Rishtaul Alam

Proud Muslim | Fan of ManUtd | Pharmacist | Introvert in nature | Timeline spammer during live sports events| @Cristiano retweeted me on 28/12/12 🙄

[Rishtaul Alam @rishta_mufc]

@Cristiano Words are not enough to express how big I'm a fan of yours. Your story inspired me to play football. #Celebrate15M

[• @Alhamdhulillaah]

Did Ronaldo recite Bismillāh before taking a penalty for Portugal?

[Erling Haaland @ErlingHaaland]

This is bigger than football ❤️

[Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan]

Imagine supporting this. Imagine funding this. Imagine calling criticism of this ‘antisemitic’.

Sociopaths.

[Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan]

If this was any other country, it would be huge news, and most western governments would be loudly condemning it.

But it’s Israel so…

[The Players’ Tribune @PlayersTribune]

“I wrote this because I can’t speak about it.

I wrote this because I want you to know that I will make sure that you live on.”

@RBLeipzig and @equipenatciv winger Yan Diomande on the life of his sister, Roxane. https://t.co/6wQmpdWTSi

[Rishtaul Alam @rishta_mufc]

Fck this World Cup

[Fabrizio Romano @FabrizioRomano]

🚨⛔️ Ivory Coast striker Elye Wahi has been denied visa into Canada to face Germany.

This happened due to of an ongoing investigation into match-fixing allegations, which falls foul of Canadian immigration rules — reports @TheAthleticFC.

[Polymarket FC @PolymarketFC]

“I don't think I even shed a tear the day they told me you'd passed away. I was just in shock.

It was a few weeks after my debut for Leganés. Who makes their debut at 18 against Real Madrid? It was too much madness. It was a dream… and then it turned into a nightmare. Someone kept calling me from home. I was annoyed. I didn't understand why they kept calling me.

I answered, and they didn't even soften it. You know how it is back home. No emotion. Just…

"Your sister is gone."

"What?"

"She died."

"What are you talking about?"

"Someone put something in her drink at a party, and she never woke up. She's gone."

You were 15 years old.

I never got any answers. I don't know if I want to know why. Maybe it was jealousy. Maybe it's just something that happens in our country. Maybe I could have protected you. I don't know.

I try to trust in God's plan. It's all I can do. I don't try to forget, because I know I won't forget. All I can do is use the pain to work harder, and to do everything we dreamed of.

I wrote this because I can't talk about it. I wrote this because I want you to know that I'll make sure you stay alive. I'll make sure everyone knows your name. The whole world.

Everything I do on a soccer field is for you.

So much has happened since the last time I saw you… You wouldn't even believe it. I don't know if I believe it.

You know what's crazy? After my debut against Madrid, I actually swapped shirts with Mbappé. Remember when we'd watch him on TV, and you'd say: "Mbappé? Yeah, he's good. But my brother is better."

I was wrong about one thing. I don't want to be rich. I see what it does to people, even to family. When I was at Leganés, everything I earned, I sent home. It got to the point where I didn't even want the money anymore. It was just a burden. They never stopped asking. I think they thought I was already a millionaire. I didn't even have an apartment. I lived at the training center, in a room without a TV. Just soccer and sleep, soccer and sleep.

I didn't want a big house. I didn't want cars. I just wanted to put everything into soccer. Everything to show the world that my sister was right…

Ha… you'll find this funny.

When I moved to play for RB Leipzig, I was always late. Well, not late. But I'd arrive on time, which in Germany means you're very late.

So you already know what I did after that. I started arriving 90 minutes early for everything. I got there so early all the time that the guys started calling me "The German."

I always have to overdo everything. I have no balance. You always said that. The field is the only place where I still feel at home. It's the place where I feel calm, and where I can talk to you. I just wish you were still here so I could tell you… We made it.

Everything you said came true.

We're heading to the World Cup tomorrow. For real. Your brother is going to play for Ivory Coast, like Drogba, like Yaya, like Gervinho.

I don't even see it as a game. I see it as a stage. This is my chance to show the whole world what you saw in me. Every time I score, I'll make sure everyone knows your name. I'll make sure they don't forget you.

You always said I could be better than Cristiano. If I see him there, I'll say hello for you.

I'll do what you predicted, I swear. Even before I had real cleats, you'd tell everyone: "My brother is going to be the best in the world."

I'll prove you were right, or I'll die trying.

Your brother,

Yan.”

[Polymarket FC @PolymarketFC]

🇨🇮 Yan Diomandé’s letter to his sister through @PlayersTribune:

“Dear Roxane,

Remember when someone bought me a fake United shirt, and I wrote “Ronaldo 7” on the back with a black Sharpie? We didn’t know what rich or poor was. We only knew happiness.

Remember the 25 people sleeping in just one house back in Abidjan? Mom wanted to watch her soap operas. Everyone wanted to watch movies. Remember how I’d always pretend I was asleep and then sneak to the TV room after midnight? I’d turn the TV way down low. Like, just two volume bars. I’d watch soccer in the dark and dream.

Remember when the grown-ups saw me playing soccer on the dirt and gave me the nickname “Roberto Carlos” because of how hard I kicked? And remember how I secretly got so mad about it, because CR7 was my idol?

Remember when I went to play so far from home? I was 9 years old. Inter Foot Sud Comoé, way out near the border with Ghana. Just a little boy all alone. I don’t know if I ever told you this story, but me and the other kids used to go to the village and steal potatoes because we were so hungry. We called it a “bank heist.” Two kids would distract the shop owner, and the other 18 would run off with two potatoes. They weren’t even good. But they tasted amazing. Hahahah. Even today, it’s my favorite thing to eat. Boiled potatoes with a little oil. It takes me back to those times.

Remember when I got my first real pair of cleats, and I slept with them? Growing up, I always played in those white plastic sandals. Even when I go back home now, I still play in them. It’s our tradition.

Remember when I’d come back home, and you’d tell my neighborhood friends: “Why’d you stop training? Yan’s not gonna buy you cars. You gotta keep working.” You were 10 years old, and you were already my agent.

Remember how we’d sit and dream about moving to France? How we’d go shopping, have our own apartment, and I’d be a rich soccer player, with cars and a big house, and you wouldn’t have to worry about anything. You were the one who always believed I could be the next Cristiano, when everyone else was laughing.

Remember when I moved to the United States for high school, at 15 years old, and I missed home so much? For months, I couldn’t understand what anyone was saying. They sat me next to a French boy, and he’d try to translate everything the teacher said. Remember when I called you and said: “You won’t believe it, the kids here argue with the teachers.” Back home, you know, we wouldn’t even dare blink at our elders.

Remember when I couldn’t believe the boys smoked after school? You used to say it felt like I was in an American TV show.

Remember when they took me for trials at Bournemouth? At Chelsea, Rangers, Olympiacos, Crystal Palace? Eze and Olise came up to me after a training session and said: “Hey, kid, you’re really good.”… but even then, they didn’t sign me.

Even the MLS B teams didn’t want me. I didn’t even know why. They never gave me a reason. The adults handled everything. They just kept taking me all over Europe, and everyone kept saying no.

My visa expired. My dream was over. They sent me back to Africa, and we cried together. You were the only one who never stopped believing. A few weeks later, I signed with Leganés, and we cried different tears.

That was back when I still had emotions. Now, I don’t feel anything. It’s like I’m not even human. Since you died, I’m just empty.”

[ALUTHEDON @Mbakaza4L]

This is the most important image of the 21st century to date. Study it. Never forgive. Never forget.

[Oyindamola🙄 @dammiedammie35]

Iranian fans cr!es out inside the stadium yesterday after their flags were reportedly taken from them by FIFA official 🥹💔🏟️

[Stretford Paddock @StretfordPaddck]

📲 Harry Maguire reveals Thomas Tuchel FACETIMED him to let him know he wouldn’t be in the England squad 😳

“It was quite an awkward call. It makes it harder probably for himself to see our reactions.”

“We had a few words…” 👀

[@RestIsFootball] #MUFC

[That's Football! @ThatsFootballTV]

🚨 After their 2-2 draw with New Zealand, the Iran national team have said they were FORCED to fly back to their base camp in Mexico HOURS after their game in Los Angeles.

The team planned a recovery session on Tuesday in LA, but had been told they couldn’t. 🤨

“They have said we have to leave immediately, we are really troubled by that. We don’t know why they are returning us. It seems very strange. It seems others are doing the planning for us. Our team is the most oppressed in the whole World Cup.” [@TheAthleticFC]

[Kara @UTDKarra]

Iran came from behind twice to draw 2-2 against New Zealand.

To some people, it’s just a draw.

But after everything this team has been through, it felt like a victory.

Traveling from Mexico to the USA just to play, then having to make the long trip back home. Carrying the weight of politics, pressure, and years of tension with the USA, yet still finding a way to focus on football.

They went behind once and fought back. They went behind again and fought back again.

That is the spirit of this Iran team. Tonight, Iran didn’t just earn a point.

They earned respect. 🇮🇷❤️

[Ahad Farhan @farhan_nihilist]

Good to see Harsha praising Bangladesh. Some real courage there. If he hadn't allowed himself to be used and recycled by the BCCI establishment for so many years, he could still have been regarded as an independent voice across South Asia.

[Atlético de Madrid @Atleti]

😂😂😂😂😂

[POOJA!!! @PoojaMedia]

FIFA has revoked the ticket allocation for Iran fans at the team's three World Cup games in the United States, the national football federation said Tuesday.

Each federation for the 48 teams taking part is entitled to receive and distribute 8% of stadium capacity at the World Cup, adding up to several thousands of tickets for each game.

Source: ESPN

[Leyla Hamed @leylahamed]

This World Cup is going to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

[The Touchline | 𝐓 @TouchlineX]

🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Somali referee Omar Artan was questioned for 11 hours (!) before being denied entry.

“I am just a referee trying to live my biggest dream: going to the World Cup, I am really, really disappointed. I had the correct documents and the correct visa. I think they have a problem with my country.”

— @nytimes

[Leyla Hamed @leylahamed]

Iranian Football Federation announces the 8% ticket quota allocated to Iran has been revoked by the U.S., leaving the federation currently unable to distribute tickets to supporters.

A case study in political interference, discrimination and FIFA looking the other way.

[Jeremy Corbyn @jeremycorbyn]

What an absolute disgrace. A FIFA-certified referee being denied entry to the United States purely because he is Somali.

The World Cup is meant to bring people together. This is racism, plain and simple. Shameful.

https://t.co/rpSgTmmPU4