His 56th birthday is just around the corner but Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura is still making moves in football – literally. Miura, in his fifth decade as a professional footballer, has joined Portuguese second-division side Oliveirense on loan from J-League outfit Yokohama FC. His new adventure in Portugal represents a sixth country in which he has played, following spells in Brazil, Japan, Italy, Croatia and Australia. “Even though this is a new place for me, I’ll work hard to show everyone the kind of play I’m known for,” said Miura, who will celebrate his birthday on 26 February. He has … Continue reading Never Say Never: Kazuyoshi Miura, 55, signs for Portuguese second-division side Oliveirense on loan

Gennaro Gattuso became the 10th coach to leave Valencia in the last nine years on Monday night when he parted company with the Peter Lim-owned club. The Italian had lost three of his last four league games and leaves by mutual consent having taken charge of just 22 matches, six fewer than Gary Neville, who Lim dismissed in 2016. Lim, who took over Valencia in October 2014, has put club delegate Salvador Gonzalez ‘Voro’ in charge for Thursday’s league meeting with Real Madrid. It will be his sixth stint as caretaker in the Lim era. Valencia have only won one of … Continue reading Valencia sack Gennaro Gattuso after seven months in charge

If Monday’s wake for Brazilian football legend Pele was a day of reflection, Tuesday’s funeral cortege was one of carnivalesque proportions. The 82-year-old, who many regarded as the world’s best football player, died on 29 December. His coffin arrived in Santos on Monday, where thousands of mourners came to pay their respects at the ground of his former club – some even queued overnight. On Tuesday, supporters’ club Torcida Jovem gathered outside the Urbano Caldeira stadium ahead of the casket leaving. Fans waved huge black and white banners, the colours of Santos Football Club. Many wore the number 10 shirt … Continue reading Brazil gives legendary Pele a joyous farewell

Fifa is investigating how celebrity chef Salt Bae and a number of other people gained “undue access” to the pitch at the end of the World Cup final in Qatar. Salt Bae, the Turkish chef whose real name is Nusret Gokce, was pictured holding and kissing the World Cup trophy while celebrating with Argentina players after their win over France. Fifa rules state the trophy can only be held by a “very select” group of people, including tournament winners, Fifa officials and heads of state. In a statement to BBC Sport, a Fifa spokesperson said: “Following a review, Fifa has … Continue reading Fifa to investigate how a celebrity chef gained access to pitch after World Cup final

Brazil legend Pele has been admitted to hospital but his daughter has confirmed there was “no emergency” involved. Earlier on Wednesday, ESPN Brasil reported Pele had been taken to Sao Paulo’s Hospital Albert Einstein with “general swelling”. But Pele’s daughter Kely Nascimento posted on Instagram that there was “no new dire prediction”. Pele had a tumour removed from his colon in September 2021 and has since had regular treatment at the hospital. “Lots of alarm in the media today concerning my dad’s health,” Nascimento said. “He is in the hospital regulating medication. “There is no emergency or new dire prediction. I will … Continue reading Brazil legend Pele in hospital but daughter confirms ‘no emergency’

The board of Juventus, chaired by Andrea Agnelli, has resigned “in the best interest of the company,” the Italian Serie A soccer team said on Monday. The collective resignation comes after Juventus’ financial statements received scrutiny from prosecutors and Italian market regulator Consob in recent months for alleged false accounting and market manipulation. The company had denied any wrongdoing. Juventus said its directors had discussed the issue at a meeting on Monday and concluded it would be best addressed by a new board, given “the relevance of the pending legal and technical/accounting matters.” It added it would have to restate … Continue reading Juventus Chairman Agnelli resigns with entire board

A protester carrying a rainbow flag invaded the pitch during the World Cup game between Portugal and Uruguay. The protester wore a t-shirt with ‘Save Ukraine’ on the front and ‘Respect for Iranian woman’ on the back. Stewards chased him and he dropped the flag before being taken off the field at Lusail Stadium, the venue for the final on 18 December. The decision to stage the World Cup in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal, has been criticised by LGBTQ+ groups. Before the tournament, Fifa wrote to all 32 competing teams to tell them to “focus on the football”. Qatar World … Continue reading World Cup 2022: Protester invades pitch during Portugal v Uruguay match

Manchester United’s owners announced they were evaluating “all options” regarding the future of the club. It comes after superstar Cristiano Ronaldo parted ways with the team. The American owners of Manchester United are open to selling the English Premier League club, they announced on Tuesday. “As we seek to continue building on the club’s history of success, the board has authorized a thorough evaluation of strategic alternatives,” Avram Glazer and Joel Glazer, executive co-chairmen and directors of United, said in the statement. “We will evaluate all options to ensure that we best serve our fans and that Manchester United maximizes … Continue reading The Glazer family looking to sell Manchester United football club

French referee Johan Hamel tragically died on Wednesday after suffering a stroke in training on Tuesday. Hamel, 42, was a veteran of over 130 games in the French top-flight, and made his Champions League debut as a fourth official a fortnight ago in Celtic’s defeat away to Real Madrid in the final round of group stage fixtures.  His final game came on November 6, when he overaw Lille’s Ligue 1 clash with Rennes, before taking on fourth official duties in PSG’s meeting with Auxerre on Sunday, November 13.  With more than 300 professional games to his name as a referee, Hamel’s shock passing comes … Continue reading Tragic: Johan Hamel has died after suffering a stroke in training

Liverpool could be set for an Indian takeaway with multi-billionaire Mukesh Ambani interest in buying the club. Ambani, with a net worth of around £90billion and rated by Forbes as the eighth richest person in the world, has already enquired about the club. But he will have to fight off interest from other parties from the Middle East and the USA with Liverpool’s current owners Fenway Sports Group having been swamped with tentative offers. It’s understood they are willing to sell for £4bn and there is a greater desire to buy the Merseyside club outright. But that figure won’t put … Continue reading Liverpool approached by eighth-richest man in world with takeover bid

Argentines are celebrating the return of football legend Diego Maradona’s World Cup final shirt to the country. Thirty-six years after Argentina beat Germany in the 1986 World Cup final, the shirt which Maradona wore in the first half has been handed back to the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Former Germany midfielder Lothar Matthäus, who had swapped shirts with Maradona at half time, donated it to the Argentine people. The AFA thanked him in a moving video. Another Maradona shirt, which the Argentine wore when he scored the “Hand of God” goal against England in the quarterfinal of the 1986 World … Continue reading Argentina celebrates return of Maradona’s World Cup final shirt

Former Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has deleted a tweet that said he was gay – saying his account was hacked. Casillas tweeted in Spanish: “I hope you respect me: I’m gay,” before his former Spain team-mate Carles Puyol replied: “It’s time to tell our story.” The tweet was live for more than an hour before being deleted. Casillas later tweeted: “Hacked account. Luckily everything in order. Apologies to all my followers.” The tweet added: “Of course, more apologies to the LGBT community.” Puyol also tweeted an apology, saying: “I have made a mistake. Sorry for a clumsy … Continue reading Legendary Real Madrid goalkeeper deletes ‘I’m gay’ tweet claims he was hacked