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Toney brands FA ban ‘spiteful’, targets 2026 WC

Ivan Toney said the Football Association’s handling of the investigation into his gambling breeches was “spiteful,” adding that he is targeting a spot in England’s next World Cup squad after missing out on last year’s tournament in Qatar. The Brentford striker, who finished the season as the third-highest scorer in the Premier League, was handed an eight-month ban and fined £50,000 ($62,850) after admitting to 232 rule breaches, which included…

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June 13, 2023

Man City suffered for their UCL final win, but the pain makes it more real

ISTANBUL — Whatever else they might say about Manchester City’s first-ever treble (first of many? We’ll find out…) let them not say that it was painless. Or that it didn’t involve suffering. And maybe even a smattering of self-doubt. We got to the conclusion most expected: a City win over Inter Milan. But the journey we took to get there was unexpected and, for City, uncomfortable and unpleasant and filled…

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June 12, 2023

Bellingham, Dunk withdraw from England squad

Jude Bellingham and Lewis Dunk will not be ready for the England squad for the upcoming European qualifiers due to injuries, the national team confirmed on Sunday. Bellingham, destined for Real Madrid, was sidelined due to a knee injury for Borussia Dortmund’s season finale, where they settled for a 2-2 draw against Mainz, dashing their hopes of securing the Bundesliga title. The 19-year-old midfielder will continue his rehabilitation at the…

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June 12, 2023

Transfer Talk: As Man United talks stall, Kim attracts Chelsea, Newcastle interest

The summer transfer window isn’t open yet in Europe, but teams are getting ready for it, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Manchester United continue to see Napoli defender Kim Min-Jae as a priority this summer, but talks between the two parties have stalled amid Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Newcastle interest, per…

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June 12, 2023

PSG president denies Man Utd bid involvement

Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said on Saturday that he is not part of a potential Qatari-based bid to buy Manchester United. Speaking in Istanbul ahead of the Champions League final, Al-Khelaifi distanced himself from countryman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani’s proposed takeover of the storied Premier League club. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) “Paris Saint-Germain is my club, my heart and nothing to do with…

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June 11, 2023

Messi in Beijing with Argentina before MLS move

Lionel Messi arrived in Beijing on Saturday for Argentina’s friendly match against Australia ahead of joining Major League Soccer side Inter Miami as a free agent. Messi’s arrival was announced in a post on the organising International Football Invitation’s official Weibo social media site with a video of players stepping off a plane, ahead of Thursday’s match in the Chinese capital’s recently rebuilt Workers’ Stadium. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga,…

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June 11, 2023

USWNT’s Macario joins Chelsea on free transfer

United States forward Catarina Macario has joined Chelsea on a free transfer from Lyon, the club announced on Friday. Macario, who has 17 caps for the USWNT, arrives at the Women’s Super League side on a three-year deal. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) “Cat is one of the most intelligent, creative attacking players in the world,” Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said in a statement. “She brings a…

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June 10, 2023

Change is a constant in Istanbul but can Inter upset Man City?

ISTANBUL — This city straddling Europe and Asia (you can literally drive across the bridge from one continent to the other) is a fitting venue for a UEFA Champions League final (Saturday, 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET). It’s the European Cup, yes, but the finalists are two Asian-owned teams (Manchester City majority owned by Abu Dhabi; Internazionale by Chinese investors) with global appeal, and this city, founded nearly three millennia…

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June 10, 2023

Can UEFA make a Champions League final prematch show to rival Super Bowl halftime?

Ahead of the 2014 UEFA Champions League final — a Madrid derby in Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz — famed choreographer Wanda Rokicki said the prematch entertainment would honor Portuguese traditions “including naval history or the art of tiles.” The following year in Berlin, an estimated 180 million viewers in 200 countries watched Barcelona dust Juventus 3-1, but not before opera stars Nina-Marie Fischer and Manuel Gomez Ruiz sang hymns with…

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June 10, 2023

Shakhtar threaten to sue Spurs for player pursuit

Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive Sergei Palkin has threatened to sue Tottenham Hotspur if they try to sign winger Manor Solomon on a free transfer. Spurs have been linked with a move for the 23-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Premier League side Fulham after suspending his contract with Shakhtar. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) – When are the 2023-24 Premier League fixtures released? Shakhtar are…

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June 9, 2023

Harry Kane is on a mission to finally end his long personal trophy droughtApril 4, 2025
Harry Kane is a man on a mission. Not just for Bayern Munich but also for himself. It’s simple: the England captain finally wants to win silverware of note. Despite winning goal-scoring trophies and featuring in five finals, Kane has never tasted victory in a major competition, a run of futility that has even made… Read more: Harry Kane is on a mission to finally end his long personal trophy drought
Tottenham’s Postecoglou on thin ice with his future more uncertain than everApril 4, 2025
LONDON — Ange Postecoglou is no stranger to risk, but on Thursday, he played his most dangerous game yet. Tottenham Hotspur were midway through another insipid Premier League performance when his 64th-minute double change — introducing Pape Matar Sarr and Brennan Johnson for Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert — elicited a brief but audible chant… Read more: Tottenham’s Postecoglou on thin ice with his future more uncertain than ever
City fans protest over ticket issues, miss 1st goalApril 3, 2025
Manchester City fans boycotted the opening of their Premier League fixture against Leicester City on Wednesday in protest at ticketing issues at the Etihad Stadium. Supporters gathered outside the stadium an hour before kick-off with a banner which read: “MCFC – For the love not the money.” Hundreds of fans also remained in the concourses… Read more: City fans protest over ticket issues, miss 1st goal
Carlo Ancelotti to go on trial for tax evasionApril 3, 2025
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told a Spanish court on Wednesday that he “never thought about committing fraud” as he gave evidence in a trial in which he’s accused of failing to pay over €1 million ($1.08m) in taxes. Prosecutors have accused the veteran coach of evading paying tax on his image rights income during… Read more: Carlo Ancelotti to go on trial for tax evasion
Anthony Elanga is proof of how Man United desperately need to improve transfer strategyApril 2, 2025
NOTTINGHAM, England — Anthony Elanga chose a muted celebration after his wonderful solo goal against Manchester United, but the smile that crept over his face gave away the quiet satisfaction of scoring against his former club. Who could blame him? Man United decided Elanga wasn’t good enough when he was allowed to move to Nottingham… Read more: Anthony Elanga is proof of how Man United desperately need to improve transfer strategy
Flick: No luck to Barcelona success this seasonApril 2, 2025
Hansi Flick has said there is no luck to Barcelona success this season but he knows it is trophies that matter as he prepares for Wednesday’s “final before the final” against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Barça and Atlético drew 4-4 in the first leg of their Copa semifinal in February and finally… Read more: Flick: No luck to Barcelona success this season
Isco on Antony: We need to crowdfund for himApril 1, 2025
Real Betis midfielder Isco has joked that crowdfunding will be needed to keep Manchester United’s loanee Antony at the club for at least next season. Antony has been a big hit in Spain since joining on loan from United after a difficult first half of the campaign at Old Trafford. However, the loan deal which… Read more: Isco on Antony: We need to crowdfund for him
Haaland’s nightmare game, Napoli back in Serie A title race, RB Leipzig chaos, moreApril 1, 2025
The international break has finished and this weekend brought us plenty to talk about as European club action returned with a bang! Manchester City advanced in the FA Cup despite a game to forget by Erling Haaland, and Napoli took a decisive step back into Serie A’s title race while simultaneously wrecking Milan’s aspirations of… Read more: Haaland’s nightmare game, Napoli back in Serie A title race, RB Leipzig chaos, more
Football Australia: ‘No further action’ on KerrMarch 31, 2025
Sam Kerr has avoided being stripped of the Matildas captaincy after meeting with the Football Australia board, with the striker finally joining the Australian women’s team in camp. The parties met to address Kerr’s recent U.K. court case, where she was found not guilty on one charge of racially aggravated harassment of a police officer.… Read more: Football Australia: ‘No further action’ on Kerr
Arsenal name Berta as new sporting directorMarch 31, 2025
Arsenal have appointed Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, the club announced on Sunday. Berta will take on the permanent role, replacing Edu Gasper who resigned in November and has been on a six-month period of gardening leave since. “I am thrilled to be joining Arsenal in what is a hugely exciting period for… Read more: Arsenal name Berta as new sporting director