Football

Before a game in Zambia, the goalkeeper coach of Super League side Forest Rangers was sanctioned for urinating on a goalpost. According to a Football Association of Zambia statement, Charles Chileshe was accused of unsporting activity after "sprinkling an unknown substance in aim and urinating or simulating urinating against one of the goalposts" ahead of Saturday's game at Prison Leopards. In addition, Chileshe was accused of behaving "in a way that is not compatible with the values and integrity of football as supported by FIFA, CAF and FAZ." In a statement, Rangers said they had taken unspecified disciplinary steps against Chileshe. It is not unusual on the African continent to use 'muti'-the African conviction that such ritual acts will assist with performance on the pitch. ...

Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer in Serie A with 15 goals in 14 games. And the 35-year-old thinks he will play for "many, many more years". Ronaldo also says it would be a "dream" to win the 2022 World Cup with Portugal. Since arriving from Real Madrid for about £ 100m in 2018, the Juventus forward has managed to defy his years. His strike against Napoli in the Italian Super Cup on Wednesday has now pushed him to the top of the all-time scoring charts. For the most goals scored in football history for club and country, Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed Josef Bican-with his tally now at 760. Recently, the 35-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner pushed past Brazil's legend Pele(757). Romario is fourth(743) and Barcelona rival Lionel Messi makes up the top five (719). A whopping 450 ...

In the January transfer window, Matt Ryan became Arsenal's second addition, joining on loan from Brighton for the remainder of the campaign. The Australian international goalkeeper fills a hole created by Matt Macey's departure, who joined Scottish side Hibernian. But this transfer poses a problem within the squad. Premier League rules state that a team should not have in the squad more than 17 non-homegrown players. With Ryan's inclusion seeing that quota being reached by Arsenal. As Macey's middle name, coincidentally, is Ryan, which shows 'Matthew Ryan' appearing on the list, there might be some confusion for fans checking the Premier League squad lists. With Sead Kolasinac still included but now on loan with Schalke, those lists have not been revised yet. Arsenal will step d...

Burnley pulled off a shock 1-0 Liverpool upset, snapping the 68-match home Premier League unbeaten streak of the Anfield side. The loss also extended their goalless run in the top flight in 2021. The win at Liverpool was Burnley's first since 1974 and sees the team of Jurgen Klopp fall further behind the Premier League leaders. Klopp had changed his forward line for the match, starting next to Sadio Mane with Divock Origi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while choosing Xherdan Shaqiri in midfield in his XI. In the first half, Burnley, who entered the match four points above the relegation zone. They stood tall against Liverpool's Premier League holders. Nick Pope made a nice save shortly after the half-hour from a well-hit Origi shot. In their previous four Premier League matches, L...

More than 70% of Spanish football fans think that neither Real Madrid nor Barcelona are worthy of winning this season's La Liga crown. A Marca poll with over 30,000 respondents explained how most voters do not believe that either club would be able to win this season's league title. Fifty percent of those responding to the poll believe that this season no club is capable of winning any titles. While another 21 percent believe that the Copa del Rey is their only realistic target. Meanwhile, 29 percent think they can win more than that, less than a third. With two games in hand, Atletico Madrid are currently four points clear at the top. While both El Clasico sides lost out on the Spanish Supercopa as Athletic Bilbao beat each other. Each side remains in the Champions League th...

Lionel Messi emulated Diego Maradona, although not in an especially positive way. Messi lost his head in the Supercopa de Espana final against Athletic Club against the same opponents that Maradona had during his time in Spain. Although the indiscretions of the former were much less scandalous than Maradona's. Back in1984, Athletic and Barcelona played at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in the Copa del Rey final. And the match gave Maradona a chance of vengeance, having previously had his left ankle broken by the Butcher of Bilbao, Andoni Goikoetxea. Things got heated throughout, but it erupted when the referee blew his final whistle. A mass brawl broke out, with bumps on his head and punches. In Messi's case, after being obstructed, he literally struck out at Asier Villalibre. It...

German midfielder Mesut Ozil is set to sign a three-and-a-half-year agreement with Fenerbahce after leaving English club Arsenal. "I am very excited because I was always a fan of Fenerbahce. My dream comes true", he said after arriving in Turkey. The contract of Ozil was due to expire at the end of the season, but Arsenal nearly agreed to early termination. "I'm very excited to wear the jersey of Fenerbahce. I'm very excited. With my team-mates, I hope we'll be very good. May God bless our fans for we are always helped by them. I am very happy to be here, as I said” he added. On Sunday, Fenerbahce publicly announced that they were in negotiations with the former German international. They told investors and Borsa Instanbul (Turkish stock exchange) of the start of negotiations...

On Tuesday evening, a Leicester City play host to a Chelsea side looking to get their top-four push back on track. At the weekend, both teams triumphed and held clean sheets. Leicester beat Southampton 2-0 while Chelsea took the spoils in a 1-0 victory in the West London derby at Fulham. Leicester prepared for a far tougher struggle against Southampton after a truly impressive display against Stoke City in the FA Cup. The Foxes didn't have it all their own way and it was an especially frustrating night for Jamie Vardy. But in the first half, James Maddison rifled home. The ever-impressive Harvey Barnes picked up the three points in the match's dying embers. With that triumph, the hosts of Tuesday leapfrogged reigning champions Liverpool into second. And stay above them after the...

Arsenal beat Newcastle United 3-0 in the Premier League on Monday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice, condemning Steve Bruce's side to a ninth match without a victory in all competitions. Mikel Arteta's side are now up to 10th in the league after a terrible start to the season. They never looked in danger against a demoralized Newcastle side. Aubameyang had only netted three goals prior to Monday's game; his manager was delighted to see him score his first double since last season's FA Cup final. In the first half, Aubameyang hit the post. Alexandre Lacazette forced a strong save from the Newcastle keeper. Newcastle pushed for the opening goal but couldn’t find it. After the loss to bottom club Sheffield United, Newcastle manager Steve Bruce had made eight changes to his sq...

AC Milan is expected to sign former Juventus forward Mario Mandzukic on a six-month deal. Since leaving the Qatari side of Al-Duhail in the summer, the 34year old has been a free agent. An agreement for Mandzukic to return to Series A is now in effect, with only the final details to be sorted out before the transfer is made official. On Monday in Milan, the former Croatian striker, who retired from international duty after reaching the 2018 World Cup final, is expected to sign his deal. \ Although it will initially be a short-term contract until the end of the season, depending on how many appearances he makes before June, there will be the opportunity to extend the deal. Despite Milan's excellent first half of the season, which sees them three points ahead of the top of Seri...