Sports
Liverpool captain banned for another match, fined £100k
Liverpool captain banned for another match, fined £100k
Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk has been banned for one further match and fined £100,000 for using abusive and insulting words to match officials after he was sent off against Newcastle.
The Dutch defender was shown a straight red card for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity when fouling Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, but was seen visibly remonstrating with referee John Brookes and fourth official Craig Pawson.
Van Dijk appeared to label the decision a ‘f***ing joke’ and took his time to leave the field of play, before further complaining as he went down the tunnel at St James’ Park.
READ ALSO:
-
Police arrest man who allegedly shot his pregnant girlfriend in front of commuters
-
Be sensitive to electricity user’s plights, group urges NERC
-
Oyetola faulted by C’ttee he constituted to find out why APC lost 2022 election in Osun
The Dutchman missed Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa but will now also be suspended for the trip to Wolves next weekend.
He was subsequently charged with improper conduct and has now been given an extra ban of a further game, plus a £100,000 fine.
An FA statement on Friday night read: ‘The defender admitted that he acted in an improper manner and used abusive and insulting words towards a match official after being sent off in the 29th minute.
‘The sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission. Full written reasons for this case will be published in due course.’
Liverpool captain banned for another match, fined £100k
Sports
French Court Orders PSG to Pay Mbappé €60m in Unpaid Wages, Bonuses
French Court Orders PSG to Pay Mbappé €60m in Unpaid Wages, Bonuses
A French court has ordered Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to pay former star striker Kylian Mbappe €60 million (£52.5 million) in outstanding wages and bonuses, bringing partial closure to a prolonged legal dispute between the player and the club.
The ruling, delivered by a Paris labour court, followed Mbappe’s claim for €263 million over alleged contract breaches and mistreatment, while PSG had filed a counter-claim of €240 million against the France captain.
In its decision, the court held that PSG failed to pay three months of Mbappe’s salary between April and June 2024, in addition to contractual signing and ethics bonuses, awarding the 26-year-old forward slightly more than one-fifth of the amount he originally sought.
Most of the compensation relates to bonuses rather than basic salary, according to sources close to the case. In May, €55 million in PSG’s accounts had been frozen at the request of Mbappe’s legal team pending the court’s ruling.
READ ALSO:
- NANS Backs NMDPRA Chief as Dangote Petitions ICPC Over Alleged Corruption
- Senate Backs ₦54.46trn 2026 Budget, Cuts Oil Price Benchmark to $60
- Inflation, Insecurity Drive Nigerians into Worst Survival Crisis in History – NLC
“We are satisfied with this ruling. This is what you could expect when salaries went unpaid,” Mbappe’s lawyer, Frédérique Cassereau, said, adding that the judgment reaffirmed that labour law applies equally in professional football.
PSG said it would comply with the ruling but reserved the right to appeal, insisting it had acted in good faith throughout the dispute. The club also reiterated its claim for compensation over Mbappe’s failed €300 million transfer to Saudi club Al-Hilal in 2023, before the forward eventually joined Real Madrid on a free transfer in 2024.
The legal battle stemmed from Mbappe’s refusal to extend his PSG contract and his decision to reject a move to the Saudi Pro League, which strained relations with the French champions. The dispute saw Mbappe sidelined during part of the 2023-24 season, a move PSG said followed an agreement to waive certain end-of-contract payments — a claim strongly denied by the player’s representatives.
Mbappe spent seven seasons at PSG between 2017 and 2024, winning 15 trophies and becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer with 256 goals in 308 appearances, including 44 goals in his final season.
The ruling marks a significant moment in one of football’s most high-profile contract disputes, underlining the legal obligations clubs face in player compensation agreements.
French Court Orders PSG to Pay Mbappé €60m in Unpaid Wages, Bonuses
Sports
Man United, Bournemouth Share Eight-Goal Premier League Thriller in Old Trafford Classic
Man United, Bournemouth Share Eight-Goal Premier League Thriller in Old Trafford Classic
Manchester United and Bournemouth served up one of the most dramatic games of the Premier League season as both sides surrendered leads and mounted comebacks before settling for a pulsating 4-4 draw at Old Trafford.
United went into the break with a 2-1 lead, but their advantage vanished within seven minutes of the restart as Evanilson and Marcus Tavernier struck to swing the contest in Bournemouth’s favour. The momentum shifted again when Bruno Fernandes curled home a superb free-kick, quickly followed by Matheus Cunha’s finish, turning the match on its head for a second time.
Just when United appeared set to claim victory, 19-year-old Eli Junior Kroupi smashed in a late equaliser six minutes from time to earn Bournemouth a deserved point in a breathless encounter.
READ ALSO:
- Aisha Buhari Reveals How Rumours, Missed Meals Triggered Buhari’s 2017 Health Crisis
- Nigeria, Egypt Renew AFCON Rivalry in Cairo Friendly Ahead of Morocco 2025 Showpiece
- Retired General Alleges Terror Financiers Were Freed Under Buhari Government
Amid the chaos, Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim was rewarded for tactical adjustments, pushing Amad Diallo into a more advanced role. The move paid off early, with the Ivorian heading home from close range after 13 minutes following a blistering United start that saw them register six shots in the opening 10 minutes—their fastest in a league game since October 2022.
The match lived up to its billing, with both teams combining for 38 shots in a relentless end-to-end contest. Casemiro received a yellow card that rules him out of Sunday’s clash with Aston Villa, while late stoppage-time efforts from David Brooks forced sharp reaction saves from Senne Lammens to deny Bournemouth a famous win.
The draw proved costly for Manchester United, who slipped out of the Premier League top five, while 13th-placed Bournemouth extended their winless run to seven matches, despite an impressive attacking display in one of the season’s standout fixtures.
Man United, Bournemouth Share Eight-Goal Premier League Thriller in Old Trafford Classic
Sports
Nigeria, Egypt Renew AFCON Rivalry in Cairo Friendly Ahead of Morocco 2025 Showpiece
Nigeria, Egypt Renew AFCON Rivalry in Cairo Friendly Ahead of Morocco 2025 Showpiece
Three-time champions Nigeria and seven-time title holders Egypt will reignite their historic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) rivalry tonight as both teams clash in a high-profile international friendly match at the Cairo Stadium, serving as final preparations for the 35th AFCON finals in Morocco kicking off on Sunday.
The encounter offers both coaches the chance to assess squad depth and blood new faces ahead of the continental showpiece. Super Eagles coach Eric Sékou Chelle is expected to test several newcomers, including goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defender Ryan Alebiosu, midfielders Usman Muhammed, Tochukwu Nnadi and Ebenezer Akinsanmiro, as well as forwards Paul Onuachu and Salim Fago Lawal.
On the opposite bench, Pharaohs coach Hossam Hassan, an AFCON legend who scored seven goals in Egypt’s victorious 1998 AFCON campaign in Burkina Faso, is likely to shape his strategy around Liverpool star Mohamed Salah, who remains in pursuit of his first AFCON title despite a glittering club career.
READ ALSO:
- Retired General Alleges Terror Financiers Were Freed Under Buhari Government
- Trump Files $10bn Lawsuit Against BBC Over Edited Capitol Riot Documentary
- Naira Holds Mixed Stability as Official FX Rate Closes at ₦1,452/$, Black Market Trades Higher
Egypt’s squad also features Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush, Al Ahly goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy, Mohamed Hany, Yasser Ibrahim, Emam Ashour, and Mahmoud Trezeguet, alongside CAF Champions League winners Pyramids FC duo Mohamed Hamdy and Mostafa Fathi, UAE-based Ibrahim Adel, and FC Nantes striker Mostafa Mohamed.
For Nigeria, Chelle is expected to rely on established stars such as goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Zaidu Sanusi, midfield enforcers Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka and Alex Iwobi, and an attacking trio of Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
The highly anticipated Nigeria vs Egypt friendly will kick off at 8pm Egypt time (7pm Nigeria time), providing fans with a tantalising preview of what to expect when Africa’s giants collide at AFCON Morocco 2025.
Nigeria, Egypt Renew AFCON Rivalry in Cairo Friendly Ahead of Morocco 2025 Showpiece
-
metro3 days agoNigerian Troops Repel ISWAP Attack on Borno FOB, Kill Terrorists
-
Health3 days agoBauchi Gov Approves 100% Salary Increase for Doctors, Health Workers
-
metro2 days agoEnd Biafra Agitation, Tinubu Has Integrated Ndigbo Into National Development — Umahi
-
metro3 days agoAdelabu–Ayodele controversy: Cleric knocks minister, gives reasons (Updated)
-
Business2 days agoNigeria FX Market: Dollar Demand Surges, Naira Slides Slightly in Festive Season
-
International2 days ago(UPDATED) Sydney Bondi Shooting: Anti-Semitic Attack Leaves 16 Dead, 40 Injured
-
Politics2 days agoAshimolowo Casts Doubt on Obi’s Northern Support as Opposition Coalition Wobbles
-
Politics2 days agoPeter Obi Poised to Dump Labour Party as Leadership Crisis Worsens

