According to the message, Mohammed Mehdi died unexpectedly. While details regarding the precise cause and time of death remain limited at present, the family emphasises respect for privacy in this difficult moment and asks for compassion from the public and media.

The statement continues by highlighting Mohammed Mehdi’s role within his community and notes that his passing is a heavy loss for both his immediate family and the networks of acquaintances and institutions with which he was involved. Condolences have already begun arriving from religious, social and political figures across Iran.

During the mourning period, the official channel indicates that no further information will be released until authorised by the family. The message requests that any gatherings of support or commemoration be conducted with sensitivity to the family’s state of grief.

This development has prompted reflections on mortality and the suddenness with which life can change, especially within circles of public religious leadership. Observers say the announcement underlines the human side of figures whose public roles often overshadow their private lives.

Despite missing captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who remains suspended following a red card in the loss to Ireland, Portugal showed remarkable cohesion and attacking depth. Young midfielder João Neves and experienced playmaker Bruno Fernandes each scored a hat-trick, underlining both the team’s rising talent and the leadership in the absence of their iconic skipper.

Portugal started aggressively, opening the scoring early before Armenia briefly equalised. Once settled, Roberto Martínez’s men regained control and pressed relentlessly for the remainder of the match, turning the contest into a showcase of tactical precision and offensive dominance.

Following the final whistle, Martínez praised his players’ mentality, emphasising that the victory “proves Portugal can succeed with collective strength, not just individual brilliance.” His remarks subtly referenced the ongoing discussion about Portugal’s dependence on Ronaldo—especially after the star’s sending-off during the Ireland match, a moment that shocked both supporters and analysts.

With automatic qualification secured, the Portugal national football team can now shift their focus toward tournament preparation, squad optimisation, and resolving the uncertainty surrounding Ronaldo’s suspension, which could impact the opening stages of the World Cup.

For now, however, Portugal’s statement win has reaffirmed their status as one of Europe’s most dangerous attacking sides—powered by a blend of world-class veterans and a new wave of rising stars.

Originally set for December 31st of the previous year, the match was delayed due to heavy rain. New Radiant’s last official game before this was in the first division of 2022, where they faced a semi-final defeat on August 14 in a penalty shoot-out.

New Radiant’s recent match on Saturday against Teenage was won by default, as Teenage forfeited by not showing up.

Da Grande, demoted in the 2022 National Premiere League, had already lost their first three games in this year’s 2nd Division group stage, eliminating their progression chances. Their final group match is against Teenage.

Guided by Coach Ahmed Nimaadh (Nimaa), New Radiant led the first half thanks to Abu Sanoon’s 23rd-minute goal. Kofu Ovucu extended the lead in the second half’s opening minute, and Ahmed Ayaaz (Ayaa) sealed the victory with a goal three minutes before the end.

This win places New Radiant and Tent Sport Club at six points each in Group B’s first two matches. While BG Sports Club holds a similar score with two wins and a loss, both Grande and Teenage are yet to earn points.

BG, having defeated Grande 5-1 last Thursday, secured their six points with Muzdhaan Hassan’s hat-trick and goals from Mohamed Safeer and Mohamed Nishan. Grande’s consolation goal came 15 minutes from full-time through Ismail Nazeeh.

In another match, PK triumphed over Lorenzo Sports Club with a 1-0 score in Group C’s game on Thursday. The sole goal, by Ahmed Nizam, came from a second-half free-kick. This marked PK’s first win in three matches, while Lorenzo also has three points from three games. In Group C, Victory Sports Club and Lagoons Sport Club have won both their matches, while Bisburu Sports suffered defeats in their two games.

Originally constructed in the 1980s, this facility has undergone several refurbishments over the years. The latest renovation is timely, as both the male and female cricket teams are gearing up for significant competitions next month.

For the male team, their immediate focus is the KCC T20 Challenger Cup in Thailand, scheduled from February 1 to 11. The Maldives team, placed in Group B, will face Thailand, Japan, and Singapore. The top two teams from this group will advance to the semi-finals, with finalists earning a spot in the ACC T20 Premier Cup, set for April.

Additionally, a Quad Series tournament featuring Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, and Thailand is on the agenda following the Challenger Cup. The male team is slated to depart for Thailand on January 27 to participate in the Challenger Cup.

Meanwhile, the female team is preparing for the ACC Women’s T20 Premier Cup in Malaysia next month. They are grouped with Bhutan, Hong-Kong, and Nepal. The team is scheduled to leave for Malaysia on February 8.

These tournaments provide a vital platform for the Maldivian cricket teams to showcase their skills on a regional stage and gain valuable competitive experience. The renovated indoor facility in Male’ plays a crucial role in their preparation, offering a conducive environment for rigorous training sessions.

Their latest victory was a dominant 6-0 win against JJ Sports Club in a match held at Galolhu Ground. The game witnessed a striking performance by Masodi, with Azzam Abdulla and Ibrahim Waheed Hussain (Ibbe) scoring in quick succession. Ali Shamis (Thoppe) and Jahonov Sardar contributed to the scoreline, with Odilli Felix Chidi sealing the deal with a goal in extra time.

Masodi’s journey in Group A has been impressive, with nine points accumulated from three matches. Their previous victories were against Mahibadhoo Sports Club and LT Sports Club, with both matches ending in 4-0 wins.

In the same group, Kuda Henveiru United and Mahibadhoo are also showing strong performances, while JJ and LT have faced defeats in their games. Masodi’s upcoming match against Kuda Henveiru United is crucial for securing the top spot in the group.

The second division football tournament is witnessing competitive play from several teams across different groups. In Group C, the reigning third-division champions, Lagoons, have also raised their quarter-final hopes with a recent win, as have Victory Sports Club. Group B is led by Tent Sports Club, with other teams like BG Sports Club and New Radiant showing varying degrees of success.

This tournament features 15 teams, divided into three groups, with the top teams from each group and the best two third-placed teams qualifying for the quarter-finals. The finalists will advance to the next season’s Maldivian Premier League, adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.

As per the court’s verdict, FAM owes Beehive Hotels an amount equivalent to USD 32,426, which translates to MVR 498,712 in the local currency.

The court found that FAM had failed to adhere to the terms of their ongoing agreement with Beehive Hotels. The evidence presented by both parties confirmed that the payment had not been made as per the agreed terms.

In its ruling, the court took into consideration FAM’s request for a one-year extension to settle the payment, citing the organization’s current financial struggles.

Consequently, the court has stipulated that FAM must pay the MVR 500,000 sum in monthly installments over the next 12 months, with each payment due before the 10th day of the month.

FAM has been under scrutiny for alleged corruption. Recently, police conducted a raid at FAM House following the prosecutor’s orders and confiscated several items as part of their investigation.

FAM has acknowledged facing financial challenges but denies any embezzlement of assets or funds by its members. The association has expressed its commitment to confronting any such allegations for the integrity of football. FAM also emphasized its readiness to demonstrate to its members and the Maldivian public that all its actions and transactions have been within legal bounds.

The 37-year-old, a double-amputee who gained fame as “Blade Runner” for his carbon-fibre prosthetics, completed over half of his sentence and was discreetly released from Atteridgeville prison near Pretoria on Friday, eluding the media presence outside.

“The Department of Correctional Services confirms that he is now under the supervision of Community Corrections and is at home,” the department stated.

As part of his parole conditions, Pistorius is prohibited from speaking to the media.

The authorities had previously informed the press of the restricted access to Pistorius during his release.

Pistorius was convicted of murdering Steenkamp, then 29, on Valentine’s Day in 2013, shooting her four times through a bathroom door in his high-security house in Pretoria. This incident occurred a year after Pistorius made history as the first double-amputee to compete at the Olympics, participating in the 2012 London games.

After a prolonged trial and several appeals, he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2017. Pistorius had maintained his innocence, claiming he mistook Steenkamp for an intruder.

On the eve of his release, June Steenkamp, Reeva’s mother, expressed that while she respects the justice system and the terms of his parole, “the pain and loss remain.”

“Justice feels unattainable when your loved one is gone forever, and no sentence can bring Reeva back. Those of us left behind are serving a life sentence,” she remarked.

In South Africa, offenders are generally eligible for parole after serving half their sentence. Pistorius’ initial parole request in March was denied as he hadn’t completed the minimum detention period. However, a Constitutional Court ruling in October corrected this, leading to a November hearing that sanctioned his release.

As part of his parole conditions, effective until the end of his sentence in 2029, Pistorius must undergo therapy for anger management and gender-based violence. He is also barred from consuming alcohol and other substances, must complete community service, and adhere to specific home curfew hours.

June Steenkamp noted on Friday that these conditions “demonstrate the seriousness with which gender-based violence is regarded by the justice system” in South Africa.

Beckenbauer, affectionately known as “Der Kaiser” (The Emperor), is celebrated as one of the greatest footballers ever. He shares the unique World Cup accomplishment with Brazil’s Mario Zagallo and France’s Didier Deschamps.

Beckenbauer’s football journey began at the age of nine with SC Munich ’06’s youth team in 1954. His outstanding leadership skills and versatility on the field quickly made him a standout in the sport.

He drew comparisons to Fritz Walter, a revered figure in German football and a key player in Germany’s 1954 World Cup victory.

National Team Career

Beckenbauer, a luminary in the history of the German national team, made his debut for West Germany at 20 and was appointed captain in 1972. He led the team to the European Championship in 1972 and the World Cup victory on home soil in 1974. In the 1974 final at the Olympiastadion in Munich, West Germany defeated the Netherlands 2-1. Beckenbauer scored 14 goals in 103 appearances for Germany.

Bayern Munich Tenure

Beckenbauer’s most significant club tenure was at Bayern Munich, where he played from 1964 to 1977. He participated in 396 games, winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1967 and three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976. Additionally, he won four Bundesliga titles and four DFB Cups.

In 1977, Beckenbauer joined the New York Cosmos, where he won the North American Soccer League three times alongside Pele. He returned to Germany in 1980 to play for Hamburg, leading them to a German championship in 1982. Beckenbauer was also the first defender to win the Ballon d’Or twice, in 1972 and 1976.

Managerial Career

Beckenbauer took over as manager of the West German team in 1984. His team reached the 1986 World Cup final in Mexico but lost to Argentina, led by Diego Maradona. However, they claimed the World Cup title in 1990 in Italy, avenging their previous loss to Argentina.

Beckenbauer later served as sports director at Olympique Marseille for a year, winning a Ligue 1 title. He had two brief stints as Bayern Munich’s head coach. Beyond his playing career, he played a crucial role at Bayern Munich as president of the club. He was vice president from 1991-1994 and president from July 1994 to November 2009.