UEFA has fined Real Madrid after their fans were heard singing homophobic chants aimed at Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. The incident occurred during Madrid’s 3-1 victory over City in the Champions League knockout tie in February. UEFA has confirmed that the Spanish side has been fined €30,000 (£24,800) and will also face a partial stadium closure, with at least 500 seats to be closed off during their next home match. However, this stadium closure is suspended for two years, pending no further incidents. A statement from UEFA read: “The UEFA Appeals Body has decided to fine Real Madrid CF…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Isco led Real Betis to a 2-1 victory over his former club, Real Madrid, in a dramatic and potentially pivotal win on Saturday evening. While much attention was focused on Vinicius Junior’s milestone 300th appearance for Madrid, it was Isco, with 353 matches for Los Blancos, who proved the decisive figure at the Benito Villamarin. Brahim Diaz gave Madrid the lead in the 10th minute. Kylian Mbappe skillfully maneuvered through Betis defenders on the edge of the box before setting up Ferland Mendy for a close-range shot. Betis goalkeeper Adrian blocked the effort, but Diaz was on hand to tap…
A new rule aimed at reducing time-wasting will be introduced across world football from the 2025/26 season, with referees awarding corners instead of free kicks for goalkeepers who hold the ball for more than eight seconds. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) made the change to Law 12.2 during their 139th annual meeting. Previously, goalkeepers who held onto the ball for more than six seconds were to be penalized with an indirect free kick inside their penalty area. However, this rule has not been consistently enforced in recent years, prompting IFAB to implement a more effective measure to combat time-wasting.…
Atalanta was held to a 0-0 draw by relegation-threatened Venezia at the Gewiss Stadium today. The home side dominated possession and created several chances but was unable to break the deadlock. The most notable miss came from Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, who wasted a golden opportunity to give Atalanta the win. In the second half, Lookman was left unmarked in front of an open goal but shockingly missed the target, leaving both fans and teammates stunned. This disappointing performance was a stark contrast to Lookman’s recent form, where he impressed with a brace and an assist in Atalanta’s 5-0 thrashing…
Mikel Arteta has admitted that Arsenal are missing the “spark” needed to win games and challenge for the Premier League title. Injuries to Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, and Bukayo Saka have left the Gunners short of attacking options. Defensive midfielder Mikel Merino has been forced to lead the line in the last two matches, but Arsenal struggled in attack, failing to score in both games and managing just three shots on target over 180 minutes. Following a 1-0 defeat to West Ham United and a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest, which left them 13 points behind Liverpool in…
Manchester United are eager to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli this summer and are reportedly willing to include Rasmus Hojlund in a swap deal. Currently on a season-long loan at Galatasaray, Osimhen has been in excellent form, scoring 20 goals in 27 appearances across all competitions. However, the terms of the loan will see Osimhen return to Napoli in the summer. The Italian club is open to selling the striker if a club triggers his €75 million (£62m/$78m) release clause. According to Calciomercato, United are targeting Osimhen for the summer transfer window as Ruben Amorim looks to strengthen his attacking…
Ruben Amorim has disclosed the punishment Alejandro Garnacho will face after storming off down the tunnel during Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town. The Argentine forward was substituted by Amorim just before half-time following Patrick Dorgu’s straight red card for serious foul play. Noussair Mazraoui was brought on to fill in at wing-back and provide defensive support. Amorim’s decision to replace Garnacho, rather than Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee, seemed to upset the 20-year-old, who stormed off down the touchline and straight into the tunnel before the half had even ended. Ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round match against…
Darwin Nunez’s commitment to Liverpool remains firm for now, with the Uruguayan forward focused on the club’s goals until July. Despite a January move to Al Nassr falling through, talks about his potential departure persist. With growing indications that a summer exit is becoming more likely, the next few months could be crucial in deciding his future. Discussions surrounding Nunez’s future have been ongoing, with recent talks emphasizing that a move away from Anfield remains a real possibility. While his immediate focus is on Liverpool’s current campaign, the potential for a transfer continues to linger. The player’s status is expected…
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has acknowledged that fan protests are to be expected as the Blues continue to experience mixed results under the ownership group’s controversial direction. Ahead of Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Southampton, a group of Blues supporters gathered outside Stamford Bridge to protest against the club’s ownership – Boehly and Clearlake Capital, led by Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano – expressing frustration with the underperformance of the expensive squad. The protests included chants in support of former owner Roman Abramovich, who remains a beloved figure among many fans, despite being forced to sell the club following Russia’s…
Nigeria’s Flying Eagles were defeated 2-0 by Côte d’Ivoire in a friendly at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Friday. The Junior Elephants avenged their 2-0 defeat to the Flying Eagles in the first friendly on Wednesday. Tape Kader put the hosts ahead in the 17th minute, and Isaac Cissé doubled their lead in the 53rd minute. Both teams used the friendlies as preparation for the 2025 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations. Aliyu Zubairu’s side will take a week-long break upon returning to Abuja before resuming their final preparations for the U-20 AFCON. The seven-time champions are placed in…