Author: Andrew Rogers

Ian Wright has spoken in defence of Jude Bellingham, saying some of the midfielder’s critics are uncomfortable with seeing a “black superstar” succeed at the highest level. Bellingham faced criticism following his frustrated reaction to being substituted during England’s World Cup qualifying win over Albania, with some suggesting he could be a disruptive influence within the squad. Wright rejected those claims, arguing the backlash is driven by fear of Bellingham’s confidence and success. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Wright said Bellingham’s achievements and personality make certain people uneasy. He compared the reception of outspoken stars such as Bellingham…

Manchester United’s proposal to introduce personal seat licences (PSLs) as part of funding a £2bn Old Trafford redevelopment has been jeopardised by the UK government’s new anti-touting measures. The PSL model being explored by United would allow licence holders to resell match or season tickets at a profit — something ministers now plan to outlaw. New legislation, set for next year’s king’s speech, will prohibit reselling sports or music tickets above face value. While football ticket touting is already illegal under the 1994 Criminal Justice Act, government sources say they would oppose any attempt by United to create a secondary…

Arsenal fear that defender Gabriel Magalhães could miss a minimum of one month after suffering a thigh injury while on international duty with Brazil. The 27-year-old limped off during Brazil’s 2-0 win over Senegal at the Emirates last Saturday and returned to London for further assessment, where scans confirmed a muscle injury in his right thigh. While testing is ongoing, Gabriel is expected to miss Sunday’s north London derby against Tottenham and Arsenal’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich. Depending on the severity, he could also be sidelined for upcoming Premier League games against Chelsea, Brentford, and Aston Villa, as…

Germany booked their place at next year’s World Cup in emphatic fashion, hammering Slovakia 6-0 in their final qualifier to finish top of their group. Four first-half goals set the tone, with Nick Woltemade, Serge Gnabry and a Leroy Sané double putting the game out of reach. Substitutes Ridle Baku and 19-year-old debutant Assan Ouédraogo added two more after the break. Slovakia now head for the March playoffs. The Netherlands also qualified comfortably, beating Lithuania 4-0 at home to top Group G. Tijjani Reijnders opened the scoring before quick-fire second-half goals from Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons and Donyell Malen sealed…

Denmark’s preparations for Tuesday’s decisive World Cup qualifier against Scotland have been disrupted by a sickness bug affecting key players. Head coach Brian Riemer confirmed that Joachim Andersen and Rasmus Højlund missed Saturday’s surprising 0-0 draw with Belarus due to illness, and a staff member has also fallen sick. With fears the bug could spread, Riemer admitted concern but said the medical team is working to contain it. Despite Scotland’s 3-2 loss to Greece, the draw in Copenhagen means they can still qualify automatically. Denmark top Group C by one point and need only a draw at Hampden Park, while…

Manchester City powered to a dominant 3-0 derby win over Manchester United at the Etihad, strengthening their title ambitions and moving four points clear at the top of the Women’s Super League. City overwhelmed their rivals with a stunning first-half spell, scoring three goals in 21 minutes through Rebecca Knaak, Bunny Shaw and Lauren Hemp. The victory marked a major statement from Andrée Jeglertz’s side, who have now beaten both Arsenal and United this season. United, meanwhile, suffered back-to-back WSL defeats for the first time since May 2024. Their midweek heroics against PSG appeared to take a toll, with Marc…

The recent reopening of federal agencies highlights a return to government efficiency after the historic 43-day shutdown. Restored funding, back pay for employees, and bipartisan cooperation have enabled agencies to resume normal operations and public services. Federal employees returning to work are a key factor in restoring functionality. With retroactive pay ensured, workers can focus on clearing backlogs and maintaining essential services across the country. The move has helped rebuild public confidence in government operations. Bipartisan collaboration in the Senate was critical to achieving this milestone. Lawmakers reached a compromise that not only reopened the government but also provided funding…

Celtic are accelerating talks with Wilfried Nancy as they look to appoint the Columbus Crew manager as their new head coach. The club informed the MLS side on Friday of their intention to begin negotiations, with compensation not expected to be an issue. Nancy, who is reportedly open to the move, could be in place before Celtic’s trip to St Mirren next weekend, ending Martin O’Neill’s brief spell as caretaker. O’Neill met major shareholder Dermot Desmond in London on Friday as the club pushes to finalise the appointment. Though initially viewed as an outsider, Nancy now fits Celtic’s preferred profile…

Patrick Bamford has signed with Sheffield United, just months after leading derogatory chants about their manager, Chris Wilder, during Leeds United’s promotion celebrations in April. The 32-year-old striker, released by Leeds in August, has joined the Championship side on a short-term deal until January. Despite past tensions — including Wilder once calling Bamford a “muppet” during their 2018-19 promotion rivalry — the pair have reconciled. Following the viral chant, Bamford and then-Leeds boss Daniel Farke phoned Wilder to apologise. Wilder later confirmed there were “no issues,” adding, “We had a 20-minute chat. It’s part and parcel of football.” With Sheffield…

Barcelona have identified Harry Kane as their top target to replace Robert Lewandowski next summer. The Spanish champions view the 32-year-old England captain as the ideal successor to the 37-year-old Pole, whose contract expires in June. Barça are reportedly prepared to trigger a £57m clause in Kane’s deal with Bayern Munich, allowing him to leave at the end of the season. Since joining Bayern from Tottenham in 2023 for £100m, Kane has scored 108 goals in 113 games, ending his long wait for silverware by helping reclaim the Bundesliga title. While he recently said he was open to staying in…