Category: Sports

CONFIRMED: Messi Leaves FC Barcelona.

Despite FC Barcelona and Lionel Messi having reached an agreement and the clear intention of both parties to sign a new contract today, this has not been possible because of financial and structural obstacles (Spanish Liga regulations).

As a result of this situation, Messi will not be staying on at FC Barcelona any longer. The player who has stalled and waited for so long to sign a fitting contract with the club will now have to play his football elsewhere.

FC Barcelona have been terribly managed over the last few years, signing players for outrageous fees, only for those players to perform far below par for them.

Following the offseason, Barca have tried to offload a number of players while taking on free transfers. Yet the club has still not balanced its books with regards to its wage structure. Messi’s departure is now one price to be paid for such terrible management.

Trent Alexander-Arnold Withdraws From Euro 2020 Squad Due To Injury.

Liverpool’s fire-paced wing back Trent Alexander-Arnold has withdrawn from England’s Euro 2020 squad due to injury.

He reportedly sustained a knock on his thigh in the closing stages of Wednesday night’s friendly against Austria.

Alexander-Arnold subsequently underwent a scan on Thursday that confirmed the injury will prevent him from participating in the European Championship, which begins next week.

The 22-year-old will immediately start a rehabilitation programme with a view to returning in pre-season as Liverpool prepare for 2021-22.

Giggs To Face Court Trial For Battering Girlfriend.

Wales boss and ex-Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs will go on trial in January accused of headbutting his ex-girlfriend and controlling her.

The 47 year old allegedly assaulted Kate Greville, 36, and caused her actual bodily harm at his home in Greater Manchester on 1 November last year.

He is also accused of controlling and coercive behaviour between December 2017 and November 2020. He will face trial at Manchester Crown Court on 24 January.

Giggs appeared at the court on Friday during a short hearing where he confirmed his identity and the date was set. He was told the trial could last three weeks. He will also attend a plea and trial preparation hearing on 23 July.

The court was told that the crown was yet to “particularise the indictment” in relation to the accusation of controlling and coercive behaviour.

Mr Giggs, who is accused of using violence, isolation, belittling, humiliation, harassment, degradation and abuse, previously issued a statement saying he would “look forward to clearing my name”. He has also been charged with common assault by beating of Ms Greville’s younger sister, Emma Greville, in the alleged same incident, which he also denies.

His honour judge Nicholas Dean QC, honorary recorder of Manchester, said there were three weeks available for the trial but added: “I very much hope that this case will not last that amount of time, but that’ll be discussed further on the next occasion this case is listed.”
Mr Giggs was bailed until his court appearance in July.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) announced caretaker boss Robert Page will manage the country at this summer’s European Championship finals.

Diogo Jota Out For Rest Of The Season.

Liverpool gaffer JĂĽrgen Klopp has confirmed Diogo Jota will not play again for Liverpool this season.

The Portuguese forward sustained a foot injury during the 4-2 win over Manchester United on Thursday night and will now be sidelined for the Reds’ remaining Premier League games.

Diogo Jota, with his Player of the Month award for October.

“No good thing without a bad thing – so, we won at Manchester United but Diogo got something with the bone,” the manager told Newsmen before today’s clash with West Bromwich Albion.

“Not too serious but serious enough to end the season. That’s it.”

Klopp was able to report positive news on James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, however, with both midfielders aiming for a potential return against Burnley next week.

“Oxlade is not in the squad, was ill a few days. We decided not to take him here just to give him now another session today that he is ready for Wednesday,” he added.

“Millie hopefully could be ready for Wednesday. We take what we get.”

Following a long list of injuries this season, Liverpool still have a lot of work cut out for them, with Champions League qualifications still hanging precariously in the balance after a run of poor results.

Confirmed: Chelsea Appoint Tuchel As Lampard Replacement.

Former PSG manager Thomas Tuchel has been confirmed as the new Chelsea manager just a day after Frank Lampard’s sack.

Tuchel who started his senior coaching career with Mainz, has coached Borussia Dortmund and PSG, taking the latter to the finals of the Champions League last season.

It remains to be seen how Tuchel will improve the Chelsea squad, especially since Lampard was sacked for not bringing immediate improvement to the club’s fortunes. There are high hopes however, that he will unleash the potential in the signings his predecessor made during the transfer window, especially Timo Werner.

Welcome to the bridge Thomas Tuchel.

Chelsea Confirm Frank Lampard Sack.

While confirming Frank Lampard’s sack, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has thanked him for his services and insists his status at the club “remains undiminished”.

He said in a statement: “This was a very difficult decision for the Club, not least because I have an excellent personal relationship with Frank and I have the utmost respect for him’.

“He is a man of great integrity and has the highest of work ethics. However, under current circumstances we believe it is best to change managers.

“On behalf of everyone at the Club, the Board and personally, I would like to thank Frank for his work as Head Coach and wish him every success in the future.

“He is an important icon of this great club and his status here remains undiminished. He will always be warmly welcomed back at Stamford Bridge.”

Stephen Warnock says Chelsea’s demand for ‘instant success’ is behind the decision to replace Frank Lampard, following the news the head coach is to be sacked.

Chelsea fans group We Are The Shed created a banner reading “In Frank we trust. Then. Now. Forever” that was displayed for the first time against Luton on Sunday.

Lampard’s points-per-game average of 1.67 ranks as the 4th lowest of any Blues boss in the Premier League.

In the Roman Abramovich era, only Andre Villas-Boas (47.5 per cent) has a worse win rate in all competitions amongst permanent Chelsea managers than Lampard (52.4 per cent). 

Since the start of last season, only Newcastle (54) have conceded more away goals in the Premier League than Chelsea, who have kept a clean sheet in just 17 per cent of their away league games under Lampard.

The club rank fifth for total points taken in the league since the start of last season (95), five less than Leicester and 11 fewer than Manchester United.

Papa Bouba Diop – Senegal legend and former Portsmouth and Fulham midfielder – has died aged 42.

Senegal legend and former Portsmouth and Fulham midfielder – has died at the age of 42.

Papa Bouba Diop scored the goal which helped Senegal beat France 1-0 in their opening World Cup game in 2002. He played for Fulham, Portsmouth and West Ham.

Breaking: FIFA suspends CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad.

The head of African football Ahmad Ahmad has been suspended by FIFA for five years for corruption, the global governing body announced Monday.

Ahmad, from Madagascar, has been president of the African Football Confederation (CAF) since March 2017 and was standing for re-election when FIFA banned him for “governance issues”.

In their statement, FIFA said that Ahmad had “breached his duty of loyalty, offered gifts and other benefits, mismanaged funds and abused his position as the CAF President”.

Ahmad has also been fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($220,000) by FIFA for the misdeeds, which related to “the organisation and financing of an Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca” and his involvement in CAF’s dealings with a sports equipment company.

Liverpool Forward Sadio Mane Tests Positive For COVID-19.

Liverpool forward and Senegal’s national team captain Sadio Mane has tested positive for COVID-19, Liverpool have confirmed. He is currently self-isolating according to the necessary guidelines.

The premier league winner, who started and scored in Monday’s 3-1 victory over Arsenal, has displayed minor symptoms of the virus but feels in good health overall.

However, like with Thiago Alcantara, Liverpool Football Club are – and will continue to – follow all protocols relating to COVID-19 and Mane will self-isolate for the required period of time.

Liverpool’s New Signing Thiago Tests Positive For COVID-19.

Newly signed Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara has tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently self-isolating according to the necessary guidelines.

The 29-year-old, who missed Monday’s match against Arsenal, has exhibited minor symptoms of the virus but is in good health and is getting better.

The English club has meticulously followed all protocols relating to COVID-19, the player has been in self-isolation since his diagnosis and will stay that way for the required period of time.

LFC first-team doctor, Dr Jim Moxon, said: “It is the choice of each individual whether they reveal publicly the outcome of a COVID-19 test.

“We have followed all the protocols to the letter and Thiago is OK. He will be self-isolating now as per the guidelines and hopefully he’ll be back with us soon.”

Thiago penned a deal with the English champions following a treble winning eighth season with German club Bayern Munich.