AESENE 'LE PROFESSEUR' WENGER GAVE OUT A WARNING IN 2009

 

EX-LIVERPOOL CO-OWNER GEORGE GILLETT DIES

Liverpool’s former co-owner George Gillett has died at the age of 87.

Gillett and business partner Tom Hicks assumed control at Anfield in February 2007 after acquiring the Moores family’s legacy shares in a £217 million buyout deal.

However the Americans proved deeply unpopular during their three-and-a-half years in charge of the Reds amid off-field turbulence which left the club on the brink.

The former Montreal Canadiens owner infamously declared that the pair would have ‘a shovel in the ground’ on a proposed new stadium in Stanley Park within 60 days.

Gillett and Hicks, who died in December 2025, were finally ousted when current owners Fenway Sports Group bought Liverpool’s debt in a £300M package.

However the previous custodians attempted to disrupt the sale by obtaining a court order against it in a US court which was later overruled by a High Court judgement.

It was confirmed that Gillett’s death on Tuesday came after a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

“Former Liverpool FC co-owner George Gillett Jr. has passed away at the age of 87,” read a club statement

“Gillett, alongside fellow American businessman Tom Hicks, completed a takeover of the Reds in February 2007.

“Their tenure at Anfield ended in October 2010 when the club was bought by current owners Fenway Sports Group.

“Gillett also owned the NHL team Montreal Canadiens for an eight-year period from 2001 to 2009.

“LFC sends its condolences to the Gillett family and his friends.”

- Richard Buxton

SPRINGBOKS V ALL BLACKS: LAST FIVE TESTS

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Damian Willemse of South Africa celebrates after scoring a try during The Rugby Championship match between New Zealand All Blacks and South Africa Springboks at Sky Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

The Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series shifts into top gear this weekend, with the Springboks hosting the All Blacks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg, in the first of four Tests.

New Zealand have concluded their run-outs against three of the four South African franchises, beating the Stormers, Sharks, and the Bulls over the last two weeks, while the Lions will get their chance against the men in black at the same iconic venue on August 25.

While this marks New Zealand’s first tour of South Africa in 30 years, this fiercest of sporting rivalries is anything but new.

South African toured New Zealand for the first time in 1921, and in the 110 Tests played between them, the All Blacks have won 63, while the Springboks have beaten them 43 times. Four Tests have ended in a draw.

The two iconic sides have won seven of the 10 world cups since the tournament began in 1987, with South Africa lifting the Web Ellis a record four times, while New Zealand have claimed the global top-podium spot on three occasions. Two of those finals have been played between the two teams, with South Africa winning both.

While the All Blacks hold an overall 57 percent success rate over the Springboks, there has been a major shift in the Rassie Erasmus era, with the Boks winning seven of their 11 Tests since the 2019 world cup in Japan.

With so much history between these age-old rivals and more history possibly to be made during this tour, we look at the five most recent results between South Africa and New Zealand.

September 13, 2025: All Blacks 10 Springboks 43, Wellington

South Africa ran in six tries – five of them in the second half – to dismantle the hosts in a shocking one-sided affair at Sky Stadium.

While the Boks dominated territory in the opening 40, they only had a Cheslin Kolbe intercept try to show for it and went into the break trailing 10-7, but they were ruthless after switching sides and kept the All Blacks scoreless in the second half, while they ran in five more tries.

The All Blacks assault in Wellington marked their biggest-ever victory against their rivals and the biggest defeat for the All Blacks on home soil. The result also saw the Boks retain the Freedom Cup while moving back to the top of the World Rugby rankings.

What made the performance even more impressive was how the Boks regrouped after their Eden Park defeat the previous week and the wholesale changes that were made to the squad. Youngsters were given the license to thrill. Add in there the injuries the visitors sustained in the first half in Wellington and how they emptied the bench even before the end of the third quarter, and the result becomes even more remarkable.

It was also the game that should have convinced the rugby world about the Boks’ attacking venom.

September 6, 2025: All Blacks 24- 17 Springboks, Auckland

Going into the clash, the Boks had been winless at Eden Park since 1937, and it remained that way, while New Zealand extended their long-standing record at the venue.

The All Blacks had been unbeaten in 50 Tests (including two draws) at their Eden Park bastion prior to this contest and added one more win to that streak, while the result snapped the Boks’ four-match winning run against them.

Ardie Savea produced a moment worthy of the occasion in his 100th Test for the All Blacks when he won a turnover with one minute to time to negate the spirited Springbok second-half fightback which saw the traveling team come back from 17-3 down at half time.

The result piled the pressure on the Springboks’ Rugby Championship title defence after three rounds.

September 7, 2024: Springboks 18 – 12 All Blacks, Cape Town

The result was a massive one for South Africa for a number of reasons – it marked the first time since 1949 that they beat New Zealand four times on the bounce and their first time winning the Freedom Cup since 2009, while it also all but secured them the Rugby Championship title for the first time since 2019, when the Boks became the first country to win the Sanzaar-governed competition and the world cup in the same year.

The Springboks trailed 3-9 at half-time at Cape Town Stadium and scored the only two tries of the match to claim an 18-12 victory in an absolute thriller of a clash to remain unbeaten in the Rugby Championship after four rounds.

South Africa led by a single point in the 70th minute, but Damian McKenzie flopped a straightforward penalty kick, allowing the Boks to exit after the All Black hooked his kick.

August 31, 2024: Springboks 31 – 27 All Blacks, Johannesburg

Drama lacked not in this blockbuster.

From the airplane flyover during the haka to the fantastic smash-and-grab by the Boks, this match had it all.

South Africa simply had no business winning this game.

The All Blacks had the upper hand in the most of the stats charts and dominated territory and possession, but they conceded more breakdown penalties against a Springbok team that just refused to go down.

And that was the difference, the home side’s relentless determination to keep up the fight.

New Zealand led by 27 points to 17 with just 11 minutes remaining before South Africa orchestrated a fantastic late surge in Round Three of the Rugby Championship.

It was a battle for the books, and while the All Blacks fell victim to some of their errors, the Boks rose above theirs in the Ellis Park epic and showed exactly why, with them, it’s never over till it’s over.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu contributed 16 points in the form of penalties and conversions, while the Bomb Squad injected some potency with Kwagga Smith scoring after a lineout maul was stopped metres from the line before Grant Williams burst over after another maul was stopped in its tracks.

With the win, the Boks tightened their grip on the Rugby Championship.

October 28, 2023: Springboks 12 – 11 All Blacks, Saint-Denis (France World Cup)

Not much needs to be said about why this match was a historic one.

While the Springboks gilded the pages of their stacked history books with a record fourth world cup title, All Blacks skipper Sam Cane became the first player to be red-carded in a world cup final.

But that was perhaps not as decisive as one would expect as the Boks also lost two players to yellow cards.

The All Blacks scored the only try of the match in the 58th minute courtesy of Beauden Barrett, which was the first time in their four finals that the Boks had conceded a try. That alone might have suggested that the night wouldn’t end favourably for the South Africans, but this is a team that knows nothing of a white flag and in no other contest did they make it clearer than on that icy night in Saint-Denis.

Handré Pollard scored all his team’s points with four first-half penalties while Pieter-Steph du Toit single-handedly put together the study guide on colossal defence in a performance that epitomised “big match temperament”.

No words can do the kind of determination and character that the Boks embodied on that night justice.

- Wynona Louw

HAYDEN PANETTIERE 'S HEARTBREAKING WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO ADMISSION IN LAST INTERVIEW

The American actress, who has died at the age of 36, shared a daughter with the former heavyweight boxing champion

Klitschko and Panettiere got engaged and welcomed a daughter before later splitting up

Hayden Panettiere made a heartbreaking admission about the daughter she shared with former fiance Wladimir Klitschko in her final interview, which was published just weeks before her death.

The American actress, who began her career as a child star before landing roles in shows like Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36. In a statement, her heartbroken father Skip paid tribute to her as an "incredible light and a force of nature" and said her death was an "unimaginable loss".

Panettiere was previously engaged to former world heavyweight boxing champion Klitschko, having met him at a book launch in 2009. After they began dating, they split up in 2011, before rekindling their relationship two years later.

In October 2013, they got engaged, with the actress giving birth to their daughter, Kaya, the following December. However, it was confirmed in 2018 that the couple had split again, but remained on amicable terms.

That same year, Panettiere made the "heartbreaking" decision to relinquish full custody of Kaya to Ukrainian boxing great Klitschko, due to her struggles with long-term post-partum depression and addiction.

In what proved to be her final interview with parenting outlet Momé, published just last month, the late actress addressed the situation again, saying she knew she needed to hand full custody to Klitschko in order to put her daughter first.

"It wasn’t a decision I made lightly, nor was it a decision I even wanted to make," said Panettiere. " I was going through a really challenging time in my life.

"I knew I needed to be able to put her first so that I could get the help I needed and be the mum she needed me to be.

"I love my daughter, and I’m so proud of the young woman she is becoming," she added. "I talk to her all the time, and I feel so connected to her. She’s like a mini-me."

It comes after she detailed being separated from Kaya in her memoir, titled This Is Me: A Reckoning and released earlier this year.

"Not being under the same roof with her every day has been the most gut-wrenching experience of my life, and it’s hard to describe the layers of emotion – including sadness, resentment, and anger – I’ve felt because of it," Panettiere wrote.

"I grieve that I’m not the mother I thought I’d be and definitely not the mother I want to be (trust me, no one should ever have to raise a child on FaceTime), and although I miss Kaya so much my heart aches, I know how blessed I am to be her mom.

"She is the greatest gift of my life, with all the best parts of her father and me."

Tragically, Panettiere's death comes three years after her younger brother Jansen also passed away at the age of just 28.

Jansen, who was also an actor, died in February 2023 due to aortic valve complications, related to enlarged heart syndrome.

- John Jones

HISTORIC WORLD CUP FUROR AT 'INCOMPREHENCIBLE' FIFA DECISION TO LET U.S. FORWARD BALOGUN PLAY

ILE - FIFA President Gianni Infantino, right, awards President Donald Trump with the FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Dec. 5, 2025.

Chris Carlson/AP

GENEVA — An all-time controversy in the World Cup's 96-year history was raging Monday ahead of the co-host United States and forward Folarin Balogun facing Belgium with a quarterfinals place at stake.

The Belgian soccer federation said it is challenging FIFA's ruling to let Balogun play despite getting a red card in his previous game — a shocking move made Sunday after pressure on the world soccer body's leader Gianni Infantino from his close ally, U.S. President Donald Trump.

The "deeply concerned" Belgians' statement just 11 hours before starting their round of 16 game in Seattle showed clear frustration with FIFA at what seemed a lack of good faith in shaping an urgent legal process.

European soccer body UEFA earlier criticized FIFA for an "incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," that it said "crossed a red line" by not enforcing Balogun's mandatory one-game ban for his foul tackle against Bosnia-Herzegovina last Wednesday.

FIFA's ruling Sunday — to defer Balogun's ban for one year of probation — deviated from soccer's traditional rule of law and drew stinging criticism globally including from former World Cup stars and coaches at this tournament.

"It's a bad, bad, bad, bad, bad decision that will hurt the World Cup," Norway coach Ståle Solbakken said Sunday after his team beat Brazil to reach the quarterfinals.

UEFA, whose member federations include Belgium, insisted: "Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not."

"When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined," said the European soccer body, which has often clashed with Infantino during his decade in FIFA power.

"We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision," said UEFA, where Infantino was its CEO-like general secretary from 2009 until being elected to lead FIFA in February 2016.

FIFA was asked Monday to comment on the UEFA criticism.

Infantino's predecessor Sepp Blatter, who was forced from office in 2015 in fallout from corruption scandals, posted Monday on social media: "Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies."

Belgium's legal options

Belgian officials had been preparing an appeal in Seattle in the early hours of Monday to challenge the Balogun ruling with a FIFA-appointed appeals judge. They said FIFA had not provided documents key to filing a valid appeal.

The round of 16 game against the U.S. is due to kick off at 5 p.m. local time.

"Regardless of the sporting outcome of the match," the Belgian federation said, "(we are) deeply concerned by the way these events have unfolded and will continue, in the hours, days and months ahead, to pursue every available avenue to uphold the fundamental principles of ethics, sporting fairness and the interests of football as a whole."

Soccer rules require teams ultimately judged to have fielded an ineligible player to default the game as a 3-0 loss. Belgium must first appeal to FIFA and then to the Court of Arbitration for Sport based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Balogun's tackle

Balogun was sent off directly for planting his cleated foot on the ankle of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic during a 2-0 win for the U.S. in the round of 32.

That kind of challenge has been a routine red card all season in competitions worldwide, and Balogun could have expected a two-game ban for serious foul play under the FIFA disciplinary code.

Still, similar challenges by star players have gone unpunished at this World Cup — by Lionel Messi for Argentina against Algeria and Morocco's Achraf Hakimi vs. Brazil. Bernardo Silva of Portugal got just a yellow card against Congo.

"I think a yellow card would have been fair," Balogun later suggested.

FIFA's interventions

This World Cup has been remarkable for FIFA under Infantino seeming to rewrite the norms of disciplinary action even before the tournament began.

A pattern of pardons opened FIFA to suggestions of executive intervention in the statutory independence of its judicial bodies, including the disciplinary committee that formally reprieved Balogun.

Cristiano Ronaldo was cleared to play in Portugal's opening World Cup game despite getting a red card for serious foul play in a qualifying game against Ireland last November. He struck an opponent with an elbow.

Ronaldo served his mandatory ban in Portugal's final qualifying game but he was reprieved from an expected two-game ban because FIFA introduced the idea of probation. An imposed three-game ban was less meaningful as two games were deferred during a one-year probationary period.

At the opening game on June 11, South Africa's Themba Zwane got a red card against Mexico for a similar offense to Ronaldo's and FIFA imposed a three-game ban with no probation. Zwane did not play again at the World Cup.

Three players sent off in their teams' qualifying games last year were surprisingly told by FIFA in May they could serve their bans in a future competition instead of at the World Cup, which was the long-standing norm.

Ecuador midfielder Moisés Caicedo, Argentina defender Nicolás Otamendi and Qatar defender Tarek Salman all had their bans waived for the World Cup.

US exceptionalism

This, FIFA said in May, was to ensure teams "can compete with their strongest possible squads on the biggest stage of men's international football."

The Balogun decision simply took this policy further, though not for other players shown a red card so far who were mandated to miss at least one game.

"It is a principle embedded in regulations, which cannot be made subject to exceptions," UEFA said, "let alone in the middle of a tournament where several other players have been in the same situation and regularly served their suspension."

- The Associated Press

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NEW METS INTERIM MANAGER AFTER CARLOS MENDOZA'S FIRING

Mar 30, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) looks on before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Fans of the New York Mets can exhale now that Carlos Mendoza has been let go.

But who is the Mets’ new manager, and what is New York getting in interim manager Andy Green?

Green, the former Mets player who has been a coach since 2012, is taking over for Mendoza, who was fired Friday after the Mets went 34-47 in their first 81 games.

Mets fans of a certain age will remember Green from his one-season tenure in Queens (2009) or his three seasons as a player for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Or you may recall his three-plus years as the manager of the San Diego Padres.

Andy Green Played for the Mets and Managed the Padres

Getty
New Mets interim manager Andy Green finished his playing career with the Mets and managed the San Diego Padres for four seasons between 2016-19.

Green came up in the D-backs system as a scrappy 5-9, 165-pound infielder who was chosen in the 24th round of the 2000 MLB Draft — a round that doesn’t even exist anymore.

So you can bet Green will want to push the Mets to be scrappier, hungrier and more intense over the second half of this season.

The Mets will be Green’s second role as a major-league manager. He spent three-plus seasons managing the Padres (2016-19) and finished with a .428 win% before he was fired with one week remaining in the 2019 season, posting a 69-85 record before being let go in September.

The Padres then made the playoffs in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, going 37-23.

Green only played 140 big-league games and finished his big-league career with a .547 OPS and two home runs. His attitude was enough to earn a job in the D-backs system as the manager in Missoula of the Pioneer League.

He won the title there in 2012 then was named Southern League manager of the year in 2013 and 2014 before being promoted to D-backs third base coach.

The Mets’ Manager Search is Officially on

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Alex Cora is likely to be high on the list of candidates for the Mets’ manager role.

The Mets may have put Andy Green in place to ride out the rest of the season, but you can bet they will leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of their next manager.

Mendoza was well-thought-of candidate from the New York Yankees organization that pushed all the right buttons in 2024, when they went to the NLCS. But owner Steve Cohen has already flexed his financial might in signing Juan Soto and luring David Stearns from the Milwaukee Brewers.

You can be sure he’ll do the same when finding his next manager.

So Alex Cora immediately comes to mind as the top candidate for the Mets job. He, of course, was fired by the Boston Red Sox in April then turned down the Philadelphia Phillies role, which ultimately went to former-Yankees great and 2020 NL manager of the year Don Mattingly.

Cora could again be a candidate for the Phillies role, which makes it imperative that the Mets at least bring him in for an interview — especially with the Phillies playing well under Mattingly.

Cora, of course, won the World Series in Boston in 2018 and boasts a .534 win% over his 1,161-game tenure as a manager. Other candidates will arise, including Mattingly if he is not retained by the Phillies.

But Cora has to be the first option for the Mets.

- Pat Pickens

LAWYER GIVES MAN CITY 115 CHARGES VERDICT AND TIMELINE AFTER 'SPEAKING TO INSIDER'

Football lawyer Tom Murray has provided his insight on what could transpire when a verdict on the 115 charges made against Manchester City by the Premier League finally arrives

A verdict on Man City's 115 charges has yet to arrive(Image: Getty Images)

Manchester City are expected to be found in breach of at least some of the 115 charges made against them by the Premier League, but it would not be surprising if a final outcome still took more than two years, according to sports lawyer Tom Murray. The founding partner of the Three Points law firm anticipates this process will continue to be drawn out and exacerbated by the appeal process.

City stand accused of breaching financial rules over a nine-year period spanning from 2009. The investigation was opened in 2019 and included allegations over the club's financial reporting and lack of cooperation with the investigation, though the club deny any wrongdoing.

Charges were announced in 2023, and City face 54 allegations of failing to provide accurate and up-to-date financial information from 2009/10. They also face 14 alleged breaches of failing to provide accurate financial reports of player and manager compensation over the same period.

The hearing started in September 2024 and lasted 10 weeks, but all parties still await an outcome. The volume of charges and severity of the accusations appear to have contributed towards the long wait for a verdict, with the case being unprecedented in English football.

Murray believes the sheer scale of charges will eventually see Manchester City found guilty of at least some. But, amid persistent speculation over when the result of the case could arrive, the solicitor stopped short of predicting when the outcome would be delivered, having claimed to have spoken to those working on the case.

"I don't think anyone knows," Murray told the Price of Football podcast. "I've spoken to barristers working on the case, and even they don't know when the decision will be released. As much as I would like to speculate, I think it would be pointless.

"What do I think the outcome is going to be? I think Manchester City are going to be found liable, in breach of something. With the number of charges there are I don't think they are going to get away with this.

"But this is going to be strung out for as long as possible and I think we can expect an appeal and we'll be back in the same position. In two years' time, it wouldn't be surprising if we still don't have a final outcome."

Pep Guardiola is set to leave the club before any decision will be made(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

In contrast, former City financial adviser Stefan Borson believes the club will have a verdict 'quite soon'. He has suggested it could arrive by the end of the season.

"I think it’s coming quite soon, but then we have said that before, right?" he said. "My best guess and the kind of feeling in the parties is that it will come at the end of the season.

"June would be most likely, that’s the feeling. There’s no justification now from a kind of how long it takes to write this up, there’s no justification now.

"This is now ridiculous territory. 18 months to write up a decision in a private arbitration is clearly ridiculous. There’s been little things that I’ve heard that would signify that we are coming to the end of the process of writing it up."

- Scott Trotter

FORMER RED BULL MECHANIC SAYS HANNA SCHMITZ COULD BE NEXT TO LEAVE AFTER GIANPIERO LAMBIASE

Photo by Gongora/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ex-Red Bull mechanic Kenny Handkammer has claimed that Hannah Schmitz could be the next senior figure to leave the team.

In recent times, Red Bull have been hit with several high-profile exits, including the likes of Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay.

Last week, another senior departure was confirmed as Gianpiero Lambiase is set to leave Red Bull for McLaren in 2028.

Lambiase is set to become Chief Racing Officer at McLaren and will report to team principal Andrea Stella.

Less than a week after Lambiase’s departure was confirmed, it has been claimed that another senior figure could leave.

Hannah Schmitz could be next to leave Red Bull after Gianpiero Lambiase

Speaking on The Two Mechanics podcast, Handkammer claimed that the current Head of Strategy, Schmitz, could be next in line to leave the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

Handkammer said: “The decline of Red Bull is quite sad. If I were the CEO of Red Bull global, I’d be thinking. Look who he has lost, Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Gianpiero Lambiase and Will Courtenay.

“It looks like Hannah Schmitz, Head of Strategy, is rumoured to go too, all these massive key people and talks are there’s going to be more. That’s a real head scratcher. How do you reconfigure the team?”

Who is Hannah Schmitz and what is her role at Red Bull?

Schmitz, 40, is regarded as one of the most talented figures in the Formula 1 paddock, having joined Red Bull back in 2009 as a Modelling and Strategy Engineer.

In 2011, Schmitz became Senior Strategy Engineer before being promoted to Principal Strategy Engineer in 2021. In 2026, she became Red Bull’s Head of Race Strategy following Courtenay’s move to McLaren.

Schmitz has previously been praised for playing a major role in a number of Red Bull victories.

Following the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen labelled Schmitz as ‘insanely calm’ after the Dutchman won the race from P10.

He said: “You can’t afford many mistakes. It’s of course very hard to always be on the good side, let’s say it like that. But I think we have a lot of good guys and girls in the team.

“Today, I think Hannah, our strategist, was insanely calm. Yeah, she’s very good.”

With several big names already out the door, Red Bull will have to keep the likes of Schmitz in the team if they want to prevent Verstappen from engineering his own exit.

'ODDEST INTERVIEW I'VE EVER SEEN' - UNAI EMERY'S SCATHING ASTON VILLA TITLE VERDICT

Behind-the-scenes issues may have bled into Emery’s post-match reaction.

Unai Emery aired out his frustrations in public. | Visionhaus/Getty Images

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery insisted his side are not among the favourites to even finish in the Premier League’s top five in a surprising interview which was branded “one of the oddest” ever seen by pundit Jamie Redknapp.

The Villans had the chance to close the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday but slumped to a bitterly disappointing 1–0 defeat to Everton, leaving them seven points behind in the title race but still comfortably in third.

Clearly frustrated at the result, Emery used his post-match press conference to follow Enzo Maresca, Ruben Amorim and Oliver Glasner in becoming the latest Premier League manager to leave eyebrows raised.

“We are not contender to be in the top five,” Emery told Sky Sports with emphasis on the final word. “We are [in the top five now] but we are still not being contenders.

“There are other teams with more potential than us.”

Asked why he felt that way, Emery fell silent, staring blankly with a subtle smile on his face before the interviewer promptly ended the conversation. “Thank you,” Emery responded immediately.

Ashley Young: ‘It’s Just Weird’

Aston Villa’s injury issues may have been part of the inspiration. | Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC/Getty Images

Considering Villa still sit seven points above Liverpool in fourth, with fifth-placed Manchester United a further point back, many were quick to question how Emery could believe his side, still level on points with Manchester City above them, are facing an uphill battle to qualify for the Champions League.

“He looked really angry,” former Villa winger Ashley Young reflected. “It could be ... maybe the injuries? Maybe another one added to the list with John McGinn, missing Boubacar Kamara. Massive players—[Amadou] Onana as well.

“Is it the sale of Donyell Malen? Is it him speaking out to say to the owners, ‘Look at my squad, I need more players?’

“It was a weird interview, to be honest. We thought he’d speak more about the game and a missed opportunity of closing the gap on Arsenal. To then say there’s five other teams with more potential ... it’s just weird.”

Jamie Redknapp: ‘Up There With Benítez, Keegan’

Emery was visibly frustrated. | James Gill/Danehouse/Getty Images

Fellow pundit Redknapp was equally as puzzled by the interview, both in terms of its contents and Emery’s behaviour.

Drawing comparisons to Rafa Benítez’s famous rant at Sir Alex Ferguson from 2009 or Kevin Keegan’s 1996 outburst which was also triggered by the Man Utd legend, Redknapp insisted he could not understand Emery’s intentions.

“It wasn’t quite Rafa ‘Facts’ or Kevin Keegan’s ‘I’d love it if we beat them,’ but it was certainly one of the oddest interviews I’ve ever seen,” he said.

“The bit at the end where he’s saying ... he just goes quiet ... It was a very sensible question, she wasn’t asking anything difficult for him. I don’t know really what he’s trying to allude to. I guess he’s just genuinely devastated with the performance and the result.

“They do need players. We looked at what they have on the bench, they were short. They haven’t got the options. Harvey Elliott hasn’t worked out and wasn’t on the bench, Jadon Sancho was ill.

“It looks like Boubacar Kamara is going to be out for a long time and John McGinn has a problem with his knee. They will need to strengthen in that midfield area.”

- Tom Gott

JA RULE LOOK OUT, CC!!! ... Nearly Drilled MLB Great With Tee Shot

CC Sabathia is a lucky man, 'cause it turns out the former MLB ace was just inches away from Ja Rule's historically bad tee shot at the Derek Jeter Invitational in the Bahamas on Tuesday!!

Videos of the errant swing were shared on social media by those in the line of fire ... and the 2009 World Series champion happened to be standing in the area.

In the clip, you see a man seemingly get drilled on the elbow by the shot, which resulted in a loud thud as the entire crowd collectively let out an "ooh."

Just seconds before letting it rip, the MC -- real name Jeffrey Atkins -- joked he had to block out the noise going on from those around him ... as folks were trolling the New York native as he did some practice swings.

Despite everyone getting a good laugh after the fact ... you can see he was clearly concerned for the man he drilled with his shot -- going to check on the person after realizing what he had done.

People are basically putting their lives on the line whenever they attend these celebrity golf outings. Just last month, Sophie Cunningham clocked someone during a tournament at the Pelican Club in Belleair, Florida.

The fan she hit had some fun with it ... falling to the ground after the ball came to rest -- which gave Caitlin Clark a good laugh.

So if you ever find yourself at a celebrity golf tournament ... make sure you keep your head on a swivel!

- TMZ Sports

TRAGIC NEWS: ARTURO GATTI JR DEAD AT 17: BOXING LEGEND'S SON PASSES AWAY SUDDENLY JUST 16 YEARS AFTER FATHER'S TRAGIC DEATH

 Tributes have been paid to the late teenage fighter

Alongside an AI picture of the two Gattis together, Pascal wrote on his Instagram story: "Sixteen years after losing his father, the world loses another Gatti.

ARTURO GATTI JR has tragically died aged 17.

The Canadian had followed in his legendary late father's footsteps in boxing and competed on the amateur circuit.

Former world champion Gatti Sr passed away aged 37 in 2009, when his son was just a baby.

His wife Amanda Rodrigues was initially charged with murder - but following the autopsy it was deemed that the boxer had taken his own life while on a family holiday in Brazil.

Earlier today, former boxer Jean Pascal revealed that Gatti Jr had died.

Alongside an AI picture of the two Gattis together, Pascal wrote on his Instagram story: "Sixteen years after losing his father, the world loses another Gatti.

"The son of a legend two fighters, one legacy. Both gone too soon.

"May they reunite in peace. My heart is heavy... life can be unfair sometimes.

"I'm sending strength, love and prayers to his family.

"May he rest in power, like his father a true warrior."

Gatti Sr's former bodyguard Chuck Zito paid tribute, writing on Instagram: "My condolences to Arturo Gatti Seniors - Mom, Sisters, Brothers, and his daughter Sophia."

Plenty of fans also paid tribute to Gatti Jr.

One wrote on X: "Awful news. Remember seeing a video of Mike Tyson watching young Gatti hit the heavy bag. The way he threw his punches was like watching a mini version of his dad. My heart goes out to his family."

While another added: "Rest in Peace Arturo Gatti Jr gone way too soon."

- Etienne Fermie

RICKY HUTTON CAUSE OF DEATH: EX-WBA IBO, IBF, WINNER HITMAN DIES AT AGE 46, LIFELONG MANCHESTER CITY FAN WAS TO MAKE COMEBACK IN DUBAI THIS YEAR

Boxer Ricky Hatton. (AP Photo/Jon Super, File)

Synopsis

Ricky Hatton had a perfect 43-0 record until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in 2007 and was never the same again. Hatton's second loss came in 2009, when Manny Pacquiao knocked him out.

Ricky Hatton was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester. One of the most popular fighters in the sport was 46. Nicknamed 'the Hitman', Hatton won the WBA, IBO and IBF light-welterweight titles and the WBA welterweight world championship during his 15-year professional career before retiring in 2012. He had been due to make a comeback for an event in Dubai this year. Outside of the ring, Hatton was a lifelong fan of Manchester City. The club said there would be a minute of appreciation for Hatton at Sunday's derby against Manchester United.

Hatton had 45 wins in 48 bouts over his career but in the years after he retired he said he had tried to kill himself several times and had been open about his struggle with depression, drink and drugs. Hatton's best performance came in 2005 when he stopped Australian Kostya Tszyu to add the IBF light-welterweight title to the WBU belt he already held.

He had a perfect 43-0 record until he was floored by Floyd Mayweather Jr in Las Vegas in 2007 and was never the same again. Hatton's second loss came in 2009, when Manny Pacquiao knocked him out.

- The Economic Times, Global Desk

CHELSEA CHARGED WITH 74 BREACHES OF FA AGENT RULES FROM 2009 TO 2022 FROM 'SELF-REPORTED' TRANSFER PAYMENTS

The charges against Chelsea relate to payments to player agents between 2009 and 2022 [Isabel Infantes/Reuters]
 https://aje.io/ebr7sf

Chelsea have been charged with 74 breaches of the English Football Association's (FA) regulations on agents, intermediaries and third party ownership.

The FA said the charges relate to incidents between 2009 and 2022, when the club was owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, with the bulk of the alleged breaches taking place between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons. In response Chelsea said they had been aware of "potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules" during due diligence for the Clearlake Capital-led consortium in the spring of 2022. This was then reported to the FA upon completion of the sale.

The Blues have until September 19 to formally respond to charges which include breaches of regulations around the disclosure of the identity of agents involved in transactions. The FA's statement said: "The Football Association has today charged Chelsea FC with breaches of Regulations J1 and C2 of The FA Football Agents Regulations, Regulations A2 and A3 of The FA Regulations on Working with Intermediaries, and Regulations A1 and B3 of The FA Third Party Investment in Players Regulations.

"In total, 74 charges have been brought against Chelsea FC. The conduct that is the subject of the charges ranges from 2009 to 2022 and primarily relates to events which occurred between the 2010-11 to 2015-16 playing seasons. Chelsea FC has until 19 September 2025 to respond."

Chelsea will hope that their self reporting and cooperation with the FA investigation eases any potential sanction they could face. That all the offenses took place prior to the involvement of the US owners could also come into consideration. The Blues described themselves as having "shown unprecedented transparency" and that they were "pleased to confirm that [their] engagement with The FA... is now reaching a conclusion."

Their statement said: "Chelsea FC is pleased to confirm that its engagement with The FA concerning matters that were self-reported by the club is now reaching a conclusion.

"The club's ownership group completed its purchase of the club on 30 May 2022. During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions and other potential breaches of FA rules. Immediately upon the completion of the purchase, the club self-reported these matters to all relevant regulators, including The FA.

"The club has demonstrated unprecedented transparency during this process, including by giving comprehensive access to the club's files and historical data. We will continue working collaboratively with The FA to conclude this matter as swiftly as possible. We wish to place on record our gratitude to The FA for their engagement with the club on this complex case, the focus of which has been on matters that took place over a decade ago."

- James Benge

MAYA MORE | BASKETBALL 🏀 GOAT 🐐

Maya Moore is a retired American professional basketball player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time.

 • WNBA Career: She played her entire professional career for the Minnesota Lynx (2011–2018, 2020–2021) in the WNBA. During that time, she won four WNBA championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and was named WNBA Finals MVP in 2013.

 • College Success: Before that, she was a superstar at the University of Connecticut (UConn), where she led the Huskies to two NCAA championships (2009, 2010) and finished as a two-time Naismith Player of the Year.

 • Accolades: She was a six-time WNBA All-Star, the 2014 WNBA MVP, and also won Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio).

 • Beyond Basketball: In 2019, Moore stepped away from the game at the peak of her career to focus on criminal justice reform. She was instrumental in helping secure the release of Jonathan Irons, a wrongfully convicted man, whom she later married.

Her legacy goes beyond basketball — she is celebrated both as a Hall of Fame-level athlete and as a social justice advocate who used her platform for impact.

ARMED POLICE ARREST SON OF FORMER PREMIER LEAGUE FOOTBALLER OUTSIDE MCDONALD'S FOR DRINK-DRIVING

Tom Huckerby (right, playing for local club Wroxham FC), 25, of Norwich, Norfolk, found himself in cuffs at a branch of the fast food restaurant chain in his hometown on July 18

Armed police have arrested the son of a former Premier League footballer outside McDonald's for drink driving. 

Tom Huckerby, 25, of Norwich, Norfolk, found himself in cuffs at a branch of the fast food restaurant chain in his hometown on July 18. 

His father is Norwich City star Darren Huckerby, 49, a forward who also played for Newcastle United and Manchester City, among others, before retiring in 2009. 

Huckerby - who passed his test just six months ago - was behind the wheel of his first car, a VW Polo, at the Drive Thru on Barrett Road with a friend as his passenger. 

Officers discovered he was nearly double the drink-drive limit, at some 63 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - when the limit is 35. 

The amateur footballer pleaded guilty to drink driving on Friday at Norwich Magistrates' Court and was slapped with a 15-month driving ban and £730 fine. 

Speaking outside court, he explained the police were armed because his vehicle was suspected of being linked to a firearms offence connected to a previous owner. 

Huckerby added McDonald's staff were the ones to call the police suspecting the pair had been drinking, after his pal leaned over to loudly hold down his car horn.

But he said he was shocked to find himself arrested.

Huckerby, like his father, is also a keen footballer, as a centre-back for local club Harleston Town, after previously playing for Wroxham FC.     

It comes after his younger brother Benjamin Huckerby, then 18, was in 2020 locked up for three years in a young offender's institution. 

Huckerby, along with Levi Licorish and Lucas Philpott, staged a spate of robberies in Norwich city centre, near the Vue cinema. 

With their faces covered, they approached members of the public and threatened them with a hammer to force them to hand over their belongings. 

One teen had a necklace taken and another had an Apple watch stolen in two robberies committed within mere minutes of each other. 

The trio of violent thieves also tried to rob a third youngster but did not succeed. 

After his youngest son was sentenced, Norwich City star Mr Huckerby said he was 'incredibly disappointed' by the lad's actions. 

He said in a statement issued through solicitor Chris Brown: 'We made our home in Norwich because we fell in love with the city, county and people when we arrived in 2003.

'I have always tried to pay back some of the welcome by trying to hold the highest standards on and off the pitch, helping the local community when I can and through things like the charitable trust we set up.

'So as a family we are incredibly disappointed and hurt by Ben's actions, which go against everything we stand for.'

Mr Huckerby played 203 times for the Canaries between 2003 and 2008, scoring 48 goals. 

- The Daily Mail

'HE HAS GIVEN A LOT OF YEARS TO RCB': CAPTAIN RAJAT PATIDAR SAYS TEAM WILL PUT BEST FOOT FORWARD TO WIN IPL TROPHY FOR VIRAT KOHLI

Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar of Royal Challengers Bengaluru warming up during an IPL match vs Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. (Sportzpics)

Kohli has played in three finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016 with RCB but has ended up on the losing side in each of the summit clashes.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar said that Virat Kohli had given a lot to the franchise over the years and they’ll try to play their best cricket in Tuesday’s IPL final against the Punjab Kings to help Kohli get his hands on the coveted trophy.

“Of course. I think he has given a lot of years to RCB and the international side also. We will try to do our best in the game,” Patidar told media on Monday during his pre-match press conference.

“We are not looking on the stage that we are in the finals. We will try to play our best cricket. We are not playing here for the stage. I always like to keep things simple,” he added.

Kohli has played in three finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016 with RCB but has ended up on the losing side in each of the summit clashes with his individual brilliance not being enough for them to end their title drought.

Patidar, meanwhile, will be captaining a franchise for the first time in an IPL final as opposed to his PBKS counterpart Shreyas Iyer who has led three different teams to the final of the cash rich league.

“Till now, I have enjoyed a lot to be honest. For me, I think it is a great opportunity to learn from the great leaders of the game, (some) great players, great foreign players of the game. It is a great opportunity for me to learn from them and their different ideas, which is helping me a lot in my leadership role,” he said.

“I have always tried to create a good environment off the field as much as I can so that every player, whether it is a domestic player or an international player, they both feel the same. They should feel relaxed and confident. I think this is my first point,” Patidar added.

- Sports Desk

LIONEL MESSI REVEALS HIS FAVOURITE CAREER GOAL AND IT IS PURE BARCELONA PLAY

Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

Lionel Messi has scored over 800 goals in a career packed with brilliance, magic, and jaw-dropping moments, but the Barcelona legend has now revealed which one stands out above the rest, and it might surprise some fans. 

In a recent interview, the Inter Miami forward admitted that his favourite goal ever is not one of his signature solo runs or curling finishes, but a header. Yes, a header, and one that sealed a historic night for Barça.

“I had many goals that are perhaps even more beautiful and of a lot of value, because of the importance as well, but the header in the Champions League final against Manchester United was always my favourite,” Messi explained as quoted by SPORT.

Relive the header

That goal came on May 27, 2009, in Rome, during the UEFA Champions League final. It was a rare sight for a player known more for weaving through defenders than leaping above them. 

Lionel Messi scored a rare headed goal against Manchester United. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Yet, in the 70th minute, Messi latched onto a stunning cross from Xavi Hernández and launched himself into the air. Despite being just 1.70m tall, he outjumped defenders and sent a looping header over the towering Edwin van der Sar. 

It was Messi’s only headed goal in a Champions League final, and what a time to do it. The strike sealed a 2-0 victory over Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United and capped off a legendary season for Barcelona under Pep Guardiola. 

That 2008–09 campaign saw Barça win the treble, La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Champions League, making them the first Spanish club to ever achieve that feat.

For all the thunderous free-kicks, magical dribbles, and impossible angles Messi has conquered, his favourite goal remains a reminder of what Barcelona stood for at their peak: precision, unity, and brilliance. 

And at the heart of it, a little Argentine who rose above it all, bootless and fearless.

- Swapnil Bhopatkar

MADDEN RECRUITS LONGTIME 'NFL TED ZONE' HOST SCOTT HANSON AS NEW IN-GAME VOICE

The hit video game series Madden will have a new voice in the next edition of the game.

Scott Hanson, the longtime host of "NFL RedZone," will be the in-game voice when EA Sports releases "Madden NFL 26," FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz reported Wednesday. 

It's unclear how many others will join Hanson in lending their voices to the video game for the newest version. "Madden NFL 25" featured several broadcasters, including FOX Sports' Brandon Gaudin, Greg Olsen and Brock Huard. Mike Tirico, Kate Scott and Charles Davis were also included in the game.

Hanson, 53, is a popular figure among NFL fans. He started hosting "NFL RedZone" when it launched in the 2009 season and has held that role every year since. 

Hanson's work on "NFL RedZone" has helped him earn other notable gigs. He took on a similar position for NBC Sports for the 2024 Summer Olympics, becoming one of the voices of Peacock's "Gold Zone" as he narrated over gold medal events during the Paris Games. He also starred in several commercials for Lowe's alongside top NFL players this past season. 

Hanson is currently a free agent, with his contract at NFL Media reportedly expiring after the 2024 NFL season. 

The addition of Hanson is one of the first known new details of "Madden NFL 26." The cover athlete hasn't been revealed yet, but that is usually announced later in the spring. San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey served as the cover athlete of "Madden NFL 25," reviving the "Madden Curse" after a few dormant seasons.

A release date for "Madden NFL 26" has yet to be announced. The video game is typically released in August, just a couple of weeks before the start of the regular season. 

- Fox Sports 

MAN CITY 115 CHARGES LATEST AS PEP GUARDIOLA REVEALS WHEN OUTCOME WILL COME AS LIVERPOOL WATCH ON

Relegation, points deductions and fines are possible punishments if Man City are found guilty

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the Champions League match with Club Brugge(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola has revealed that Manchester City expects to learn the outcome of the hearing into its 115 charges of alleged Premier League financial rule breaches 'in one month'. The Premier League referred City to an independent commission in February 2023 over 115 alleged contraventions of financial rules dating from 2009 to 2018. The Etihad club have always denied any wrongdoing.

The hearing took place in front of an independent commission between September and December. And Guardiola, while speaking about City’s record £180m investment in the transfer market during the winter window, has revealed that an outcome is expected very shortly.

He said: "In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence. After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far."

City added Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzales to their ranks during the last month. And Guardiola has claimed he was simply strengthening his squad and there were no other reasons behind the splurge.

"My words will not convince people," he said. "I know with this club it is always 'just about the money'.

"But in the past five years, we are the last among the top six for net spend. Even after what we have spent in this transfer window, we are away from Chelsea, (Manchester) United, Arsenal, Tottenham. Even from Liverpool. The only reason why is we sell a lot in the last seasons."

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp recently joked he would throw a party should the Premier League strip City of their titles due to breaches of financial regulations. The Reds finished second to Guardiola's side while under Klopp in 2018/19 and 2021/22.

At his first public appearance as Red Bull's head of global soccer, the German said: "We had this discussion when I left. I haven't spent a lot of time in Mallorca because I am always flying around the place.

"But if it would happen, I told all the people who wanted to [come]: 'Just book a flight to Mallorca. I will buy the beer!' We'd have our own parade in my garden."

- Connor O'Neill

JENSON' BUTTON HAS BELIEF THAT WILLIAMS IN ON THE RIGHT PATH IN F1

 

Jenson Button has seen 'belief' restored at Williams

Jenson Button claims he has seen “belief” within the Williams outfit that it is back on the right path in Formula 1.

Button made his F1 debut with the team – then under the stewardship of founder Sir Frank Williams and technical guru Patrick Head – back in 2000, and rejoined as a senior advisor in 2021.

The 2009 World Champion, who also provides analysis for Sky Sports, has observed the similarities between his early days with the team and the present, during which time it has negotiated some rocky spells under the transition of ownership and new team principals.

“The atmosphere kind of feels the same as back in 2000,” Button told Crash.net.

“It feels fun, exciting, obviously serious when it comes to racing, but it is a nice family atmosphere.

“When I re-joined the team as an ambassador the atmosphere wasn’t quite the same,” he explained.

“You had people that have been here for a couple of decades, [even] three decades, and then you had an influx of new talent coming into the team.

“There was a need to put together the right leadership to bring everyone together to work as one.”

Despite enduring a difficult 2024 campaign, scoring just 17 points to finish ninth in the Constructors’ standings, Williams is a team determined to build for a better future.

That is the mantra of Team Principal James Vowles and Button believes Williams has “belief” from within that things are trending upward.

“Now I think there’s a lot more belief in the direction of where the team is going, which is so important when you’re trying to work together to build for the future,” he said.

Alpine-bound Colapinto ‘refreshing’

Button also heaped praise on Franco Colapinto, who raced in the final nine rounds of last season with Williams, scoring five points, tempting Alpine to poach him on a multi-year deal which begins with a reserve driver role in 2025.

“It’s been really refreshing to watch a driver jump into the car and be competitive from the word go,” Button said of the Argentine.

“I think we all have a lot of respect for Alex [Albon], how good he is and what he is able to achieve in this sport. For somebody young to be able to jump in and push him is very impressive.

“You learn from your teammates no matter how old or young they are, whether they’re inexperienced or experienced, you still learn from the data.

“It really helps the team move forward as well if they have two drivers that are competitive, that can learn from each other and move this team forward.”

Albon will of course face stern competition this year in the form of established Grand Prix-winner Carlos Sainz, who joins from Ferrari.

- Jack Oliver Smith