heartbreaking.
In my opinion, there’s a good chance Sony will announce that the game will be available in all regions. As I’ve mentioned, the company surely wants to maximize its profits, and releasing it in all regions is the best way to do it. Not only does it increase their revenue, but the support of big names in the FGC makes the issue impossible to ignore. To add more hope, even if the game isn’t available in a specific region, its Steam page is still accessible.
With that said, I’m hopeful that we will all be able to play the game on day one.
The post Sony’s baffling decision to region lock Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls has united the FGC, as its potential as an esport now hangs in the balance appeared first on Esports Insider.
Mercato : Newcastle United recrute l’Ivoirien Bazoumana Touré
Newcastle United a officialisé l’arrivée de Bazoumana Touré en provenance d’Hoffenheim pour un montant de 42 millions de livres sterling. À seulement 20 ans, l’ailier ivoirien vient renforcer les couloirs offensifs des Magpies avec l’ambition de s’imposer en Premier League.
St. James’ Park a officiellement accueilli l’un des jeunes talents les plus prometteurs du football ivoirien. Newcastle United a confirmé la signature d’un contrat de longue durée avec l’ailier Bazoumana Touré, en provenance du club allemand d’Hoffenheim.
Eddie Howe affiche ses ambitions
L’entraîneur Eddie Howe n’a pas caché sa satisfaction à l’idée d’accueillir ce jeune talent prometteur :
« Nous sommes ravis d’accueillir Bazoumana à Newcastle United. Il a démontré ses qualités dans un grand championnat européen et a acquis une précieuse expérience en équipe nationale. Nous sommes convaincus qu’il possède un grand potentiel et qu’il apportera un regard neuf sur le jeu de l’équipe. »
Pour Touré, rejoindre Newcastle représente l’aboutissement d’un rêve. Lors de sa présentation officielle, le jeune international ivoirien a déclaré :
« Depuis mon enfance, je rêvais de jouer en Premier League pour un grand club comme Newcastle. Ce club est comme une famille, et cela me permettra de donner le meilleur de moi-même sur le terrain. »
Selon Sky Sports, Newcastle a déboursé 42 millions de livres sterling pour devancer la concurrence. L’opération comprend également des clauses portant sur un pourcentage à la revente du joueur. Cet investissement important témoigne de la confiance du directeur sportif Ross Wilson dans le potentiel de Bazoumana Touré.
Le parcours de l’Ivoirien est inspirant. Formé à la prestigieuse académie ASEC Mimosas, il s’est ensuite révélé sous les couleurs d’Hammarby IF, en Suède, avant de poursuivre sa progression en Bundesliga. Lors de la récente Coupe du monde, il a également disputé trois rencontres avec la Côte d’Ivoire, contribuant au parcours de sa sélection jusqu’en huitièmes de finale.
Avec la confiance du staff technique et un environnement favorable à son développement, Bazoumana Touré ambitionne de s’adapter rapidement aux exigences de la Premier League et de devenir un élément important du projet sportif de Newcastle United.
ALSENY BALDÉ
The post Mercato : Newcastle United recrute l’Ivoirien Bazoumana Touré appeared first on AFRICASPORT.ORG.
Mbokazi can play for Real Madrid, says Bafana Bafana legend
Bafana Bafana legend Siyabonga Nomvethe believes Mbekezeli Mbokazi is good enough to play for big teams in Europe.
The 20-year-old defender impressed during the FIFA World Cup where he played a huge role in helping Bafana reach the round of 32.
Having left Orlando Pirates to join Chicago Fire, Mbokazi has been one of the most talented defenders in the African continent.
Nomvethe, who played in two World Cup, feels the young defender is good enough to play for the likes of Real Madrid.
Mbokazi praised by Bafana legend
“I am very proud of Mbokazi. He showcased his God-given talent to the world. I hope the biggest teams in Europe come knocking. He can play for the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, or even Manchester United.
“He looks very focused and settled well in Chicago. We are delighted to have a player of his calibre in the national team,” Nomvethe told sportsboom.co.za.
Mbokazi was one of the few Bafana players based outside the country. Nomvethe believes that the PSL has enough talent to produce top players for the national team.
The number of local players in the national team demonstrated once more that there is talent in the Premier Soccer League. It is not even about the players that were picked by Coach Hugo Broos. There were still debates about players left behind who are playing in our league,” he said.
Having helped Bafana reach the round of 32, Mbokazi has been linked to several European teams.
Should Mbokazi move to Europe?
Russia Could Compete At LA 2028 Olympics
MOSCOW, Russia, Jul 7 – Russian athletes could be allowed to compete for their country at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles after the International Olympic Committee provisionally lifted their suspension.
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee in 2023 in response to the war in Ukraine.
But it says that ban is “no longer applicable”, external and athletes from Russia can compete again as long as they “meet relevant anti-doping requirements”.
No decision has yet been taken on whether Russia can display its flag, colours and anthem at the Olympic âGames.
The IOC said it will continue to “not organise IOC events in Russia or invite Russian government or state officials to its events”.
Some Russian athletes competed at both the 2024 Paris Games and this year’s Winter Olympics in Milan as neutrals.
Just 32 athletes from Russia and Belarus competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics as approved neutrals, and combined to win five medals. The Russian team had more than 300 athletes at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and won 71 medals.
Russia welcomed the IOC’s decision, saying the Games must be “free from politics”.
“The IOC is sending a clear signal: the Olympic movement must remain free from politics,” Russian sports minister Mikhail Degtyarev said on Telegram, adding that Russia planned to participate in qualifiers for the 2028 Olympics.
The IOC says it still “strongly condemns” the Russian invasion of Ukraine but “recognises that an athlete’s participation in international competition should not be limited by the involvement of their government in a war or conflict”.
In May, World Athletics rejected a recommendation by the IOC that a ban on Belarusian athletes and teams competing under the flag of their nation should be lifted.
Analysis: A controversial decision – but not a surprise
Given Russia’s war with Ukraine continues, this will be a highly controversial decision by the IOC, and one likely to be condemned by European countries in particular.
However, it is not a surprise.
In February, IOC president Kirsty Coventry spoke about the importance of keeping sport, “a neutral ground – a place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments.”
Although she did not directly reference any particular country, the comments were widely interpreted to be hinting at a potential lifting of the partial Olympic ban on Russia, and it soon became clear that the IOC was considering reinstatement.
In March, came another crucial step when the International Paralympic Committee ended Russia’s long exile from global sports events, with the country’s athletes allowed to compete under their national flag at the Winter Paralympics for the first time since 2014.
The decision was condemned by Ukraine and other European countries but it paved the way for the IOC to follow suit.
It will have noted no athletes boycotted the actual Paralympic competition, although some did stay away from the opening ceremony, and it will be interesting to see whether the same happens in Los Angeles.
The IOC has always insisted Russia was banned not because of the invasion per se, but because the Russian Olympic Committee effectively took over regional sports organisations in occupied Ukrainian territories.
It now claims that this is no longer the case, and so legally the ban should not stand.
What has gone unsaid is that many within the IOC were also mindful of the current geopolitical landscape, and accusations of double-standards if the sanction against Russia was maintained, while other countries who have launched military action against other nations escape punishment.
Critics however will insist that Russia’s ban should only end when and if it withdraws from Ukraine, and that the IOC’s move risks emboldening President Vladimir Putin, and handing him a propaganda win.