Author: Andrew Rogers

Ian Wright has defended Jude Bellingham, arguing that some of the criticism directed at the England midfielder stems from people not being “ready for a black superstar.” Bellingham came under scrutiny after reacting to being substituted during England’s World Cup qualifying win over Albania, with some suggesting he was becoming a disruptive influence. Wright dismissed those claims, saying certain critics are “frightened” by Bellingham’s success. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Wright said Bellingham’s confidence and ability make some people uncomfortable. He compared the different public reactions to quieter players like N’Golo Kanté and more expressive stars such as…

Manchester United’s proposal to sell personal seat licences (PSLs) as part of funding their £2bn Old Trafford redevelopment has been thrown into doubt by the UK government’s new moves against ticket touting. What United planned:The club’s early PSL model – explored through a large fan consultation – included allowing licence holders to resell their seats or season tickets at a profit. PSLs would guarantee fans the right to buy the same seat every season for a set period, typically in premium areas, with resale adding potential investment value. What government is doing:New legislation, to be introduced in next year’s king’s…

Arsenal fear Gabriel Magalhães could miss at least a month after the defender suffered a thigh injury on international duty with Brazil, threatening to derail a crucial stretch of the Premier League leaders’ season. The 27-year-old limped off during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium and has since undergone further tests in London. While Arsenal have not confirmed a timeline, early indications suggest he will miss the north London derby against Tottenham on Sunday, as well as the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich three days later. Depending on the severity, Gabriel could be sidelined for a…

Germany stormed into next year’s World Cup with a dominant 6-0 win over Slovakia, finishing top of their group and sending their opponents into the playoffs. Nick Woltemade opened the scoring before Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané (twice), Ridle Baku and debutant Assan Ouédraogo completed the rout. Slovakia, who had beaten Germany earlier in qualifying, were overwhelmed from start to finish. The Netherlands also booked their place at the finals with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Lithuania. Tijjani Reijnders scored before Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons and Donyell Malen added goals in a one-sided second half. Poland secured a playoff place after…

Denmark’s preparations for Tuesday’s decisive World Cup qualifier against Scotland have been disrupted by a sickness bug affecting key players. Head coach Brian Riemer confirmed that Joachim Andersen and Rasmus Højlund both missed Saturday’s unexpected 0-0 draw with Belarus due to illness, along with a staff member. With Denmark needing only a draw at Hampden Park to qualify automatically, Riemer admitted concern but said team doctors are working to stop the illness spreading. He remains hopeful the full squad will be available: “We hope we have put a plug in it … and that on Tuesday we have 24 men…

Manchester City delivered a dominant 3-0 win over Manchester United at the Etihad, strengthening their position at the top of the Women’s Super League and asserting themselves as serious title contenders. Goals from Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp sealed a statement victory for Andrée Jeglertz’s team, who overwhelmed a fatigued United side still recovering from their historic Champions League win over PSG. The defeat marks United’s second straight league loss — the first time they’ve suffered back-to-back WSL defeats since May 2024 — leaving them seven points behind City. United manager Marc Skinner admitted his side contributed to…

Federal employees who were furloughed or worked without pay during the 43-day government shutdown will now receive back pay. The funding bill signed by President Trump ensures that all affected workers are compensated for lost wages. This move restores financial stability for hundreds of thousands of federal employees. Many had faced economic hardships during the shutdown, struggling to cover bills and household expenses. The back pay provision offers relief and reassures workers about their job security. Lawmakers emphasized that restoring pay is a critical step in returning normalcy to government operations. Federal employees can now resume their duties without financial…

Celtic are moving quickly to appoint Wilfried Nancy as their new manager, with talks set to accelerate over the weekend. The Columbus Crew boss has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed Brendan Rodgers, whose second spell in charge ended in late October. The Scottish champions have informed the MLS club of their intentions, and compensation is not expected to be an issue. Nancy is understood to be keen on the move, with Celtic hoping to have him in place before next weekend’s trip to St Mirren, which would end Martin O’Neill’s brief caretaker tenure. Nancy, who previously managed CF…

Patrick Bamford has signed with Sheffield United, just months after leading an abusive chant about the club’s manager, Chris Wilder. The 32-year-old striker, released by Leeds United in August, joins the Championship side on a short-term deal until January. His move comes despite a viral video from April showing him leading Leeds fans in a derogatory song about Wilder during their promotion celebrations. Bamford and Wilder have a history dating back to the 2018–19 season, when the Blades earned automatic promotion while Leeds missed out. Wilder once described Bamford as “a muppet,” but the pair have since reconciled. After the…

Barcelona have identified Harry Kane as their top target to replace Robert Lewandowski, whose contract expires next June. The 32-year-old England captain is viewed as the perfect successor to the 37-year-old Pole, and the Spanish champions are reportedly prepared to trigger a £57m release clause in Kane’s Bayern Munich contract next summer. Since joining Bayern from Tottenham in 2023 for £100m, Kane has been prolific — scoring 108 goals in 113 appearances and helping the club reclaim the Bundesliga title, ending his long trophy drought. Although Kane recently expressed openness to extending his deal with Bayern beyond 2027, the chance…