Category Other

How must Nigeria and Zambia improve before Paris?

Nigeria and Zambia will represent Africa in the women’s football competition at the 2024 Olympic Games after the engrossing conclusion of the qualifying campaign. The final four teams in the qualifying campaign also represented Africa at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last year, and contested the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco less than 18 months ago. Will those campaigns, and the demoralising experience…

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April 12, 2024

Barça, PSG boycott TV network over racist remark

Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain boycotted interviews with Spanish broadcaster Movistar after Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal following a racist comment made by one of the on-air analysts. Germán “Mono” Burgos, Diego Simeone’s former assistant manager at Atlético Madrid, was responsible for the remark, which was made about the Barça forward Lamine Yamal, a Spain international with Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean heritage. “If football doesn’t work out for him, he can end…

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April 11, 2024

Messi won’t need ‘extra’ motivation for Monterrey

MONTERREY, Mexico — Inter Miami CF head coach Gerardo Martino said Lionel Messi doesn’t need any “extra or special situation” to motivate him for the second leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal match with Monterrey on Wednesday. Messi and Miami come into the second leg trailing 2-1 on aggregate after last Wednesday’s match in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Although Messi was held out of that game due to injury, he…

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April 11, 2024

Man City, Real Madrid’s instant classic sets up sensational return leg

MADRID — It was breathless in the Bernabeu, a night when Phil Foden and Fede Valverde delivered goals from the gods, when Real Madrid and Manchester City threw everything at each other in a bid to claim a crucial quarterfinal first-leg advantage and, ultimately, produced a 3-3 draw that leaves next week’s second-leg firmly in the balance. Yes, there were costly mistakes, foolish errors and lapses of concentration that will…

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April 10, 2024

Relevent settles with FIFA on antitrust lawsuit

Relevent Sports has settled its antitrust lawsuit with FIFA as it pertains to the holding of league matches outside of a league’s home territory. The settlement now allows FIFA and Relevent to work together in bringing league matches from Europe and elsewhere to the United States. The settlement, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, states that “Relevent and FIFA stipulate and agree to the…

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April 10, 2024

Everton docked 2 more points for PSR breaches

An independent panel has handed Everton a two-point deduction on Monday for breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), the second time the club has faced a points deduction this season. Premier League regulations stipulate that a club can lose no more than £105 million ($132.54m) over a three-year period. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) “Over a three-day hearing last month, the independent Commission heard…

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April 9, 2024

Transfer Talk: Arsenal, Chelsea eye Sesko to solve scoring woes

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!

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April 9, 2024

Klopp: Display vs. Utd ‘won’t be enough’ for title

MANCHESTER, England — Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said he expects more plot twists in the Premier League title race after his side salvaged a 2-2 draw at Manchester United on Sunday. Klopp’s side entered the weekend with a two-point lead in the title race, and they looked set to maintain that advantage when they dominated the first half against United, albeit wasting multiple chances to put the game out of…

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April 8, 2024

Trabzonspor’s stadium ban for fan attack reduced

Turkish Super Lig club Trabzonspor’s six-match spectator ban imposed after their supporters stormed on to the pitch and fought with Fenerbahce players has been reduced to four matches after an appeal to the Turkish Football Federation (TFF). The TFF’s arbitration board also reduced their fine from 3,000,000 to 448,000 Turkish Lira ($14,000.) – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Turkish police detained 12 people on March 17 after the…

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April 7, 2024

Like a ‘clown’? Poch pans Chelsea fans after win

LONDON — Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has hit back at suggestions that he could show more passion on the sidelines, saying he is not a “clown.” Pochettino hugged his staff and joined the wild celebrations after Chelsea earned a stunning 4-3 comeback victory against Manchester United on Thursday following two last-gasp goals from Cole Palmer. However, when asked in a postmatch news conference whether he would take on board advice…

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April 6, 2024

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