List of All Articles with Tag 'f'

England boss Gareth Southgate says he understands the criticism Jordan Henderson has received for joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq but feels the midfielder’s beliefs have not changed. Henderson’s move to the fast-growing Saudi Pro League came under scrutiny due to his long-time support for the LGBT+ community and the Premier League’s Rainbow Laces campaign. Homosexuality is illegal and punishable by death in Saudi Arabia, while the state stands accused of a host of other abuses including placing harsh restrictions on women’s rights and the right to political protest. Pride in Football, a network of LGBT+ fan groups, said the England midfielder had “lost the respect of so many people who valued and trusted” him but Southgate says it is not a black and white matter. “It’s not for me to judge any individual whether they’re in football or in any other industry,” Southgate told talkSPORT. “I don’t think he’s changing his view on what he believes in. So now we’re in a really complex world where, what are we saying, nobody should go to Newcastle? Should nobody work for companies that the Saudis own in London or should nobody buy oil from the Saudis? “I think it’s very complicated, I completely understand the argument of, you know, you’ve supported the LGBTQ community and I can understand why they would have a really strong view on it. “I think it’s so difficult to say, you know, is Henderson saying he doesn’t support that community anymore? Well no, he isn’t, but of course people are going to say his actions are the reverse of that.” Henderson will be making more money than he ever has before, with a reported £700,000 per week salary, but the standard of football in the league may affect whether his England career continues. Southgate revealed the 33-year-old sought assurances about the prospect of being overlooked if he were to move. The England boss added: “I spoke to him in the summer, the question he wanted to know was, ‘If I move here, are you going to automatically rule me out?’. “We would be stupid to do that. Why would we rule anyone out based on where they are playing? We have got to see how they are playing. “We have an idea of what that league will look like but we won’t know until we actually start to see the games. “If you asked me three months ago what that league would look like, I’d have a very different idea to what it is looking like as more and more players decide to go there. “Big-name players but not so many that are in the prime of their careers but not players past their sell-by date. “I think that whole project is fascinating for where it is going to head and what that might look like over the next few years. “But Henderson won’t be playing in the Premier League. He won’t play in the Champions League, which is the easiest assessment for the level he is playing at.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Iain Henderson backs Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale to fight for World Cup spot Ewan Ashman sets sights on Scotland starting spot at World Cup England hoping Tom Curry will feature in World Cup build-up despite ankle issue

The 2023 FIBA World Cup is right around the corner. Here's everything you need to know about Team USA including their roster, group, schedule and more.The United States comes into the 2023 FIBA World Cup after one of their worst performances ever in the tournament in 2019, where they lost t...

Pep Guardiola has issued Man City's demands to Barcelona & Bayern Munich over Bernardo Silva & Kyle Walker.

Pep Guardiola has vowed to do everything in his power to make sure Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva stay at Manchester City as he concluded it would be very difficult and expensive to replace both. Walker, who only has one year left on his contract, has attracted the attention of Bayern Munich while Silva, a long-term target of Barcelona, has had an offer to join the Saudi Arabian Pro-League. But Guardiola, who has already lost Riyad Mahrez to Saudi Arabia and captain Ilkay Gundogan, believes it would cost a fortune to find successors to Walker and Silva. “They are so important players for us, we are going to do everything,” he said. “It’s not like Gundogan where he finished a contract. We want him to stay because he wants to stay because they want to stay. “We will do everything because to replace these two players is so difficult. We lost two incredible players for us in Ilkay and Riyad for us who were massively important for us in big important games with goals and assists. To lose Kyle and Bernardo would be so difficult, that is why we are going to do everything to keep them.” City have brought in Mateo Kovacic to take over from Gundogan in midfield and are close to completing a £77 million deal for defender Josko Gvardiol but Guardiola is conscious his transfer budget will be depleted if he has to get players of the calibre of Walker and Silva to take their places. “When we lose those players we have to go to the market for these players and they cost more than £50 million,” the City manager said. “We need that money to reimburse on other players to make the team as strong as possible to defend the crowns that we won and win games for our people.” Guardiola hopes the transfer to bring in the Croatia international Gvardiol from RB Leipzig will be completed on Friday or Saturday. “He’s doing a medical test, everyone knows he is here and hopefully we can finish the deal in the next hours,” he said. Guardiola has also brought Juanma Lillo back to the Etihad Stadium and explained: “Juanma is the best assistant you can find. You have to find people in the bad moments. Juanma, beyond his knowledge of football, is a massive human being.” City face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday when Declan Rice is likely to make his Gunners debut. The former West Ham captain chose to join Arsenal rather than City in a £105 million deal. “All the best,” added Guardiola. “He’s a really important player. He’s a really nice guy and for the national team, is and will be important. Arsenal bought an incredible player.” Read More Pep Guardiola wants to keep ‘irreplaceable’ Kyle Walker at Manchester City Why Wrexham can’t bank on another Hollywood ending Chelsea confirm Axel Disasi signing to cure defensive woes Why Wrexham can’t bank on another Hollywood ending Chelsea confirm Axel Disasi signing to cure defensive woes Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest news and updates as England prepare for last-16

The 2023 FIBA World Cup is right around the corner. Here's a brief history of the tournament, dating back to its inception with winners, top scorers, and more.The 2023 FIBA World Cup will begin on Friday, Aug. 25 with two games: Lauri Markannen and Finland will take on Josh Giddey and Austr...

NFL Training Camp is in full swing, and some rookies who don't have large names are making a big impact.It's that time of the year when the NFL is busy at training camp. Rookies and vets return to work, hoping to be the last team standing in February. However, it's the former grou...

Today's USMNT news includes Folarin Balogun being linked with West Ham United. It has been revealedthat it wasDeAndre Yedlin's decision to give Lionel Messi the Inter Miami captain's armband. Also, Matthew Hoppe has joined the San Jose Earthquakes. USMNT news: Folarin Balogun to Wes...

Previewing the United States vs Sweden at the Women's World Cup, with TV & live stream details, team news, predicted lineups & score prediction.

The US women's national team takes on Sweden in the round of 16 match on August 6 in Melbourne, Australia.

A new college football season begins later this month (!!) and you can give yourself two chances to open the year with a bang!College football fans in states with legal sports betting who sign up with Caesars Sportsbook and deposit $10 or more will be rewarded with a second-chance bonus worth up...

Lili Reinhart went public with boyfriend Jack Martin, NFL preseason power rankings, Max Scherzer made his Rangers debut and more in the Roundup.

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