Nick Wright Predicted the Chiefs Would Go 20-0, Got a Tattoo About It, Lost to the Lions in Week 1
Nick Wright got a tattoo to commemorate best 0-1 NFL team ever?
2023-09-08 21:24
Man Utd's week of turmoil: A timeline of the biggest controversies to hit the club this week
Manchester United have had a turbulent few years, but the last week has been perhaps the most chaotic in recent times. The club’s press office might have hoped that offloading controversial striker Mason Greenwood onto Spanish club Getafe would end the slew of negative headlines. But it has only given way to yet more explosive allegations about another player, a social media spat over team selection and even inviting a convicted paedophile to be the special guest at a match. Working backwards from the fresh drama surrounding Brazilian winger Antony to Jadon Sancho’s X/Twitter outburst, here are the worst bits of a bad week at Old Trafford. Friday 8 September: Fresh allegations surface against Antony Antony is facing further assault allegations, the second claim this week against the 23-year-old winger. Ingrid Lana, a 33-year-old banker, said in an interview with a Brazilian TV channel that she was “pushed against a wall” by Antony in October 2022. She said she hit her head as a result of the alleged incident, which she said happened at his house in Manchester in October 2022. It comes after Brazilian police opened an investigation into claims of domestic abuse against his former girlfriend, Gabriela Cavallin, which hit the headlines on Monday 4 September. Antony was accused of attacking Cavallin “with a headbutt” in a Manchester hotel room on 15 January, leaving her needing medical attention. She has also alleged that he punched her in the chest, causing damage to her breast implant which required corrective surgery. Antony previously addressed the claims on social media: “I can calmly state that the accusations are false and that the evidence already produced and the other evidence that will be produced demonstrate that I am innocent of the accusations made.” Manchester United signed Antony last year in an £82m deal from Dutch club Ajax. Thursday 7 September: Convicted paedophile special guest at match The club admitted on 7 September that they invited a convicted paedophile to be a special guest at the biggest women’s football match in the history of the club. Geoff Konopka was sentenced to four years in prison in 2011 and put on the sex offenders register for a decade after being convicted of offences of indecent assault and gross indecency against girls aged under 16. Before that, he was manager of Manchester United Ladies from 1983 to 2001. He was invited to attend the women’s team’s fixture against Everton in March 2022, the first Women’s Soccer League match ever held at Old Trafford. United said they would have “no further contact” with Konopka on Thursday, as a result of information they had obtained “recently”. “Manchester United has recently received information around these convictions, and as a matter of urgency has been in contact with the relevant legal and football authorities to substantiate the facts,” the club said in a statement. “The club has taken appropriate action after receiving this information and will have no further connection with the individual. Manchester United expresses its heartfelt sympathy to the victims and all those affected by these abhorrent crimes.” Tuesday 5 September: Mason Greenwood welcomed at Getafe Mason Greenwood was unveiled by Spanish club Getafe after United agreed to loan him out. In a social media post, Getafe said: “We love you Mason Greenwood.” The accompanying video shows Greenwood walking out to applause and training with his new teammates. Greenwood has not trained with United since he was arrested in January 2022, as a result of material that was published online. He was later charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in October 2022. The charges were dropped in February 2023, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said key witnesses had withdrawn and new material had come to light. There was “no longer a realistic prospect of conviction”, the CPS said. United then started their own internal investigation into the player. The club was reportedly planning to reintroduce him into the squad, a move which provoked heavy criticism. Later, it was agreed he would leave the club by mutual agreement. In a statement last month, Greenwood said he had “made mistakes” and took his “share of responsibility”, but added: “I did not do the things I was accused of.” Sunday 3 September: Sancho’s outburst Jadon Sancho, United’s £73m signing in 2021, faces an uncertain future at the club after he posted his frustrations about not being picked for Sunday’s game against Arsenal on X/Twitter. Manager Erik Ten Hag said the player had been dropped because of “his performances in training,” but Sancho appeared to accuse Ten Hag of misrepresenting the facts. He wrote: “Please don’t believe everything you read! I will not allow people saying things that [are] completely untrue. I have conducted myself in training very well this week. I believe there are other reasons for this matter that I won’t go into, I have been a scapegoat for a long time which isn’t fair!” After his team’s defeat, Ten Hag said: “You have to reach a level every day at Manchester United and we can make choices in the front line,” he said. “So for this game he was not selected.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-08 21:19
Arsenal & Liverpool tracking Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa after Chelsea snub
Club Brugge winger Antonio Nusa, who rejected a transfer to Chelsea, is interesting Arsenal, Liverpool & Newcastle.
2023-09-08 21:18
Premier League news: Pepe to Trabzonspor, No Saudi move for Sancho, Potter turns down Lyon
Today's Premier League news includes Nicolas Pepe being set to join Trabzonspor. There was no move to the Saudi Pro League for Jadon Sancho and Graham Potter has turned down Lyon.
2023-09-08 20:56
Troy Aikman almost came out of retirement to play for surprise team
10 years after winning his second Super Bowl title, ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman nearly came out of retirement to play for the Miami Dolphins.
2023-09-08 20:54
Full list of Atlanta Braves retired numbers -- and when they were retired
The Atlanta Braves are one of the most storied franchises in baseball and a slew of legends have worn their uniforms. Here are the ones who have earned the honor of a retired jersey.
2023-09-08 20:53
Two more women make allegations of violence against Antony
Further allegations against Manchester United winger Antony have emerged following the domestic abuse claims that saw him dropped by Brazil. The 23-year-old earlier this week was omitted from the Brazil squad after accusations of physical aggression on a number of occasions since January towards his former girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin, which are being investigated by police and which he denies. Since then, Brazilian newspaper Extra has reported that influencer and law student Rayssa de Freitas in May 2022 filed a police report against Antony alleging she sustained injuries in an incident involving the player and another woman after a night out in Sao Paulo. Meanwhile, banker Ingrid Lana has told Brazil’s RecordTV that in an incident at Antony’s home in Manchester in October 2022 he “pushed me against the wall, and I hit my head”. Lana said that Antony “tried to have a relationship with me and I didn’t want to”, adding: “My purpose was just business. Arriving there, at his invitation, I realised that he had ulterior motives.” United had no comment to make on those further allegations when contacted by the PA news agency on Friday. Regarding the Cavallin accusations, the club had said in a statement: “Manchester United acknowledges the allegations made against Antony and notes that the police are conducting enquiries. “Pending further information, the club will be making no further comments. “As a club, we are taking this matter seriously, with consideration of the impact these allegations and subsequent reporting will have on survivors of abuse.” United have not said whether Antony remains available for selection. In an interview with Brazilian website UOL – which also published photographs and screenshots of messages between the pair – Cavallin claims she was attacked by Antony “with a headbutt” in a Manchester hotel room on January 15, leaving her with a cut head which needed treatment from a doctor. Cavallin also alleges she was punched in the chest by Antony, which she claims caused damage to a silicone breast implant which required corrective surgery back in Brazil. Another alleged incident is claimed to have taken place at a house on May 8, with Cavallin saying she suffered a cut finger while trying to protect herself, accusing Antony of throwing a glass cup towards her as well as then taking her passport. Cavallin is said to have filed a report to Sao Paulo Civil Police concerning allegations of physical and verbal abuse by Antony while on holiday in Brazil during June 2022, when she was pregnant, as well as making a separate complaint to Greater Manchester Police. Writing on Instagram earlier this week, Antony, who signed for United from Ajax in an £85.5million deal in September 2022, dismissed the claims as “false accusations”. He wrote: “From the beginning I have treated this matter with seriousness and respect, providing the necessary clarifications before the police authority. “However, I can calmly state that the accusations are false and that the evidence already produced and the other evidence that will be produced demonstrate that I am innocent of the accusations made. “My relationship with Gabriela was tumultuous, with verbal insults from both sides, but I never committed any physical aggression. “Therefore, I come to vehemently deny the accusations made and inform you that I remain at the entire disposal of the Brazilian authorities to clarify whatever is necessary. “I trust that the ongoing police investigations will demonstrate the truth about my innocence.” The allegations against Antony come after United announced last month that Mason Greenwood would leave Old Trafford. Greenwood was suspended by the club on January 30, 2022 over allegations relating to a young woman after images and videos were posted online. The case, where the forward faced charges including attempted rape and assault, was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in February and he has since joined Spanish side Getafe on loan. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Key talking points as Ireland prepare for Rugby World Cup opener against Romania Big-spending Saudis contribute £700million to record £6billion transfer total Darcy Graham passed fit for Scotland in World Cup opener against South Africa
2023-09-08 20:52
Luis Rubiales accused of sexual assault and coercion by Spanish state prosecutor
Spanish state prosecutors have accused Luis Rubiales of sexual assault and coercion for kissing a player on the lips without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final, the country’s prosecutors’ office said Friday.Rubiales, the now-suspended president of the Spanish soccer federation, kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the awards ceremony after Spain beat England to win the title on Aug. 20 in Sydney, Australia.Prosecutors presented a case against Rubiales to Spain’s National Court in Madrid two days after Hermoso formally accused him of sexual assault.According to a sexual consent law passed last year, Rubiales could face a fine or a prison sentence of one to four years if found guilty of sexual assault. The new law eliminated the difference between “sexual harassment” and “sexual assault,” sanctioning any unconsented sexual act.Prosecutors added Friday that Rubiales could have committed an act of coercion when, according to Hermoso, he pressured her to speak out in his defense immediately after the scandal erupted regarding his behavior. Rubiales has insisted the kiss was consensual. Hermoso has denied that in statements issued by her and her players’ union.Prosecutors have asked the judge that Rubiales appear before a court to give preliminary testimony.If the National Court judge agrees the hear the case, it would lead to a formal court investigation that will end with a recommendation for the case to either be dismissed or go to trial.Hermoso, a 33-year-old forward, now plays for Mexican club Pachuca after a long career with top Spanish and European clubs, including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid. She returned to her Mexican club on Thursday.The 46-year-old Rubiales faces threats other than a possible criminal trial. He was suspended from his post by Fifa on Aug. 27, a day after he refused to step down when he delivered a defiant speech to the general assembly of his federation in which he said he was victim of a “witch hunt” by “false feminists.” Rubiales was banned from his post for 90 days while Fifa disciplinary judges consider his case. Soccer’s governing body can impose sanctions on individuals ranging from warnings and fines to suspensions from the sport.Rubiales also faces action from the Spanish government. A government legal panel overseeing sports has opened a probe to determine if he abused his authority by kissing Hermoso or tainted the image of Spain with his conduct. He faces being deemed unfit to hold his post for up to two years.Rubiales’ behavior at the final, which included a lewd crotch grab while next to dignitaries including Spain’s queen and teenage princess, combined with his controversial speech have tarnished the Women’s World Cup title and damaged his own federation.Spain’s women’s players have said they won’t play again for their nation until big changes are made in the federation. The federation fired coach Jorge Vilda, but the players have yet to say if they consider that sufficient. Read More Luis Rubiales could face criminal charges after Jenni Hermoso accuses Spanish FA president of sexual assault Dear men, a kiss is never just ‘a kiss’ Spanish soccer player Jenni Hermoso accuses Luis Rubiales of sexual assault for World Cup kiss
2023-09-08 20:51
Springboks power vs. Scotland pace? The defending champ's Rugby World Cup opener may be more nuanced
The Springboks say they’re about more than just a brutal power game at this Rugby World Cup
2023-09-08 20:29
How to Watch NFL Week 1 on NFL Sunday Ticket: Price, streaming service and more
The first full Sunday of the 2023 NFL season takes place on Sept. 10. Here is how you can watch NFL Sunday Ticket and how much the service will cost.
2023-09-08 20:29
Man United signing Sofyan Amrabat withdraws from Morocco squad with injury
Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat pulled out of Morocco’s upcoming international games because of injury, the Premier League club said Friday. Amrabat, who completed a loan move to United from Fiorentina last week, will return to the club’s Carrington training base for rehabilitation work on an unspecified problem. He was due to make his 50th appearance for Morocco, which plays Liberia in an African Cup qualifier on Saturday. The World Cup semifinalists then play Burkina Faso in a friendly on Tuesday.Morocco coach Walid Regragui called up Yahya Jabrane to replace Amrabat for the games. United manager Erik ten Hag will hope his new signing will be ready for the team’s upcoming game against Brighton on Sept. 16. United has had a rough start to the season. The team lost two of its first four league games and Mason Mount, Luke Shaw and Raphael Varane are all injured. Also, Rasmus Hojlund missed the start of the campaign because of an existing tissue injury after his move from Atalanta. United has also had to cope with comments made by Jadon Sancho, who said he had been made a “scapegoat for a long time” after he was dropped for the 3-1 loss to Arsenal on Sunday. Ten Hag said Sancho’s performances in training were the reason why he was not selected. United also said it is taking seriously allegations of domestic abuse made against Brazil winger Antony, which saw the player dropped from his country’s games against Bolivia and Peru. Read More Manchester United deny attempting to ‘cover up’ allegations Antony attacked ex-girlfriend Sofyan Amrabat talks up importance of Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag on his career Manchester United refuse to reveal if Antony is available for selection
2023-09-08 20:29
Big-spending Saudis contribute £700million to record £6billion transfer total
A record sum of almost £6billion was spent on international transfer deals this summer, with Saudi clubs’ spending topping £700million. The outlay by clubs in the Pro League was second only to the Premier League, whose teams spent just under £1.6bn on overseas deals alone, according to FIFA’s International Transfer Snapshot which was published on Friday. In total, 7.36bn US dollars (£5.89bn) was spent globally in the summer window, while agents’ fees for 2023 are already at a record annual high – 696.6m US dollars or £558m. The spending on deals in 2023 is a 47 per cent increase on the same period last year, and 26.8 per cent up on the previous mid-year record set in 2019. Saudi clubs spent £701m on transfers according to FIFA, with Al Hilal’s signing of Neymar for a reported £77m from Paris St Germain the biggest single deal involving a Pro League club. The spending figure could have been much higher. Al Hilal also bid a world-record £259m for PSG forward Kylian Mbappe, but the player refused to enter talks. Al Ittihad, meanwhile, had a bid of £150m rejected for Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah. Saudi clubs’ spending on international deals was just ahead of France (£688.8m) and Germany (£610.8m). They also spent more than double the amount laid out by clubs in Spain, where the total was £324.9m. Saudi spending meant that for the first time, a confederation other than UEFA contributed more than 10 per cent of the total summer spend, with the Asian Football Confederation’s figure at 14 per cent. Four Saudi clubs – Al Hilal, Al Ittihad, Al Nassr and Al Ahli – have been majority-owned by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) since June. The fund has assets under management estimated at a value of around £476bn. Germany topped the list for money earned from international transfers at 1.11bn US dollars (£889m) – the first time a single country has earned more than one billion dollars from summer deals. The FIFA report also identified an increase in the number of international deals in the women’s game for a sixth successive year. There were a record 829 transfers in the mid-year period including a record 66 which involved fees. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Darcy Graham passed fit for Scotland in World Cup opener against South Africa Alex Mitchell ready to continue World Cup rollercoaster ride in England’s opener Josh Sheehan using ‘dark days’ after injury as motivation to revive Wales career
2023-09-08 20:27