Luis Rubiales banned from all football-related activity for three years by FIFA
FIFA has banned former Spanish Football Association president Luis Rubiales from all football-related activity for three years. Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation following Spain’s victory over England in the World Cup final on August 20, but Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual. While Rubiales initially attempted to carry on in his role, he subsequently resigned last month and has now been punished for a breach of article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has banned Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF), from all football-related activities at national and international levels for three years, having found that he acted in breach of article 13 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” a statement read. “This case relates to the events that occurred during the final of the FIFA Women’s World Cup on 20 August 2023, for which Mr Rubiales had been provisionally suspended for an initial period of 90 days. “Mr Rubiales has been notified of the terms of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee’s decision today. “In accordance with the relevant provisions of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, he has 10 days in which to request a motivated decision, which, if requested, would subsequently be published on legal.fifa.com. The decision remains subject to a possible appeal before the FIFA Appeal Committee. “FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respecting and protecting the integrity of all people and ensuring that the basic rules of decent conduct are upheld.”
2023-10-30 19:45
FPL Gameweek 11: Erling Haaland, Eddie Nketiah and five players to consider for transfers
With another gameweek in the bag, Fantasy Premier League managers are recovering from a weekend of either frustration or elation after some predictable results, plenty of goals and even a win for Everton. This week is another opportunity to reset, make some tweaks to your team or finally play your wildcard to ring in a number of wholesale changes while in-form players are still, relatively, cheap. As the Premier League enters its 11th week, here are five players we think could impress, though managers need to decide whether using a transfer earlier in the week is a gamble worth taking, or if waiting until the midweek Carabao Cup action is finished will aid their efforts to bring success in the upcoming gameweek. Erling Haaland - Manchester City, forward (14m) A blistering strike against Brighton in gameweek 9 seems to have kick-started Erling Haaland’s season as he followed it up with a star performance in the Manchester derby, scoring two goals and setting up a third for Phil Foden. A 24-point return from his last two matches raises the eyebrows and he will be keen to extend his tally against Bournemouth this week. Potentially tricky encounters against Chelsea and Liverpool are on the horizon and his extorionate price may turn off some managers looking for a more balanced side but he could be worth a one week blast to rack up some points against the 17th placed Cherries. Eddie Nketiah - Arsenal, forward (5.5m) If you’re weak in the forward line or just fancy switching things up, Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah could be the way to go. He’s not a guarantee of points, especially with the Gunners facing Newcastle on Saturday, but with Gabriel Jesus injured he’s highly likely to start. A hat-trick against Sheffield United this weekend proves his quality with the England forward also having a unique quirk of scoring in big games. At just £5.5m too, he’s definitely one to take a risk on for a few weeks with Arsenal also facing Burnley and Brentford in November. Bryan Mbeumo - Brentford, midfielder (6.6m) This pick is all about striking whilst the iron is hot and could back fire immediately so you have been warned. The Brentford midfielder has blanked on half of the gameweeks this season but his two most recent outings have seen him be a consistent scorer with 14 and 13 points earned against Burnley and Chelsea respectively. Has he got one more week of high scoring in him? Perhaps. The Bees are playing West Ham who come into the game on the back of three league matches without a win. A 1-0 loss to Everton at the weekend leaves David Moyes’ side vulnerable and Mbeumo’s form could see him punish the Hammers. Afterwards Brentford take on Liverpool and Arsenal which could be a step too far for even Mbeumo despite his recent purple patch. Bringing him in would be a risky gamble yet could pay off in the short term. Virgil van Dijk - Liverpool, defender (6.1m) We now enter the realm of expensive defenders and there is only one real pick to go for if you’re looking for stability. Liverpool’s captain has played every minute of the Reds’ previous five league games, keeping clean sheets in his last two outings. When it comes to goals conceded only Man City and Arsenal better Liverpool’s nine and with matches against Luton and Brentford next in the fixture list Van Dijk seems the easiest choice to guarantee some added points from the back line. Marc Guehi - Crystal Palace, defender (4.5m) The cheaper defensive option though comes in Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi. A poor October for the Eagles means the defender is only £4.5m to buy yet his selection could pay off handsomely as Palace take on Burnley, Everton and Luton in November. Roy Hodgson will see all these matches as winnable and Palace have been quite good in defending against teams near to them in the table. Guehi will play in every match, if he doesn’t get injured, so is he worth a punt for three potential cleansheets? Absolutely. Read More FPL GW10: Phil Foden, Kieran Trippier and five players to consider for transfers FPL GW9: Watkins, Gordon and five players to consider for transfers A Premier League winner and ex-England international – Danny Drinkwater retires A Premier League winner and ex-England international – Danny Drinkwater retires Erik Ten Hag’s deluded message leaves Man Utd with a brutal reality How Pep Guardiola turned Old Trafford into Man City’s playground
2023-10-30 18:48
French government says 9 people detained after violent attack on Lyon soccer team buses
French police have detained nine people and are searching for other suspects after a violent attack on buses carrying the Lyon soccer team and fans
2023-10-30 18:29
AP Top 25 Reality Check: Texas or Oklahoma? Washington or Oregon? How much to honor head-to-head?
This time of the season, those head-to-head results can become challenging for voters in The Associated Press college football poll
2023-10-30 18:24
Thrice traded for past October stars, Jonah Heim is now anchoring a World Series team in Texas
Jonah Heim had played only 13 big league games before being traded for the third time
2023-10-30 18:18
76ers Patrick Beverley appreciates Bryce Harper wearing his jersey at Game 7
Bryce Harper could have rocked a Joel Embiid or Jalen Hurts jersey or one of any number of Philadelphia stars when he dressed ahead of Game 7 of the NL Championship Series
2023-10-30 17:54
Lyon manager Fabio Grosso ‘seriously injured’ after Marseille bus attack
Lyon head coach Fabio Grosso suffered “serious” facial injuries after the French club’s team bus came under attack from fans throwing projectives before Sunday’s match at Marseille. The league fixture on Sunday evening was called off after the attack on the Lyon bus, which shattered windows as it arrved at Stade Velodrome. Footage on social media appeared to show that stones had been thrown and Grosso and his assistant Raffaele Longo were injured by falling shards of glass. French football’s governing body took the decision to abandon the Ligue 1 fixture after an emergency meeting. Grosso, the former Italy international and World Cup window, was pictured on a stretcher with a bloodied face after the attack. The governing body, Ligue de Football Professionnel, said in a statement: “During the crisis unit meeting following the incidents that occurred outside the Stade Velodrome on the route of its bus, Olympique Lyonnais made known its opposition to taking part in the match given the circumstances.” OL issued a statement strongly condemning the attack, adding that they had initially looked for the match to go ahead, before realising the conditions of Grosso and Longo were "much more serious than expected" and due to the "mental state of the players". The club said: "This Sunday evening, at the entrance to the Velodrome stadium, several individuals violently attacked the Olympique Lyonnais bus, as well as its staff and players. "Six buses of Olympique Lyonnais supporters were also targeted. If in the past, attacks of this type had already taken place, which Olympique Lyonnais has always regretted, this Sunday, October 29, a new step towards the worst was taken. "In fact, several secure windows were broken by heavy projectiles of unknown nature. These same projectiles penetrated the interior of the bus. "Coach Fabio Grosso and his assistant Raffaele Longo were directly hit and seriously injured in the face during this attack. Present with them on the bus, the players and staff were also deeply affected by the violence of this attack, which Olympique Lyonnais strongly condemns. "Initially, as indicated by the OL representative at the start of the crisis meeting, driven by their courage, the coach and the players wanted the meeting to be able to take place. "Subsequently, the OL representative was informed of the physical condition of Fabio Grosso and his assistant Raffaele Longo, much more serious than expected, but also of the negative medical opinions and the mental state of the players. She then announced a change in the situation, indicating the impossibility of playing the match." OL said it was "clearly impossible" for the match to take place, adding that they planned to "file a complaint in the coming days" before calling on the authorities to take action. They concluded: "Finally, Olympique Lyonnais regrets that this type of situation occurs every year in Marseille and invites the authorities to take stock of the seriousness and repetition of this type of incident before an even more serious tragedy occurs." Marseille issued a statement of their own, criticising the perpetrators and wishing 45-year-old Italian Grosso well. "Olympique de Marseille deplores the unacceptable incidents which took place this evening around the Stade Velodrome, against the professional team bus as well as Olympique Lyonnais supporter buses," the OM statement read. "The club wishes a speedy recovery to Lyon coach Fabio Grosso and strongly condemns this violent behaviour which has no place in the world of football and in society. "Due to a handful of mindless people, the game planned for this evening was spoiled and deprived 65,000 supporters of attending a football match. "The club complies with the decision taken by the LFP and remains at its disposal so that the match which was scheduled for this Sunday, October 29, takes place as quickly as possible and under the best possible conditions at the Stade Velodrome." Marseille have a recent history of incidents involving their stadium or supporters, including fans storming the training ground and setting a fire, enforcing a match being postponed in 2021. The Metropolitan Police arrested five people a year ago, “believed to be away supporters,” when Marseille played a Champions League game at Tottenham. And one Marseille fan faced an attempted murder charge over firing a flare into Eintracht Frankfurt fans at a game, seriously injuring one visiting supporter. Lyon manager Grosso scored the winning penalty kick for Italy in the shootout victory over France in the 2006 World Cup final. Both clubs have been under pressure lately. Despite replacing Marcelino with Gennaro Gattuso as coach in September, Marseille remain showing poor form with one win and three losses in their last four league games. Lyon are the only team still winless in the league. Replacing Laurent Blanc with Grosso as coach in September hasn’t paid off for Lyon, as they sit in last place. Includes reporting from PA Read More Lyon manager injured after team bus attacked en route to Marseille match How Wales fared at World Cup and what the future holds for Warren Gatland’s men Major military search begins after kidnapping of Luis Diaz’s father Major military search begins after kidnapping of Luis Diaz’s father On this day in 2008: David Beckham heads to Milan to boost England hopes Mauricio Pochettino insists Chelsea must rebuild trust with supporters
2023-10-30 16:25
Portuguese police apologise to Madeleine McCann's parents
Senior officers travelled to the UK to meet Gerry McCann earlier this year, the BBC is told.
2023-10-30 14:51
On this day in 2008: David Beckham heads to Milan to boost England hopes
David Beckham joined AC Milan on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy on this day in 2008. The then 33-year-old England midfielder agreed a two-month move to Italy to stay fit during the MLS close-season in the United States. England manager Fabio Capello, who coached Beckham at Real Madrid, said: “Milan have made a good addition. “At Madrid I left him out of the squad because he had signed a contract with Los Angeles but he continued to come on the field and train and I put him back in the team. “He is a very serious lad, very sensible, a professional. People think he is a playboy off the field, it’s not true at all.” The 108-times capped Beckham felt a move to Milan would boost his chances of England selection. Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said: “His reasons are to stay fit and to make himself available for England, and the only way he can do that is to be training and playing in a good environment. “This, on the part of David, was a purely technical rationale. He wants to continue to play for England and this is one of the ways to do that.” Beckham began his glittering career at Manchester United, where he won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League. He joined Real Madrid in 2003 and spent four years in Spain before moving to LA Galaxy. Beckham had two loan spells at Milan and ended his career at Paris St Germain in 2013. Beckham went on to win 115 caps for England, a total only bettered by Peter Shilton and Wayne Rooney. Read More The sporting weekend in pictures Joel Embiid scores 35 points in big win for Philadelphia 76ers Rugby Australia chairman refuses to quit after Eddie Jones resignation
2023-10-30 14:16
Bears receiver Velus Jones Jr. shoulders blame for dropped touchdown pass: "It's real devastating"
Velus Jones Jr.'s dropped touchdown pass was probably the lowest point of yet another rough game for the Chicago Bears
2023-10-30 13:52
Luukkonen gets first career shutout as Sabres blank Avalanche 4-0
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 26 saves in his first career shutout and JJ Peterka, Casey Mittelstadt, Tyson Jost, and Rasmus Dahlin scored for the Buffalo Sabres in a 4-0 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.
2023-10-30 12:58
Leonard and George school Wembanyama in rookie's 1st road game, lead Clippers over Spurs 123-83
Los Angeles Clippers stars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George schooled Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama in his first road game, beating San Antonio 123-83
2023-10-30 11:50