IN ENGLAND
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Leeds United has climbed to third in the Premier League with a superb Elland Road performance as they inflicted a heavy four-one defeat on a helpless Newcastle United.
A 14-minute burst in the first half proved too much for the Magpies, with an own goal from Lewis Miley following strikes by Jayden Bogle and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, before Noah Okafor netted in the second period.
Leeds now sit third on eight points just four adrift of champions and leaders Arsenal.
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The video assistant referee for the Manchester derby, Matt Donohue, and his assistant VAR, Blake Antrobus, have not been appointed for this weekend’s Premier League games.
The decision was made by the Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref’s chief refereeing officer Howard Webb and the management team.
It follows Pro Ref admitting to an error of judgement in awarding Erling Haaland’s winning goal for Manchester City at Manchester United.
The striker scored in the 60th minute at Old Trafford when he turned in a shot at the back post from Josko Gvardiol’s cross.
His effort was initially disallowed on the field for offside but, following VAR intervention, the goal was awarded as the Norwegian was ruled to have been played onside by Patrick Dorgu’s boot.
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Arsenal says it will contact refereeing body Pro Ref over the incident in which Ezri Konsa conceded a penalty in Saturday’s win over Sunderland.
Konsa and Black Cats defender Dan Ballard were involved in a physical exchange inside the penalty area in which the Arsenal defender was adjudged to have fouled the Sunderland player for excessive holding.
After the game Gunners manager Mikel Arteta criticised the decision, and it is understood the Premier League champions will hold talks with the professional referee’s body for an explanation as to why the penalty was awarded.
It is understood Arsenal are keen to avoid major refereeing decisions impacting on results and want clarity over how referee John Brooks came to his decision.
Brooks initially awarded Sunderland the spot-kick on the field, and the decision was backed up by the video assistant referee.
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Manchester City manager, Enzo Maresca has admitted that Phil Foden deserved to be sent off against Manchester United but Bruno Fernandes should also have been shown a red card.
Foden was shown a straight first-half red card in City’s one-nil win at Old Trafford for kicking out at Fernandes after being fouled by the United midfielder.
Also former City defender Micah Richards felt Fernandes should have been punished for his role in Foden’s sending off.
Erling Haaland scored the winner on 60 minutes – the striker’s goal was initially disallowed for offside on the pitch before VAR overturned the decision.
Refereeing body Pro Ref admitted to their mistake around three hours after full-time.
Nevill predicted Pro Ref would issue an apology for allowing the goal.
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Global players’ union FIFPRO has called for urgent governance reforms at FIFA following the collapse of Gianni Infantino’s proposed sell-off plan.
The plan, which would have seen FIFA commercialise and sell parts of its competitions and data rights to private investors, reportedly failed to gain support from key stakeholders.
FIFPRO is demanding greater transparency, player representation on FIFA councils, and limits on the expansion of the calendar.
The controversy adds to growing tension between FIFA and player unions over workload and commercialisation.
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Former West Ham, QPR and Czech Republic goalkeeper Ludek Miklosko has died at the age of 64.
Miklosko made almost four hundred appearances for the Hammers from 1990 to 1998 and was much loved by supporters, who regularly sang his name long after he left the club.
He later returned as a goalkeeping coach.
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IN NIGERIA
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Falconets head coach, Moses Aduku is confident Nigeria can overcome a tough England side when both teams meet in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA Under-twenty Women’s World Cup in Bielsko-Biala on Thursday.
Aduku expressed his satisfaction with the team’s progress but admitted that there are still areas that need improvement, particularly in defence.
Despite acknowledging the quality of their next opponents, Aduku believes his players are prepared for the challenge and determined to keep their title hopes alive.
Aduku admitted that there are still some lapses his team needs to work on despite their ten-one win against New Caledonia.
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Meanwhile, Falconets striker Ramotalahi Kareem said the players would give their all when they face England in the Round of sixteen at the FIFA Under-twenty Women’s World Cup.
Kareem expressed confident that would overcome the challenge posed by the English side and progress to the quarter-finals.
The two teams will clash in Bielsko-Biala on Thursday.
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The National Sports Commission has congratulated Nigeria’s Falconets following their round of 16 qualification at the 2026 FIFA Under-twenty women’s World Cup.
The Commission congratulated the players, coaches and entire team on a superb response and wishes the Falconets the very best in the knockout stage.
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Rivers United Assistant Coach, Yemi Olanrewaju, says the Pride of Rivers shock exit in the first preliminary round of the 2026/2027 CAF Champions League is the club’s worst performance in recent history.
Olanrewaju, who addressed the media in place of Technical Manager, Finidi George, lamented that the two early goals they conceded disorganised the team, hence the result.
Rivers United will now focus on the domestic topflight, EuroMatch/NPFL and the President Federation Cup campaigns for a possible return to the African interclub stage next season.
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Sporting Lagos head coach, Jeffery Buter has praised his players for their impressive response following their three-nil derby victory over Inter Lagos.
The NPFL newcomers secured their first win of the 2026/27 season with a convincing victory over Inter Lagos in a Matchday 3 encounter at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Buter was delighted with his team’s performance, describing the victory as the perfect response to their opening-day defeat to Doma United.
Sporting Lagos will look to build on the victory when they host struggling Abia Warriors in their next league fixture this weekend.
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Galatasaray head coach, Okan Buruk has admitted that his side missed Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen during their hard-fought one-nil home victory over Kocaelispor.
Osimhen missed his second consecutive game for Galatasaray after suffering an injury during the club’s three-two victory over Istanbul Başakşehir.
Buruk stressed that Galatasaray are a stronger side with Osimhen in the team, highlighting both the striker’s quality and his psychological impact on opponents.
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Nigeria International, Chibuike Nwaiwu has expressed his disappointment following Trabzonspor’s one-nil defeat to Konyaspor in the Turkish Super Lig.
Nwaiwu thanked the travelling supporters while admitting that his side were left frustrated by their inability to make their chances count.
The Nigerian defender also admitted that the result had taken a heavy emotional toll on the team.
Trabzonspor will have an opportunity to bounce back when they host defending champions Galatasaray on Saturday.
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Former Ajax midfielder, Marciano Vink has praised Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare, stating that he never expected the Nigerian international to make immediate impact at Ajax.
Recall that Arokodare joined Ajax from Wolves this summer and has already scored five goals in eight appearances across all competitions for Ajax this season.
Vink praised Arokodare’s physicality and finishing, adding that the 25-year-old gives Ajax a different option up front.
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OTHER LEAGUES
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Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti has disclosed that it will be difficult to replace Neymar in the senior national team.
Neymar called time on his international career after this summer’s World Cup, where Brazil were knocked out in the last 16 by Norway.
Ancelotti stated that the former Barcelona star is irreplaceable.
The 34-year-old is Brazil’s all-time top scorer with eighty goals in one hundred and thirty appearances, and he is one of only two players to score at four different World Cups for Brazil (2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026) after Pele.
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Lazio head coach and legendary AC Milan midfielder, Gennaro Gattuso says Arsenal flop Nuno Tavares has everything it takes to be playing for Real Madrid with the right mindset.
Arsenal were alerted to Tavares’ undoubted potential when he was playing for boyhood team Benfica and went on to wrap up an £8million deal for the left-back in July 2021.
Tavares flattered to deceive in his debut season under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates and the 26-year-old was sent on loan to Ligue 1 outfit Marseille the following summer.
Two separate loan spells with Nottingham Forest and Lazio followed before the latter signed Tavares on a permanent basis from Arsenal.
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OTHER SPORTS
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In Tennis, Toby Samuel says it was one of the best moments in my life when he was selected in Great Britain’s Davis Cup team to face Ecuador this weekend after a breakthrough year.
The 23-year-old was handed his maiden Davis Cup call-up after a rapid rise over the past 12 months, climbing into the top 100 in the world rankings and making his debut in three Grand Slams.
Samuel joins Arthur Fery, Cameron Norrie, Henry Patten and Lloyd Glasspool in the squad to face Ecuador at London’s Copper Box arena.
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In Cricket, England white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum says he wants newly appointed mentor Kevin Pietersen to challenge his methods.
Pietersen criticised England players during the tour of India last year, saying none could say they did everything they can to try and help England win.
Former batter Pietersen has joined the limited-overs set-up as a specialist mentor until next autumn’s 50-over World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
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In Formula one, Organisers of the Spanish Grand Prix are poised to make changes to the new Madrid circuit after criticism of its inaugural race at the weekend.
Drivers pointed out the lack of overtaking opportunities on the new Madring, with Williams’ Alex Albon claiming the race was pretty boring and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto saying he almost fell asleep.
Drivers praised the track’s challenge over a single lap, but world champion Lando Norris said one section was useless and it was not a great racetrack.
Team bosses praised the new facility at the Ifema exhibition centre near Madrid’s international airport.
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In Rugby, La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara has signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until 2031.
O’Gara arrived at the club in 2019 after coaching spells with rival Top 14 side Racing 92 and New Zealand outfit Crusaders.
Following defeat in the 2021 European Champions Cup final, the former Ireland international signed an initial extension before guiding La Rochelle to back-to-back final wins in 2022 and 2023 – the club’s first major silverware.
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In Golf, Anna Nordqvist spoke in the build-up to the Solheim Cup about the European team being in a period of transition as she chose a line-up with four debutants.
Any fears about fielding rookies for the most pressure packed event in the women’s game were proven unfounded in her team’s thrilling 15-13 victory at Bernardus Golf last weekend.
Nastasia Nadaud, Julia Lopez Ramirez, Mimi Rhodes and, eventually, Lottie Woad all delivered crucial points and gave an encouraging glimpse into Europe’s future.
Three of the quartet were captain’s picks, with the 22-year-old Woad the only debut automatic qualifier for the team that avenged defeat in Virginia two years ago.
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In Athletics, Female athletes have spoken out against a controversial sports gambling advert starring actress Sydney Sweeney.
The advert has gone viral online and features American Sweeney naked but covering parts of her body with various pieces of sporting equipment.
It has sparked a strong reaction, with many female athletes criticising its sexualisation of women in sport, and how they are being defined by their appearance rather than their achievements as sportswomen.
Amy Hunt, who became a four-time European champion earlier this summer, referenced the advert after she ran a season’s best 22.10 seconds to finish fourth in the two hundred metres final at the Ultimate Championship in Budapest on Sunday.
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TODAY’S FIXTURES
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IN CARABAO CUP – THIRD ROUND
Peterborough United vs Barnsley
West Ham United vs Fulham
Ipswich Town vs Arsenal
Liverpool vs Tottenham
Reading vs Brentford
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IN SPANISH LA LIGA
Rayo Vallecano vs Espanyol
Alavés vs Valencia
Elche vs Real Madrid
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.. words from Lionel Messi.
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