Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola delivered an emotional and deeply personal address on Monday as he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester, speaking of his fear and heartbreak over the ongoing war in Gaza. In a powerful speech at the university’s Whitworth Hall, Guardiola, 54, said he was “so scared” and “hurt” by the suffering of innocent people, particularly children, amid the continued Israeli military campaign in…

England’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup took a serious knock on Tuesday night as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat against Senegal at the City Ground. In a game labelled as a friendly but played with ferocity and intensity by the visitors, Thomas Tuchel suffered his first loss as England manager—one that raised big questions about direction, leadership, and tactical identity. Harry Kane’s early strike had given England the…

Manchester City have completed the signing of French midfielder Rayan Cherki from Lyon in a £30.45m deal, marking their third signing in just 48 hours as Pep Guardiola reshapes his squad ahead of the Club World Cup. The 21-year-old attacking midfielder has penned a five-year contract until 2030 and will immediately join up with the City squad heading to the United States for the tournament, which kicks off on 14…

Chelsea have had a £42m bid rejected by Borussia Dortmund for England Under-21 winger Jamie Gittens, as the London club look to bolster their wide options ahead of the upcoming Club World Cup. The 20-year-old is understood to be open to a move back to England and already has a long-term contract proposal from Chelsea on the table. Despite Gittens’ interest, negotiations between the two clubs have stalled over valuation.…

A tragic incident occurred during the UEFA Nations League final between Portugal and Spain in Munich on Sunday, as a fan died after falling from the stands, UEFA has confirmed to AFP’s German subsidiary, SID. The incident happened during the first half of extra time, when the individual fell from the middle tier of the stadium down into the press area located below. Emergency responders, including paramedics and police, quickly…

Portugal clinched their second UEFA Nations League title on Sunday night in Munich after a dramatic 5-3 penalty shootout victory over Spain, following a 2-2 draw in regular and extra time. Rúben Neves scored the decisive penalty, sealing the win after Spain’s Álvaro Morata saw his effort saved by Diogo Costa. It was a historic moment, marking just Portugal’s second competitive win over their Iberian rivals. The match saw Portugal…

Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk has extended a bold invitation to former U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to spend a week in his home in war-torn Ukraine. The Ukrainian boxer’s emotional message comes as part of a continued effort to bring international attention to the daily horrors endured by his country amid Russia’s ongoing invasion. Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of his July 19 rematch against Britain’s Daniel Dubois…

Mauricio Pochettino has distanced himself from a potential return to Tottenham Hotspur following the club’s sacking of manager Ange Postecoglou. The Argentine, now head coach of the United States national team, insisted a reunion with the North London club is “not realistic” at this time. Speaking after the United States’ 2-1 friendly loss to Turkey in Connecticut, Pochettino addressed speculation linking him with the vacancy at Spurs, following Postecoglou’s dismissal…

In a dramatic and emotional news conference on Sunday, Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti announced that he would be leaving his role following the team’s 3-0 defeat to Norway in their opening World Cup 2026 qualifier. The 66-year-old revealed that Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina informed him of his dismissal after the disappointing result in Oslo. Despite the news, Spalletti confirmed he would still take charge of Monday’s qualifier…

Cristiano Ronaldo has weighed in on the Ballon d’Or debate, suggesting that the prestigious award should go to a player who has helped their team win the UEFA Champions League. Speaking at a press conference in Munich ahead of the Nations League final between Portugal and Spain, the 40-year-old star emphasised the importance of team success in deciding individual honours. “In my opinion, whoever wins it should be on a…

Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic has been handed a two-match suspension after concealing an anti-homophobia message on his sleeve during a Ligue 1 fixture. The 36-year-old Serbian veteran was seen covering the rainbow-coloured emblem with tape in Lyon’s 2-0 win over Angers on 17 May, in an act that has drawn widespread criticism. The emblem is part of Ligue 1’s annual anti-homophobia campaign, now in its fifth year. The initiative includes…

Crystal Palace may have to wait until the end of June to learn if they can compete in the 2025-26 Europa League, with UEFA deliberating over a potential conflict of interest involving multi-club ownership. The uncertainty stems from Palace’s connection to Eagle Football Holdings, which also controls French side Lyon. Club representatives, including co-owner Steve Parish, travelled to UEFA headquarters in Switzerland earlier this week to present their case. Palace…