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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

Is Stuttgart’s Hoeness Germany’s next great young manager?

His last name is certainly familiar, yet Sebastian Hoeness, the coach, remains a relatively new figure among Germany’s top-tier managers. VfB Stuttgart sit third in the Bundesliga and Hoeness’s efforts with the modestly equipped squad have garnered attention from across German and European football circles. So much so that up until last month, when he extended his contract, Hoeness was even linked to the soon-to-be-vacant managerial position at Bayern Munich.…

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April 6, 2024

South African player shot dead in hijacking

Former South Africa junior international Luke Fleurs, who played for the country’s most popular soccer club, Kaizer Chiefs, was killed in a carjacking in Johannesburg, police officials confirmed Thursday. Fleurs, 24, was shot in the chest at a gas station Wednesday night and the assailants drove off in his vehicle. “While waiting to be served by the attendant, he was confronted by two armed males,” police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela…

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April 5, 2024

Famous footballing twins: Sons of Man United great sign pro contracts at Old Trafford

Manchester United heralded the second generation of a family dynasty this week as Darren Fletcher’s two sons, Jack and Tyler, both signed their first professional contracts with the club. Fletcher represented United more than 200 times during a 12-year career at Old Trafford, during which the dependable midfielder won five Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the Champions League among a raft of honours before also serving as a…

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April 5, 2024

Trabzonspor get 6-game stadium ban for fan attack

Top-tier Trabzonspor were ordered to play six games without fans as punishment by the Turkish Football Federation for violent clashes on the field after a Superlig game against Fenerbahce. The federation also fined Trabzonspor more than 3 million Turkish lira ($94,000) on Wednesday. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) Turkish police detained 12 people on March 17 after the on-field clashes. Trabzonspor fans charged onto the pitch after…

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April 4, 2024

Why hiring the right director of football for your club is so hard

Until the past decade, most English clubs did not have a director of football or its equivalent. This was long after they were a staple not just at every football club, but just about every professional team in every professional sport everywhere in the world. (For convenience, let’s call the gig director of football (DOF) in this column, though depending on where you are it might be head of recruitment,…

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April 4, 2024

April viewing guide: Finding Champions League final four, more

Georgia qualified for the Euros. Bayern Munich’s title streak all but ended (and they didn’t even steal the coach responsible for it). Manchester City did the opposite of seizing control of the Premier League race. We got ourselves a lopsided Champions League quarterfinal draw (and another “Dos a Cero” between the U.S. and Mexico). March was a lot, and it gave us a lot to keep track of as we…

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April 3, 2024

Transfer Talk: Barca hope Haaland bid will convince Xavi to stay

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! Barcelona have mapped out a plan to sign Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in 2025, according to Mundo Deportivo. The Blaugrana see the 23-year-old as a future replacement…

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April 3, 2024

Source: Man Utd want Wilcox as technical director

Manchester United have made a formal approach to Southampton for director of football Jason Wilcox, a source has told ESPN. Wilcox is United’s top target to become their new technical director as part of the recruitment shake-up being led by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) The club have made a formal offer of compensation for the former Blackburn Rovers…

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April 2, 2024

Spurs’ Ange: Out of love with football over VARApril 5, 2025
Ange Postecoglou has said he is “falling out of love with football” after admitting he made a mistake in celebrating Pape Matar Sarr’s disallowed goal against Tottenham, but not because he risked a fan backlash. Spurs lost 1-0 at Chelsea on Thursday but Sarr had a second-half strike ruled out by VAR. Postecoglou’s decision to… Read more: Spurs’ Ange: Out of love with football over VAR
Fenerbahce: Mourinho provoked before nose grabApril 5, 2025
Fenerbahce have come out in defence of their coach Jose Mourinho, claiming he was provoked by his Galatasaray counterpart Okan Buruk following Wednesday’s Turkish Cup game between the sides. Mourinho, whose team lost 2-1 in the quarterfinal, was seen grabbing the nose of Buruk following a scuffle that broke out between the players on the… Read more: Fenerbahce: Mourinho provoked before nose grab
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