Football news
Transfers, results, rules and everything that moves world football, updated throughout the day.
Davide Ancelotti's Lille beat Toulouse 0-1 away to move provisionally top of Ligue 1 with seven points from three matches. Ayase Ueda scored the winner in the 73rd minute. Lille now turn their attention to the Champions League opener against Real Betis on Tuesday.
varela·4 min read
Ferland Mendy has been left out of Real Madrid's Champions League squad and the decision goes beyond a simple coaching call. With only 25 spots available in UEFA's List A and no way to register Sergio Martínez in List B, the club had to cut one first-team player to make room for the midfielder.
Javi
·6 min read
José Mourinho's return to the Real Madrid dugout has started with three wins from three matches, but the road gets steeper this week. A LaLiga trip to Real Betis and the Champions League opener against Inter Milan raise the pressure, with key midfield absences. In that scenario, a young arrival from Racing de Santander steps into the picture.
Matt·5 min read
Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky has agreed a deal to take a 46% stake in West Ham United, making him the club's largest shareholder. The agreement, reached with the current owners including former chairman David Sullivan, shuts out former Newcastle director Amanda Staveley from the ownership picture.
InfoBlaugrana·5 min read
Former international referee Mike Dean has sparked outrage in England after confessing that, during his Premier League career, he and his team would challenge each other to avoid blowing the whistle for as long as possible. His remarks, made on a podcast, have been described as damaging to the refereeing community by former colleagues such as Mark Halsey.
Natilla·6 min read
Girondins de Bordeaux are on the brink of disappearance after the French Football Federation's executive committee rejected their entry into National 2 and sent them to Regional 1. The six-time French champions, founded in 1881, say the decision is a humiliating punishment and could lead to judicial liquidation within days.
varela·4 min read
Gabriel Martinelli has left Arsenal to join Saudi side Al-Hilal in a deal worth $81 million, making him the most expensive sale in the London club's history. The Brazilian winger, a Premier League champion, signs a lucrative contract until 2030 with the Riyadh outfit. His departure raises questions at the Emirates about the lack of a top-level attacking replacement.
Javi·6 min read
Daniel Farke has confirmed that Joe Rodon will miss between eight and ten weeks with a serious hamstring injury. The Wales centre-back was forced off 34 minutes into the draw with Brentford and is now ruled out of upcoming Leeds United fixtures and international matches. Farke admitted the setback increases pressure on his defensive options ahead of the trip to Brighton.
Matt·6 min read
Former Premier League referee Mike Dean says he spent years setting himself private challenges during top-flight games, including going 25 minutes without blowing his whistle and staying inside the centre circle for as long as possible. His remarks on a podcast this week have puzzled refereeing officials, who see no evidence that such behaviour ever occurred.
InfoBlaugrana·4 min read
Rayo Vallecano have confirmed that their fourth-round LaLiga match against Racing Santander will be played this Saturday at 18:30 at the Ontime Butarque stadium, just as happened against Alavés. The Madrid club says it has still received no answer from the regional government about lifting the suspension of the Vallecas stadium concession.
Natilla·5 min read