Sports

Napoli owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, has proposed new changes to football amid fears  the sport 'will die.' Napoli, who are club the current Serie A champions  after ending an initial 33-year wait for the title in 2022-23, are set to end this campaign without a major honour - sitting second in Serie A but nine points adrift of leaders Inter Milan with six games left and out of the Coppa Italia and Champions League. Fearing for the future of the game, the 76-year-old has reeled off a list of ideas to keep younger generations engaged. Speaking to The Athletic, his first proposal would see football matches reduced from 90 minutes to 50, with two 25-minute halves, and with in-play time the priority rather than the stoppage time at the end of each half. 'No 1: I will reduc...

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has expressed concern over the poor state of football leagues across West Africa, attributing the gap to weak structures and low player wages compared to leagues in South Africa and Morocco. Speaking in an interview with Brila FM, Nwabali, who is currently a free agent, explained that inadequate salaries and poor organisation continue to drive players to seek better opportunities abroad. According to him, many footballers prefer moves to Europe, South Africa, or Morocco where leagues offer better pay, improved management, and stronger sponsorship support. He noted that only a few clubs within the West African region can provide competitive wages, leaving players with little motivation to remain. The goalkeeper stressed that improved infrastr...

FIFA has officially denied a request from the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran to move its 2026 World Cup group stage matches from the United States to Mexico.  The decision, confirmed by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, cites significant logistical impediments as the primary reason for maintaining the original tournament structure.FIFA President Gianni Infantino has consistently reaffirmed that there is no alternative plan for the venues and that all matches will proceed according to the initial draw.The request for relocation was driven by heightened geopolitical tensions and safety concerns for Iranian players following a series of public exchanges between Tehran and Washington. President Donald Trump suggested on social media that Iran's participation might ...

Marie-Louise Eta has entered the history books after being appointed interim head coach of Union Berlin, becoming the first woman to lead a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five leagues. Her appointment runs until the end of the season, following the sacking of Steffen Baumgart after a 3–1 loss to FC Heidenheim. Union Berlin currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga, 11 points clear of relegation with five games remaining. However, their form has been worrying, with just two wins from 14 league matches in 2026. The club’s director of men’s football, Horst Heldt, explained that the decision was driven by poor performances and the need for change, noting that recent results offered little hope of improvement under the previous setup. Eta is no stranger to breaking barriers at the clu...

Former Gary Neville has stated that Arsenal have a strong chance to secure the English Premier League title when they face Manchester City next weekend. According to reports, Neville made this remark on Sky Sports after City’s convincing 3-0 win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Goals from Nico O'Reilly, Marc Guehi, and Jeremy Doku helped Pep Guardiola’s side reduce the gap to six points, setting up a crucial title clash at the Etihad Stadium. The result has further fueled debate about the title race, with many expecting City to mount more pressure on Arsenal. However, Neville believes attention has not been sufficiently placed on Arsenal’s own chance to seal the title. He said Arsenal must stay focused on their approach against City, noting that while discussions larg...

The possibility of Morocco hosting official La Liga matches is becoming increasingly realistic following new comments from league president Javier Tebas. In In an interview with the Moroccan News Agency (MAP), Tebas suggested that the Kingdom is one of the most viable destinations for the Spanish league’s international expansion plans. Tebas highlighted that the immense supporter base in Morocco and the geographical proximity to Spain make it a logical choice. “Given the number of supporters who follow the Spanish league in Morocco, I think it would be easier to play in Morocco, especially because the logistical constraints linked to travel are minimal,” Tebas explained. The La Liga president specifically mentioned the city of Casablanca as a potential host, noting the ongo...

FIFA has unveiled its list of match officials for the June 11-July 19 World Cup, including 52 referees, six of whom are women. The FIFA Team One cohort comprises 52 referees—including six women—alongside 88 assistant referees and 30 video match officials, drawn from all six confederations and representing 50 Member Associations. The appointments were made on the basis of FIFA’s long-standing “quality first” principle, while consideration was given to the consistency of the performances delivered by candidates at FIFA tournaments, as well as in international and domestic competitions in recent years. Pierluigi Collina, FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer and chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee, said: “The selected match officials are the very best in the world. They were part of a ...

Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy has been suspended for four matches following an altercation with a referee after Al Ahly SC’s 1-1 draw against Ceramica Cleopatra FC in the Egyptian Premier League. Although he was an unused substitute during the match, El-Shenawy became involved in the post-match drama after Al Ahly were denied a late penalty over a disputed handball decision in stoppage time. The situation escalated on the touchline, with the veteran goalkeeper accused of confronting and striking the match official. League authorities confirmed the punishment, imposing a four-game ban along with a fine of 50,000 Egyptian pounds. The incident was classified as physical misconduct rather than violent conduct, but it still carries significant consequences for the club. El-She...

Morocco’s captain, Achraf Hakimi, has admitted he is not proud of the actions surrounding the towel controversy that occurred during the closing stages of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The incident involved opposing goalkeepers, including Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali and Senegal’s Édouard Mendy. During both the semifinal and final matches, Moroccan staff, ball boys, and some players were repeatedly seen attempting to take towels meant for the goalkeepers. These actions raised concerns, as they appeared to be aimed at making it more difficult for the goalkeepers to maintain a firm grip in wet playing conditions. In the final, footage showed towels being taken from Mendy during light rain, while a similar situation occurred with Nwabali in the semifinal clash against Nigeria. Speakin...

Etim Esin, a former professional Nigerian footballer, has reflected on the controversial r@pe scandal in Belgium which derailed his career. Speaking in a recent interview with sports host Charles Anazodo,  Esin disclosed that ignoring advice from late Super Eagles captain Stephen Keshi led to him getting into trouble in Belgium.  Etim Esin said: “Had it been I calmed down like Keshi advised me, ‘Get a woman, Itimi, your life will be more stable’, I think a lot of things I didn’t do then, I would have avoided. I learned a lesson from that.” Esin further addressed his lifestyle in Belgium which ultimately landed him into legal trouble.  According to him, he was partying, dating multiple women and living as though he was still in Nigeria, not knowing he couldn...