GLOBAL ASSOCIATION NEWS
World Cup Final referee, Szymon Marciniak has been appointed to take charge of
the Champions League final, while Anthony Taylor will officiate this year’s Europa
League showpiece.
The Pole will take charge of the clash between Manchester City and Inter in
Istanbul tenth June, and will be assisted by countrymen Pawel Sokolnicki and
Tomasz Listkiewicz.
Marciniak is no stranger to the big occasion having officiated the World Cup Final
between France and Argentina last December, but this will be the first time his
being given the Champions League’s final game.
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Spanish Football Federation President, Luis Rubiales admits the country has a
‘serious problem’ with racism after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior was
targeted during their match against Valencia.
Vinicius was been subjected to racist chants before and during the game at the
Mestalla Stadium, where Real were beaten one-nil by the hosts.
The chanting marked the latest incident this season where the player had been
the victim of abuse.
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The Confederation of African Football CAF, has celebrated the Flying Eagles
after the team’s two-one victory against Dominican Republic.
The two-time finalists fought back from a goal down to beat the debutants in their
opening game at the 2023 FIFA Under-twenty World Cup.
The Flying Eagles will take on Italy in their next game on Wednesday at the
Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza.
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NIGERIA
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The Nigeria Football Federation NFF, has praised the Flying Eagles for their
performance against Dominican Republic.
Ladan Bosso’s side occupy second position in Group B behind Italy who
defeated Brazil three-two in their opening fixture.
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Flying Eagles coach, Ladan Bosso, has promised that his team will be more
clinical when they take on Italy in their second Group D game on Wednesday.
The two-time Under-twenty World Cup finalists had to come from a goal down to
beat debutants Dominican Republic two-one on Sunday, squandering several
chances.
A win against Italy on Wednesday will secure their spot in the next round of the
tournament.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League has reduced the number of participating
teams for The Dozy Mmobuosi pre-season Super Cup.
The adjustment was made towards sustaining the tempo of the competition.
According to the organisers, the number of teams will reduce from twelve to eight
or twelve to eight teams.
Shooting Stars won the maiden edition of the pre-season tournament.
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Sunshine Stars head coach, Edith Agoye, has expressed gratitude to the club
supporters after securing a spot in the Nigeria Premier Football League Super Six
playoff.
The Owena Waves defeated Dakkada two-nil at the Ondo Sports Complex to
qualify for the NPFL playoff.
Sunshine Stars join Rivers United and Lobi Stars from Group B for the Super Six
playoff billed for the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos, next month.
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Rangers head coach, Abdul Maikaba, has shifted his focus to the Federation Cup
following the conclusion of the Nigeria Premier Football League regular season.
The Flying Antelopes managed to escape relegation following a tough campaign.
Maikaba’s side will face FC Ebedei in the Federation Cup Round of sixteen at the
Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, on Wednesday.
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Shooting Stars manager, Gbenga Ogunbote has commended his players for their
impressive performance in the goalless draw against Enyimba.
The Oluyole Warriors put up a good showing in the encounter at the Lekan Salami
Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Ogunbote opined that despite the toughness of the game, the players stood their
ground.
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ENGLAND
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Newcastle FC have qualified for Champions League football next season for the
first time since 2003 after a goalless draw with Leicester City on Monday.
The team which has been on a good run this season has crowed their effort with
qualifying for the European cup next season.
League winners Manchester City and second-placed Arsenal have already
booked their spot in the tournament.
Manchester United and Liverpool battle for the last spot in the competition.
Manchester united will face Chelsea on Thursday, as a win or draw for United will
secure qualification for the champions league next season.
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Leicester City’s Premier League fate is now out of their own hands
The team’s manager, Dean Smith who admitted that the team is going to need
help, said there is going to be a lot of anxiety everywhere between the three
teams that are in the relegation zone.
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Former Blackburn midfielder, Robbie Savage has named the three teams that will
challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title next season.
Savage however, snubbed Arsenal, who will finish second this year after being
top for two hundred and forty-eight days this campaign.
He backed Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea to rival Manchester City for
the trophies next season.
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Everton have reached an exclusivity agreement with New York-based company
MSP Sports Capital for investment in the club.
Sources say the deal is not yet done but talks are progressing over funding.
MSP looks to have jumped ahead of seven hundred and seventy-seven Partners,
which had been in talks over a takeover from owner Farhad Moshiri.
The club require funding for their new stadium, being built on Bramley Moore
Dock, after costs increased from five hundred million pounds to about seven
hundred and sixty million pounds.
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Arsenal have three players in mind who could serve as alternatives to West Ham
captain Declan Rice in their bid to improve their midfield this summer.
The Gunners’ desire to sign the England international is well documented and a
structured ninety million pounds offer is expected to soon be made.
The Hammers want more for their star player, and believe that Manchester United
would meet their demands.
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Tottenham face paying Feyenoord over the anticipated six million pounds
compensation fee to make Arne Slot their new head coach amid plans to appoint
two of his trusted aides.
Slot is emerging as a serious option to replace current interim boss Ryan Mason
at Tottenham ahead of next season and importantly the highly-rated coach is
attracted to the position.
Formal discussions between Tottenham and Feyenoord are yet to take place.
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West Ham boss, David Moyes is keen for the club to move for Manchester United
full back Aaron Wan-Bissaka this summer to help strengthen their defence.
The Hammers have struggled defensively this season, shipping fifty-three goals
in their thirty-seven Premier League matches.
A late resurgence saw West Ham pull clear of the relegation battle, while Moyes
led the club into the Europa Conference League final.
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Liverpool have joined the lengthening queue of clubs keen on Crystal Palace
defender Marc Guehi.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the
England International, who could cost as much as fifty million pounds.
Jurgen Klopp’s side may not have the budget to bid for Guehi, as they prioritise
midfield reinforcements this summer.
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Chelsea have been dealt a blow after Benoit Badiashile’s groin injury turned out to
be worse than initially feared.
The defender has been a rare positive for the Blues since signing in January and
already played eleven Premier League games.
He was left out for their one-nil loss to Manchester City after picking up a groin
injury, and now looks as though the France international could miss the start of
next season.
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Arsenal’s interest in Ilkay Gundogan is being ‘driven by Mikel Arteta’ who sees the
player as a replacement for Granit Xhaka.
Gundogan has been a key player for Manchester City since joining from Borussia
Dortmund in 2016.
Meanwhile, Arsenal legend, Paul Merson has urged Arsenal to sign Romelu
Lukaku after missing out on the Premier League title.
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OTHER SPORTS
Britain’s world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury says he is seriously exploring
the possibility of a fight in Australia.
The unbeaten Fury is currently in the country to support close friend and former
WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in his bout against Faiga Opelu on
Wednesday.
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In Formula one, Ferrari are set to offer Lewis Hamilton the chance to win his
dream eighth world championship in their famous red car.
Mail Sport understands the Italian team are willing to break the bank to land the
superstar in a forty million pounds deal, and offer him the opportunity to eclipse
the Scuderia’s greatest hero, Michael Schumacher, who won five of his seven
titles with them.
Conversations over the extravagant signing are not only advancing at the highest
level in Ferrari, but company president John Elkann is already in close contact
with Hamilton.
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British legend Mark Cavendish has revealed he will retire from professional
cycling at the end of this year.
Cavendish said he wants to spend more time with his family as he announced the
news alongside his wife and four children at a news briefing during Monday’s rest
day of the Giro d’Italia.
He is currently competing for Astana Qazaqstan at the race in Italy, which finishes
in Rome on Sunday, and he will then turn his attention to chasing a record 35th
stage win at his final Tour de France in July.
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In Rugby, Saracens wing Max Malins says he has unfinished business going into
the Premiership final against Sale, which will be his last match for the club.
The England international, who has agreed a move to Bristol Bears, was part of
the Sarries side beaten by Leicester at Twickenham last June.
Malins made his Saracens debut in 2017, he was not part of the matchday
squads which won the Premiership title in 2017-18 or 2018-19 with final victories
over Exeter.
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OTHER LEAGUE
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Lionel Messi will lead world champions Argentina in a friendly against Australia in
Beijing followed by another game in Indonesia.
The clash on fifteenth June at the Workers’ Stadium in the Chinese capital is a
rematch of Argentina and Australia’s meeting in the last sixteen of the Qatar World
Cup.
Messi scored in a two-one win for Argentina and they went on to win the World
Cup.
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Juventus have been given a ten point deduction in Serie A after a revision of their
initial 15-point penalty inflicted on the club over illicit transfer activity.
The new sanction, announced by the Italian Football Federation’s appeals court,
dents Juventus’ hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League,
pushing them out of the top four with three matches remaining this season.
In April, Italy’s highest sporting court, the Sports Guarantee Board, revoked
Juventus’s fifteen point penalty inflicted by the appeals court and sent the case
for a new judgement.
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Real Madrid says the latest incident of racist abuse towards Real Madrid forward
Vinicius Junior has been reported to the Spanish prosecutor’s office as a hate
crime.
Real Madrid’s La Liga match at Valencia was paused in the second half as an
incensed Vinicius reported opposition fans to the referee.
The team issued a statement on Monday stating that it “considers that such
attacks also constitute a hate crime”.
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Valencia have vowed to ban any fans found responsible for directing racist abuse
at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior for life.
The Spanish league match at the Mestalla was marred by racist chants from
supporters, and Vinicius was left visibly upset as he tried to hold back tears.
The Brazilian winger was sent off in second half added time after an altercation
with Valencia striker Hugo Duro, and looked disgusted as he walked off the pitch.
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Former Bayern Munich midfielder Lothar Matthaus claims his old club only signed
Thomas Tuchel to stop Juventus from acquiring the German manager.
Bayern ruthlessly sacked previous manager Julian Nagelsmann in March after
holding sixty-one minute crisis talks when he ripped into his players for having
‘zero work rate’ following a two-one loss at Bayer Leverkusen.
Under Nagelsmann this season, Bayern had only lost three matches out of
twenty-seven in the league while also reaching the quarter-finals of the
Champions League.
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Mohammed Kudus has made it clear to Ajax that he wants to leave the club with a
move to the Premier League looking highly likely.
Kudus rejected a contract extension offer from the Dutch giants in April, and told
them he wants out when the transfer window opens in June.
After scoring twenty-two goals in forty-eight games for both Ajax and his country
Ghana, the attacking midfielder attracted interest from several Premier League
teams.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
IN SPANISH LA LIGA
Celta Vigo vs Girona
Real Sociedad vs Almería
Real Valladolid vs Barcelona
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