Luis Figo has come out in support of suspended UEFA president Michel Platini and says he fully trusts the former France international.
Platini is suspended for 90 days as FIFA s Ethics Committee investigate a payment he received from world football s governing body in 2011.
The three-time Ballon d Or winner has claimed the transfer of £1.35million was for work he undertook between 1998 and 2002 for FIFA, whose president Sepp Blatter is also suspended for 90 days.
Platini s ban has seen him ruled out of the running to replace Blatter at next year s FIFA presidential elections, but Figo – himself a candidate before withdrawing from a separate election earlier this year – believes the Frenchman remains a credible alternative to the Swiss.
My support is…
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insisted beating Manchester United to hoist the Premier League trophy aloft is not a source of motivation for the champions-elect.
City moved a step closer to winning the title following Monday s routine 2-0 win against lowly Stoke City, which restored their 16-point lead over neighbours United.
With an international break on the horizon, City are next in action against Everton on March 31 before welcoming United to the Etihad Stadium on April 7 – which could see Guardiola s men secure their third Premier League crown and first since 2014.
But when asked about the prospect of clinching the title against Jose Mourinho s United, Guardiola replied: You re the fifth journalist to ask me this question. The important thing is tha…
After 31 minutes of sound and fury at Anfield last week, Liverpool were 3-0 up and threatening more punishment against a bedraggled Manchester City.
After 31 minutes of sound and fury at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, Liverpool were 1-0 down, had failed to register a shot on goal and Loris Karius seemed to be pondering the meaning of life before every goal-kick.
Jurgen Klopp warned his players to expect a thunderstorm from a City side wounded by a painful week and it arrived following the first whistle from Antonio Mateu Lahoz. The Spanish official would blow far more contentiously as an absorbing evening gripped the senses a little tighter.
Of all the elements in this sky blue storm, Raheem Sterling was the howling wind as he turned in a first-half display of re…
A long-awaited takeover of Newcastle United has been approved by the Premier League after it said it received legally binding assurances the club would not be controlled by Saudi Arabia.
The takeover sees Saudi Arabia s Public Investment Fund (PIF) take an 80 per cent stake in the club, ending Mike Ashley s 14-year ownership. Amanda Staveley s PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben brothers RB Sports Media each take on 10 per cent.
Ashley, an unpopular figure with Newcastle s fanbase, has long been trying to sell the club and looked to have secured a suitable deal, reported to be worth £305million, in 2020.
However, the bid, backed by the PIF and fronted by British businesswoman Staveley, stalled as it failed to gain Premier League approval.
A dispute bet…
Arsenal are interested in signing Max Aarons from Norwich City, according to . It has been reported that the Gunners are happy with Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu, but manager Mikel Arteta wants to bring in another right-back who is more attacking in his approach.
Aarons is one of the best young right-backs in the Premier League and is a key figure at Norwich. The 21-year-old has played seven times in the Premier League for the Canaries so far this season. During the 2020-21 campaign, the England Under-21 international scored two goals and gave two assists in 45 Championship matches for Norwich.
Norwich got prompted from the Championship at the end of last season and are struggling in the Premier League at the moment. It is unlikely that the Canaries will sell Aa…
Marcos Senna has rejected talk of retirement, stating his commitment to Villarreal and desire to get the club back into Spain s top flight.
After relegation last season a lot of things changed as players were sold in preparation for life in the lower division, but Senna remained with the club to mastermind their return to the top flight.
Currently sat in fourth place in the Segunda Division with five games to play, automatic promotion is still not guaranteed, but Senna remains committed to the club whatever the outcome.
I m very happy, and I ve always considered this as my home, he said.
If I have the opportunity to stay here one more seaso
00004000
n, I ll be happy, and then retiring here.
This year we are focused on returning to t…
Marc Skinner lauded his Manchester United Women side as history-makers after their first FA Cup triumph in history on Sunday.
The Red Devils swept aside Tottenham Women with a 4-0 victory at Wembley Stadium as Ella Toone and Rachel Williams were on target before Lucia Garcia s second-half double.
United missed out in the final of the Women s FA Cup last season, losing to Chelsea 1-0, but produced an emphatic response to secure the first major trophy in their history.
Having lost in Champions League qualifying, suffered group-stage elimination in the League Cup and sitting fifth in the Women s Super League, Skinner was delighted with his side s response in the capital.
The United boss told BBC One: We are obviously not where we want in the league, right? B…
Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata revealed he was touched by the reception he received from Chelsea supporters at Stamford Bridge during Sunday s 1-1 draw in the Premier League.
The Spain international, who played for the Blues between 2011 and 2014, was given thunderous applause by home supporters when he came off to be replaced by Ander Herrera in stoppage time.
Mata was swift to acknowledge the Chelsea fans after the match, which ended level after Diego Costa s last-gasp equaliser cancelled out Jesse Lingard s opener.
It is always special for me to play in Stamford Bridge, he wrote in his blog.
My feelings are different in a day like this, but once the referee blows the whistle for the kick-off, in my mind the only goal is to win, to give everyth…
Former Brazil international Juninho believes Barcelona is the most likely destination for compatriot Neymar when he leaves Santos.
In March, Neymar stated it would be a dream to play in Europe but a move never materialised. However, Juninho believes a move to Barcelona is likely for the 21-year-old.
Neymar has scored 136 goals in 219 appearances for Santos since making his debut as a 17-year-old in 2009. His style of play has been likened to Lionel Messi and interest in him has come from many of Europe s big clubs.
As a 14-year-old he trained with Real Madrid, but Juninho believes that a move to Catalonia is more likely than one to the Spanish capital.
I believe that he is closer to Barcelona, he told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.
Everyone se…
Sevilla are to take legal action against Vitolo, Atletico Madrid and Las Palmas in the wake of his controversial transfer to the Spanish capital.
Atletico last week confirmed a five-year deal to sign the winger despite being restricted by a transfer ban that is due to end in January.
Vitolo will play for Las Palmas for the first half of next season before he registers with Atletico in January.
The complex transfer came two days after Sevilla president Jose Castro claimed the 27-year-old had in fact signed a new five-year deal with his club.
A statement posted on Sevilla s official website following a meeting of the board of directors confirmed: The board of directors have agreed to take legal action against those who have intervened in the departure of V…