Sports

Chelsea FC interim coach Calum McFarlane has expressed confidence that the club’s season can still be turned around, despite a difficult spell that led to the dismissal of Liam Rosenior earlier this week. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final clash with Leeds United, McFarlane called for calm following recent struggles at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea head into the match after losing five consecutive Premier League games without scoring. A 3-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Tuesday marked the end of Rosenior’s short 106-day tenure. There was brief confusion on Friday when the club’s website mistakenly advertised Rosenior’s press conference before McFarlane addressed the media. When asked about reports of unrest in the dressing room and whether players had stopped pla...

Mikel Arteta has insisted Arsenal FC remain firmly in the Premier League title race despite slipping behind Manchester City in the standings. City moved to the top of the table following a 1-0 win over Burnley on Wednesday, leaving Arsenal level on points but trailing on goals scored. The Gunners can return to first place if they avoid defeat against Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, April 25. Just weeks ago, Arsenal were widely considered favourites to secure their first league title since 2004 after opening up a nine-point lead. However, recent defeats to Bournemouth and Manchester City have left their title hopes no longer fully in their control. Despite the setback, Arteta remains confident his side can respond. “Win tomorrow, game one win and then we’ll be...

A number of high-profile footballers are facing injury setbacks that could rule them out of the 2026 World Cup, set to kick off in June, leaving national teams anxiously monitoring player fitness. According to reports, the growing injury concerns span across several top football nations, with some players already ruled out and others racing against time to recover. Spain, Germany Deal With Early Setbacks Spain were briefly alarmed after teenage sensation Lamine Yamal picked up a hamstring injury while scoring for FC Barcelona. However, there is optimism he will regain full fitness in time. Germany, on the other hand, are facing a tougher situation, with goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen struggling with a persistent hamstring problem that casts doubt on his availability. Brazi...

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has cautioned Cesc Fabregas against taking up the vacant managerial position at Chelsea FC following the sacking of Liam Rosenior. Fabregas, who currently manages Como 1907, has been linked with the Chelsea job amid ongoing instability at Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard has earned recognition as one of Europe’s rising young coaches after guiding Como toward potential Champions League qualification. Speaking in an interview, Petit urged Fabregas to prioritize a future opportunity with FC Barcelona instead, describing Chelsea as a difficult environment for a developing manager. He stressed that Barcelona, despite its pressures, offers more stability compared to the current situation in west London. Meanwhile, Chelsea legend John Terry has expre...

Former Super Eagles forward Michael Eneramo has tragically passed away at the age of 40 after collapsing during a football match in Kaduna State. According to reports, the incident occurred on Friday at the Angwan Yelwa pitch in the Television area of Kaduna, where the ex-international was taking part in a game. Eneramo had reportedly come on as a second-half substitute before suddenly collapsing on the field without any physical contact. Eyewitnesses said attempts to revive him at the scene were unsuccessful. He was later rushed to a hospital, where he was confirmed dead. Eneramo previously played in the Nigeria Premier Football League with Lobi Stars before moving abroad to join Tunisian club Espérance Sportive de Tunis. He went on to spend much of his professional career in Tur...

Abdoulaye Traore, a former Ivory Coast international footballer, has been handed a three-year prison sentence after being found guilty of rape, according to an Ivorian women’s rights group. Traore, popularly known as Ben Badi and a member of the squad that won the 1992 Africa Cup of Nations, remains a notable figure in Ivorian football history. In a statement, the Ivorian League for Women’s Rights confirmed that a court in Bouaké delivered the verdict, describing it as a major step forward in tackling impunity related to sexual and gender-based violence. Beyond the prison term, the court also ordered Traore to pay 15 million CFA francs in compensation to the victim and imposed a five-year ban preventing him from entering the central region of the country. A judicial source reve...

Fenerbahçe have reportedly submitted a complaint against rivals Galatasaray over the protective face mask worn by Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, arguing that it could endanger other players ahead of their highly anticipated derby clash. Osimhen recently returned to action after injury, making a brief substitute appearance in Galatasaray’s Turkish Cup loss to Gençlerbirliği S.K.. He featured for 13 minutes, wearing a bandage on his arm under a long-sleeved shirt after spending over a month on the sidelines. With both Istanbul giants set to face off in what could be a title-deciding encounter, Fenerbahçe have escalated their concerns to the Turkish Football Federation. According to Turkish outlet HT Spor, Fenerbahçe believe the hard material of Osimhen’s mask poses a potential ris...

Manchester City have reportedly engaged in encouraging discussions with Enzo Maresca about the possibility of him taking over from Pep Guardiola. Guardiola’s future at the Etihad Stadium continues to generate widespread speculation, as the Spanish tactician approaches the final phase of his current contract with the club. In response, City’s management are said to be preparing a contingency plan, which could involve bringing back a familiar figure to the club. According to reports from The Guardian, Maresca has now emerged as one of the top candidates to succeed Guardiola, especially amid growing rumours that the long-serving manager could step down at the end of the season. Despite this, Manchester City remain hopeful that Guardiola will honour his contract, which runs until 2...

FIFA has dismissed suggestions to substitute Iran with Italy at this year’s World Cup, following a proposal reportedly put forward by a special envoy to Donald Trump. Although concerns had been raised about Iran’s participation due to ongoing geopolitical tensions involving the United States and Israel, football’s global governing body has made it clear that Iran will remain in the tournament, according to reports. The proposal came from U.S. envoy Paolo Zampolli, who said he had recommended the idea to both Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Zampolli argued that Italy, a four-time World Cup winner, has the pedigree to justify inclusion. However, FIFA declined to directly address the suggestion and instead reiterated Infantino’s earlier stance that Iran will participate. T...

Barcelona have confirmed that teenage sensation Lamine Yamal will be sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury. In an official medical update, the club revealed that tests showed damage to the biceps femoris muscle in his left leg. The statement added that Yamal will undergo conservative treatment and is expected to return in time for the World Cup. The injury occurred shortly after the young winger scored from the penalty spot in a hard-fought victory over Celta Vigo. He later went down on the pitch and signaled to the bench before being substituted. Further assessments confirmed the setback, with reports indicating he will miss key fixtures, including the upcoming El Clásico, and likely the rest of the campaign. While the win over Celta Vigo kept Bar...