List of All Articles with Tag 'f'

Andreas Christensen admits he was frustrated to miss out on Barcelona's win over Porto.

Folarin Balogun reveals his conversations with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta before his transfer to Monaco. Inter and Chelsea also showed interest in the 22-year-old USMNT international before his return to Ligue 1.

It's Friday the 13th, but don't let that scare you away from tuning in to college football tonight. Check out the full schedule of Friday night's games below.

The UFC has hit out at the United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) for its statement on Conor McGregor this week, calling the agency’s words ‘false’, ‘garbage’ and ‘trash’. McGregor returned to the Usada testing pool on Sunday (8 October), as he prepares for his first fight since suffering a broken leg in July 2021, when he lost to Dustin Poirier for the second time in a row. However, Usada’s announcement of McGregor’s return to the pool was accompanied by a revelation that the agency would be ending its partnership with the UFC in January. Usada CEO Travis Tygart said the relationship between both parties had become ‘untenable’, and that he could not be sure whether the UFC would honour its stipulations when it comes to McGregor. In order to compete in the UFC, athletes must have been in the Usada pool for six months while returning at least two negative test results and zero positives. The UFC and McGregor hinted earlier this year, however, that Usada might grant the former champion an exemption. Tygart took exception to that suggestion this week. Now, the UFC’s Senior Vice-President of Athlete Health and Performance, Jeff Notitzky, and the promotion’s CBO, Hunter Campbell, have taken aim at Usada over this week’s developments. Campbell said at a press conference on Thursday (12 October): “At no point in time did Jeff, myself, or any other UFC representative, Dana [White, UFC president].... Not a single person ever went to Usada and told them anything other than Conor McGregor would reenter the program when he was healthy. “And in doing so, we would require him to be in the program for six months; there would be no exception to the rule. And what I said to Travis on multiple occasions, including the call on Monday, was there would never be a situation where Conor would fight until he had been in the program for six months, and my words were: ‘I don’t give a s*** if he has 37 clean tests.’ “[Conor has] conducted himself with integrity and honesty. He’s done everything right, and he’s – as you can imagine – very upset at the moment for the way that they’ve sort of used him. And they’ve never done that with any other athlete in history, and I think that’s a really important point. “I’ll say it one last time: What they’ve done to him is disgusting. And for an entity that holds themselves out to have a level of honour and integrity, using him as a media vehicle to advance a fake narrative is disturbing, disgusting, and I think they have some legitimate legal liability that they should be very concerned with. “They use him the way they have because he has allowed them to get a level of media attention that they can’t get on their own. Usada puts some s*** out, no one cares. You connect Conor to it, and all of a sudden it explodes, whether it triggers the algorithms or whatever. And truthfully, that’s why I’m most disappointed about the way that they’ve handled the last 48 hours. They used an athlete as a vehicle to advance a false narrative. I think it’s incredibly unethical – incredibly.” Meanwhile, Novitzky alleged: “The narrative that Usada put out yesterday is false, it’s garbage, trash. I can’t sit up here and come up with enough adjectives [for] what they said and what that’s done to this programme currently.” The UFC also said it would move forward with Drug Free Sport, which works with the NBA, NFL and MLB. The Independent has contacted Usada for comment. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Usada ends UFC partnership over ‘untenable’ Conor McGregor situation When will Conor McGregor return to the UFC? Alexander Volkanovski admits it’s ‘crazy’ to fight Islam Makhachev on short notice Usada ends UFC partnership over ‘untenable’ Conor McGregor situation Alexander Volkanovski admits it’s ‘crazy’ to fight Islam Makhachev on short notice When will Conor McGregor return to the UFC?

Friday's football transfer rumours include Kylian Mbappe, Marc Guehi, Kalvin Phillips, Emile Smith Rowe, Dani Olmo & more.

Russia’s assault on the town of Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region has been repelled so far, with

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and on-loan Aston Villa forward Nicolo Zaniolo are returning to their clubs from Italy’s training camp after it emerged they were being investigated by the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office. The Italian Football Federation said the decision was taken because the players “are not in the necessary condition” to be involved in the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and England, as well as “for their protection”. The statement from the FIGC did not specify the nature of the investigations which Tonali and Zaniolo, who is on loan at Villa from Galatasaray, were facing. Reports in Italy claim it is relation to an investigation into illegal betting. On Wednesday, it was reported that Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli was under investigation for alleged betting breaches. The FIGC statement on Thursday read: “The federation announces that this afternoon the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Office has conducted investigations into players, Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo, who are currently training with the national team at the Coverciano Federal Training Centre. “Regardless of the nature of the events, considering that the two players are not in the necessary condition to face the matches scheduled for the next few days, the federation has decided, also for their protection, to allow them to return to their respective clubs.” Italy, the reigning European champions, host Malta in Bari on Saturday before travelling to Wembley to face England next Tuesday in a repeat of the Euro 2020 final. England are currently top of Group C on 13 points, six ahead of second-placed Italy who have played a game less. Newcastle and Aston Villa have been contacted for comment. Read More Respect matters says Unai Emery after late goal gives Villa an important win John McGinn rescues Aston Villa from Europa Conference League embarrassment What do Scotland need to qualify for Euro 2024?

England are in action on Friday night in an increasingly rare international friendly - and their first game since being confirmed as co-hosts of Euro 2028 - taking on Australia at Wembley as a warm-up for next week’s Euro 2024 qualifier. That match against Italy might have the greater meaning but manager Gareth Southgate will look to use the team’s opening fixture as an opportunity to try out new partnerships, welcome a few less-familiar faces back into the fold and perhaps even try out a new formation at some stage. Levi Colwill and Eddie Nketiah are the two uncapped players in the Three Lions’ squad, but a further nine players have won fewer than ten caps apiece, meaning it’s still a group with a large section of inexperience at international level, despite a core of the group seeming to be ever-presents. Australia reached the round of 16 at the Fifa World Cup, losing to eventual winners Argentina, but they have only won once since then from four matches, all friendlies. England, quarter-finalists in Qatar, have won five and drawn one of their six games in 2023. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the game; get the latest odds and tips on England vs Australia here. When is England vs Australia? The Three Lions face the Socceroos on Friday 13 October 2023 at Wembley, with kick-off set for 7:45pm BST. Where can I watch it? All of England’s fixtures outside of international tournaments are for now screened free to air on Channel 4, and can be streamed on the Channel 4 website and app. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events then you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN roundup is here to help: get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are and also with the terms of their service provider. What is the team news? Southgate might opt to shuffle the pack before the Italy match but he has habitually kept a fairly consistent core and just altered a few players around them. As such, the in-form Jarrod Bowen will be one hoping to get a chance, while Trent Alexander-Arnold may get another run-out in midfield in a non-competitive environment having missed out on the last international break through injury. Levi Colwill has impressed for Chelsea so could get a look-in in defence, be it centrally or on the left given no natural left-backs are in the squad. Australia are without a host of regulars including Ajdin Hrustic, Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren and Bailey Wright - plus Aaron Mooy, who has retired. Predicted line-ups ENG: Pickford, Walker, Guehi, Colwill, Trippier, Rice, Alexander-Arnold, Bellingham, Bowen, Kane, Maddison AUS: Ryan, Miller, Rowles, Burgess, Behich, Irvine, Luongo, Baccus, O’Neill, Duke, Mabil Odds England 1/5 Draw 11/2 Australia 11/1 Get the latest odds on all markets here. Prediction Perhaps the game might get a bit more spicy than some previous friendlies have been noted for, on account of the natural sporting rivalry that occurs between these two nations, but ultimately the gap in quality should prove significant. England 3-1 Australia. Read More FA confirms plans to remember victims of conflicts in Israel and Palestine Ollie Watkins: ‘I used to shop in Sainsbury’s ... I came to Villa and I couldn’t’ Former chairman David Bernstein condemns FA’s response to Israel terror attacks James Maddison says timing of international break is ‘annoying’ for Tottenham Maguire reveals Beckham reached out during difficult England moment Harry Kane: ‘Ronaldo and Messi got better after 30 – my career is only at half-time’

John McGinn said the “big moments went against Scotland” and made victory in Spain “near enough impossible” as Steve Clarke’s side missed out on the chance to secure early qualification for Euro 2024 following a controversial 2-0 defeat in Seville. Scotland needed a point against Spain to book their place at the Euros next summer and, although they had to survive spells of pressure against the hosts, thought they had made the breakthrough when Scott McTominay scored a sublime free-kick on 59 minutes. But McTominay’s goal was disallowed by referee Serdar Gozubuyuk after a VAR check, with the initial explanation being that Scotland defender Jack Hendry had infringed on Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon. However, McGinn said the Dutch official then clarified that Hendry was offside and was interfering with play. Spain took the lead moments later through Alvaro Morata and although Scotland will still qualify if Norway fail to beat La Roja in Oslo on Sunday, the visitors were left to rue some significant blows. Scotland also lost captain Andy Robertson to a dislocated shoulder before half time. Scotland were aiming to become the first team to take a point off Spain in home Euro qualifiers since 2003, a run that is now 25 matches ago, and McGinn said: “The big moments went against us. We can still improve, but we put in some shift. “We knew at least a point tonight would get us there, so that’s a really tough one to take. It’s a sore blow losing Robbo early, then thinking we’re ahead, we regroup and then they score. “We competed for long spells. It’s very difficult to win here and, under the circumstances, it was near enough impossible. “You need to be very careful what you say. I think everyone watching that game tonight from a Scotland point of view, wherever you were, it just felt like we weren’t getting any 50/50 decision - it made it very difficult against a world class team. “You need a perfect performance here to win, and everything to align and it was just never going to happen. “He (the referee) changed it (his reasoning on the VAR check) in the game, which is the annoying thing. It means it’s not clear and obvious. “Is he going to save it? No chance. No goalkeeper in the world is going to save that. However, at one point he’s said it’s a foul, realises it isn’t a foul, so changes it to offside.” Scotland manager Clarke meanwhile said his players have to move on after the defeat. Clarke’s men face France in a friendly in Lille next Tuesday but Spain face Norway in Oslo two days earlier and if the Norwegians drop points, Scotland’s place in Germany will be secured. The Scots also have Georgia away and Norway at home in November. “The team played well and the players are disappointed,” said Clarke. “We came here determined to qualify. It hasn’t happened tonight but I think there was a lot to be pleased about in the performance. “The big moment in the game is probably the close decision on the Scott McTominay goal. At the time we think it is a goal. You know when the referee gets told to look at it he is probably going to chalk it off. They have made the call, there is no point me going on about it.” Includes reporting from PA Read More Scotland forced to wait for Euro 2024 — but they will not understand how Steve Clarke insists Scotland must move on from disappointing VAR decision Andy Robertson injury: Scotland provide update on dislocated shoulder against Spain Scotland provide update after Andy Robertson appears to dislocate shoulder Steve Clarke insists Scotland must move on from disappointing VAR decision Scotland forced to wait for Euro 2024 – but they will not understand how

The Atlanta Braves were not the dominant team many assumed them to be in the NLDS.

The Atlanta Braves gloated after a Game 2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. It would wind up being their only win of the NLDS. In fairness, the Braves ha

With the Phillies appearing on their way to a victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 4, one that would clinch their spot in the NLCS for a second consecutive y