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Pochettino’s subs silence his critics as Chelsea reach Wembley again

LONDON — Mauricio Pochettino’s stoppage-time celebration felt pointed for a reason. As Carney Chukwuemeka slotted in a low 92nd-minute finish to finally break Leicester City’s resistance, the Chelsea coach turned to shake his right arm in the direction of those Blues supporters located near the dugout. Noni Madueke later added gloss to the score line with a fine strike, sealing a 4-2 FA Cup quarterfinal victory (stream a replay on…

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March 18, 2024

Trabzonspor fans charge pitch, players after loss

Fans of Turkey’s Trabzonspor stormed the pitch and brawled with security forces and players from visiting Fenerbahce after their team lost 3-2 on Sunday, in the latest incident in a league that has been marred by controversy this season. Brazilian midfielder Fred scored twice in the first period to give Fenerbahce, who are second in the Super Lig two points behind rivals Galatasaray, a half-time lead over Trabzonspor. Macedonian midfielder…

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March 18, 2024

FIFA gives Infantino 33% pay rise worth $4.6m

FIFA raised president Gianni Infantino’s base salary by 33% last year to make his total pay package worth more than $4.67 million, world football’s governing body said in its financial report released Friday. Infantino was re-elected unopposed in March 2023 to extend his presidency to 11 years before FIFA staged the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, and picked preferred candidates to host two future men’s World Cups,…

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March 17, 2024

Transfer Talk: Man City interested in Guimarães, Luiz and Kimmich

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March 17, 2024

Have we seen the best of Neymar, or are new chapters yet to be written?

It was 15 years ago today that Neymar scored the first goal of his professional career, striking for Santos against Mogi Mirim in the Sao Paulo State Championship. A decade and a half later, he is the top goalscorer in the history of the Brazil national team, overtaking Pelé and flying past great names such as Ronaldo, Romario, and Zico. And even though he does plenty besides scoring, he is…

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March 16, 2024

Ange: ‘Harsh’ to blame tourists for price hike

LONDON — Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou said on Friday that people who label supporters of Premier League clubs living outside of the UK as “plastic fans” are being “really harsh” and “disrespectful.” Last Wednesday, Spurs announced a 6% rise in the price of season tickets from next season and a removal of concessions for new season ticket holders aged 65 or over, prompting a backlash from fan groups such…

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March 16, 2024

Major kit drop! Rating every Copa América and Euro 2024 jersey released by Adidas

With the first international break of the year imminent and two major tournaments just beginning to appear on the horizon, Adidas has unveiled a whole raft of the home and away kits that will be worn by their various partner federations at both the 2024 Copa América and European Championship. There is a common design thread running through all of the kits that have been unveiled across both continental tournaments,…

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March 15, 2024

UCL talking points: Was round of 16 a bit boring?

The 2023-24 Champions League round of 16 is all wrapped up with plenty of drama, two penalty shootouts and historic moments. Barcelona’s youngsters made all the difference, Arsenal reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2010, and Harry Kane rescued Bayern Munich to keep his hopes of a trophy this season alive. Friday’s quarterfinal draw will feature plenty of European heavyweights such as defending champions Manchester City and LaLiga…

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March 15, 2024

Klopp: Edwards hasn’t asked me to stay

New Fenway Sports Group (FSG) Football Chief Executive Michael Edwards, who will run Liverpool’s football operation, has not asked Jürgen Klopp if he will remain as manager after this season because “he is not dumb,” the club’s German boss said Wednesday. Edwards’ new role at FSG, Liverpool’s American owners, was announced on Tuesday and his appointment is seen as a major step forward for the club as they look towards…

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March 14, 2024

How a De Laurentiis email led Napoli from Serie A title to disarray

A trophyless season beckons for Napoli, just a year after dominating Serie A and reaching the quarterfinal of the Champions League. And when the regret fades for not overcoming an injury-hit Barcelona in the round of 16 — they had their shot and didn’t take it, though maybe if Jesper Lindstrom’s header had been on target, and if Pau Cubarsí’s challenge on Victor Osimhen had been punished with a penalty,…

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March 14, 2024

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
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