FIFA says legal applications made by UEFA to access documents related to FIFA’s failed $20 billion plan to sell a stake in the World Cup are part of a “smear campaign” against global soccer’s governing body. UEFA, European soccer’s governing body, said on Aug. 27 it had filed documents in a Manhattan court requesting discovery of potential evidence from the New York investment fund Thrive Capital Management, founded by Joshua…
Tottenham Hotspur have left Richarlison out of their Premier League squad for the 2026-27 season. Richarlison has been told he is not part of head coach Roberto De Zerbi’s plans and that the decision was communicated to the 29-year-old before the transfer deadline to give him the opportunity to find a new club, sources have told ESPN. The Premier League transfer window closed on Tuesday with Richarlison still at Spurs,…
Al Hilal completed the signing of Brazil winger Gabriel Martinelli from Arsenal on Thursday. The Saudi Pro League club will pay a fixed fee of £60 million ($81m), while Arsenal will also get a percentage of any future transfer, sources told ESPN’s James Olley. Martinelli leaves the Emirates after seven years in north London, having scored 62 goals in 278 appearances for the Gunners. He joined the Gunners from Brazilian…
Ismaïla Sarr will need time to process his proposed move to Liverpool collapsing, Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage has said. The Senegal forward, who was Palace’s top scorer last term, seemed to be closing in on a move to Anfield in the final days of the transfer window but ended up staying at Selhurst Park. “He has to digest for sure because it’s a dream for a lot of players…
Edin Dzeko will play a 152nd and final match for Bosnia-Herzegovina next month before ending his 19-year international career. In an emotional post on Instagram, the 40-year-old striker wrote he would be retiring from national team duty after a Nations League qualifier against Sweden in the Bosnian city of Zenica on Oct. 2. “Now I feel the time has come to step aside,” wrote Dzeko, who played for Bosnia at…
Hull City have condemned the racist abuse directed towards new signing Robinio Vaz on social media. The 19-year-old forward joined on a season-long loan from Roma on transfer deadline day, with a number of X users writing derogatory comments under the post which announced his arrival. The post has since been deleted. Hull called the abuse “abhorrent” and said in a statement: “No individual should ever experience discriminatory abuse, and…
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean has revealed he used to play secret “games” while refereeing top-flight matches, including one where he tried to avoid giving a foul for as long as possible. Speaking on the Jamie Vardy’s Having a Party podcast, Dean admitted to playing two different “games,” and suggested he had also discussed playing them with other officials. “There used to be games we used to have, as…
Andoni Iraola has said new signing Bradley Barcola could make his Liverpool debut in Friday’s Premier League clash with Ipswich Town. The forward brought to an end a summer-long saga when he completed his move to Anfield from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, joining for an initial £106 million ($143m) plus a potential £17m ($23m) in add-ons. His last competitive appearance came for France in their 6-4 defeat to England on…
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has said that he doesn’t like to take to the pitch in training, preferring to oversee his sessions from the sidelines. The 45-year-old was asked in an interview with Sky Sports whether he ever features in midfield at Carrington. “No,” he smiled. “I genuinely haven’t missed playing and I don’t really have an urge to get involved in training either. “I think the odd…
José Mourinho admitted he’ll miss watching Lionel Messi after the Argentina star announced his international retirement this week. Messi, 39, confirmed his retirement on Monday, after captaining his country to the World Cup final this summer, having previously won the tournament in 2022. Mourinho — who is now back at Real Madrid for his second spell in charge — faced Messi’s Barcelona for three seasons in LaLiga between 2010 and…