FIFA World Cup, fake football jerseys worth over £18M seized

FUNCHAL: Hundreds of Cristiano Ronaldo fans reportedly gathered outside a historic cathedral in Portugal over the weekend, hoping to catch a glimpse of the football superstar on his wedding day — only to discover that they had arrived for someone else’s ceremony. Rumors circulating on social media and in media reports claimed that Ronaldo was set to marry his longtime partner, Georgina Rodriguez, on Saturday in Funchal, the capital of Portugal’s Madeira island. Although Ronaldo’s family reportedly denied the claims, the speculation was enough to send scores of excited fans and journalists to the city’s historic Sé Cathedral. Many waited outside for hours, holding mobile phones and cameras in anticipation of the arrival of the Al Nassr star and Rodriguez. But the expected celebrity wedding never happened. Instead, the cathedral was preparing to host the wedding of a local couple, Nicole and Fabio. Fabio had already arrived at the church, while Nicole faced an unexpected challenge: getting through the crowd that had gathered outside believing Ronaldo would soon appear. The unusual situation created confusion around the cathedral, with tourists, fans and members of the media filling the surrounding streets. The Sé Cathedral administration later addressed the incident on its official Facebook page, congratulating the newly married couple while explaining that the large number of journalists and tourists had caused considerable confusion. The church eventually had to be closed while the wedding ceremony took place. In another post, the cathedral described the scene outside as something it had never experienced before, noting that the bride had difficulty entering the church because of the crowd. The guests also appeared to find the situation amusing. One guest joked to local media that they suddenly felt like celebrities themselves. Another questioned how anyone could have believed Ronaldo would arrive for a wedding without significant security arrangements. Ronaldo himself appeared to see the funny side of the episode. The footballer reportedly reacted to an Instagram post about the confusion with laughing-with-tears emojis, giving fans a glimpse of his reaction without directly confirming or denying any future wedding plans. Ronaldo and Rodriguez have been together for years and became engaged last year. Reports have previously claimed that Ronaldo presented Rodriguez with an expensive engagement ring featuring a large diamond. Despite the latest frenzy in Madeira, the couple has not announced a wedding date. For now, fans hoping to witness Ronaldo walk down the aisle will have to wait — and perhaps check the guest list before heading to the church.

Pakistan wrapped up a truly dominant campaign by winning the Central Asian Volleyball Association Championship on Wednesday. The home side defeated Bangladesh in straight sets during the final, played at the Liaquat Gymnasium within the Pakistan Sports Complex. This victory extended Pakistan’s unbeaten record across the entire six-nation tournament, which also included Kazakhstan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. Throughout the match, Pakistan looked in complete control. Their serving was powerful, their blocking well organized, and their attacking play sharp and consistent. Bangladesh struggled to find any rhythm against such a well-rounded performance. Pakistan took the opening set 25-20 before stepping things up even further in the second, winning it comfortably 25-16 through disciplined, coordinated play. Bangladesh showed some fight in the third set and briefly threatened a comeback. Pakistan, however, refused to let the momentum slip and closed out the match 25-20, sealing the championship in front of a jubilant home crowd. The win marked a perfect end to the tournament for Pakistan, who finished all seven matches unbeaten and did not drop a single set throughout the competition. Following this achievement, Pakistan climbed eight spots in the FIVB world rankings, moving up to 38th place globally. This also makes them the sixth-ranked team in Asia, sitting just behind Japan, Iran, Qatar, South Korea, and China. In the other major result of the day, Sri Lanka secured the bronze medal after a hard-fought five-set win over Uzbekistan in the third-place playoff. Kazakhstan finished the tournament in fifth position, while Nepal ended up at the bottom of the standings. Following the win, Pakistan Volleyball Federation chairman Chaudhry Mohammad Yaqoob offered his congratulations to the team. He praised the players, coaches, and support staff for their contribution to the victory, describing it as the result of consistent hard work and discipline. He also thanked everyone involved in organizing the event, including sponsors, volunteers, and supporters who helped make it a success. Federation president Sohail Khawar Mir echoed similar sentiments, calling the achievement a strong reflection of Pakistan’s talent and preparation. He pointed out how difficult it is to win an entire tournament without dropping a single set, calling it a rare and impressive feat. Sohail also praised Bangladesh’s performance throughout the event and thanked the other competing nations for making it a strong, competitive championship. He added that the tournament had helped grow the sport’s presence in the region while boosting Pakistan’s reputation as a reliable host for international sporting events.