Wednesday, 30 September 2026
FULHAM BOSS ALVARO ARBELOA CHARGED BY FA AFTER CLAIMING OFFICIALS 'WOULD NOT LET MANCHESTER UNITED LOSE'
Arbeloa made the comments after Fulham’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United earlier this month
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| Arbeloa has been charged by the FA (Getty) |
The Football Association has charged Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa with misconduct following his claims that officials “would not let Manchester United lose" during their Premier League draw at Craven Cottage.
Michael Carrick’s side were fortunate to leave with a point after Matheus Cunha’s 89th-minute deflected goal rescued a 1-1 draw on 20 September.
Speaking during a post-match TV interview, Arbeloa stated the referee had given "all fouls" to the opposition and added: "I knew after the game against Man City that they (would not) let Manchester United lose here," referencing a controversial VAR decision from the Manchester derby the previous weekend.
The FA alleges the manager "acted in an improper manner by making comments in a post-match interview that imply bias and/or question the integrity of a match official".
Arbeloa, who assumed control at Fulham in the summer but is yet to win a league match, has until Thursday to respond.
Fulham had gone ahead against United early in the second half thanks to a Lisandro Martinez own goal and looked on course for victory before Cunha’s late strike.
Former United player and Sky Sports commentator slammed his old team’s performance, claiming they played the “worst 15 minutes of football” he can remember seeing since watching the team from the age of five.
After the game, Neville explained his reasoning adding: “I was purely referring to the fact that they walked around the pitch. I’ve never seen a Manchester United team walk, out of possession, as much as that.
“Michael [Carrick] said he was happy with the team’s energy, Michael’s got to stop defending them. I get why he’s defending them, he’s loyal and wants his players to work for him. Both teams were the same, I called them mannequins. I’ve never seen a Manchester United team, for 15 minutes, walk around out of possession as much as that. No alertness, no liveliness, no sort of on your toes. Just walking when Fulham were in possession.
“There needs to be a rebalance,” Neville continued, “I wish he [Carrick] could play those attacking players but they’re going to kill him defensively.”
- Sam Brookes
FIVE CONTENDERS TO REPLACE ESTEBAN OCON AT HAAS FOR F1 2027
There is now a seat open at Haas alongside Oliver Bearman in F1 next year
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| Esteban Ocon, Haas Photo by: Eric Le Galliot |
The news is finally out that Esteban Ocon will leave Haas at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign following a disappointing time with the American outfit.
He joined for 2025 and considering his then eight seasons of experience, including four podiums and a victory in Hungary, Ocon was viewed as a real coup for Haas.
The Frenchman became its first grand prix-winning driver and, lining up alongside rookie Oliver Bearman, Ocon was in the perfect place to lead that team forward into the new regulations.
But it just hasn’t worked out. Scoring just 45 points to Bearman’s 61 in their 18 months together, while being consistently outperformed by the 21-year-old, has led to this news that was long expected.
Ocon’s replacement is yet to be confirmed though, so who are five drivers that could serve as Bearman’s team-mate at Haas in 2027?
Leonardo Fornaroli
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| Getty |
Leonardo Fornaroli is one of two clear favourites for the second Haas seat in 2027. The 21-year-old Italian is yet another Formula 2 graduate to have been forced to sit on the sidelines for an F1 team immediately after a title-winning campaign, having served as McLaren’s test driver in 2026.
But Fornaroli has certainly shined at the British marque with his development work behind the scenes, while also appearing in free practice sessions at Barcelona and Budapest - impressing at the former, taking fifth and just half a second off Oscar Piastri.
“It’s a very deserved opportunity,” beamed McLaren team boss Andrea Stella in Spain. “We have worked with Leonardo for some months now. We have appreciated massively his attitude as a person and as a driver.
“He is actually a very interesting character. He looks timid, but by far he is the most proactive driver in asking the engineers, he goes around with his notebook, takes several notes and as soon as he has an idea, he shares it.”
So Fornaroli is definitely viewed as one to watch within the paddock and should an F1 opportunity not arise for him, there’ll definitely be chances for McLaren to place him within either its IndyCar or World Endurance Championship projects.
But F1 is still the goal, and understandably so after being part of an exclusive club to have won the F3 and F2 crowns back-to-back. In F3 he achieved the title despite not winning a race, but instead focused on consistency - an incredibly hard thing to accomplish in the junior categories - before carrying that over into F2 last season.
“Leonardo is certainly an asset for Formula 1 in the future,” said Stella. And that might just be where Haas fits into the equation, particularly as Fornaroli completed a two-day TPC programme for the squad at Jerez in June.
Whatever happens, McLaren is keen to retain control over the Italian, unlike former junior driver Gabriel Bortoleto who was cut loose to join Audi, making Fornaroli available to Haas on a loan deal if the team wants to take up the offer.
Ryo Hirakawa
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| Getty |
Arguably the most straightforward option would be for Haas to promote its reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa into a full-time seat. The 32-year-old joined the operation in 2025 - following stints with McLaren and Alpine - thanks to his strong ties with Toyota, who is a current partner and title sponsor of Haas, providing design, technical and manufacturing services.
Against popular belief, Hirakawa also has plenty of single-seater experience with four wins and a runner-up championship finish during nine seasons of Super Formula in his native Japan. He has also conducted various TPC programmes for Haas, won the 2012 Japanese Formula 3 Championship and did three seasons of Formula Challenge Japan.
But hardly any of that is at an international level and there can be no denying that the sportscar scene is his bread and butter, having taken the 2017 Super GT title, a victory at Le Mans and the 2022 and 2023 WEC crowns, while also currently leading the 2026 standings with Toyota.
So it would still be a left-field option and with him two years old than Ocon, promoting Hirakawa might be seen as a strange choice by Haas. But he has nonetheless impressed the team and should he depart WEC, it is understood that Toyota would sign its junior Esteban Masson - not the other Esteban in Esteban Ocon!
Yuki Tsunoda
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| Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images |
Hirakawa is not the only Japanese driver that Haas could be considering, as Yuki Tsunoda is desperately trying to find a seat for the 2027 F1 campaign. The 26-year-old was once considered part of the furniture after four seasons at Team Faenza - under its various guises - where to his credit, he did a solid job, having outperformed team-mates like Daniel Ricciardo and Nyck de Vries.
The only issue was that Red Bull’s sister team is not a long-term home for anybody and so either a promotion to the main squad or looking elsewhere were his only options. Ultimately, Tsunoda got that promotion at the start of 2025 - thanks to Liam Lawson performing poorly - but he became another driver to struggle alongside Max Verstappen by finishing 17th in last year’s standings compared to second for the world champion.
So Tsunoda was dropped and forced into a reserve driver role at Red Bull for 2026, with Isack Hadjar taking his seat and performing valiantly alongside Verstappen. It looked as though Tsunoda’s F1 career was therefore done and talks about an IndyCar move emerged, until he was recently given one final opportunity to put himself in the shopping window.
That came after an injury for Hadjar, so Lawson took his seat at Red Bull while Tsunoda filled the void at Racing Bulls for the Dutch, Italian and Spanish grands prix. The Japanese driver performed well, taking a point at Monza and narrowly missing out at Zandvoort, so he looked like a version of his former self and was no doubt pleased by his performances.
“I’m super happy, I enjoyed this qualifying so much,” said Tsunoda after taking 12th on Saturday at Zandvoort. “I missed this kind of feeling, chasing the last few milliseconds. I was able to get used to it faster than I expected.”
The following day saw the man of 114 grand prix starts make a desperate plea for F1 teams to “call me”, with his options for 2027 still up in the air. Although on paper Haas may be an option, Tsunoda is still affiliated with Toyota rival Honda and that is likely to be something which holds him back on this occasion.
Is it worth switching allegiances, which would have long-term career consequences, for what may just be a single season of Haas? Although Honda got him into F1, ironically it might just be what stops him from returning full-time.
Liam Lawson
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| Getty |
One could just list all the Red Bull graduates at this point, but Lawson is arguably at a weird crossroads in his career. The 24-year-old made his F1 debut for Team Faenza in 2023, replacing the injured Ricciardo, immediately impressed, but then didn’t return until the final eight rounds of 2024 before starting his first, full campaign in 2025.
The problem is, 2025 saw him start the opening two grands prix at Red Bull but he was completely off the pace, so got moved back down to the sister squad where he has been ever since. History dictates that, unless it’s exceptional circumstances like what happened recently, Red Bull never re-promotes one of its drivers which means that Lawson’s options are Racing Bulls or elsewhere.
What makes it tricky is that, while F1 is now seeing the best of the Kiwi who is ninth in the standings with a career-best 59 points, Racing Bulls is the leader of the midfield. Yet it is a squad that nobody wants to stay at, so if he were to leave for Haas, he’d be going down the pecking order.
But with Nikola Tsolov - second in the F2 standings - waiting in the wings, with Lawson’s team-mate being the impressive teenage rookie Arvid Lindblad, Red Bull has a decision to make. It is likely that Lawson will remain for 2027 before analysing what his options are, but he could jump the gun and decide that replacing Ocon at Haas is his best bet for the long term.
Rafael Camara
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| Getty |
Despite everything that’s been mentioned, it’s hard not to see Ocon’s replacement being the current F2 leader Rafael Camara. The 21-year-old has recently emerged as the clear favourite for that seat - and it’s easy to see why, with the Brazilian atop of the F2 standings, following up his F3 title-winning campaign in fine fashion.
And unlike Fornaroli, Camara also took the F3 title in his rookie season while the Italian did it as a sophomore, finishing 11th the season prior. So on raw talent, Camara arguably edges it, having won titles at every level and in 2026 he looks set to make it three on the bounce after taking the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship.
This has very much been a breakthrough year for him though and qualifying is where he’s impressed the most, taking five poles, which is the most for a rookie since Piastri achieved that same amount in 2021. Camara could therefore surpass the now nine-time grand prix winner with two rounds left - Qatar and Abu Dhabi - in the current season where, should they go ahead amid the Middle Eastern conflict, the Invicta driver will arrive with a seven-point cushion over Tsolov.
Camara has shown immense capabilities to adapt to a new category right away - in F3 he took pole in four of the opening five rounds - and that is obviously something that’s needed for F1, particularly when he’s yet to appear in a practice outing.
What also gives him the edge over Fornaroli is that the Brazilian is an academy graduate of Ferrari - Haas’ current engine supplier - likewise with Bearman - and Ferrari is known to be keen for Camara to slot in alongside its other junior. The youngster is also understood to have impressed mightily on a recent TPC test in Portimao.
- Ed Hardy
TYSON FURY BEGINS DRUG TESTING HOURS BEFORE ANTHONY JOSHUAFACE-OFF
Anthony Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn were concerned that Tyson Fury had not been tested ahead of their press conference this evening
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| Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua |
Tyson Fury was drug tested this morning ahead of his face-off with Anthony Joshua - removing one of the last remaining hurdles to their British super-fight.
Fury and Joshua will face the media this evening for the first time since their fight was officially announced for December 11 in Cardiff. They will then face off officially for the first time in their decade-long rivalry. But despite last week's announcement, there were fears today's event would not take place.
Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn were adamant Fury should have been drug-tested by VADA seamlessly since his win over Arslanbek Makhmudov. But Fury's team believed he only had to start when his fight with British rival Joshua was announced. Fury enrolled in testing in time for both men to make their way to London from their training camps - and Mirror Fighting understands Fury was woken in his hotel this morning to be tested.
This evening's press conference will also go ahead without UFC chief Dana White whose involvement in the fight had caused problems with Hearn and Joshua. White is the frontman for his Zuffa Boxing promotion and Saudi ringmaster Turki Alalshikh wants him to promote the fight.
But Joshua's contract forbids his involvement and he will at least be absent today. "I would have been there if I didn't have The Contender series," he said. Asked why there is confusion over his involvement, White said: "There's no confusion whatsoever. If you look at everything from the network to the guy who's actually f***ing paying for it, and to me saying what I've said. I mean, I've been saying it now, feels like for f***ing years, but it's probably been weeks, but I've been saying the same thing.
"Everything that I've been saying is the truth, and why would I say it and double down, and triple down, and f***ing quadruple down if it wasn't the case? This isn't a hesitation; this is an ego thing; a total ego thing. Boxing has taken a hit in the United States. It's not as big as it was here 20 years ago. It has become a very British sport, and all the s*** you're hearing, and the crying, and the bitching is all coming from the UK."
- Martin Domin
BREAKING: ESTEBAN OCON TO PART WAY WITH HAAS
BREAKING: Esteban Ocon has officially confirmed he will part ways with Haas after this season
- F1
LAMINE YAMAL MAKES MORE HISTORY WITH LATEST SPAIN MASTERCLASS
Another first for a very special player.
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| SEVILLE, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 29: Lamine Yamal of Spain celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Spain and Croatia at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on September 29, 2026 in Seville, Spain. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images) Getty Images |
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has added yet another record to his ever growing collection after scoring twice and bagging an assist for Spain against Croatia in the Nations League on Tuesday night.
The teenager opened the scoring in the second minute, teed up Marc Pubill for Spain’s second and them made it 3-1 just after the hour for the world champions.
Yamal’s exploits mean he has become the youngest player to ever score two goals and bag an assist in the same game for Spain.
The Barcelona star has achieved the feat at the grand old age of 19 years and 78 days, beating the record previously held by Raul and Exteberria (21 years and 273 days), according to MisterChip.
Se va Lamine Yamal que es el jugador más joven con 2+ goles y 1+ asistencia en un mismo partido en TODA la historia de la selección española:
Lamine Yamal lo ha hecho con 19 años y 78 días
Raúl lo hizo con 21 años y 273 días
Etxeberria lo hizo también con 21 años y 273 días pic.twitter.com/biDZGOdsjv
— MisterChip (Alexis) (@2010MisterChip) September 29, 2026
Yamal now has 18 goals and assists in all competitions this season for club and country in just 10 games in what has been an impressive start to the season by the Barcelona superstar.
The teenager also was given a breather by Luis de la Fuente in a gesture that will be appreciated by Barca. He was taken off on the 68th minute after yet another standout showing for the world champions.
- Gill Clark
MAN CITY FACE SEVERE SANCTIONS AFTER 'SHAM' SCHEME EXPOSES SCALE OF PREMIER LEAGUE BREACHES: 'CHEATING ON AN INDUSTRIAL SCALE'
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| Getty Images |
Manchester City face the threat of severe sanctions after an independent commission found they had “clearly intended to circumvent Premier League rules” over a nine-season period.
City were found to have engaged in an $1.7 billion AUD scheme to either inflate revenues or reduce costs through a series of “sham” arrangements in order to avoid breaching league and UEFA financial regulations.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters described the case, and the decision, as “the most significant in Premier League history”, with the league’s investigation having started back in 2018.
More than 100 charges were laid against City in February 2023, with the commission hearing the case between September and December 2024.
The same commission which has given its decision will now consider what sanctions should be imposed, while the club immediately confirmed their intention to appeal, saying the decision “contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe”.
City chief executive Ferran Soriano told staff on a video that the commission had gone along with the Premier League’s “conspiracy theory” and the club made it clear they would fight the verdict with every resource they can.
The club were found by the commission to have operated a “disguised funding scheme” whereby companies from Abu Dhabi paid a fraction of the sum recorded on the club’s books, with the balance settled by Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG), the company through which Sheikh Mansour owns the club.
The commission made the following over-arching observation – that all the charges “have in common the feature that they involved conduct (and as we have found, intentional conduct) which would disguise the true nature of certain revenues and liabilities/expenses, to give the appearance of minimising the club’s financial dependence on ADUG”.
That scheme was found to have inflated revenue by more than £830m ($A1.6 bn) over the nine-season period between 2009-10 and 2017-18.
The club also were found to have overstated income from image rights by almost £74m ($A140m), and understated liabilities for staff contracts by almost £17m ($A32m).
“It’s cheating on an industrial scale. It’s quite surreal seeing it written down like that. You can’t mention City without mentioning what’s going on because they were so great. I feel like an unprecedented punishment is required here,” Arsenal legend Ian Wright said on ITV.
City were also found to have made “concerted efforts” to “stop and frustrate” the Premier League’s investigation.
The commission found that without engaging in these schemes, the club would have been in breach of Premier League and UEFA spending limits by a very large amount.
The commission also found that evidence given by a number of important factual witnesses called to give evidence on behalf of the club was “false in a number of key respects”.
It further found that “certain of those factual witnesses had given evidence at the hearing that they knew to be untrue and so had been dishonest”.
Premier League chief executive Masters said on Tuesday: “This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history.”
- AAP
Tuesday, 29 September 2026
ANTHONY JOSHUA VS TYSON FURY ROW RESOLVED AFTER FIGHT PLUNGED INTO DOUBT
Joshua and Fury are due to meet in London on Wednesday to face the media for the first time since their heavyweight showdown was announced last week
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| Getty |
Anthony Joshua will face off with Tyson Fury tomorrow after Fury enrolled in drug testing.
Joshua and Fury are due to meet in London on Wednesday to face the media for the first time since their heavyweight showdown was announced last week. But a bitter row between Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn and UFC boss Dana White had plunged the fight - set for Cardiff on December 11 - into doubt.
White, who also runs Zuffa Boxing was officially named as a promoter alongside The Ring, which is owned by Saudi Arabian powerbroker Turki Alalshikh. Fury claimed on Saturday that Hearn and Joshua were trying to pull out and, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fury put the chances of a fight going ahead at one per cent.
He said: “If you’ve got a guy that wants to fight, and you’ve got a guy that doesn’t want to fight, then how are you going to make that fight happen?” Speaking to Sky Sports after Johnny Fisher’s victory at the Copper Box on Saturday, White refused to back down. “I’m involved in the fight,” he said.
“If Eddie Hearn really cared about this fight, first of all it would have happened a long time ago, number one. Number two, he could finance the thing himself. The guy who’s supposed to be helping the fight has been hurting the fight the entire time. We’ll all know more in the next three or four days.”
Hearn and Joshua also had concerns over when Fury was going to enrol in drug testing with VADA. Joshua's contract stated Fury would do so seamlessly after his win over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, but Fury's team insisted they would enrol when their fight with Joshua was finalised.
And Fury finally did so on Monday night as both fighters headed to London from their training camps. Fury has been preparing in Miami while Joshua has been training in Dubai. UFC boss White is not expected to be at the press conference having struggled to answer basic questions about the fight last weekend.
- Martin Domin
WHY IS MALAYSIA HOSTING THE F1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX?
Round 16 takes place at the Sepang circuit in Kuala Lumpur, returning to the calendar after a nine-year absence
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| Why is Malaysia hosting the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix? Malaysia hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix in a one-off event this weekend Getty |
Formula 1 returns to a fan-favourite circuit this weekend as the Sepang circuit in Malaysia hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix in a one-off event.
George Russell got his season back on track with a first victory in three months at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last time out, pipping Max Verstappen to the line to narrow the deficit on championship leader and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli to 66 points.
Antonelli, who crashed out of qualifying, recovered from the back of the grid to finish fifth while Isack Hadjar joined Verstappen on the podium on a positive day for Red Bull. However, it was a tricky day for McLaren and Ferrari, who both struggled for form and pace.
As for this weekend, Bahrain’s original grand prix date in April was cancelled due to the war in the Middle East. The Gulf country have, however, opted to pay the hosting fees to have their name attached to Sepang’s return to the calendar for the first time in nine years this weekend.
Why is Malaysia hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix were desperate to hold their event this season – even if racing at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain proved to be an unfathomable option.
The race in April, alongside the grand prix in Saudi Arabia, was cancelled due to unrest in the region following the start of the US-Iran war at the end of February. With the war still ongoing, the staging of season-concluding races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remains doubtful.
Yet the Sepang circuit on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur became a viable option over the summer period.
The 3.4-mile circuit hosted a Formula 1 grand prix from 1999 to 2017 before withdrawing from the sport when they couldn’t match the host fees required.
Yet the racetrack is still used for other motorsport events, such as MotoGP, and its proximity to Singapore (hosting a race on 11 October) meant hosting an event in Malaysia was considered a feasible option.
F1 was always keen to add to the 22-race calendar given the two cancelled races in April and, as such, a compromise was reached whereby the race will be held in Malaysia but under the title of the ‘Bahrain Grand Prix’. Bahraini organisers will pay the hosting fees needed to stage the event, while it offers a financial boost to the Malaysian venue amid ticket and hospitality sales.
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| Malaysia last hosted an F1 race in 2017 (Getty) |
When is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
Times BST
Friday 2 October
- Free practice 1: 5:30am
- Free practice 2: 9am
Saturday 3 October
- Free practice 3: 5:30am
- Qualifying: 9am
Saturday 4 October
- Race: 8am
How can I watch it online and on TV?
The Bahrain Grand Prix in 7Malaysia will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 6:30am (BST).
Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action from Kuala Lumpur on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
In the United States, every practice, qualifying and race session is streamed on Apple TV this year. You can stream Apple TV for FREE, with Apple TV’s seven-day free trial.
- Kieran Jackson
SALAH WALKS, HASSAN TALKS - AND EGYPT HAVE A PROBLEM
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| Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, left, will not play in the next game against South Sudan, something coach Hossam Hassan, right, said was already agreed. Getty Images / Reuters |
Pharaohs head coach has gone from hero to headache as he attempted to walk back criticism of Shenawy and the Egyptian league while questions remain over whether Salah will return
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan went into full damage control mode on Monday while talking to reporters ahead of the Pharaohs’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan.
Hassan walked back many of the statements that landed him in hot water with fans, pundits, and even his own players over the past week.
Just two months after he was given a hero’s welcome alongside the Egyptian squad that made a historic run to the last-16 at the 2026 World Cup, Hassan went through a nightmare four-day media storm due to ill-advised comments made during press conferences, a sub-par 0-0 performance against Angola, and the seemingly surprising departure of Mohamed Salah from training camp.
What did Hassan say?
At his pre-match press conference ahead of the Angola game in Cairo on Thursday, Hassan was quizzed about the absence of Mohamed El Shenawy, the Al Ahly goalkeeper and one of the Egyptian national team’s captains, from his squad.
Hassan did not appreciate his decisions being questioned and implied that at some point El Shenawy’s career was “finished” before he managed to revive it through the national team – comments that were interpreted by many as offensive to a player who has earned 76 caps and was Egypt’s first-choice goalkeeper for many years before his teammate Mostafa Shobeir came to the fore this summer.
“Mohamed El Shenawy at one point was finished, and was not playing with his club, yet he returned to his level through the work we did with him with the national team. Not just him, but other players as well,” said Hassan, who has also taken credit for bringing Emam Ashour back to form after illness.
“This was our point of view this time, regardless of whether he [El Shenawy] is injured or not. All respect to all the players, especially since Mohamed El Shenawy is one of the captains of the Egypt national team, and I value him. But this is my choice. I could have made my life easier by saying he is injured. But even if he isn’t injured, this is my choice. It’s high time we trust each other.”
"محمد صلاح من أهم لاعبي العالم.. وفضلنا إراحته بسبب أرضية النجيل الصناعي" 🇪🇬
حسام حسن خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بمباراة مصر وجنوب السودان 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/rONfeAm2s2
— EFA.eg (@EFA) September 28, 2026
Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abou Rida and Al Ahly, both released statements in support of El Shenawy following Hassan’s press conference.
Other comments that caused great ire among the Egyptian public were Hassan’s views on the Egyptian Premier League, the domestic league that typically provides almost 90 per cent of the players for the national team.
“I wish that the domestic league becomes strong. Looking at the league, do you see any team or any club in the league that has a good technical level? Name one star or one team from the league that you believe can add value or improve the level of the national team,” said Hassan on Thursday.
“Players come to us [at the national team], they improve, and then they return to their clubs. What’s supposed to happen is that they improve at their clubs and they come to us ready and in good shape. So we are truly suffering.
“I hope that all the big and respected clubs in the league can play football at a higher level and can increase the physical conditioning of the players. Because that will ultimately help the national team. Because I don’t have enough time with the players.”
The statements dominated the news cycle on the eve of the Angola game, and things worsened when Egypt were held to a goalless draw at Cairo International Stadium in a homecoming game that saw Hassan inexplicably substitute Salah in the 60th minute.
Hassan later said in the post-game press conference that his decision to take off Salah was for “technical reasons”.
The following morning, news broke that Salah had left the national team camp, despite there being two more games scheduled for this international break – an Afcon qualifier against South Sudan in Juba on Tuesday and a friendly against South Africa back in Cairo on October 4.
Hassan surprised reporters by saying he had nothing to do with arranging the South Africa game and the EFA decided to add it to the agenda; another indication that not everyone is on the same page within the national team ecosystem.
Statements and reaction
Following Salah’s departure, the EFA released a statement saying it was a prearranged decision, made before the Angola game, by the national team's technical staff.
The reason given was that the South Sudan game would be played on an artificial pitch, which, potentially, could increase the Trabzonspor star's risk of injury.
Despite the EFA’s statement, football insiders reported that there was more to Salah’s departure and that he left because of the unrest within the team, caused by Hassan’s comments and actions.
The situation has dominated every news outlet in Egypt since Saturday morning, with many describing it as a “crisis”.
Former Egypt and Tottenham striker Mido said on X he found Hassan’s statements to be “narcissistic”, while ex-Zamalek and Egypt forward Shikabala criticised the coach’s defensive strategy in a home game against Angola and said Hassan was being “stubborn”.
“He wants people to say that ‘I am the one who benched [Omar] Marmoush, I am the one who pulled Salah’. Why would I take off Salah in the 60th minute? What technical part of the game is Salah incapable of doing? Salah sat on a rock [in Turkey]; it became a touristic landmark,” Shikabala added, speaking on MBC Masr.
Another former Zamalek and Egypt star, Hazem Emam, questioned Hassan’s decisions, which he said had divided people rather than united them, and said they were unnecessary given the fanfare and goodwill that surrounded Hassan and the team after their World Cup heroics.
“Captain Hossam, you are a very big player and a very big coach, but you must admit that you have an issue with the statements you make in press conferences. It causes you lots of problems and it ruins all the good work you’ve done. What’s the use of publicly targeting two great players on your own team? It’s so unnecessary,” Emam said on On Sport.
“Captain Hossam has a big problem. He always feels underappreciated; that no one appreciates his work, and I don’t know why. As a player, everyone considered him a legend of the Egyptian game, and at the World Cup, people said he is the best coach to ever manage Egypt.
"I don’t know why he finds the need to recount all of his achievements over and over again. Let the people list your achievements instead. Why take credit for El Shenawy? Why describe him as finished? Why say Emam Ashour would have spent a year recovering from a virus had it not been for you? He plays for a club and it’s normal that the clubs are the ones that prepare their players.
“Calling the league poor, that really upset me. And he would have been upset had he been coaching in the league and someone said that. Ninety per cent of your players are from the league. He shouldn’t say these things.”
Acclaimed TV host and media personality Amr Adib said Hassan went from “national hero to national problem” in the span of 48 hours.
"حديثي عن تصريحات محمد الشناوي فهم خطأ.. وأحترم
الجميع" 🇪🇬
حسام حسن خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بمباراة مصر وجنوب السودان 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/HvPJjJyucU
— EFA.eg (@EFA) September 28, 2026
Amid this media storm, Hassan addressed reporters in Juba on Monday and clarified his previous statements.
He said his comments on El Shenawy were “misinterpreted” and that he was simply referring to the goalkeeper’s previous shoulder injury that kept him out for some time.
He also insisted that Salah’s departure was prearranged and that it wasn’t the first time the former Liverpool star had skipped games played on artificial grass, citing past fixtures against Cape Verde and Mauritania as examples.
“There is no conflict,” Hassan assured. “We are in our best state right now. We just got back from the World Cup; this was our first game back.”
The National's view
Hassan claims Salah will be back with the team for the South Africa game on home soil on Sunday, but that remains to be seen.
The EFA, at least publicly, seems to be behind Hassan, who, together with his twin brother Ibrahim, the director of the national team, has renewed his contract until 2030.
Victory against South Sudan on Tuesday will be essential for the noise around the head coach to die down, who has already shown great restraint in his rhetoric during the pre-game press conference in Juba.
As Emam mentioned, Hassan has spent too much time listing his accomplishments and should instead get back to letting the team’s form and results do the talking.
pic.twitter.com/I0YEi117lE
— EFA.eg (@EFA) September 28, 2026
What the Pharaohs were able to achieve in North America over the summer was unprecedented, and it raised the hopes and expectations of 120 million Egyptian fans, who are now dreaming of African glory and further success on the global stage.
Egypt’s Afcon qualification journey had an ominous start, but there is still time to course-correct and get back on track.
What’s important to remember is that the Egyptian national team is not a vanity project and should never be treated as such. Decisions should be based on merit, not personal feelings, but that doesn’t mean words don’t matter and feelings can’t be hurt.
The South Sudan game may not be make-or-break for Egypt’s Afcon ambitions, but it certainly bears a lot of weight for Hassan’s second term with the Pharaohs.
- Reem Abulleil
Monday, 28 September 2026
AGASSI STEALS SHOW WITH JOKES ABOUT CARLOS ALCARAZ AND ALEXANDER ZVEREV AFTER EUROPE SEAL LAVER CUP GLORY
Andre Agassi was in a playful mood Andre Agassi watching his Team World lose the 2026 Laver Cup to Team Europe at London's O2 Arena on Sunday, with the American legend taking an opportunity to poke fun at Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz.
Zverev sealed a sixth Laver Cup for Europe with a straight-sets victory over Learner Tien, reclaiming the title Team World won in San Francisco a year earlier.
Europe had earned themselves three chances to win the tournament during the final round of singles matches, which they took at the first opportunity thanks to Zverev's win.
Alcaraz was set to play Alex de Minaur next had Zverev not beaten Tien but the Spaniard was not required for his final match after beating Taylor Fritz on Saturday and winning Friday's doubles contest alongside Jakub Mensik against Fritz and Alexander Bublik.
Alcaraz had a four-month injury lay-off and missed the Roland-Garros and Wimbledon Grand Slams as a result, before returning to the US Open earlier this month, where he exited at the quarter-final stage.
"How great is it to have Carlito back in the house? My man! We missed you! The game really missed you," Agassi said before Europe were awarded the Laver Cup trophy.
"In real time, I was missing you. I was praying every day that your wrist would get better somewhere in October… not before this weekend."
Former world No. 1 Agassi also took the opportunity to make some fun of Zverev, who made the most of Alcaraz's absence from the circuit this year to claim his first Grand Slam titles at the French and US Open.
"Congratulations, Sascha on a crazy year," he said. "Seeing you win [a Grand Slam] for the first time, I know how important that was for you.
"It was important for me too, because I can start watching your press conferences again where you’re not like. ‘Why do I always lose? Why do I always lose? I’m the third best in the world [pretending to cry].
"But then you win and then it’s like, ‘I’m only a one-slam champion; I’ve got to do it again.'"
Zverev laughed off Agassi's comments, which went down well with the London crowd, before joining his team-mates on stage to lift the Laver Cup.
Following his win, Zverev - who has featured at more Laver Cups than anyone else - made an admission about the current state of men's tennis after enjoying another team campaign.
"Winning as a team, there is no better feeling in sports," he said.
"We don’t have enough of it in tennis, being among these great players that I normally see across the net every week, and playing alongside two great captains, Yannick [Noah] and Tim [Henman].
"It’s just fun being out here."
- BEN SOUTHBY
QATAR NATIONAL TEAM WIND CATEGORY E GOLD AT THE WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD IN SAMARKAND
The Qatar National Chess Team claimed the gold medal in Category E at the 46th World Chess Olympiad, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15 to 28 September 2026, with the participation of 206 countries.
The national team consisted of five players: Hamad Al Kuwari, Irfan Mohammed, Turki Al Kuwari, Khalid Al Jumaat, and Mohammed Jerbi. The Qatari players delivered impressive performances throughout the Olympiad and concluded their campaign by securing first place in their category.
Qatar's participation also witnessed notable individual achievements. National team player Khalid Al Jumaat earned the title of Candidate Master (CM), while Mohammed Jerbi achieved the title of FIDE Master (FM). In addition, the players made significant gains in their international ratings.
The Olympiad competition featured five divisions: A, B, C, D, and E. The Uzbekistan national team won the Open section title, followed by India in second place and Germany in third.On the administrative side, Mr. Mohammed Al Mudahka, Deputy President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and President of the Qatar Chess Association, participated in the FIDE General Assembly meetings held on the sidelines of the Olympiad. Several Qatari administrative officials also took part in the event, including Ms. Zhu Chen, FIDE Treasurer, and Mr. Hamad Al Tamimi, Advisor to the FIDE Events Commission and Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Association.
Qatari international arbiters Yousef Khalil Al Mohannadi and Sara Al Muhannadi were also among the officiating team responsible for managing the Olympiad competitions.Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Mohammed Al Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association, expressed his delight with the team’s success in the Samarkand Olympiad, praising the outstanding performances delivered by the players. He highlighted that the squad included a number of promising juniors and young players who succeeded in earning international titles and achieving important gains in the world rankings.
Al Mudahka stated that winning the gold medal represents a valuable addition to the accomplishments of Qatari chess and will further strengthen the players’ standings in the FIDE rating list.He emphasized that the Qatar Chess Association will continue its efforts to develop the national teams through comprehensive preparation programs and participation in international tournaments, helping players prepare for future competitions and enhancing Qatar’s presence on the international chess stage.
The Qatar National Team concluded its participation in the Samarkand Olympiad with a gold medal in Category E, along with several individual achievements, international titles, and rating gains. The results reflect the continued progress of Qatari chess talent and support the Association’s long-term vision of developing a new generation of players capable of competing successfully at the highest international level.
- Gulf Times
HAMILTON SHARES TEAR-JERKING MESSAGE FOR ROSCOE ONE YEAR AFTER HEARTBREAKING LOSS
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| Photo: RacePictures |
Lewis Hamilton has shared a heartfelt social media tribute to his beloved dog Roscoe, who accompanied him for a significant part of his Formula 1 career before passing away one year ago.
Roscoe passed away on Sunday, 28 September 2025, after being hospitalised with pneumonia and placed on life support. The Brit confirmed his death the following day, revealing that his beloved dog died in his arms the previous evening. One year later, Hamilton marked the anniversary of Roscoe’s passing, remembering the companion who remained by his side for twelve years.
Hamilton remembers Roscoe one year after his passing
Looking back on their time together, Hamilton reflected on the important place Roscoe held in his life and acknowledged how difficult his absence continues to be. Alongside memories of Roscoe, Hamilton also mentioned Coco, explaining that both dogs remain a constant presence in his thoughts despite no longer being by his side.
The anniversary also gave Hamilton an opportunity to revisit some of the memories they created together through old photos and videos. Rather than focusing solely on the sadness of the loss, the Briton looked back at those moments with a smile, remembering the happiness they brought him throughout the years.
“It’s been one year since Roscoe’s passing. Being without my best friend has been hard, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wish he was with me. I think of him and Coco every day, and as sad as I am to not have them, I’m so grateful for the time I shared with them and to have had them in my life. They’ve been there for some of the happiest times of my life.”
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| Roscoe in the F1 paddock in 2020 - Photo: Race Pictures |
Hamilton also took the opportunity to thank those who have supported him since Roscoe’s passing, particularly fans who understood the pain of losing a beloved companion and helped him through the difficult period.
“Today, I’m looking through these photos and videos laughing and smiling so big remembering those moments. So many of you have been through this and reached out with love and support. It means so much to me, knowing how much Roscoe was loved. Rest’s in peace buddy’s, love you always.”
Last August, Hamilton decided to start a new chapter in his life with a new pet, welcoming Golden Retriever puppy Halo into his family. The Ferrari driver introduced the newest addition during the summer break, sharing several photos of the pair together on social media. Halo was brought over to Los Angeles, where she is set to receive training from Kirstin McMillan, who previously worked with Hamilton's other dogs, Roscoe and Coco.
- Tobia Elia
BRANDON MCNULTY TAKES TOP SPOT |
The USA rider, Brandon McNulty, leads the Men Elite Road Race rankings at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montréal with a time of 6:17:04.
🥈 Michael Matthews 🇦🇺 +13"
🥉 Mathieu van der Poel 🇳🇱 +13"
4️⃣ Quinn Simmons 🇺🇸 +13"
5️⃣ Isaac Del Toro 🇲🇽 +14"
6️⃣ Mads Pedersen 🇩🇰 +14"
7️⃣ Tom Pidcock 🇬🇧 +14"
8️⃣ Matteo Jorgenson 🇺🇸 +14"
9️⃣ Giulio Ciccone 🇮🇹 +14"
🔟 Ben Healy 🇮🇪 +14"
#Cycling #Worlds2026 #UCIWorlds
NASCAR: KESELOWSKI-HOCEVAR CLASH FUELS PAYBACK DEBATE AFTER KANSAS CRASH
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| Getty |
A tense NASCAR restart at Kansas Speedway sparked fresh questions about Brad Keselowski and Carson Hocevar after a multi-car crash during the Hollywood Casino 400. On Lap 122, Noah Gragson’s engine failure brought out a caution, setting up a Stage 2 restart.
When the field went back to green, Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet moved right and made contact with Ty Gibbs before crossing back across the track. Bubba Wallace, Josh Berry, Erik Jones and Zane Smith were also caught in the crash. Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford was directly behind Hocevar when the incident unfolded.
The NASCAR crash drew more attention because Hocevar had spun Keselowski at Darlington three weeks earlier. Keselowski had then warned, “There will be,” when asked about possible history between the two drivers.
NASCAR Restart Crash Raises Keselowski-Hocevar Questions
The NASCAR crash quickly became a talking point because Keselowski appeared to make contact with Hocevar during the restart. USA Network analysts Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton questioned whether Keselowski had pushed the No. 77.
Chase Briscoe’s crew chief, James Small, told his driver over the radio that Keselowski had gotten into Hocevar and knocked him loose. Keselowski’s spotter, TJ Majors, offered a different view, saying, “Move of the race, nice job.”
Keselowski replied that the move was “more of survival than anything else.”
The NASCAR incident came after Hocevar’s Darlington spin of Keselowski, adding another layer to the restart crash.
Brad Keselowski Explains Kansas Speedway Contact
After the NASCAR race, Keselowski rejected the idea that the Kansas Speedway crash was connected to the Darlington incident.
“I don’t know. They crashed. I didn’t see what happened. They were in front of me and then they weren’t. From what I’m told, they made some contact there, the outside lane. So I don’t really feel like that had anything to do with me, but it makes for a damn good story.”
In another clip, Keselowski said, “Yeah, I know. I gave him a push, and then they started wrecking to my right. I couldn’t tell what happened.”
NASCAR did not issue a penalty over the incident.
Carson Hocevar Takes Blame as Fans Debate NASCAR Crash
Hocevar also stopped short of accusing Keselowski of causing the NASCAR crash at Kansas Speedway. His No. 77 Chevrolet suffered right-front damage, while he finished three laps down.
“I felt contact from all over, honestly. I don’t know. Everybody was trying to go for the middle because that seems to be the perfect spot. I don’t know if I tried to fill that hole that we were all trying to merge into, but we wrecked.”
He later told Motorsport.com, “It looked like we just kind of met. I was trying to run middle, so was the 54. We all just kind of met.”
Hocevar also accepted some responsibility on USA. “He was in my blind spot, so I didn’t know he was shooting that middle. So, yeah, I guess on me.”
Fans offered different views of the NASCAR incident. Danielle Trotta wrote, “Brad’s smart. If it was intentional, he’s smart enough to not make it look like it was. Ways to ruin someone’s day that aren’t blatant. Likely payback from Darlington, and don’t expect BK to admit it to reporters.”
Stephen Harrell disagreed, writing, “Hocevar absolutely turned right to fill the gap in the middle. Trust me, as a Keselowski fan, I WISH that was Brad paying him back! But nope, just another boneheaded move by the 77.”
Jordan Ferrell also rejected the payback theory: “I don’t think that was a retaliation from Keselowski. Hocevar was laying back. Left Brad with few options.”
Bubba Wallace recovered to finish inside the top 10 after repairs. Keselowski finished 12th, while Kyle Larson went on to win the NASCAR race.
The Kansas Speedway crash added another chapter to the Keselowski-Hocevar storyline, but neither driver confirmed it was payback for Darlington.
- Dogli Wilberforce
MARTIN ØDEGAARD IN FURIOUS SPAT WITH EX-MAN CITY RIVAL BERNADO SILVA DURING NATIONS LEAGUE CLASH
Ødegaard and Silva were previously Premier League rivals when the Portuguese midfielder played for Manchester City
Norway captain Martin Ødegaard was left incensed after receiving a late tackle to his ankle from Portugal’s Bernardo Silva during stoppage time of Sunday's Nations League fixture.
The challenge resulted in a yellow card for Silva in Portugal’s 2-1 victory in Oslo, renewing a rivalry built over years in the Premier League. Silva, who departed Manchester City for Real Madrid in the summer, left a painful reminder on the Arsenal captain.
Ødegaard was captured on camera repeatedly shouting an expletive in English towards his long-term opponent, whom he may face again in Lisbon on Sunday in their Nations League group return match.
"This has no place on a football pitch," Odegaard told Norwegian broadcaster TV2 while limping towards the team bus more than an hour after the final whistle.
The incident took place after Odegaard played a deep left-footed pass from within Norway's half before Silva made a challenge from behind. Silva raised his right foot too late to block the pass, before aiming a kick at the rear of Ødegaard's trailing left foot.
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| Former Man City star Bernardo Silva attempted to downplay the spat with Odegaard (John Walton/PA) (PA Wire) |
Asked by Norwegian journalists about the clash that angered Ødegaard, Silva initially responded "What tackle?" in a clip shared by online media outlet Nettavisen.
"It’s football, my friend," stated the 32-year-old playmaker, who spent nine years at Manchester City and won six Premier League titles.
Arsenal and Odegaard finished as runners-up to Man City in two of those title-winning campaigns, in 2023 and 2024, before he captained Arsenal last season to their first Premier League title in 22 years.
Man City and Arsenal currently sit first and second in the standings early in a Premier League season that appears destined to be overshadowed by the long-running legal proceedings against Silva’s former club.
Abu Dhabi-backed Man City were charged with breaking financial regulations over a nine-year period from 2009 to 2018, mostly related to sponsorships from the emirate, alongside failing to cooperate with the inquiry.
An independent panel of judges has reportedly found Man City guilty of most of the 115 charges faced, though it remains unclear whether the club's previous titles are vulnerable at a subsequent sanctions hearing.
Man City deny all wrongdoing, and on Saturday club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak insisted in a letter written to fans that "nothing has changed."
- Sam Brookes
RAMS PLAYER FACING NFL PUNISHMENT AFTER 'SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL '
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| AP Photo/Kyusung Gong |
The Los Angeles Rams fell to 1-2 with their loss to the Denver Broncos on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 3, and the NFL could make things even worse for Quentin Lake.
The versatile defensive back who plays the “star” position–a safety in the nickelback spot– for the Rams committed one of the various fineable offenses during the potentially costly 30-26 interconference defeat.
It happened during the third quarter, with the Rams up 16-0 on the Broncos.
Broncos quarterback Bo Nix completed a pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton. Braden Fiske made the tackle, but only after Lake got a hold of Sutton’s facemask in his attempt.
Officials flagged Lake for the infraction during the game, which gifted the Broncos an additional 15 yards on top of the 9 yards Sutton gained on the reception. The drive ended with a Broncos touchdown and two-point conversion.
NFL Could Come After Quentin Lake Following Rams Loss
In addition to the in-game punishment, Lake could face additional measures from the NFL following his actions in the Rams’ loss.
Per the NFL, fines for face mask calls can cost players as much as $11,941 on first-time infractions and $17,911 after that. This would be Lake’s first infraction of the 2026 season, so he would likely face an amount equal to or lesser than the standard amount.
That is, if the NFL fines him at all.
The league levies fines at its discretion. That is why fines often come in at different amounts than what is posted. The league also often abstains from taking any sort of financial action.
It is also why they routinely fine players over infractions that were not called during contests. That means that there could be several other infractions from this contest that draw additional scrutiny when the league does its weekly review.
If Lake is fined, he will be the third Rams player to be docked this regular season.
He would join Nate Landman (illegal use of the helmet) and Tyler Davis (hit on a quarterback/blow to the head or neck area). The NFL fined both of them after Week 1.
A fourth player, outside linebacker Darryl Peterson, was fined following the Rams’ preseason opener. The hit to his bank account would sting. Lake and the Rams are surely lamenting their missed opportunities in the loss to the Broncos even more.
Rams Sean McVay Goes After Refs Following Polarizing Call
The cost of his facemask was apparent in real-time. But Lake also had an illegal hands to the face call in the fourth. That one got Rams head coach Sean McVay fired up at the officials.
Downtown Rams host Jake Oliver Ellenbogen posted, “Okay I think Quentin Lake penalty is even worse. That made it feel like a screw-job. Disagree with the INT call but bailing out Denver with the INT and the 4th and goal at the 5? Egregious.”
Not everyone was absolving Lake, though.
“Another flag on the Rams. Unreal,” the California Post’s Michael J. Duarte posted on X. “This one is on Quentin Lake and these penalties are handing the Broncos the game.”
- Josh Buckhalter
Sunday, 27 September 2026
BARCELONA FINANCES: £625M LA LIGA SPENDING-LIMIT RECOVERY EXPLAINED
Barcelona's La Liga squad cost limit has risen by around £625m in five years, completing a remarkable recovery from the financial restrictions that once left the Catalan giants with a negative spending ceiling.
La Liga's latest figures give Barcelona a squad cost limit of €582.7m (£501m) for the 2026-27 season, putting the club back in a position to operate with financial room that appeared almost unimaginable at the height of their crisis.
Real Madrid remain comfortably ahead with a record €832.7m (£716m) limit, leaving a gap of approximately £215m between Spain's two biggest clubs.
However, that difference looks very different when compared with 2021-22, when Barcelona's limit had fallen to -€144m (-£124m) while Madrid could spend up to €739m (£635m).
Barcelona have recovered £625m of La Liga spending power
La Liga's squad cost limit should not be confused with a club's actual wage bill.
The calculation covers fixed and variable salaries, social security costs, bonuses, transfer acquisition costs, agents' commissions and the annual amortisation of transfer fees. Clubs are also not required to use the full amount available to them.
For Barcelona, the movement from -€144m to €582.7m represents a swing of almost €727m, or approximately £625m, in just five years.
The scale of that turnaround becomes even clearer against Madrid. At Barcelona's lowest point, the difference between the two clubs stood at €883m (£759m). It is now just under €250m (£215m), meaning Barca have erased more than £540m of that extreme gap.
The recovery has also begun to translate into greater freedom in the transfer market. Barcelona spent heavily during the latest summer window, their biggest outlay for several years, after seasons in which registrations, spending restrictions and emergency financial measures repeatedly shaped their recruitment.
According to AS, structural cost reductions have played an important role in improving the numbers, alongside increased commercial income and revenue connected to the redevelopment of Camp Nou.
The reopening of part of the stadium has been particularly significant, while Barcelona's VIP-box programme has also generated substantial income during the rebuilding process.
The improvement does not mean that Barcelona's wider financial problems have disappeared. The club continue to carry major liabilities linked particularly to the Espai Barca project, even after returning to annual revenues above €1bn.
Camp Nou move could put Barcelona's progress under pressure
Barcelona's recovery is substantial, but the next phase of the Camp Nou project means the upward trajectory may not continue uninterrupted.
The Catalan club are expected to return temporarily to the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys during the 2027-28 campaign while further work, including the installation of the Camp Nou roof, is carried out.
That move is expected to reduce matchday revenue compared with playing at their redeveloped home and, according to AS, could consequently lower Barcelona's La Liga spending limit again.
It creates an unusual situation for Joan Laporta's administration. Camp Nou is one of the main assets expected to drive Barcelona's long-term commercial growth, yet completing the project could temporarily restrict the financial room that the club have spent several years rebuilding.
That tension is already visible in the way Barcelona have financed their return to major transfer spending, with higher revenues and greater La Liga flexibility offset by the continuing cost of the stadium redevelopment and historic liabilities.
There is nevertheless considerable optimism over the longer-term picture. Barcelona reportedly expect the redeveloped stadium and its commercial spaces to become major revenue generators, with the club targeting total annual income of around €1.45bn by the 2030-31 season.
Madrid therefore remain well ahead in immediate spending capacity, but the comparison is no longer remotely as one-sided as it was five years ago.
Barcelona have moved from a negative La Liga limit to more than half a billion pounds of permitted squad expenditure. The next test is whether that £625m recovery can survive one more temporary move away from Camp Nou.
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