The founder of Scotland’s Amputee Football Association has called on the nation’s public to get behind the inaugural EAFF Nations League in October.
Hosting Group D of the competition, Scotland will be joined by the Netherlands, Albania, Azerbaijan and Kosovo in Fife in what will be the biggest international para-football tournament of its kind to take place in the country.
The matches will take place at Dalgety Bay Sports Centre and Ashley Reid, who is also chief executive of Scottish Para-Football, told the PA news agency: “We’d love for people to come along and support the team and indeed to get a flavour of this exciting and dynamic form of football.
“It’s an enormous coup for Scotland to be hosting an event such as this.
“It is probably the biggest sporting event for para football, disability football of its kind ever to be hosted in Scotland.
“We’ve got teams from countries across the world coming here and I very much hope we’ll put the spotlight on para football general in Scotland.
“It will be a big event. It’s testament to the growth of para football in Scotland, amputee football in Scotland, which was established over the last couple of years.
“We would love as many people as possible to come along over the course of the weekend and support this Scotland team.”
The Nations League is organised by the European Amputee Football Federation (EAFF) of which Amputee Football Association Scotland (AFAS) is a member.
The Scotland squad, made up of 11 individuals each with a lower or upper limb amputation, will face their international counterparts on 26-29 October and 15 matches will be played across three days.
Reid is looking for financial backing for the event which is set to cost the AFAS around £35,000.
She said: “We would be thrilled to discuss opportunities with anyone interested in becoming an event sponsor, or those able to support the event in any other ways.
“Anything with regards donations whether it be bottled water, or snacks, or sponsoring a player or with designing promotional stuff, any help at all, even volunteers.
“We literally are a charity operating with four volunteers.
“It is a huge event for us to pull off but we will do it.
“We hosted our first big international tournament, an invitational event, in November, where we had Belgium, Israel and Ireland over at the Oriam (Edinburgh) we did a great job.
“It was our first ever big tournament and it was fantastic. Hopefully we can really put on show and showcase amputee football at its best.”
Amputee Football Association Scotland was set up in 2017 to create opportunities for those with limb loss to participate in the game.
The organisation is now a Game Leader of Scottish Para-Football, the Scottish FA’s governing body for all forms of para-football in Scotland.
Eighteen sides will take part in the inaugural Amputee Football Nations League, with teams split into four divisions. Each division will play a tournament in a different location on a different date.
Scotland is a host nation, along with Poland, France and Belgium. The team in last place in each group will be relegated to the lower division, with the best team being promoted to the higher division.
'Right guy at the right time' - Amorim confident of changing Man Utd's fortunes
Ruben Amorim believes he is the "right guy at the right time" to turn Manchester United's fortunes around.
The 39-year-old signed a two-and-a-half-year deal earlier this month to keep him at Old Trafford until June 2027, replacing Erik ten Hag after he was sacked in October.
Amorim is the sixth permanent United manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, having left Sporting CP to take charge during the international break.
He won two Primeira Liga titles as Sporting head coach as well as two Taca da Liga trophies, while he led the club to a perfect start in the league this season, winning all 11 of their games.
United sit 13th in the Premier League table ahead of their trip to Ipswich Town on 15 points, though they are just four points behind Chelsea in third.
Amorim recognised the size of the task ahead of him in Manchester but is confident he can make a change.
"I'm a little bit of a dreamer and I believe in myself, and I believe in the club," he said during his first press conference.
"I think we have the same idea, the same mindset and that can help.
"I truly believe in the players; I know you don't believe a lot, but I do. I want to try new things. You guys don't think it's possible, I do.
"Call me naive, but I believe I am the right guy at the right time. I truly believe I am the right guy."
Aged 39 years and 302 days, Amorim will be the youngest to take charge of his first match for the Red Devils since Wilf McGuinness in August 1969 (31y 288d).
United have won just four of their 11 league games so far this season, and have struggled in front of goal, netting just 12 times so far.
Expected to implement his favoured 3-4-3 formation, Amorim admitted it would take time for the club to adapt and has asked for patience as the players get used to his tactics.
"I know at Manchester United we have to win games. We need a lot of time because it's a tough league, we have to improve a lot to try to win the title," he added.
"We have to change the physical aspect of the team. I don't know how long it will take."
Vlahovic out of Juventus clash with Milan
Dusan Vlahovic will miss Juventus' trip to Milan in Serie A this weekend and is also a doubt for the Champions League game at Aston Villa, head coach Thiago Motta has confirmed.
Vlahovic returned from the international break with a muscle problem in his left thigh, and the manager, after he confirmed the Serbian's absence for Saturday's game at San Siro, was asked about his chances of playing on Wednesday at Villa Park.
"I don't know. He definitely won't be there tomorrow. We hope to have him back as soon as possible," Motta told a press conference on Friday.
"Injuries are part of football. Now it's Vlahovic's turn, but we'll keep playing with the same principles, attacking and defending together."
Vlahovic is the latest of Motta's injury problems at Juventus. Argentine winger Nicolas Gonzalez missed the last six league games and is still unavailable, while Poland striker Arkadiusz Milik is a long-term absentee.
Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz will also miss the game with Milan and defender Juan Cabal recently suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury, the same issue which will keep fellow defender Gleison Bremer out for the rest of the season.
"I'm really disappointed for Cabal because, like Bremer, he'll be out for a long time," Motta said.
"This is another reason to push ourselves, to commit that bit more so that these absences don't weigh too heavily."
Juventus go into the game as the only unbeaten side in Serie A but find themselves sixth in the standings in what is so far a very tight title race, with just two points separating Motta's side from leaders Napoli.
"It's very balanced and this is good for both us and the public," Motta said.
"We must all try to continue like this. We have to try to get as many positive results as possible."
Milan are one place behind Juve but six points off Motta's side.
Serie A side Genoa confirm sacking of head coach Gilardino
Serie A side Genoa have confirmed the departure of their head coach Alberto Gilardino, with Patrick Vieira reportedly on his way in.
Gilardino, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, leaves the club with them sitting just one point above the relegation size with 10 points from 12 matches this season.
A former striker who played for clubs including Genoa, Parma, AC Milan and Fiorentina, Gilardino took charge of Genoa in 2022 and helped them earn promotion to the top division before a 11th-place finish during the 2023-24 season.
"The club thanks Gilardino for the goals achieved together over the years and wishes him the best for his career," Genoa said in a statement.
The 42-year-old saw his side salvage a late 1-1 draw against Cesc Fabregas' Como in their last match before the international break.
Genoa were also knocked out of the Coppa Italia in the second round following a defeat to Sampdoria on penalties in September.
Arsenal legend Vieira is set to replace him, according to multiple reports.
The former France midfielder has been out of work since leaving Strasbourg by mutual consent in July.
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