If Nasser Al-Khelaifi possessed the capacity of self-reflection and had a scintilla of humility, then the humiliating and bitter end of Paris St Germain’s love affair with Lionel Messi, a romance that only ever seemed lukewarm at best on both sides, should also see the president step down from his duties as mastermind of the club.
Eleven years into the project, PSG remain the sniggering stock of European football, accumulating domestic trophies which their gargantuan wealth render increasingly meaningless, whilst having the Midas Touch in reverse when it comes to spending.
Sports washing is meant to provide cover for your human rights abuses and make your nation state look good: see Manchester City and Abu Dhabi for details. But if PSG are a reflection of Qatar, you would have to conclude their core values are the worship of celebrities, excessive materialism and wasteful spending.
On Tuesday night PSG belatedly discovered a backbone and took the first steps on becoming something more than a celebrity playground for multi-millionaire young men to play at being professional footballers. They suspended Lionel Messi for two weeks and fined him the same amount of wages because he has prioritised his visit as tourism ambassador to Saudi Arabia over Monday’s training.
If Nasser Al-Khelaifi (left) had any humility, then the bitter end of PSG’s love affair with Lionel Messi (right) should also see him step down from his duties as president
Messi, pictured in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, has been suspended by PSG for two weeks and fined the same amount of wages after prioritising a trip to the country over training
The fallout marks the end of a lukewarm love affair between Messi and the Parisian club
The background to the tale tells you what a hollowed-out parody of a football club PSG have become. They will still probably win the French league, though even with the world’s richest state blowing their rivals to financial smithereens and with Messi and Kylian Mbappé in the side, they can’t be one hundred per cent sure of that. Yet they are still five points clear with five to play and their nearest rivals, Lens and Marseille, play each other next Saturday, so they can’t both launch a late challenge.
The reason for the title even being up for debate is PSG losing 3-1 at home to mid-table Lorient on Sunday, their third home defeat in four games. The jeers and whistles around the Parc des Princes tell their own story of a lack of engagement and commitment from a disjointed and listless team. This is a club that added Messi and became worse.
The problems is that, in signing Messi, you are also accommodating a global advertising hoarding with commitments beyond your immediate needs. In Messi’s case, this is his willingness to be a human rights shield for, awkwardly, Qatar’s fiercest regional rival, Saudi Arabia.
Messi had twice delayed a trip to the kingdom to promote tourism there because of the optics, coming as they did after PSG defeats. Yet with players scheduled for two days off after the Lorient game, it seemed safe to reschedule so that his PR team could post unconvincing Instagram stories about the lushness of the Saudi landscape. (Memo to Team Messi: if this is really the best you can do, best say nothing; just count the money and try your best to black out Jamal Khashoggi haunting your dreams)
Trouble was, Messi hadn’t reckoned on Lorient (one win in eight) sweeping aside PSG, who had Achraf Hakimi sent off after 20 minutes. Lorient’s opening goal came after a superb 25-pass sequence, with Romaine Faivre, Enzo Le Fée and Darlin Yongwa all shining in the game. Such a gutless defeat definitely falls into the ‘something must be done’ category and sadly for Messi it came under the classic of that genre: day off cancelled, extra training on Monday.
Messi representative’s say he was on the flight before the schedule was changed, that he couldn’t cancel this trip yet again, once all the arrangements had been made and that he’s always been professional. Penny for the thoughts of Kylian Mbappé as he sat through Galtier’s video dissection of a dismal performance, knowing that his fellow superstar was sat in the Arabian dessert getting busy on Insta, earning Riyals from his second job. It’s not a look that immediately says #apologiestothefans #wegoagain.
Messi representative’s say he was on a flight before PSG’s loss against Lorient at the weekend
That defeat changed their schedule and Christophe Galtier ordered his players in on Monday
If Galtier (pictured) has anything about him, surely Messi won’t play for PSG again
It definitely marks the end of the Messi era at PSG, notable for nothing much other the obligatory two league titles. Will he even be on the pitch if and when they wrap up this title? If Galtier has anything about him, surely Messi won’t play for PSG again after the two week suspension? The reception at the Parc des Princes, where he has already been booed and jeered, would likely be ferocious should he deign to turn up.
As such, he will likely end up at Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia next season, where his ambassadorial duties can be easily accommodating around his occasional training/playing needs and where he can resume his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo who plays at Al-Nassr. It would be unkind to remind him of his compatriot Jorge Luis Borges’ line about ‘two bald men fighting over a comb’ as there is a genuine football culture and passionately-followed league in Saudi Arabia. But there also seems a willingness to serve as a retirement home for the greats.
This seems his only likely financially viable option (how much money is enough? Just a little more!) unless Barca can somehow conjure together another financial magical trick and convince La Liga that they can replenish their squad and re-sign Messi. This courtship has been a long-drawn out media dance that seems more performative than substantial. No self respecting Barca president can appear unwilling to sign Messi and so this tale is likely to run and run for the moment.
But in reality the spotlight should be on PSG. How can they have constructed a team which seasoned observers say is the worst of the 11-year Qatari era? Had they been a genuine sporting project over the last 11 years, they might have Parisiens like Mike Maignan, Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Ibrahima Konaté, N’Golo Kanté, Paul Pogba, Riyad Mahrez and Randal Kolo Muani alongside Mbappé.
They may persuade Zinedine Zidane to bring some sense to the madhouse next season. But for those who see the club as reality TV show masquerading as a sports franchise, then Antonio Conte, with his unique brand of man management and disdain for presidential opinions, is the appointment for which we must all hope.
Messi will likely end up at Al Hilal in Saudi next season, where his ambassadorial duties can be easily accommodating
He can also resume his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured) who plays at Al-Nassr
German referee’s admission refreshing to hear
It’s not going to make Jude Bellingham feel better, as Borussia Dortmund yet again let slip their lead at the top of Bundesliga with a 1-1 draw at Bochum last week, but it was startling to English eyes to see referee Sascha Stegemann engaging with the media and apologising for what was a clearly terrible decision not to award a penalty to BvB when Karim Adeyemi was clattered to the ground by Danilo Soares.
‘It’s a foul and a penalty kick,’ said Stegemann, who added that he ‘felt like s***.’ This business of fronting up for your mistakes will never catch on.
Naples holds its breath… again
And so to Udinese, on the Slovenian border, and about as far from Naples as you can get in Italy, for the next attempt to ignite the mother of all parties, with Napoli needing a point on Thursday to secure their first Serie A title since 1990.
Local authorities were so concerned that festivities would get so out of hand last Sunday, when a victory over Salernitana would have been enough, that they warned fans not to follow through on a plan to set off flares to illuminate Mount Vesuvius in celebration. Given the city’s troubled history with the volcano, you might have thought any attempt to light it up might be best avoided.
sports lottery
General Billing Rules
The early settlement function is only applicable to some live betting markets, and members can make early settlement when the betting is live. Please forgive me if you find any inconvenience caused by "all transactions will be canceled after a live ball is scored".
The advance settlement amount already includes the principal, please note!
The "Odds" or "Markets" for all events determine the amount of early settlement. If the amount changes or the opening of the market is suspended during early settlement, it may lead to the failure of early settlement. If the event has not yet concluded, the early settlement function may appear again.
If the system successfully accepts the early settlement of the bet, the member will not be able to cancel the transaction that has been settled in advance. The amount of bets that are successfully settled in advance will be directly returned to the member's account, and the bet will no longer be affected by the final settlement and official results of the betting event.
If the bet that was successfully settled in advance is canceled for some reason (such as VAR assistance-goals are not counted), the amount of the bet that was settled in advance will be deducted from the member's account. If the event has not ended yet, the early settlement function may appear again, otherwise the betting will be based on the event or official final result. The company reserves the right of final interpretation, please pay attention!
When this website announces the early settlement amounts of all events, if any typos or unintentional human errors occur, the company reserves the right to cancel any bets with wrong early settlement amounts and publish them with information, please pay attention!
The company reserves the right to turn on or off the early settlement function of any event, and to cancel or reject the player's early settlement transaction.
In case of event cancellation or cut in half, the bets settled in advance after the interruption of the event will be cancelled, the amount settled in advance of the bet will be deducted from the member's account and the original betting amount will be returned; the bets settled in advance before the interruption of the event will still be considered It is a "valid bet slip".
Sports Event Casino Handicap Description
| PK | 0 | It means not giving in to each other, and winning 1 point wins all. |
| 0-50 | 0/0.5 | Indicates that when the handicap team is tied with the transferee team, the team betting on the handicap loses 50%. |
| 0 loss | 0.5 | Indicates that when the handicap team is tied with the transferee team, the team betting on the handicap loses. |
| 1+50 | 0.5/1 | When the handicap team wins the handicap team by 1 point, the team betting on the handicap wins 50% and wins all 2 points. |
| 1 level | 1 | Indicates that when the handicap team wins the handicap team by 1 point, the two teams will tie and win by 2 points. |
| 1-50 | 1/1.5 | When the handicap team wins the handicap team by 1 point, the team betting on the handicap loses 50% and wins all 2 points. |
| 1 loss | 1.5 | When the handicap team wins the handicap team by 1 point, the team betting on the handicap loses all and wins by 2 points. |
| 2+50 | 1.5/2 | When the handicap team wins the handicap team by 2 points, the team betting on the handicap wins 50% and wins all 3 points. |
| 2 flat | 2 | Indicates that when the handicap team wins the handicap team by 2 points, the two teams will tie and win all 3 points. |
| 2 losses | 2/2.5 | When the handicap team wins the handicap team by 2 points, the team betting on the handicap loses 50% and wins all 3 points. |
| 3+50 | 2.5 | When the handicap team wins the handicap team by 2 points, the team betting on the handicap loses all and wins all 3 points. |
| 3 losses | 2.5/3 | When the handicap team wins the handicap team by 3 points, the team betting on the handicap wins 50%, and all 4 points win. |
| 3 levels | 3 | Indicates that when the handicap team wins the handicap team by 3 points, the two teams will tie and win all 4 points. |
| 3-50 | 3/3.5 | When the handicap team wins the handicap team by 3 points, the team betting on the handicap loses 50% and wins all 4 points. |
| 3 losses | 3.5 | When the handicap team wins the handicap team by 3 points, the team betting on the handicap loses all and wins all 4 points. |
It is not uncommon to play bingo and three-star lottery in the lottery, and even out of the trend of the times. In addition to these basic lottery games, the online Luck9 casino also provides "Beijing Racing", "Hong Kong Horse Racing", "Bingo", etc., which can be said to be the most popular betting items in Taiwan. In addition to the public welfare lottery betting types issued by the government itself, DG Baccarat also has the most abundant and diverse combinations, allowing players to freely match the size, single and double, and string games, and get the best odds in Oberbet. The gameplay is diverse, so it is very popular among JILIACE casino players
Entertainment city evaluation details
The leading brand of Luck9 online casino gaming in the world, registered in the legal gaming industry in the Philippines and other countries, with millions of registered players. Legal business licenses with gaming industry markets include JILIACE Casino and KG Casino.
Provide the gaming experience of a real casino, Luck9 Baccarat, Salon Baccarat, DG Baccarat, WM Baccarat, KU Baccarat, BET Racing, BET Horse Racing, P8Poker, BS Blackjack, KU Sports , KU sports, BS slot machine, UC8 slot machine, salon slot machine, AV actress baccarat and other casino games.
While players are having fun in JILIACE Casino and LUCK9 Casino, we are also committed to product development and updates, so that our games fully support PC, tablet, and mobile phones. Customers can get started directly without downloading or installing.
It has been continuously providing distinctive deposit discounts and other promotional activities for the loyal customers of the casino. Open an account at LUCK9 Casino and enjoy all the online entertainment offers and the top gaming experience beyond your imagination.
LUCK9 casino provides your favorite sports betting. Such as the English Premier League (English Premier League), Spanish League, Champions League, Ligue 1, Bundesliga, Serie A, NFL, NBA, NCAA, women's basketball, volleyball, F4 racing, etc. Provide you with more than 4,000 live football matches for you to bet on every month.
In the live casino, you can enjoy the entire luxury casino and beautiful Taiwanese dealers. LUCK9 Casino and KG Casino have a variety of products for you to choose from, such as Live Baccarat, Live Sic Bo, Live Dragon Tiger and Live Roulette. You can also choose easy-to-use online slot machines or BET lottery to pass the time.
The only casino preferred LUCK9 casino.
Baccarat is a poker game and one of the most common games in casinos. Baccarat originated in Italy, was introduced to France in the 15th century, and was popular in Britain and France in the 19th century. Today, baccarat is one of the most popular games played in Luck9 casinos around the world. Among casinos in Macau, the number of baccarat gaming tables is the largest among Luck9 casinos in the world. The special feature of baccarat is that it adopts the first deal and then the betting method. After the dealer deals the cards, players can choose the position they want to bet on and make bets. The game process is more fair and impartial.
Online gaming refers to games played with other players over the Internet. Common online games include role-playing games, strategy games, shooting games, racing games, board games, etc. Players can fight or compete with other players or computers via the Internet, and can communicate and cooperate with other players.
The benefits of online gambling include:
Convenience: The game can be played anytime and anywhere, no specific equipment or venue is required.
Diversity: You can choose a variety of different games to meet different preferences and needs.
Social: You can communicate and cooperate with other players to increase your social network.
Competition: You can compete with other players to improve your skills and abilities.
Entertainment: Can bring entertainment and relaxation to players.
However, online gambling also has some risks and problems, such as addiction, time consumption, money transactions involved, and so on. Therefore, you need to pay attention to self-protection when playing online games, and abide by the rules of the game and relevant laws and regulations.
Here are some common sports betting plays:
Winning the Game: This is one of the most common sports betting variants where players bet on which team or athlete will win the game before it starts.
Handicap Market: This bet is based on point difference, and punters must predict whether the winner's point difference is greater or less than a preset point difference.
Over/Under: This bet is based on the total points scored in the game, and punters must predict whether the total points in the game will be greater or less than the preset score.
Specific Event Markets: This type of betting usually involves specific events in the game, such as first score, player scoring, free throw percentage, etc., and the punter must predict whether the specific event will occur or be achieved.
Online betting: This type of play refers to betting while the game is in progress, and the punter can change the bet at any time and make a decision based on the real-time situation of the game.
It should be noted that sports betting is a high-risk gambling activity that needs to be treated with caution. It is recommended to gamble on legal betting websites and bet according to your own financial ability.
Recommended Online Casinos by Country
Recommended online casinos by country
| 國家 Country | 線上娛樂城名稱 Online Casino Name | 熱門評分 Popular Score | 賭場評分 Casino Rating |
| 台灣 TaiWan | THA娛樂城 | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| 台灣 TaiWan | HKING娛樂城 | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| 台灣 TaiWan | 富遊娛樂城 | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| 台灣 TaiWan | 玖天娛樂城 | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| 台灣 TaiWan | 899電子遊戲城 | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| 台灣 TaiWan | KING GAME娛樂城/KG娛樂城 | ★★★☆ | ★★★☆ |
| 菲律賓 Philippines | LUCK9 Online Casino | ★★★☆ | ★★★☆ |
| 菲律賓 Philippines | KingGame Online Casino/KG Online Casino | ★★★☆ | ★★★☆ |
| 菲律賓 Philippines | OKBET Online Casino | ★★★☆ | ★★★☆ |
| 菲律賓 Philippines | JILIBET Online Casino | ★★★☆ | ★★★☆ |
| 越南 Vietnam | THA Online Casino | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| 越南 Vietnam | KUBET Online Casino | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| 香港 HongKong | 8VITORY娛樂城 | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| 香港 HongKong | STARWIN娛樂城 | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |