Category: Football

Manchester United announced plans to raise season ticket prices by five percent for the 2025/26 season on Monday, defying calls from supporters groups for the cost to be frozen.

There will be no rise in the cost of tickets for under-16s, but the club are introducing a new game categorisation for non-season-ticket holders, to allow for different pricing structures for higher-profile fixtures.

United fans have routinely protested at Old Trafford in recent months after the decision in November to scrap concessions to children and over-65s with all remaining tickets for this season priced at £66 ($85).

A fan advisory board (FAB), which met with the club, had pushed for a freeze on ticket prices.

Season tickets at Old Trafford have also increased by five percent in each of the past two seasons after an 11-year price freeze.

United chief executive Omar Berrada said in a statement: “We understand the importance of their backing for the team and have worked hard to come up with a pricing package that is fair and reasonable.”

The club’s co-owner Jim Ratcliffe claimed in a series of interviews last week that the English giants would have run out of money at the end of last year but for a series of cost-cutting measures and the hike in ticket prices, he has overseen.

United have made cumulative losses of £410 million in the last seven years after a series of expensive mistakes in the transfer market and in managerial hires.

They currently sit 13th in the Premier League and are reliant on winning the Europa League to lift a trophy this season.

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“We listened carefully to the strong arguments put forward by the FAB in favour of a freeze. However, the club has decided that it would not be right to keep prices unchanged while costs rise and the club continues to face financial issues,” added Berrada.

“We have kept the increase to the lowest possible level and protected our youngest season-ticket holders from any rises while ensuring the club remains financially strong enough to invest in improving the team.”

Among a series of changes to ticketing, United also plan to turn some general admission tickets close to the dugouts into hospitality seats that can be sold at a premium price.

Premier League leaders Liverpool announced last month that they would freeze ticket prices for next season.

“For several months we have argued long and hard that the club need to look at the big picture and freeze ticket prices for next season,” said the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust.

“Other clubs have done that already and at United it would have sent a powerful message about the need for everyone to pull together to get the club out of the very difficult position it finds itself in.

“We do note that the scale of the headline increase is less than many feared and we believe the enormous amounts of dialogue that fans groups have had with the club, alongside the public pressure exerted through the media and various protests, helped restrain the increase.”

Manchester United announced plans last week to leave Old Trafford for a new 100,000-seater stadium at a reported cost of £2 billion.

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Argentina star striker Lionel Messi will miss the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers this month after suffering a groin strain in Inter Miami’s victory over Atlanta at the weekend, his club confirmed on Monday.

Messi was left out of Argentina’s squad for the world champions’ clash against Uruguay on Friday, which is followed by a showdown with Brazil on March 25.

Inter Miami said in a statement that a scan had revealed Messi suffered a “low-grade injury in the adductor muscle” in the 2-1 win on Sunday. The statement gave no timetable for Messi’s return.

“His clinical progress and response to treatment will determine his availability for competition,” Inter said.

After missing three games for Inter earlier this month, the 37-year-old returned with a goal off the bench in a CONCACAF Champions Cup win.

Argentina, the defending World Cup champions, can ensure qualification for next year’s tournament in their next two games.

They lead the 10-team South American qualifying group by five points ahead of the game with Uruguay in Montevideo.

The top six teams qualify directly for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The seventh-placed team is currently Bolivia with 13 points.

After 12 rounds, Lionel Messi is the top scorer in the competition with six goals.

Argentina are also without injured Roma striker Paulo Dybala and River Plate full-back Paulo Montiel.

Brazil will be without 33-year-old Neymar, who has suffered a thigh injury and has had to postpone his return to the national team, who are fifth, seven points behind Argentina.

Argentina Squad

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa, ENG), Geronimo Rulli (Marseille, FRA), Walter Benitez (PSV Eindhoven, NED).

Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille, FRA), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, ENG), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica, POR), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon, FRA), Facundo Medina (Lens, FRA), Juan Foyth (Villarreal, ESP), German Pezzella (River Plate)

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Roma, ITA), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, ENG), Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, GER), Maximo Perrone (Como, ITA), Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea, ENG), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Benjamin Dominguez (Bologne, ITA), Thiago Almada (Lyon, FRA)

Forwards: Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan, ITA), Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid, ESP), Nicolas Paz (Como, ITA), Santiago Castro (Bologna, ITA), Nicolas Gonzalez (Juventus, ITA).

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Barcelona battled back from two goals down to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2 and land an important blow in the La Liga title race on Sunday.

Lamine Yamal struck in the 92nd minute and Ferran Torres in the 98th to help take the Catalans back top of the table after Real Madrid beat Villarreal on Saturday to briefly claim pole position.

Barcelona have a game in hand on the champions with both sides level on 60 points, while Atletico trail the top two by four after they crumbled at home against Hansi Flick’s side to end a disastrous week following their Champions League elimination.

“How we play, the confidence we have, it’s really good to see,” said Flick, whose team are fighting for a potential treble.

“We will try everything to win trophies, the match today gives us more confidence.”

Having twice been caught out late by Atletico this season, this time it was Barcelona’s turn to provide the sting in the tail, extending their unbeaten streak to 18 matches across all competitions.

Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth put Atletico ahead before Robert Lewandowski and Torres hit back for Barca, who went on to win in stoppage time.

“I think that after the anger, the feeling of impotence, not being comfortable in the game, we put our best foot forward and gave the best that we have,” Yamal told DAZN.

“It was a very important game to win in the end, beating Atletico was a statement win, we put ourselves back as leaders having played a game fewer and we’re very happy.”

Flick had warned his players to stay focussed after they conceded a 96th minute goal in December to surrender the lead at the top of the table to Atletico in a 2-1 home defeat.

Barcelona also conceded two late goals in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg to draw 4-4 against Diego Simeone’s side in February.

Barcelona’s best chance of the first half came towards the end of it, when Pedri played in Lewandowski, who hit the top of the crossbar with a powerful drive. From the resulting goal kick, Atletico found the opener.

The hosts worked the ball to Antoine Griezmann, who threaded a brilliant pass across the area to Giuliano Simeone, with Alvarez finishing from his cut-back.

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It provided a moment of joy for the former Manchester City striker who felt deep frustration in midweek when his penalty against Real Madrid was controversially disallowed for a supposed double touch on the ball, as Atletico were eliminated in the Champions League last 16.

Simeone turned to his bench to freshen up his side after the draining Champions League defeat. The coach introduced Sorloth and Conor Gallagher and they combined for Atletico’s second goal.

Atletico put together another fine team move with Griezmann heavily involved, before Gallagher squared to perennial super-sub Sorloth to net his 11th league goal of the season, despite just nine starts.

Barcelona had complaints about a Rodrigo De Paul handball in the build-up dismissed and they turned their anger into an instant response.

Martinez drove forward with the ball and slung it into the box for Lewandowski, who controlled well and powered a low finish past Oblak to spark the comeback.

Substitute Torres soon netted the equaliser when Raphinha crossed from the right.

With Atletico shaken, Barcelona took full advantage, with Yamal’s deflected shot from distance sending them ahead in stoppage time.

“We have to congratulate our opponent, they had a good game and in the end were very effective with their chances,” said Simeone.

“They had that bit of luck which you have to have, in the deflection for Yamal’s goal for 3-2.”

Torres bagged his second late on to round off a win which could prove decisive come the end of the season.

“It was a strange game because we did well in the first half, we had them under control and scored two goals… it’s true the 120 minutes in the Champions League weighed on us, and in the end the team fell apart,” said Atletico’s Llorente.

“We will fight to the end (for La Liga), we have seen many times how things change, you have a good month and someone else has a bad one, and you turn it all around.”

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Kylian Mbappe helped Real Madrid climb top of La Liga with a 2-1 win at Villarreal on Saturday despite coach Carlo Ancelotti’s complaints that his team was “exhausted”.

Los Blancos moved three points clear of rivals Barcelona, having played two extra games, with the Catalans visiting third place Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a key clash in the Spanish title race.

Madrid were unhappy the game was taking place fewer than 72 hours after their Champions League win on penalties against Atletico on Wednesday.

“The team has something special, character, commitment,” Ancelotti told reporters, insisting Madrid would refuse to play without “72 hours of rest” between matches as recommended by world football governing body FIFA.

However, despite their complaints, they had enough in the tank to beat their opponents, fifth, at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

“We kept going on a physical level, above all in the second half, the team ended up exhausted, but that was to be expected,” said Ancelotti.

“It’s a win that says a lot about this team and the ability this squad has.”

Ancelotti began with Vinicius Junior on the bench after the draining victory against Atletico in the last 16.

Villarreal started strongly and Thibaut Courtois got down well to his right to tip Ayoze Perez’s shot around the post.

From the resulting corner Villarreal took the lead, with the ball rebounding to Juan Foyth, who smashed home from close range.

Ancelotti’s side hit back quickly, with Kylian Mbappe levelling after 17 minutes.

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Brahim Diaz’s attempted lob was saved by Diego Conde, but the French striker dispatched the rebound with minimal fuss.

Soon Kylian Mbappe had his second, helping to spread the ball to the right and then finishing with aplomb after Lucas Vazquez found him in the middle of the box.

It was Mbappe’s 20th league goal of the season, putting him one behind the top scorer, Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski.

Content with their lead Madrid soaked up Villarreal pressure in the rest of the first half, with Courtois saving well from Nicolas Pepe.

Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral sent on Thierno Barry for Pepe at the break, as the Yellow Submarine looked to avoid a first home defeat in La Liga by Madrid since 2017.

Foyth might have levelled early in the second half but volleyed over the bar when well placed.

Ancelotti sent on Vinicius and Luka Modric to try and help Madrid put the game to bed and they regained some control from the enterprising hosts.

Conde saved from Fede Valverde and at the other end Perez came close with a sharp turn and powerful effort which flew just over Courtois’ crossbar, which was as close as his side came to a leveller.

“The start wasn’t the best but that’s normal with little rest that it’s hard on the legs, but then we came back quickly, we defended well, we were very tired but the commitment we showed was important,” Courtois told Real Madrid TV.

Now Ancelotti and his side can sit back and watch the two teams below them duke it out at the Metropolitano stadium.

“For us it was important to win today, obviously I will watch it, because it will be a very entertaining game,” said Ancelotti.

“Tomorrow I will be a football fan, and nothing more.”

Earlier Mallorca beat Espanyol 2-1 with a late Vedat Muriqi penalty, with the target man making amends after scoring an own goal and missing another spot-kick.

Celta Vigo beat bottom of the table Valladolid 1-0 in La Liga , inflicting their 20th defeat of the season.

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Brazil star Neymar has been ruled out of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina after a thigh injury scuppered his recall to the national team.

Neymar has spent almost a year and a half out of the Brazil side due to injuries but has appeared rejuvenated since his return to Santos in February. But in the past two weeks, he has been plagued by a left thigh injury.

In an Instagram story, the striker expressed his disappointment at missing the games.

“The return seemed so close, but unfortunately I won’t be able to wear the most important jersey in the world for the moment,” he wrote.

“We had long conversations and everyone knows of my desire to return, but we agreed that it’s best not to take any risks and prepare as best as possible to completely eradicate the injury,” he added.

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With Brazil down in fifth place in South American World Cup 2026 qualifying, coach Dorival Junior had recalled Brazil’s top scorer with 79 goals to the side he last represented in October 2023.

Real Madrid striker Endrick has been named as Neymar’s replacement in the Brazilian squad.

Brazil is set to play Colombia in Brasilia on March 20 and face bitter rivals and defending champions Argentina in Buenos Aires five days later.

Neymar, 33, scored for the first time in over 14 months two weeks ago, opening his account for Santos since his return to his boyhood club.

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The Pakistan Football League (PFL) has stepped up to support Muhammad Riaz, the former national footballer who was recently seen selling jalebis on the streets of Hangu.

After his heartbreaking story went viral, PFL Chairman Farhan Junejo announced a cash prize of Rs1 million for Riaz and offered him a guaranteed position in the league, ensuring that his career doesn’t end due to financial struggles.

Riaz, who represented Pakistan in the 2018 Asian Games, was left without a source of income after the disbanding of departmental sports.

With no league structure or financial support, he was forced to abandon the sport he loved and take to street vending just to survive.

His situation shed light on the grim reality faced by many Pakistani athletes who dedicate their lives to their sport but are left in the lurch when the system fails them.

Acknowledging Riaz’s struggles, PFL Chairman Farhan Junejo stated, “Muhammad Riaz is a prime example of hundreds and thousands of talented footballers in Pakistan who have been forced to leave the football field due to a lack of platforms and financial support.”

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“I, on behalf of PFL, would like to reward Muhammad Riaz with Rs1 million and a prominent position in PFL. He is not only an excellent player but also has represented Pakistan on the global stage. Such amazing talent deserves all the support we can offer in our maximum capacity.”

Junejo further emphasized the league’s commitment to ensuring that footballers like Riaz don’t have to abandon their careers due to financial instability. He reiterated that this is exactly why the PFL was created—to provide opportunities, transparency, and a structured pathway for players to grow.

Riaz, overwhelmed by the support, expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am thankful to PFL for providing me an opportunity to showcase my lost love for football. I will be working together with PFL to make sure no other player remains neglected.”

The PFL has also announced plans to provide free kits and training facilities to underprivileged footballers in Hangu as part of its ongoing mission to promote football development in Pakistan.

READ: Real Madrid edge Atletico on penalties to reach Champions League quarters

Real Madrid produced a gritty display to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a 4-2 win on penalties against rivals Atletico Madrid, following a 1-0 defeat after extra time on Wednesday.

Diego Simeone’s team dominated the record 15-time champions at the Metropolitano Stadium for much of the match.

However, Real Madrid has never been eliminated by Atletico in this competition. After Conor Gallagher scored in the first minute, Madrid fought hard to secure a 2-2 aggregate draw.

Thibaut Courtois made several saves to thwart Julian Alvarez, and Vinicius Junior blazed a penalty high and wide for Madrid.

In the shoot-out Alvarez scored for Atletico, but his effort was controversially ruled out for seeming to touch the ball twice because of a slip as he shot.

“The ball didn’t move,” complained Simeone. “I want to believe they saw he touched it (twice).”

Marcos Llorente also missed for Atletico, and Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger struck the winner for the reigning champions, who will face Arsenal in the last eight.

“I had to pick the coldest players possible (for penalties),” said Real coach Carlo Ancelotti.

“I think it’s a lottery still, a toss-up. Today it came in for us — Atletico go out with their heads held high because they played at a good level.”

Atletico played with caution in the first leg despite trailing, willing to take a single goal deficit back to the fiery Metropolitano stadium, where they believed they could really turn the heat up on their arch-rivals.

Real Madrid knocked Atletico out in the 2017 semi-finals in the final European game at the Vicente Calderon, with this being the first time the derby has been played at Atletico’s new home in the Champions League.

After defeats by Madrid in the 2014 and 2016 finals, the latter on penalties, and elimination on every other occasion the teams have met in the competition, Atletico were desperate to change the narrative but came up fractionally short.

“I think we played a great match, but unfortunately, we lacked a bit of luck,” Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak told Movistar. “The truth is that one feels pain; it hurts a lot.”

Atletico came flying out of the blocks and took the lead after just 27 seconds through Gallagher, levelling the tie on aggregate.

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Rodrigo De Paul’s low ball in from the right was not cut out by Raul Asencio and former Chelsea midfielder Gallagher lunged in to beat Courtois from close range.

“We came out as if it was already won, and in the first move, they scored a goal against us, and that messed us up a lot,” Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde told Movistar.

Atletico were content to sit deep and soak up pressure as Real Madrid pushed the ball around in their territory but were also ready to spring forward on the counter.

Courtois saved on three occasions from Alvarez, who had scored a brilliant goal in the first leg.

With Atletico controlling the game, Real boss Carlo Ancelotti brought on Eduardo Camavinga and Lucas Vazquez in search of fresh energy.

Madrid soon produced their best attack of the game, with superstar trio Vinicius, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe combining on a rapid counter.

Mbappe skipped away from Jose Gimenez and then was dragged down by the desperate Clement Lenglet for a penalty before he could shoot.

Vinicius stepped up, facing down a red wall of whistling Atletico fans behind the goal, and buckled under the pressure, firing high and wide.

Madrid shaded extra-time as both teams looked tired but pushed themselves to their limits with the match on a knife-edge.

Mbappe stepped up first from the spot and sent Oblak the wrong way, with Bellingham following suit after Alexander Sorloth netted for Atletico.

Alvarez slipped as he smashed home the hosts’ second penalty, and after a VAR review, it was ruled out as he had touched the ball twice as he struck it.

Oblak saved from Vazquez’s weak penalty to put Atletico back on track, but it was short-lived as Llorente crashed his penalty off the bar.

Oblak dived the right way for Rudiger’s decisive penalty, getting a hand to it, but he could not keep it out as Madrid marched into the last eight, after winning their sixth shoot-out against Atletico from six.

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Muhammad Riaz, a footballer who once represented Pakistan in the 2018 Asian Games, now finds himself standing at a roadside stall in Hangu, making jalebis to survive.

Riaz’s journey—from playing at an international level to battling financial struggles—highlights the grim reality of football in a country where the sport remains in the shadows of cricket. While football thrives globally, in Pakistan, it continues to be an afterthought.

Like many athletes, Riaz lost his livelihood after the ban on departmental sports—a move that was intended to encourage club-based structures but instead left hundreds of athletes unemployed and struggling to make ends meet.

Although Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced the restoration of departmental sports—abolished in 2019 under the PTI government—Riaz remains one of many athletes still waiting for the promised change.

“For years, I waited for the revival of departmental sports,” Riaz shared with the media. “I was hopeful after the prime minister’s announcement, but the delay has been unbearable.”

With no financial support and no foreseeable future in football, Riaz had no choice but to find another way to feed his family.

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“I had to earn an honest living. That’s why I’m here, making jalebis instead of playing football,” Muhammad Riaz added.

In a heartfelt appeal, he passionately called upon the government to revitalize departmental sports.

He posed a stirring question, challenging the authorities to reflect on whether this dismal fate was truly the destiny reserved for our national heroes, those who once brought pride and glory to the nation.

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Lionel Messi watched from the bench as 10-man Inter Miami held on for a 1-0 win over Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer (MLS) on Sunday.

The Argentine was not used by coach Javier Mascherano in a game where Miami spent much of the time on the back foot after goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was sent off in the 38th minute.

It marked the third straight game that Lionel Messi failed to feature for Inter Miami after he did not travel to Houston for last week’s 4-1 win in MLS before watching the 2-0 victory over Jamaica’s Cavalier in the CONCACAF Champions Cup first-leg game on Thursday.

Mascherano has said he is managing the workload of the 37-year-old World Cup winner and while his absence has been a disappointment for fans, Miami have not paid a price on the field.

Charlotte FC, coached by Englishman Dean Smith, the former Aston Villa manager, were the better team throughout the encounter but proved unable to convert their plentiful possession into real goal chances.

The visitors offered early indicators of where their threats lay, with Wilfried Zaha, the former Crystal Palace winger, showing flashes of his skill on the left flank, while Israeli winger Liel Abada’s pace was evident on the opposite wing.

Miami were creating little, with Ashley Westwood dictating play in the centre of midfield for the North Carolina side, and they found themselves in trouble when Ustari received a straight red after he raced off his line and brought down Zaha.

The teams went in goalless at the break but it took just seconds for Miami to strike after the interval with a delightfully constructed goal.

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Tadeo Allende back-heeled to Luis Suarez, and the veteran returned the ball with a chip, which the Argentine chested down and then buried into the bottom corner.

It was the fourth goal this season in all competitions for Allende, who joined Miami on loan from Spanish club Celta Vigo.

Inter Miami opted to defend their lead, sitting deep and in numbers, frustrating Charlotte FC, who struggled to break through their defence despite 13 corners.

Their best chance came in the 65th minute when Zaha whipped in a wicked cross from the left, but Patrick Agyemang’s glancing header flashed wide of the post.

The crowd chanted for a Messi cameo, but Mascherano opted for defensive changes as the South Florida side held firm to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

“Well, the truth is that in the case of Leo, we had thought of giving him minutes at some point in the game, but when we went a men down and with him having been out for so long, we thought it was best to keep him (on the bench) and not take any risks in that case,” said Mascherano, who did not explain what would be ‘risked’ by Messi.

There has been no clear indication of any injury for Messi with medical staff understood to be concerned about ‘overload’ on his muscles from the intense start of the season, resulting in the cautious approach from his coach.

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Football legend of India, Sunil Chhetri, unexpectedly came out of his international retirement and is set to return to the national team at age 40 after hanging up his boots last year.

The former captain, the fourth-highest men’s international goalscorer of all time, played his last match for India in June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier.

Sunil Chhetri said last year that “instinct” told him the match against Kuwait should be his last, and he bowed out in front of nearly 59,000 fans in Kolkata.

But on Thursday, India head coach Manolo Marquez announced the return of India’s most-capped player for the March international window.

India are out of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and are now targeting the Asian Cup in 2027.

“The qualification for the Asian Cup is very crucial for us. Given the importance of the tournament and the matches ahead, I discussed with Sunil Chhetri about making a comeback to strengthen the national team,” Marquez said in a statement from the All India Football Federation.

“He agreed, and so we have included him in the squad.”

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India will play a friendly against Maldives on March 19 in preparation for an Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25.

Football has struggled to find its feet among the 1.4 billion people of India, where the sport is dwarfed by the nation’s longstanding cricket obsession.

However, Sunil Chhetri is considered a sporting icon in cricket-mad India. The diminutive striker, who is 1.7 metres (5ft 7in) tall, made his debut against fierce rivals Pakistan in 2005 and scored India’s only goal.

Chhetri had two brief but unsuccessful spells in Portugal and the United States of America (USA) but has spent most of his career in India.

In 2009, he was offered a contract by London club Queens Park Rangers, in England’s second tier, but he could not get a work permit.

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