Arsenal Face Southampton As Man City Draw Liverpool In FA Cup Quarter-Finals

Arsenal have been handed a trip to Championship club Southampton in the next stage of the FA Cup after the Saints eliminated Fulham in the previous round. Another blockbuster tie will see Manchester City welcome Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium in an all-Premier League showdown. Elsewhere, the winner of the fifth-round clash between West Ham United and Brentford will host Leeds United when the fixtures are played during the weekend of April 4. The draw was held at the London Stadium before West Ham faced Brentford in the last outstanding fifth-round game. Former England internationals Joe Hart and Joe Cole were on hand to conduct the draw. League One’s bottom club, Port Vale, delivered the biggest shock of the round after edging Premier League side Sunderland 1-0. Ben Waine found the net in the 28th minute, and despite it being their only effort on target, the goal proved decisive as the Stoke-based side progressed. Arsenal secured their place with a narrow 2-1 victory over Mansfield Town. Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze were on target for the Gunners, helping them avoid the type of upset that saw Burnley crash out in the previous round. Chelsea were pushed hard by Wrexham but eventually prevailed 4-2 after extra time against the 10-man side. Manchester City also advanced comfortably, defeating Newcastle United 3-1 to record their fourth win of the season over Eddie Howe’s team. Southampton’s place in the draw came courtesy of a late Ross Stewart penalty that sealed a 1-0 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage. Liverpool, meanwhile, responded to their league defeat to Wolves by beating them 3-1 at Molineux, while Leeds United eased past Norwich City with a 3-0 win at Elland Road.

Read More

Manchester City’s Rodri Fined £80,000 For Criticizing Referee After Tottenham Draw

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has been fined £80,000 after publicly questioning the neutrality of referee Robert Jones following the 2-2 draw with Tottenham on February 1. City had taken a 2-0 lead by halftime, but Tottenham fought back, with Dominic Solanke scoring twice to secure a late equalizer. Rodri was particularly frustrated by Solanke’s first goal, which he felt involved a clear foul on Marc Guehi. After the match, Rodri commented: “I know we won too much and the people don’t want us to win, but the referee has to be neutral. It’s not fair because we work so hard. When everything is finished, you are frustrated because the foul is so clear.” The Football Association handed down the fine after reviewing Rodri’s remarks, emphasizing that players are expected to refrain from publicly questioning match officials’ impartiality.

Read More

23 Players Sent Off As Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro Brawl Mar Campeonato Mineiro Final

The Campeonato Mineiro final in Brazil erupted into chaos as a massive brawl between Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro saw 23 players ultimately handed dismissals. Cruzeiro secured a narrow 1-0 victory in Belo Horizonte, winning the Minas Gerais state title for the first time since 2019. Kaio Jorge scored the decisive goal, giving Cruzeiro the trophy under the guidance of former Brazil coach Tite. But the match ended in turmoil. The confrontation began when Atlético goalkeeper Everson shoved Cruzeiro midfielder Christian during a collision while chasing a loose ball, then pressed his knee against the player’s chest. The move sparked an immediate response from Cruzeiro’s players. Both teams’ players rushed in, leading to shoving, grappling, and a chaotic scene on the field. At one point, Everson was pushed into his own goalpost. Security personnel and military police had to intervene to separate the players. Referee Matheus Delgado Candancan did not issue any red cards during the match itself, but Brazilian media outlet Globo reported that disciplinary action was taken afterwards. In total, 23 players were retrospectively sent off—12 from Cruzeiro, including Kaio Jorge, and 11 from Atlético Mineiro, including former Brazil striker Hulk and ex-Atlético Madrid and Nottingham Forest defender Renan Lodi. Hulk condemned the incident, stating, “It’s regrettable. We cannot set that example because it ends up having repercussions all around the world. We have a responsibility to safeguard our image and the image of the institution.” Despite the drama in the state final, both Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro continue to struggle in the national league, remaining winless after four matches in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A this season.

Read More

Xavi Reveals Laporta Blocked Messi’s 2023 Barcelona Return Over Fear Of Power Struggle

Former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez has disclosed that club president Joan Laporta blocked Lionel Messi’s potential return in 2023 due to concerns over a possible power struggle within the club. Xavi explained that although fans and the football world eagerly anticipated Messi’s comeback, Laporta was hesitant because of the influence the Argentine superstar could wield and the impact it might have on the club’s internal hierarchy. “Laporta stopped Messi Barca return to avoid power struggle,” Xavi told Geo News, adding that the president wanted to maintain clear authority within the club’s leadership. Messi, regarded as one of football’s greatest players, left Barcelona in 2021 after a career spanning over two decades at the club. His departure was largely attributed to financial difficulties at Barcelona, and speculation about a return intensified following his move to Paris Saint-Germain. Xavi’s comments reveal that the decision not to bring Messi back was not solely about money or sporting considerations, but also about preserving organizational structure and avoiding potential conflicts at the top. The revelation sheds light on the complexities behind high-profile transfers and the delicate balance between player influence and club governance. Neither Messi nor Laporta has publicly responded to Xavi’s statements.

Read More

Katsina United Declares Uche Collins AWOL Amid NPFL Controversy

Katsina United is facing a fresh challenge in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after forward Uche Collins was declared absent without official leave (AWOL). The club’s chairman, Surajo Umar Baba, confirmed that Collins has not been seen since the team’s league clash with Rangers International on February 22, 2026, at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina, marking the last official contact with the player. Katsina United described the player’s disappearance as a serious breach of contract rather than a routine issue, noting that Collins remains under contract with the club until the end of the 2026/2027 season. “Uche Collins is a registered player of Katsina United. He has not been granted permission to be absent, and his failure to report for duties constitutes a violation of his professional obligations,” the chairman said. The club also cautioned other teams against engaging or attempting to sign Collins without following proper transfer protocols, including securing an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) where necessary, warning that any violation could lead to legal action. Collins’ absence is a significant setback for the “Chanji Boys,” as he has been one of the squad’s most influential players over the last two seasons.

Read More

Nigerian Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie Cleared Of Match-Fixing Allegations By Tanzanian Club

Tanzanian side Singida Black Stars has officially cleared Nigerian goalkeeper Amas Obasogie of all match-fixing and gambling claims. The Super Eagles reserve goalkeeper, who had been suspended for three months pending investigation, was declared innocent in a statement released on Saturday by the club’s CEO, Jonathan Kassano. Obasogie faced allegations after a series of mistakes on the field, and the club’s disciplinary committee had initially taken action while looking into the claims. Following a preliminary investigation into his performances in league and continental matches, the club found no evidence of wrongdoing. The statement confirmed that the incidents in question were technical errors rather than deliberate misconduct. “After reviewing the player’s defense and obtaining a reliable statement from the Club’s General Manager, it has been determined that there is no evidence of match-fixing or gambling. The incidents that raised concerns were technical errors within the game,” the statement read. Obasogie has apologized for his performances, and his suspension has been lifted. He has now resumed his duties with the team. “In light of this, the Club has reversed the previous decision to suspend the player for three months, allowing him to continue his responsibilities with the squad,” the club added. Obasogie joined Singida Black Stars a year ago from the Ethiopian League and has been part of the team since.

Read More

Neymar Dragged To Court By Ex-Chef Over Alleged Gruelling Work Conditions And Unpaid Overtime

Brazilian football star Neymar is facing legal action from a former personal chef who claims she was subjected to extremely demanding working conditions while employed at his mansion in Rio de Janeiro. According to reports by football outlet GOAL, citing Brazilian news platform Metropoles, the chef alleged in court documents that her responsibilities went far beyond cooking for the Santos and Brazil forward. She said she was often required to prepare meals for a large number of guests, sometimes catering for as many as 150 people made up of Neymar’s friends and associates. The lawsuit claims that the heavy workload forced her to work far longer hours than what was originally agreed in her contract. Her employment terms reportedly required her to work from 7am to 5pm between Monday and Thursday, and from 7am to 4pm on Fridays. However, she alleged that her shifts frequently extended late into the night, sometimes until 11pm or midnight, and that she was also made to work on weekends. The chef further claimed she was routinely denied the lunch breaks she was entitled to, saying she was instructed to clock in for the break even while she continued working. “The claimant did not regularly enjoy a lunch break. Throughout the entire employment contract, the plaintiff was required by the defendant to clock in for the lunch break, even though she remained actively working during that period.” She also alleged that the physical strain of the job caused serious health problems. According to her claims, repeatedly lifting meat portions weighing about 10kg and carrying heavy grocery bags during long shifts led to back pain and hip inflammation. The former chef, who reportedly earned about £1,065 per month, is seeking £37,544 in compensation. The amount is said to cover unpaid overtime, severance pay, penalties, medical expenses for the injuries she claims to have sustained, and damages linked to the alleged denial of proper rest periods. Neymar has not commented publicly on the allegations. The Brazilian star is currently hoping to secure a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Read More

Lionel Messi And Inter Miami Celebrated At White House By Donald Trump After 2025 MLS Cup Win

Argentina’s superstar Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates were celebrated at the White House by Donald Trump on Thursday in recognition of their 2025 MLS Cup victory. Messi led the team as players, coach Javier Mascherano, and co-owner Jorge Mas joined Trump at the ceremony. The president opened with remarks on military matters in the Middle East before turning to the team’s triumph and reflecting on Brazilian legend Pelé’s impact on U.S. soccer during his 1970s stint with the New York Cosmos. “I shouldn’t say this because I’m old, but I watched Pelé play,” Trump said. “I don’t know, you (Messi) may be better than Pelé. Pelé was pretty good.” The team presented Trump with a No. 47 jersey from their signature pink kit, honoring his role as the nation’s 47th president. Trump also gave shout-outs to Miami stars Luis Suarez, rising talent Tadeo Allende, and Rodrigo De Paul

Read More