Author: Kate Man

Lionel Messi has been fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS for violating the league’s policy relating to raising hands to the face, head or neck of an opponent.The MLS Disciplinary Committee took the decision to fine Inter Miami forward Messi, 37, following an incident at the end of the 2-2 draw with New York City FC on 22 February.The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was seen approaching a member of the opposition coaching staff and putting his hand on the back of their neck.Team-mate Luis Suarez has also been fined for violating the same MLS policy, after he pinched the…

Palmer started the season in red-hot form for the Blues, scoring 14 goals and creating six assists across his first 21 Premier League appearances. However, he has zero goal involvements since.Many Chelsea supporters, as well as Fantasy Football fans, had pencilled in Chelsea’s home match against a Southampton side who sit bottom of the league and have the worst defensive record as the fixture where Palmer would restart his goalscoring form.And the former Manchester City man did find himself on the end of several chances, having seven shots – the joint-highest total for a Chelsea player in the league this…

“The Galatasaray and Fenerbahce derby is the biggest sport event in Turkey,” says Burak Abatay from BBC Turkish.”Life stops on derby evenings – even the terrible Istanbul traffic is relieved. It is very big tension. The match [last night] was played in this tension.”There has been a great chaos in Turkish football for a long time. The main discussion is usually about the referees.”Last season a referee was attacked by a club president in the centre of the pitch. And two teams withdrew from the pitch last season. Another club did the same this season.”In the middle of this season,…

Max Verstappen says Red Bull are “confident” they have made the right changes to their car as he seeks a fifth consecutive drivers’ title.Verstappen’s fourth crown last year was founded on a dominant period in the first five races before McLaren, in particular, caught up in performance.The Dutchman drove an outstanding season to defend his lead from Lando Norris, when the Briton’s McLaren was the faster car in the second half of the year.Verstappen said: “The development direction we chose at the time showed a lot of promise, but unfortunately it didn’t work like that on track so we had…

Manchester City want Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak could leave Newcastle in the summer and Paul Pogba may join Inter Miami.Manchester City are chasing Bayer Leverkusen’s Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz, 21, with English midfielder James McAtee, 22, potentially moving the other way. (Mail), externalSweden striker Alexander Isak may be allowed to leave Newcastle if they do not qualify for next season’s Champions League, with Liverpool and Arsenal interested in the 25-year-old. (Mirror), externalNigeria striker Ademola Lookman, 27, will leave Atalanta after falling out with manager Gian Piero Gasperini. (Sky Sports Switzerland – in French), externalNewcastle are considering a summer…

Galatasaray said they would “initiate criminal proceedings” against Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho after claiming he made “racist statements” following the teams’ 0-0 draw on Monday.Speaking in the news conference after the Istanbul derby, Mourinho said the Galatasaray bench had been “jumping like monkeys”.As well as the threat of legal action, Galatasaray said they would submit “official complaints” to football’s governing bodies.Mourinho – a former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager – and Fenerbahce are yet to responded to the accusations.Monday’s match was refereed by Slovenian Slavko Vincic after both clubs requested a foreign official take charge of the fixture.Asked after…

Manchester United will make up to 200 jobs redundant to “return the club to profitability”.About 250 members of staff were made redundant last year in a first wave of cost-cutting measures by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.In a meeting with staff on Monday, United chief executive Omar Berrada informed employees that there would be a fresh round of redundancies as part of a “transformation plan”.A club statement read: “The transformation plan aims to return the club to profitability after five consecutive years of losses since 2019.”It added that “approximately 150-200 jobs may be made redundant, subject to a consultation process with…

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca says he is not concerned by Cole Palmer’s form or body language.The Italian manager addressed the issue of the England international’s dip in form amid Chelsea’s run of two wins in 10 matches in all competitions.The 22-year-old forward has not scored in any of his past six matches in all competitions and has not registered an assist in any of his past 13 matches. But in 2024 he registered 26 goals and 13 assists – a Chelsea record and more than any other player in the Premier League during the last calendar year.Asked about Palmer’s struggles…

Ruben Amorim urges Manchester United to sign Geovany Quenda, West Ham target Taylor Harwood-Bellis, while Real Madrid are reluctant to meet Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite valuation.Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has urged the Old Trafford hierarchy to sign 17-year-old Portugal Under-21s winger Geovany Quenda from his former club Sporting for £35m. (Star), externalWest Ham are interested in Southampton’s 23-year-old England centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis. (Sun – subscription required), externalReal Madrid remain keen on Jarrad Branthwaite but are reluctant to meet Everton’s £62m valuation of the 22-year-old England centre-back. (Diario AS – in Spanish), externalCrystal Palace are keen on signing Liverpool’s 19-year-old Wales…

Slot, understandably, was cautious.”In every other league, having a lead like would be very comfortable, but not in this league,” he said. “There is a challenge in every game. We even saw Plymouth Argyle challenging us in the FA Cup.”The fans can sing what they want but we know how hard we have to work. Someone asked me after we drew at Aston Villa whether we were having a dip. I never believed that and I’m not going to say anything now.”Seemingly insurmountable leads have been surrendered at the top of the Premier League in the past, but very few…