FA Cup replays will be scrapped from the first round next season as part of a six-year agreement with the Premier League to strengthen the domestic competition, the English Football Association (FA) announced on Thursday. The FA added that all FA Cup rounds will be played on weekends from next term, with the fourth and fifth rounds, plus quarterfinals, to be held exclusive of Premier League matches. – Stream on…
Brazil legend Romario, 58, has registered himself as a player for America Football Club in Rio de Janeiro, where he also serves as club president. After his registration was approved on Tuesday, the 1994 World Cup winner is available to play for the club in the second division of the Carioca Championship — the state league of Rio de Janeiro — which begins on May 18. – Stream on ESPN+:…
The summer transfer window won’t reopen in Europe for a while yet, but there are plenty of moves in the works and gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Napoli want to sign Lille striker Jonathan David this summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport. The Serie A side are reported to view the 24-year-old as the ideal…
I don’t think that this is particularly widely known or properly understood, but Jude Bellingham was always “scheduled” to be playing in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. Only it was supposed to be for Manchester City against Real Madrid instead of Bellingham traveling to England’s north-west with Spain’s champions-elect this week. It was January last year that I had coffee with an unimpeachable…
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernández fumed about the decision to send Ronald Araújo off as his side were eliminated from the Champions League after Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at the Olympic Stadium. Xavi said Romanian referee Istvan Kovacs was a “disaster” and that showing a red card to Araujo for a last-man challenge on Bradley Barcola with Barça leading 1-0 on the night in the 29th minute, 4-2 on…
Football Australia and NSW Police are investigating a spectator who appeared to perform a Nazi salute during the A-League derby between Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC. The man, standing in the Wanderers’ active supporter bay at Allianz Stadium, was filmed by Network Ten cameras at full-time in Saturday’s match, which was won 2-1 by Sydney FC. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Initially the man gives the…
The Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF) will review its “spectator code of conduct” after the “disgraceful” incident that saw an individual whip Al Ittihad striker Abderrazak Hamdallah. During the award ceremony after Al Hilal’s 4-1 win over Al Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Thursday, a fan in the stands close to the field was captured on video reaching over the railing…
After Wrexham earned their second consecutive promotion with Saturday’s 6-0 win over Forest Green, Ryan Reynolds said the emotional journey of his and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of the club has been “the ride of our lives.” The ambitious Welsh side’s emphatic victory ensured their promotion to League One — the third tier of English football — for the first time in 19 years and with two matches to spare. –…
LEVERKUSEN, Germany — The unwanted moniker of “Neverkusen” that has hung over this club can be shelved. No longer are Bayer Leverkusen cast as perennial runners-up. The Werkself’s class of 2024 exorcised ghosts of painful failure Sunday evening, as they swept to their first Bundesliga title in the club’s history with a dominant 5-0 win over Werder Bremen. As Florian Wirtz rounded Werder Bremen’s defense and slotted home for his…
Manchester United’s affinity for chaos shows no signs of letting up as their run of madcap performances enters a fifth consecutive week. A warm and bright sunny evening on England’s south coast isn’t a typical backdrop for hedonism, but that is what Bournemouth and United served up in a reckless 2-2 draw, with only a tight VAR decision preventing the home side an opportunity to complete the double over Erik…