President Biden’s lecture at Ulster University was not attended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, according to claims made by Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris.
Last night, Sunak welcomed Biden to Belfast. This morning, before the Ulster University event, the two met.
Heaton-Harris says the prime minister had other private engagements to attend afterwards, which was a “perfectly legitimate thing to do”.
“Actually the two of them get on really well, they meet each other all the time. The relationship is great,” he adds.
Sunak himself was asked earlier about his seemingly limited contact with Biden this week.
Biden hailed the signing of the Good Friday Agreement 25 years ago this week and said “peace was not inevitable – we can never forget that”
He said that preserving the peace of the agreement was a “priority” for US Democrats and Republicans alike
He said he hoped the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive “will soon be restored”, but added, “that’s a decision for you to make”
He spoke about the recent attempted murder of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh and said levels of violence witnessed during the Troubles must not be allowed to return
He said Northern Ireland’s GDPhas more than doubled since the agreement was signed in 1998
Biden encouraged leaders in the UK and the EU to address issues created by Brexitin a way that serves Northern Ireland’s best interests.
A senior legislator from the island nation claims that China appears to be preparing to “launch a war” against Taiwan.
Beijing has issued a warning, claiming that recent exercises simulating the island nation’s encirclement were conducted as a “serious warning” to politicians who support independence.
Taiwan’s foreign minister Joseph Wu stated in an interview with CNN: “Look at the military drills, as well as their rhetoric – they seem to be attempting to get ready to start a war against Taiwan.
“The Taiwanese government looks at the Chinese military threat as something that cannot be accepted and we condemn it.”
The three days of large-scale air and sea exercises named Joint Sword that ended on Monday were a response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting with US house speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary and regularly sends ships and warplanes into airspace and waters near the island.
Such missions have grown more frequent in recent years, accompanied by increasingly bellicose language from the administration of Communist Party leaderXi Jinping.
Any conflict between the sides could draw in the US, Taiwan’s closest ally, which is required by law to consider all threats to the island as matters of “grave concern”.
China has kept up military pressure against Taiwan despite the formal conclusion of the military drills.
On Wednesday, Taiwan’s ministry of national defence said it tracked 35 flights by People’s Liberation Army warplanes within the previous 24 hours, as well as eight navy vessels in the waters surrounding the island.
While on Tuesday, President Xi inspected China’s Southern Theatre Command, according to state media.
On his visit, Mr Xi reportedly said it was necessary to deepen military training and preparation, speed up transformation and construction, and comprehensively raise the level of modernisation of the armed forces.
Though the People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command would be the lead force in any potential invasion of Taiwan, the Southern Theatre Command would likely have a significant backup role in any such attack.
The vast majority of Taiwan’s population favours maintaining the current de-facto independent status, while the island’s president, Ms Tsai, has said there is no need for a formal declaration since the democracy is already an independent nation.
Despite that, China – which does not recognise Taiwan’s government institutions and has cut off contact with Ms Tsai’s administration – routinely accuses her of plotting formal independence with outside backing.
When China refers to outside help for Taiwan, it is usually thought to mean the US.
“External forces are intensifying their endeavour of containing China with Taiwan as a tool,” Ms Zhu said.
She also repeated China’s assertion that its military threats are “targeted at Taiwan’s independence separatist activities and interference from external forces, and by no means at our compatriots in Taiwan”.
What that means in practical terms is not clear, although Beijing has long exploited political divisions within Taiwanese society, which boasts a robust democracy and strong civil liberties.
The Chinese military issued a threat as it concluded the exercises, saying its troops “can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of ‘Taiwan independence’ and foreign interference attempts”.
President Biden has previously urged political leaders to reinstate its power-sharing government and offered US funding as an incentive.
He said the president made clear that “it is not his job – as we heard in his speech – to take decisions for political leaders in Northern Ireland but that the United States stands ready to support Northern Ireland in every way it can”.
Mr Donaldson added that he had a brief conversation with President Biden – and he welcomes the visit.
He said that the visit does not change the “political dynamic”, adding: “We know whatneeds to happen.“
Martial has struggled with injuries during his time at Old Trafford since arriving from Monaco in 2015. The attacker was loaned to Sevilla for the second half of last season, making just one goal in 12 outings.
A strong pre-season meant this campaign started with optimism, though he has again been in and out of the line-up because of his fitness with Marcus Rashford’s goals proving crucial in his absence.
With Rashford ruled out for several games with a muscle injury and January loan signing Wout Weghorst struggling in front of goal, Ten Hag needs Martial to start firing if United are to add more silverware to the EFL Cup they lifted in February, which ended a six-year trophy drought.
Ten Hag is confident the 27-year-old will be a big help over the rest of the season, though he will not rush the forward back to the team before he is ready despite him scoring off the bench in the 2-0 victory over Everton at the weekend.
“When he [Martial] is in the team, we play our best football and we have our best results as a team. The time he needs for a goal is less. I defend him because I point to the stats and see how he contributes.”
Russian parliament gives its approval to the call-up
The legislation allowing for the online serving of call-up papers has been passed by the Russian parliament.
The Kremlin has disputed that the action is intended to hasten the future mobilisation of Russian men or to end rampant draught-dodging.
In order to avoid the draught and avoid the conflict in Ukraine, thousands of Russians have done so.
Critics say the law is further evidence of authorities creating an “electronic Gulag”, referring to the Soviet-era network of prison camps.
Until now, conscription papers in Russia have had to be served in person or via an employer.
In reality, it has meant many avoiding the draft by moving away from where they were registered to live, or simply not opening the door when military officials came calling.
Under the new legislation, call-up papers will be deemed to be served as soon as they appear on a special “State Services” government portal called “Gosuslugi”.
“The summons is considered received from the moment it is placed in the personal account of a person liable for military service,” Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian parliament’s defence committee, said on TV.
Citizens who fail to show up will be banned from travelling abroad and could face other restrictions. They will not be able to buy or sell property, their driving licences will be invalidated and they will be unable to register small businesses.
Of the 395 Russian MPs who voted on the legislation, 394 supported it and one abstained. Russia’s lower house or State Duma has 450 MPs.
The new legislation will come into effect when it is signed by President Vladimir Putin, which is likely to happen soon.
Last September, the Kremlin began a chaotic emergency mobilisation campaign to support Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, amid a series of humiliating defeats after its full-scale invasion.
As they met at Belfast’s Grand Central Hotel, the two leaders posed for pictures.
The New York Times’s description of a bilateral meeting as a “bi-latte” was disputed by Downing Street yesterday.
After accusations that Biden was anti-British, the White House said this morning that the US president was not “anti-British.”
US President Joe Biden’s “track record shows he is not anti-British”, a spokesperson for the country’s National Security Council has said.
Amanda Sloat made the comment amid criticism of the truncated nature of President Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland – and reports of a brief meeting with Rishi Sunak in Belfast.
In a media briefing, Ms Sloat said that “the UK remains one of our strongest and closest allies”, and said that comments from former first minister Arlene Foster that President Biden “hates the UK” were “simply untrue.”
Ms Sloat said the president “is a very proud Irish-American, very proud of those Irish roots, but is also a strong supporter of our bilateral partnership with the UK, not only bilateral, but also with NATO, the G7 and the United Nations Security Council”.
She added that the US was working “in lockstep” with the UK government on international challenges.
President Biden has often been characterised by many in the unionist community as being biased towards Irish nationalism.
Ms Sloat was asked if the president supported Irish unification, but said that that was a matter for the people of Northern Ireland to ultimately decide under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
She also described the meeting with the leaders of the NI’s five main parties today as “not a formal sit-down group meeting”, but said there would be a “proper conversation”.
But to confirm Biden’s anti-British defence claims, politics-watchers are bound to compare these pictures with the “bromance” shots we saw when Mr Sunak met French President Emmanuel Macron last year.
The former Black Stars captain contends that, unlike club football, where coaches train with their players frequently, it takes national team coaches a significant amount of time to get to know their players.
He claimed that giving coaches one- or two-year contracts puts pressure on the management to produce results quickly.
“It (a short-term contract) brings pressure on the coaches. Some coaches get one year, not even up to a year. Sometimes they get two years…When a coach is employed, he needs to get used to the players and study them.
It is not like club football where you get to train with them every day. You get to play probably every six months, so it is true.
The Ghana Football Association, in February 2023, appointed Chris Hughton as the new Black Stars manager, taking over from Otto Addo who was in charge for less than a year.
The former Tottenham Hotspur manager penned an 18 months contract with GFA.
Australia defeated England 2-0 in their debut match under new coach Sarina Wiegman, ending England’s 30-match winning streak.
It was a performance that belied the sombre atmosphere at the Gtech Community Stadium, as the Lionesses failed to win their final match before the Women’s World Cup roster was revealed after their thrilling Finalissima victory.
Sam Kerr, a great forward for Australia, led the team to victory. Australia had every aspect of England’s game plan figured out.
England skipper Leah Williamson’s error allowed the Matildas captain through to slot home past Mary Earps – although replays showed she was offside.
It was Williamson again involved in Australia’s second.
Charlotte Grant’s header (67) hit the defender on the way through before nestling into the back of the net.
It is the first time England have conceded more than one goal in a game under Wiegman.
The Lionesses never really responded and struggled to break down a well-drilled Matildas side, finding it tough to deal with their aggressiveness that forced plenty of errors.
But Williamson does not view the result as a setback, telling ITV Sport: “Absolutely not a setback. Sometimes you have to take blessings in disguise and I think maybe that’s not the worst thing that could’ve happened to us.
“We wanted to learn this whole time, we wanted to be pushed to our limits and we need to take it up a new level. In the past we won those games, we turned them around but actually, tonight to lose it gives you a bit of fire.”
“I’m not worried. I don’t worry very quickly. We know we have to be at our top level and that’s when we go into the World Cup too.
“Every game we get some warnings – against Brazil we got some warnings in the Finalissima. We know where we want to go to and what we have to do.
“I don’t think we’re losing momentum, I think it’s building. There’s 100 days to go and everyone’s really excited to go to Australia and this is just a very big learning moment for us that we need to get to a higher level to win these games.”
Questioned about the 30-game unbeaten run being over, Wiegman responded: “I haven’t been focused on that ever.
“We just want to win every next game and you remind us all of the time [about the unbeaten run] but we don’t talk about that in our camp.
“We talk about the next game and we want to improve every game and try to adapt to the opponent.
“I would’ve loved to have had a 31st win but sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”
Marcus Rashford was replaced in the 80th minute of Manchester United’s 2-0 victory against Everton on Saturday due to a muscle injury.
Rashford will be out for a few matches as well as the opening leg of the club’s Europa League quarterfinal against Sevilla on Thursday.
In all competitions this season, he has scored 28 goals.
Rashford has been a key part of the club’s revival this season under Erik ten Hag by scoring 28 goals in all competitions, including one at Wembley in February which helped them lift the Carabao Cup, the first available trophy of the season.
The 22-year-old Norwegian dynamo is scoring goals for fun while wearing a Manchester City jersey this season, and it appears like he has already locked up the Golden Boot.
Continue reading as we examine the deadly finishes the former Borussia Dortmund player has surpassed.
Harry Kane — 41 goals (2017-18)
Harry Kane was at the peak of his powers in the 2017-18 season as Tottenham secured a third-placed finish.
Thirty of the No10’s 41 goals that term came in the Premier League and the expert finisher never went more than four games without netting.
The England skipper hit back-to-back hat-tricks in the league and scored seven times in the Champions League despite being eliminated at the last-16 stage.
Harry Kane scored 41 goals in all competitions for Tottenham in 2017-18
Andrew Cole — 41 goals (1993-94)
Andrew Cole’s form in the 1993-94 season was a spectacle and he walked away as the top goalscorer and assist king as Newcastle finished behind Blackburn and Manchester United in the standings.
His 34 league goals came at a time when clubs played 42 matches across a campaign but his consistency was unmatched in Toon’s first season in the rebranded top flight.
Strikes against United, Liverpool and Arsenal were essential in helping the Magpies qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time since the 1970s.
Cristiano Ronaldo — 42 goals (2007-08)
Cristiano Ronaldo was at his glittering best for Manchester United in 2007-08
Before his famous move to Real Madrid in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo had United fans on the edge of their seats every weekend as he emerged as one of football’s top talents.
The Portuguese icon scored 31 league goals in 34 appearances in the 2007-08 campaign, which saw the Red Devils claim the Premier League, Champions League and Community Shield.
His iconic free-kick against Portsmouth was the pick of the bunch in a season where Ronaldo also grabbed eight goals in Europe and three in the FA Cup.
Mohamed Salah — 44 goals (2017-18)
Mohamed Salah tallied a mindblowing 44 goals in the 2017-18 season and only scored three or more in a match once.
His season was marred by the shoulder injury he picked up in the Champions League final againstReal Madrid after scoring 10 times on the way to the showpiece.
And despite the Egyptian racking up 32 Premier League goals, the Reds could only finish fourth in the table.
Ruud van Nistelrooy — 44 goals (2002-03)
Ruud van Nistelrooy was the Premier League’s top scorer in 2002-03
Ruud van Nistelrooy is remembered as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous strikers and his 44-goal campaign in 2002-03 supports that claim.
The Dutch dynamo scored in all four competitions for United and netted 14 times in Europe as he helped guide his club from the qualifying round to the Champions League quarter-finals.
His run of scoring in eight consecutive league matches at the end of the season included a goal against rivals Arsenal and two hat-tricks as the No10 collected the Golden Boot alongside his league winner’s medal.
Erling Haaland — 45 goals (2022-23)
So far, the No9 has netted 30 goals in 27 league appearances and 11 times in just seven Champions League outings — with five of his European strikes coming on one night against RB Leipzig.
Haaland memorably grabbed back-to-back hat-tricks in the league against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest as he put down a statement of intent.
His goal againstBayern Munich on Tuesday night saw him become the most prolific striker across a single campaign in the top flight.
Chris Hughton, the coach of the Black Stars, is amazed by the extraordinary talent of Ghanaian players and thinks it would help the squad significantly in reaching its targets.
In the 2023Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifications, Chris Hughton, who was chosen to succeed Otto Addo in March, has presided over two games against Angola.
In a four-person technical staff that guided the team to the 2022 World Cup prior to his appointment, he was the Technical Advisor.
Hughton says his presence with the team has allowed him to spot great talents which he believes will be a key factor in the team’s success.
“Getting results is about believing in the players. I think we have a talented group of players and a talented squad,” he said,” he told SuperSports
“It is trying to get that we get the right dynamics in the team and of course ultimately picking the right team to get results.
“You have to rely on good team spirits, good team organisation, togetherness, and desire from the team to win a football match.”
The Black Stars will be back in action in June to play in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers. They currently lead Group E with eight points after four matches and will need just one more win to secure a place in Ivory Coast for next year’s AFCON tournament.
Thomas Tuchel has adopted a combative attitude regarding Bayern Munich’s chances of reaching the Champions League semifinals.
In the opening leg of their Champions League quarterfinal match, Tuchel watched helplessly as Bayern Munich was dismantled by a ruthless Manchester City team.
Before goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland in the second half gave the Citizens a commanding advantage going into the rematch in Munich, Bayern’s resistance was finally broken by a beautiful curling shot from Rodri, according to Eurosport.
Reflecting on the result, Tuchel, who was handling his fourth game since replacing Julian Nagelsmann as Bayern boss, argued his side were unlucky.
“It will not be over until we are in the shower.” The 49-year-old tactician highlighted Rodri’s goal as the catalyst for their misfortune on Tuesday night. “If City gets this sort of goal, it gets really, really difficult,” said the Bayern boss.
“The reaction was great during the first half. In the second half, it was even better. In the period where the goal could give us a huge boost of confidence, the opposite happened.”
Talking points from Bayern’s loss
It was reported that Manchester City versus Bayern Munich was definitely the pick of the quarterfinal ties, and the game did live up to its billing.
With a semifinal spot up for grabs,Pep Guardiola’s charges produced a masterclass performance to keep their search for the Champions League alive.
The overwhelming result shifts the game in favour of Man City ahead of the reverse tie at the Allianz Arena next Wednesday.
The Citizens easily defeated Germany by a score of 3-0 in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, and they will have the upper hand when the teams meet again.
Before the halfway point, Spanish ace Rodri unleashed a breathtaking left-footed shot into the top corner to start the scoring.
But it was Silva’s rare headed goal that was even more unexpected as he doubled City’s advantage, with Erling Haaland adding a third shortly after.
The 28-year-old was given the nod over Riyad Mahrez, who had started in the last two Premier League matches and his contributions were of the highest class at the Etihad.
After the game, his manager could not help but rave about the midfielder, who had the beating of Alphonso Davies all night.
He said: “He is one of the best players I have trained in my life. He’s special.
“Bernardo Silva is a football player. What does it mean? He will play everywhere because he understands the game. Bernardo has the ability to read.
“But Bernardo is such an important player in these type of games. He can play holding midfield, false nine, he scores recently a lot of goals.
“He is a player if you say play in this position, he understands everything.”
It may have looked like a comfortable night for the hosts, but Guardiola insists that he is “emotionally destroyed” after such a tough match.
He said: “It was not comfortable. I’m emotionally destroyed. I’ve aged 10 more years today.
“It was such a demanding game. Now I have to relax, a day off for the guys, then prepare for Leicester.
“I knew exactly what we had to do. If you don’t perform really well, Bayern are able to score one, two or three.
“It’s an incredible result, but we have to play our game with a huge, huge personality over there.
“I know what this win means, but we’re going there to score goals and to try to win the game.”
The 2022–23 English Premier League season forCrystal Palace has been discussed openly by Ghanaian forward Jordan Ayew.
He claimed that the club’s circumstances have been extremely difficult.
The Eagles’ situation will improve, according to Jordan Ayew, who is optimistic about the team’s growing confidence under manager Roy Hodgson.
“It’s not been easy – we’ve been struggling [earlier this season] – but since the manager came in, he’s done a good job giving us back the confidence to express ourselves, and that’s what we’re doing,” the Black Stars forward told Crystal Palace TV.
He continued, “I’m pleased with our performance. We stuck to our game plan. It wasn’t easy at the beginning, but this is the Premier League: you’re playing against good sides and sometimes it’s going to be difficult. You just need to get through it and when you have your moments, you punish them.”
Following the return of Roy Hodgson,Crystal Palace have won two games on the bounce.
Over the weekend when the team beat Leeds United 5-1, Jordan Ayew starred and scored two goals.
As Morton got back to winning in a 2-0 resounding Championship triumph against struggling Hamilton at Cappielow, Grant Gillespie avenged his previous team by scoring the opening goal.
Just after the halfway point, Robbie Muirhead twice came close to breaking the score, but his first close-range shot was stopped and his second attempt went just over the crossbar.
Morton continued to dominate and were rewarded with an opener by former Accies midfielder Gillespie, nine minutes after the break, as he got on the end of Calvin Miller’s corner to tap home from close range at the far post.
Defender Alex Kingdoubled the hosts’ lead after 66 minutes as he slotted the ball under goalkeeper Ryan Fulton for his third goal of the season in all competitions as they ended a six-match winless run to leave Hamilton second-bottom and three points from safety.
After Dayot Upamecano’s awful performance in his team’s 3-0 hammering against Manchester City, football fans have rushed to social media to lambast the defender forBayern Munich.
Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and Erling Haaland scored on Tuesday night to give Pep Guardiola’s team a foot in the semifinal.
In significant part, Upamecano is also to blame for the English giants’ success since he was unable to restrain the City’s attackers’ fierce intensity.
According to the Daily Star, the Frenchman was rightfully held responsible for the English team’s second goal, which effectively ended the match midway through the second half because of his expensive mistake.
Jack Grealish dispossessed Upamecano as he attempted to dribble out from the back, before backheeling the ball into the path of a charging Haaland.
The Norwegian then raced into the huge space inside the penalty box before chipping the ball to Silva at the back post, who nodded it in.
̶K̶e̶v̶i̶n̶ ̶D̶e̶ ̶B̶r̶u̶y̶n̶e̶ Erling Haaland 👐
A superb cross from the big man and Bernardo Silva doubles City's lead over Bayern!
@gyaigyimii wrote: “Upamecano playing like Prime Maguire”
@linusMufc added: “Upamecano had a horrendous game against City. Completely destroyed his teams CL hopes single-handedly.”
@CFCMod_ tweeted: “Upamecano is such an unfortunate player cause my brother is actually a good defender but he’s one of those players when he has a bad game it’s plastered all over social media.”
@ConnCFCp posted: “I am happy Chelsea never got Upamecano when we was linked. He is terrible omd”
@LJGLA_ wrote: “Upamecano is soooo overrated” @Opresii tweeted: “Liverpool signed underrated Konate and left Upamecano for a reason”
Fans troll Tuchel after loss
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich manager,Thomas Tuchel has also been trolled heavily on social media after his side were humbled by Man City.
The Bavarians were put to the sword by a vicious Citizens side, who put three past them in the first leg of their Champions League last eight tie.
Sports Brief reported that it would take a mighty miracle for Tuchel’s charges to overturn the scoreline when both sides clash next Wednesday.
Takeaways from Bayern’s defeat
Sports Brief also reported on Man City versus Bayern Munich being the pick of the quarter-final ties and the game certainly living up to its billing. With a semi-final spot up for grabs, Pep Guardiola’s charges produced a masterclass performance to keep their search for the Champions League alive.
The Man City boss appeared to have mapped out a strategy which dealt with Tuchel, a man touted as the Spaniard’s kryptonite, in the first leg of the tie.
Eight countries will compete in the quadrennial football competition for players under the age of 23, including Ghana, Morocco, the host country, and defending champion Egypt.
For the group stage draw, Ghana and Mali have been confirmed to be in Pot 1, while Gabon, Congo, Guinea, and Niger will be in Pot 2.
Ghana will be placed in a group with two of Gabon, Congo, Guinea, and Niger, one of Morocco, and Egypt, according to the draw.
The Black Meteors secured their place at the competition after beating Mozambique 4-1 on aggregate in the second round of qualifiers and Algeria 2-1 in the third and final round.
This will be Ghana’s second appearance at the tournament, and they will be looking to make an impact on the continental stage and qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
On April 9, a tragic event occurred during Arsenal’s thrilling match againstLiverpool at Anfield after a linesman seemed to elbow Andy Robertson during halftime.
Since then, it has been verified by the organisation in charge of match officials, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), that linesman Constantine Hatzidakis has been the subject of an instant inquiry.
Given that Robertson could have suffered dearly if the tables were turned, supporters and several stakeholders have urged for harsh punishment. For pushing Chris Kavanagh, Aleksandr Mitrovic is presently serving an eight-game suspension.
The Hatzidakis incident has given us the perfect excuse to review the other times referees attacked players and what happened to them.
1. Tony Chapron
This could easily pass as a classic case of revenge. The Ligue 1 referee was accidentally tripped by Nantes defender Diego Carlos. Chapron, however, angrily reacted by attempting to take him down with a studs-up challenge during a counterattack.
Referee Tony Chapron kicks out at Nantes' Diego Carlos and then sends him off against PSG. Madness in Ligue 1 🔴😱 pic.twitter.com/w1A9G99mm4
To makes matters worse, Carlos, now at Aston Villa, was given a second yellow card. Luckily, the red card decision was rescinded and Chapron was handed a six-month ban.
2. Fernando Hernandez
The Liga MX referee was spotted by TV replays assaulting Lucas Romero by raising his knee towards the player’s groin area.
The incident happened during a match between Club America and Leon. Romero complained of a decision that did not go his team’s way. For his troubles, he was booked and got a knee.
Hernandez was hit with a 12-match ban.
3. Darren Drysdale
This could easily have turned into a full-scale brawl were it not for the quick interceptions by the surrounding players. Ipswich Town’s Alan Judge got more than what he had bargained for when he squared up with referee Drysdale during their game against Northampton.
Judge had perhaps thought he could air his disagreement with the referee and walk away, only for Drysdale to lean forward and confront him. The referee was left out of the subsequent EFL games.
4. Alexis Meza
While the EFL game did not generate into chaos, an Argentina match pitting Ocampo Fabrica and Hura in 2017 did. The incident in Lionel Messi’s homeland started when referee Alexis Meza gave out a second yellow card to a player, Carlos Godoy.
In Meza’s defence, Godoy threw the first punches(from minute 5:05), seemingly incensed with the decision. Meza then reacted by throwing a couple of his own as other players and officials stepped in.
5. Constantine Hatzidakis
Sports Brief reported that much talk will be centred around Paul Tierney’s decisions, with the official dishing out five cards in the first half. The hosts got three, but more peculiarly, will be the one awarded to Andrew Robertson.
The Scot was yellow-carded after the halftime whistle had gone, with captain Jordan Henderson leading the inquisition as to why his teammate had been booked.
Video evidence has now shown that the Reds fullback was elbowed by the linesman. Robertson appeared to voice his discontent with the linesman before Constantine Hatzidakis (linesman) swung his arm and appeared to catch the 29-year-old.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to score goals and set records since moving to Al Nassr from Manchester United, the team’s statistics following the Portuguese’s arrival are troubling.
Towards the conclusion of 2022, the 38-year-old left Manchester United and joined Al Nassr.
He had previously given a controversial interview to Piers Morgan in which he asserted that he had little regard for Erik Ten Hag and criticised the team for “remaining the same” following his original departure in 2009. When he joined the Saudi Arabia Giants, they were, albeit by a slim margin, in first place in the Saudi Pro League.
Al Nassr went into 2023 with 26 points from 11 matches, having won eight games and losing just once. That form saw them establish a point’s lead over Al Shabab who had a game in hand.
Al Nassr’s 2022 form
After the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, however, the club seems to have fallen off for some reason, if stats are anything to go by.
According to Footy Stats, Al Nassr have drawn three and lost once in their 12 league matches since Ronaldo’s arrival, a run that has seen them lose their top status on the table to Al Ittihad, who now sit three points clear.
In addition, s Super Cup defeat to Al-Ittihad 3-1 now means Al Nassr have lost twice in the same season to their bitter rivals.
Does Ronaldo make teams worse?
Ronaldo has always been used as a scapegoat wherever he has gone since leaving Real Madrid in 2018. At United, it was a similar story as Ronaldo emerged as the club’s top scorer in 2021/22, but the club ended up in 6th at the end of the season.
A topsy-turvy first half of the 2022/23 campaign for Unite led to a general feeling that perhaps Ronaldo was setting the team back, and it was similar case in his final season with Juventus, who finished fourth in 2020/21, and have never won the league since.
With a 3-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s previous team Bayern Munich in the last-eight first leg on Tuesday, Manchester City made a significant step towards the Champions League semifinals.
In a tense match at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola faced Bayern for the first time since leaving Germany, and he easily defeated Thomas Tuchel, whose Chelsea team defeated City in the 2021 final.
At the half, Rodri’s spectacular first Champions League goal gave City the advantage. Bernardo Silva then added the second as pressure mounted on the Bayern goal in the final 20 minutes, and Erling Haaland’s 45th goal of the season—a Premier League player record—soon after.
Guardiola and City have let slip all manner of leads in this competition against weaker opposition than Bayern, but they were rampant by full-time and head into the return match with full command of the tie.
The breakthrough goal came after 27 minutes as Rodri evaded pressure from Jamal Musiala by chopping onto his left foot 25 yards from goal before curling high past Yann Sommer, and City went in pursuit of a swift second.
Both Dayot Upamecano and Sommer failed to deal with a cross from the City right, with the goalkeeper merely helping it into the path of Ilkay Gundogan but responding with an instinctive save.
Although Leroy Sane led a response as his shot wide before half-time was followed by three on target following the restart – the best of them drawing a low stop from Ederson – the mix-ups in the Bayern back line only increased in number as the match wore on.
Sommer saved from Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias in quick succession but failed to get enough on Silva’s header after Upamecano had gifted the ball to Jack Grealish to set in motion the City attack.
Another stop from Julian Alvarez looked to have kept Bayern in the tie, yet Haaland got his goal from a John Stones knockdown to leave the Bundesliga giants an almighty task back in Germany.
What does it mean? City blow away brittle Bayern
Only City in Europe’s top five leagues enjoy more possession on average than Bayern, who looked to dominate the ball at the Etihad, too, and did so in a sense – finishing with a 55.9 per cent share of the play.
But this approach merely played into City’s hands, with Bayern’s determination to play out from the back creating issues under intense pressure from Grealish, Haaland and Co.
Upamecano’s mistake in the build-up to Silva’s goal was the first Bayern error leading to a goal in the Champions League this season, but it could have been repeated more than once and could yet be in the second leg.
Sommer sloppy and sublime
Evidence of Bayern’s woes at the back came in the form of Sommer’s five clearances, the most by a goalkeeper in a Champions League game this season. That was a competition high achieved more by mistake than design, repeatedly rushed by City attackers with one hack teeing up a Haaland shot inside the box.
Yet Sommer also did more than most in keeping the score down. He made six saves, with the last of them from a Rodri header – after Haaland’s goal – protecting the remnants of Bayern hope.
Silva reward for winger’s work
Haaland beat Bayern for the first time in his career and scored to make yet more history in doing so, but he operated largely outside of the limelight.
No scorer could have been more deserving than Silva, who netted with his only shot but played three key passes – including for Rodri’s blockbuster – and, most notably, led City with eight tackles. It was clear why he was chosen to play on the same wing as Alphonso Davies and Sane.
What’s next?
Ahead of next week’s return leg, City host Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday, three hours after Bayern kick off against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
Former President John Mahama has asserted that he is the only candidate who the current government’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) fears, and that as a result, he ought to be chosen to lead the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the impending general elections in 2024.
Mahama reaffirmed his confidence in his abilities to lead the NDC to victory in the polls while addressing NDC delegates in the Somanya Constituency on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
“I wouldn’t have contested if I was sure that my contenders for the NDC presidential slot could stand against the NPP and win the 2024 general elections, but we cannot take the risk. The only person the NPP fears amongst NDC members is me, John Dramani Mahama,” he said.
Mahama went on to accuse the NPP of being unable to sleep when they hear his name, hence their call for a new face to lead the NDC. He also dismissed calls for a change in leadership within the NDC, saying it was none of their business.
“They [NPP] are unable to sleep when they hear my name. That’s why they have been calling for a fresh person. Are you the ones to tell us what we should do? It’s none of your business, I believe God has given us the power already,” he said.
The NDC is expected to hold its presidential primaries on May 13, 2023, with Mahama and other prominent party members expected to contest for the position of flagbearer.
In a heartwarming conclusion straight out of a Hollywood film script, Wrexham owner Rob McElhenney kissed custodian Ben Foster in celebration of his team’s important win against promotion rivals Notts County.
Since purchasing the unfashionable Welsh club in 2020, McElhenney and fellow actor Ryan Reynolds have brought non-league Wrexham to a global audience.
The highs and lows of the squad and their famous owners were documented in the well-liked FX documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham.”
Monday’s 3-2 win against Notts County was perfect for the next instalment of the show as McElhenney and Reynolds watched from the stands while Wrexham moved within touching distance of promotion from the National League.
In a plot twist that might have been beyond even the imagination of Tinseltown’s finest screenwriters, Wrexham snatched the points when Cedwyn Scott’s penalty was saved by former Manchester United and England ‘keeper Foster in the seventh minute of stoppage-time.
Foster, 40, was only playing for Wrexham after coming out of retirement following an injury in March to the club’s first-choice ‘keeper Rob Lainton.
Wrexham have played in the fifth tier for the last 15 years, but, revitalised by their celebrity takeover, they are on the verge of a return to League Two.
McElhenney, a star of the ‘Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ sitcom, and Deadpool actor Reynolds were jumping with joy at the final whistle, with Wrexham now three points clear of second-placed Notts County with a game in hand.
Foster, who played in the Premier League with Watford last season, revealed McElhenney took his celebrations up close and personal.
“Rob kissed me fully on the lips and Ryan called me a double handsome b*****d,” said Foster, whose career has come full circle after a transformative loan spell at Wrexham at the start of his career.
“I said to them ‘Listen, you may as well end the documentary now. You’ll never get a better moment than what’s just happened’.
“They’re so happy, if you could order a top of the range owner, then you would just package them two up because they are as good as it gets.
It means so much to them, they were buzzing at the end, they care so much.
“This is non-league but they’re doing it like it’s Premier League standard, the way they travel, prepare, training sessions, the food, the recovery. It is ridiculous how they run it, so fair play to them they deserve all they get.” ‘Beautiful and torturous’ Beaten in the play-off semi-finals by Grimsby after finishing second in the National League last season, Wrexham are desperate to go one better this term.
They need seven points from their final four games to clinch the title, which guarantees the only automatic promotion place.
“It’s just insane to me in this league that only one goes up automatically,” Reynolds said. “If it were different — and I think it should be — both of these clubs would be celebrating together right now because what they’ve done is not only created drama unlike anything you’d ever see in a damn movie, but something that I think people will be talking about for ages.”
Wrexham’s heart-stopping victory, which featured several lead changes, came after Reynolds and McElhenney received the freedom of the borough at a civic ceremony earlier in the day.
The drama underlined to Reynolds why he and McElhenney made the surprise decision to transfer their love of US sport to a tiny Welsh football club. ‘
“I don’t feel like I have a heart any more. I think I used all the beats I had left during that match,” Reynolds said. “That was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before and indicative of all of you lifers who have watched and participated in this beautiful, torturous game.
“I am actually grateful in this moment that I didn’t care about this years ago because it would have just eaten me alive. It’s troubling how hooked I am!”
These days, Washington’s polarised lawmakers can’t agree on practically anything. It is quite difficult to obtain bipartisan cooperation. But, there is one topic on which almost everyone is in agreement. Such is the significance of the Good Friday Agreement (GFA), which put an end to 30 years of violent death in Northern Ireland.
The accord itself is held up as a brilliant illustration of what tenacious diplomacy and smart negotiation can accomplish.
American politicians are rightly proud of the role the US played in securing the peace. The tireless work of Senator George Mitchell as well as the intense engagement of President Bill Clinton were essential.
President Biden sees the agreement as part of his own political legacy and can claim credit for encouraging US involvement in the peace process through the 1980s and 90s.
Defending the GFA, and the relative peace it ensures, has been a high priority for the Biden administration. There are deep concerns about how Brexit may affect the agreement.
This presidential visit would not be taking place if the Windsor Framework had not been secured to resolve the issues over trade between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic.
The future of any free trade deal between the UK and US also hangs on the continued maintenance of the GFA.
In Belfast, President Biden will talk about how the US can help to support “Northern Ireland’s vast economic potential”.
In Dublin, he is expected to address the Irish parliament and stress the close co-operation between the two nations.
And he will make more personal visits to County Louth and County Mayo to revisit his family roots.
There is a long tradition of US presidents enjoying trips to Ireland more than they do many other official engagements.
Bill Clinton was greeted by ecstatic crowds in 1995 when he became the first American president to visit Northern Ireland as well as the Republic.
The New York Times said the “Irish gave Bill Clinton the best two days of his presidency”.
Since then, Presidents Nixon, Reagan, George W Bush, Obama and Trump have all made trips to the Emerald Isle – all to the great envy of many other European countries who do not get nearly so much attention.
The ‘most Irish’ US president in history
Joe Biden is inordinately proud of his personal Irish heritage. He mentions it at every opportunity. Just after he was elected president in 2020 he was asked by my colleague Nick Bryant for a “quick word for the BBC”. He swiftly replied: “The BBC? I’m Irish!”
He loves to quote Irish poets and uses the experience of Irish citizens living under British rule as a way to express empathy with persecuted minorities around the world.
The Irish diaspora in America does not have the same outsized influence in US politics as it once did. But with 30 million Americans claiming Irish roots – that is about one in 10 of the current population – it never does any harm for a US president to be seen embracing his Celtic connections.
With two great-grandparents coming from Ireland, Joe Biden is one of the most Irish presidents in history.
Edward Blewitt was an engineer and brickmaker who left the west coast town of Ballina, Mayo, in 1850. He decided to head to Scranton in Pennsylvania – with his family including son Patrick – as the devastating Irish potato famine was causing widespread starvation.
This week, his great-great-great-grandson will be greeted by a huge painted mural of his own face in the town square.
On the east coast of Ireland, the small town of Carlingford in Louth is also expecting a visit. It was from there that President Biden’s maternal great-great-grandfather, Owen Finnegan, departed in the late 1840s.
These days, the people of the Cooley Peninsula are anticipating the construction of a long-awaited bridge across Carlingford Lough that would improve economic links by joining them to Northern Ireland. Locals want to see it named the “Biden Bridge”.
The president can only dream of receiving such a rapturous welcome anywhere in the United States.
Trent Alexander-Arnold agrees it was probably too late for a top-four drive, but he saw glimpses of the old Liverpool in Sunday’s comeback victory over Arsenal.
Liverpool battled back from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 with the Premier League’s top team at Anfield, and they probably should have finished the comeback in stoppage time.
Although Arsenal was completely dominant at the stage of going up 2-0 and was perhaps unlucky not to have scored more themselves, a favourable ending did not always appear likely.
The turning point seemed to come in the 41st minute when an altercation between Granit Xhaka and Alexander-Arnold sparked a fiery atmosphere in the stadium, and Mohamed Salah pulled one back shortly after.
Liverpool looked the bigger threat from that point and inexplicably failed to get a late winner after Roberto Firmino’s equaliser, with Darwin Nunez and Ibrahima Konate passing up gilt-edged opportunities.
The point did not do much for the Reds’ Champions League hopes, but Alexander-Arnold felt the performance showed Liverpool are not a lost cause even during a difficult season.
“We showed a different side to us, one that we’ve had in previous seasons, where we get past disappointment and are able to get back into games – and we showed that, so that’s a decent sign,” he told Liverpool’s official website.
“But we need to be getting three points. No matter whether we’re playing top of the league or bottom of the league, three points is our aim and we know we could have got that [on Sunday].
“We showed a different side to us. We showed that we really wanted to go out there and put a good performance in.
“Even though you’re playing probably the best team in the league, we still showed our quality and dominated them for the whole second half and should’ve won the game.”
However, the Reds remain 12 points behind fourth-placed Manchester United with nine matches remaining.
Alexander-Arnold accepts overturning such a deficit looks a tall order.
“We take the point and try to improve it next week,” he continued. “We’ve got a full week to go and train, and that’s what we need to go and do.
“We have our targets and it’s going to be difficult to get Champions League football now I think. But it’s still mathematically possible, so as long as that’s possible then that’s what we go for.
“We’re not in the position we want to be in at all but there’s still nine games to go. That’s where our heads are at – let’s go and try to win all nine.”
While Erling Haaland , City’s goal-scoring machine may be stealing the show at the Etihad, the Norwegian’s backup has consistently demonstrated his ability this season.
A standout performance against Liverpool earlier this month after replacing Haaland was followed by a cameo appearance from the bench in Saturday’s 4-1 thrashing of Southampton.
An eye-catching display when he came in for Haaland against Liverpool earlier this month was followed by a cameo from the bench in Saturday’s 4-1 demolition of Southampton.
The striker, 23, netted in both of those games to take his Premier League tally to seven, while he has also bagged two in the Champions League and three in the FA Cup as City chase glory on three fronts.
Ahead of tonight’s showdown with Bayern Munich, we reflect on the increasing importance of the Argentine assassin to Pep Guardiola’s side.
The Cordoba native kick-started City’s comeback victory by tucking home a Jack Grealish cross before finding Riyad Mahrez in space with a stunning cross-field pass that led to a second.
There was more to come.
It was Alvarez’s goal-bound effort — stopped by Alisson — that fell to the feet of Ilkay Gundogan, who smashed in a third to all but kill the game.
City went on to win 4-1 and would repeat that scoreline against the hapless Saints, who had the returning Haaland to deal with before Alvarez replaced him after 69 minutes.
Pep talk
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is a big fan of Julian Alvarez
City boss Guardiola applauded Alvarez’s ability to fill in for Haaland after his side disposed of the Reds on April 1.
He said: “When we have Erling, we have something special. And Julian is something special, too.
“[He] scored a perfect goal, the action was brilliant, [then] the vision in the second one to play in Riyad. He was involved in the first three goals.
“He was so clever with the ball, he’s an exceptional player. The club made an exceptional signing with him — he’s a world champion alongside Lionel Messi because he has something.”
Alvarez joined City in January 2022 but finished last season with River Plate before packing his bags for Manchester.
And the Etihad faithful will happily tell you, his contributions off the ball make him a different proposition to Haaland.
The 20-cap international is an aggressive presser and he also enjoys getting involved in build-up play, creating pockets of space for team-mates to attack and pass into.
As someone who is no stranger to finding the net, former Liverpool and England striker Peter Crouch has been impressed by what he has seen from Alvarez.
He said: “I think he gets into every other Premier League team in the country.
“Because he’s behind Haaland, he’s not had the games he would have liked.
“But he’s a constant menace. He’s constantly on the move, he’s unselfish, he draws players towards him, he works hard.
“He’s got everything. He’s a team player and he chips in with goals.”
The 87-year-old Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of the Tibetan people, expressed regret on Monday after video surfaced of him urging a young boy to “suck my tongue” during a public ceremony.
“A video clip has been circulating that shows a recent meeting when a young boy asked his Holiness the Dalai Lama if he could give him a hug,” said a statement on the exiled leader’s Twitter account, which has 19 million followers.
“His Holiness wishes to apologise to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused.”
The statement said the Dalai Lama leader “often teases people he meets in an innocent and playful way, even in public and before cameras. He regrets the incident”.
NEW 🚨 Dalai Lama apologises for asking boy to suck his tongue
The video, which has 1 million views on Twitter, also shows the Nobel peace laureate apparently giving the boy a peck on the lips in presence of an audience who are heard clapping and laughing, while a man captures the moment on a phone. Reuters has not verified the clip.
The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet, is regarded by Beijing as a dangerous separatist.
He has worked for decades to draw global support for linguistic and cultural autonomy in his remote, mountainous homeland.
He now lives in a compound next to a temple ringed by green hills and snow-capped mountains in the northern Indian town of Dharamshala.
In an interview with Sompa Sports, Appiah admitted that at one point, he had to cover the players’ plane tickets since they didn’t find the Black Stars to be thrilling.
The former Juventus player, who is anxious to help the Black Stars restore their competitive status but has been hesitant for unidentified reasons, mentioned that he once gave winning bonuses to players after games.
“One thing that is painful is that, some of us we are very humble. But when you know your value, you don’t want to do certain things or mingle with certain people. We all want to help because we have helped before even if it wasn’t enough,” he said
“There was a time everybody(players) had no interest in playing for Black Stars. There was a time I had to pay for players’ plane tickets to Ghana and there was a time I paid winning bonuses,” he added.
The 42-year-old, who is not impressed with how the team is run currently, implied that he regrets spending his money on the team, but hopes things will get better.
“So today if I see how things are been done, I ask myself why did I waste my money? But we hope that one day it will be well.”
Stephen Appiah led Ghana to their first World Cup in 2006. The Black Stars finished the tournament as the only African country to advance from their group.
After missing two Africa Cup of Nations, Appiah returned to the team for the 2010 World Cup and helped them make history by reaching the quarter-finals, becoming the third African team to do so.
He announced his retirement after the tournament.
Ghana is now ranked eleventh in Africa and fifty-third in the world, having previously been ranked second in Africa and twenty-third in the world before Stephen Appiah’s retirement.
The Black Stars have failed to advance from the group stage in both of their last two World Cup appearances, and their best finish in the last two AFCON tournaments was a round-16 finish in 2019.
After an investigation into accusations about his behaviour at work, the CEO of one of the biggest business groups in the UK was let go.
Rain Newton-Smith will take Tony Danker’s place at the CBI effective immediately.
The charges concern Mr. Danker’s behaviour with a female employee.
Three other CBI employees have also been suspended “pending further investigation into a number of ongoing allegations”, the group said.
It added that the lobby group is “liaising with the police and has made clear its intention to co-operate fully with any police investigations”.
Mr Danker, who stepped aside in March while the investigation took place, has so far not commented.
He previously apologised and said any “offence or anxiety” he caused was unintentional.
Last week, the Guardian newspaper reported sexual misconduct claims against CBI employees, including an allegation of rape at a summer boat party in 2019, prior to Mr Danker taking over.
In its statement on Tuesday, the CBI said: “Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him.
“The board wishes to make clear he is not the subject of any of the more recent allegations in The Guardian but has determined that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the director general.”
The lobby group has postponed its public events and hired the law firm, Fox Williams, to conduct a separate investigation to the one into Mr Danker.
As both managers gear up for critical matches in the Champions League quarterfinals,Pep Guardiola and Luciano Spalletti have ramped up their verbal spat.
Guardiola initially complimented Napoli quietly for the enormous achievements they have made this season, but now the two teams are constantly exchanging punches.
The Partenopei are close to winning their first Scudetto in more than 30 years, as the Manchester City manager earlier complimented.
What Spalletti said about Guardiola
However, as Sports Brief reported, Spalletti slammed Guardiola for his remarks by claiming that it is often a tactic of the Spanish boss to rattle other teams.
When asked if he was proud of the comments made by the Manchester City coach, the Florence-born manager retorted:
“No, I’m not proud. It doesn’t make me proud. It’s a game to put pressure on the rest. We all know it already,” he said, as quoted by Marca. “How are you going to put a team that invested 9 million euros ahead of a team that spent 900 million?
It’s a little game to say we’ll put you there and then you’re sure to fall.”
Guardiola’s response to Spalletti
Speaking ahead of his side’s UCL game against Bayern Munich, Guardiola declined to talk about Napoli, claiming Spalletti was being sensitive.
“I don’t want to talk about Napoli because the manager will be grumpy with me,” he quipped, as quoted by Football Italia.
Guardiola and Spalletii can only face off in the finals. Napoli play AC Milan, looking to offer an instant response after the stinging 4-0 loss after the international break.
Fans were awed by Norwegianattacker Erling Haaland’s unusual hairstyle during training. Prior to the big game, Haaland was spotted sporting a new braided look. With his two goals against Southampton over the weekend, Haaland has now scored 30 Premier League goals.
Although it’s unclear if he’ll wear the same braids for the Champions League quarterfinal match, it was undoubtedly a departure from his typical hairdo.
On Saturday against Southampton, fans were adamant the Norwegian should sign with a shampoo company after he let down his locks to unveil a majestic look as he made his way down the tunnel.
Erling Haaland's new hair style today in Man City training ahead Bayern Munich Champions League Quarter-Final pic.twitter.com/3PG1sRQDzW
In “respect” for the La Liga team, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti is unlikely to weigh in on rumours of a move to Chelsea or Brazil while he is still in that position.
Even though the Italian’s contract with Real Madrid still has one year left, in recent weeks, he has been mentioned as a possible option to fill open positions with the Blues and the Selecao.
This week’s Champions League matchup pits Ancelotti against Chelsea, the team he previously spent two years with and helped win the Premier League and FA Cup double in 2009–10.
But ahead of his quarter-final reunion, he has adamantly played down speculation of an exit from Santiago Bernabeu to take up the reins elsewhere.
“There’s a nice saying which is just right,” he told Radio Rai 1. “[It is] the wind carries away the chatter.
“That is it. I have a contract until June 30, 2024, and I would like to respect it.”
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 9, 2023
Ancelotti returned to Madrid in 2021 and guided the club to LaLiga glory in his first season, completing a clean sweep of all five major European league titles in his career.
The defence of an additional Champions League triumph has become the club’s main aim this season amid a widening domestic battle to catch Barcelona.
Chelsea are searching for a permanent successor to Graham Potter, having turned to another former boss in Frank Lampard to guide them through the end of the season.
Brazil, meanwhile, are yet to name Tite’s replacement following a disappointing quarter-final exit at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, with under-20 coach Ramon Menezes in charge on a temporary basis.
The Gunners are aiming for their first EPL championship in nearly two decades, and the team is in a strong position to win the trophy after a strong season.
Under Mikel Arteta, the north Londoners have been unstoppable this season, winning three of their previous 30 games to take the lead in the standings.
However, Arsenal’s title bid appeared to suffer a blow on Sunday evening after they were forced to a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
According to The Sun, Liverpool staged a thrilling comeback from 2-0 down and were threatening to win the match, only to be denied by Aaron Ramsdale, who pulled off epic saves late in the match to earn his side a precious point. ]
The result cut Arsenal’s lead at the top to six points, with Man City, who sit second, having a game in hand.
Neville speaks on Arsenal’s title chances
Be that as it may, Neville has suggested the north Londoners are still firmly in control of the title race.
According to the former defender,Ramsdale’s moment of magic inthe dying minutes of the Anfield cracker could actually be the moment that could win Arsenal the league. Nevill told Sky Sports: “That could win Arsenal the title.” “I think today is a really good point for them.
Things happen out there in this stadium [Anfield] that just do not happen in any other stadium,” he added.
Mohammed Kudus of Ghana and Ajax has drawn greater interest from Manchester United as a result of his fascinating performances thus far this season.
Five other clubs are vying for the services of the gifted footballer, but the Premier League team is in the lead.
After Ajax vetoed the transfer last summer, Kudus, who nearly left the team to sign a deal with Everton in search of playing time, is currently having his best-ever season.
The 22-year-old has been Ajax’s marksman especially in the Eredivisie scoring 11 and assisting twice. He carried his monstrous form with him to the 2022 World Cup while playing for Ghana and stood out once more with great performances in Ghana’s three group games.
The performance drew a number of interest from clubs across the top European Leagues including Borrusia Dortmund, Barcelona, and Manchester United.
Ajax, however, did not buy into the idea of selling him that early prompting some of the clubs to give up.
Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Erik Ten Haag seems to have a genuine interest in reuniting with Mohammed Kudus to help solve his attacking problems.
Ten Haag since taking over from Ragnick in the summer has largely relied on Marcus Rashford for goals and is keen on bringing in more options upfront in the summer and Kudus seems to tick the required boxes for what Manchester United lacks.
Before bowing out of the UEFA Champions League group stages, Kudus was a force to reckon with scoring four goals in six games.
He is currently nursing a muscle injury which he picked up last week and is expected to be back on the pitch in two weeks.
Dean Smith has officially been named as Leicester’s temporary manager for the end of the season.
The 52-year-old Smith, who has previously held managerial positions with Brentford, Aston Villa, and Norwich, is now charged with keeping the Foxes in the Premier League.
He said: “I’m really happy to have the opportunity to lead the team during these final weeks of the season.
“The challenge in front of us is clear but it’s one myself and my coaching team have experienced before.
“And with the quality in this squad and the number of games remaining, it’s very much achievable.”
Brendan Rodgers was axed earlier this month, leaving Leicester second from bottom and without a win since February.
Craig Shakespeare will join Smith in the dugout — as will John Terry — after spending six years at the club as both an assistant and manager.
They will be thrown straight into the deep end for Saturday’s trip to title-chasing Manchester City.
Smith added: “Our first job is to rebuild confidence and instil belief in the team and I’m looking forward to getting to work with the players this week.
“Saturday will be a big test but it’s the kind of occasion that reminds us all what it means to be a Premier League club, competing on the biggest stages against the best players in the world.
“I know we’ll be well supported by our travelling fans. We have to connect with that and give them a performance they can be proud of. We go there positive, looking for points.
“If it was something I thought was unsurmountable, I wouldn’t have come – and Shakey and JT wouldn’t have come.
“We’ll be putting demands on the players and on ourselves. We’ll be spending every minute making sure we work hard to keep this club in the Premier League.”
Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha is convinced Smith will keep the club up.
He said: “We’ve endured a challenging season but I have no doubt we have the quality in our squad to win this fight.
Erling Haaland, a “scary” Manchester City striker who is edging closer to breaking the legendary Newcastle United forward’s Premier League record, can score 60 goals this season, according to Alan Shearer.
In his first season at City, Haaland scored twice in the victory over Southampton on Saturday, bringing his season total across all competitions to 44 goals in 38 appearances.
These are 13 more goals than the next-highest scorer among players in the top five leagues in Europe, Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain, who has 31 goals in 35 appearances.
Thirty of Haaland’s goals have come in the Premier League, leaving him just four short of matching Shearer’s record of 34 in a season, which he jointly holds with Andy Cole.
Shearer expects Haaland to surpass that target with time to spare and, with potentially 16 more games to play in all competitions, he believes a bigger milestone is attainable.
“If he can stay fit, Haaland will obliterate thePremier League record I share with Andy Cole of 34 goals in a single season,” Shearer said in his column for The Athletic.
“At his current rate of averages in all competitions, with 44 in 38 appearances, he will storm past 50. Even that may be a disservice to him.
“Who knows, we could even be talking 60 and Dixie Dean territory. Scary.”
Haaland reached 30 Premier League goals in 27 games, doing so in five matches fewer than any other player in the competition’s history.
Only eight players in the English top flight – most recently Jimmy Greaves in 1961 – have scored more than 40 goals in a single league season.
“I wonder how many people thought it was hyperbole when I wrote nearly a year ago that Erling Haaland would score 40 goals in this Manchester City team?” Shearer said.
“City were buying goals – as close as you can get to an absolute, cast-iron guarantee – by adding an exceptional centre-forward to a phenomenally creative side.
“If anything, I was being stingy. Exceptional? He’s almost perfect and that haul of 40 is already in his rearview mirror.”
Haaland’s next opportunity to add to his growing haul will come on Tuesday when City host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.
The former Borussia Dortmund man has 33 goals in 25 games in the competition, which is also a record for the quickest time to surpass the 30-goal mark in the Champions League.
In 2020, a massage therapist allegedly suffered injuries at the hands ofReiss Nelson’s dog.
After being charged with “being in charge of a dog which caused injury while dangerously out of control,” Arsenal star Nelson will go on trial in September.
On December 2, 2020, at the player’s home, Tiago, the forward’s dog, who is thought to be a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, injured massage therapist Saeid Motaali.
Nelson denied the charge on October 31 last year and has been granted unconditional bail before his trial on September 4, 2023.
The 23-year-old has made 11 appearances for theGunners this season, scoring three goals and providing three assists.
Jurgen Klopp, manager of Liverpool, admitted that he is “100% responsible for this crap,” but he is certain that the team can survive its challenging season “in a classy fashion.”
The Reds have had a challenging 2022–23 season after almost losing out on a quadruple last season. They have already been eliminated from every cup tournament, and they currently sit eighth in the Premier League ahead of Sunday’s Anfield matchup with league leaders Arsenal.
The Reds won the EFL Cup and FA Cup in 2021-22, as well as reaching the Champions League final and finishing just a point behind Premier League winners Manchester City.
With 10 matches left this term, Liverpool’s points total of 43 is less than half what they amassed in 2021-22, and Klopp accepts it is unacceptable.
“I’m sorry for our people, that they don’t have the season they wished for. But in the long term they will forget that,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
“I couldn’t care less what we did last year or the years before. I’m 100 per cent responsible for this rubbish and it’s really not cool.”
The German coach recently admitted hisgenerally impeccable record with the club was probably the reason his job has not come into question, and shared his appreciation for the support he and his team continue to receive from fans.
“I know everybody can express their emotions in an instant and there will be a lot of negative comments about us – I understand that,” he said. “But the people in the stadium are incredible.
“You see things happening at other clubs, not only sackings but teams against owners, fans against owners, fans against the team – I’ve seen it all.
“But if anyone can get through a situation like this in a classy manner, I really think it’s us as a club.”
5 – Liverpool have lost five of their 10 Premier League matches in 2023, already more defeats than in the whole of 2022 (P35 W24 D7 L4). Downturn. pic.twitter.com/NFtFOnBZtU
“What you’ve seen this year is that a lot of teams that performed last year on an extremely high level are not exactly there,” Klopp added. “Even City. Of course they play sensational football, but they don’t have the same points tally as last year [64, compared to 69 at the same stage in 2021-22].
“The intensity, at one point, gets you and maybe it caught us this year. But that is no excuse for the next 10 games.
“It may be an explanation for why we are not on our top level. We didn’t find a way to bring in consistent performances.”
Sitting 13 points behind Newcastle United and Manchester United in third and fourth place respectively, it will take a significant turnaround for Liverpool to qualify for the Champions League, even if they have a game in hand.
Klopp believes a “lack of confidence” has played a part, as well as injuries, but his team’s potential has still been visible with a 9-0 win over Bournemouth earlier in the season, and a 7-0 thrashing of rivals United in their last home game.
Their shortcomings were on show again just six days later though, stumbling to a 1-0 loss at Bournemouth.
“World-classplayers are performing on a strange level,” he said. “It started with injuries and players coming back early, and we were never really settled in this season.
“We have to go through that and I have no problem with that. When I look back in 10 or 15 years this season will probably not be involved with highlights, but hopefully there’ll be a lot of things we can learn from it and can use next year.
“But we have to fight through this and this is tough. If it was easy they wouldn’t pay me that much money for it.
“We’ve had a super-strange season. We’ve had the two highest wins in our history but then a week later we cannot do it.”
Upon his appointment as interim head coach at Molineux 18 months after being fired from the position, Chelsea great Lampard was met with an enthusiastic ovation by the visiting supporters.
Yet the club’s all-time record scorer was unable to stop the poor form that led to Graham Potter’s sacking as mid-table Chelsea slumped to an 11th top-flight defeat of the season after failing to score for the third successive game.
Wolves were on the front-foot throughout and deserved their win which came after a sweet finish by Matheus Nunes, the Portugal midfielder’s first goal for the club since joining from Sporting Lisbon last August.
Nunes, who cost a club record £38m, beat Kepa Arrizabalaga with a fierce attempt from the tightest of angles after an attempted headed clearance by Kalidou Koulibaly.
Joao Felix forced a save from Jose Sa but Chelsea were disappointing and remain 11th after just two wins in 11 league games.
In a thrilling La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu,Villarreal upset Real Madrid 3-2 with two goals scored in the closing 20 minutes.
Alex Baena and Federico Valverde, who had clashed throughout the game, later got into a fight in the parking lot, but the drama didn’t end there.
According to Marca, Valverde punched the Villarreal winger for allegedly making remarks about the Uruguayan’s then-unborn child during the teams’ January Copa del Rey matchup with Villarreal.
Valverde’s partner had a stillbirth scare, but thankfully everything turned out okay.
And Marca added that during the match, Baena said to Valverde, “cry now that your son is not going to be born,” after fouling him during the Copa match.
Federico Valverde punched Alex Baena after Madrid's defeat to Villarreal, sources have confirmed to ESPN.
Valverde reacted angrily to alleged remarks that Baena made about his unborn child, sources said. Valverde and his partner Mina Bonino had a miscarriage scare in February. pic.twitter.com/0Q8Xr8Dtsq
Goal claims that Villarreal has video of the alleged incident, and police are aware of it. Meanwhile, in his response to the incident, Baena insisted that he had never previously insulted Valverde.
He wrote on Instagram: “Thrilled by the team’s impressive victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, but also saddened by the abuse I received after the game and taken aback by what is being said about me personally.
It is totally false that I said that!”
Valverde dreams of Real Madrid captainship
Meanwhile,Federico Valverde believes he will one day captain Real Madrid as long as he continues playing at the highest level for the Spanish champions, SB Nation reports.
The Uruguayan was speaking ahead of Real Madrid’s Club World Cup semi-final clash against African champions Al Ahly on Wednesday, February 8.
Valverde is bidding to win another major tournament with Real Madrid after emerging as a Champions League and La Liga winner with the Spanish giants.
Valverde scores goal of the season Sports Brief had earlier reported that Federico Valverde’s rocket against Sevilla will contend for the Goal of the Season Award in La Liga.
Real Madrid opened the scoring through Luka Modric but Erik Lamela found the equaliser 10 minutes after the interval.
Two minutes later, Valverde then smashed an unstoppable right-footed shot into the top corner from just outside the penalty area to make it 3-1.
Following Saturday’s vital 1-0 victory for his Roma team at Torino, Jose Mourinho could not help but take a shot at Serie A rivals Juventus.
When Milan and Inter drew on Friday, Paulo Dybala’s eighth-minute penalty gave the Giallorossi all the points they needed to move into third place.
Juve’s 2-1 loss at Lazio left the Bianconeri with 44 points, nine fewer than Mourinho’s team, but the former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager is not sure that will still be the case.
The appeal Juve lodged against their 15-point penalty for transfer fee irregularities will be heard on April 19, meaning the top-four picture could eventually look very different.
Speaking after the win in Turin, Mourinho did not care about the quality of the performance, just the three points, before referencing Juve’s situation.
“Matches are won when you score one more goal than your opponent,” he told DAZN. “This is the goal not only in football but in sport: you have to win by trying to exploit your qualities and try to hide the problems.
“We are third in the standings? Are we sure that Juve don’t have 59 points? We are in Italy.”
Since 2004-05, Dybala (11 goals, six assists) is only the second player to score more than 10 goals and record more than five assists in a debut season for Roma in Serie A, after Mohamed Salah in 2015-16.
Roma have nine league games remaining as well as their upcoming Europa League quarter-final against Feyenoord, and Mourinho is hopeful of success on both fronts despite what he sees as squad limitations.
“The opponent that worries me the most in the Champions League fight? Ourselves, the fact that we want to think like a great team but we have a squad with limits,” he said.
“We have three games a week and it’s hard for us, but I’m not capable of thinking small. We go ahead from game to game.
“I’m not able to say that Udinese is less important than Feyenoord – let’s think game by game. Today we didn’t score a second goal, otherwise the game would have been completely different.”
In the German Bundesliga matchup between FC Koln and Augsburg on Saturday,Kingsley Schindler contributed an assist.
After only three minutes of play, FC Koln had a strong start to the game. Kingsley Schindler had the first shot in the Augsburg penalty area, but it was blocked.
A low cross from Maina on the left shortly after failed to find a taker in the middle.
In the seventh minute, Skhiri shoved the ball centrally into the Augsburg goal from close range but the linesman flagged offside because Chabot was said to have been just offside on the cross.
It took VAR about three minutes to check the goal, and then the fans who had traveled with them cheered. The goal counted, 1-0 for FC Koln.
Schindler assisted FC Koln’s second goal in the 16th minute, he found Eric Martel in the box who made no mistake to make it 2-0.
Augsburg increased the pressure on FC Koln, and after just under half an hour, with a bit of luck, the ball came from an Augsburg corner toRuben Vargas, who was free in the penalty area to make it 2-1.
Linton Maina scored in the 59th minute to give FC Koln a 3-1 victory.
That was quickly cancelled out when Kevin De Bruyne drew a penalty, allowing Haaland’s substitute Julian Alvarez to share the glory as he fired in the spot-kick.
One of Haaland’s 28 goalsgoing into Saturday’s contest came in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium in October against a Saints side then managed by Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Two managers later, and with the sides separated by 41 points, Ruben Selles’ men looked to get something started early on a sunny south coast evening when Carlos Alcaraz took possession at the right of the area but found himself without a viable option at the far post as he sent the ball across the face of goal.
City tested Gavin Bazunu inside the first five minutes, Ilkay Gundogan finding Grealish who forced a good save out of the Saints shot-stopper with a drive from 15 yards out.
The visitors were on the brink of danger when an alert Kamaldeen Sulemana intercepted De Bruyne’s short corner inside his own half and broke free with Nathan Ake in hot pursuit.
Inaki Williams was honoured as the game’s most outstanding performer after Athletic Bilbao’s 2-1 La Liga victory over Espanyol on Saturday at the RCDE Stadium.
Athletic Bilbao had a difficult time in the opening stages of the contest. With a superb long pass from Dani Garca, Inaki Williams scored in the 22nd minute.
Hugging his brother Nico, the Black Stars forward dedicated the goal to him.
Athletic was much better and was controlling the game comfortably, but a mistake at the back a few minutes to half-time allowed former Barcelona striker Martin Braithwaite to score but his goal was canceled by VAR.
In the second half of the clash, Athletic wanted to score a set piece, Guruzeta almost scored in the 57th minute in a good action and Iñaki had a clear chance to score but his effort went wide in the 68th minute.
Nico Williams came on in the 69th minute, and the Spanish international scored in the 75th minute from a Gorka Guruzeta pass to make it 2-0.
On Saturday in Ligue 1,Paris Saint-Germain defeated Nice 2-0 thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos.
At Allianz Riviera, Messi scored after 26 minutes, and Ramos added a goal in the second half by supplying the cross from a corner.
After two losses, Christophe Galtier’s team won for the first time in three games, however they owed as much to Gianluigi Donnarumma as they did to Lionel Messi.
Nice peppered the PSG goal either side of half-time, only to come away empty-handed against their former coach, suffering their first defeat under Didier Digard.
PSG had started the brighter,knowing a victory was required to restore a six-point cushion to second-placed Lens, and went close to an opener when Danilo Pereira’s header beat Kasper Schmeichel but bounced back out off the post.
Four minutes later, Messi made the breakthrough when he finished into the roof of the net from Nuno Mendes’ square pass inside the area.
Nice refused to back down, however, and Donnarumma made excellent saves to deny both Nicolas Pepe and Terem Moffi late in the first half.
That momentum continued into the second half, with Dante agonisingly close to a deserved equaliser when the ball bounced down off the crossbar and back out via the post without fully crossing the goal line.
Further Donnarumma saves followed, including another notable stop from Pepe shortly after Dante’s effort, and Nice were made to pay for their profligacy when Ramos rose highest at the other end to meet Messi’s corner.
Danilo then headed against his own crossbar in the closing stages, summing up Nice’s rotten luck.
What does it mean? PSG snap losing streak
With defeat to Rennes in their final game during March and a loss at the hands of Lyon upon their return to action following the international break, PSG had been enduring a tough spell.
They got their title defence back on track here, however, even if they did so in a fashion that again did not always reflect the wealth of talent they had on the pitch.
Mbappe made to wait once more
It has been nearly a month since Mbappe last scored in Ligue 1, leaving him still on 138 goals for PSG in the top flight.
He needs only one more to surpass Edinson Cavani as the club’s outright all-time leading scorer in the competition, but chances were few and far between in this game. The forward blazed over in the closing minutes but was ruled offside.
Nice denied despite chances
With 21 shots to 13 from PSG, Nice will wonder how they did not find the net.
A large part of that was down to Donnarumma, who made seven saves – his joint-most in the league since eight against Lille back in August.
Key Opta Facts
– PSG have won their last three Ligue 1 away games (3-0 against Marseille, 2-1 against Brest, 2-0 against Nice) after losing three of their first four in 2023 (W1). – The capital club faced 21 shots against Nice, their second-highest tally in a Ligue 1 game over the past five seasons, behind the 24 against Reims in October 2022 (0-0). – Messi has been involved in 11 goals in 2023 in Ligue 1 (seven goals, four assists), trailing only Wissam Ben Yedder (12). The PSG forward has scored and assisted in the same league game on six occasions this season, the highest tally in Europe’s top five leagues. – Mbappe attempted just one shot in this game, his joint-lowest tally over the last two seasons when playing 90 minutes in the league, along with the game against Auxerre in November 2022.
What’s next?
Nice are in Europa Conference League action against Basel on Thursday, while PSG have a table-topping Ligue 1 clash with Lens next Saturday.
Marcus Rashford’s injury poses a threat to the brilliance of Manchester United’s triumphover Everton, which was sealed by Anthony Martial’s first Premier League goal of 2023.
Poor finishing, dubious decision-making, and a run of Jordan Pickford stops kept Sean Dyche’s visitors from taking a beating at Old Trafford in the first half.
In a lopsided first period, United had a whopping 21 shots, but Scott McTominay was the only one who managed to score, and that came after Ellis Simms of Everton squandered a wonderful opportunity at the opposite end.
The Toffees improved after the break but Erik ten Hag’s men remained in control, with substitute Martial completing a 2-0 win as Rashford capitalised on a Seamus Coleman error.
The France international’s first Premier League goal since December came on his third substitute appearance after spending two months of this injury-hit campaign out with a hip complaint.
Martial’s return may have come at just the right time given the concerning sight of Rashford pulling up holding his groin late on, before limping heavily around the pitch and down the tunnel.
Everton were a pale imitation of the side that fought for a 1-1 draw against Tottenham on Monday and were on the backfoot from the outset on Saturday lunchtime.
Marcel Sabitzer saw an early shot deflected wide before Rashford was put through on goal, only to shoot straight at Pickford under pressure from James Tarkowski.
Antony sent a curling, bobbling effort off the post and Aaron Wan-Bissaka snatched at the rebound, inexplicably dragging across the face of the empty goal.
From a ship flying the flag ofSierra Leone, authorities in Guinea have seized 1.5 tonnes of cocaine. According to the AFP news agency, the crew was made up of four Sierra Leoneans, three Ghanaians, and three Guineans.
Guinean television claims that they have all now been detained.
According to the Reuters news agency, authorities discovered more than 60 bags, each of which contained 25kg (3.9 stone) of cocaine.
After France’s 5-3 loss to Italy on penalties in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany,Zinedine Zidane announced his retirement from professional football.
After headbutting fellow goal scorer and Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the 110th minute, Zidane, who had given France the lead in the seventh minute, was dismissed.
The Real Madrid star refused to change his mind about retiring as he had originally announced as he watched helplessly as France lost on penalties.
Speaking on the incident in 2010, the former Real Madrid head coach said he would rather die than apologise to Materazzi, as reported by Independent.
Materazzi opens up on Zidane incident
The former Inter Milan defender has opened up on what transpired between the two before he received that vicious headbutt from Zidane. “Trash talking, my trash talking was nothing.
He offered me his jersey, and I said no, I prefer his sister,” he said on IFTV Podcast, bursting into a bit laugh afterwards.
Rumours in the football world had earlier claimed Materazzi, who stayed on after the assault and scored in the shootout, insulted Zidane’s mother.
Materazzi swore at Mourinho
The defender played under Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan and revealed he had a special relationship with the Special One and was said to see him go.
As revealed by Football Italia, he swore at Mourinho when the Portuguese left for Real Madrid, claiming he was angry he left him with Rafa Benitez.
“Mourinho was special. He knew the names of all our children and our wives. Nobody else had ever done that for me. For me it was not a big surprise, but for my wife, when he met her and said “hello Daniela”, ” he said.
Zidane picks Ronaldo over Messi
It was reported that Zidane chose Ronaldo over Messi while weighing in on the GOAT debate. The France legend who managed Ronaldo at Real Madrid branded the Portuguese as phenomenal and better than himself and Messi.
Zidane won the 1998 World Cup. Messi matched the achievement by winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but Cristiano is yet to lay his hands on it.
Karim Benzema, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti, will remain at Real Madrid for the upcoming campaign.
The contracts for the seasoned trio expire this summer, but Ancelotti claimed “they are talking” about fresh agreements.
At Real Madrid since 2014, former German midfielder Kroos, 33, has won four Champions League titles, while former France striker Benzema, 35, and Croatian midfielder Modric, 37, have each won five.
“I think that in the end they will look for a solution,” said Ancelotti.
“There are advances because they are talking.”
Real have begun to prepare for the future by signing Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos, Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde since 2016.
And although Kroos and Modric have played slightly less often this season, Benzema remains the team’s top scorer and claimed a hat-trick in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey win over Barcelona, which all three started.
“You can think the three don’t have the physical profile or energy of the younger players, but what these three have in terms of game management is unique, you can’t buy it on any market in the world.
“This is born with experience – age takes something from you, but it gives you something back as well.”
Morocco’s bid to host the 2030 World Cup has been dubbed the African continent’s bid, according to Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe.
This came after his group received widespread support for Morocco’s quest to host the FIFA World Cup in 2030 from the African football community.
Morocco recently declared that it is submitting a bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2030 together with Spain and Portugal at the 73rd FIFA Congress in Kigali.
The President of CAF, Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “The unanimous decision that was taken by the CAF Executive Committee to support Morocco’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2030 means that the bid of Morocco is now the bid of the African Continent.
“We are now focusing on ensuring that Africa once more hosts the FIFA World Cup and are committed to working together with all Football National Associations and Confederations to make this happen.”
Morocco previously made a bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 but lost to a joint bid from the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The joint bid by Morocco, Spain, and Portugal for the 2030 World Cup is seen as a strong contender, given the history of successful World Cup bids from neighboring countries.
The World Cup was held in Spain in 1982 and in Portugal in 2004.
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