Page 28 - Football

Football pitch collapses as parts of the UK are hit by flash floods

A soccer pitch in London collapsed and other parts of the United Kingdom were submerged by flash floods Monday after some areas saw a month's worth of rainfall in 24 hours. Roads were closed, some train lines in London were suspended and dozens of people reported their houses being submerged as parts of central and southern England saw about 60 to 80 millimeters (2 to 3 inches of rainfall. A few locations were expected to be hit by more than 120 mm (4.7 inches) of rain, weather forecasters said. In the capital, the London Fire Brigade said emergency responders received some 350 flood-related calls. The service said these included rescuing people trapped in cars, assisting people from their homes and responding to flooding in underground train stations, roadways, homes and businesses. At the Cherry Red Records Stadium, AFC Wimbledon's soccer pitch, heavy rains appeared to have left a sinkhole in the pitch, resulting in the cancellation of a match scheduled on Tuesday.

Everton joins long list of Premier League football clubs owned by Americans

With Everton being the latest club to come under American ownership (Friedkin Group), more than half of the Premier League clubs have at least one American minority stakeholder in their team.

Premier League: Arsenal get under City's skin amid 'dark arts' accusations

Call it the dark arts. Call it anti-football. Call it doing whatever it takes to win. Arsenal tried it all against Manchester City on Sunday in the latest chapter of the Premier League's new heavyweight rivalry and came within seconds of victory. There was only one team that came to play football, Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva grumbled after an intense, absorbing and incident-packed 2-2 draw at Etihad Stadium. The other came to play to the limits of what was possible to do and allowed by the referee, unfortunately. John Stones' equalizer for City in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time denied Arsenal, which played with 10 men for the entire second half, what would have been a defining victory for a team that is getting closer and closer to Pep Guardiola's repeat champions. City's players know it, too. Hence Bernardo's outspoken post-match comments on Arsenal. Notice how Erling Haaland chucked the ball at the back of Arsenal defender Gabriel's head in City's

US home leg of CONCACAF Nations League quarters to be in St. Louis

The United States will play its home leg of a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal in St. Louis on November 18, the Americans' first competitive match under coach Mauricio Pochettino. The game, announced Monday, will be at Citypark, which opened for Major League Soccer's 2023 season. The opening game of the two-leg series will be November 14 or 15. The opponent will be determined by group-stage matches in October. The US has won the first three editions of the tournament in 2021, '23 and '24. Pochettino was hired to replace Gregg Berhalter, fired following the Americans' first-round elimination at the Copa America. Pochettino's first matches are friendlies against Panama on October 12 in Austin, Texas, and Mexico three days later in Guadalajara.

Record turnout of disabled fans expected at Champions League match in Spain

A Champions League match next month between Atletico Madrid and Lille could see a record number of fans with disabilities in the stands. The Spanish club has teamed up with AccessibAll, a group promoting better access to sport for disabled fans, with the aim of breaking the record for the highest number of supporters with disabilities attending a soccer match. Atletico hosts Lille on Oct. 23 at the Civitas Metropolitano stadium. The initiative, which has the support of Spanish authorities, "aims to further enhance inclusivity in football, making it easier for disabled fans to experience the joy of attending live matches, AccessibAll said in a statement. According to UEFA, soccer's most inclusive match in the world took place last year when 1,740 disabled fans were in attendance at the Benito Villamarin stadium for a game between Betis and Real Valladolid. Other groups including the Integrated Dreams organisation, which also works to increase the representation of disabled people i

Barcelona's Ter Stegen set for a long absence after serious knee injury

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andr ter Stegen is facing a long spell on the sidelines after his club said Monday that he sustained a complete rupture of a tendon in his right knee that requires surgery. Ter Stegen left the field on a stretcher after getting injured in a 5-1 win over Villarreal in the Spanish league on Sunday. Ter Stegen's right knee buckled when he fell awkwardly after going for a high cross into the area just before halftime. Barcelona said that surgery on Ter Stegen's knee was planned Monday after tests confirmed that he has a complete rupture in the patella tendon in his right knee. The injury comes just as Ter Stegen had been confirmed as the German national team's No. 1 goalkeeper after years as Manuel Neuer's backup. Neuer retired from international soccer after Euro 2024 and coach Julian Nagelsmann said Ter Stegen who has played 42 games for Germany but none at a major tournament would be first choice in the future. However, he only played two Nations League

ISL: Cummings' late strike seals dramatic 3-2 win for Mohun Bagan vs NEUFC

Mohun Bagan Super Giant secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over NorthEast United FC, overturning two deficits to exact revenge on the Durand Cup champions in a pulsating Indian Super League clash at the Salt Lake Stadium on Monday. The game exploded into life early, with three goals in the opening 24 minutes as both sides traded blows. The Moroccan duo of Mohammed Ali Bemammer (5th) and Alaeddine Ajaraie (24th) were on target for the visitors, while the talented Dippendu Biswas scored his maiden ISL goal with a looping header to level the score in the 10th minute. Putting aside their nightmarish memories from the Durand Cup final, where they squandered a two-goal lead, Mohun Bagan equalised with Subhasish Bose's controversial goal in the 61st minute. Second-half substitute Jason Cummings then sealed the victory with a decisive strike in the 87th minute, securing the first win for last season's League Shield winners. Mohun Bagan now have four points from two matches, while the Guwahati

Barcelona extend perfect start in La Liga with 6th win but loses Ter Stegen

Barcelona extended their perfect start to the Spanish league season but lost goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen with a serious knee injury. Barcelona routed host Villarreal 5-1 on Sunday night to pick up its sixth straight victory in the competition, but saw captain Ter Stegen leave the match on a stretcher just before halftime after his right knee buckled when he fell awkwardly after going up for a ball crossed into the area. Barcelona president Joan Laporta said the injury appeared to be a torn ligament but more tests would be conducted. Local media reports said Ter Stegen went from the stadium to the hospital in an ambulance, and left the hospital in a wheelchair. This injury makes us sad. I think the injury will be huge but we have to wait for more information," Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. We have to accept it. It's not easy. It was an accident. It's very tough. Players from both teams immediately called for medical assistance after Ter Stegen fell to the ground in pain. He

Premier League 2024-25 points table, standings, top 5 highest goal-scorers

Manchester City's Erling Haaland is the highest goal-scorer in the Premier League 2024-25, having found the back of the net 10 times. Check Premier League 2024-25 team rankings here

Shaun Wright-Phillips expecting thrilling tie between Man City and Arsenal

With the season only 3 matches in, it will be an interesting match between two sides who will likely be contesting for the title again this season.

Premier League: Manchester City vs. Arsenal live time (IST), streaming

High-flying Manchester City will be looking to get the better of an Arsenal side who will miss their skipper Martin Odegaard in the middle of the pitch due to an ankle injury

Portuguese league to plant 200 trees for each goal in response to wildfires

The Portuguese league says 200 trees will be donated for planting for each goal scored in this weekend's rounds of games as part of the competition's response to wildfires that have devastated the country. The league announced the initiative in a statement issued Friday, as Portuguese firefighters continue to battle a series of blazes that have burned in large parts of the country's north since last weekend. The league said its foundation will carry out the donation of 200 trees per goal scored in Round 6. Also, a minute of silence will be held and a firefighting helmet will be placed at the center of the field before each game in honor of the nation's firefighters, four of whom have died on duty this week. The captain of each team will also wear a firefighters' coat on entering the field.

ISL 2024: Punjab FC continue winning run, beat Odisha FC 2-1 at home

This was Punjab's first win over Odisha FC in the ISL, with the home side losing both their games against the visitors last season.

Premier League: West Ham United vs Chelsea live time (IST), streaming

West Ham United will aim for a home win, while Chelsea will be seeking consecutive victories in the Premier League on Saturday

Dinamo Zagreb fires coach two days after 9-2 UCL loss to Bayern Munich

Two days after a 9-2 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Dinamo Zagreb fired coach Sergej Jakirovic on Thursday. The Croatian champion said in a statement Jakirovic's assistant Sandro Perkovic will take over as the interim coach. Dinamo's next Champions League game is at home against Monaco in two weeks' time. Bayern became the first team to score nine goals in the Champions League in the 32 years since the old European Cup was rebranded. Harry Kane scored four times including three from penalties. Dinamo was three goals down at halftime, then rallied to score two goals in a minute to trail 3-2 in the 50th, before its defense collapsed in the second half in Munich. Several teams scored at least 10 goals in a game during the European Cup era, and Feyenoord won 12-2 in the 1969-70 season against KR of Iceland. Jakirovic, a Bosnia-Herzegovina international as a player, coached Dinamo for 13 months and won a domestic league and cup title double last season.

Bayern Munich's stadium address renamed to honour Franz Beckenbauer

Bayern Munich's home stadium will be on Franz Beckenbauer Square after the city government decided to honour the German soccer great, who died in January aged 78, by renaming the area around the Allianz Arena. The change of name will take effect from Jan. 7, 2025, the first anniversary of his death. The naming of a street is the highest honour that the city of Munich can award posthumously and a sign of the deep respect and esteem that we have for Franz Beckenbauer, Mayor Dieter Reiter said. He is one of the greatest athletes that our city has ever produced. With his sporting successes and his commitment to soccer, he shaped the sporting landscape of Germany in a lasting way." Beckenbauer captained what was then West Germany to the World Cup title in 1974 and was the coach when it won the tournament again in 1990. As a player for Bayern, he won three European Cup titles in a row from 1974 through 1976.

Pep Guardiola facing more questions about his Manchester City future

Into the final year of his contract at Manchester City, questions are being asked again about Pep Guardiola's future. The latest came after Wednesday's Champions League game against Inter Milan, with an Italian journalist asking if Guardiola could see himself working in Italy one day. I love English football, it is fantastic, really enjoyable. They leave you alone to get on with the job. That doesn't happen anywhere else," the City manager said. Guardiola has already stayed at City for longer than any of his other managerial jobs - and longer than many expected when he was appointed in 2016. It will be nine years by the end of the season, compared to four at Barcelona and three at Bayern Munich. It's a great club. I really feel good being here, he said. Guardiola likely knows he will never find another club like City in elite European soccer. Backed by the spectacular riches of Abu Dhabi's ruling family, he has been allowed to build a team in his image, with exorbitant amounts sp

ISL 2024: Punjab FC vs. Odisha FC Live Match Timings, Streaming

Having registered their first win in their away match against Kerala Blasters, Punjab will enter the tie seeking back-to-back victories in the league on Friday.

FIFA hires top executive from UEFA as their chief operating officer

FIFA made a high-profile signing from UEFA on Wednesday, hiring one of the most respected executives in European soccer. Kevin Lamour, currently UEFA's deputy general secretary, will join FIFA as chief operating officer on Nov. 1, soccer's world body told staff on Wednesday in an email seen by The Associated Press. The 44-year-old French official has worked at UEFA in two different spells since 2007 and gained a reputation as an advocate for good governance in soccer bodies. The move to FIFA reunites Lamour with its president Gianni Infantino and secretary general Mattias Grafstrm. They worked together for several years at UEFA and on Infantino's successful election campaign in 2016. Lamour declined the chance to work for FIFA then, and soon returned to UEFA which he had left in 2015 after his longtime boss Michel Platini was investigated in financial wrongdoing with then-FIFA president Sepp Blatter. Lamour was not implicated in that case and was back running the UEFA president's

Tottenham's late comeback gives late win against Coventry in League Cup

Tottenham avoided a shock defeat in the third round of the English League Cup after scoring two late goals to beat second-division Coventry 2-1 on Wednesday. Djed Spence evened the score in the 88th minute at Coventry Arena after Brandon Thomas-Asante had fired the home team ahead in the 63rd. Brennan Johnson completed Spurs' comeback with the winner in the second minute of stoppage time. Coventry had come agonizingly close to upsetting Manchester United in the semifinal of the FA Cup last season losing on penalties after a 3-3 draw at Wembley. And it was another heartbreak against Premier League opposition after Tottenham's late rescue act. Coventry were outstanding with the energy they brought, we had to dig deep today and we found what we needed to win the game, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou said. Elsewhere, Wolverhampton's troubled start to the season continued with a 3-2 loss at Brighton that saw it eliminated from the competition. Carlos Baleba and Simon Adingra gave Bri