Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Manchester City have been handed a timely boost ahead of a defining period in their season, as star striker Erling Haaland has returned to full training following an ankle injury sustained in March. The 24-year-old Norwegian, who has netted an impressive 39 goals in all competitions for club and country this season, picked up the knock during City’s 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Bournemouth on 30 March. After weeks on an individual training programme, Haaland was seen rejoining first-team training at the club’s Etihad Campus on Wednesday. City boss Pep Guardiola has yet to confirm Haaland’s availability for Friday’s…

Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger has been handed a six-game suspension after throwing an object at the referee during a heated Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona in Seville. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed the sanction, citing “minor violence against the referees” under article 101 of its disciplinary code. The German international, who had been substituted in the 111th minute after suffering a knee injury, was shown a straight red card along with teammate Lucas Vazquez for their furious reaction to a foul call against Kylian Mbappé in the closing moments of the match. Both players had already left…

FIFA is taking a major step towards tackling the surge of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s football by funding a pioneering research project to investigate whether hormonal changes during menstrual cycles could be contributing to the increased risk. The year-long study, set to begin next month at Kingston University London, comes as the sport grapples with a troubling trend: female footballers are reported to be two to six times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than their male counterparts. The study, led by Simon Augustus, senior lecturer in sport biomechanics at Kingston University, will closely monitor players from…

 The stage is set, and tensions are rising. Heavyweight boxing rivals Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois clashed again – this time not in the ring, but at a fiery press conference at Wembley Stadium ahead of their highly anticipated rematch on 19 July. The rematch comes nearly two years after their controversial first bout in August 2023, when Usyk secured a ninth-round stoppage over Dubois. However, controversy erupted over a body shot from Dubois in the fifth round that was deemed a low blow by the referee, sparking a long-standing debate within the boxing community. At Tuesday’s press event, emotions…

Mohamed Salah once again etched his name into Liverpool folklore with a moment that blended joy, spontaneity, and a touch of modernity. During Liverpool’s Premier League title-clinching 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, the Egyptian star celebrated his goal in a way that has since become iconic: a selfie in front of a roaring Anfield crowd. After netting Liverpool’s fourth goal of the evening, Salah borrowed a mobile phone from a staff member positioned behind the advertising hoardings at the Kop end. Smiling broadly, he turned the camera on himself, capturing a jubilant selfie with thousands of Liverpool fans…

The extent of the problem, which kept Rashford out of the FA Cup semi-final defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday, is still being assessed. It is not completely out of the question that the 27-year-old, who is on loan from Manchester United, could return before the end of the Premier League campaign. However, it is more likely he will focus on recovering in time for England’s matches in June – a World Cup qualifier against Andorra and a friendly against Senegal. If he does return before then, Rashford’s final league appearance of the season would be against Tottenham on 18 May…

Wrexham’s Hollywood fairy tale shows no signs of slowing down. After securing promotion to the Championship for only the second time in their history, co-owner Rob McElhenney summed up the club’s mood with three defiant words: “Not. Done. Yet.” Alongside Ryan Reynolds, McElhenney has overseen a rapid rise that has taken Wrexham from the fifth tier to within touching distance of the Premier League in just four years. Following Saturday’s win over Charlton Athletic, Reynolds reminded fans of their original dream: “Four years ago, Rob said we’re going to the Premier League. Everyone laughed. Now, it feels tangible.” The owners’…

Chris Eubank Jr has been discharged from the hospital after precautionary checks following his dramatic victory over Conor Benn on Saturday night. The 35-year-old middleweight boxer was admitted shortly after winning their long-anticipated grudge match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in what promoter Ben Shalom described as “routine precautionary checks” after a gruelling 12-round battle. Eubank secured a unanimous decision win over Benn, with all three judges scoring the contest 116-112. The bout, full of wild exchanges and emotional undercurrents, marked the end of a bitter rivalry that had been brewing for nearly three years. Posting on social media Monday, Eubank…

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor remains optimistic that star striker Sam Kerr could still make a return to action before the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign.

Real Madrid have firmly denied rumours they might pull out of Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Barcelona, despite growing tensions over referee criticism. This comes after an emotional news conference where match official Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea broke down in tears while addressing the pressure he and his family have faced due to repeated attacks from Real Madrid TV. The 39-year-old referee, who will oversee Saturday night’s highly anticipated Clasico in Seville, is the latest target of scrutiny from the club’s media outlet. A controversial video highlighted his alleged bias, lack of top-tier tournament experience, and past decisions in…