Tebas slams Madrid's 'exaggerated victimhood' after Ballon d'Or boycott

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has accused Real Madrid of "exaggerated victimhood" as he slammed the club's decision to boycott Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony.The club opted to skip the ceremony after hearing Vinicius Junior would miss out on the top award, which was won by Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.
Tebas slams Madrid's 'exaggerated victimhood' after Ballon d'Or boycott

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has accused Real Madrid of "exaggerated victimhood" as he slammed the club's decision to boycott Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony.

The club opted to skip the ceremony after hearing Vinicius Junior would miss out on the top award, which was won by Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri.

The Brazil winger failed to scoop the accolade despite scoring 24 goals and providing 11 assists last season, as Los Blancos won a LaLiga and Champions League double.

Madrid's decision not to attend sparked controversy, though City boss Pep Guardiola empathised with Carlo Ancelotti's side, insisting "it is up to them".

However, it has not gone down well with LaLiga boss Tebas, who feels it went against the club's principles.

"I am a Real Madrid fan. The most important values of this club are being a gentleman and shaking hands when you lose," he told l'Equipe.

"I think Real Madrid lost that spirit a long time ago. They should have gone to the ceremony and not questioned France Football's system, which is transparent, with 100 journalists voting.

"Real's victimhood is unnecessary and exaggerated. I don't know where they want to go."

Van Nistelrooy arrives at Old Trafford for his first game as interim manager

Ruud van Nistelrooy has arrived at Old Trafford ahead of his first game as interim boss.The former Manchester United striker has taken command of the club in the absence of a permanent boss, with Erik ten Hag leaving Old Trafford earlier this week after a poor start to the season. Ruud van Nistelrooy has arrived at Old Trafford ahead of his first game as interim boss. The former Manchester United striker has taken command of the club in the absence of a permanent boss, with Erik ten Hag leaving Old Trafford earlier this week after a poor start to the season. The Red Devils take on fellow Premier League outfit Leicester City in the Carabao Cup for the right to reach the last-eight of the competition. Coincidentally, the Carabao Cup was the first of two domestic trophies won by Ten Hag, with which he ended a six-year wait for silverware. Now though the Red Devils face the Foxes in the first game of the post Ten Hag era on home turf. Van Nistelrooy was appointed his compatriot's second-in-command over the summer ahead of his third, yet ultimately ill-fated, campaign at the helm. The former United No 9 has had success as a manager in his own right, having overseen 50 games as boss of PSV Eindhoven in 2022-23. Van Nistelrooy in that time lost only eight of his games, winning 34 in a hugely impressive debut managerial term. United's wait for a new permanent manager may not be too long, though, with the club circling ever closer to Ruben Amorim. Amorim arrived at Sporting Club's HQ on Wednesday morning as he had promised to conduct training, though it is understood that some players are not best pleased with the prospect of a mid-season departure. It was confirmed by the Portuguese club on Tuesday that the £8.3million required to trigger Amorim's release clause had been paid, meaning the ball is now in the manager's court. However negotiations are on-going over the Sporting boss' notice period, which is believed to be a matter of weeks, rather than days. As such it is currently unlikely that Amorim would be in the dugout for United's clash with Chelsea, even if a full agreement should be reached in the coming days.

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'Of course he will be there' - Vitinha confident CR7 will be at 2026 World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo is "not going to give up" and will feature at the 2026 World Cup, according to Portugal team-mate Vitinha.The Selecao skipper holds the international record for the most caps (216) and most goals (133) since making his senior bow in August 2003. Cristiano Ronaldo is "not going to give up" and will feature at the 2026 World Cup, according to Portugal team-mate Vitinha. The Selecao skipper holds the international record for the most caps (216) and most goals (133) since making his senior bow in August 2003. Ronaldo also captained Portugal to their triumphs at Euro 2016 and the inaugural Nations League three years later. The 39-year-old has appeared in five separate editions of the World Cup between 2006 and 2022, yet football's biggest prize has eluded him. However, he was subjected to widespread criticism after failing to score at Euro 2024, where Portugal bowed out at the quarter-final stage after losing to France on penalties, while many claim his presence is now hindering his nation's progress. Ronaldo will be 41 when the World Cup is held in North America, but international colleague Vitinha is adamant the Al-Nassr forward will be present for their country. "39 years old and still a starter for the national team, I have no explanation for this longevity," the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder told RMC podcast Rothen s’enflamme. "He has already said it, and I imagine it's the professionalism he has in everything he does. In the morning, in the evening, every day of his career, it's incredible. "I can imagine the efforts and sacrifices he must make and has made. And I also imagine that's what has kept him in this condition at 39 years old. "It's a privilege for me. We are small, we are children, we dream of playing with him one day, and it's happening. "Luckily, I've had quite a few years to enjoy the national team with him. Of course, he will be there [at the 2026 World Cup]; he's not going to give up."

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Sir Ferguson attends first Utd game since being 'sacked' from ambassadorial role

Sir Alex Ferguson was in the stands for the first time since his £2million-a-year ambassadorial role at Manchester United was ended.The legendary former manager was in attendance at Old Trafford for a thrill-a-minute first half clash with Leicester City in the Carabao Cup fourth round, with six goals on offer in 45 minutes. Sir Alex Ferguson was in the stands for the first time since his £2million-a-year ambassadorial role at Manchester United was ended. The legendary former manager was in attendance at Old Trafford for a thrill-a-minute first half clash with Leicester City in the Carabao Cup fourth round, with six goals on offer in 45 minutes. It was also the first game since the departure of Erik ten Hag on Monday, following the club's worst start to a Premier League campaign in their history. Ferguson will step down from his lucrative role at the end of the season after new co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe decided to rip up his contract as part of a cost-cutting programme. Mail Sport reported this month that Ferguson and other members of the club's Football Board have also been told to stay away from the dressing room in a break with tradition. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/C1/720x-/-/-/CgAGVWcioSuAKA9iAACfoNiRMYA514.jpg Ferguson had a great view of his former side scoring four in a stunning first half of football. Casemiro opened the scoring in sensational fashion, with a curling effort straight into the top corner from 25 yards. Alejandro Garnacho then doubled the lead, before Leicester hit their first through Bilal El Khannouss on 33 minutes. Three minutes later though Bruno Fernandes opened his account for the season to restore his side's two-goal advantage, but there were still somehow two more strikes to come. Casemiro grabbed his second of the game on 39 minutes, before Conor Coady ensured the Foxes were still within touching distance on the stroke of half-time to make it 4-2.

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Former EPL cult hero announces surprise career move with City Football Group

Former Reading forward Adam Le Fondre has announced he is to take a role with the City Football Group, the organisation overseeing Man City.The forward has represented 13 clubs during his playing career, which he admits is nearing an end at the age of 37. Former Reading forward Adam Le Fondre has announced he is to take a role with the City Football Group, the organisation overseeing Man City. The forward has represented 13 clubs during his playing career, which he admits is nearing an end at the age of 37. He is currently playing for FC United of Manchester, the protest club established after the Glazer's takeover of Manchester United back in 2005. The semi-professional team currently play in the Northern Premier League, the seventh tier of English football. Le Fondre is best known for his spell with Reading, where he scored 41 goals in 110 matches for the Royals between 2011 and 2014. After helping the Royals earn promotion in 2012, Le Fondre scored 12 goals in 34 matches in his sole season in the Premier League. Le Fondre scooped the Premier League’s Player of the Month award in January 2013 and boasts a ratio of 124.5 minutes-per-goal in the top flight. Speaking to the Reading Chronicle, Le Fondre revealed he is looking ahead to his new career as a video scout for the City Football Group when he hangs up his boots. 'I'm not naive to think that I will last forever so I've got things in place to get ready for when I do transition,' Fondre said. 'I've got a job ready to start and walk into my second career because I've still got 30-40 years left, or maybe more. 100 per cent I'm staying in football. Hopefully, I should be starting a role with The City Group as a scout for them in the emerging talent group so I'm really looking forward to that. 'I like the idea of head of recruitment, but you have to work your way up to that point- you can't just start where you want to you have to earn your stripes and I'm more than prepared to do that. I've got time to do that and learn the job properly so when I do finish I can be ready to go.' The City Football Group owns - either fully or partly - 13 football clubs across the world with Manchester City the stand out team. Le Fondre has previously played for one of their clubs having had a loan spell with Mumbai City in India during the 2020-21 season. He also had experience of playing in Australia's A-League having spent five years playing for Sydney FC.

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How much Ruben Amorim will cost Man United

Manchester Untied have made it very clear that they believe Ruben Amorim is the man to take their club forward, though the true price of their choice has now been revealed.United have been circling around Amorim over the last few days after Erik ten Hag's departure on Monday following a thoroughly underwhelming start to his third campaign at the helm. Manchester Untied have made it very clear that they believe Ruben Amorim is the man to take their club forward, though the true price of their choice has now been revealed. United have been circling around Amorim over the last few days after Erik ten Hag's departure on Monday following a thoroughly underwhelming start to his third campaign at the helm. United remain in talks with Sporting over their head coach - who has caught the eyes of a number of Premier League clubs in the last 18 months - with the former Portugal international's notice period thought to be an issue. His notice period is believed to be a matter of weeks, rather than days, meaning that even if a deal could be pushed through in the next 24 hours, it is very unlikely he would be in the dugout for United's clash with Chelsea on Sunday. The Premier League side are also thought to be open to Amorim bringing his coaching staff with him, though the cost of such a venture has now been revealed. For United to bring in Amorim, they would have to pay the £8.3million release clause in his contract - however Sporting have already revealed that the Red Devils have informed them they are willing to do just that. But to also welcome his coaching staff to Old Trafford, it is reportedly set to cost the club another £4.3m, meaning the total cost of appointing Amorim would be close to £13m. Splashing what would be an eight-figure fee may raise eyebrows given Ineos' recent cost-cutting measures. The new part-owners of United have sought to reduced overheads at the club since coming in in order to increase efficiency at Old Trafford. One such measure emerged over the weekend after it was revealed the Red Devils had contacted Manchester City chiefs about whether their arch rivals could ferry their Kopa Trophy nominees Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo - a call which unsurprisingly fell on deaf ears. Amorim though would at least be an expenditure that nay-sayers might understand, given the fact that he is one of the most highly-rated emerging coaches on the continent after his stellar work with Sporting. https://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/59/BF/720x-/-/-/CgAGVWcijMeAWhf8AACDmYiT4JE132.jpg The 39-year-old ended the club's 19-year wait for a Portuguese top-flight title in 2020-21, before adding a second crown in 2023-24. His side have begun their title defence in the best way possible too, with nine straight wins - which is just as well given rivals Porto have made a blistering start too with eight wins from nine. In the absence of a full-time manager, former striker and assistant manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has stepped up to take interim charge.

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WSL new broadcast deal: Sky Sports to remain home of women's football

Sky has announced a historic five-year partnership with the Women's Professional League, securing the rights to show nearly 90 per cent of all Women's Super League matches from the 2025/26 season. Sky has announced a historic five-year partnership with the Women's Professional League, securing the rights to show nearly 90 per cent of all Women's Super League matches from the 2025/26 season. Sky will broadcast118 matches from the WSL every season, up more than three times the number of games currently, with78 fixtures shown exclusively. With over 75 per cent of first picks plus all matches from the closing weekend exclusive to Sky, women's football fans are guaranteed more of the best matches week in, week out from England's top flight. Dana Strong, Group CEO, Sky, said: "This is an incredibly exciting and significant moment for women's sport. The longer-term partnership reflects our commitment to women's football and provides the platform for us to keep working with the WPLL to bring in more fans, grow the game and create the most entertaining and competitive women's football league in the world. "As the home of sport, Sky is already by far the biggest investor in women's sport in the UK and Ireland, and this new partnership further demonstrates our backing of elite female athletes. We look forward to telling their stories and inspiring the next generation of fans." The new partnership also gives Sky the option to show matches from theWomen's ChampionshipandWomen's League Cup, including the final. This brings both competitions onto Sky platforms for the first time. In 2023, Sky Sports broadcast over 70 per cent of all live televised women's sport. Women's football can be enjoyed alongside England Cricket, The Hundred, US Open tennis, WTA Tour, women's golf majors, England Netball, F1 Academy, WPL Cricket, women's boxing, Women's Super League (rugby league) and more. Football fans can enjoy this huge increase of fixtures from the women's game from next season at the same time as Sky's record deal with the Premier League kicks in, including at least 215 matches - an increase of 70 per cent on exclusively live games. With over 1,000 EFL matches each season alongside the biggest games from the SPFL and SWPL, Sky is the unrivalled home of domestic football and is set to offer supporters of every team across these leagues more opportunity to watch their club than ever before with greater choice and value within their subscription. With the introduction of Sky Sports+ earlier this year, customers now have access to 50 per cent more sport, at no extra cost. Sky Sports will continue to commit marketing spend, production budget and promotion across its market-leading platforms to increase viewing and fandom for the women's game. That includes dedicated social media content across Sky Sports' WSL TikTok and Snapchat accounts to extend the WSL's reach to even more fans. For instant, contract-free access to all Sky Sports channels, non-Sky subscribers can purchase a NOW Sports Day or Month Membership. Free match highlights from every WSL game this season can also be watched across Sky Sports' digital platforms, including the website, app and YouTube channels. Watch Everton vs Chelsea in the WSL live on Sky Sports Football on Sunday from 6.30pm; kick-off 6.45pm

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