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Tag: Soccer

  • MATCHDAY: Manchester derby in FA Cup final, Messi’s last game for PSG

    MATCHDAY: Manchester derby in FA Cup final, Messi’s last game for PSG

    A look at what’s happening in European soccer on Saturday:

    ENGLAND

    Manchester City and Manchester United meet in a FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium with so much riding on it. City is looking to complete the second leg of a potential treble of trophies, having already won the Premier League and reached the final of the Champions League against Inter Milan in Istanbul on June 10. Only one team has won all of those trophies in one season — Man United in 1999. As well as preserving that unique achievement, United is bidding to win a second domestic trophy this season, having captured the League Cup in February.

    FRANCE

    Lionel Messi bids farewell to Paris Saint-Germain after two seasons in the capital that have left a taste of unfinished business. Messi was brought to PSG to help the club win the Champions League. Instead, PSG bowed out in the last 16 in both seasons with the World Cup winner in the squad. Messi’s numbers with PSG, however, are not too bad ahead of Saturday’s final match of Ligue 1 against Clermont at the Parc des Princes: 32 goals in 74 games, according to league statistics. Messi, the top provider in the league this season with 16 assists, has been regularly whistled and booed by PSG ultras in recent weeks and club officials hope it won’t happen again for his finale. PSG was crowned champion for a record 11th time last weekend, ahead of Lens and Marseille. With the top three spots settled, focus will be on Lille, Rennes and Monaco, who are battling for the two remaining European places. Also, eight-time champion Nantes hosts last-placed Angers and hoping to avoid relegation. Nantes is in a two-way fight with Auxerre to determine who goes down alongside already-relegated Troyes, Ajaccio and Angers.

    GERMANY

    Leipzig bids to retain the German Cup when it plays Eintracht Frankfurt in the final in Berlin. It could be the last Frankfurt game for in-demand French striker Randal Kolo Muani, and it will certainly be the last game for coach Oliver Glasner. Frankfurt’s Europa League title last season and solid performances in this season’s cup and Champions League burnished Glasner’s reputation but some poor results in the Bundesliga took their toll and Frankfurt said last month he would leave at the end of the season. A win for Leipzig would be a reward for coach Marco Rose, who took charge in September after a poor start to the season and guided the team to third in the league. Leipzig forward Christopher Nkunku is expected to join Chelsea in the offseason.

    ITALY

    Torino needs to win at home against Champions League finalist Inter Milan in Serie A to retain a chance of qualifying for the Europa Conference League. A win would see Torino move back into eighth place and that could be enough if Juventus is excluded from European competition by UEFA. Having already secured a spot in the top four of Serie A, Inter could rest some players ahead of next weekend’s Champions League final against Manchester City. Lazio has also already qualified for next season’s Champions League and it visits Empoli in its final match of the season. Relegated Cremonese will be looking to sign off with a win when it hosts Salernitana.

    ___

    More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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  • Twitch Streamer’s Soccer Team Pulls From $1M Tourney Over Racism Allegations

    Twitch Streamer’s Soccer Team Pulls From $1M Tourney Over Racism Allegations

    A soccer team owned by FIFA streamer Edwin Castro has withdrawn from an inaugural soccer tournament after a member of the team allegedly used a racial slur against an opposing player in a match.

    If You Want To Get The Most Out of Mario Strikers: Battle League Make Some Friends

    Dallas United was playing West Ham United F.C. in the inaugural The Soccer Tournament (or TST), a 7v7 tournament with a $1 million prize for the winning team taking place in Cary, North Carolina on June 1. The Dallas team, which is composed of “mostly amateur players from the Dallas area,” according to ESPN, was up 2-0 in the match against West Ham when the incident reportedly took place.

    Video clips on social media show West Ham players gathered around the match’s referee, with center back and former English Premier League player Anton Ferdinand at the center of it all. One clip appears to show Ferdinand telling the ref “I’m here to set a precedent now,” before the entire team decided to walk off the pitch. Though it’s unclear what was allegedly said, the chatter on social media and on sites like The Daily Mail suggest the n-word was hurled at Ferdinand by a Dallas United player.

    The official TST twitter account later shared an update, saying that it had “[conducted] an investigation into the final moments of the match between West Ham United and Dallas United” and “concluded that Dallas United violated TST’s code of conduct.”

    “We have been in dialogue with leadership from both clubs and we are all aligned that the best path forward is Dallas United withdrawing from competition,” the statement also reads.

    Though Castro’s Dallas squad initially shared a tweet stating that it had launched its own internal investigation into what took place during the match and was “cooperating fully” with TST’s investigation, a later tweet seemed to suggest the squad’s stance is that the “accusation” against them is false. “In light of the shadow cast by an opposing player’s accusation during tonight’s match, the Dallas United players unanimously decided to withdraw from the remainder of the competition,” read a tweet posted just a few hours after the initial one. Kotaku reached out to TST and Castro for comment.

    Castro has 3.5 million followers on his Twitch account and over 1.5 million on Twitter. He is best known for his FIFA streams. In a March 7 video posted to the Dallas United Twitter account, Castro likens owning the team to “[playing] FIFA in real life.”

    As reported by ABC 11, North Carolina’s branch of the news organization, Ferdinand spoke to reporters after West Ham’s final match on June 2, praising TST’s swift response to the allegations. “I need to go on record and say the topic of conversation that was laid bare yesterday is better than football. The way that TST dealt with it so swiftly, the no-nonsense action, a lot of people around the world, organizations around the world, can take note,” he said.

    West Ham and their opponents reportedly knelt in solidarity before Friday’s match, as Ferdinand’s team considered not continuing on in the tournament after the racially charged incident. “When somebody of white heritage hears somebody of my heritage speak of [such racism], it’s almost like it’s a broken record, we’ve heard it before. But when you hear it from somebody who looks like you, it makes you take note. So I think everybody needs to come together to fight as a collective. And if we do that, football can be the catalyst for change in society. But society is going to have to want to change with it,” Ferdinand said during the press conference.

    As reported by the BBC, Ferdinand isn’t the only former pro footballer competing in the tournament—Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan, and Cesc Fabregas are a part of it, as well, and professional clubs Borussia Dortmund and Wrexham (owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney) have teams representing them, as well.

    This is also, sadly, not the first time Ferdinand has faced racism as a Black man in football. According to the BBC, a former Chelsea player was fined and banned four matches back in 2011 for racially abusing him when he was a defender on Queens Park Rangers. Racism has no place in football, gaming, or otherwise.

    Alyssa Mercante

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  • Casemiro’s winning mentality crucial to Man United’s hopes in FA Cup final

    Casemiro’s winning mentality crucial to Man United’s hopes in FA Cup final

    LONDON — A few concerns were raised when Brazil midfielder Casemiro completed his move to Manchester United in August.

    Would he still have enough motivation after nine trophy-filled years at Real Madrid?

    Could he adapt quickly enough to the English game?

    Was a 30-year-old defensive midfielder really worth $60 million and a reported weekly wage of $435,000?

    The answers, without doubt, have been yes, yes and absolutely yes.

    Take away Erling Haaland and the signing that had the biggest impact in English soccer this season is surely Casemiro, who — in the words of his coach — has exceeded expectations “by far.”

    “He keeps surprising you,” United manager Erik ten Hag said. “He’s such a brilliant player.”

    If there’s one player Ten Hag would want to have available for the FA Cup final against Manchester City on Saturday, it’s Casemiro.

    Quite simply, the difference with and without him is huge.

    Casemiro started 24 of United’s 38 league games this season, and was a substitute in four others. According to statistics compiled by the Who Scored website, United conceded an average of less than a goal a game when Casemiro was in the team and 1.5 goals when he wasn’t.

    He made 3.2 tackles per game in the Premier League, the third highest behind Fulham’s Joao Palhinha and Leeds’ Tyler Adams.

    United conceded 57 goals in the league last season. With Casemiro stationed in front of the defense, that number was down to 43 this season as United secured a return to the Champions League and all the riches that brings.

    So, yes, Casemiro really was worth it.

    Ten Hag noted upon arriving at United at the end of last season that a leader in central midfield was the biggest thing missing in a team which had been getting by with an oft-maligned “McFred” (Scott McTominay and Fred) axis.

    “We studied this and we searched for this — it was not easy because there aren’t many in the profile who fits to the standard of Manchester United,” Ten Hag said, before listing what Casemiro brings. “We know him as very good with organization, anticipation, winning duels, fighting and keeping the team together. But in possession, his passing distribution and finishing is very important.”

    More than that, his winning mentality — fostered at Madrid, where he won five Champions League titles and the Spanish league three times — is something United had been missing in the post-Alex Ferguson era.

    It has that now and it’s mostly because of the arrival of Casemiro and another former Madrid player, Raphael Varane.

    “The pressure is something we are used to playing with. And we need the pressure — it’s not that kind of pressure that limits you,” Varane said.

    “Sometimes quality is not enough — you need the motivation, character, passion on the pitch, because in the top level in the Premier League, there are good players in any team. But to play in this kind of clubs you need something else … something different, that character to fight, to assume the responsibility, to never hide on the pitch, to be ready to face every challenge you can.”

    That’s the mentality City has built under Pep Guardiola, who — after seven years in charge — has a team on the brink of winning the Premier League-FA Cup-Champions League treble. It’s a feat only achieved once in English soccer before, by Man United in 1999.

    Casemiro is one of the few players in the current United team who could slot into City’s lineup and not look out of place.

    Often a player for the big occasion at Madrid, Casemiro stepped up for United by scoring the opening goal in its 2-0 win over Newcastle in the English League Cup final at Wembley Stadium in February.

    And he has been key in the final stretch of the season in helping United qualify for the Champions League with a third-place finish in the league, notably with an acrobatic volley to score a crucial winner at Bournemouth.

    Two red cards — one for grabbing an opponent by the neck in an on-field melee against Crystal Palace and the other for a reckless tackle — have blotted his campaign and caused him to miss seven matches in total through suspension. He left the field in tears after the second sending-off and was defended by Ten Hag, who preferred to criticize the standard of refereeing rather than the indiscipline of Casemiro.

    It’s Casemiro’s defensive duties that will be most important against City on Saturday because he’ll need to keep a leash on attacking center midfielders Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne while also playing a part in stopping the supply line to Haaland.

    Casemiro’s teammates are sure that won’t be beyond him.

    “He can control a game great for us,” United defender Victor Lindelof said, “with or without the ball.”

    ___

    More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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  • Memorial Tournament | Day 1 highlights

    Memorial Tournament | Day 1 highlights

    Highlights from day one of the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio.

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  • Coach confirms Lionel Messi’s last match for PSG this weekend

    Coach confirms Lionel Messi’s last match for PSG this weekend

    Lionel Messi arrived two years ago wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with ”Ici C’est Paris” (This Is Paris) — a favorite cry among Paris Saint-Germain fans — and to chants of “Messi! Messi! Messi!”

    The soccer superstar will leave the team on Saturday not quite so revered.

    The cheers have been replaced by jeers and boos in recent weeks at the Parc des Princes, where the World Cup winner will play his final game for the French league champion.

    Christophe Galtier confirmed on Thursday that the looming end of the season is also the end of Messi’s time at PSG.

    Messi will bow out in their league finale against Clermont on Saturday. His contract expires at the end of June.

    “I had the privilege of coaching the best player in the history of soccer,” Galtier said. “This will be his last match at the Parc des Princes, and I hope that he will receive the warmest of welcomes.”

    PSG recruited Messi in August 2021 with the ambition to finally win the Champions League. The team is still waiting.

    Although PSG won its record-extending 11th French league title last weekend, it exited Europe’s top tournament in the round of 16 for the second straight season.

    Messi’s adventure in France has been bittersweet. In spite of pretty good statistics, he has been embodying the team’s shortcomings in the view of many PSG fans who have repeatedly whistled his name sarcastically in recent weeks.

    After struggling to adapt to the French league — the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner scored only six league goals in his first 26 games — Messi improved this season as he developed an efficient understanding with forward Kylian Mbappe.

    Following a good start to the current campaign, Messi however failed to replicate that form since returning from the World Cup that he won with Argentina.

    Still, in 31 league matches, the 35-year-old Messi has scored 16 goals and delivered as many assists. In all competitions, Messi netted 21 times and had 20 assists for PSG.

    “This year, he has been an important part of the team, always available, always committed during training sessions,” Galtier said. “I don’t think any of the comments or criticisms are justified.”

    Despite Galtier’s support, PSG’s appreciation of Messi has not always been so positive.

    Last month, the club suspended him following an unauthorized trip to Saudi Arabia. Messi has a commercial contract with Saudi Arabia to promote tourism and has been linked with a lucrative move there at the end of the season.

    There has also been talk of a return to Barcelona, where he spent the majority of his career, or to the United States to play in MLS.

    Messi arrived at Barcelona at age 13 and left having won 35 titles. He helped the club win the four Champions Leagues, 10 Spanish leagues, and seven Copa del Reys.

    ___

    AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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  • Sevilla, Roma’s Mourinho put perfect European records on line in Europa League final

    Sevilla, Roma’s Mourinho put perfect European records on line in Europa League final

    BUDAPEST, Hungary — A remarkable perfect record in European soccer must fall when Sevilla faces José Mourinho’s Roma in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

    Sevilla has played six and won six finals of the Europa League since the first in 2006.

    Mourinho has a 5-0 career mark in finals of the three major European club competitions, dating to 2003 and Porto’s UEFA Cup triumph.

    Mourinho actually has more European title wins than Sevilla coach José Luis Mendilibar has total games managed in those same competitions. The 62-year-old Mendilibar’s career is peaking since joining then-struggling Sevilla just two months ago.

    Only one record can survive their meeting at Puskás Aréna in Budapest, where the Europa League trophy is just the start of the rewards for the winning club.

    Neither Roma nor Sevilla can finish in the top four of their domestic leagues that would have ensured qualifying for the Champions League.

    Their only path to the Champions League next season — and the potential tens of millions of euros (dollars) in extra prize money from UEFA — is taking the group-stage place protected for the Europa League winner.

    The high value of this Europa League to both clubs is in stark contrast to a Mourinho comment from 10 years ago that became infamous.

    “If I win the Europa League it will be a big disappointment for me because I don’t want to play in it,” he said on being re-hired by Chelsea. It was seen as throwing shade on his predecessor Rafa Benítez, who weeks earlier as Chelsea interim coach won the 2013 Europa title.

    Mourinho and Benítez are among four coaches who have led two different teams to win the 52-year-old competition.

    The Roma coach can make more history by becoming the first coach to win the Europa League with three different clubs, joining his Porto and Manchester United (2017) teams. And this just one year after the latest team in his storied career won the inaugural Europa Conference League to make Mourinho the first coach with titles in each of the three club competitions.

    Mendilibar has a more modest background yet has arguably outcoached Mourinho in his brief spell at Sevilla.

    Replacing former Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli in March, Mendilibar became Sevilla’s third coach this season with the team just two points clear of the La Liga relegation zone.

    Mendilibar’s Sevilla has lost only two of 11 league games, is one point off seventh place going into the final round this weekend, and is unbeaten in the Europa League after eliminating Man United — despite trailing 2-0 after 83 minutes at Old Trafford in the first leg — and Juventus.

    “People did not expect we would do something like this and we have achieved it,” Mendilibar said.

    Roma came to Budapest having gone seven Serie A league games without a win, and advancing to the final with a 0-0 draw in the second leg at Bayer Leverkusen, managing just one goal attempt compared to 23 for the Germans.

    Still, Mourinho fans can point to that being a classic performance by one of his teams — doing exactly what was needed to win.

    ___

    More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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  • Post-soccer match brawl in Germany leaves teen with life-threatening injuries; 16-year-old detained

    Post-soccer match brawl in Germany leaves teen with life-threatening injuries; 16-year-old detained

    A 15-year-old soccer player has been hospitalized with life-threatening brain injuries after being struck by an opposing player in a post-match fight during an international youth tournament in Germany

    FRANKFURT, Germany — A 15-year-old soccer player has been hospitalized with life-threatening brain injuries after being struck by an opposing player in a post-match fight during an international youth tournament in Germany.

    A 16-year-old from a French team was jailed pending further investigation by a judge in Frankfurt, where the match against a team from Berlin took place on Sunday.

    Frankfurt police said in a statement Tuesday that a scuffle broke out between players after the final whistle and escalated into punches being thrown.

    The victim was struck in the head or neck area and collapsed, police said. He was treated by emergency medical personnel at the scene and taken to a hospital.

    Police are asking witnesses who may have video of the incident to contact police.

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  • Leicester City 2-1 West Ham | Premier League highlights

    Leicester City 2-1 West Ham | Premier League highlights

    FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from the Premier League match between Leicester and West Ham.

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  • Bayern Munich wins record-extending 11th consecutive Bundesliga title

    Bayern Munich wins record-extending 11th consecutive Bundesliga title

    Bayern Munich wins record-extending 11th consecutive Bundesliga title

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  • Celtic’s incredible fan display for title celebrations on SPFL final day

    Celtic’s incredible fan display for title celebrations on SPFL final day

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    There was an incredible atmosphere and fan display as champions Celtic made their way out onto the pitch for their final home game of the season against Aberdeen.

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  • Erling Haaland’s quick fire questions: Best football friend? Go-to karaoke song?

    Erling Haaland’s quick fire questions: Best football friend? Go-to karaoke song?

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    Manchester City striker Erling Haaland answers quick fire questions such as who is his best friend in football, what he’d be if he wasn’t a footballer, his go-to karaoke song, and who is the best player he’s ever played with.

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  • Premier League Darts: Michael van Gerwen defeats Gerwyn Price to win record-breaking seventh title

    Premier League Darts: Michael van Gerwen defeats Gerwyn Price to win record-breaking seventh title

    Michael van Gerwen creates Premier League history by winning his seventh title
    to move clear of the great Phil Taylor; Sky Sports is back for the World Cup of Darts at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle from June 15-18 as Australia defend the title

    Last Updated: 26/05/23 1:17am

    Michael van Gerwen collected a record-breaking seventh Premier League Darts title at London’s O2

    Michael van Gerwen won the Premier League title for a record-breaking seventh time after defeating Gerwyn Price 11-5 in the final at the O2 in London on Thursday night.

    The Dutchman, who joined Taylor on six wins 12 months ago, overtook him after a masterful performance to beat Welshman Price with a blistering display of arrows.

    Van Gerwen, whose participation was in doubt after withdrawing from last week’s final weekly round in Aberdeen with a shoulder injury, has dominated this competition since winning his first title 10 years ago.

    No one loves the O2 stage quite like him and after edging a thrilling semi-final against rival Michael Smith, where he won 10-8, he got the better of Price in the final, finishing with a 105.4 average.

    Premier League – Finals Night at London’s O2

    Semi-finals Gerwyn Price 10-2 Jonny Clayton
    Michael Smith 8-10 Michael van Gerwen
    Final Gerwyn Price 5-11 Michael van Gerwen

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    Van Gerwen and Price trade blows with an incredible run of checkouts in the Premier League final

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    Van Gerwen and Price trade blows with an incredible run of checkouts in the Premier League final

    Van Gerwen and Price trade blows with an incredible run of checkouts in the Premier League final

    There was nothing to separate the darting duo of Price and Van Gerwen in the first five legs before the Dutch ace broke throw with a jaw-dropping 139-170 to open up a 4-2 advantage.

    He underlined his incredible scoring power by holding in the next and then breaking again with an astonishing 128 finish on double 10 to move 6-2 ahead, averaging 108 in the process.

    Price responded with a fabulous 161 bullseye finish to reduce the arrears, but Van Gerwen knew he was just four legs away from the title at the interval.

    However, four missed darts from the Dutchman allowed ‘The Iceman’ in for double 12 to trail 7-4, but MVG hit straight back with an 11-darter before sinking double 2 to edge ever closer to glory.

    An exhibition 150 on double 18 moved Van Gerwen one away at 10-5 and it was all over in the next leg as he hit double 9 to retain his crown.

    7 – Michael van Gerwen

    6 – Phil Taylor

    2 – Gary Anderson

    1 – James Wade, Raymond van Barneveld, Glen Durrant, Jonny Clayton

    MVG believes this is the start of a 'beautiful year' and that he is hungrier than ever

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    MVG believes this is the start of a ‘beautiful year’ and that he is hungrier than ever

    MVG believes this is the start of a ‘beautiful year’ and that he is hungrier than ever

    “I have been working really hard lately. Obviously, I had problems last week, we all know Gerwyn Price is in fantastic form, Michael Smith won the last three weeks,” said the 34-year-old.

    “I get questions all the time about when I am going to do it again so I put the pressure on myself. I keep doing that but today it motivated me and I think that is probably what made me win.

    “I think today I played some fantastic darts. What more can you wish for than to win this trophy?

    “You always have to pick the right moments but to come back here in the O2 and play like guys like Michael Smith, Gerwyn Price in the final, you have to play your A-game.

    “I had to do something special today and I was really glad I was able to do it. I worked hard for this.”

    Watch the moment MVG secured his seventh Premier League title...

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    Watch the moment MVG secured his seventh Premier League title…

    Watch the moment MVG secured his seventh Premier League title…

    Price is still searching for his first title and a brilliant campaign, where he won four of the weekly rounds, ends in ultimate disappointment.

    He was crestfallen after the loss, saying: “I just couldn’t find the trebles, the doubles, I couldn’t find anything, that’s how it goes sometimes.

    “I’m gutted. I just felt this one is the one that got away, I was missing by so far, I wasn’t even close, I don’t know what happened.”

    Price took a quick break in the middle of the final against Van Gerwen to 'repair' his darts

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    Price took a quick break in the middle of the final against Van Gerwen to ‘repair’ his darts

    Price took a quick break in the middle of the final against Van Gerwen to ‘repair’ his darts

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    MVG gets revenge for world championship defeat

    Van Gerwen defied a late rally from Smith to progress to a record-breaking ninth Premier League final

    Van Gerwen defied a late rally from Smith to progress to a record-breaking ninth Premier League final

    Van Gerwen defeated Smith 10-8 in a repeat of January’s historic world championship final in the semi-finals.

    It was the St Helens star who made the better start by pinning a huge 128 finish for an early break of throw.

    MVG then broke in 12 darts to snatch the lead from the world No 1 before reeling off four legs on the spin for a 5-2 lead.

    Smith's incredible 91 finish had the O2 on the edge of their seats. The delayed reaction was even better!

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    Smith’s incredible 91 finish had the O2 on the edge of their seats. The delayed reaction was even better!

    Smith’s incredible 91 finish had the O2 on the edge of their seats. The delayed reaction was even better!

    The Dutchman continued to throw some staggering darts, moving 7-3 up at the break and averaging 108.29.

    Smith responded with a 114 checkout after the restart to reduce the deficit to three legs and a crucial 86 checkout saw ‘Bully Boy’ peg it back to 8-6.

    Van Gerwen then squandered five darts at doubles, letting Smith in for a roof-raising 91 on the bullseye to trail 8-7, but MVG quickly regained his compose to move one leg away from victory.

    Smith's impressive resurgence continued with this jaw-dropping 123 checkout

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    Smith’s impressive resurgence continued with this jaw-dropping 123 checkout

    Smith’s impressive resurgence continued with this jaw-dropping 123 checkout

    Smith saved the match thanks to a skin-saving 123 on the bull after ‘Mighty Mike’ failed with two match darts, but it was over in the next leg with Van Gerwen nailing double 10 to make it through to his ninth Premier League final.

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    Price wins all-Welsh showdown

    Price proved too good for fellow Welshman Clayton in their semi-final clash

    Price proved too good for fellow Welshman Clayton in their semi-final clash

    The first semi-final was an all-Welsh affair and it was Price who came out on top against Jonny Clayton with a storming 10-2 victory.

    Price got off to a blistering start to take the first five legs without reply, Clayton averaging less than 86.

    Price nailed a superb 131 checkout to defeat Clayton

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    Price nailed a superb 131 checkout to defeat Clayton

    Price nailed a superb 131 checkout to defeat Clayton

    Despite ‘The Ferret’ stopping the rot, Price’s consistency on the trebles continued, taking out a 12-darter in the seventh leg.

    From there it was easy for ‘The Iceman’ and despite Clayton making it 8-2, he completed the win thanks to a fabulous 131 on tops.

    The Iceman was left speechless after defeating World Cup team-mate Clayton

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    The Iceman was left speechless after defeating World Cup team-mate Clayton

    The Iceman was left speechless after defeating World Cup team-mate Clayton

    Take a look at the best of the action from Finals Night of the Premier League in London where MVG was simply the best!

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    Take a look at the best of the action from Finals Night of the Premier League in London where MVG was simply the best!

    Take a look at the best of the action from Finals Night of the Premier League in London where MVG was simply the best!

    What’s next on Sky Sports?

    Simon Whitlock and Damon Heta will be defending their World Cup of Darts title

    Simon Whitlock and Damon Heta will be defending their World Cup of Darts title

    The annual World Cup of Darts will expand to 40 teams from the previous 32 in a revamped format which will feature a group stage and doubles matches throughout four days of action at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle from June 15-18 as Australia defend the title.

    In a radical change to previous years, the tournament will see Iceland, Ukraine and Bahrain set to make their debuts.

    Catch all the action from the World Cup of Darts from June 15-18 – live on Sky Sports.

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  • Julio Enciso’s wonder goal against City from all angles

    Julio Enciso’s wonder goal against City from all angles

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    Watch the best angles of Julio Enciso’s wonder goal for Brighton against Manchester City in their 1-1 draw in the Premier League.

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  • Beitar Jerusalem to get trophy belatedly after fans rush field after soccer tournament win

    Beitar Jerusalem to get trophy belatedly after fans rush field after soccer tournament win

    Israel’s president says he will award the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team the State Cup at his official residence after a chaotic scene by fans disrupted the original trophy ceremony

    Israeli President Isaac Herzog, center, is surrounded by security on the field as fans of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer club rushed the field after their team won the State Cup finals in Haifa, Israel, Tuesday, May 23, 20230. Thousands of Beitar Jerusalem supporters charged the pitch before the trophy ceremony after the team’s 3-0 victory against Maccabi Netanya. (AP Photo/Alain Schieber)

    The Associated Press

    JERUSALEM — Israel’s president said Wednesday he would belatedly present the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team the State Cup at his official residence, after ecstatic fans disrupted the original ceremony and forced him off the field following the club’s victory.

    Thousands of Beitar Jerusalem supporters charged the pitch after the team’s 3-0 win against Maccabi Netanya on Tuesday evening, before the trophy ceremony. Some participants burned the nets in the goals to take pieces as mementos and made off with medals intended for the players, according to Israeli public radio Kan.

    Herzog, who was by the stage where Beitar players were to be given the trophy, was rushed off the field, surrounded by his security detail.

    Herzog expressed dismay in a statement Wednesday, saying that fans “blew up the joyous occasion so that the trophy could not be awarded.”

    Police said that 18 people were arrested on various charges related to entering the field.

    It remained to be seen whether any disciplinary action would be taken by Israel’s Football Association against Beitar Jerusalem. The president’s office said that following a request from the association, Beitar Jerusalem’s players would be given the trophy at a ceremony at Herzog’s residence later Wednesday.

    The theme of the ceremony will now be “condemning and battling violence in sports.”

    Beitar Jerusalem’s hard-core fans have a history of racist chants and rowdy behavior, and the team is the only one in Israel’s professional leagues never to have signed an Arab player.

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  • Ronaldo screamer completes stunning Al Nassr comeback!

    Ronaldo screamer completes stunning Al Nassr comeback!

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    Cristiano Ronaldo kept Al Nassr’s slim Saudi Pro League title hopes alive with a sublime strike to complete their comeback against Al Shabab after being 2-0 down.

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  • Racial abuse against Vinícius Júnior brings arrests and partial closure of Valencia stadium

    Racial abuse against Vinícius Júnior brings arrests and partial closure of Valencia stadium

    MADRID (AP) — Spanish police took action Tuesday after the latest case of abuse against Vinícius Júnior, arresting seven people accused of racially insulting the Real Madrid player.

    Spanish soccer officials also acted, fining Valencia 45,000 euros ($48,500) and closing part of the team’s stadium for the next five games.

    Three people were detained in Valencia for alleged abuse against Vinícius in Sunday’s match between Valencia and Madrid. Four were arrested in Madrid for allegedly hanging an effigy of the player off a highway bridge in January.

    The arrests came after an outpouring of support for Vinícius after he said he was abused in Valencia. The case prompted widespread reaction from sports figures and government officials in Spain and worldwide.

    The section of Mestalla Stadium that will be closed is where the insults against Vinícius came from, behind one of the goals. It’s also where the club’s more hardcore fans usually are located.

    The Spanish federation’s competition’s committee also made the unusual decision to annul the red card shown to Vinícius after an altercation with Valencia players late in Sunday’s match. The committee said video review failed to show the referee the entire altercation, including the part in which Vinícius was grabbed from behind by an opponent.

    Vinícius had complained that his red card ended up being a reward to the racists who insulted him.

    Spain has been criticized for its lack of action in racism cases in soccer. Brazilian government officials, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, had publicly expressed their concerns.

    “It’s a crucial moment, a moment to take drastic measures,” Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said Tuesday. “Now that the issue has visibility, the institutions have to take this opportunity to try to fix this problem.”

    All seven were arrested on suspicion of committing a hate crime, police said. None of them were publicly identified, and police did not discuss the timing of the arrests.

    Vinícius, who is Black, has been subjected to repeated racist taunts since he arrived in Spain five years ago and especially this season after he began celebrating his goals by dancing.

    The 22-year-old Brazilian has heavily criticized Spanish soccer for not doing more to stop racism. He posted a message on Twitter on Tuesday saying racism existed in Spanish stadiums even before he was born, referring to images of former Real Madrid and Brazil defender Roberto Carlos being subjected to racist insults back in 1997.

    “What has changed until today?” Vinícius asked.

    The match against Valencia was temporarily stopped after Vinícius said a fan behind one of the goals called him a monkey and made monkey gestures toward him. Vinícius considered leaving the field but eventually continued playing.

    The effigy of Vinícius was hanged by the neck on the morning of a derby match between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Along with it was a banner with the words “Madrid hates Real.”

    The perpetrators used a black figure with Vinícius’ name on it, tied a rope around its neck and hanged it from an overpass while still dark in the Spanish capital.

    Police said three of those arrested belonged to one of Atletico’s fan groups, and the other was a follower of the group. Some had prior bookings with police for other crimes.

    The hate message on the banner is often used by Atletico’s hardcore fans, though at the time they denied being responsible for the display.

    The men arrested in Madrid are between the ages of 19 and 24. Authorities said some were previously identified during matches considered at high risk of violence. Police showed images of them arriving in handcuffs and escorted by agents on Tuesday.

    Spanish media said police had used security cameras to identify the perpetrators but no action had been taken until now. Valencia and authorities worked together to identify and detain the suspects in the match against Madrid. The club said it banned the suspects from its stadium for life.

    The lights at the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro were turned off Monday night in a show of solidarity for Vinícius, who did not practice on Tuesday citing a minor injury.

    “It’s an action of solidarity that is moving,” Vinícius said on Twitter. “But more than everything, what I want is to inspire and bring more light to our fight.”

    Vinícius gave thanks for the support he has received.

    “I know who you are,” he said. “Count on me, because the good ones are the majority and I’m not going to give up. I have a purpose in life, and if I have to keep suffering so that future generations won’t have to go through these types of situations, I’m ready and prepared.”

    Real Madrid reported the Valencia case as a hate crime, and club president Florentino Pérez said Tuesday his club “will not tolerate any more racist incidents against its players.” He called for a restructuring of the refereeing in the country.

    The Spanish league has filed nine similar criminal complaints of racial abuse against Vinícius in the last two seasons, with most of them being shelved by prosecutors.

    The league said Tuesday it will seek to increase its authority to issue sanctions in cases of hate crimes during games.

    Supporters have been fined and banned from stadiums for their abuse against Vinícius, but so far only a Mallorca fan may end up going on trial.

    The first trial against a fan accused of racial abuse in Spanish professional soccer is expected this year; the case involved Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams, who was insulted by an Espanyol supporter in 2020.

    The Spanish federation, Spanish league and the government’s top sports authorities on Tuesday launched an anti-racism campaign. It will include the messages “racists out of football” and “together against racism” on broadcasts, logos and advertising boards and players’ armbands.

    “The three institutions want to unanimously show their absolute and unequivocal rejection of any racist behavior,” they said in a statement, adding the aim is “to bring together the strength of everyone: institutions, clubs, athletes and fans with the goal of eradicating racism and its agents from our football.”

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  • 4 men arrested on suspicion of hanging Vinícius Júnior effigy off bridge

    4 men arrested on suspicion of hanging Vinícius Júnior effigy off bridge

    MADRID — Four men suspected of hanging an effigy of Real Madrid player Vinícius Júnior off a highway bridge in Madrid in January have been arrested, Spanish police said Tuesday.

    The arrests come two days after the latest case of racial abuse against the Brazil forward in a Spanish league game against Valencia.

    The effigy was hanged by the neck the morning of a derby between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Along with it was a banner with the words “Madrid hates Real.”

    The perpetrators used a black figure with Vinícius’ name on it, tied a rope around its neck and hanged it from an overpass while still dark in the Spanish capital.

    Police said three of those arrested belonged to one of Atletico’s fan groups, and the other was a follower of the group. Some had prior bookings with police for other crimes.

    The hate message on the banner is often used by Atletico’s ultras, though at the time they denied being responsible for the display.

    The men arrested are between the ages of 19 and 24. Authorities said some were previously identified during matches considered at high risk of violence. Police showed images of them arriving in handcuffs and escorted by agents on Tuesday.

    Spanish media said police had used security cameras to identify the perpetrators but no action had been taken until now. Police did not say if the timing of the arrests had to do with the widespread attention being received by the latest abuse against Vinícius on Sunday.

    Spain has been criticized worldwide for its lack of action in racism cases in soccer. Brazilian government officials, including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, had publicly expressed their concerns.

    Vinícius, who is Black, has been subjected to repeated racist taunts in Spain, especially this season after he began celebrating his goals by dancing.

    The match against Valencia was temporarily stopped after Vinícius said a fan behind one of the goals called him a monkey and made monkey gestures toward him. Vinícius considered leaving the field but eventually continued playing.

    The Brazilian received support from officials and athletes around the world and heavily criticized Spanish soccer for not doing more to stop racism.

    The lights at the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro were turned off Monday night in a show of solidarity for Vinícius.

    “It’s an action of solidarity that is moving,” Vinícius said on Twitter. “But more than everything, what I want is to inspire and bring more light to our fight.”

    Vinícius thanked all the support he has received in the last months in Brazil and abroad.

    “I know who you are,” he said. “Count on me, because the good ones are the majority and I’m not going to give up. I have a purpose in life, and if I have to keep suffering so that future generations won’t have to go through these types of situations, I’m ready and prepared.”

    Valencia banned for life a fan identified of insulting Vinícius during the game. Real Madrid took the case to prosecutors as a hate crime.

    The Spanish league has filed nine criminal complaints of cases of racial abuse against Vinícius in the last two seasons, with most of them being shelved by prosecutors.

    The league said Tuesday it will seek to increase its authority to issue sanctions in cases of hate crimes during games. It had been saying it can only detect and denounce incidents to authorities and the country’s soccer federation.

    Supporters have been fined and banned from stadiums for their abuse against Vinícius, but so far only a Mallorca fan may end up going on trial for allegedly racially insulting the Brazilian during a game.

    The first trial against a fan accused of racial abuse in Spanish professional soccer is expected to happen at some point this year; the case involved Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams, who was insulted by an Espanyol supporter in a match in 2020.

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  • Vinícius Júnior gains more support as Spanish soccer again embroiled in racism

    Vinícius Júnior gains more support as Spanish soccer again embroiled in racism

    MADRID — Spanish soccer is again embroiled in racism, with the support for Vinícius Júnior growing rapidly after yet another case of abuse against the Brazil forward this weekend.

    Officials, players and former players showed solidarity with Vinícius, who on Sunday considered leaving the field after being insulted by fans during Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss at Valencia in the Spanish league.

    Vinícius said after the match the Spanish league “now belongs to racists” and that Spain “is seen as a racist country.”

    Real Madrid asked authorities to investigate the abusive behavior, saying the club believed the incident to be a hate crime.

    “Full solidarity to Vinicius,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said. “There is no place for racism in football or in society and FIFA stands by all players who have found themselves in such a situation. Events during the match between Valencia and Real Madrid show that this needs to be the case.”

    The support for Vinícius, who is Black and as been subjected to racist abuse since he arrived to play in Spain five years ago, came from former players and current stars.

    “You’re not alone,” France forward Kylian Mbappé said on Instagram. “We are with you and we support you.”

    At least one fan was banned for life by Valencia because of Sunday’s incident.

    “From the moment that the unfortunate events occurred, the club have analyzed all the available footage, working alongside the authorities as rapidly as possible to clarify what happened in order to be able to act quickly and forcefully,” Valencia said in a statement, adding it is working with police to identify more culprits.

    Vinícius isn’t the only player in Spain, or in European soccer, to face racist abuse. But the Brazilian has been the focus of much of the hate in recent years, particularly this season. In January, an effigy of the player was hung off a highway bridge in Madrid.

    Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and several of his cabinet ministers backed Vinicius and were critical of Spanish soccer.

    “It is not fair that a poor boy who is winning in his life, becoming one of the best in the world, certainly the best at Real Madrid, is insulted in every stadium he goes to,” Lula said.

    Many were calling for solutions after the repeated racist attacks against Vinícius.

    “Another case of racism against Vinícius in the Spanish league,” said former Brazil striker Ronaldo, who spent five seasons playing for Real Madrid in the 2000s. “Until when? As long as there is impunity, there will be racism.”

    Real Madrid said it “strongly” condemned the abuse against Vinícius.

    “These events represent a direct attack on the social and democratic model of coexistence of our State based on the rule of law,” the club said.

    The Spanish league has made nine similar formal complaints for racist abuse against Vinícius over the last two seasons, but most of the cases have been shelved by prosecutors. Another complaint was expected to be made after an investigation into what happened in Valencia was completed.

    Fans have been fined and banned from stadiums for their abuse, but so far only a Mallorca fan may end up going on trial for allegedly racially insulting the Brazilian during a game.

    “It wasn’t the first time, or the second or the third. Racism is normal in LaLiga. The competition thinks it’s normal, as does the federation, and the opponents encourage it,” Vinícius said on Instagram and Twitter on Sunday. “The league that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano (Ronaldo) and (Lionel) Messi now belongs to racists … But I’m strong and I will fight until the end against the racists. Even if far from here.”

    Spanish league president Javier Tebas criticized Vinícius for attacking the league, saying the player didn’t show up for talks on the subject of racism that he had requested himself.

    The league claims it only has authority to denounce cases, and that it’s up to local authorities to take action against the perpetrators and the soccer federation to punish clubs and referees. But the Spanish league does have control over the sporting sanctions in its own competitions. FIFA, the sport’s governing body, updated its own disciplinary code in 2013 — with options for point deductions and mandatory relegation for teams in the most serious cases — and asked competition organizers worldwide to follow.

    Vinícius wasn’t happy with Tebas’ stance.

    “Instead of criticizing racists, the league president shows up on social media to attack me,” Vinícius said. “Although you may say otherwise or pretend not to notice, the image of your championship is shaken. Omitting yourself only makes you equal to the racists. I’m not your friend to talk about racism with you. I want actions and punishment.”

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said he was “curious to see what happens” now, but didn’t expect much.

    “Nothing will happen, because this has already taken place several times in other stadiums and nothing has been done. Nothing,” Ancelotti said. “We have to evaluate this situation, because it is very serious.”

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    AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.

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  • Jimmy Butler hands out timeout receipt to Al Horford

    Jimmy Butler hands out timeout receipt to Al Horford

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    Jimmy Butler taunted Al Horford by calling a timeout for the Celtics, as the Boston center did the same thing in Game 1 against the Heat.

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  • Vinicius Junior says Spanish league ‘now belongs to racists’ after enduring more abuse

    Vinicius Junior says Spanish league ‘now belongs to racists’ after enduring more abuse

    MADRID — Vinícius Júnior was subjected to racist abuse yet again on Sunday with the Brazil star saying the Spanish league “now belongs to racists.”

    The latest abuse against Vinícius came in Real Madrid’s 1-0 loss at Valencia, a match that had to be temporarily stopped after the Brazil forward said he was insulted by a fan behind one of the goals at Mestalla Stadium.

    “It wasn’t the first time, or the second or the third. Racism is normal in LaLiga. The competition thinks it’s normal, as does the federation, and the opponents encourage it,” Vinícius said on Instagram and Twitter. “The league that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano (Ronaldo) and (Lionel) Messi now belongs to racists … But I’m strong and I will fight until the end against the racists. Even if far from here.”

    The 22-year-old Vinícius, who is is Black, has been subjected to racist abuse since moving to Spain five years ago.

    Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti considered replacing the star forward after Vinícius said fans at Mestalla chanted “monkey” toward him. He said Vinícius initially didn’t want to continue playing.

    “What happened today shouldn’t happen,” Ancelotti said. “When a stadium yells ‘monkey’ to a player, and the coach considers taking him out of the field because of that, it means that there is something bad in this league.”

    The veteran coach refused to talk about the game after what happened, saying his team’s loss meant nothing.

    “The game should have been stopped,” Ancelotti said. “This shouldn’t happen. It wasn’t only one person, as it has happened in several stadiums. Here, it was a stadium racially insulting a player, the game had to stop. I would have said the same thing if it was 3-0 for us. You have to stop the game, there was no way around it.”

    Ancelotti said he asked the referee to stop the match, but was told that the protocol was to first make an announcement to fans, then take other action if the problem continued.

    Ancelotti said Vinícius didn’t want to keep playing but he told the player that he wasn’t guilty of anything and that he was the victim. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said he would have left the field with Vinicius if his teammate had decided to stop playing.

    “Vinícius is upset, obviously, but more than upset, he is sad,” Ancelotti said.

    According to Spanish media reports, Valencia has identified two fans who allegedly insulted Vinícius behind one of the goals.

    Some comments on social media claimed fans were saying the Spanish word “tonto” (silly) instead of “mono” (monkey).

    Valencia later said it expected Ancelotti to apologize to Valencia fans for accusing them of racism after misunderstanding what was said. The coach told a news conference that the referee wouldn’t have started the racism protocol if he didn’t think there was racism in the stadium.

    Vinícius was later sent off after an altercation with Valencia players, and gestured to home fans about their team’s fight against relegation as he left the field. Valencia took a huge step toward avoiding the drop with the 1-0 victory opening a five-point gap to the bottom three teams entering the final three rounds.

    “The reward for the racists was my ejection!” Vinícius said on Instagram, along with the Spanish league’s slogan “It’s not soccer, it’s LaLiga.”

    Vinícius had called the referee around the 70th minute and started pointing to a person sitting among the Valencia supporters. The player went near the stands and confronted the fans while players from both teams tried to restore calm.

    Police eventually arrived in the stands to deal with the supporters. An announcement was made asking fans to behave.

    The match at Mestalla was stopped for about seven minutes, and not long after it resumed Vinícius clashed with Valencia players and was sent off for pushing one of his opponents away with a hand to his face.

    After the decision of his ejection was made following a video review, Vinícius started applauding ironically. As he was leaving the field, he made a “going down” gesture over relegation. That upset players on the Valencia bench and some charged toward Vinícius as he left the field, causing the game to be temporarily stopped again.

    Valencia coach Rubén Baraja condemned the behavior of Valencia fans but also criticized Vinícius, saying he should have respected the club and its supporters.

    Vinícius’ teammate Dani Ceballos criticized the fans but said he also expected Vinícius to apologize for his gestures after being sent off.

    Ancelotti said Vinícius’ reaction was normal considering what he had gone through moments earlier.

    The Spanish league said it has requested images from the game to investigate what happened. It will also probe possible insults against Vinícius outside Mestalla, when a large group of fans also allegedly called the player a monkey as the Madrid bus arrived.

    League president Javier Tebas criticized Vinícius for attacking the league without fully understanding what it has done recently to combat racism, and saying the player didn’t show up for talks on the subject that he had requested himself.

    The league has made nine formal complaints over racist abuse against Vinícius over the last two seasons, with many of the cases being shelved. A Mallorca fan may end up going on trial after allegedly racially insulting the Brazilian during a game.

    President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva joined a wave of Brazilian politicians, players and clubs coming out to support Vinícius and criticize racism in the Spanish league.

    Lula told a news conference in Japan on the sidelines of a G7 meeting that he hopes FIFA, the Spanish League and other soccer bodies “take measures so we don’t allow racism and fascism to take over” in the sport.

    The first trial against a fan accused of racial abuse in Spanish professional soccer is expected to happen at some point this year in a case involving Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams, who was insulted by an Espanyol supporter in a match in 2020.

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