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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

Transfer Talk: Man Utd, Bayern target Leverkusen ace Frimpong

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! Bayer Leverkusen wing-back Jeremie Frimpong is on the radar of Bayern Munich and Manchester United, according to Sky Sports Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg. The clubs are said to be…

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April 2, 2024

Arsenal show resolve to lift Conti Cup, deny Hayes quadruple on Chelsea exit

The celebrations were already emphatic after Stina Blackstenius calmly slotted home for Arsenal in the 115th minute of the Conti Cup final, sealing a 1-0 win against Chelsea. They became unequivocal once the final whistle had been blown at Molineux in Wolverhampton, England. You could see what it meant to Jonas Eidevall, the Gunners’ manager, along with his players and fans; elation and relief were written across their faces. Given…

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April 1, 2024

Pep admits title no longer ‘in Man City’s hands’

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City are now “third” favourites to win the Premier League title after a 0-0 draw with Arsenal at the Etihad on Sunday. The result leaves City third in the table, a point behind Arsenal in second and three points adrift of leaders Liverpool. With nine games remaining, the title is out of their hands and Guardiola said his team are now underdogs to claim the trophy…

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April 1, 2024

Sevilla condemn racist abuse in Getafe game

Sevilla have condemned “racist and xenophobic abuse” aimed at defender Marcos Acuña and coach Quique Sanchez Flores during their 1-0 LaLiga win at Getafe on Saturday. The game was stopped in the 68th minute, with a warning issued over the stadium tannoy — following LaLiga’s anti-racism protocol — after shouts of “Acuña, monkey” were heard from the crowd, referee Javier Iglesias Villanueva said in his match report. Sevilla manager Sánchez…

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March 31, 2024

Transfer Talk: Chelsea, Arsenal eye Sporting striker Viktor Gyökeres

The summer transfer window won’t reopen in Europe for a while yet, but there are plenty of moves in the works and there is plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Sporting CP will require €80m this summer to part ways with forward Viktor Gyökeres, amid Arsenal and Chelsea interest, according to the Mirror. The…

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March 31, 2024

Manchester derby shows City and United flaws, Real Madrid and Liverpool lose, moreApril 8, 2025
Another weekend in Europe’s top soccer leagues brought plenty for us to talk about. (When doesn’t it?) Sunday’s Manchester derby promised a lot but delivered little, while Real Madrid lost ground in LaLiga’s title race with a stunning home defeat to Valencia — Los Che’s first away win of the 2024-25 season. (Don’t stress too… Read more: Manchester derby shows City and United flaws, Real Madrid and Liverpool lose, more
Liverpool not complacent despite shock loss – SlotApril 7, 2025
Arne Slot has insisted Liverpool were not complacent in Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Fulham but warned they must produce “constant effort” in their final seven games to win the Premier League title. Liverpool fell to only their second league defeat of the campaign at Craven Cottage despite Alexis Mac Allister giving the visitors a 13th-minute… Read more: Liverpool not complacent despite shock loss – Slot
Fulham stun Liverpool, delay Prem title marchApril 7, 2025
Expert recap and game analysis of the Fulham vs. Liverpool English Premier League game from April 6, 2025 on ESPN.
‘No way’ Everton penalty call was right – ArtetaApril 6, 2025
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has said there is “no way” Everton should have been awarded a penalty in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Goodison Park. David Moyes’ side put another dent in Arsenal’s faltering Premier League title hopes when Iliman Ndiaye converted a second-half spot-kick to cancel out Leandro Trossard’s earlier strike on Merseyside. Referee Darren… Read more: ‘No way’ Everton penalty call was right – Arteta
Title gone for Arsenal as attention turns to Real MadridApril 6, 2025
LIVERPOOL, England — If it’s true that this year’s battle for the Premier League title has been a one-horse race for some time, then this was the day Arsenal all but surrendered their hopes of pipping Liverpool at the finishing post. With one of the world’s most famous sporting fixtures, horse racing’s Grand National, taking… Read more: Title gone for Arsenal as attention turns to Real Madrid
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