Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

Turkish football has been plunged into deeper turmoil as the homes of several top-flight players, including Fenerbahce captain Mert Hakan Yandaş, were raided on Friday morning amid a sweeping investigation into illegal betting and match-fixing. The probe, centred in Istanbul but reverberating across the nation, now threatens to become one of the most damaging corruption cases in modern Turkish sporting history. Prosecutors ordered the arrest of 46 individuals—29 of them professional footballers—as authorities escalate efforts to dismantle what they describe as an extensive network of illicit betting, third-party wagering, and deliberate manipulation of match outcomes. By mid-afternoon, 35 of the…

Wilfried Nancy has promised to deliver “exciting, attacking, winning football” after being officially unveiled as Celtic’s new manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract. The 48-year-old Frenchman arrives from MLS side Columbus Crew, ending weeks of negotiations and stepping into one of Scottish football’s most demanding roles. Nancy will take charge of his first match on Sunday in a top-of-the-table Scottish Premiership clash against Hearts at Celtic Park. That fixture marks the start of a hectic introduction, with a Europa League showdown against Roma and a League Cup final against St Mirren following in quick succession. “I can’t wait to get going…

Leeds United delivered their most important performance of the season as they beat Chelsea 3–1 at Elland Road, ending a four-game losing run and lifting themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone. Under-pressure manager Daniel Farke watched his side produce a bold, aggressive and spirited display that not only relieved tension around the club but also dented Chelsea’s title ambitions. The match began at a breathless pace, with Leeds showing an energy and purpose that had been missing in recent weeks. They carved out four openings inside the first five minutes, setting the tone for a ferocious first half.…

Arsenal restored their five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League with a composed 2–0 victory over Brentford at the Emirates Stadium, extending their unbeaten run to 18 matches in all competitions and showcasing once again the professionalism and resilience that have marked their season under Mikel Arteta. The Gunners made three changes from the side that drew with Chelsea, with Ben White, Noni Madueke and captain Martin Ødegaard returning to the starting XI. Despite the heavy recent schedule, Arteta resisted the urge for sweeping rotation, keeping key midfielders Declan Rice, Martín Zubimendi and Riccardo Calafiori in the side…

Real Madrid delivered a commanding performance to defeat Athletic Club 3-0 at San Mamés, ending a frustrating three-game winless run and keeping the pressure firmly on La Liga leaders Barcelona. Kylian Mbappé was the star of the night with a brilliant brace and an assist, though the victory was overshadowed by fresh injury concerns for Trent Alexander-Arnold and Eduardo Camavinga. It took just seven minutes for Xabi Alonso’s side to assert their dominance. Alexander-Arnold, making only his fifth league appearance of the season after recovering from a hamstring problem, produced a trademark diagonal pass from deep. Mbappé controlled impeccably, gliding…

Liverpool’s struggles under Arne Slot continued as a late deflected equaliser spared the Premier League champions from another damaging home defeat, with Sunderland leaving Anfield frustrated not to have claimed all three points after an inspired and disciplined performance. On a tense Wednesday night, Liverpool looked flat, short of ideas and alarmingly vulnerable at the back, while Michael Beale’s Sunderland played with confidence and organisation, creating the better chances and exposing the fragility of a side still searching for rhythm and belief after a dismal run of results. The visitors grew into the game quickly, unsettling Liverpool with their energy…

Barcelona and Spain star Aitana Bonmati is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after the club confirmed she will miss around five months following surgery on a broken leg. The 27-year-old midfielder suffered the injury during a training session with Spain on Sunday as the national team prepared for the second leg of the Women’s Nations League final against Germany. The injury comes at a difficult moment for the Ballon d’Or–winning playmaker, who revealed in a personal message that she had been feeling physically and mentally drained by the demands of elite football. Writing on social media, Bonmati…

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has praised Mohamed Salah’s “top professional” attitude after the Egyptian forward was dropped for the first time in a Premier League match since April 2024. The decision came amid Liverpool’s alarming run of nine defeats in 12 games across all competitions, forcing Slot to rethink his approach before a crucial 2-0 win away at West Ham on Sunday. Salah, last season’s Golden Boot winner with 29 league goals, has struggled for form this term, scoring only four times. With Liverpool desperately needing a reset, Slot opted to start the Egyptian on the bench at London Stadium.…

FIFA is preparing to introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) checks on corner-kick decisions at the 2026 World Cup, despite the International Football Association Board (Ifab) and major domestic leagues opposing the expansion of VAR’s remit. The move comes after discussions at an IFAB meeting in October, where football’s law-making body agreed to allow VAR intervention for wrongly issued second yellow cards that lead to a red. However, it rejected Fifa’s proposal to include corner-kick decisions within the reviewable protocol. Undeterred, FIFA appears set to create its own competition-specific trial for next summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.…

A former England international and Premier League footballer has been arrested on suspicion of attempted rape, prompting widespread attention across the sporting world and raising renewed discussion about privacy, due process and accountability in high-profile cases. The player, whose identity has not been disclosed for legal reasons, was detained at London Stansted Airport on Sunday. According to reports, he was stopped by Border Force officers at a passport control point as he prepared to board an outbound flight. A routine check reportedly flagged that he was sought by police in connection with a non-recent allegation of attempted rape. Essex Police…