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Former Manchester City boss Joe Royle says Pep Guardiola’s current side is “one of, if not the best” English football has seen. City completed the treble on Saturday night with victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final and Royle has no doubts where Guardiola’s class of 2023 ranks in the all-time list. Royle, 74, who led City from the third tier to the Premier League after back-to-back promotions in 1999 and 2000, told the PA news agency: “There’s no doubt about it. They’re one of, if not the best English club side there has been. “They’ve got to be talked of as one of them. They can play off the cuff or play in various systems and they can counter very quickly. “They’ve got world-class individuals, they’ve got the team ethic and they’ve got a very, very strong squad, covering every position.” Manchester United became the first English side to win the treble – league title, FA Cup and Champions League – under Sir Alex Ferguson in 1999, the same year City dropped into the third tier for the first time in their history. The debate will now rage among both clubs’ fans over which is the greater achievement and Royle said: “A treble is a treble. “They’re both equally matched when compared to their rivals in their era and both City and United fans will rightfully claim that their side’s treble was the best.” Under Royle, City ended their one season in the old Second Division, now League One, in thrilling fashion by beating Gillingham on penalties in the play-off final at Wembley. Gillingham had led 2-0 in the final minute of normal time before last-gasp goals from City pair Kevin Horlock and Paul Dickov took the tie to extra-time and then penalties, with Royle’s side winning the shoot-out 3-1. “It was an unforgettable way to win promotion,” Royle said. “And when you consider how far City have come since then, there’s no secret. “The current ownership, with their financial support, have changed City from a side that did sink to the third tier. “We got back into the Premier League, but we certainly didn’t have the funding that the side does today in order for us to stay there and we went straight back down again. “But it’s been mostly on the up since then. It can never be too quick for a club to get in the Premier League. “The current side, look where they’ve gone now. They’ve completed the treble and deservedly so. You can never get there too quickly.” Certainly anyone who finishes ahead of them next season, in England or Europe, is going to be doing very well Former City manager Joe Royle Guardiola’s City have been crowned English champions in five of the last six seasons, but, after finally securing the Champions League Royle, is not sure if they will now dominate Europe in a similar manner. “Football is a season-by-season game isn’t it?” he added. “Certainly anyone who finishes ahead of them next season, in England or Europe, is going to be doing very well. “The money has been spent very well. They’ve generally bought very well. It’s one thing having money and another thing using it wisely and City have been very good at that.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Brentford turn Kevin Schade loan move into permanent club-record deal Jon Lewis says England are ready for ‘great challenge’ of regaining Ashes Ivan Toney calls FA ‘bit spiteful’ over ban case after missing ‘dream’ World Cup

Saudi Arabia has been in the headlines a lot lately -- this time for trying to find its place in the sporting world. It's spending big money

England striker Ivan Toney has described the Football Association as “spiteful” for its handling of his ban for breaking betting rules

Sylvia Fowles has always deflected praise to others

With the 2022/23 season completed and Premier League clubs now focused on the summer transfer window, WhoScored.com take a look at which players suit each team’s biggest need over the next eight weeks. First up: from Arsenal to Fulham. Arsenal What do they need - central midfielder Who should they sign - Moises Caicedo With Granit Xhaka set for a Bundesliga return, Arsenal need at least two central midfielders this summer. Declan Rice remains the priority for the Gunners, yet the West Ham star can’t be the only middle man that arrives this summer ahead of their return to the Champions League. Moises Caicedo is another linked with Arsenal and would offer an ball-carrying outlet from deep as well as terrific defensive capabilities to help fill the void that will be left once Xhaka departs. Aston Villa What do they need - winger Who should they sign - Harvey Barnes Having secured a return to European football on the final day of the season, Aston Villa are aware they need to add strength in depth in the off-season ahead of Unai Emery’s first full season at the Villa Park helm. A right-back, winger and striker are the priorities for the Villans this summer, with Harvey Barnes one who’ll tick off a problem position. Barnes’ goal exploits were overshadowed by James Maddison’s form, but the 25-year-old still managed an commendable 13 league goals for the relegated Foxes. Bournemouth What do the need - central midfielder Who should they sign - Tyler Adams Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil worked wonders in the Cherries hotseat following his appointment as Scott Parker’s successor, but if they are to avoid a relegation dogfight, they need to strengthen in key areas. One of those will be in the middle of the park, particularly with Jefferson Lerma departing following the culmination of his contract. Bournemouth could do a lot worse than raid relegated Leeds for Tyler Adams, the American having ranked third for tackles per 90 (3.7) in the Premier League last season. Brentford What do they need - striker Who should they sign - Viktor Gyokeres Ivan Toney’s suspension leaves Brentford a little light up top. Granted, while the Bees have performed well in his absence, they can’t head into the new season without the services of their 20-goal frontman until January. While a short-term addition would suit all parties, Brentford may instead seek to bring Viktor Gyokeres up to the Premier League. Coventry’s failure to secure promotion means the Swede is seemingly up for grabs and having scored 21 and provided 12 assists last season, Thomas Frank’s side would certainly benefit from the 25-year-old’s addition. Brighton What do they need - central midfielder Who should they sign - Enzo Le Fee Brighton are set to lose both Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo this summer and while Mahmoud Dahoud and James Milner are tipped to arrive, the Seagulls still look a little light in the middle of the park. Enzo Le Fee was a standout performer for Lorient this season, yet will depart the French side in the coming weeks, and Brighton would be foolish not to consider the 23-year-old. Le Fee ranked third for tackles (108) and seventh for dribbles (68) in the 2022/23 Ligue 1 campaign, while an additional five goals and five assists has helped boost his reputation. Burnley What do they need - central midfielder Who should they sign - Albert Sambi-Lokonga Burnley will need an overhaul in central midfield this summer. They can’t rely on 33-year-old Jack Cork to help beat the drop next season, and so a player who has worked under Vincent Kompany in the past would be a viable option for the Clarets. Albert Sambi-Lokonga spent the second half of last season on loan at Crystal Palace, though still struggled for minutes at Selhurst Park. Arsenal are unlikely to rely upon Lokonga next season, noted by their pursuit of high-profile midfielders, so another short-term move would certainly benefit the Belgian. Chelsea What do they need - striker Who should they sign - Victor Osimhen To put it bluntly - Chelsea need a player to put the ball in the back of the net. Christopher Nkunku is set to sign for the Blues, but another striker would certainly aid their quest to launch a sustained title push under Mauricio Pochettino. Victor Osimhen wouldn’t come cheap, the Nigerian having scored more goals (26) than any other player in Serie A this season, yet with Todd Boehly willing to loosen the purse strings, Osimhen could prove the perfect frontman for Chelsea, and one to rid them of the dreaded No.9 curse. Crystal Palace What do they need - right-back Who should they sign - Sacha Boey Crystal Palace were able to muddle through the season with Joel Ward and Nathaniel Clyne at right-back, but the pair are now 33 and 32 years of age, respectively, and the Eagles could do with some investment in defence ahead of the new season. While he has been linked with Arsenal, Sacha Boey could prove a shrewd capture for the Eagles. The 22-year-old was key in Galatasaray’s title triumph and has made the second most tackles (86) in the Super Lig this season, so a committed body to shore up the defence would certainly be welcomed at Selhurst Park. Everton What do they need - striker Who should they sign - Alfredo Morelos Everton have been linked with a move for Wout Weghorst, the Dutchman having worked under Sean Dyche during their short time together at Turf Moor, as the Toffees seek to sign another striker. However, Weghorst has a poor record in England having scored just two goals in 37 league appearances, so they may be better off perusing the free market. Alfredo Morelos will leave Rangers this summer upon the culmination of his contract and having scored 11 goals and provided five assists in the Scottish Premiership last season, the hot-headed Colombian could prove a handy pick up. Fulham What do they need - centre-back Who should they sign - Harry Maguire Centre-back is hardly a problem position for Fulham, with Tim Ream, Tosin Adarabioyo and Issa Diop all performing admirably for the Cottagers as they beat the drop last season, but with the former now 35, some fresh blood would benefit Marco Silva’s side. Harry Maguire is unlikely to be a Manchester United player once the summer transfer window closes and with their ongoing pursuit of Kim Min-Jae, the England international is expected to leave sooner rather than later. If his England performances are anything to go by, Maguire could prove a solid addition to the Fulham defence, while a fresh start would certainly benefit the 30-year-old. Coming on Tuesday: the ten Premier League teams from Liverpool to Wolves. Read More Toney compares ban to missing out on World Cup squad Pep’s future and Premier League charges – Where next for Man City after treble? Ward-Prowse, Maddison and 12 transfer targets after relegation Football rumours: Wilfried Zaha eyes move to Paris St Germain Wembley Stadium launches dementia friendly match-day experience Tottenham progressing in bid to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya

Alan Pulido, the veteran former Mexico international has been slowly coming back to form since returning to KC's ranks in April after a season-ending knee injury in 2022.

While much of the home nations’ focus this week will be on Euro 2024 qualifying, the finals of the 2023 Uefa Nations League are also being held. It means we’ll have a successor to France as champions of the tournament, which this year saw England and Wales both relegated from League A and Scotland promoted from League B. Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland remain in Groups B and C respectively. Here’s everything you need to know about the finals, who is involved and how to watch across the week, including Sunday’s grand final. Who is playing in the Nations League finals? The four nations involved in the finals are Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Croatia . Netherlands are hosts; the games are being played in De Kuip, Rotterdam, and De Grolsche Veste, Enschede. What are the fixtures and when are they? In the semi-finals, Netherlands play Croatia at 7:45pm BST on Wednesday 14 June. One day later at the same time, Spain play Italy. The losers of each semi will play each other in the third-place play-off at 2pm on Sunday 18 June, with the winners meeting in the final on the same day at 7:45pm. Where can I watch? Both the semi-finals will be screened on Viaplay Sports 1, as well as the third-place play-off. The final will be on Viaplay Sport 1 and Channel 4, and can be streamed via the All 4 app. All Viaplay matches can be watched via the website and app. How does the Nations League impact Euro 2024 qualifying? There is no automatic qualification for Euro 2024 by winning the 2023 Nations League. However, with two places available in each group through qualifying it is unlikely any of the quartet will miss out in any case. In the event they do finish outside the top two in their Euro 2024 qualifying groups, the six best-performing nations in the Nations League will be handed play-off spots for a last shot at reaching the Euros. Odds Netherlands 21/20 - Draw 12/5 - Croatia 32/11 Spain 13/10 - Draw 9/4 - Italy 41/17 Overall winner: Netherlands 9/4 Italy 7/2 Croatia 9/2 Spain 11/2 Read More Tottenham progressing in bid to sign Brentford goalkeeper David Raya Jarrod Bowen: From Hereford and Hull to West Ham’s humble European hero Soccer Aid 2023: England vs World XI result, final score and reaction Soccer Aid 2023: England vs World XI result, final score and reaction Toney compares ban to missing out on World Cup squad How Pep Guardiola can become the undisputed greatest manager

The Netherlands will be without Matthijs de Ligt for the Nations League final four after the Bayern Munich center-back sustained a calf injury

A version of this story was published in February 2017 Diego Maradona was one of many players struck by the strange “uniqueness” of the occasion. He wasn’t to know the half of it. Because, the last and only other time that Napoli travelled to Real Madrid - back in the 1987-88 European Cup - it involved a hugely bad-tempered game that also saw a manager call a player a “mafioso” and took place in front of no fans and in an odd silence, due to crowd trouble the previous season from Real’s infamous Ultrasurs. It was hardly the setting for such a highly anticipated match between two heavyweights, not to mention the meeting of one of the greatest players ever and the most successful European Cup club ever. All of that will likely get replayed in the build-up to Napoli’s return to the Bernabeu on Wednesday, but none of it is what really makes that 1987 match unique. This was actually the game that changed European football. AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi was one of many watching, but he couldn’t share in the excitement around the fixture. He was aghast at the fact that two clubs like that could meet as early as the first round of the competition, as was happening here. It was hardly the stage to waste such a highly anticipated clash, or to waste one of the sides that would be eliminated but instead should have been making the competition all the more enticing later on. Berlusconi naturally feared the same could happen to his own club, but also had wider concerns. So, he set in motion his plans for a European super league. That didn’t happen, but the idea - and the threat - directly led to the creation of the Champions League, and the super-club-dominated era we have today. It is also a situation with several levels of irony. What is only the second ever tie between Real and Napoli is now seen as a novelty in a last-16 stage that has meetings of Barcelona-PSG and Arsenal-Bayern Munich both being replayed for the fourth time in just five years, a level of repetition that has dulled some of the Champions League’s intrigue and mystique. It was exactly the intrigue and a mystique of a rarely-played fixture coming in the competition’s old opening knock-out round, however, that led to that. What’s more, this growth of the Champions League has someway cannibalised some of those who were initially so behind super league ideas - from Rangers in Scotland to Liverpool and even Milan themselves. It’s certainly difficult not to wonder what Berlusconi now thinks about Milan’s meek drift away from the glamorous competition he helped create. You don’t have to wonder what Real and Napoli thought on being drawn against each other so early in 1987, though. They were stunned. Part of the reason was that the first-time Italian champions had no European pedigree, so were unseeded. Real’s pedigree was emphasised by the fact this was their 100th European Cup match at the Bernabeu, making it all the more incongruous that it would take place in front of the stadium’s empty stands. A two-game closed-doors order was the price for crowd trouble in the previous season’s semi-final against Bayern Munich. It was probably oddly fitting that the match that would prove so transformative for the quality, glamour and scope of the competition, however, was a poor game played in front of nobody. Described by Mundo Deportivo at the time as a “cold” occasion where the players were “orphaned” on the pitch, it did heat up between the teams. Both squads probably took Maradona’s demand to “go and batter them!” a bit too literally. Many kicks and apparently punches were traded, a bag of ice was thrown at Real manager Leo Beenhakker, and Napoli’s Salvatore Bagni later claimed the Dutch coach and some of his players had called him “mafioso”. Beenhakker did apologise for that before the second leg, again citing the “unique” circumstances of the game, but from the vantage point of a 2-0 victory. The goals summed up the level of performance. Michel scored from a penalty, Fernando De Napoli was responsible for an own goal, all to the sound of silence. Returning to Spain for the first since leaving Barcelona in 1984, Maradona had been marked out of the game, and blamed Napoli’s poor display on the pressure of a first appearance in the competition. “You don’t have to exaggerate,” he said. “We did not see the true Napoli, perhaps because of the responsibility of a debut in the European Cup.” It was exactly this kind of quirk, however, that so concerned Berlusconi. He just couldn’t see the logic in the competition’s best - and most televisually lucrative - teams potentially going out because of one bad night, one stroke of bad luck. It was precisely this Berlusconi feared for Milan, as he admitted in what would prove a hugely prescient interview with World Soccer in 1991. Amid predictions about the decline of international football and how European Union regulations would completely condition the continental game, the mogul came out with the following: “The European Cup has become a historical anachronism. It is economic nonsense that a club such as Milan might be eliminated in the first round. It is not modern thinking.” Berlusconi had shown a lot of very modern thinking, particularly by football’s conservative standards, since taking over Milan in 1986. Though always a fan of the club, he saw them as one arm of his business empire. Berlusconi made little secret of his plans to use both the Rossoneri brand and his media company Mediaset together to maximise both. Having already revolutionised broadcasting in Italy with the way his innovative approach to regional stations evolved into the country’s first national private TV station in Canale 5, he had similar plans for football. Berlusconi felt the sport was utterly wasting its potential in this area, and not at all reaching a potential pay-TV audience of millions and beyond. He thought it absurd that the biggest clubs in a sport that involved so many popular stadium events were not regularly meeting in glamorously lucrative matches. Martin Schoots is now a prominent European agent representing players such as Christian Eriksen, but was then a journalist primarily covering the three Dutch stars at Milan - Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard - and was always impressed with Berlusconi’s approach when they met. “He was a visionary,” Schoots says,” and very clear and convinced about what developments would come. His philosophy was that football was a spectacle.” Or, as was put by some of those close to Berlusconi, “the television spectacular world-wide” - and the potential audience for his Canale 5. Making the European Cup a super league was not quite a new idea, though. That had actually been creator Gabriel Hanot’s initial plan for the competition in 1955 in order to better reflect “rightful” champions than the nuances of knock-out football, but proved impractical with the travel and communication of the time. Liverpool had also come up with a discussion document suggesting mini-leagues in 1978, around the time they were drawn against Nottingham Forest in the first round, and that had been revived in 1984. No-one, however, had gone for it with the same force or sense of structure to it as Berlusconi. this Super League was based on merit, tradition and television - and therefore it was a league for big television markets Alex Flynn After initial moves with Real president Ramon Mendoza were rejected, the Italian businessman decided to commission a blueprint for a ‘European Television League’ in 1988. The man who ended up with that commission was Alex Fynn, then of Saatchi and Saatchi. A huge football supporter, Fynn had already given a talk at an event for the Rothman’s Football Yearbook called a ’10-point blueprint for football’, suggesting exactly a European super league. It was subsequently printed in the Times, and word got around. “A few weeks later, I got a call from the head of our Italian agency,” Fynn tells The Independent now. “He said ‘here’s the job you always wanted: design a super league for Berlusconi.’ And the reaction? “My reaction? My reaction was my head was turned, I was flattered, and I did what I thought he wanted - not necessarily what football needed. So this Super League was based on merit, tradition and television - and therefore it was a league for big television markets. I think it had a league of about 18 clubs and certainly two each from England, Italy, Spain… that was the plan.” It was a plan initially rejected by Uefa, but had still done its job. The idea was out there, as was the underlying threat of a possible breakaway and possible changes were now on the table. “He decided to publicise it and use it as a stalking horse and catalyst to support his argument,” Fynn says of Berlusconi. “I think it went further than that. When someone like Berlusconi has a plan for a breakaway European super league, even Uefa had to sit up and take notice. The underlying threat was this businessman might have the wherewithal to do what he says. In theory, breakaways aren’t tangible, because they need the sanctioning of Uefa and Fifa. So maybe he realised that and maybe all he was doing was to produce the plan to affect some sort of change that would benefit his club and his commercial business - which of course it did.” Uefa fundamentally realised the dilemma between trying to keep the big clubs happy and keeping their structures intact, and thereby had to strike a balance, setting a dynamic that would lead to the current situation - but keep tilting one way. In the autumn of 1991, at an extraordinary Uefa congress, the then 35 members voted in new proposals, this time primarily put drawn up by Mendoza and former Rangers secretary Campbell Ogilvie. The quarter-finals would be replaced by a group stage, and league systems would be part of the competition for the first time. Even more important than that structural change, though, Uefa contracted the marketing company TEAM to sell it. The competition would the next season become the Champions League - to create what Fynn describes one of international sport’s two “supreme branded events” along with the NFL, right down to the distinctive classical anthem - an exclusive ‘family’ of corporate sponsors were signed up, and TV packages would be sold to the highest bidder, based on market share. Big clubs from the leagues with the largest TV markets would earn more and more money, accumulating more and more political capital Crucially, Berlusconi’s broadcasting model had properly permeated club football for the first time. The European game’s governing body had adopted many of its principles, as would the Premier League and many of the continents major clubs, bringing huge finances into the game - but also greater disparities than ever before. Big clubs from the leagues with the largest TV markets would naturally earn more and more money, accumulating more and more political capital, to the point more and more changes to the Champions League were inevitable. Finally, with two of this week’s fixtures offering the clearest examples in Barca-PSG and Arsenal-Bayern, we have the regular “television spectaculars” Berlusconi so envisaged. He probably didn’t envisage them, however, without Milan. That team he created, however, might still be the most influential in history. Because, just as they were changing football on the pitch with Arrigo Sacchi’s tactical ideas, the club were also changing football off it through Berlusconi’s economic ideas. And, if it was fitting that the first leg of the Real-Napoli tie was so off-putting given the change that would follow, it was equally fitting the return would give a sign of what was to come; what was capable - both in terms of the event, and the takings. This truly was the “television spectacular” Berlusconi desired. In front of a raucous 82,231 crowd at Napoli’s San Paolo stadium, and with Brazilian star Careca back in the team after injury, the revenge-driven home side finally did what Maradona demanded and “battered” Real in the right way. If only for 44 enticingly intense minutes. That Real team never got beyond the semi-finals, and were the very next season hammered 5-0 by Milan in a historic landmark of a game Defender Giovanni Francini had set the occasion alight by making it 2-1 after just after the half-hour, and Napoli could have added many more before Careca - of all people - missed a fine chance on 40. Within four minutes, Emilio Butragueno had scored the decisive goal. Real were through. If history regularly repeats itself, it’s interesting how so many of the same debates do, too. In the aftermath of that game, Maradona’s European pedigree was questioned, while Butragueno’s clinical brilliance was widely praised. Neither would actually end up winning the European Cup, as that Real team never got beyond the semi-finals, and were the very next season hammered 5-0 by Milan in a historic landmark of a game. At the time, though, Real were convinced they were on the brink. They even celebrated that victory in an unusually ostentatious manner. Beenhakker was remarkably moved to declare a mere first-round win - for a club that had then won the competition six times - as “a result for history”. It was to prove exactly that, but not in the way he imagined. The future could already be imagined from Napoli’s earnings from the game. They received 10,000 million lira due to both ticket and television sales, estimated at that point to be a world record. The die had been cast - and is still rolling. The Champions League continues to gradually change according to the preferences of big clubs, if at a somewhat glacial pace. “The big clubs never have enough money,” Fynn says. “That’s why you can never satisfy them, whatever changes you make.” Right now, what generally happens is that we see a lot of the same clubs, and a lot of the same fixtures in the latter stages of the competition - to the point Real and Napoli is again a novelty. It is thereby a fixture that will forever remain unique. Read More Pep’s future and Premier League charges – Where next for Man City after treble? How Pep Guardiola can become the undisputed greatest manager Man City fans feel let down by Uefa’s ‘shambolic’ organisation of Istanbul final Football rumours: Wilfried Zaha eyes move to Paris St Germain The sporting weekend in pictures Pretty Woman makes Pep Guardiola’s day as Julia Roberts hails Man City champions

A professional golfer was tackled to the ground by a security guard after being mistaken for an overzealous fan at the Canadian Open on Sunday (June 11). Canadian Adam Hadwin was celebrating his fellow countryman Nick Taylor’s win after a tense play-off with Tommy Fleetwood. He approached Taylor with a bottle of champagne in viral footage circulating online. Hawdin, who is ranked 75th in the world rankings, was running over to Taylor after the win when he was bundled to the ground. A video was captured and shared by journalist Kayla Gray on Twitter and it’s already been seen by millions online. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter After he was pushed to the ground a crowd gathered, before the misunderstanding appeared to be cleared up. It came after Taylor won the Canadian Open and secured the top prize of $1.62m. The incident has sparked a lot of reaction in the golf world, with Tyrell Hatton writing on Twitter: “Gutted for Tommy but what a way to win your national open! “Mad scenes! Praying for Adam Hadwin, what a tackle.” Hadwin’s wife Jessica also shared a hilarious update, commenting on a video by saying: “Omg I can’t handle these different angles. The security guard’s laser focus on his target. Adam’s commitment to the giant bottle of champagne. So many things to take in with every new POV.” She later added: “Sorry to leave y’all hanging, had to get the toddler ready for bed. I’m thrilled to report that @ahadwingolf is still among the land of the living and in true Canadian form, apologized to the security guard for being tackled.” “Im also gonna need that video of Hadwin being tackled by a security guard,” Justin Thomas wrote. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Conor McGregor sent the Miami Heat mascot to the hospital in a bizarre promotional shoot gone wrong. The former UFC champion made an appearance at the NBA Finals in Miami where the Heat took on the Denver Nuggets. During the third-quarter stoppage, McGregor went head-to-head with the Heat mascot to promote his new product, a pain relief spray. The footage saw the fighter punch the mascot, before hitting him again. McGregor then used the heat spray on Bernie the mascot while he was knocked out on the floor, and who didn't get up immediately. The man behind the mascot was taken to a nearby hospital, according to The Athletic. The Heat said on Saturday (10 June) that the mascot received pain relief and rested at home. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The footage soon went viral across social media, with many concerned for the man's well-being. "I don't see the humor in this at all," one Twitter user wrote. "Looked like assault to me." Another added: "I really hope that the performer is okay, there’s no real way to brace your neck in costumes like that. Wouldn’t be shocked if they had a concussion." Meanwhile, one sports fan wrote: "Adding insult to injury, this is more entertaining than the actual NBA finals." Dana White has since responded to the incident, saying: "What’s up with mascots wanting to get punched in the face by professional fighters? What do you expect? "What are those mascot things made out of? Unless you’re like the Golden Knights mascot... I’m assuming it’s a metal helmet... I wouldn’t have professional fighters punch me in the face if I was a mascot." He added: "It doesn’t seem like the brightest thing in the world." McGregor hasn't fought professionally since July 2021, after suffering a leg injury to Dustin Poirier. His last fighting victory came in January 2020. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Eintracht Frankfurt has appointed former Bayern Munich assistant coach Dino Toppmöller as head coach to replace Oliver Glasner