THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF ENGLAND HAS DISQUALIFIED MUDRYK FOR FOUR YEARS FOR DOPING

Chelsea star Mykhailo Mudryk has filed an appeal against the four-year disqualification decision, which has been referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Football Association (FA) has disqualified Ukraine national team and London Chelsea midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk for 4 years for violating anti-doping rules. This was reported by UNN with reference to talkSPORT journalist Ben Jacobs and The Athletic. 

The Football Association imposed a four-year ban on Mykhailo Mudryk after a prohibited substance was detected in his system in 2024. The Chelsea star has already filed an appeal against this decision, which has been referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) 

- the journalist reported. 

The disqualification of the Ukrainian international will be backdated and will include a provisional suspension, which will keep him out of the game until 2028, although the exact date of his return is not yet known.

Currently, the parties (Mudryk and CAS - ed.) are exchanging written statements, and a hearing has not yet been scheduled. Subsequently, sources told us at talkSPORT that the disqualification period is four years, and Mudryk, using the services of the same lawyers as Paul Pogba, hopes to either achieve an acquittal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport or, in the worst-case scenario, secure a reduction in the disqualification period 

- the journalist adds. 

Addendum

In January 2023, Mykhailo Mudryk moved from Shakhtar Donetsk to London's Chelsea. The "Miners" received 70 million euros for the player and could also receive another 30 million euros in the form of bonuses. 

Shakhtar Donetsk CEO Serhiy Palkin stated in an interview with ESPN that Shakhtar risks losing a significant amount in bonus payments. 

"There are 30 million euros in bonuses in his contract. And if he doesn't play, if Chelsea doesn't achieve results, we will lose 30 million euros. This is a big financial blow for us. Therefore, everyone believes that this story will end as soon as possible with positive results, and Mudryk will return to the game. Otherwise, we will be in a position where we lose 30 million euros. I know Mudryk as a player and a person. I believe he will return and start playing. I know this because I have never met such a guy in my life. He is very hardworking. And he will prove that he is capable of playing and bringing results to the team. But, as I understand it, at the moment everyone is waiting for the court's decision, and we have no information about when this will happen and when the final decision will be made. Therefore, everyone is waiting for information" 

- Palkin said recently.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne confirmed receipt of the appeal from Mykhailo Mudryk against the decision of the English Football Association.

CAS confirms that it received an appeal from Mykhailo Mudryk against the FA, filed on February 25, 2026. The parties are currently exchanging written submissions, and a hearing has not yet been scheduled 

– CAS informed The Athletic. 

In 2024, the Ukrainian midfielder of the English football club Chelsea, Mykhailo Mudryk, failed a doping test. 

Subsequently, Chelsea confirmed the positive doping test of Ukrainian midfielder Mykhailo Mudryk. In turn, the footballer himself stated that he did not knowingly consume any prohibited substances. 

The Football Association (FA) charged Ukrainian Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk with violating anti-doping rules. 

In June last year, Mudryk received a positive result from a "B" doping sample. 

During his suspension from football, Mudryk spends time, in particular, on computer games, including Counter-Strike 2.

Thus, in February of this year, the footballer was involved in a scandal during a Faceit match with Poles. The London club winger insulted players from Poland, specifically with his remarks regarding Volhynia, for which he received a ban in the game. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs even had to intervene in the Mudryk situation; in particular, the ministry emphasized that there should be no place for such incidents. 

- Pavlo Bashynskyi, UNN  

CHELSEA SET CONFERENCE LEAGUE RECORD 8-0 ROUT OF FC NOAH

Chelsea set a UEFA Conference League record with an emphatic 8-0 win over Armenian side FC Noah at Stamford Bridge on Thursday. 

João Félix and Christopher Nkunku each scored twice for the Premier League club, who were six goals to the good by half-time. Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Guiu, Axel Disasi and Mykhailo Mudryk scored the other goals as Chelsea recorded the biggest win in the competition's history.

The previous largest margin of victory in the Conference League, which began in 2021, was six goals.

The result also equals the second-biggest win in Chelsea's history. The club's largest victory remains a 13-0 triumph over Luxembourgian side Jeunesse Hautcharage in 1971.

Chelsea sit top of the Conference League standings during the league phase with a maximum nine points from three games.

Axel Disasi, right, and Christopher Nkunku were among the goal scorers in Chelsea's 8-0 rout of FC Noah. Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

"The players once again showed how professional and serious they are," Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca told reporters.

"It's easy to sleep or fall down in this type of game. Football is full of surprises. What I asked them before the game was to show how serious we are, how professional, and they showed that."

The home crowd had to wait only until the 12th minute for the opening goal, when Adarabioyo headed in a corner kick before the second came a minute later with Guiu intercepting a poor defensive pass before slotting home.

Another headed goal from a corner came through Disasi after 18 minutes, and in the 21st Félix gathered a pass from Enzo Fernández and slipped his shot under the keeper.

Mudryk curled a beautiful shot into the top corner six minutes before the break to make it five, and Félix netted his second two minutes later.

After six goals in the opening half, Chelsea took their foot off the gas, but Frenchman Nkunku did manage a brace, knocking in a rebound after his initial shot was saved in the 69th minute and then converting a penalty seven minutes later.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.

- ESPN News Services

CHELSEA'S TRIUMPH OVER PANATHINAIKOS IN UEFA EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE

IMAGO

Emotional Night in Athens

On a poignant evening in Athens, Chelsea secured a 4-1 victory over Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa Conference League. The match was draped in emotional tributes to George Baldock, the late Panathinaikos defender, with both teams and their fans honouring his memory in a heartfelt pre-match ceremony.

Before the game began, Panathinaikos players warmed up in jerseys featuring Baldock’s number 32, while Chelsea players displayed a shirt with his name and number. The stadium resonated with David Bowie’s “Starman”, a nod to Baldock’s nickname during his time at Sheffield United, enhancing the solemn yet respectful atmosphere.

Stellar Performances on the Field

Once the whistle blew, it was a display of tactical acumen and spirited play. Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca’s management, saw a complete rotation from their recent narrow defeat to Liverpool in the Premier League. The fresh line-up took some time adjusting, but soon found their rhythm, particularly through the dynamic duo of João Félix and Mykhailo Mudryk.

IMAGO

Félix, with a deft one-two with Mudryk, broke the deadlock and added a second after the break with a strike that took a fortunate deflection. Mudryk himself headed in a goal, thanks to a cross from Pedro Neto, marking his first of the season. Christopher Nkunku sealed the deal with a confident penalty, ensuring Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the league phase.

Chelsea’s Depth and Tactical Flexibility

This match was a testament to the depth and quality that Chelsea possesses in its squad. Maresca’s decision to field an entirely different starting eleven showcased not just squad depth but also tactical flexibility. Players like Félix and Mudryk, who are still finding their feet in the Premier League, seized the opportunity to shine.

“Fringe players take their chance,” as they demonstrated that Chelsea’s bench could very well be the envy of Europe. With such performances, Maresca’s selection dilemmas will only get more challenging, especially as Chelsea navigate through multiple competitions.

Implications for Upcoming Fixtures

The productive outings for Félix and Mudryk could not have come at a better time. With challenging fixtures on the horizon in the Premier League, where Chelsea will host Newcastle and then travel to Manchester United, these players have made compelling cases for more prominent roles.

Remembering George Baldock

While Chelsea left Athens with a win, the night remained dedicated to the memory of George Baldock. His legacy was beautifully honoured by players and fans alike, making it clear that while football is fiercely competitive, it is also deeply communal and respectful.

Chelsea’s campaign in the UEFA Europa Conference League continues to build momentum, and with such depth and skill, they are shaping up to be formidable contenders. For Panathinaikos, despite the loss, the night was a dignified tribute to a beloved player, and they showed commendable spirit throughout the match.

- Ahmed Khan

ENZO MARESCA:CHELSEA STILL NEED TIME TO LEARN DESPITE FIRST WIN

Getty 

Enzo Maresca said his players still need time to learn his system, despite getting his first win as Chelsea manager against Servette on Thursday.

Chelsea beat the Swiss side 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League playoff, thanks to second-half goals from Christopher Nkunku and Noni Madueke.

Maresca describe the win as "important" after suffering a 2-0 loss to Manchester City to begin the Premier League season on Sunday. But he acknowledged that his team could have better managed the latter stages of the game, during which Servette hit the crossbar.

"The last 10 minutes we played a little bit with fire," Maresca said in a news conference. "I was a bit worried. We could have managed the game in a different way. I expected it because we are in a moment of learning things.

"In some moments the intention to keep the ball is the correct one, especially when you are 2-0 up, but where is not good. We tried to manage the ball in the last 10 or 15 minutes in our side of the pitch, we need to do exactly the same on the opposite side of the pitch. We didn't concede, but from there we can learn.

"All of them need more time to know better the system. Tonight was also not easy in terms of physical condition for some of them."

Chelsea made nine changes from the team that lost to City but did enough to get a result that puts them in pole position to finish the job in the second leg in Geneva in a week's time in order to reach the Conference League group stage.

Nkunku scored with a penalty in the 50th minute after being brought down in the box by Servette goalkeeper Jeremy Frick. Madueke then came off the bench to give the London side some breathing room with a powerful finish in the 76th minute.

"I really like Noni," Maresca said of Madueke. "The only problem with Noni is he has to understand he has to be consistent during the week, every training, every training, every training, but he is a good player and he is doing well since he started with us. He is the kind of player I like.

"The only thing he has to improve is to be consistent every day, work hard, and then he will get minutes for sure."

Chelsea's start to season has been dominated by talks of comings and goings, with England internationals Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell not included in the squad for Thursday's game and Maresca confirming that both are available for transfer. Meanwhile, latest signing João Félix was presented to fans ahead of the game.

One player who remains at the club is Mykhailo Mudryk, despite struggling since a €100 million move to Stamford Bridge in January 2023. The Ukraine winger played a rare 90 minutes on Thursday and Maresca said he will work to help Mudryk "change."

"This is the mission, this is Mudryk, not only tonight but since he joined the club," he said. "I think he had good moments but when he has the ball you don't know if you'll get one thing or another. It is consistency. We are going to try and help him to change.

"When he is in the final third it is is taking the right decision. Most of his mistakes are about the choice."

- ESPN 

ARSENAL MOVE 5 POINTS CLEAR IN PREMIER LEAGUE AFTER LAST-GAP WIN BUT RAYA'S FORM REMAINS A CONCERN

AP Photo

As soon as the ball hit the back of the net, Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya sprinted the length of the field to celebrate the last-gasp winner with his jubilant teammates.

No player will have been more relieved than Raya to see Declan Rice's glancing header creep into the corner and seal a chaotic 4-3 victory over Luton in the Premier League on Tuesday.

While Rice is proving value for money after his club-record signing in July, Raya — another offseason recruit — remains an issue for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as the team bids to win the league title after last season's near miss.

Arsenal moved five points clear with its fourth straight victory in the league, overcoming errors from Raya that led to two goals for Luton by netting in the seventh minute of stoppage time through Rice at Kenilworth Road.

“The spirit of the team — how we fought, showed our quality in the right moments and never gave up,” Arteta said. “We went for it and got our rewards.”

Arteta chose not to talk about the mistakes by Raya, which looked like they'd be costly for Arsenal.

The team was leading 2-1 in the 49th minute when the Spanish goalkeeper was beaten in the air at a corner by Elijah Adebayo, who powered in a header for an equalizer.

Eight minutes later, Raya allowed a shot by Ross Barkley to go under his body as he dived to his left.

Luton, a promoted team likely to be battling relegation this season, was suddenly 3-2 ahead and Raya didn't know where to look.

MYKHAILO MUDRYK ON