Latest Sports Stories

Football News

City behaved much like other top clubs but their rule-breaking deserves to be punished. The Bundesliga, where members have a controlling stake, can show the way forward Do we have to reassess Manchester City now? In my columns, I have repeatedly engaged with this club and its key figures. Looking back at what I have written over the years, I believe it remains beyond question that the team have achieved greatness. I always loved watching them: they were a true unit on the pitch, a finely tuned orchestra. I would also write all over again that the conductor, Pep Guardiola, masters his craft like few others. I could recognise his teams even if they were wearing the wrong shirts and the game was broadcast in black and white – by the passes, the distances between the players and the intelligence of their interplay. It is no wonder Guardiola inspires others to become managers; look at Vincent Kompany, Mikel Arteta, Enzo Maresca, and perhaps some time Ilkay Gündogan and Rodri. As a player and a columnist, I never had an issue with Manchester City. Precisely because, for many years, the club avoided buying the most obvious superstars. Guardiola said it himself: the most valuable of the valuable do not go to a club like City, who aren’t even the biggest football brand in their own home town. Many became world stars in Manchester. Kevin De Bruyne had been discarded by Chelsea, Rodri’s true class was overlooked in Madrid for a long time, Gündogan’s career was on the brink after injuries, and most recently Gianluigi Donnarumma was no longer wanted in Paris. In Germany, City signed players from Hamburg, Frankfurt and Wolfsburg. Erling Haaland in 2022 was the first player they targeted who was also pursued by Bayern Munich. City did not operate like Paris Saint-Germain did in the era before Luis Enrique. From the outside, City fundamentally did not do much differently from the other 10 or so top European clubs. But what are achievements on the pitch worth if they are accompanied by rule-breaking? The club has been found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s financial regulations between 2009 and 2018. It allegedly invested almost €1bn more than allowed and declared. The league leaders face potential forced relegation or having titles stripped. City continue to deny wrongdoing and are appealing against the decision. It is right for the Premier League to crack down on unfair competition. I also appreciate that Germany is holding on to the 50+1 rule, which the federal cartel office recently upheld. It ensures that the majority of voting rights must remain with the parent club – the non-profit section of a professional club. The exceptions that have applied to Leverkusen and Wolfsburg are under review. The bedrock of our football culture is 50+1. This rule exists only in Germany, yet it speaks to a spirit that fits perfectly with the European sports model: 50+1 maintains a balance; on the one hand it allows for investment, on the other it guarantees participation. It strengthens the rights of members and fans. Perhaps it is because of this rule that the average attendance in Germany is higher than anywhere else in the world. What is the ultimate purpose of football? It is a business, but its infrastructure is still developed by the general public. That is how I have always understood sport. Even as a professional, it was clear to me that my privileged life was made possible by many people working on a voluntary basis. Through my role as tournament director of the European Championship, these political connections have become even clearer to me. The stadium and football clubs can remain the final places where people gather and society debates its issues only if the elite and the grassroots stay connected, and the public is involved in the process. Football must not be detached from its roots, as was the case with Manchester City. This becomes possible when rules are enforced by an institution. Ideally, not by a commercial entity but by a non-profit one such as Uefa. In business, as in politics, I am observing a shift in mindset. Today, it is deemed necessary to invest in non-profit institutions. More and more companies realise that football allows for a genuine exchange with the population – that it provides the perfect vehicle to set up corporate social responsibility projects. This is what is needed in these politically turbulent times. In our fragmented world, political parties, churches and the media have lost credibility. In sport, however, people still come together. It is a tool to foster social cohesion. Therefore, I consider 50+1 to be a distinct competitive advantage for the Bundesliga. I also welcome the fact that rules mean something in another case. Uefa is standing firm against Gianni Infantino, who recently wanted to privatise the World Cup and its profits. Along with his friend Donald Trump, he was seen by many as breaking the normal rules when Folarin Balogun’s suspension was lifted. The outcry from the global football community was loud, and it is possible that the Fifa president will fall. When behaviour like that in Manchester and at Fifa is punished, it is a good thing. Football must prevent questionable ideas from distancing it even further from its grassroots. Only then can it drive engagement in civil society, and only then can it strengthen Europe. Philipp Lahm’s column was produced in partnership with Oliver Fritsch at the German online magazine Die Zeit.

Football News

Paris Saint-Germain winger Kvicha Kvaratskhelia is set to have surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), the French club have confirmed. The 25-year-old, who was named the Champions League's best player last season, was injured in Tuesday's 4-2 home win over Barcelona. The European champions have said Kvaratskhelia will have an operation "in the coming days" but gave no timeline for his recovery. The injury raises serious concerns over whether Kvaratskhelia will play again this season, but he will definitely miss PSG's Champions League trip to Aston Villa on December 8. Kvaratskhelia has been nominated for the 2026 Ballon d'Or after a stellar campaign last season as he helped PSG earn back-to-back Champions League titles as well as Ligue 1 glory. The Georgia captain's injury setback is a major blow for PSG, who are in pursuit of a third straight Champions League crown. Kvaratskhelia has emerged as one of the world's leading forwards since joining the French champions from Napoli for £59m plus add-ons in January 2025. PSG also lost Ousmane Dembele , the reigning Ballon d'Or holder, and captain Marquinhos to injury against Barca. The French club's statement says both players have thigh injuries and "will remain under treatment for the next few weeks". Another key player, Nuno Mendes , is also injured after missing the win over the Spanish champions following an injury in PSG's Ligue 1 win at Strasbourg on Saturday. PSG have been in scintillating form in Europe this season since defending their title in May, beating Manchester City and Barcelona by the same 4-2 scoreline this month. Luis Enrique's side are top of the 36-team league table after three wins from three, while they sit second in Ligue 1, level on points with leaders Lyon. PSG paid a high price for Tuesday's thrilling Champions League win over Barcelona, losing captain Marquinhos, Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to injury. Unfortunately for the latter, his season is over. Not only is that a massive shame for the supremely talented Georgian, but a significant blow to PSG and fans of football more broadly. Kvaratskhelia is the type of player you happily pay to watch, whether you have an affinity to PSG or not. He's played a key role for the double European champions over the past two seasons, including 16 goal involvements last year, and has earned a place on the Ballon d'Or shortlist - the recipient of the prize will be confirmed on Monday. PSG of course have plenty of talent to cover the 25-year-old's absence. Desire Doue is doing marvellous things this season and I also like what Maghnes Akliouche offers. But this is a setback for Luis Enrique. It won't end PSG's chances of a famous European three-peat. But it makes the task much harder.

Football News

Paris St-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will undergo knee surgery after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during his side's 4-2 win over Barcelona on Tuesday. Kvaratskhelia sustained the injury during a challenge with Xavi Espart and was unable to put weight on his right leg as he was substituted in the 59th minute of the Champions League tie. PSG have not put a timeline on his return to action. Kvaratskhelia, 25, helped PSG win back-to-back Champions League titles following his move to the French capital from Napoli in January 2025. The Georgia international has featured 11 times for PSG this season. The club also confirmed Ousmane Dembele and Marquinhos will be absent for a "few weeks". Dembele limped off with a left thigh injury while Marquinhos injured his right thigh. PSG and Barcelona were level at 2-2 heading into the final 10 minute at Parc des Princes before the hosts scored twice late on to maintain their winning start to their Champions League defence. They sit top of the table with three wins from three matches. Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

Football News

Kvaratskhelia to undergo surgery on right knee Paris St Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ⁠will undergo surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ⁠ligament in ⁠his ​right knee in the Champions League win over ⁠Barcelona. Kvaratskhelia twisted ⁠the knee during PSG’s 4-2 ​victory on ‌Tuesday and was ‌helped off the pitch just ‌before the hour, with the Georgian winger unable to put any weight on his right leg. Kvaratskhelia landed awkwardly after sprinting back to make a tackle on Xavi Espart and looked in severe pain as he clutched his right knee. He played a leading role in helping PSG to back-to-back Champions League titles and is one of the contenders for the Ballon d’Or, which will be awarded on Monday. Ousmane Dembélé had earlier been forced off with a thigh injury and the defender Marquinhos was substituted with a similar injury. PSG ⁠said both players would have treatment ​for the next ​few weeks. The PSG coach, Luis Enrique, used Dembélé sparingly in the French league last season and has rested him twice in Ligue 1 this campaign. The France forward, who scored six goals at the World Cup, struggled with injuries last season and had been beset by leg muscle injuries at his previous club, Barcelona. In the 2024-25 Dembélé played 50 games in a season for the first time in his career and his performances earned him the men’s Ballon d’Or. Barcelona have made a complaint to Uefa over a “chainsaw massacre” banner displayed on Tuesday. The banner carried the slogan “Massacre, Parisien style” and depicted a masked man in a PSG shirt cutting through a Barcelona crest with a chainsaw, with pyrotechnics giving the effect of sparks flying as the saw made contact. Sources close to the Catalan club said the content of the banner, and some offensive chants from the stands, were reported to Uefa’s match delegate.

Football News

The sound of fans being wowed by his football is something that has followed Eberechi Eze wherever he has played. The Arsenal forward is known for his off-the-cuff skill, maverick nature and entertaining style. But lately, those familiar elements of Eze have been missing. Sunday's 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest was Eze's first Premier League start of the season. But replaced at half-time, having completed just nine passes and 22 touches of the ball, many have started to question whether he can reproduce the performances he was once known for. Arsenal criticism from very small minority - Arteta Madueke's 'anger and conviction' shows he's more than a 'finisher' This is not the first time Eze's role in the squad has been called into question. He switched off when Matty Cash scored Aston Villa's opener in their 2-1 defeat in December 2025 and, despite starting the following game, was left on the substitute's bench for the next four league matches. And while the 28-year-old is a much-loved character around both the Arsenal and England squads, even Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel referenced how Eze was "coming back to his true shape and form" in training during the last international break - hinting that he has not been at his best so far this season. The reason Eze's performance is coming under scrutiny now is that the Gunners failed to land a new world-class attacker in the transfer window, despite being heavily interested in Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr and Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez. Arsenal signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge in the summer and the Greek international had been the first-choice winger for Mikel Arteta this season, until he picked up a hamstring injury on international duty. Tzolis being out of action presented an opportunity for Eze to break into the squad again, scoring in a start on the left wing against Lille in the Champions League - but he was unable to follow that up against Forest. "I think that finding his role and position has been challenging," former Arsenal and England defender Matt Upson said. "And when you come to a club with the stature and the quality of Arsenal, if you're not showing that you're nailing down a certain role, I think it's very very hard to maintain a position in the team. "He's now filling in a bit on the left-hand side, which I don't think particularly suits him, but he's had to. "He doesn't play like a wide player for me and I think just knowing your role when you're at a club like Arsenal is so important." Eze scored some spectacular goals in big moments when he was at Crystal Palace, including the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City in 2025. "I think all the high-end stuff that we saw from him which made him a player that Arsenal we're going to go and target, that's the icing on the cake," said Upson. "So when the foundation's not quite there in terms of the situations you're getting in and how quickly you get into the ball, where you are on the field, where your headspace is at about what your role is and what you've got to do, then it's hard to produce those moments that make you the top player." Eze shone from the left at Palace, but in his final two seasons in south London he operated from a narrower number 10 role. But with captain Martin Odegaard the first choice in that position at Arsenal and Arteta unlikely to start the pair regularly with the options he has available in the middle of the pitch, it means Eze's route into the team is limited. Upson believes Eze must understand what is wanted from him. "It's almost a process for him if he wants to kind of grow into starting more matches for Arsenal," he said. "I think figuring that out is really important and having that level of intensity, which I think has been an adjustment for him from where he's come from - into a big club, with a manager that they don't come more intense than really." There's an argument that Eze does not get a run in one position or a run of games to build momentum, but the stats show he gets a substantial amount of game time. The Gunners played 63 matches last season and Eze started 36 of those (57%). Since his debut for Arsenal in August 2025 he has started in 56% of games (40 out of 72). His 11 goals in 61 appearances have been scored across just eight games. And he has delivered some huge moments in an Arsenal shirt, scoring five against rivals Tottenham Hotspur across two Premier League matches, with a hat-trick in the home fixture - while he also scored winners against Newcastle and former club Crystal Palace as the Gunners won the title. Encouragingly for Eze and Arsenal fans, there are signs it still could click this season. Although the sample size is a lot smaller, Eze's numbers per 90 minutes this season are higher in assists (0.25), goals and assists combined (0.50), shots on target (0.74), dribbles completed (1.98) and touches in the opposition box (5.95) than the previous campaign. "We have some really good players and the expectations are so big for all of them," Arteta said. "And we want more from everybody. That is the mindset. "That is what is going to make us better individually and as a team. I hope that continues as it is going to push all of us to reach different kind of levels and develop." Arsenal face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday (20:00 BST). Latest Arsenal news, analysis and fan views Ask about Arsenal - what do you want to know?

Football News

Jonathan Bukabakwa gets extra five-year ban from Fifa DRC’s FA ordered to improve education and compliance A coach in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who was banned from football for 20 years by Fifa for sexual abuse of a minor has had his ban extended by five years to 2048 by the world governing body. Jonathan Bukabakwa, known as Messi, has also been ordered to pay an additional fine of $15,000 (£11,200) after the Guardian revealed he had continued to work with young players despite his suspension. The Congolese Association Football Federation (Fecofa) and Racing Club Baki, where Bukabakwa was coaching, have been fined $50,000 each by Fifa’s ethics committee for failing to comply with its decision to ban him for 20 years in 2023. Fecofa has also been instructed to introduce a “comprehensive education, compliance and monitoring programme for its officials, affiliated clubs and registered members” to try to ensure there is no repeat. “The Congo DR Football Association, the club Racing Club Baki (formerly known as Esperanto FC), and the coach Jonathan Bukabakwa were found responsible for failing to comply with the decision rendered by the Fifa ethics committee on 18 October 2023,” said a Fifa statement. Bukabakwa, who previously coached youth teams in the Limpopo and Malabo regions, was convicted of sexually abusing minors by authorities in the DRC and was released from prison last year. A Guardian investigation in August revealed there was video footage of him coaching young players at Esperanto in the Limete district of the capital, Kinshasa. Local sources confirmed he had regularly been seen taking charge of players on a school field. Bukabakwa did not deny continuing to coach young players but claimed he had not been informed of his Fifa ban. He said he had not been questioned or received any communication from the governing body. He has denied the allegations against him. The case has raised further questions about safeguarding in Congolese football and the ability of authorities to ensure that suspended individuals do not continue participating in the sport. Bukabakwa was provisionally suspended by Fecofa in November 2022 after media reports of alleged widespread sexual abuse in the DRC. Several other coaches were provisionally suspended at the time, although investigations into some of those other cases did not establish sufficient evidence for further action by Fecofa or Fifa. Véron Mosengo-Omba, elected as Fecofa’s president in May, has promised to look into the previous cases once he has re-established a disciplinary committee. Fecofa was under a Fifa-appointed normalisation committee from 2023 until his election. “We will make sure that no one who is behaving like this will be involved in football in this country,” he said.

Football News

Eighth-tier Stafford Rangers will host League Two side Grimsby Town in the FA Cup first round after thumping National League strugglers Gateshead 5-0 in Tuesday's fourth qualifying round replay. The Heed, who are bottom of the fifth tier, had been held to a 1-1 draw in Saturday's initial tie and were humbled by goals from Scott Bakkor, Darryl Mason, Mitch Clarke, Joe Dunne and Jack Birch. Caretaker Gateshead boss Ben Clark apologised to his club's fans and said his side were "miles off it" after the defeat at Marston Road. Stafford are one of two eighth-tier sides remaining in the competition, along with fellow Northern Premier League club AFC Rushden & Diamonds, who will visit Burton Albion in round one. It is the first time in 20 years that Stafford have reached the first round proper. Elsewhere, seventh-tier Alvechurch hammered sixth-tier Spalding 4-0 to set up a trip to League One high-fliers Plymouth Argyle. Another seventh-tier side, London-based Cray Wanderers, earned a tie at home to the highest-placed team in round one, League One leaders Stockport County, by beating Bedford Town on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Worcester City, also from the seventh tier in the Southern Premier Central, will visit Colchester United of League Two after edging out Chorley 1-0. However, ninth-tier Tadley Calleva, the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, were unable to pull off a shock as they fell to a 2-0 home defeat by Aldershot in their replay and it is the Shots who will visit third-tier Barnsley. Harrogate Town needed extra time to beat seventh-tier Bury 3-1 and Macclesfield, who stunned holders Crystal Palace in the third round last season, secured their place in round one with a 3-0 victory at Anstey Nomads. The Silkmen will now travel to League One side Mansfield in the first round. This was the final round of the competition where ties can go to replays, with all further rounds decided on the day. All first round ties will be played on 6-9 November. Four sides reach round one of FA Cup for first time Leicester to visit Oxford City in FA Cup first round Stafford Rangers awaiting another bumper Cup crowd Cray Wanderers 2-2 Bedford Town (Cray won 4-3 on penalties) Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

Football News

Crawley Town have sacked head coach Colin Kazim-Richards with the side five points adrift at the bottom of League Two. Kazim-Richards was dismissed after his side's 3-2 loss at home to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night. It was their seventh loss in 10 league games - the Red Devils have won just once in League Two all season. Kazim-Richards' assistant Julian Gray has also been relieved of his duties while director of football Erdem Konyar will leave the club too. "The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Colin and Julian, who joined during a challenging period and played an important role in securing the club's EFL status at the end of last season," a club statement read., external "We would also like to thank Erdem for his hard work and commitment since returning to the club last year. "All three depart with the best wishes of everyone at Crawley Town, and we wish them every success in their future endeavours." Shrewsbury pile pressure on Crawley's Kazim-Richards Crawley name Kazim-Richards as new head coach Kazim-Richards signs new deal with Crawley The start is Crawley's worst since they won promotion to the English Football League in 2011. Having won the League Two play-offs in 2024, Crawley were relegated back to the fourth tier a year later. Last season, the club finished just one point and one place above the League Two relegation zone as Kazim-Richards guided them to survival via two wins and three draws in their final seven matches after his appointment in March. But this season's struggles have led fans to call for a change, with the club announcing his departure just after midnight following their loss at home to Shrewsbury. Asked by BBC Radio Surrey if he could turn his side's fortunes around after the loss, Kazim-Richards said: "I feel I can. If I'm given the time is another question. It's not a question I can answer for you. "I think we need a little bit more experience, a little bit in terms of game management and things like that. But we'll see what happens, right?" Over the summer, 16 players arrived at Crawley either permanently or on loan while another 16 departed. Kazim-Richards felt he did not have enough experience in his side, which has conceded 20 goals in 10 league games. "With the players we've got I still think I could have got the best out of them and I can get the best out of them," he added. "I just think there's certain areas they need help in and players need other players to be able to give them that nous, that experience, while they're playing with them as well. "I think I've given nine league debuts. That's not an excuse and it's not me getting at them - you can only get experience by doing it, but at certain times they need help with that for sure." Robin Grey, sports editor, BBC Radio Surrey and Sussex This has felt inevitable for the last few weeks, it's been Crawley's worst start to an EFL season in their history. Colin Kazim-Richards achieved his goal of keeping the club up in difficult circumstances at the end of last season. But this summer's recruitment felt a scattergun approach, with nine senior debuts handed so far - that stat alone shows this squad lacks experience. The departure of Erdem Konyar as director of football shows there is clearly recognition from [owner] Raphael Khalili the recruitment hasn't been good enough. He took a gamble on the inexperienced Kazim-Richards, now he must go for someone with league experience. The club's position seems desperate even at this stage of the season. Pre-match, post-match and topical Reds content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about Crawley Town

Football News

Arsenal scored a Premier League-high 25 non-penalty set-piece goals on their way to winning the title last season. But have 'Set-piece FC' lost their not-so-secret edge? Seven games into the new campaign, the Gunners are one of only four sides, along with Liverpool, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, yet to score a non-penalty set-piece goal. Arsenal's total last season included a record 19 from corners and made it five straight Premier League seasons in which they have scored at least 15 non-penalty set-piece goals. The improvement coincided with addition of Nicolas Jover to their backroom staff in 2021. The set-piece coach has been described as a "genius" and remains an active presence on the touchline. So why have the set-piece goals dried up? Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta put it down to luck in comments made earlier this month. "My personal opinion is that we've done better things than last year in the first five games, but we have scored no goals. I think that's the reality of set-pieces. Sometimes we score a goal, or they score an own goal, and it's a set-piece goal, but we didn't do things well. "It's an element of luck sometimes and I think this season we should have scored four and we haven't. So, if we maintain that, I think throughout the season we'll be in really good numbers, especially if we generate the amount of situations that we do." Arteta had a point on Arsenal's wastefulness. According to Opta, they rank as one of the Premier League's biggest underperformers relative to their set-piece expected goals this season. The underlying data shows the Gunners have had set-piece chances worth 2.50 expected goals. Only Liverpool and Nottingham Forest have underperformed by a bigger margin. There were examples during Sunday's win at the City Ground, where Kai Havertz and Gabriel Magalhaes headed good set-piece chances over the bar from Declan Rice deliveries. Earlier this season, Riccardo Calafiori missed an excellent chance from a Martin Odegaard free-kick against Chelsea. There was another notable opportunity against Aston Villa, when Zion Suzuki saved Rice's header from a Bukayo Saka corner. It was a different story last season, when Arsenal ranked at the other end of the scale for expected goal performance, scoring nearly four goals more than expected, based on chance quality. Arteta believes their luck will turn soon. The underlying data offers encouragement on that front. But like all sides, Arsenal are also having to adapt to the Premier League's clampdown on grappling, holding and blocking from corners this season. The guidance to referees was intended to make the game easier to officiate and stop players from gaining an advantage by impeding opponents rather than playing the ball. One consequence is a higher percentage of corners leading to free-kicks for defending teams. "You have to adjust to the rules and what is allowed and what is not," said Arteta. "But that opens another window to do things that we want to do. Sometimes you have to give credit to the opponent as well. They defend better, they put more attention on that." The clampdown may have impacted effectiveness. But Arsenal's corner delivery has mostly stayed consistent. While they have taken 15 per cent of their corners short, up from nine per cent last term, all of those short corners came on the opening day against Coventry. Arsenal continue to send the majority of their corners into the six-yard box, albeit a higher percentage to the near post than last season, and a lower percentage directly onto the goalkeeper, who is now receiving more protection from officials. While Arsenal are offering much more of a threat from set-pieces than their goal total suggests, their underlying numbers compared to last season do show a fairly significant drop-off, from 0.56 set-piece expected goals per game to 0.36 per game. But another factor is that they are simply getting fewer corners. Arsenal's average of 4.7 per game, seven games into the season, is lower than in any of the previous nine campaigns. It represents a 17 per cent decrease from last season, when they averaged 5.7, and a roughly 30 per cent decrease from the two seasons before that, when they averaged nearly seven. A return to a more typical volume of corners, coupled with some better finishing, could transform Arsenal's set-piece scoring output. But Arteta has talked up the importance of scoring in "many ways" and in the meantime they are showing improvement in open play. There was little evidence of it against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, admittedly. Arsenal laboured before Noni Madueke's late winner. But overall this season there has been a shift towards possession and passing. Arsenal are scoring and creating more in open play. But Arsenal's dead-ball threat has not disappeared. The evidence points to the goals returning soon - albeit not, perhaps, to the record-breaking levels of last season.

Football News

A message on my phone buzzes. "I pick you up at the station." It is Erik ten Hag offering a lift in his car once my train from Amsterdam arrives in Enschede, in the east of the Netherlands. It is delayed, but he doesn't seem to mind. Soon after, he pulls up in a silver Range Rover and gets out to exchange a handshake. He has finished a day's work at FC Twente's stadium, De Grolsch Veste, where he is technical director. A short while later, he is driving us through picturesque Dutch countryside on the way to Ros van Twente, the hotel he co-owns with his brothers, Michel and Rico, and John Berghaan and Anita Stappenbeld, who run it. "They got married two weeks ago as a surprise," says Ten Hag, grinning.

Football News

An animal rights group is urging Crystal Palace to retire their live bald eagle mascot with immediate effect, saying a "bright stadium filled with boisterous fans is no place for animals". In a letter to Palace CEO Sharon Lacey, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) asked the Premier League club to stop using the eagle, named Phoenix, in pre-match displays at Selhurst Park and to never use live animal mascots again. The London team, known as the Eagles since 1973, introduced a live eagle to matchdays in 2010. Kayla, who died in 2020, performed the role for 10 years and her replacement Phoenix made her debut against West Ham in August 2024. Peta says birds can become "frightened, disoriented and panicked" in stadium environments, putting themselves and fans at risk. Using them for displays and entertainment also denies the animals, who "would naturally avoid humans", the opportunity to engage with their natural instincts, leading to "frustration and stress", the group said. The organisation has "detailed records" of incidents involving live mascots, including birds, being injured or killed in collisions with walls, windows and match balls, as well as a falcon embedding its talons in a spectator's scalp after landing on his head. In 2017, a Charlton Athletic fan was found guilty of trying to punch Kayla the eagle at a League Cup fixture two years earlier. "Many professional sports teams use only willing humans as mascots and the club already has Pete the Eagle to excite the crowd," said Dr Carys Bennett, Peta's senior corporate projects manager. "Bald eagles are widely recognised as symbols of freedom. They deserve better than to be used as an entertainment prop to amuse the Eagles' fans." Latest Crystal Palace news, analysis and fan views Ask about Crystal Palace - what do you want to know?

Football News

Plus: the longest kit supply partnerships, more own goals (part II) and consecutive goalless draws Mail us with all of your questions and answers “Harry Kane is now Bayern’s seventh-highest scorer of all time, as well as being Tottenham’s highest scorer. The man he overtook at the top of that list, Jimmy Greaves, is also Chelsea’s seventh-highest scorer of all time. Do any other players feature on two (or more) clubs’ all-time top- 10 scoring charts?” asks Owen Powell. A trawl through the Knowledge archive reminded us that we have previously looked at players who are the record goalscorer for more than one club. This question is slightly different, as we’re focusing on goalscorers who are in the all-time top 10 for the most different clubs. There are dozens of players who appear for two clubs, including Sergio Ag üero (Atlético Madrid and Manchester City), Kenny Dalglish (Celtic and Liverpool), Jimmy Greaves (Chelsea and Tottenham) , Lionel Messi (Barcelona and Inter Miami), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid and Al-Nassr) and Alan Shearer (Blackburn and Newcastle). There’s one more worthy of mention. “ Harry Johnson is all-time top scorer for both Sheffield United and Mansfield,” writes Darren White. “He played for the Blades between 1919 and 1931, scoring 201 league goals. At the age of 32, he left for Mansfield, scoring 104 goals for them over three seasons. He didn’t play for anyone else, so he has the possibly unique record (for someone with more than one club) of being top scorer for every team he represented.” And so to those who are among the top 10 goalscorers for more than two clubs: “ Romário (Vasco da Gama, Flamengo and PSV) and Delio Onnis (Monaco, Tours FC and Gimnasia) feature on at least three clubs’ all time top-10 scoring charts,” writes Dirk Maas. “Onnis also played for Toulon, but I could not find an official source to confirm that Onnis is in their top 10 as well.” Elsewhere, Rhys Shakeshaft suggests Robbie Keane , who is among the top 10 goalscorers for three of his clubs (Tottenham, LA Galaxy, ATK), and André-Pierre Gignac (Marseille, Toulouse, Tigres UANL). And Tom Stuart was among those who nominated John Aldridge (Newport County, Oxford United, Tranmere Rovers). The striker is also the Republic of Ireland’s fourth-highest goalscorer. As well as being Cameroon’s all-time leading goalscorer, Samuel Eto’o is potentially in the top 10 for four clubs: Mallorca, Barcelona, Anzhi Makhachkala and Antalyaspor. “I’m not 100% sure if I can trust the Antalyaspor record,” writes Rhys Shakeshaft, who sent in the answer, “but I’m happy with the other three.” Historical goalscoring data isn’t always 100% reliable, but we think Sam Kerr is among the top 10 leading scorers for five teams: Perth Glory FC, Western New York Flash, Gotham FC, Chicago Red Stars and Chelsea. Even five clubs wouldn’t be a record. “I’ve managed to find one male footballer who, amazingly, is in the top 10 for six different clubs!” writes Ben. “Morocco’s Abderrazak Hamdallah is the all-time top scorer for OC Safi (Morocco), second for El-Jaish (Qatar), fourth for Guangzhou R&F/Guangzhou City (China), fourth for Al-Nassr, seventh for Al-Ittihad and 10 for Al-Shabab (all Saudi Arabia). He’s 35 years old and has just joined Al-Taawoun, so it’s entirely possible he’ll add another club to that list.” “The German national kit is not going to be made by Adidas any more, going to Nike after 70 years. Is this the longest kit supply partnership in history, and what’s the longest current run in club football?” asks Paul Savage. Dirk Maas has unearthed a couple of club sponsorships that have lasted more than 60 years. “Adidas has been Bayern Munich ’s kit sponsor since 1965,” writes Dirk, “but the first time the Adidas trefoil was visible on the shirt was 17 October 1973. HJK (from Helsinki) also started a partnership with Adidas in 1965, one that has continued uninterrupted ever since. The first HJK shirt with the Adidas trefoil I could find was in 1976.” We can’t find anything to beat the 70-year relationship between Germany and Adidas. We think that, when that deal officially ends, the longest partnership in international football will be between Austria and Puma. That goes back to 1977 and includes some memorable kits – most of them for the right reasons. In the Knowledge last week we looked at players who scored more own-goals than goals during their career. A number of you pointed out the omission of Des Walker , a magnificent defender for Nottingham Forest and England in particular, but one who wasn’t renowned for his goalscoring exploits. Walker famously scored only once in more than 800 games, an improbable belter for Forest against Luton in 1992. But he scored at least seven own goals – four for Forest and three for Sheffield Wednesday. The Forest collection included the winner for Spurs in the dramatic 1991 FA Cup final. He also scored at the wrong end when Sheffield United came from 2-0 down to beat Forest in a First Division playoff semi-final in 2003. His other own goals came in the League Cup: against Crystal Palace in January 1992 (a week after he scored against Luton) and Portsmouth in 2003. He also managed at least three own goals during his time at Sheffield Wednesday, against Liverpool (1994-95), Tottenham (1995-96) and Preston (2000-01). That gives him a career balance of -6 goals: an unbecoming legacy for one of England’s greatest central defenders. “After Lahti’s fourth consecutive 0-0 draw last night, does anyone know of a similar run?” tweeted Finnish Football Show back in 2017. This question was made for George Graham, and he hasn’t let us down. His Arsenal team played four league games in October 1993 and drew the lot 0-0. In Arsenal’s defence (or should that be attack?) they did score some goals in cup matches during the month. Still, four consecutive 0-0s in the league is pretty impressive. Surprisingly enough, Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal also managed a quartet of 0-0s in the league during the 2008-09 season – though they also scored and conceded in cup games during that period. Goalless George did it again at Spurs, with four consecutive 0-0 draws in January and February 2001. They were all in the league but as no cup games were played in that period it counts as four consecutive 0-0s in all competitions. Serhiy Rebrov was guilty of appalling statisticide when, in the next league match at Manchester City, he scored the only goal in the 90th minute. Wolves tested the will of season-ticket holders with four consecutive 0-0s at Molineux at the back end of the 2015-16 season. Udinese managed four in a row in the 1982-83 Serie A season, a campaign in which – and you’ll like this – they drew 20 of their 30 games. Como matched that feat in Serie A in 1986-87. That season, they played 30 games, scored 16 goals and conceded 20. Best of all, earlier this year [in 2017 – ed] FC Rostov followed a 6-0 win at Tom Tomsk with five consecutive 0-0 draws in the Russian Premier League, though they were punctuated by a Europa League goalfest at Old Trafford: Rostov lost 1-0. “Burnley have gone a calendar year without a home league win. What is the longest home drought, in the league or in all competitions?” asks our own Niall McVeigh. “Last week, Justin Seven-Seven came on in the 75th minute and then scored in the 77th minute for West Brom Under-21s against Sutton United in the National League Cup. You have probably already guessed my question, but has anyone else ever scored in the same minute as their name?” wonders Peter Skilton. “Since the advent of squad numbers, has any club used every number from 1 to 99? Which British club comes closest to using all 99 one and two-digit numbers?” asks Vasko Wackrill. “With the constant talk of the golden boot and how unstoppable Erling Haaland is for Manchester City, wouldn’t a team be more dangerous if all of the outfield players, including substitutes, scored at least once or perhaps a few times during a season? Have there been any teams in which all of their outfield players have scored at least once in a particular season? If not, which group has had the most players score in a season?” asks Bob Zoellner. “In the third round of the Portuguese Cup, played last weekend, six clubs from the Primeira Liga were eliminated by teams from lower divisions,” begins Cláudio Gameiro. “Is this a record for a European league? And has a national cup final ever been contested by two teams from lower divisions? I’m betting France.” “By my reckoning, Ross County have already scored 81 goals this season: 38 in 10 league games (including beating poor Queen of the South 8-0 and 7-1), 30 in six Challenge Cup group games, 13 in six League Cup games. They may well have scored a century of goals by the end of October! Surely that cannot be bettered. What is the earliest a team has hit a century of goals in a season?” asks Stephen James. Mail us with all of your questions and answers

Football News

The Overlap has gone daily, with Steven Gerrard and Joe Hart among the latest additions to an ever-growing family Viewed in 2026, Nathan Barley, Chris Morris’s 2005 sitcom, shows remarkable prescience about the last two decades of metropolitan life, from smartphone addiction and digital derangement to sheer existential vapidity. When Barley’s character referred to his occupation as “self-facilitating media node”, Morris and co-writer Charlie Brooker were way ahead on the creator economy. What the pair failed to predict was ex-footballers joining the sector in droves. These days, if you are a former footballer without a podcast or YouTube channel, then did you ever really play the game? Setting aside the Gary Lineker Goalhanger empire, manspreading its centrist-dad agenda into issues way beyond guffaws with Micah Richards and Alan Shearer, there is Gary Neville to rule them all. Manchesterism’s second-most influential practitioner has been on heavy manoeuvres. Unlike Lineker’s productions, the Overlap’s output continues to stick largely to football; a rugby podcast was mothballed in February, though its cricket equivalent continues. Having snatched Wayne Rooney from the BBC in the summer for a Manchester United-based two-hander with the YouTuber Mark Goldbridge, last week the Overlap went daily, extending the output to 4pm Monday to Friday. An online launch had Jamie Carragher baiting Goldbridge, real name Brent Di Cesare. The former policeman shunned a “no comment” approach during his interrogation, biting back during an exchange that had Neville choking on his Huel in laughter. Clipped up, the send button pressed, job done. The Overlap has gained a TV family dynamic, a chorus line of familiar characters. Neville and Carragher are mummy and daddy bear, football’s Richard and Judy. Jill Scott is the dotty aunt, Roy Keane the irascible uncle, smirking along with Ian Wright in picking over the latest gossip. It has been highly popular, occasionally agenda-setting, softening Keane’s image, even making a cultish figure of production hand Kiaran Saunders, supplier of biscuits and blueberries. Neville’s empire-building, though, is boundless, his tanks bulldozing into the already packed football podcast space, with newsletters to follow. The Overkill, anyone? The family has been extended. Mondays have Steven Gerrard reviewing the weekend’s action with Becky Ives, this week offering a defence of Florian Wirtz: “Don’t give up on him.” Tuesdays have Kelly Cates and Ashley Young in tandem. Tim Sherwood and Jamie Redknapp are Wednesday’s pairing. Not the first time the Sky mainstays, one-time Tottenham midfield partners, have diversified. In the mid-2000s, they ran Icon, a lifestyle magazine initially only available to professional players. A combination of high-end advertising, onanistic photography and Redknapp’s purring interviews with A-list sportspeople fell flat, even after it became available in airport first-class lounges. Two decades on, such cologne-fragrant exclusivity has been swapped for the ubiquity of Bury’s most famous son piling it high. The quarter-zipped ex-Spurs duo are not alone as 1990s footballers taking the Neville shilling. Mark Crossley and Duncan Ferguson make an unlikely – but promising – pairing. Previously most famous for being the only goalkeeper to save a Matthew Le Tissier penalty, Crossley has made a successful after-dinner speaking career of Brian Clough anecdotes and “young man” impressions. “Big Dunc” completely refused to speak to the media when a player but he was a hit within ITV’s World Cup 2026 coverage. On last week’s edition Ferguson suggested Gianluigi Donnarumma might be over the hill. “He’s 27, actually,” said Crossley before a classic game’s gone discussion of video assistant referees ruining the sacred art of smashing into the opposition at goal-kicks. Just what the listener came for, eating perhaps into the Under The Cosh’s market share of real football man podcasts. Whether Ferguson’s appointment as Glentoran manager breaks up the band is unclear, though management never halted Robbie Savage’s many media ventures. Two further goalkeepers have signed up. Last week’s Friday edition had Joe Hart and Peter Schmeichel entering the Manchester City charges chat. While admitting to mistakenly burying the lead when Lisandro Martínez was willingly dishing the dirt on Manchester United while serving as CBS’s Champions League interviewer in Madrid last Tuesday, Schmeichel gave Hart a far harder ride. “It’s tough to be a Manchester City person,” Hart said. “I love the club … we’re in it together.” Schmeichel stayed insistent on City’s owners: “They’re letting Manchester down, they don’t understand what this place is. They have built a lot of towers and homes and all that but they don’t get this place.” “I’ve worked closely with Khaldoon [al-Mubarak] and he does get this place, that’s my reference point,” said a hesitant Hart. “He’s an incredible person.” More good, strong, clip-up content. The City affair will ask former players to intersect with uncomfortable issues for some while yet. That Neville’s further business interests include building projects running parallel to the Abu Dhabi-funded developments in Manchester is another example. Overlaps have become unavoidable in more ways than one.

Football News

Arsenal have beaten Nottingham Forest, Sunderland and Leeds this season thanks to goals from players off the bench They say that once is an accident, twice is a coincidence and three times is a pattern. After Mikel Arteta’s substitutes proved decisive yet again for Arsenal, we can say with certainty that his ability to change games from his bench is a pattern worth noting. With Arsenal labouring away at Nottingham Forest and the game drifting towards a goalless draw, Noni Madueke – introduced at half-time – won the game for the visitors, shimmying inside and striking a heavily deflected right-footed shot past Matz Sels. It was hardly a glamorous goal but it secured three valuable Premier League points for Arteta’s side. It continued a recent trend. In each of their past three Premier League victories, Arsenal have won the game thanks to winning goals by substitutes. Bruno Guimarães provided the decisive contributions against Sunderland (2-0) and Leeds (2-1), before Madueke repeated the trick against Forest. They are the only goals Arsenal’s substitutes have scored in the league this season. Five teams have scored more goals via their replacements, with Ipswich leading the way on five, but all of Arsenal’s substitute goals have been winners. The record for the most winning goals scored by substitutes for a team in a single Premier League season stands at six. With three in their opening seven games, if Arsenal maintain their current rate, their subs are on track to score more than 16 winning goals. That would obliterate the record. Clearly, that is not going to happen, but it does show how influential Arsenal’s substitutes have been in changing games so far this season. Funnily enough, that record of six winning goals thanks to substitutes is held by Arsenal themselves. They hit that tally under Arteta in 2024-25. And therein lies the real pattern. This phenomenon is not confined to just this season – it is an area in which Arsenal have excelled since Arteta joined the club. Since his appointment in December 2019, Arsenal have scored more winning goals from substitutes than any other team. Over the course of the past two seasons, Arsenal substitutes have registered more goals and assists combined than any other Premier League side. We cannot solely attribute this success to Arteta’s in-game management. When you have been given the resources Arteta has to assemble a squad as deep and strong as Arsenal have, it stands to reason that the players you are able to bring off the bench are players who would probably be starters in most other Premier League teams. Thirteen different Arsenal substitutes have either scored or assisted a goal across this season and last, more than any other side. Having that quality available inevitably increases the likelihood of substitutes making an impact. Arsenal’s approach to matches is also a contributing factor. They are comfortable controlling games without necessarily blowing teams away on the scoresheet. They are often happy to remain patient and lean on their exceptional defensive strength, safe in the knowledge they will eventually produce decisive moments in the opponents’ final third. That approach naturally creates situations in which subs can thrive. A substitute introduced with the game level after an hour has a greater opportunity to score the winning goal than one entering a match that has effectively been settled already. Close victories have been a hallmark of Arsenal under Arteta. Since his appointment, they have won by a one-goal margin 66 times – at least 13 more times than any other manager. Nevertheless, we still have to give Arteta a lot of credit. Squad depth clearly helps, but there is undoubtedly a skill in knowing when to turn to your bench and who to bring on. You might argue that Manchester City are the only side with a squad that can rival Arsenal’s in terms of depth – yet they do not appear highly on the lists above. One noteworthy aspect of Arteta’s management is the speed with which he makes substitutions. He has already made four half-time substitutions in the Premier League this season, a tally exceeded only by Brentford (six) and Aston Villa (five). Guimarães came on at half-time to change the game at Sunderland, and Madueke’s introduction against Forest was the latest example of that proactive approach paying off. Arteta led the league last season for the number of times the first substitute he made in a game came at half-time (11), while on average he made his first sub after 50.2 minutes in games. That made him the second quickest to act, behind only Enzo Maresca at Chelsea (47.9 minutes). Arteta has also not always had such a strong squad. Arsenal’s current depth is the result of years of meticulous squad-building and coaching, a process in which he has played a central role. Perhaps the clearest indication of Arteta’s effectiveness in his use of substitutions comes when comparing him with other managers across Premier League history. Among the 81 managers who have taken charge of at least 100 Premier League matches, his substitutes have scored 12.6% of Arsenal’s goals. That is the seventh-highest proportion in the competition’s history. And, with the possible exception of Unai Emery, the others above Arteta are less comparable in the sense that they have not had the same resources at their disposal. For Arteta to be as high on the list as he is, despite the overall number of goals his teams have scored, shows there is more to this than simply having talented players to call upon. He has developed a knack for knowing how to change the game with his substitutes. Perhaps that could be the ace up Arsenal’s sleeve when it comes to deciding where the Premier League trophy resides in May.

Football News

Chelsea 's academy has been a production line for England defenders, and Josh Acheampong could become the latest to take that step. Since John Terry broke through in the early 2000s, Chelsea have produced Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi and Fikayo Tomori for England, while also developing international centre-backs Andreas Christensen and Nathan Ake. Acheampong has started six of Chelsea's past nine matches in all competitions. Only four players - attackers Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, and defenders Colwill and Maxence Lacroix - have played more than his 581 minutes under new manager Xabi Alonso. Much of that has stemmed from Alonso settling on a more consistent side. Chelsea had conceded a league-high 12 goals before the international break but have let in only one since, including recording their first clean sheet of the season away at Everton on Saturday. Acheampong, 20, has operated as a roaming centre-back in a back three alongside more fixed options Colwill and Lacroix, stepping into midfield or moving wide to perform the role of a traditional full-back when in possession. He has also developed a promising understanding with right wing-back Pedro Neto, combining with him in the move that led to Joao Pedro's goal against Bournemouth, while keeping £75m signing Wesley Fofana out of the side. Alonso has been keen to emphasise Chelsea's defensive improvement as a collective effort, with the return of Moises Caicedo from injury and his partnership alongside 36-year-old Jordan Henderson adding greater stability. During a pre-season tour of Australia and Asia, Alonso also hammered home his policy of giving minutes to those who most deserve it, rather than on reputation. It's in this environment Acheampong has begun featuring regularly, while also starting eight of England Under-21s' past 10 matches. Increasingly, the young defender appears to be knocking on the door of a senior call-up should manager Thomas Tuchel seek a versatile option on the right side of defence. Acheampong is under contract until 2029, meaning decisions need to be made between now and next summer. Across recent transfer windows, the defender has been repeatedly linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge, only for sources within Chelsea to insist he was "untouchable". That message has remained consistent, although it has occasionally raised eyebrows. Chelsea seriously explored moves for now-Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen in the summer of 2025 and Liverpool centre-back Jeremy Jacquet in January 2026, who possess similar attributes and are only a year older than Acheampong. At one stage during the summer Chelsea had 10 senior centre-backs on their books, before ending the transfer window with six. In a season without European football, there were genuine doubts over how much Acheampong would play. Potential loan moves were explored, including a switch to Crystal Palace. Palace instead signed Chelsea's Axel Disasi on loan, with Premier League rules permitting only one domestic loan signing from another top-flight club. Despite being with Chelsea since Under-8s, Acheampong has come close to leaving on more than one occasion. In 2023, he did not sign a professional contract on his 17th birthday, which is typically the norm for elite academy prospects. The club's current ownership later moved to secure his future in January 2024, avoiding the risk of losing him for only a nominal compensation fee. Twelve months later, Acheampong again appeared to be heading towards the exit in what former manager Enzo Maresca described as a "bad situation". Before the conclusion of lengthy and ultimately successful negotiations, the club's hierarchy withdrew him from selection at both academy and first-team level before he eventually signed a contract until 2029. That agreement, signed in December 2024, remains the deal he is on today. Chelsea could face important decisions next summer, when Acheampong, Colwill and Fofana will all enter the final two years of their contracts. Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo were sold to Como and Tottenham Hotspur respectively this summer after entering the final two years of their deals. The policy stems in part from lessons learned following Chelsea's 2022 takeover, when Antonio Rudiger and Christensen departed on free transfers to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. Those exits triggered a scramble to reinforce the centre of defence, contributing to expensive moves for Fofana and Marc Cucurella. Acheampong's recent performances have begun to attract wider recognition among Chelsea supporters and have raised the stakes surrounding his future. At present, there are no active discussions over a new deal, although the idea of a seven-year contract has been floated previously. There is caution within Acheampong's camp about rushing into negotiations until there is clearer evidence that he can become a regular starter at Chelsea. However, the first-team football provided by Alonso has given the club its strongest chance yet of persuading one of its most promising academy graduates to commit his long-term future. Latest Chelsea news, analysis and fan views Ask about Chelsea - what do you want to know?