I have a theory as to one reason (of many) the England National Team tends to underperform in major tournaments: the players all play in the same league. Every England international plays in the Premier League. One might argue this breeds familiarity and is therefore good for the national team, but I think it leads to a lack of stylistic variety in the team and makes the payer pool stagnant. It's basically like inbreeding, is what I'm saying.
Premier League referee David Coote has been suspended and is now being investigated by UEFA following a video posted by The Sun showing him snorting white powder and then another clip of him making vulgar comments about former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp.
The video allegedly took place in July this summer while Coote was on duty for Euro 2024 as support VAR. The 42-year-old was staying in a hotel assigned by UEFA.
England skipper Harry Kane has hit out at several players who withdrew from the national team ahead of their Nations League matches against Greece and Ireland, saying on Wednesday that country must always come before club football.
England play Greece away on Thursday followed by Ireland three days later at Wembley but nine players, some of them regular starters, who were called up by interim boss Lee Carsley have pulled out due to injuries.
Aston Villa conceded a bizarre penalty in a 1-0 loss at Club Brugge on Wednesday which ended their perfect start to the Champions League group stage.
What had been a lethargic performance for Villa turned absurd in the 52nd minute when Tyrone Mings inexplicably picked up the ball, believing it was not in play.
Villa keeper Emi Martinez had just lined up a goal kick, sending a short pass to Mings, who then picked up the ball and gave it back to the Argentinian. The referee pointed to the penalty spot, and Hans Vanaken converted.
BOURNEMOUTH — Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson got on the scoresheet as the hosts held on for a stunning 2-1 victory over champions Manchester City on Saturday, ending the visitors' unbeaten streak in the Premier League at 32 games.
The loss dropped Pep Guardiola's City — who had not lost in the league since a 1-0 defeat by Aston Villa on Dec. 6 — to second in the table with 23 points after 10 matches, two points behind Liverpool. Andoni Iraola's side climbed to eighth on 15 points with their first victory over City in the club's history.
MANCHESTER — Manchester United's new head coach Ruben Amorim will be welcomed as a breath of fresh air for a much-needed reset when he arrives at Old Trafford later this month to sort out a team mired in mediocrity and struggling in the Premier and Europa League.
Amorim must hit the ground running in one of the most scrutinized jobs in football that saw Erik ten Hag fired on Monday — the latest of five permanent managers who have wilted in the shadow of United's most successful boss Alex Ferguson.
The Argentina international has once again wrapped himself in controversy. This time, he’s been ‘outed’ to have separated from his wife whom he shares two young children for a shocking reason.
Report: Enzo Fernández 'separates from wife and kids to live single-life he missed out on during youth'
According to reports, Chelsea FC midfielder, Enzo Fernández, has separated from his partner of over six years after telling her "he needs to experience the stage he skipped out on by choosing to start a family early on."
ISTANBUL — Fenerbahce coach José Mourinho was sent off as his side drew 1-1 with his former club Manchester United in the Europa League on Thursday after Christian Eriksen’s early goal was canceled out by Youssef En-Nesyri.
United keeper Andre Onana pulled off a stunning acrobatic double save just before halftime to deny Fenerbahce and keep the dominant hosts from equalizing.
Mourinho reaction to Onana save
José Mourinho cheekily said he is looking to add a fourth Premier League medal to his glittering cabinet if Manchester City are stripped of their titles and rivals Manchester United are awarded the Premier League trophy for the 2017-18 season.
Mourinho, who won three titles with Chelsea, guided United to a second-place finish behind City in that campaign, 19 points behind Pep Guardiola's record-breaking side.
WOLVERHAMPTON, England, Oct 20 (Reuters) - Manchester City defender John Stones headed a controversial stoppage-time winner in a 2-1 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday that took them top of the Premier League and set a club record of 31 league games unbeaten.
Champions City dominated possession from start to finish at Molineux, but were shocked in the seventh minute when a perfect cross from Nelson Semedo was met with a composed close-range finish by Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.