Category: Sport

 

 

UEFA has approved the staging of a La Liga and a Serie A match in the United States and Australia, respectively, despite sustained protests from fans.

 

The decision means Barcelona and Villarreal will meet in Miami in December, and for Milan and Como to play in Perth, Australia, in February.

 

Supporters’ organisations and fan groups had voiced strong opposition to proposals to move the matches overseas, arguing that staging domestic league games outside their home countries undermines local fans and the integrity of national competitions.

 

But in a statement on Monday, UEFA acknowledged the controversy around taking domestic league fixtures abroad but said the approvals were an “exceptional” measure and must not be interpreted as setting a precedent.

 

The statement signed by UEFA’s president, Aleksander Ceferin, read, “League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions. Our consultation confirmed the breadth of these concerns.

“I would like to thank the 55 national associations for their constructive and responsible engagement on such a sensitive issue.

 

“While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent. Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment.”

 

The move comes after the Italian and Spanish football federations applied for those matches to be played abroad.

 

Uefa said its national associations had agreed to engage with it before submitting any future requests.

 

Uefa’s executive committee delayed a decision on the matter last month and says its consultation on the issue has found a lack of support for the concept.

 

 

Super Falcons forward Ifeoma Onumonu has announced her retirement from football, bringing an end to a professional career that spanned more than a decade across the United States, France, and Nigeria, PUNCH Online reports.

 

In a statement shared on Instagram in the early hours of Saturday, the 31-year-old expressed gratitude for her journey, describing her retirement as a “natural conclusion” to a lifelong discovery that began at the age of eight.

 

“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I bid farewell to my playing career on the pitch,” Onumonu wrote, reflecting on her early years with a youth team called Magic in the United States.

 

“We played in white, black, and green jerseys at the AYSO fields near my house. I remember how vast I thought the field was. I don’t remember if I played an actual position or if I even passed the ball.

 

”All I wanted to do was run as fast as I could and score. I didn’t much care about winning or losing; I just loved playing.”

 

Onumonu said that passion for football guided her for 22 years and culminated in unforgettable moments on both club and international stages.

“I had the profound pleasure of lifting an NWSL championship trophy, representing Nigeria at the Olympics and a World Cup, and helping to lift the African Cup of Nations trophy with the Super Falcons for a historic 10th time,” she added.

 

The American-born striker, who made her senior debut for Nigeria in 2021, was part of the country’s 2023 Women’s World Cup squad and also represented the Super Falcons at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

 

She featured in the team’s WAFCON triumph in July 2025, the country’s record-extending 10th continental title.

Though her involvement in the tournament in Morocco was limited to a 54-minute outing in the goalless draw against Algeria in the group stage, she remained one of the squad’s oldest players, behind veterans Tochukwu Oluehi, Osinachi Ohale and Francisca Ordega.

 

Her inclusion in Nigeria’s 2024 Olympic roster came after she was upgraded from the alternates list following Halimatu Ayinde’s withdrawal due to injury.

 

Onumonu, who was born in California to a Nigerian father and raised in the United States, began her professional journey in the National Women’s Soccer League with Boston Breakers and subsequently featured for Portland Thorns, Reign FC, Utah Royals, and NJ/NY Gotham FC before moving to France to play for Montpellier HSC.

 

A product of the California Golden Bears collegiate programme, she represented the United States at U-23 level before switching allegiance to Nigeria, where she earned international recognition for her intelligent movement, composure, and work ethic.

 

Reflecting on her decision, Onumonu said her retirement does not mark an end to her involvement in football.

“This is not a goodbye to football, but a new beginning.

 

“I am excited to explore opportunities off the pitch, using the skills and lessons learned from my time on it,” she stated.

 

She expressed deep appreciation to all who supported her journey, adding, “Thank you to all the staff, teammates, coaches, doctors, fans, and my incredible friends and family for your unwavering support through the years. Although my time as a player has come to an end, my love and devotion for this game will never waver.”

 

 

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Friday there was “no conflict” with Hansi Flick after the Barcelona boss last month criticised the national team’s handling of Lamine Yamal.

 

The 18-year-old winger made his first start for Barcelona since August in Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain after recovering from a groin injury Flick felt was made worse by him playing in September’s World Cup qualifiers.

 

“There is no conflict with Flick. I was simply surprised by those statements because he has been a national team coach and I thought he had that empathy,” De la Fuente said after announcing his squad for games against Georgia and Bulgaria.

 

“You know we have two very important matches; we are playing for the World Cup. It seems like they’re in the background, and we’re talking about Flick.

 

“We are playing for the World Cup, that is what really matters. The rest is not important. Everyone said what they said, and that’s it.”

 

Flick said at the time he had spoken briefly to De la Fuente via text message but their communication could be improved.

 

De la Fuente sought to provide more clarity on the situation Friday as he tried to draw a line under the issue.

“What happened was that, when the match ended, he had some kind of discomfort. But I have never played without discomfort. Nothing happened,” he said.

 

“Our medical staff have explained it, and I have explained it. Nothing more. Did he then have discomfort after the match? Well, I don’t know.”

 

Spain will be without Nico Williams and Dani Carvajal for the upcoming qualifiers, while Alvaro Morata has been left out of the squad after a slow start to the season at Como.

 

Athletic Bilbao winger Williams has not played since picking up a groin injury in the 6-0 win over Turkey. His club had reportedly asked for his playing time to be managed due to discomfort.

 

“The risk in football and in sports always exists. If he is playing at his club, he is assuming those risks. We are talking about completely normal situations,” said De la Fuente.

 

Spain are top of Group E with six points after two matches. They face Georgia in Elche on October 11 and host Bulgaria in Valladolid three days later.

 

AFP

 

 

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City will have to wait until next season to see the best of Rodri again as the Spanish midfielder slowly finds his feet after knee surgery.

 

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner missed last weekend’s 5-1 win over Burnley due to pain in the knee — 12 months after he suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage.

 

The 29-year-old made his return in May but has suffered a series of minor setbacks.

 

“Rodri is an outstanding player, everyone knows it,” said Guardiola on Friday.

 

“Maybe he struggled to understand it’s not about six months or 12, the World Cup will be the best Rodri, and next season will be the best Rodri. This year is how to handle it.

 

“One year he has been out. The body changes, the rhythm changes, it’s a question of time; if he’s healthy, he will be back.”

 

To cover Rodri’s absence, City splashed out £50 million ($67 million) on Nico Gonzalez in January, but he has struggled to match the levels of his compatriot.

The former Barcelona midfielder replaced Rodri for the final 30 minutes of Wednesday’s 2-2 Champions League draw at Monaco and conceded a late penalty that cost City victory.

 

“He’s learning and improving. We need him”, said Guardiola, referring to Gonzalez.

 

“Rodri can’t sustain the rhythm for games for 90 minutes. He made an incredible effort in the week with Manchester United, Napoli, and especially Arsenal.

“I try to protect my players. Sometimes I want the best players there, but I have to protect the players.”

 

Despite dropping two points in Monaco, a draw extended City’s unbeaten run to six games in all competitions.

 

City suffered their first trophyless campaign for eight years last season, and Guardiola is encouraged by the progress he sees after refreshing his squad with several younger players.

 

“The happiest feeling is how we have improved. I love that feeling. And the feeling that I think we can do better,” he said.

“That is the feeling that I like as a manager. The feeling we are creating again — the tempo, the pace.

 

“Everything is a little bit more fluid and consistent. But we can do better, and I love that.”

 

City, who sit five points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, travel to Brentford on Sunday.

 

 

Arsenal have opened contract talks with defender Jurrien Timber as they look to secure his long-term future at the club.

 

The Gunners are keen to reward the Dutch international for his standout performances, which have seen him become a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s squad.

 

According to BBC Sports on Friday, talks are at an early stage, but there is a will from all parties to reach an agreement to extend his stay in north London beyond his existing deal that expires in 2028.

 

The 24-year-old arrived from Ajax in a deal worth £34.4m in the summer of 2023, but his first season at the Emirates was ruined by an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in the opening game of the campaign against Nottingham Forest.

The injury saw him make just one more appearance all season, but he recovered to play 51 times during the 2024-25 campaign.

 

The defender has maintained his impressive form this season, playing a key role in Arsenal’s promising start to solidify his place as first-choice right-back.

 

The club are also in talks with Bukayo Saka over a new long-term contract amid optimism that the England star will sign soon.

 

Key central defender William Saliba has already signed a new five-year deal.

 

 

Ex- Manchester United captain, Wayne Rooney says the spirit and identity of Manchester United have disappeared, and he has no confidence in manager Ruben Amorim’s ability to turn the situation around.

 

Speaking on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC Sounds, United’s all-time leading goalscorer described the club as “broken” and admitted he now attends matches expecting them to lose.

 

According to BBC Sport on Monday, Manchester United’s 3-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday meant they have collected 34 points from Amorim’s 33 league games in charge and have still to win successive matches.

 

The club are said to remain supportive of their head coach despite the damaging loss which left them 14th in the Premier League table.

But Rooney added that some current players “don’t deserve to wear the shirt”, the side “needs a new engine” and supporters are “waiting for the club to crumble”.

 

“I am not seeing anything which is giving me any confidence, there needs to be big changes in my opinion,” said the former England striker, who won five league titles during 13 years at Old Trafford.

 

“Manager, players, whatever that is. Whatever it takes to get Manchester Untied back,” Rooney said.

 

 

European Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain will play their first-ever Intercontinental Cup final in Doha, Qatar, on December 17, FIFA announced on Sunday.

 

Their opponents will only be determined four days earlier in the final playoff, called the Challenger Cup.

 

This will pit Egyptian club Pyramids, the African champions, against the winner of the match between Central American champions Cruz Azul from Mexico and the future winner of the Copa Libertadores.

 

The South American tournament is currently in the semi-final stage and includes two Brazilian sides.

Palmeiras are up against LDU Quito of Ecuador, while Flamengo take on the Argentinian side Racing.

 

The Copa Libertadores final takes place on November 29.

From 1960 to 2004, the Intercontinental Cup pitted the champions of Europe and South America against each other.

 

In 2005, it was renamed the Club World Cup to include other continental champions, but that competition was relaunched this year as a quadrennial tournament featuring 32 teams, with Chelsea as the inaugural winners of the new format.

 

The Intercontinental Cup was relaunched in its new form last year when Real Madrid beat Mexican club Pachuca.

 

AFP

 

 

Manchester United’s troubles deepened on Saturday after a 3-1 defeat to Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, a result that has piled more pressure on manager Ruben Amorim.

 

Brazilian forward Igor Thiago was the star of the show, netting twice in the opening 20 minutes.

 

He broke the deadlock in the 8th minute, timing his run perfectly to beat the offside trap before calmly finishing past Altay Bayindir.

 

Twelve minutes later, he tapped in a rebound to make it 2-0.

 

United briefly sparked hope in the 26th minute when Benjamin Šeško pulled one back after a scramble in the Brentford box.

The turning point came in the 71st minute. United captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up for a penalty after Bryan Mbeumo was fouled, but Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher guessed right and saved his effort.

 

Deep into stoppage time, substitute Mathias Jensen rubbed salt in the wounds. Breaking free on the counter, he curled a shot from distance that flew past Bayindir to seal Brentford’s 3-1 win.

 

The defeat is a huge boost for Brentford, who now look forward with confidence. For Manchester United.

 

Just a week after a victory over Chelsea, the club has once again been dragged back into crisis mode, with Amorim’s future now under intense scrutiny as the international break looms.

 

Amad Diallo has temporarily left the squad following the death of a close family member, his club confirmed.

 

The 22-year-old winger has returned home to be with his loved ones during this difficult time. A club spokesperson expressed full support for the player, acknowledging the emotional toll of the loss.

 

According to a post from Fabrizio Romano’s X post on Friday, Manchester United’s coach Reuben Amorim said, “Amad is not with us as a member of his family passed away. We are giving all the support to Amad and understand he needed to return home”.

As a result of his temporary absence, Amad is likely to miss Manchester United’s early kick-off opener against Brentford on Saturday.

 

The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international has received messages of support from teammates, fans, and club officials, all expressing their condolences.

 

 

Barcelona suffered a double injury blow on Friday with winger Raphinha and goalkeeper Joan Garcia ruled out of upcoming matches including next week’s Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.

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‎Brazil international Raphinha is set to miss three weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in the Spanish champions’ 3-1 win at Real Oviedo on Thursday in La Liga, Barcelona said in a statement.

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‎Spanish stopper Garcia, meanwhile, suffered a meniscus injury in his left knee and the club said he will miss “between four and six weeks”.

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‎Garcia is set to be replaced in goal by Polish veteran Wojciech Szczesny, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen also recovering from a back operation.

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‎Raphinha should return for Barcelona’s clash against rivals Real Madrid on October 26, but Garcia will only be able to return if his injury heals on the quicker end of the expected recovery schedule.

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‎Barcelona are set to have winger Lamine Yamal back for Sunday’s league game against Real Sociedad following a groin injury.

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‎”Hey! I’m back,” wrote the teenage star in a post on Instagram, alluding to his return to action after missing the team’s last four games.

Barcelona trail La Liga leaders Real Madrid by two points and opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-1 win at Newcastle.