Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

UEFA has underlined its commitment to the growth of women’s football by distributing a record 9m euros (£7.9m) to clubs across Europe following Women’s Euro 2025, doubling the amount paid out after the previous tournament. A total of 103 clubs from 16 national associations benefited from the club payments programme, which compensates teams for releasing players to represent their countries. The scheme reflects the increasing scale and commercial value of the women’s game, as well as Uefa’s attempt to strengthen cooperation between club and international football. English clubs were among the biggest beneficiaries, receiving a combined 2.37m euros (£2.1m). Women’s…

Pep Guardiola has warned Manchester City they must be ready for a future without him, admitting that no manager can remain in charge forever as speculation grows over his long-term plans at the club. The 54-year-old, who has transformed City into one of the dominant forces in European football since arriving in 2016, said the club “must be prepared” for his eventual departure, even though he remains under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season. Guardiola signed his current deal in November 2024, but uncertainty persists over whether he will see it out. Speaking ahead of City’s Premier League…

Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul added fresh fuel to their controversial heavyweight showdown after a heated face-off at Thursday’s weigh-in in Miami, where the former world champion warned his opponent to “don’t touch me”. The confrontation came as the fighters met on stage ahead of Friday night’s eight-round bout at the Kaseya Center, a contest that has divided opinion across boxing. Joshua, a two-time heavyweight world champion, pushed Paul’s fist away from his face after the YouTuber-turned-boxer attempted to mirror his raised guard. Joshua, 36, appeared visibly irritated and later made a throat-slitting gesture as Paul walked away, an action…

Australian football has been rocked by a major integrity scandal after four players were banned for several years for their involvement in match-fixing offences in the A-League. Football Australia confirmed the sanctions following investigations into deliberate attempts by players to influence betting markets by intentionally receiving yellow cards during matches. The governing body said the bans were necessary to protect the integrity of the sport and send a clear message that corruption would not be tolerated at any level of the game. Kearyn Baccus and former New Zealand international Clayton Lewis were each handed five-year bans from all football-related activity…

Mariah Carey will add her unmistakable voice to one of sport’s grandest stages after being confirmed as a leading performer at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The American singer-songwriter will take centre stage at Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium on Friday, 6 February, as the Games officially get under way. The Winter Olympics, hosted jointly by Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, will run from 6 to 22 February, bringing together thousands of athletes from across the globe. Organisers say Carey’s appearance is designed to give the opening ceremony global appeal, blending sport, culture and music in a spectacle…

Lionel Messi’s much-hyped GOAT Tour of India was meant to be a celebration of football’s greatest icon. Instead, its opening stop in Kolkata spiralled into disorder, leaving fans angry, organisers under scrutiny and authorities issuing apologies. Fresh from leading Inter Miami to their first MLS Cup, Messi arrived in India for a three-day promotional tour alongside club-mates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul. Branded the GOAT India Tour 2025, it was the Argentina captain’s first visit to the country since 2011 and the only nation included in the itinerary. Expectations were enormous. Those expectations were reflected in ticket sales. Standard…

Sunderland’s long wait for a Premier League Tyne-Wear derby ended in unforgettable fashion as the Black Cats not only beat Newcastle United, but did so with a moment of theatre that will live long in local folklore. A scrappy contest at the Stadium of Light was settled by an own goal from Nick Woltemade, but the decisive strike was almost secondary to what followed. At full-time, Sunderland’s players and staff gathered on the pitch to recreate a photograph Newcastle had taken nearly two years earlier, after their 3-0 FA Cup victory over the Black Cats. This time, the roles were…

Manchester United produced a breathtaking late comeback to rescue a point against Tottenham Hotspur as the final Women’s Super League match of 2025 ended in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Progress with Unity Stadium. Trailing 3-0 just after the hour mark and staring at what looked like a damaging home defeat, Marc Skinner’s side somehow clawed their way back in an extraordinary finale, with Fridolina Rolfö’s stoppage-time equaliser sparking wild celebrations among the home supporters. For much of the contest, however, it was Tottenham who looked set to make history. Spurs arrived in Manchester chasing their first ever competitive victory…

St Mirren produced one of the greatest upsets in modern Scottish cup history as they swept aside holders Celtic 3-1 at Hampden Park to lift the League Cup for only the second time in their history. In front of nearly 50,000 fans, the Paisley club combined fearless attacking with disciplined organisation to overwhelm a Celtic side already reeling from a difficult start under new manager Wilfried Nancy. Goals from Marcus Fraser and a superb second-half double from Jonah Ayunga sealed a famous triumph and sparked scenes of jubilation among the black-and-white faithful. The final could hardly have begun in more…

Harry Kane’s late penalty spared Bayern Munich an embarrassing home defeat as the Bundesliga leaders were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by bottom club Mainz 05 at a packed Allianz Arena. On an afternoon that underlined both Bayern’s dominance of the league and their occasional vulnerability, Vincent Kompany’s side were forced to dig deep to avoid a shock loss against opponents fighting for survival. While the draw moved Bayern nine points clear at the summit, it felt more like a warning than a statement. Bayern started with authority and control, pinning Mainz back and circulating the ball with confidence.…