Captain of Ghana’s U23 team (Black Meteors),Daniel Afriyie Barnieh,has expressed his appreciation for comic actorSamuel Yaw Dabo, acknowledging the actor’s significant contribution to his rise to national prominence.
Dabo, known for his comedic roles, is also the founder of Dabo Soccer Academy, where he played a vital role in nurturing Afriyie Barnieh’s talent.
As a result of Dabo’s guidance, the former U20 standout joined Hearts of Oak, one of Ghana’s top football clubs, and eventually earned a call-up to the senior national team, the Black Stars.
Afriyie Barnieh attributes part of his success and recognition to the support and mentoring he received from Samuel Yaw Dabo.
The former Hearts of Oak man rose to prominence when he led the Black Satellites to win the WAFU Zone B U-20 Tournament in December 2020, the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in March 2021 and the Ghana Premier League title in the 2021/22 season.
The FC Zurich man acknowledged that Dabo’s endorsement and promotion significantly contributed to his increased visibility on the global stage.
Moreover, Barnieh’s impressive performances also earned him a spot in Otto Addo’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar.
During an interview with Poleena Multimedia, Afriyie Barnieh said “I am more than okay if someone sees me and calls me Dabo’s boy because if not him, people would not have known Afriyie Barnieh in the world, so I am more than okay,” he gratefully expressed.
Currently, Afriyie Barnieh is with Black Meteors in Egypt preparing for the upcoming 2023 U23 Africa Cup of Nations tournament to be held in Morocco from Saturday, June 23 -Thursday, July 8, 2023.
Barnieh was on target when Ghana played out a 1-1 stalemate in a test game played on Thursday, June 15 in Alexandria.
The 26-year-old played a significant role in Napoli’s historic Scudetto-winning campaign, attracting interest from top clubs across Europe, including Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Kim’s performances on the field, combined with a release clause in his Napoli contract, have further intensified the attention from these clubs.
The release clause stipulates that the South Korean international will be available for approximately €47 million, making him an enticing prospect for potential suitors.
Despite the interest from the Premier League and beyond, it seems his next destination will be in the Bundesliga.
Bayern reportedly convincedKim and Napoli by meeting the release clause and offering the defender a long-term contract with a net salary of €10m-per-season, per the report, with his agents also receiving a large commission.
The other clubs interested in Kim have already been made aware of his decision and will need to look to other defenders as they prepare for the 2023-24 campaign.
As an unwavering Ronaldo superfan hailing from the United States, iShowSpeed had faced multiple instances of missed opportunities to connect with his football icon in the past.
However, on Saturday, June 17, his deepest aspirations became a reality, thanks to the efforts of AC Milan forward Rafael Leao.
Leao played a crucial role in orchestrating the long-awaited encounter between iShowSpeed and the illustrious five-time Ballon d’Or recipient, as reported by Sportskeeda.
Overwhelmed by Ronaldo’s presence, Speed transitioned from embracing the Al-Nassr star to flawlessly replicating Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Siuuu’ celebration.
This remarkable encounter finally fulfilled his aspirations, which had previously been met with heartbreak and frustration.
For several awe-stricken minutes following the encounter, he found himself lost in disbelief, struggling to comprehend his extraordinary luck, MARCA reports.
Nevertheless, he swiftly regained his composure, seizing the opportunity to capture a few treasured photographs alongside his idol.
Speed, a renowned YouTube live streamer, has risen to become one of the most influential content creators on the platform, thanks to his vibrant personality and exceptional wit.
Remarkably, even while juggling high school demands, he has reached the zenith of success on the video sharing and social media platform – YouTube.
Upon completing his recent graduation, iShowSpeed was presented with a gift that exceeded all expectations – meeting his hero Cristiano Ronaldo.
Leao helps Speed meet Ronaldo
Earlier, Sports Brief reported that iShowSpeed, a well-known YouTuber, finally had the chance to meet his idol,Cristiano Ronaldo, following Portugal’s triumphant three-nil victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Saturday, June 17.
As an unwavering fan, Speed had been relentlessly attempting to meet the Al-Nassr superstar for several months, encountering disappointments on multiple occasions.
Standing alongside Speed, Leao seized the opportunity to stop Ronaldo, leading to a mesmerizing moment for the American YouTuber. Visibly awestruck, Speed watched his ultimate desires unfold before his eyes as he stood face-to-face with his idol.
Rashford had an impressive season for United in 2022/23, which culminated in the team winning the Carabao Cup and ending their trophy drought. He showcased his talent throughout the campaign and scored a total of 30 goals across various competitions.
In the Premier League alone, Rashford netted 17 goals as Erik ten Hag’s side secured a third-place finish, guaranteeing them a spot in the Champions League.
According to Goal, Rashford’s remarkable performances have put him in a position to negotiate a lucrative contract with the club, with David de Gea potentially playing a role in securing favorable terms for the young forward.
Rashford to become top earner
According to reports, United are looking to reward Rashford with a new bumper deal following his blistering run of form.
The Sun claims the new deal could see the forward earn as much as £375,000-a-week deal to become the club’s highest earner.
Incredibly, De Gea, who is out of contract at Old Trafford, is reportedly expected to play a key part in the deal.
It is believed that the Spaniard’s wages could be reduced to £200K-a-week, the same as what Rashford is earning at the moment.
Should the goalkeeper accept the pay cut, it would effectively seehim and Rashford trade salaries.
Real Madrid is reportedly shifting their focus from Tottenham striker Harry Kane to Napoli forward Victor Osimhen as they seek to bolster their attacking options following Karim Benzema’s departure to Al-Ittihad.
According to Sportskeeda, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has recommended pursuing Victor Osimhen instead of Kane, considering the Nigerian striker’s impressive performances during his time at Napoli.
Osimhen, who is only 24 years old, played a pivotal role in Napoli’s triumph in Serie A last season.
He showcased his prowess as the team’s top scorer, netting 31 goals and contributing five assists in 39 appearances across all competitions.
Los Blancos will have to battle Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain who have already signified their interest in the Nigerian forward this summer.
PSG to launch Osimhen bid
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain are expected to launch a mouth-watering bid for Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen as the Nigeria international is now a top priority for the Ligue 1 champions, Complete Sport reports.
Following Lionel Messi’s departure and the uncertainty surrounding Kylian Mbappe’s future, PSG are looking to strengthen their attack, and Osimhen has been identified as a key target.
Napoli currentlyvalues Osimhen at €150m, and PSG are expected to raise the sum for the Nigerian forward before the summer transfer window closes.
Osimhen ranked 4th behind Haaland
Earlier, Sports Brief reported Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been ranked as the fourth-best on the list of the most valuable players in the world following his impressive performances last term for his Serie A side.
In the outgone season, the Nigerian superstar ended as the highest goalscorer with 26 goals in the Serie A and also helped his side to win the Scudetto after 33 years in what was an incredible term.
Considering his performances, Osimhen has been linked with a move to the Premier League with the likes of Chelsea, Man United, and Arsenal reported to be interested in his services.
In this match, Ronaldo was on the verge of making history, as it was his 199th appearance for the Portuguese national team.
Meanwhile, Roberto Martinez aimed to maintain his flawless record as the new head coach of the Selecao.
Despite his move from Europe to the Middle East, where he signed with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr in January, Ronaldo’s status as a global superstar remains undiminished. His impact both on and off the field continues to captivate football enthusiasts worldwide.
His star factor came to light for the umpteenth time at Benfica’s Estadio da Luz when a die-hard fan evaded the stewards and security protocol to share a priceless moment with his idol – Ronaldo.
The pitch invader, who was wielding a Portugal flag, hugged the 38-year-old before bowing on his knees to pay homage, then lifted Ronaldo and performed his trademark ‘Siuuu’ celebration amid cheers and applause.
How fans reacted?
@_ultraUtd wrote:
“The love CR 7 has with his fans is incredible.”
Another user, @Odogwu_Nomso, tweeted:
“Picking him up, doing the Sui & running off from security is GOAT levels.”
@ballonstagger hailed Ronaldo:
“My goat.”
Pitch invader gets harsh punishment
In a related article, Sports Brief reported that Argentina’s international friendly game against Australia experienced an unusual twist after an overly excited fan jumped onto the pitch to hug Lionel Messi.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner was the biggest star on showcase as the reigning World Cup champions took a tour of China for their international friendlies.
The Chaoyang District Public Security Bureau has identified the fan as Di and has placed him in administrative detention according to the law in China.
As part of his punishment for invading the pitch, the 18-year-old Chinese national will also not be allowed to enter a stadium for the next 12 months.
Haaland joined the national team following days of exuberant celebrations after Manchester City’s triumph in the UEFA Champions League, where they completed the treble.
His contribution to City’s successful season was significant, with 54 goals in all competitions. He even secured the golden boots in both the UCL and Premier League.
However, towards the end of the season, Haaland experienced a dip in form, failing to find the net in the last six games. This included crucial matches like the FA Cup and Champions League finals against Manchester United and Inter Milan.
Haaland struggled for Norway
The 22-year-old returned to his home country and was selected to start the qualifying game against Scotland but was below par throughout his 84 minutes on the pitch.
Squawka noted his abysmal first half, where he recorded just eight touches of the ball and made three passes. Fans think he was still battling with the hangover from the celebrations, but his head coach Stale Solbakken has revealed why.
“He asked to be changed. We kept him on the pitch 10-12 minutes longer. In the last few minutes he was on the field, we played with one less man,” he told reporters as translated by Goal.
“He was completely empty. He has only played 60 minutes several times before. We’re talking about it being 30 degrees; it is applied. He ran out of steam.”
Sports Brief reported that Haaland aimed a dig at Arsenal with a Champions League song during City’s treble celebrations.
City has been mocked with the song ‘Champions of Europe, you’ll never sing that’ by Nottingham Forest fans all season, and the 22-year-old asked that the Citizens fans sing the same.
Diop criticized Minusma, stating that it has contributed to escalating intercommunal tensions and exacerbating the existing problems.
His concerns were expressed during his address to the UN Security Council.
Minusma, which comprises over 13,000 troops, has been deployed for a decade but has been unsuccessful in curbing the proliferation of jihadist violence in Mali.
Currently, the military rulers in Mali are receiving support from Russian Wagner mercenaries.
Western officials have accused Wagner of human rights abuses in Ukraine and parts of Africa, and last month the US announced sanctions on Ivan Maslov, whom it described as Wagner’s top official in Mali.
Wagner has not commented on the Western allegations and its activities in Mali and other parts of Africa remain shrouded in secrecy.
Minister Diop’s criticism of Minusma followed earlier Malian objections to France’s long-standing involvement in Mali. The alliance with France, the former colonial power, collapsed last year.
Mr Diop spoke of a “crisis of confidence between the Malian authorities and Minusma” and said “the Malian government asks for the withdrawal without delay of Minusma”.
Minusma’s mandate is due to end on 29 June,but UN chief Antonio Guterres has recommended that the mission be reconfigured to focus on a few limited priorities.
The UN currently lists military contingents from Chad, Bangladesh and Egypt as the biggest in the force.
When asked about Mr Diop’s remarks on Friday the UN special envoy to Mali, El-Ghassim Wane, said “we stand to be guided by whatever decision the [Security] Council may take”.
But he added that without the host country’s consent “operating in a specific country would be extremely challenging, if not impossible”.
A report by the UN high commissioner for human rights accused the Malian armed forces and “foreign security personnel” of having killed more than 500 people during an operation in the village of Moura, in central Mali, in March last year. The governments of Mali and Russia both condemned that report.
West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini will be departing the club when his contract expires at the end of June.
The Argentine player joined West Ham in 2015 from Al Jazira in the United Arab Emirates and has since made 226 appearances, scoring 32 goals.
Lanzini’s standout moment was his remarkable long-range goalagainst Tottenham in 2020, which helped West Ham secure a remarkable 3-3 draw after being 3-0 down.
The 30-year-old has been linked with a return to Argentina and former club River Plate.
Manager David Moyes told the club website: “Manu is a fantastic professional, a really good lad, and whichever club he joins will have an excellent player on their hands.
“We are sorry to see him go, but he deserves the opportunity to play more regularly elsewhere, and we wish him well in his next adventure.”
This decision coincides with the upcoming retrial for Mendy regarding rape charges.
The 28-year-old player joined Manchester City from Monaco in 2017, setting a record-breaking transfer fee of £52 million.
However, he has been absent from the team’s lineup for almost two years.
The footballer was first arrested in November 2020 and was later suspended by the club in August 2021 following charges of rape and sexual assault against several women.
During a five-month trial at Chester Crown Court earlier this year, Mendy maintained that all sexual encounters he had were consensual, denying the allegations made against him.
In February, he was unanimously cleared of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault. However, the jury was unable to reach verdicts on one count of rape and one count of attempted rape, leading to a retrial.
Mendy’s co-defendant, Louis Saha Matturie, was found not guilty of three charges of rape, but the jury was unable to reach verdicts on six other counts against him. Those charges will be retried in September.
In response to the outcome of the first trial,Manchester City released a statement stating that, due to ongoing legal matters, the club could not provide further comment at this time.
The club is reportedly willing to meet the €35m (£29.8m) release clause, and talks are currently focused on the payment structure and performance-based incentives.
Informal discussions with Jackson’s representatives have been positive, indicating that personal terms are not expected to pose a challenge in the deal.
Informal talks with Jackson’s representatives have been positive and personal terms are not expected to be a problem if and when a deal can be struck.
Jackson is one of a number of forwards Chelsea are looking at.
With one year left on his contract at Etihad Stadium, the 33-year-old Walker may be on the brink of departing City this summer, particularly after being left on the bench during their Champions League final triumph over Inter Milan.
Bayern Munich is said to be aware of the circumstances and has internally deliberated the potential signing of Walker, who brings versatility as both a right-back and a centre-back to the table.
So far there has been no contact from Bayern over a transfer for Walker but he is being watched closely and is on the club’s shortlist.
Walker, who joined City from Tottenham in 2017 for £50m, has won fivePremier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League in his six years in Manchester.
While starring for Argentina against Australia, Lionel Messi made a hint regarding his Inter Miami debut.
In his team’s triumph over the Aussies on Thursday in an international friendly, Messi scored after just 79 seconds.
After a demanding 41-game season for Paris Saint-Germain, he played the complete 90 minutes.
According to ESPN, the 35-year-old has subsequently signed with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer, raising the possibility of when he may play his debut game for his new team.
Asked about his schedule for his new US side, as quoted by Mirror UK, he replied:
“I want to go on my holiday and then afterwards, we go again.”
The 2022 World Cup winners face Indonesia in another friendly next Monday, but the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner will leave the Argentina camp for a break, which could last up to three weeks.
He is expected to return to his home country before linking up with Inter Miami, which means he could play his first game in America around mid-to-late July.
“What I said [about Qatar 2022 likely being his last World Cup] is something normal due to age and time. Qualifying matches are coming, then the Copa America; it is very far to think about the World Cup.”
The Argentine veteran also believes one has to enjoy the present.
“…Think about what’s to come, despite the wins – we can’t stay with that.”
The United States of America, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the States being Messi’s new home country.
Messi snubs City’s youngster request
Sports Brief also reported on Messi snubbing Australia’s Alex Robertson for a jersey switch at the end of their international friendly on June 15.
The veteran captained Argentina to a 2-0 win in Beijing, with the departing Paris Saint-Germain forward scoring the fastest goal of his stellar career.
After the game, Robertson was seemingly ignored by Messi, with the Manchester City player unable to attract the attention of the new MLS man.
Messi on 2026 World Cup
Messi was also asked about the prospect of representing Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. The forward, who will be 39 when the next tournament rolls around, said it would be difficult:
“What I said [about Qatar 2022 likely being his last World Cup] is something normal due to age and time. Qualifying matches are coming, then the Copa America; it is very far to think about the World Cup.”
The Argentine veteran also believes one has to enjoy the present.
“…Think about what’s to come, despite the wins – we can’t stay with that.”
The United States of America, Canada, and Mexico will co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the States being Messi’s new home country.
Sevilla’s sporting director, Monchi, has departed from his position to assume the role of President of Football Operations at Aston Villa, as announced by both clubs on Friday.
This move reunites Monchi with coach Unai Emery at Aston Villa.
During his tenure at Sevilla, Monchi led the team to an impressive record of seven Europa League titles, two Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) victories, and a European Super Cup triumph.
“I am very excited to join Aston Villa… I am also delighted and can’t wait to work with Unai Emery again, one of the best managers in football,” Monchi said in a statement.
“After enjoying so many years with Sevilla FC and winning several European trophies with my life-long club, I look forward to building on the recent successes at Aston Villa and ensuring this colossal club continues to grow and improve,” he added.
Monchi is ending his second spell in the same role with the LaLiga club. He left Sevilla in 2017 to become AS Roma’s sporting director before returning to the Spanish side in 2019.
Emery left Sevilla last October to take over at Villa and lifted them out of the relegation places to finish seventh in the Premier League, guiding the club into European football for the first time in more than a decade.
Rebels associated with theIslamic State group have carried out a devastating assault on a school in western Uganda, resulting in the deaths of approximately 40 individuals, primarily students.
The tragic incident took place at Lhubiriha Secondary School in Mpondwe, where a group of boys residing in the school’s dormitories were among those killed.
Currently, eight individuals remain in critical condition following the attack.
The responsibility for the Friday assault has been attributed to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan organization operating from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
NB: Some people may find details in this story distressing.
Many of the bodies were transferred to Bwera Hospital, national police spokesperson Fred Enanga said.
A dormitory at the school was burnt and a food store was looted during the incident, he added.
Some of the bodies are said to have been badly burnt and DNA tests will need to be carried out to identify them.
The attackers are said to have torched the students’ mattresses and are also thought to have detonated bombs in the region.
Members of the wider community possibly among the dead. A number of students remain unaccounted for.
Soldiers are pursuing ADF insurgents towards the DRC’s Virunga National park – Africa’s oldest and largest national park which is home to rare species, including mountain gorillas.
Militias including the ADF also use the vast expanse, which borders Uganda and Rwanda, as a hideout.
“Our forces are pursuing the enemy to rescue those abducted and destroy this group,” defence spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said on Twitter.
Uganda and the DRC have held joint military operations in the east Congo to prevent attacks by the ADF.
Security forces had intelligence that rebels were in the border area on the DRC side for at least two days before Friday night’s attack, Major General Olum said.
The deadly episode follows last week’s attack by suspected ADF fighters in a village in the DRC near to the Ugandan border. Over 100 villagers fled to Uganda but have since returned.
The attack on the school, located less than two kilometres (1.25 miles) from the DRC border, is the first such attack on a Ugandan school in 25 years.
In June 1998, 80 students were burnt to death in their dormitories in an ADF attack on Kichwamba Technical Institute near the border of DRC. More than 100 students were abducted.
The ADF was created in eastern Uganda in the 1990s and took up arms against long-serving President, Yoweri Museveni, alleging government persecution of Muslims.
After its defeat by the Ugandan army in 2001, it relocated to North Kivu province in the DRC.
The group’s principal founder, Jamil Makulu, was arrested in Tanzania in 2015 and is in custody in a Ugandan prison.
ADF rebels have been operating from inside the DRC for the past two decades.
In 2021, suicide bombings in Uganda’s capital Kampala and other parts of the country were blamed on the ADF.
Nagelsmann had been strongly linked with a move to the French club as a potential replacement for Christophe Galtier.
However, negotiations between Nagelsmann and PSG did not reach a successful agreement, as reported by L’Equipe.
As a result, former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has emerged as a prominent candidate in the race to become the new head coach of the Ligue 1 champions.
A report filed by PSG Community suggests that the Spanish manager will be in Paris in the next few hours to likely secure his contract.
Nagelsmann reportedly informed some players waiting to arrive that he will not be managing PSG. One player said to have been to the French giants as part of Nagelsmann’s arrival was Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard.
Nonetheless, with Enrique possibly taking over the managerial role at PSG, it seems a move for Pavard might be out of the question. If the 53-year-old does take over, it will be interesting to see what players he will desire that sporting advisor Luis Campos should pursue.
Nagelsmann’s agent slams Chelsea
Meanwhile, there were many complications surrounding Nagelsmann. First, he is still under contract with Bayern until the end of his deal in 2026 – this was agreed upon when he was sacked.
The Blues hierarchy were also reportedly concerned about his age – 35 – and the reasons for his dismissal from the Bavarian club which could hint at what was expected from him.
“I can confirm that Chelsea were quick to call, there were some phone conversations. It was the right decision not to go there. It’s a club in troubled waters at the moment,” he told BILD’s podcast, Phrasenmaher.
Struth further expatiated the situation at Chelsea had compelled his client to decide against taking the job.
Nagelsmann’s sad altercation with Mane
In related coverage, Sports Brief reported on Nagelsmann’s dressing room bust-up with Bayern’s Senegalese superstar, Sadio Mane.
The incident is alleged to have occurred after the Bavarians’ second-leg Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
It was reported the former Liverpool forward was unhappy that Nagelsmann only brought him on late against the French side.
Luiz Felipe Scolari (74) promised to return to coaching after winningthe World Cup, and on Friday he came out of retirement to take charge at Brazilian Serie A team Atletico Mineiro until December 2024.
To join the club headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Scolari resigned from his position as technical director at Athletico Paranaense.
He will replace Argentine coach Eduardo Coudet there (48).
During his six-month reign as Athletico’s manager last year, Scolari led the team to the Copa Libertadores final.
He then announced his resignation in November, staying on at the club as technical director.
In a colourful career spanning more than 40 years, Scolari has enjoyed success at both club and international level but will be most remembered for his highs and lows with his native Brazil.
Scolari famously led Brazil to their 2002 World Cup triumph in Japan but was also the man in charge when they suffered their most embarrassing defeat, a 7-1 drubbing by Germany at home in the 2014 World Cup semi-final.
He took Portugal to the final of the 2004 European Champion and semi-finals of the World Cup in 2006 before taking charge at Chelsea, where he endured a turbulent seven-month spell before being sacked.
At club level, Scolari has enjoyed success in Brazil and China. He won the Brazilian Serie A and Copa Libertadores with both Gremio and Palmeiras, and the Chinese Super League and Asian Champions League at Guangzhou Evergrande.
Scolari’s first game in charge of Atletico will be away to Fluminense on June 21. Atletico are fourth in the league with 18 points from 10 games.
Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko has been released following the expiry of his contract, the club has confirmed.
The 28-year-old was signed by formermanager Antonio Conte shortly after the team’s last Premier League title triumph in 2017 but had not played for the club since the end of his first season.
He has since spent time on loan at AC Milan – with whom he won the Serie A title in 2022 – Napoli and former club Monaco.
He arrived at Stamford Bridge in a £40million deal after helping Monaco to a surprise Ligue 1 title success, having been part of the team that also featured Kylian Mbappe and Bernardo Silva.
The side managed by Leonardo Jardin knocked out Manchester City in the last-16 of the Champions League en route to a semi-final exit to Juventus.
But the midfielder, who won one cap for France in 2017, failed to live up to the expectation that accompanied his arrival.
His most memorable moment in blue came during the 2018 FA Cup final when he played the full 90 minutes as Conte’s side ran out 1-0 winners against Manchester United to lift the trophy.
Another 12 players to have come through Chelsea’s academy have also left the club according to a list released by the Premier League, including goalkeeper Nathan Baxter who played 12 times in the Championship on loan at Hull last season.
USA’s 3-0 victory over Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinal was marred by homophobic shouting from certain Mexican fans; Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton stopped the game in the eighth minute of stoppage time on a night that also saw four red cards handed in Nevada.
The referee called off theUSA’s match versus Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals due to homophobic chants from the crowd.
With goals from Christian Pulisic (twice) and Ricardo Pepi, the Americans won 3-0 in Nevada to secure their spot in the final versus Canada, although the game was tainted by the behaviour of some of the visiting fans.
Play was halted in the 90th minute and when action resumed, 12 minutes of stoppage time were signalled but more discriminatory chanting caused Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton to end the match in the eighth minute.
In January, FIFA fined Mexico after homophobic chanting by fans at two games and they could now face more sanctions.
“In terms of the chant, I want to make it very clear first and foremost, for our beliefs and our culture, it has no place in the game,” USA interim head coach BJ Callaghan said. “It has no place in our value system.”
CONCACAF –the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football – said in a statement: “Chants heard during the game led to the activation of the anti-discrimination protocol by the match officials.
“Additionally, security staff ejected several fans for engaging in unacceptable behaviour in the stadium.
“These incidents were extremely disappointing and tarnished what should have been a positive occasion to showcase high-quality football in our region.”
It was an eventful fixture for referee Barton, who also sent off four players for their antics on the pitch including USA’s Weston McKennie and Sergino Dest.
The pair will be unavailable for the final against Canada, who beat Panama 2-0 thanks to goals from Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies.
Manchester City is close to finalizing a transfer dealfor Chelsea midfielder Mateo Kovacic, with the agreement expected to be worth approximately €40 million (£34.2m), according to sources.
Recent discussions between the two clubs have been positive, leading to more detailed conversations about the payment structure.
However, one key matter that still needs to be resolved is the upfront payment amount that City will provide to Chelsea.
The west London club are under pressure to raise funds through player sales by the end of this month after spending in the region of £600m during the first year of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership of the club only to miss out on European qualification altogether.
Any outgoings completed before June 30 will fall under the first full tax year and therefore help mitigate losses to aid compliance with Uefa’s Financial Fair Play rules.
Although there are still some issues to be resolved, sources have told ESPN the expectation is a deal for the 29-year-old will be completed within the next fortnight.
Kovacic is thought to have broadly agreed personal terms and the transfer will likely progress further after he finishes his international obligations with Croatia.
Their final match comes in Sunday’s Nations League Final against Spain. Kovacic initially joined Chelsea on loanfrom Real Madrid in 2018 before signing a permanent deal in a £40m switch a year later.
He has made a total of 221 appearances, scoring six goals and winning the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Managers at United had hoped to extend the goalkeeper’s contract, but negotiations have dragged on, raising concerns that he may now leave this summer.
According to sources who spoke to ESPN, the club decided against enacting De Gea’s one-year contract extension, which would have kept him with them until 2024. In May, the option became void.
Instead, negotiations have taken place about a longer deal on a lower basic wage but including significant performance-related bonuses.
Sources have told ESPN that talks with De Gea are ongoing but that United are not as optimistic about reaching a compromise as they were a month ago.
De Gea, 32, has spent 12 seasons at Old Trafford and made more than 500 appearances.
Sources have told ESPN that earlier this season he was exploring the possibility of returning to Spain while there has also been tentative interest from clubs in Saudi Arabia.
United, meanwhile, are set to make a second bid for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount.
A first offer of another £40 million ($51m) was immediately rejected by Chelsea, who want closer to £70m. United won’t stretch that far but, according to sources, are hoping to agree a fee of around £50m.
The market for the Mount, which at one stage included Liverpool, Arsenal and Bayern Munich, has cooled significantly over the second half of the season and United are seen as the clear frontrunners for his signature.
United are hopeful that Chelsea’s need to sell a number of players this summer will help negotiations move quickly to allow the possibility that Mount could be part of the squad ahead of the preseason tour of the United States, which starts in New York on July 20.
Jamie Arnold, aged 32, faced accusations of racially abusing Rio Ferdinand during a match between Manchester United and Wolves at Molineux in May 2021.
However, the jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court has been discharged after informing the judge that they were unable to reach a majority verdict.
As a result, the man accused of racially abusing Rio Ferdinand now faces the possibility of a retrial.
The jury has now been discharged and the Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed it will seek a retrial, possibly in November.
Mr Arnold denies causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.
Ferdinand gave evidence at the trial and it is thought likely he will again be called as a witness for the retrial.
Arnold, 32, was accused of racially abusing Ferdinand during Wolves’ game against Manchester United at Molineux in May 2021, at which the former England international was working as a pundit for BT Sport.
Enzo Maresca is on the verge of departing from Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City to assume the role of manager at Leicester City.
The Foxes have been in search of a new boss following their relegation to the Championship under Dean Smith.
While a verbal agreement has been reached with Maresca, there are still some final details and contractual matters to be resolved before his move to the King Power Stadium is finalized.
Manchester City’s assistant manager was offered the job on Thursday and he has accepted that offer.
However, there are still details to finalise and contractual issues to sort before Maresca is confirmed as the Foxes’ next boss.
Leicester have been searching for a new boss since parting ways with Dean Smith, who was appointed on a short-term contract in April but was unable to save the club from relegation to the Championship during his eight games in charge.
Following their treble-winning season, Manchester City is preparing to release captain Ilkay Gundogan (32) and Benjamin Mendy (28) as their contracts expire this month. The Premier League confirmed on Friday that both players are included on the list of individuals who are allowed to leave on free transfers.
While leading the club to triumph in the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League, Gundogan has remained tight-lipped about his future. The German international has been linked with potential moves to Arsenal and Barcelona.
The midfielder, who proved to be the man for the big occasion in City’s historic treble bid, won 14 trophies at the club, including five league titles following his move from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2016.
Mendy has not played for City since August 2021 after he was suspended following his arrest on charges of rape and sexual assault.
The Frenchman, who was signed in 2017 for a fee in the region of 52 million pounds ($66.63 million), was found not guilty of six counts of rape and one count of sexual assault in January but he faces a retrial ontwo other charges.
Real Madrid’s pursuit ofKylian Mbappe has encountered a fresh complication due to Paris Saint-Germain’s latest demand for the 24-year-old superstar.
Mbappe has notified PSG through a letter that he will not be extending his current contract with the club, leaving the French champions with the task of finding potential suitors for the forward before his deal expires in 2024.
Reportedly, PSG is now requesting highly-rated player Rodrygo Goes as part of the deal with Real Madrid to secure the services of the unsettled Mbappe during the upcoming summer transfer window, according to Fansided.
Rodrygo has risen to become one of Los Blancos’ key players, scoring nine goals for Carlo Ancelotti’s team in La Liga and five in the Champions League.
PSG are unwilling to lose the 2022 World Cup Golden Boot winner for free in 2024 and will instead trade him to any team willing to match their terms this summer.
Rodrygo opens door for Mbappe
Meanwhile, Rodrygo has revealed that he would be happy to see the French superstar join him at Real Madrid next season, Marca reports.
The Brazilian forward described Mbappe as one of the best players in the world and disclosed that it would be an honour to play alongside him at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
Mbappe has been widely tipped to join Real Madrid this summer.
Kylian Mbappe wants PSG stay
Earlier, Sports Brief reported onMbappe confirming his PSG stay was his ‘only option for now’ after the superstar told the club he would not be extending his contract beyond 2024.
The 24-year-old forward reiterated his plan after several reports linking him away from the French capital emerged, with rumours claiming he would seal a move to Real Madrid.
Mbappe said he was not particularly surprised by suggestions PSG could look to cash in by selling him now, rather than allowing him to leave for nothing at the end of next season.
Jack Wilshere has reflected on the start of the decline of his football career, which was marred by injuries that hindered his progress as one of England’s most promising young talents.
Wilshere’s debut for Arsenal came at the age of 16 in September 2008 when he came on as an 84th-minute substitute for Robin van Persie in a match against Blackburn Rovers.
Under the guidance of Arsene Wenger, he was gradually integrated into the squad and showcased his abilities on a global stage by impressively controlling the midfield against renowned players Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez in a Champions League encounter.
According to SportBible, his career soon took a negative turn when he suffered a nasty right ankle injury at the end of the 2010/11 season.
It was the unannounced end of the road for him.
Wilshere reveals his worst injury
At 31, he retired after spending time at West Ham, Bournemouth, and Aarhus in Denmark. He has now opened up on the worst injury of his troubled career.
“My first injury was my worst, and I paid the price a lot for that,” he said on Ben Foster’s Fozcast. “It was my right ankle. It was the talus, which is a little bone that sits on top of your fibula and your ankle joint. And I fractured that.”
He revealed that the surgeon admitted he had only seen such an injury once in a snowboarder, and got in another surgeon to conduct the surgery, but the biggest shock was unknown until six years later.
“I was 19 when the injury happened. Six years later, I was 25 and went back to see the surgeon, and he was like, ‘Are you still playing?’. He showed me the notes from the surgery, and they said: ‘You might not play again. Might not be able to walk’,” he added.
Wilshere is currently building his coaching portfolio as the U-18 coach of the Arsenal academy. He led them to the FA Youth Cup final, which they lost to West Ham United.
Wenger’s tribute to Wilshere
Sports Brief reported that Arsene Wenger gave a glowing tribute to Wilshere when he announced his retirement from professional football last year.
The legendary boss described the former England international as a ‘fearless player’ – an attribute which helped kick start his career early.
Ronaldo and Messi have been engaged in a long-standing rivalry throughout their careers, with fans often debating and arguing over who is the better player.
Both of these exceptional footballers have achieved numerous titles at the club level as well as for their respective national teams.
Messi, after many attempts, finally won the World Cup in the 2022 edition of the global competition in Qatar. It was an incredible moment for the former Barcelona captain.
According to reports on Daily Post and Vanguard, Wizkid made it clear that although he does not watch football, he prefers Ronaldo ahead of Messi.
Wizkid snubs Messi for Ronaldo
“I don’t watch football [laughs]. Ronaldo, I guess.”
A report on BBC stated that Messi netted the fastest goal of his career after one minute and 19 seconds while playing for Argentina in an international friendly match against Australia.
Scaloni’s side were playing their third fixture since lifting the World Cup in December, and their first outside of Argentina.
Earlier, Sports Brief reported how David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, stated clearly that Portugal international, Cristiano Ronaldo is his very good friend and a footballer he admires and cherishes.
Ronaldo is one of the biggest footballers in the world, with his achievements and records making him a top star. He has won the Ballon d’Or five times- only Lionel Messi has won it more than the ex-Man United star.
For more than 10 years, the name ‘Ronaldo’ has been ringing the bell in world football because of his superb performances for the clubs he has played for.
Hilda Baci’s Guinness World Record achievement for the longest cooking marathon by an individual has shattered records once again, this time on Twitter.
The exhilarating video tweet, shared on the official Guinness World Records’ Twitter page, has surpassed a staggering 25 million views, securing its place as the most-viewed tweet in the account’s history.
With an announcement made on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, the Guinness World Record Team unveiled Hilda’s extraordinary feat, surpassing the previous record held by Indian chef Lata Tondon.
The official account posted, “After reviewing all the footage, we’re delighted to announce that Hilda Baci is the new record holder for the longest cooking marathon (individual) 💫 Watch the video to find out the official time we’ve awarded Hilda and read the full explanation below 👇,” the official account posted.
Hilda, a 26-year-old restauranteur hailing from Lagos, displayed her culinary prowess for an impressive duration, surpassing the previous record of 87 hours and 50 minutes.
yeah, so this is our best performing tweet of all time with nearly 25 million news feeds reached 🤯 https://t.co/iGBDw0qdLK
The news of Hilda’s remarkable achievement quickly spread like wildfire, capturing the imagination and curiosity of people worldwide. Guinness World Records proudly exclaimed on Twitter, “Yeah, so this is our best-performing tweet of all time with nearly 25 million news feeds reached.”
Not only did Hilda’s record-breaking success captivate the Twitterverse, but it also caused a stir on the officialGuinness World Records website. The overwhelming popularity of her ‘cook-a-thon’ caused the website to crash for two days due to an astounding surge in traffic from her devoted fanbase.
Hilda’s journey to claim this monumental record took the social media realm by storm, with millions in Nigeria and beyond fervently following her progress via an engaging Instagram live stream.
Driven by her unwavering passion to showcase the vibrant tapestry of Nigerian culinary traditions, Hilda embarked on this extraordinary mission with a clear objective in mind. “I wanted to put Nigerian cuisine on the map,” she shared with resolute determination. “I also chose to break this record to truly push my limits and test my abilities.”
In an interview with a Ghanaian based media house, the award-winning chef unveiled the numerous challenges she encountered during her awe-inspiring journey to the 100-hour cooking feat.
Hilda revealed that the immense stress of the marathon pushed her to experience her menstrual cycle and accompanying cramps earlier than expected. As a result, she diligently took showers during her breaks to maintain personal hygiene and change accordingly.
Hilda further explained that being on her period reduced the precious time she had for rest, intensifying an already arduous endeavour. “I was on my period the entire time, and I think that sort of made it extra hard. What that meant was it took away from the time I had to rest,” she shared.
Reports suggest that there is a disagreement betweenErik ten Hag and Manchester United officials regarding the club’s search for a striker in the summer transfer window.
Ten Hag, the Dutch manager, is eager to acquire a dedicated striker for his squad in preparation for the upcoming season.
He has shown a particular interest in signing Tottenham’s star player, Harry Kane, during this transfer window.
However, according to The Athletic, not all members of the Manchester United board share the same enthusiasm for pursuing Kane as a potential signing.
Spurs will demand huge money for Kane, despite his contract expiring at the end of next season.
The England skipper also turns 30 next month, with some at Old Trafford wanting a younger signing.
And there was talk earlier this week that the Red Devils have given up on signing Kane.
Despite Ten Hag’s wishes, they now seem set to pursue a trio of younger targets.
Atalanta ace Rasmus Hojlund is on United’s wishlist, after scoring nine goals in Serie A last term.
But the Dane won’t come cheap either, with Atalanta reportedly after £86m for their 20-year-old starlet.
Eintracht Frankfurt ace Randal Kolo Muani is another name on the shortlist.
The 24-year-old is coming off the back of an impressive first season in the Bundesliga, bagging 15 goals and laying on 14 assists.
Kolo Muani also played in the World Cup for France, providing an assist for Kylian Mbappe in the final and seeing a last-gasp chance for a winner blocked by Argentina keeper Emi Martinez.
The EFL has accused Reading of frequently breaking its financial rules by neglecting to pay its players throughout the 2022–23 season.
The accusations pertain to three different instances in which the team was relegated from the Championship and player pay were not paid on time and in full on each occasion.
Further accused of permitting the team to violate the EFL’s financial regulations is owner Dai Yongge.
Reading were docked six points in April for breaking profit and sustainability rules which ultimately led to them finishing in the bottom three and dropping into League One.
Manager Paul Ince was sacked later that month with the club on a winless run of eight games.
He was replaced by interim boss Noel Hunt who failed to win any of his five matches in charge.
An EFL statement read: “The charges relate to the club failing to meet their obligations to pay its players’ wages on time and in full on or around 31 October 2022, 30 November 2022 and 28 April 2023.
“Yongge Dai, the club’s owner, has also been charged with causing the club to be in breach of EFL regulations despite his commitment to fund the cash requirements of the club.
“The club and Mr Dai have until 4pm on Thursday 29 June 2023 to respond to the charges.”
The 26-year-old forward only started once for the Bergamo squad before being loaned out three times to Eintracht Frankfurt, Empoli, and Sampdoria.
Lammers is optimistic he will be given a fair chance to establish himself at Ibrox as he attempts to restart his career after signing a four-year deal with Rangers.
“This is what I’ve been searching for,” he told Sky Sports. “After this season I made it clear for myself that I wanted a new place to settle down, a new home because even last year I was at two clubs and before that I was on loan in Germany.
“I think now is time to settle somewhere and it’s good to sign a permanent deal with Rangers. The confidence of the club is key for me to sign.
“Coming into a new country is not easy. When you go from Holland to Italy it’s a change of language, a change of culture and everything.
“It gets easier but you feel at home after one year or six months, you need time to settle, and it didn’t happen for me in the last two years so I’m happy that I have the possibility to do that here.”
During his first loan spell at Eintracht Frankfurt, Lammers encountered the Rangers support for the first time.
“When we got to the final, it felt as if it was the best-supported clubs of the Europa League colliding,” said Lammers.
“It was, from both sides, very impressive. At that game you could see how big the club is and how it lives here in Scotland also.”
Lammers has scored only 27 career goals, the majority of which came on loan at Heerenveen in 2018-19. However, he insists his game is about more than just scoring.
“I know for a striker the main target is to score a lot of goals and I know I can do that also,” he said. “I’m aware of this being a big part of being a striker and this is also my goal at Rangers to do that, but I’m not a typical striker who is only hanging inside the box for his one or two chances.
“I want to help the team, I can drop out of the striker position. With my legs you would expect me maybe to be a target man but that’s not what I am.
“I want to score more goals again because I know I have it in me. In the past I scored a lot of goals then in the last couple of years not so much, but sometimes in the clubs I was at it wasn’t easy as you didn’t get a lot of chances.
“I think the attacking style of play at Rangers also fits me.”
In the 2022-23 season, several well-known players made a significant impact across Europe’s top five leagues.
Through analyzing the statistics, we can identify the standout performers among them.
Goals: Erling Haaland (Manchester City) — 36
Manchester City sensation Erling Haaland blew away all competition in the goalscoring department last season.
The 22-year-old bagged 36 strikes in 35 Premier League appearances, with Harry Kane the only other player in Europe’s top five divisions to break the 30-goal mark.
Assists: Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain) — 16
Kevin De Bruyne and Antoine Griezmann also delivered 16 assists, but Lionel Messi gets the nod by virtue of the fact he scored the most goals of the three (16).
Despite his consistent output, the Inter Miami-bound Argentine World Cup winner was at times booed by Paris Saint-Germain supporters.
Bruno Fernandes did not have his most productive season with Manchester United in terms of assists, but still exhibited his creative talents.
The Portuguese maestro also led the way in Europe’s top tiers for big chances created with 32.
On top of completing the most take-ons, the 22-year-old scored 10 goals and notched nine assists from his 33 LaLiga appearances, enhancing his reputation as one of the world’s best wingers.
Passes: Lewis Dunk (Brighton) — 2,900
Lewis Dunk’s evolution into a pass master from the back has been one of the catalysts for Brighton’s rise over the past two years.
The England international, 31, also had the most touches of any player with 3,520.
Tackles: Joao Palhinha (Fulham) — 147
Joao Palhinha’s rapid adaptation to the demands of Premier League football played a major role in Fulham finishing 10th and avoiding relegation with ease.
But the ex-Sporting lynchpin’s love of tackling did see him also pick up the joint-most yellow cards last term (14).
Lyon centre-back Castello Lukeba, 20, is one of the brightest defensive prospects in Europe — and he loves making interceptions.
He is also pretty good with the ball at his feet, ranking 20th for passes completed (2,026) with an impressive accuracy to boot (90.37%).
Aerial duels won: Philipp Hofmann (Bochum) — 214
Bochum striker Philipp Hofmann, 30, helped the club finish 14th in the Bundesliga and survive the drop with his eight goals and two assists.
Unsurprisingly, three of those goals were headers, which came in victories against Eintracht Frankfurt, Union Berlin and Hertha Berlin.
Clean sheets: Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona) — 26
The Germany international conceded only 18 goals in the Spanish top flight — the lowest total in Europe’s top five league — and ranked fourth for passes completed among goalkeepers (1,011).
Saves: David Raya (Brentford) — 154
David Raya looks destined to leave Brentford this summer after a superb season with the gloves.
On top of his 154 saves, the Spaniard was the keeper with the most final third passes (118) and most long passes (410) completed in the Premier League.
During her tenure, Samoura played a crucial role in the transformation of FIFA, focusing on rebuilding its reputation, enhancing credibility, and dismantling barriers within the organization.
“It was the best decision of my life to join FIFA,” says FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura. “I am very proud to have led such a diverse team.
My first word of thanks goes to Gianni Infantino for giving me this dream job.
He has shown trust, understanding and an incredible level of support. It is a pleasure to work alongside someone that has transformed FIFA.
FIFA today is a better governed, more open, more reliable and more transparent organisation. I will leave FIFA with a high sense of pride and fulfilment.
“I had intended to share my news first with the FIFA Council members next week but I am aware there has been growing speculation about my position in recent months.
For now, I am fully focused on the preparation and delivery of the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
I look forward to spending the next six months bringing to life the 11 objectives that President Infantino announced at the FIFA Congress in Kigali in March.
From next year, I would like to spend more time with my family. I have been in love with football since I was eight years old and I feel honoured to have been on this journey.”
“It has been a privilege and an honour to work with a trailblazer in the game,” says FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Ever since we met, I knew she would be superb for FIFA.
Her passion and enthusiasm to drive change has been inspirational. Fatma was the first woman, and the first African, to be appointed to such an important position at FIFA.
We respect Fatma’s decision and I would like to thank her for such dedication and commitment to football.
Fatma will continue to contribute towards the development of the game and its social values together with us.”
The first female and non-European to hold the role as head of FIFA’s administration, Fatma Samoura was a trailblazer from the moment she stepped into the Home of FIFA to take on her new role after her appointment in May 2016 by recently-elected President Infantino.
She has overseen unprecedented growth in women’s football ever since.
Fatma Samoura has overseen a complete restructure at FIFA that included the appointment of two Deputy Secretary Generals, a new and fully developed Women’s Football Division, a Technical Development Division, a Chief Compliance Officer, and improved programmes for FIFA’s 211 member associations.
She arrived at FIFA with more than two decades of experience working for the United Nations where she served in seven countries: the Republic of Djibouti, Cameroon, Chad, Guinea, Niger, Madagascar and Nigeria.
Working in places affected by war, violence and a lack of women’s rights, she had often been struck by the way in which football, more than anything else, could persuade warring groups to lay down their weapons and bring joy even to people who were enduring terrible suffering. She realised that football was a universal language.
Players at the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 will enjoy the same conditions and service levels as the men at theFIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar. With 32 teams, it will be the biggest and best in the competition’s history, providing a fitting send-off for the FIFA Secretary General when she steps down in December.
Gareth Southgate, the England manager, acknowledged that there is a boundary that his players must not exceed, referring toJack Grealish’s extravagant celebrations after winning the treble.
However, Southgate refrained from openly criticizing the forward, even though his partying attracted significant media attention.
Grealish accompanied his Manchester City teammates for a night out in Ibiza after their 1-0 Champions League victory against Inter Milan, securing the treble. They returned on Monday in preparation for their trophy parade.
Southgate’s comments suggest that while he recognizes the need for certain limits, he chose not to publicly reprimand Grealish for his actions.
The 27-year-old, Phil Foden, Kalvin Phillips, John Stones and Kyle Walker linked up with the England squad on Tuesday ahead of Friday’s Euro 2024 qualifier in Malta.
He said: “There is a line but in our head we weren’t thinking of including the City players for this game.
“I have spoken with the players. We have talked about where the focus needs to be, where we need them to be and acknowledged what they have experienced and that’s for me to manage.
“A few of our players would be teetotal. What is different is that everyone posts everything. I wouldn’t have liked a few of my nights out to be posted publicly. My generation would have a lot more problems.
“We know, talking to Jordan Henderson, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier what that game takes out of you.
“It’s a huge occasion and we needed to give those guys the time to take everything in but, point number one, they all wanted to come in to be with the group, which is fantastic.
“I don’t think they would have felt anything unusual about how we have dealt with this and how we have embraced the players back in to the group.
“We have also got the dynamic that while they are chuffed to bits and we are proud of them, a few others are pretty p****d off that they have won it at their expense. You are always really conscious of that.”
England’s last trip to Malta — a World Cup qualifier in 2017 — ended with a 4-0 victory but only after three goals in the final five minutes from Kane, Ryan Bertrand and Danny Welbeck.
It saw fans turn on the team, who were drawing 0-0 at half time and Southgate remembers the atmosphere, with the squad abused on the coach driving to the stadium, during and after the game.
He said: “Myself and Steve Holland were talking about it as we landed because it wasn’t a pleasant journey to the stadium and it was less pleasant going home.
“I’m not sure everyone knew we had won 4-0 because they were in the bar at 1-0, some at 0-0.
“For us it was a good reference to how far the relationship with the fans has come. The performances of the team are going to ebb and flow, the connection with the fans feels completely different now.
“It doesn’t matter what we have done in the last few years, last few games, we have to go again tomorrow night and make sure that we give our fans something to be excited about.”
Meanwhile, Trippier believes the squad needs to embrace their final games of the season.
England, top of Group C, also host North Macedonia at Old Trafford on Monday aiming to solidify their lead following March’s wins over Ukraine and Italy.
It will cap a season which also saw the first winter World Cup in November and December with the Premier League having finished three weeks ago.
The Newcastle defender said: “It’s difficult. It has been a tough season for myself and obviously the lads in Europe as well.
“We know at the end of the day we are coming away with England and they are two massive games. We want to be going to Germany next year.
“We know the challenges but for me it is easy to flip the switch and get back into that mode again.
“It’s been a good week of training. Everyone is buzzing to be back together and hopefully we can get the result.
“You have to be professional in terms of not doing too much and overloading. It’s about ticking over and just getting yourself in the best possible shape to be with England.”
Although Pochettino’s official takeover is scheduled for July 1, a clause in his Paris Saint-Germain contract prevents him from assuming a new role until after June 30.
Despite not being officially in charge yet, Pochettino is already providing input from the sidelines.
Chelsea is facing a time crunch to trim their squad and generate funds for potential new signings before the start of July.
Pochettino’s involvement highlights his proactive stance in shaping the club’s future.
The Argentine has identified some priority positions to strengthen – a new goalkeeper, defensive midfielder, and a new striker top the list of targets.
Pochettino to stick with Kepa
Inter Milan goalkeeper Andre Onana is the preferred target for the number 1 role as Senegalese goalie Edouard Mendy is set to leave the club this summer.
Mirror UK reports that the role is no longer high up the priority list as the manager advised the club not to spend heavily to recruit for the position.
Sky Sports adds that the former Tottenham boss has decided that Spanish goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga will keep his place as number 1 but is not ruling out a new goalkeeper joining the club.
Kepa joined for a world record fee for his position in 2018. He has had an inconsistent time at Stamford Bridge, with some high moments that defined success for the club.
Lukaku’s reunion makes sense
The number 9 position is one of the club’s high priorities. Sports Brief analysed why Lukaku’s return makes sense for both parties.
The Blues paid £97.5m to Inter Milan for former striker Romelu Lukaku in 2021, but a fallout with the club made him return to Italy on loan.
The Italians are financially incapacitated and can not meet Chelsea’s asking price; he could save the London club some money by returning as the leading striker next season.
After winning their third consecutive league title, followed by the FA Cup and the coveted Champions League, Pep Guardiola’s team enjoyed a historic season.
The players’ celebrations were expected to last for days, and Kevin Grealish, the father of Jack Grealish, revealed details about one particular night.
Following their Premier League victory, the City players gathered at the Tunnel Club, an exclusive suite at the Etihad Stadium, to continue their festivities.
Grealish’s dad was part of the celebrations that night, and in a wide-ranging interview with The Mirror, he narrated how one of the parties went down.
“To be fair to City, they’ve been brilliant with the celebrations and all the parties. There was one for winning the Premier League at the Tunnel Club a few weeks ago.” He said.
“The drinks bill came to £47,000, FORTY SEVEN GRAND! – I saw the receipt – and before you say it, that wasn’t just Jack’s drinks bill. He actually went home early that night!”
Grealish’s wild ways
While Grealish may have had a quiet night after the Premier League triumph, that was certainly not the case once his team secured the treble.
The former Aston Villa man was at the centre of celebrations and went viral for donning his match-day kit, more than 36 hours after the Champions League final.
After a four-day partying spree, Grealish reportedly told Ben Stokes via text message that he was in a ‘world of pain’.
Despite presumably having the hangover of a lifetime, Grealish still linked up with his England teammates ahead of the Euro qualifier against Malta on Friday, June 16.
Ahead of the game, England boss Gareth Southgate sounded a subtle warning to Grealish to ease up his partying ways, as per The Guardian.
Kai Havertz approves Arsenal move
Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on Arsenal’s pursuit of Kai Havertz, who has reportedly given the North Londoners the green light to sign him.
Arsenal are looking to push for Havertz’s move once they wrap up the transfer of West Ham United’s midfield maestro Declan Rice, who is their top transfer target.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano tweeted the German ace has already given the green light over a move to north London as he would not have any problem agreeing to personal terms.
One fan, who had embarked on a 12-hour boat and plane journey to attend the game, accused the organizers of false advertising.
Over 60,000 tickets had been sold for the sold-out match between Indonesia and the World Cup champions, Argentina, with Messi’s face prominently featured in the event’s advertisements.
However, on Thursday, fans in the football-loving country were informed that their beloved hero would not be participating.
“I’m feeling sad and disappointed, mixed emotions,” 31-year-old shop owner Surya Wijaya Ang told AFP from the remote island of Banda Neira in the eastern province of Maluku.
“This was the biggest chance for me to see Messi play in person.”
On Thursday the Argentina side beat Australia in another friendly in the Chinese capital Beijing, with head coach Lionel Scaloni confirming that Messi would not make the Indonesian leg of their Asian tour.
Having become a major fan of Messi during the star’s time at Barcelona, Ang has amassed a collection of around 200 jerseys adorned with his name.
He is planning to take a boat to the eastern Indonesian city of Ambon before catching a four-hour flight to Jakarta to attend the match.
Ang sold seven shirts from his wider jersey collection to pay for the 1.2 million rupiah ($80) match ticket, a steep price in the lower-middle-income country.
‘Marketing strategy’
The Messi fanatic is aggrieved and said organisers had seemingly promised an appearance by the superstar.
“Messi is an icon and you can say that 90 percent of the tickets were sold because of Messi,” he said.
“This was a marketing strategy for them.”
Other Indonesians took to social media to convey disappointment, with one offering to sell two tickets “because Messi is not coming”.
A video posted on Twitter showed a fan singing a guitar ballad with the lyrics: “Why don’t you come to Indonesia? Why you don’t come, oh Mr Messi?”
Another wrote: “This is the end of my idolising him… we won’t beg him to come.”
Indonesian football has been enduring a year of crises with a deadly stadium crush and losing the rights to host the FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
Despite having his Messi hopes dashed, Ang said he would travel to the capital for the game anyway.
“I’ve come this far, so I will still be going,” he said.
“Maybe I will see Lionel Scaloni,” he added, laughing.
In the Beijing Workers’ Stadium, a football fan imitated Cristiano Ronaldo’s famous celebrations after Argentina defeated Australia in a friendly match.
The man, who represented Al-Nassr at the exhibition game, gained notoriety online for imitating Cristiano Ronaldo’s celebrations in front of Lionel Messi supporters.
The fan was seen in the stands, turning to people behind him, and shouting to attract their attention in a video footage posted on Twitter. The ‘SIUUU’ and ‘nap’ celebrations from CR7 were then performed, much to the chagrin of the Messi supporters.
His antics appear to have drawn praise from Ronaldo fans and scorn from sympathisers of the Argentine, with supporters unable to help themselves from drawing comparisons between the two superstars.
Messi’s four days in China so far have been crazy, starting with his immigration incident, to blockades in the streets, cancellation of events, and even complaints of scams, as Marca reports.
The Argentine captain will not travel with the rest of the squad for Monday’s game against Indonesia because he will be released early to begin his holiday period after a long season.
Messi will enjoy a break from football before completing his move to Inter Miami in America, beginning a new chapter in the MLS after departing Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
Messi scores fastest goal
It was the first time ever that Messi scored inside the first two minutes of a game when he opened for Argentina in a friendly against Australia on Thursday.
As reported by Goal, the 35-year-old featured from the opening whistle against the Socceroos, and it did not take long to make his mark on the game.
Within the opening 120 seconds, Messi capitalised on an assist from Chelsea midfielder, Enzo Fernandez, to curl a beautiful shot home, marking a career milestone.
When questioned about the formal letter he had sent to Paris Saint-Germain regarding his future,Kylian Mbappe responded playfullywith a cheeky remark.
The uncertainty surrounding his continuation with the Ligue 1 club has made him the center of attention throughout the week.
However, Mbappe’s response to the inquiry about the infamous letter was mischievous and light-hearted.
“Honestly, I did not think I was going to offend anyone. I only sent a letter,” he began, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano. “I didn’t know a letter could kill someone. It’s just a letter. I don’t care about the reactions.”
Mbappe’s letter to PSG
As Sports Brief reported, Mbappe’s situation in France remains the headline news of the football week.
The 24-year-old striker’s current deal expires at the end of next season, with the option of another year.
According to Reuters, he made it clear to the club’s hierarchy via a formal letter that he will not activate the one-year extension clause in his current contract, thereby potentially departing Paris for free in the summer of 2024.
This decision is believed to have frustrated the club. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old has maintained that he envisions his future with PSG in the near term, despite rumours suggesting a move to Real Madrid this summer.
However, Mbappe sent PSG a formal letter on Monday, confirming he would not be extending his deal.
Mbappe aims jab at PSG
Sports Brief also reported on Mbappe taking a swipe at PSG over their underwhelming performances in a bombshell interview.
The 24-year-old also slammed the decision to allow Lionel Messi to leave as the striker looks to leave Paris via a free transfer in 2024.
Reports in France claimed he wants to join Real Madrid this summer, but Mbappe told AFP he plans to stay at PSG for his last season.
During the 33rd Annual General Meeting of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIMG) on June 14, 2023, Prof Stephen Adei, a Ghanaian economist and writer, raised questions about the treatment of former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, in contrast to the freedom enjoyed by those involved in illegal small-scale mining, known as galamsey.
Prof Adei expressed his perplexity over the situation where the individual who exposes corruption and wrongdoing is the one facing prosecution.
As a former Rector of GIMPA, he voiced his concerns about the apparent inconsistency in holding accountable those responsible for galamsey activities while subjecting Prof Frimpong-Boateng to hassles and legal actions.
“One of the reasons why this country is not progressing is because of the lack of integrity of people. People are in authority; it is almost assumed not only by those who are in authority but people who are related to them to do wrong. So that parochially they will do better.
“I think that some things are going on now that men and women of integrity must speak out. For example, one of the most respected people in this country who have made the greatest contribution.
Unparalleled is Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng. He writes a report to the Head of State that some people are doing wrong and he is arrested. And those alleged criminals have not yet been called to be questioned,” Professor Adei said.
Prof. Adei also added that the moral decadence in the running of the state is glaring, hence people of integrity should speak up, instead of looking on to the point of no return.
“I believe that we are faced with issues of integrity and political expediency. As people and as an institute in our capacities this is the time that our voices must be heard. Because our country will not go far without integrity,” he added.
In a 36-page report, the former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Prof. Frimpong Boateng cited top officials engaged in illegal mining, as well as persons hindering the fight against the illegal menace.
On May 16, 2023, the former Minister of Science and Technology, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng was arrested for corruption-related offences when he honoured an invitation to appear before the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Prof. Frimpong-Boateng was released on a GH¢2 million bail.
Former communications director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP)Yaw Adomako Baafi, has responded toKennedy Agyapong, one of the party’s flagbearer hopefuls, after Agyapong claimed that Baafi had been deceiving the public by stating that the government has not done anything for him.
Baafi countered by asserting that nobody in the NPP has benefited more from the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government than Ken Agyapong himself. However, Agyapong persistently attempts to undermine the government despite his own personal gains.
During an interview on Wontumi TV on June 14, 2023, which was monitored by GhanaWeb, Baafi revealed that Agyapong and his family members have been appointed to positions within the current government. Nevertheless, Agyapong continues to criticize and undermine its efforts.
“He said I have been given a Pajero… but what has he been given. He is the board Chairman of Ghana Gas. His wife is the Board Chairman of the Ghana Maritime Authority. If you come to parliament, he is the head of the Select Committee on Defence and Interior and he supervises all the military and police contracts.
“If you come to COCOBOD, he (Ken) has been given a lot of contracts there. He also has contracts at the Ministry of Energy, same at the Ministry of Education including TVET contracts.
“So, if I got a Pajero and you say I’m complaining, why are you also criticising the governance of Akufo-Addo and Bawumia despite all you have gotten from the government?” he said in Twi.
Background:
Ken Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin, accused Adomako Baafi of lying about not receiving support from the NPP after he helped the party win the 2016 elections.
“You were telling polling station executives that you have not received anything; meanwhile, you were one of the first people Akufo-Addo gave a brand new Pajero to when he won,” he added.
He also accused the former NPP communication director of deliberately lying to the party folk just to gain support for the candidate he is supporting in the NPP flagbearer race.
He said that he bought a car for the former NPP national executive and even gave him money to go to the hospital when he was sick, but today he is spreading lies because of politics.
“You Adomako Baafi… before the (2016) election, I gave you a Honda pickup. When he was sick, I gave him money to go to the hospital, and today he is supporting a candidate and he is going around peddling lies,” he said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino strongly emphasizes the necessity for a “zero tolerance” stance against racism and urges referees at all levels to halt matches in the event of such incidents.
Infantino recently held discussions with Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, who spoke out against racial targeting he experienced during the season.
Infantino condemned the racists as “criminals” and emphasized that football authorities must take responsibility.
Real Madrid recently filed a complaint with the Spanish State Attorney General’s Office, alleging that the racist abuse directed at Vinicius constituted a hate crime, following an incident during their LaLiga defeat to Valencia.
“It’s very important not just to talk about racism and discrimination, but to take action in a decisive and convincing manner – zero tolerance,” Infantino said after meeting Vinicius and the rest of the Brazil squad in Barcelona.
“There is no football if there is racism – so let’s stop the games.
“The referees have this opportunity in FIFA competitions as we have this process for stopping the game, and actions have to be taken at every level, at national level as well.
“It’s a football-related problem and we mustn’t look for excuses like: ‘It’s society’s problem, therefore, it’s fine in football.’ In the world of football, we must act in a very forceful way.
“We want to identify racists in stadiums and across social media. They are criminals. They have to be banned from stadiums across the globe.
“The authorities need to take these people to court and we will say this to all of them. Racism is a crime.”
This significant encounter will also serve as Mauricio Pochettino’s return to English football, following his appointment as the new manager of Chelsea.
Scheduled for Sunday, August 13, the fixture will take place just two days after defending champions Manchester City commence their season with an away game against Burnley.
This particular match holds additional significance as Vincent Kompany, now the Head Coach of Burnley, welcomes his former team to Turf Moor.
Arsenal will have an early opportunity to exact their revenge on Nottingham Forest when they clash at the Emirates on Saturday, August 12. Steven Copper’s side claimed a huge 1-0 victory over the Gunners to hand Manchester City the title with three games to spare.
Manchester United, meanwhile, will be in action on Monday night when they host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford.
Debutants Luton Town will have a taste of top-flight football for the first time when they play Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
To celebrate a historic season where Manchester City secured the treble, Pep Guardiola has presented gifts to the members of the club’s backroom staff.
Manchester City joined an elite group of English clubs by achieving the treble, following their victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final on June 10, which marked their first-ever European title.
Prior to this remarkable feat, Guardiola’s team had successfully defended their Premier League title, surpassing long-standing frontrunners Arsenal, and also emerged victorious against their cross-city rivals, Manchester United, in the FA Cup final.
The Telegraph now reports the City manager has decided to give his share of the bonuses to the unseen members of his backroom staff.
The exact figure is not known, but players often get around €750,000 for winning silverware and the head coach is believed to be getting a more or less similar amount.
Who did Guardiola gift?
Among those gifted include the security personnel and receptionists at the club. Daily Mail adds that the staff who work on the administration side are often gifted bonuses for each trophy won.
City players have been on a four-day party since theChampions League win, before those who were called up left to join their respective national sides on the global state.
Guardiola will be aiming to win his fourth consecutive title next season.
Meanwhile, Man City will be looking to bolster their ranks in the transfer window with the futures of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva in doubt. They have already been linked with moves for Chelsea’s Matteo Kovacic and RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol.
Managers who have won treble
Manchester City are still in a celebratory mood after winning their first-ever UEFA Champions League, beating Inter Milan 1-0 to complete the treble.
City joined other European clubs completing the treble, while Guardiola became the only manager to win it twice after doing so with Barcelona.
Sports Brief has looked at the six managers to have won the UEFA Champions League, domestic league and domestic cup in one season.
Manchester City, aiming for an unprecedented fourth consecutivePremier League title, will kick off their campaign with an away match against Burnley, managed by their former captain Vincent Kompany.
On the evening of August 11, the Treble-winning City side will visit Turf Moor to face Kompany’s newly-promoted team, marking the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
This encounter will be the second time Kompany, who led City to four title victories as captain, will face his former club as a manager. In their previous meeting during the FA Cup quarter-final in March, City emerged as dominant 6-0 victors at the Etihad Stadium.
Earlier this week Latics were served a winding-up petition by His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs over unpaid tax bills but, as a result of the takeover, all players and staff will be paid immediately, along with other creditors.
“I am delighted to become involved in Wigan Athletic Football Club. I was born in Wigan, I grew up locally and the community of the town is close to my heart,” said Danson.
“I want to recognise that the club has a hugely-important part to play in the local community, not just for players, but for fans, employees and all its suppliers, business partners and numerous community groups.
“We have worked hard to provide the EFL with a realistic financial plan to stabilise operations.
“We look forward to a fresh start for the club and planning for the upcoming season.”
Manchester City, aiming for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title, will kick off their campaign with an away match against Burnley, managed by their former captain Vincent Kompany.
On the evening of August 11, the Treble-winning City side will visit Turf Moor to face Kompany’s newly-promoted team, marking the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
This encounter will be the second time Kompany, who led City to four title victories as captain, will face his former club as a manager.
In their previous meeting during the FA Cup quarter-final in March, City emerged as dominant 6-0 victors at the Etihad Stadium.
Premier League debutants Luton will play their first top-flight fixture since 1992 away to Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton on August 12, having to wait until the following weekend for their first home game when Kenilworth Road will become the smallest ground to host a fixture in the competition for the visit of Burnley.
Fellow newcomers Sheffield United kick off their season with a home game against Crystal Palace.
The outstanding fixture of Matchday 1 will be at Stamford Bridge where Mauricio Pochettino begins life as Chelsea manager against Liverpool on Sunday, August 13, with both sides looking to bounce back after disappointing campaigns.
Arsenal, following an anticlimactic conclusion to last season’s title challenge, open at home to Nottingham Forest in Saturday’s lunchtime game, with fellow Champions League qualifiers Newcastle hosting Aston Villa that evening and Manchester United beginning against Wolves at Old Trafford on Monday, August 14.
Ange Postecoglou’s first game in charge of Tottenham will be away to Brentford at 2pm on August 13, Bournemouth open at home to Europa Conference League winners West Ham, and Everton, looking to avoid a third straight relegation scrap, begin at home to Fulham.
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen recently shared a fantastic photo of himself alongside Samuel Chukwueze, enjoying their time together at the Super Eagles training camp ahead of their upcoming AFCON qualifying match against Sierra Leone this Sunday.
The Super Eagles camp in Lagos is buzzing with excitement as all the invited players have gathered, and training commenced on Monday evening at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
Osimhen’s spirits are high as he joins the Super Eagles camp, having recently achieved the feat of winning the Scudetto with Napoli and finishing the season as the top goalscorer with an impressive tally of 26 goals.
Chukwueze, on the other hand, had a remarkable season in the Spanish La Liga, contributing significantly as a winger to Villarreal’s fifth-place finish in the league standings.
According to a photo Osimhen shared on Twitter, the two players can be seen having a nice time together on the pitch.
When are they leaving Lagos?
The Super Eagles squad is expected to leave Lagos on Saturday via a Chartered Flight for Liberia where they will tackle Sierra Leone.
A win in this tie for the three-time African champions means that they will be picking the ticket to feature at the next African Cup of Nations Championship.
Earlier, Sports Brief had reported how Super Eagles players honoured Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen and Enyimba FC’s Finidi George and Olorunleke Ojo on June 13, after the trio won league titles at their respective clubs in the 2022/23 season.
Osimhen was the star of the season in the Italian top flight A, netting 26 goals for the Naples side and helping the club win the Scudetto after 33 years.
To crown it all, the former Lille strongman also ended last season as the Serie A’s highest goal-scorer, becoming the first African to win the league’s Golden Boot prize.
There has been speculationsurrounding Osimhen’s future at Napoli, with clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain all said to be interested in his services.
Macron has affirmed his willingness to involve himself in the ongoing Mbappe saga, as he strives to convince the talented French international to continue his career within the country.
Despite Mbappe informing PSG of his decision not to sign a new contract with the club, he has vehemently denied the rumors linking him to a potential move to Madrid.
Despite that, the Spanish club are said to be willing to pay €200 million (£170m/$216m) to secure his signature this summer.
President Macron was asked about Mbappe’s situation by RMC Sport and replied: “I don’t have the scoop, but I will try and push for it.”
Macron spoke to Mbappe in a similar situation a year ago, playing a part in convincing him to stay in the French capital amid intense interest from Real.
This time, Madrid could attempt to force through a move for Mbappe after seeing Karim Benzema head to Saudi Arabia.
They have also been linked with Harry Kane but the club have followed Mbappe since his time with Monaco, and they may see a golden opportunity to finally land the World Cup-winner in this transfer window.
The Mbappe saga islikely to drag on throughout the summer, with reporting suggesting that Madrid will wait for either the player, or the French club, to make the first move.
In a surprising turn of events, Arsenal recently expressed interest insigning Kai Havertz, which raised concerns among fans regarding his best position on the field, as it has been a matter of uncertainty over the years.
Chelsea made a significant investment in the German player, signing him from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2020 for a then club-record fee of £72m. However, Havertz initially struggled to adapt to his new surroundings during his early months under the management of Frank Lampard.
The arrival of his fellow countryman, Thomas Tuchel, injected new life into Havertz’s performances. His breakthrough came during the Champions League final against Manchester City, where he scored the decisive goal that led Chelsea to victory.
He has never been a top performer or consistent, but his moments have come in the biggest games. He assisted Hakim Ziyech in the UEFA Super Cup final and scored the winning goal in the FIFA Club World Cup final.
Havertz’s best position revealed
The forward is not naive to fans’ opinion of him and, in an interview late last year, spoke on the eternal question of his best position, as reported by Mirror UK.
“Everyone asks this question and after three years, everyone should know by now what I can do – that I’m flexible up front and I can play a lot of different positions,” he said.
“Of course, sometimes it’s good to play in different positions and sometimes it’s bad, but in general I’m an offensive player.
“I like to be in the box, I like to score goals, I like to arrive in the box often and I don’t care if I’m there as a No.9 or a No.10. If I’m in the box, I’m there to score goals – and that’s it.”
The Athletic reports thatChelsea want in the region of £70m while Arsenal are willing to offer £60m, including add-ons. Real Madrid have ended their interest, while Bayern Munich can not be ruled out.
Havertz hints Tuchel’s reunion
Sports Brief reported that Havertz expressed desire to work with Tuchel after the former Blues boss was appointed the head coach of Bayern in March.
He described the Bavarians as a goal for every German player and admitted he has a good relationship with his former boss which heightened hopes he could return to his homeland.
