Sports Archives | Page 11 of 111

Franco Umeh in Talks with League One

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

League One Exeter City have held exploratory talks over a loan move for Crystal Palace attacker Franco Umeh, the News Shopper understands. The 20-year-old has been included in Palace’s senior squad 13 times but has yet to make his first-team debut. He joined from Irish side Cork City in February 2023 when Palace triggered his €75,000 release clause. Umeh trained with the first team last season, where Palace boss Oliver Glasner briefly considered him as an option at left wing-back before he reverted to his natural attacking role. The Republic of Ireland youth international made 15 appearances for Palace’s Under-21 side last term, contributing five goals and an assist. Comfortable on either flank, the wide player is currently recovering from a hamstring issue sustained in pre-season. Palace are keen to secure an EFL loan for Umeh in the final 13 days of the transfer window. Exeter, who sit 15th in the third tier, are interested in adding the attacker to their forward ranks and have held preliminary discussions over a move. Umeh would become the second Palace player to join the Grecians this summer, following goalkeeper Joe Whitworth’s return to Devon for a second successive season.

Ademola Lookman Returns to Atalanta after Inter Withdrawal

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

Ademola Lookman is now back in Bergamo and is preparing to train at Zingonia for the first time after learning that Inter have decided to withdraw from the race to sign him this summer. Reports on Monday evening confirmed that Inter have told Atalanta that they no longer wish to pursue a deal for Lookman, despite weeks and weeks of negotiations for the African Player of the Year. The Nerazzurri had seen an offer of €45m including bonuses for Lookman turned down this summer, and now it appears that they will not come back in with an improved bid. The initial rejection of Inter’s bid for Lookman caused the Nigeria international to hand in a formal transfer request and desert Atalanta training, instead returning to the UK to train individually. He also released a statement accusing his employers of breaking promises and treating him poorly as a ‘human being and professional footballer’. Dea CEO Luca Percassi later confirmed that there was an agreement in place that allowed Lookman to leave the club under the right conditions this summer, but only for ‘big’ teams that are located outside Serie A, which complicated a deal between Inter and Atalanta. Despite Lookman’s desire to force through a move to Inter this summer, he has now been forced to swallow a bitter pill and return to Atalanta with less than a week to go before the start of the 2025-26 Serie A season. Atalanta will get their league campaign underway with a visit from newly-promoted Pisa on Sunday evening, kicking off at 7.45pm.

Tosin Adarabioyo Set to Return to Training This Week

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

Tosin Adarabioyo is expected to return to Chelsea training this week as he looks to make the matchday squad for the trip to West Ham on Friday. The Blues drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace on opening weekend, but were without Tosin after he picked up a knock in training. Enzo Maresca’s side are already without Levi Colwill after he suffered an ACL injury in pre-season, and were not keen to take any risks with Tosin. However, The Standard reports that the issue is ‘very minor’ and that Tosin will likely return to training this week. The 27-year-old remains a doubt for Friday’s fixture, though, and Maresca may well choose to stick with the pairing of Trevor Chalobah and Josh Acheampong who kept a clean sheet against Palace. Speaking about Tosin’s injury after the draw with Palace, Maresca said: ‘He had a physical problem. We don’t know for how long [he will be out].’ Tosin was expected to play an increased role this season, after Maresca hinted that the 27-year-old was the only centre-back capable of emulating Colwill’s play style. ‘When we build, we build with Levi in the middle,’ Maresca said. ‘Last year, we played 64 games and we played 64 games with Levi and Tosin [Adarabioyo]. Now Levi is out, the only one who can do that job well is Tosin. ‘We have [Jorrel] Hato but he never played as the guy in the middle last season. It is not about central defenders. Yes he is a central defender, but what does he have to do? Can he do that? It is different.’ Elsewhere, Wesley Fofana could also be in line for his first minutes since March on Friday after the Frenchman was an unused substitute last time out. ‘Wes was on the bench but was just on the bench to be with us and the plan was for him not to get any minutes,’ Maresca added. ‘Now hopefully for the next one, we can use Wes for some minutes.’

Antoine Semenyo: Man Accused of Racially Abusing Footballer Bailed and Banned from All Stadiums

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

A 47-year-old man from Liverpool has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during Friday’s Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield. As part of his bail conditions, the man — who has not been named — has been banned from attending any regulated football match in the UK and from going within one mile of any designated football stadium. Incident at Anfield The alleged abuse occurred during the first half of the fixture. Semenyo lodged a complaint, prompting the referee to pause the game briefly and speak with both managers. An anti-discrimination message was also broadcast inside the stadium. Merseyside Police officers were understood to have entered the referee’s room at half-time as part of their investigation. Despite the incident, Semenyo went on to have a strong performance, scoring twice in the second half to help Bournemouth recover from two goals down, though Liverpool ultimately won the game 4–2. Semenyo’s reaction Following the match, the 24-year-old Ghanaian international described the outpouring of support he had received as “overwhelming.” “It’s moments like these that remind me why I love this sport and the unity it can create,” he said in a statement, thanking fans, teammates, and the wider football community. Wider context The abuse aimed at Semenyo came just two days after Tottenham Hotspur’s Mathys Tel was subjected to online racist attacks following his missed penalty against Paris Saint-Germain in a Champions League qualifier. The incidents have reignited concerns over racism in football, both in stadiums and across digital platforms, and sparked renewed calls for tougher punishments for offenders. The investigation into the alleged racial abuse of Semenyo is ongoing.

Ref Watch: Dermot Gallagher Reviews Arsenal’s Narrow Win Over Man Utd

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has delivered his verdict on the key talking points from Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, as part of his weekly Ref Watch segment on Sky Sports News. The Saliba–Cunha Penalty Call One of the main controversies came in the second half when Matheus Cunha went down inside the box under pressure from William Saliba. Referee Michael Oliver waved play on, and VAR did not intervene. Arsenal’s Winning Goal: Foul on Bayındır? Arsenal’s new signing Riccardo Calafiori netted the decisive goal, but questions were raised about whether United goalkeeper Altay Bayındır had been impeded in the buildup. Other Talking Points Gallagher also ran through other refereeing controversies from the Premier League’s opening weekend, reminding viewers that many marginal calls—like Cunha’s penalty shout—are left to on-field referees, with VAR reluctant to step in unless a “clear and obvious” error is made. Ref Watch airs every Monday at 9am on Sky Sports News, with Gallagher and guest pundits reviewing the weekend’s biggest refereeing calls.

Cunha, Mbeumo Offer Hope Despite Man Utd Defeat to Arsenal

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago02 mins

Manchester United may have lost 1-0 to Arsenal at Old Trafford, but there were signs of promise for manager Ruben Amorim as his side showed attacking intent and energy throughout the encounter. Unlike some of last season’s flat displays, United played with pace and purpose, troubling the Gunners with sharp bursts in attack. New arrivals Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo stood out, maintaining the form that made them Premier League threats last season. Cunha, in particular, proved a handful, ranking top for dribbles (6) and duels contested (20). Mbeumo also impressed, offering direct running and movement despite being closely marked for much of the game. Amorim finally appears to have players in central areas who can inject chaos and unpredictability into United’s forward play. While the Red Devils failed to find the net, an expected goals (xG) tally of 1.59 showed they were good value for at least a goal. For United fans, the result was disappointing, but the performance suggested that Old Trafford could become a far more difficult ground for visiting teams this season.

Liverpool Edge Bournemouth 4-2 in Emotional Premier League Opener

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Liverpool began their Premier League title defence with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield, in a match filled with emotional tributes to the late Diogo Jota. The Portuguese forward, who died in a car accident alongside his brother Andre Silva in July, was remembered before, during, and after the game, with players wearing black armbands and fans singing his name throughout. New signing Hugo Ekitike starred on his league debut, scoring one and setting up Cody Gakpo for another as Liverpool took control. However, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo struck twice in quick succession to level the score, exploiting defensive lapses and unsettling the champions. The game was briefly overshadowed by reports of racist abuse directed at Semenyo, which drew condemnation from pundits. Liverpool regained their composure late on, with substitute Federico Chiesa volleying home in the 88th minute to restore the lead. Mohamed Salah sealed the win in stoppage time, visibly emotional as he applauded the Kop’s tribute to Jota. The victory not only secured three opening-day points but also provided a poignant reminder of Jota’s lasting impact on the club and its supporters, setting the tone for an emotional yet determined title defence.Liverpool Edge Bournemouth 4-2 in Emotional Premier League Opener Liverpool began their Premier League title defence with a thrilling 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at Anfield, in a match filled with emotional tributes to the late Diogo Jota. The Portuguese forward, who died in a car accident alongside his brother Andre Silva in July, was remembered before, during, and after the game, with players wearing black armbands and fans singing his name throughout. New signing Hugo Ekitike starred on his league debut, scoring one and setting up Cody Gakpo for another as Liverpool took control. However, Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo struck twice in quick succession to level the score, exploiting defensive lapses and unsettling the champions. The game was briefly overshadowed by reports of racist abuse directed at Semenyo, which drew condemnation from pundits. Liverpool regained their composure late on, with substitute Federico Chiesa volleying home in the 88th minute to restore the lead. Mohamed Salah sealed the win in stoppage time, visibly emotional as he applauded the Kop’s tribute to Jota. The victory not only secured three opening-day points but also provided a poignant reminder of Jota’s lasting impact on the club and its supporters, setting the tone for an emotional yet determined title defence.

Usyk Asks for Extension on Joseph Parker Fight Due to Injury

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago05 mins

Oleksandr Usyk has requested an extension on negotiations to fight Joseph Parker due to injury, promoter Frank Warren has told Sky Sports. Usyk was recently ordered by the WBO to defend his belt against mandatory challenger Parker after defeating Daniel Dubois to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. Alternatively, Parker could face the winner of Moses Itauma against Dillian Whyte should Usyk vacate the WBO title. “He (Usyk) put a letter in yesterday stating that he’s asked him for an extension period, because he’s injured, before being ordered to do anything,” Warren told Sky Sports News. “Whatever happens the fact of life is Joseph Parker will either fight as champion if Usyk vacates or he will fight Usyk for the title. “If Moses or Dillian win, they’re in the No 1 spot and if the fight with Usyk and Parker doesn’t happen then Joe (Parker) will have to fight the official number one contender.” Duke McKenzie and Gary Logan debate whether rising heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma could be the one to dethrone Oleksandr Usyk as undisputed champion. Duke McKenzie and Gary Logan debate whether rising heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma could be the one to dethrone Oleksandr Usyk as undisputed champion. Usyk became a three-time undisputed champion, twice at heavyweight and once at cruiserweight, in July when he knocked out Dubois to add the Brit’s IBF belt to his collection. He had stated prior to the contest that he believed he had two more fights left in his, so far perfect, professional career, with a prospective bout against Parker seemingly representing the second. Usyk was, however, also linked to a potential trilogy fight against Tyson Fury in 2026 after the Gypsy King underlined his wish to seek revenge following back-to-back losses to the Ukrainian. “His camp have written asking for a period of time before he has to defend the title,” Warren continued. “We’ll see what happens and the WBO will put a statement out on this today or tomorrow, I’ve been informally told what the position is. The most important thing is to focus on Saturday, it’s a very important fight.” Barry Jones, Natasha Jonas and Dalton Smith discuss whether Oleksandr Usyk will vacate his WBO heavyweight title or give Joseph Parker a shot for the belt. Parker was denied a shot at the IBF title earlier this year when Dubois withdrew from his scheduled title defence due to illness during fight week. The New Zealander subsequently knocked out last-minute replacement Martin Bakole to keep his world title hopes alive. On Saturday the attention turns to another aspiring world champion when the highly-rated Itauma encounters the experience of Whyte, who is looked to derail his younger opponent’s development while also setting up another big night of his own in the latter years of his career.