Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

BBC broadcaster and former football star Gary Lineker is expected to step down as the host of *Match of the Day*, the iconic BBC football highlights show, at the end of this Premier League season in May 2025. According to reports, the BBC is preparing to announce his departure officially on Tuesday. This exit will mark the end of an era for the 63-year-old Lineker, who has hosted *Match of the Day* since 1999, making him one of the BBC’s longest-running and most recognizable sports presenters. His contract is reportedly set to conclude after he leads the BBC’s coverage of…

Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers has earned his first call-up to the England senior squad for the upcoming Nations League games after eight players, including key stars from Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool, were forced to withdraw due to injuries. Rogers, 22, was initially slated to represent England Under-21s but was promoted by interim manager Lee Carsley following an impressive season start at Aston Villa, where he has scored three goals and recorded two assists in 11 appearances. Joining him are new additions to the squad: West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite, Newcastle’s Tino Livramento, and Burnley goalkeeper James…

Ruud van Nistelrooy, Manchester United’s interim head coach, has left the club following the decision by newly appointed manager Ruben Amorim not to retain him on the coaching staff. Van Nistelrooy, who joined as an assistant in July on a two-year contract, briefly stepped up as caretaker boss after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, leading the team to three wins and a draw in his four matches in charge. The former Netherlands international and United goal-scoring legend, who netted 150 goals in 219 appearances between 2001 and 2006, was a fan favorite during his playing days at Old Trafford. His recent…

The Premier League refereeing body, PGMOL, has suspended top-flight referee David Coote after a video allegedly showing him making disparaging remarks about Liverpool and former manager Jurgen Klopp circulated widely on social media. The video, which has not been verified, features a man believed to be Coote criticizing Klopp’s behavior and using profane language in reference to the German coach. PGMOL, which oversees Premier League referees, confirmed the suspension would take effect immediately, pending a full investigation into the video. While the authenticity and timing of the footage remain uncertain, a source from PGMOL indicated that officials are treating the…

Formula 1 drivers have called on the sport’s governing body, the FIA, to treat them with more respect and maturity after a series of punishments for swearing, with the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) speaking out in a rare collective statement. The drivers, including current world champion Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, have expressed frustration over fines imposed for using swear words in public settings, and have taken issue with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s language and tone when addressing the issue. The GPDA’s open letter, which was made public recently, asks the FIA to reconsider its stance on…

England will face Spain in a highly anticipated rematch at the 2025 Women’s Nations League after the two sides were drawn into the same group. The draw, held today, placed Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses in Group A3 alongside the world champions from Spain, Belgium, and Portugal. The match-up sets the stage for a thrilling encounter between the two teams, who recently met in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final in Sydney. Spain triumphed 1-0 in that final, securing their first-ever major women’s tournament victory, with Olga Carmona’s stunning goal proving the difference. Now, less than five months later, England will have…

Kylian Mbappé has been left out of the France squad for their upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel and Italy, with national team coach Didier Deschamps describing the decision as a “one-off.” Despite Mbappé expressing his desire to join the squad, Deschamps chose to omit the Real Madrid forward for this international window. The 25-year-old, who has been in good form for Real Madrid, scoring eight goals in 15 appearances this season, has not been at his best in recent outings. He has scored only once in his past six games, which has led to some scrutiny of his performances.…

It was a Champions League debut that Tyrone Mings will want to forget. The Aston Villa defender, returning from a 14-month injury layoff, was poised to make history as he featured for the first time in Europe’s elite competition. Instead, he ended up making headlines for all the wrong reasons after a bizarre handball that handed Club Brugge a penalty and led to Villa’s first European defeat of the season. The 31-year-old’s error, which came in the 50th minute of the match, left both fans and pundits in disbelief. Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez had played a goal-kick to Mings, who,…

Arne Slot, Liverpool’s new head coach, delivered another emphatic victory at Anfield last night as his side dispatched Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 in a Champions League clash, overshadowing Xabi Alonso’s much-anticipated return. Alonso, a beloved former Liverpool player and now Leverkusen’s head coach, was outmaneuvered as his team struggled to match Liverpool’s pace and intensity. When Jürgen Klopp announced he would leave Liverpool at the end of last season, fans were hopeful Alonso would take the helm, given his success at Leverkusen and strong connection with Anfield. However, Alonso decided to stay in Germany, leaving Liverpool’s hierarchy to select 46-year-old Slot,…

Former Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy will receive most of his withheld salary after a tribunal ruled in his favor. The decision marks a significant step in the legal proceedings that began after Mendy’s suspension in September 2021, when he was charged with rape and sexual assault. Although he was cleared of all charges in 2023, Mendy had been seeking approximately £11 million in unpaid wages. Judge Joanne Dunlop ruled that Manchester City could withhold Mendy’s salary only for the five months he was in custody. However, for the remaining time, when he was under Football Association (FA) suspension but…