List of All Articles with Tag 'a'

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin will not be attending the Women’s World Cup final, despite the European confederation having two teams at the Sydney final in Spain and England. Uefa will instead be represented by Nadine Kessler, technical director of the women’s game for the body. Ceferin’s absence is the latest in a series of snubs from figures who purportedly support or represent the women’s game, including president of the FA Prince William, and UK prime minister Rishi Sunak. The length of the journey to Australia was put down as a primary reason for Ceferin’s snub. Fifa president Gianni Infantino will be present at Sunday’s final, although he created controversy of his own on Friday with a bizarre speech that encouraged women to “just push the doors” saying that they have the “power to convince us men” in the fight for equality. Many were left in a dumbfounded state of disbelief once more as yet another insensitive Infantino speech surfaced, this time at a Fifa women’s football convention in Sydney in the build-up to the World Cup final. “And I say to all the women – and you know I have four daughters, so I have a few at home – I say to all the women, that you have the power to change,” the president said, in a strange attempt to show that he somehow relates to the struggles of women in football with his use the father-of-daughters narrative. “Pick the right battles. Pick the right fights. You have the power to change. You have the power to convince us men what we have to do and what we don’t have to do. You do it. Just do it. “With men, with Fifa, you will find open doors. Just push the doors. They are open. And do it also at national level, in every country, at continental level, in every confederation. Just keep pushing, keep the momentum, keep dreaming, and let’s really go for a full equality.” His comments were deemed “patronising” and were quickly criticised, providing an unwelcome throwback to statements he made at last year’s men’s World Cup in Qatar where he gave his infamous speech, including the phrases “today I feel gay” and “today I feel disabled”. Read More ‘It’s so patronising’: Gianni Infantino criticised for comments on women ahead of World Cup final Prince William apologises for missing Lionesses World Cup final: ‘Good luck’ Unless they’re on Branson’s space rocket, there’s no good reason for Wills and Rishi not to fly out to cheer on the Lionesses

MLB Rumors: Cincinnati Reds call up top prospect Noelvi MarteThe Luis Castillo trade is starting to pay off for Cincinnati Reds, who called up their top prospect Noelvi Marte on Saturday morning. Marte was slashing .279/.358/.454 with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases across all levels this season....

Jurgen Klopp admits his shock towards the decision to show a red card to Alexis Mac Allister in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Bournemouth.

The love Florida has for its transfer quarterback Graham Mertz is certainly a sight to see.If Graham Mertz is as good as Florida thinks he is, well, the Gators have just landed themselves the next Joe Burrow in the transfer portal.Mertz was a highly sought-after recruit coming out of high sc...

The NBA has opened an inquiry into Philadelphia 76ers star guard James Harden's public criticism of Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl...

The Pittsburgh Steelers have some tough decisions to make the next few weeks in order to submit a full-fledged 53-man roster.Pittsburgh has some critical roster battles looming in the trenches, skill positions and even quarterback. Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan received rave reviews this offseason f...

If the Big Ten were to go to 10 conference games, that might set in motion nationally-independent Notre Dame to finally join a league in football.Manny Navarro of The Athletic brought up a very interesting thought in his Oddly specific predictions for every Top 25 college football team: What if ...

Jimmy Graham was reportedly under the influence and wandering through traffic when he was arrested ahead of the Saints' preseason matchup in Los Angeles.Jimmy Graham's return to the Saints is already looking messy.The 36-year-old tight end was reportedly arrested in southern Califo...

Tottenham Hotspur are taking on Manchester United in the Premier League as both sides look to build on underwhelming an opening weekend with a statement win today. Spurs drew 2-2 at Brentford in their first match under new manager Ange Postecoglou and since the departure of talisman Harry Kane. Speaking ahead of his first home game, the Australian coach said he is determined to turn the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium into a fortress. “If you want to make it a place where we see it as an advantage, you have got to make sure the experience for opposition clubs is not a pleasant one,” Postecoglou said this week. United picked up all three points at home to Wolves but it was by no means a convincing performance and Erik ten Hag has called for much better against Tottenham, particularly from his midfield trio of Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes and summer signing Mason Mount. “It’s a new midfield and we have step up there,” he said. “We have to improve in possession. We were absolutely not good.” Follow the action from the Premier League match below. Read More Ange Postecoglou promises to bring Spurs fans joy after Nick Cave inspiration Manchester United’s new-look midfield must click quickly – Erik ten Hag

Absolute scenes.

Liverpool overcame a torrid start and a red card for Alexis Mac Allister to beat Bournemouth 3-1 for their first win of the Premier League campaign. Antoine Semenyo gave the visitors a stunning third-minute lead but Luis Diaz levelled with a neat finish and before half-time Mo Salah tucked in the rebound from his own missed penalty, his 187th Liverpool goal moving him ahead of Steven Gerrard and into fifth in the club’s scoring charts. Liverpool could have been rocked when Mac Allister was harshly shown a straight red for catching Christie on the foot just before the hour mark, but instead they scored a third moments later as Diogo Jota rifled in a rebound to settle it. The hosts were fortunate they had not dug themselves an even deeper hole in a chaotic opening few minutes which illustrated the work still ahead as Jurgen Klopp reshapes his side. With new signing Wataru Endo watching on from the bench after receiving international clearance, the need for such a defensive midfielder was clear as Liverpool repeatedly played themselves into trouble and were made to pay a price by Bournemouth’s energetic press. The visitors, who have never won a league match at Anfield and who lost here 9-0 12 months ago, thought they had an opener inside 60 seconds as Alisson and Ibrahima Konate both went to try to intercept a long ball down Bournemouth’s left channel, but Jaidon Anthony was offside before tucking the ball in. No matter, as the opener came two minutes later. Virgil van Dijk played a routine pass to Trent Alexander-Arnold but the England man showed his deficiencies in an inverted role, with a loose touch allowing Philip Billing to prod the ball through for Dominic Solanke. Andy Robertson prevented the ex-Liverpool man from getting a shot away but the ball fell for Semenyo to thump home. Van Dijk then headed against the crossbar from Robertson’s corner, briefly lifting the mood inside Anfield before Alisson provided another moment of panic. The Brazil goalkeeper mis-placed a pass and then felled Anthony just outside the area as he threatened to race through on goal, his punishment limited to a booking with Konate covering. The brittle nature of Liverpool’s midfield was seen again in the 25th minute when Marcos Senesi strode out of the Bournemouth defence and simply kept going all the way to the final third, slipping in Solanke who was sandwiched by Robertson and Van Dijk but made no great appeal for a penalty. Moments later, Liverpool were level. Jota’s ball from the right was slightly behind Diaz after Senesi got a touch, but the Colombian adjusted well to control and then fire home from close range. The penalty came eight minutes later as Dominik Szoboszlai made the most of a dangling leg left by Joe Rothwell and went down in the corner of the box. Neto saved a relatively tame effort from Salah but the Egyptian was there to finish at the second opportunity, his ninth goal in nine against Bournemouth. Liverpool looked much more settled in a strong start to the second half as Jota and Salah threatened. It might have all changed when Mac Allister’s home debut was cut short just before the hour, but if anything a sense of injustice fired Liverpool up. Endo was waiting to come on for his debut in a midfield reshuffle when Neto could only parry a deflected shot from Szoboszlai and Jota tucked in the rebound. Endo slotted in well as Liverpool adopted a more conservative approach to see the game out, although Alisson still needed to make a fine late saves from Solanke and Hamed Traore to prevent a more nervous finish to the afternoon. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Serial winner Sarina Wiegman eyes the biggest prize of all with England Katarina Johnson-Thompson recovers well from shaky start in Budapest heptathlon Harry Brook disappointed by omission from England World Cup squad

Kaoru Mitoma’s superb solo effort and Solly March’s second-half double helped lift Brighton top of the Premier League table after an impressive 4-1 win at Wolves. Japan midfielder Mitoma’s mesmeric run and finish gave Brighton a slender half-time lead before Roberto De Zerbi’s side put Wolves to the sword with three goals in nine minutes at the start of the second half. Pervis Estupinan doubled Brighton’s lead within 60 seconds of the restart and two carbon-copy goals from March, both assisted by teenage forward Julio Enciso, sealed the Seagulls’ second-straight win. Wolves responded through substitute Hwang Hee-chan’s header just after the hour mark, but it was mere consolation for Gary O’Neil’s side, who were emphatically punished for missed first-half chances and lost Matheus Nunes to a late red card. Mitoma gave Brighton a 15th-minute lead with a brilliant effort, cutting inside 40 yards from goal and beating three Wolves defenders before sliding the ball beyond goalkeeper Jose Sa. Brighton deserved their lead, but Wolves spent the rest of an end-to-end first half chasing an equaliser. Fabio Silva was brilliantly denied by Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele’s out-stretched boot in the 28th minute after the Portuguese forward had ghosted on to Joao Gomes’ deft through-ball. The home side went close again when Nunes curled a shot off-target following impressive Brazilian Matheus Cunha’s powerful run and Pedro Neto flashed an angled drive just wide. Brighton continued to threaten on the counter – Mitoma and Paraguayan Enciso were a constant menace – but Wolves passed up another chance just before the break. Rayan Ait-Nouri found himself clear in front of goal after exchanging passes with Silva, but the Algeria defender blazed over shortly before half-time. Wolves were made to pay inside 60 seconds of the restart as Brighton extended their lead and then put the game to bed with two more strikes, all within the space of nine minutes. Estupinan tucked home the visitors’ second, stepping on to Mitoma’s cut-back after Danny Welbeck’s fierce drive had been parried by Sa. March then slammed home his first as he charged on to Enciso’s lovely weighted ball inside the penalty area to make it 3-0 in the 51st minute and that became 4-0, just four minutes later. Enciso this time found himself free on the opposite edge of the area and his ball in was turned home again by March to leave Molineux stunned. Wolves responded just after the hour-mark as Hwang headed home fellow substitute Pablo Sarabia’s corner and they drove gamely forward in a bid to mitigate the damage. Efforts from Sarabia and Pedro Neto were held by Steele and rebounded off Evan Ferguson respectively, while March was twice denied his hat-trick with goal-bound shots blocked by Toti Gomes and Steele. Wolves’ misery was complete in stoppage-time when Nunes was sent off for his second yellow card after pushing Estupinan to the ground. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Tottenham fans stage protest over ticket price increases ahead of Man Utd match Bryan Mbeumo at the double as Brentford ease to victory over 10-man Fulham Liverpool recover from rocky opening to see off Bournemouth