Exceptional rains in drought-struck northern Italy kill 8, cancel Formula One Grand Prix
Officials say eight people are now confirmed dead in northern Italy following floods from rain-swollen rivers
2023-05-18 01:21
James Milner and Roberto Firmino among four leaving Liverpool this summer
James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita will all leave Liverpool when their contracts expire at the end of the season. Milner and Firmino joined the Reds in June 2015 and both played in the 2019 Champions League final victory over Tottenham. Oxlade-Chamberlain arrived in June 2017 and Keita the following summer, with the quartet all playing their part in the Reds’ Premier League title win in the 2019-20 campaign. A Liverpool statement said: “We can confirm Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts this summer. “Special acknowledgements will be paid to the quartet at Anfield, with further tributes to follow at the end of the season.” Milner, 37, has been linked with moves to Brighton and hometown club Leeds after spending eight years at Anfield. He made his Premier League debut for Leeds aged 16 in 2002 and also had spells at Newcastle, Aston Villa and Manchester City before joining Liverpool in 2015. He has made 617 Premier League appearances in total, behind only Gareth Barry (652) and Ryan Giggs (632) on the all-time list. The midfielder overtook Frank Lampard when making his 610th top-flight appearance early last month in a 0-0 draw at Chelsea. Liverpool signed Milner on a free transfer from City, with whom he won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the League Cup during his five years at at the Etihad Stadium. In his eight seasons with Liverpool, he won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup and made the last of his 61 appearances for England in 2016. Firmino has scored 109 goals in all competitions for the Reds since joining from Hoffenheim, including 11 in 33 games this season. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Fit-again Jonny Bairstow ‘buzzing’ to return to England squad after ‘dark times’ Eight-month ban for Brentford striker Ivan Toney after betting breaches McGregor’s documentary and Coric’s ice cream love – Wednesday’s sporting social
2023-05-18 01:18
Man City vs Real Madrid LIVE: Latest updates and team news from Champions League semi-final
The second Champions League semi-final is delicately poised between Manchester City and Real Madrid after the teams played out a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu in the first leg last week. An enthralling encounter in Spain saw Pep Guardiola’s side dominate possession throughout the first half before Vinicius Junior sent Madrid ahead before the break. Carlo Ancelotti’s men then looked to press their advantage before Kevin De Bruyne equalised with a fine strike from outside the box. City will now hope their home crowd can give them a boost as they look to get over the line in the second leg at the Etihad Stadium. Madrid staged a late comeback against City in the semi-finals of last year’s competition and Guardiola will be keen for his side avoid a similar fate this evening. Although City have home advantage Madrid are European specialists, they have a quality forward line and are brilliant on the counter-attack, for the hosts to win this tie they will need to reach their best levels and maintain those standards for the duration of the clash. Whoever wins will then face Inter Milan in the final on the 10th June after they defeated AC Milan last night. Follow all the action as Manchester City host Real Madrid in the Champions League: Read More ‘My legacy is exceptional’: Pep Guardiola refuses to be defined by Champions League Ancelotti reveals what will decide Real Madrid’s ‘unpredictable’ clash with Man City Accident or design? Inter Milan’s thrilling triumph underlines concerning trend
2023-05-18 00:46
Everton vs Arsenal LIVE: Women's Super League team news, line-ups and more
Follow The Independent's live coverage of all the action in the FA Women’s Super League today. The WSL is the top tier of English women’s football with international players from all over the world plying their trade in one of the most competitive and entertaining leagues around. Chelsea have won three of the past four titles and Emma Hayes’ side will be right in the hunt again, with the likes of Arsenal - champions in 2018-19 – and Manchester City, who have been runners-up for each of the past four seasons, among their competitors. With the top three sides qualifying for the UEFA Women’s Champions League, all 12 WSL teams have plenty to play for, although some clubs’ main ambition will simply be to avoid the drop. The side who finish bottom will be relegated to the FA Women’s Championship – a fate that befell Bristol City in 2020-21 – and newly-promoted Leicester City, competing in the top flight of the women’s game for the first time, will be eager to avoid an immediate return. We will bring you all the action and updates from today's game in the live blog below:
2023-05-18 00:19
Ivan Toney handed eight-month ban for breaching betting rules
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months and fined £50,000, the FA has announced. The England international was charged with 262 breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA withdrew 30 of the breaches, and he admitted to the remaining 232. His sanctions were imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a hearing. Toney can return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension, starting from 17 September 2023. Brentford issued a statement, saying: “Brentford FC notes the decision of an independent Regulatory Commission to issue an eight-month ban from all football and football-related activity to Ivan Toney with immediate effect.” The 27-year-old, who has scored 20 goals for Brentford in the Premier League this season was charged with breaking FA rule E8, which refers to players being barred from betting on games or sharing information for betting purposes. Newcastle and England defender Kieran Trippier was handed a 10 week ban in December 2020 for giving information out for others to bet on his transfer to Atletico Madrid from Tottenham. More follows Read More Man City brush aside Everton to close in on title as Brighton stun Arsenal Brentford vs West Ham LIVE: Latest Premier League updates James Milner came to Liverpool and won the lot - an era ends with his departure
2023-05-18 00:16
Ivan Toney banned for eight months over betting breaches
Brentford forward Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for eight months, the Football Association has announced. Toney was charged by the FA in November for 262 alleged breaches of betting rules over a four-year period and has now discovered his punishment. Bees forward Toney will be banned until January 16th and has been fined £50,000 after he admitted to 232 of the alleged breaches. “Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, which runs up to and including 16 January 2024, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules,” an FA statement read. “The Brentford FC forward was charged with 262 breaches of FA Rule E8 in total between 25 February 2017 and 23 January 2021. The FA subsequently withdrew 30 of these breaches and he admitted to the remaining 232. “ An independent regulatory commission imposed Toney’s sanctions and he will not be allowed to train with his Brentford team-mates until September 17. The one-cap England forward has scored 21 goals in 35 appearances for Brentford this season. The FA statement continued: “His sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing. He is permitted to return to training only with his club for the final four months of his suspension starting from 17 September 2023. “The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions will be published in due course, and The FA will wait to review them before commenting further.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-05-18 00:16
FA Cup final referee confirmed
Paul Tierney will take charge of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United. The 42-year-old referee has been appointed to oversee the Wembley decider from the middle for the first time. Raised in Wigan and based in Lancashire, Tierney will take charge of the first Manchester derby FA Cup final meeting. “It’s a real honour for me and the rest of the team, and we’re all thrilled to have been appointed for this game,” Tierney, who will be assisted by Neil Davies and Scott Ledger, said. “To referee the FA Cup Final is one of those things that you strive to do and it’s always been one of my targets but it still takes a bit of time to sink in. “It’s a great fixture to be refereeing too and although there is the common assumption that because I’m from Wigan I must support one of them, I was actually born in Belfast and only moved to Wigan when I was eleven and it’s actually going to be the first time that I’ve refereed a Manchester derby so I’m looking forward to it. “I’ve since been fortunate to referee there and be involved in more games and it’s something that always sticks with you. “Obviously, this game is going to top the lot on a personal level, so I’m looking forward to it and hopefully the final will be a great game.” David Coote has been appointed as the lead VAR for the encounter, with Simon Long his assistant. The final will be held at Wembley on Saturday 3 June.
2023-05-17 23:16
Holger Rune beats Novak Djokovic again to reach Italian Open semifinals
Twenty-year-old Danish player Holger Rune recorded his second victory over Novak Djokovic in little more than six months by beating the 22-time Grand Slam champion 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 to reach the Italian Open semifinals
2023-05-17 22:51
US attorney in Massachusetts leaked sensitive information to journalist and lied under oath, DOJ watchdog report says
Rachael Rollins, the US attorney for Massachusetts, leaked sensitive Justice Department information to a journalist in an effort to influence a local election, according to a report released Wednesday by the department's inspector general.
2023-05-17 22:49
Mateu Alemany backs away from Aston Villa deal to stay with Barcelona
Barcelona director of football Matheu Alemany has performed a U-turn on his decision to join Aston Villa.
2023-05-17 21:51
NWSL power rankings week 7: They’ve got Spirit, yes they do
After seven weeks of nonstop action, the NWSL is finally down to just one undefeated team, along with more chaotic shifts in the NWSL Power Rankings.About a third of the way through the season, some teams are finally finding their groove while others are sealing their doom. The Washington Spirit...
2023-05-17 21:28
New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo Germán ejected; faces suspension for 'extremely sticky' substance
New York Yankees pitcher Domingo Germán was ejected from his team's game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night after officials deemed him to have an "extremely sticky" substance on his right hand.
2023-05-17 18:56