NEWS – Page 68 – Football Flame

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Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy due in court accused of rape

Benjamin Mendy of Manchester City in action during the FA Cup Quarter Final match between Everton and Manchester City at Goodison Park on March 20, 2021 in Liverpool, England.Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy will appear in court today charged with rape and sexual assault.The 27-year-old, who also plays for the French national team, is accused of four counts of rape and one count of sexual assault.Cheshire Police said the charges relate to three complainants over the age of 16, and are alleged to have happened between October last year and this month.Mendy, who lives in Prestbury, has been remanded in custody ahead of his court appearance at Cheshire Magistrates.The left-back has played for Manchester City since 2017, when he joined from Monaco for a reported £52 million.He has bee...
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Kane scores twice in first start for Spurs

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring their team's first goal during the UEFA Conference League Play-Offs Leg Two match between Tottenham Hotspur and Pacos de Ferreira at on August 26, 2021 in London, England.Harry Kane netted a double in his first match since announcing that he will stay at Tottenham this season as Spurs beat Pacos de Ferreira 3-0 on Thursday to overturn a first-leg deficit in the Europa Conference League play-off round.Nuno Espirito Santo's men head into Friday's group-stage draw for the inaugural edition of Uefa's third-tier competition.England striker Kane had wanted to leave Spurs in the close season for Manchester City, but was denied a move by club chairman Daniel Levy and confirmed earlier this week he would be remaining in north London.He had mi...
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England pick Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford for World Cup qualifiers

Patrick Bamford of Leeds United during the Pre-season Friendly match between Ajax and Leeds United at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on August 4, 2021 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.England manager Gareth Southgate has called up Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford for September's World Cup 2022 qualifiers.It will be the first time Bamford, 27, has been named in the senior squad as they return to action after losing to Italy in the Euro 2020 final. Southgate's side face three games in seven days against Hungary, Andorra and Poland.They travel to Budapest on September 2, then host Andorra at Wembley three days later before taking on the Poles in Warsaw on September 8.Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to the 25-man squad having missed the European Championships due to injury, while Manc...
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Ronaldo included in Portugal squad for World Cup qualifiers

MotoGP Rider Fabio Quartararo Meets Juventus Player Cristiano Ronaldo at JTC on August 19, 2021 in Turin, Italy.Portugal will play its upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Cristiano Ronaldo, who will have another chance to break the all-time men’s international scoring record.Coach Fernando Santos on Thursday included Ronaldo in Portugal’s squad, which will have many of the players who participated in the European Championship. Ronaldo scored his 109th goal with Portugal at Euro 2020 to tie former Iran striker Ali Daei as the all-time men’s top scorer in international soccer.Santos said Ronaldo left Juventus’ practice session with an arm issue on Wednesday but should be fit to join the national team. He dismissed the notion that the star forward will be affected by the rumors about his club...
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Jonny Evans recalled to Northern Ireland squad

Jonny Evans of Leicester City lifts the Emirates FA Cup Trophy following The Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Leicester City at Wembley Stadium on May 15, 2021 in London, England.Skipper Steven Davis and vice-captain Jonny Evans are among eight players recalled to the Northern Ireland squad as boss Ian Baraclough opts for experience for next month’s World Cup qualifiers.Baraclough’s side travel to Lithuania (September 2nd) followed by a home game against Switzerland (September 8), with a friendly against Estonia in Tallinn (September 5th) scheduled between the two Group C fixtures.The 50-year-old has named a much-changed squad from the one that beat Malta and narrowly lost to Ukraine earlier in the summer.Rangers midfielder Davis — Northern Ireland’s most capped player — is ...
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Lionel Messi: PSG leave forward out of Strasbourg squad

Lionel Messi reacts during a Paris Saint-Germain training session at Ooredoo Center on August 13, 2021 in Paris, France.Lionel Messi has been left out of the squad for Paris Saint-Germain's game against Strasbourg on Saturday night.The Argentine forward officially signed for the French giants earlier this week. He said that he was unsure as to when he would make his PSG debut, having not trained with a team since the Copa America, commenting on Wednesday: "I was on holidays and it's very new. I spoke yesterday with the technical staff, so maybe I need a pre-season myself. "I am going to begin to train and work. I hope I can play as soon as I can. I really want to. But I can't exactly answer your question. When I feel it, when the staff thinks I am okay, then I will be ready to play."...
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Kepa Arrizabalaga the hero as Chelsea edge out Villarreal to win Super Cup

Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso of Chelsea pose for a photo with the UEFA Super Cup Trophy following victory in the UEFA Super Cup 2021 match between Chelsea FC and Villarreal CF at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on August 11, 2021 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.Kepa Arrizabalaga was the unlikely hero as Chelsea started the new season as they ended the last with a European trophy by beating Villarreal 6-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw to win the UEFA Super Cup in Belfast. The Spaniard, who has lost his place as number one since joining the club for a world record fee for a goalkeeper in 2018, was introduced late in extra-time as a substitute for the shootout by Thomas Tuchel. Kepa famously refused to be replaced by former Chelsea boss Maurizio ...
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Lionel Messi eyes Champions League trophy with PSG

Lionel Messi poses with the Paris Saint-Germain jersey after signing a 2 year contract at Parc des Princes on August 10, 2021 in Paris, France.Lionel Messi said he's “in the right place” to win another Champions League trophy and cited a reunion with Neymar as a key factor in his decision to sign with Paris Saint-Germain.The 34-year-old Argentina star spoke at his introductory news conference at Parc des Princes stadium on Wednesday, the morning after signing a two-year deal with the option for a third season after leaving Barcelona.“My goal and dream is to raise another Champion’s (League Trophy) and I believe that I am in the right place to have the best chances to achieve that,” Messi said.“When you see this squad, you really want to play with them because there are so many possibilitie...
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Coach Licence Ban: U.S. Court Gives FIFA 21 Days to Respond to Siasia’s Suit

Samson Siasia, coach of Nigeria looks on during the Group B, FIFA U20 World Cup match between Tahiti and Nigeria at the Cairo International Stadium on October 1, 2009 in Cairo, Egypt.The court summons also spells out the consequence of FIFA's failure to comply with the summons.A United States court has issued a summons with a 21-day ultimatum to the world football body, FIFA, to respond to Samson Siasia's suit challenging his coach licence ban and indictment for bribery.PREMIUM TIMES obtained a copy of the summons issued on August 5, 2021 by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.FIFA has to file its response to the suit and serve its answer on the former Nigerian Super Eagles coach within 21 days of being served with the summons, the court clerk, S. James, who signe...
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No Messi, no problem as Barcelona rout Juventus to win Gamper Trophy

Sergio Busquets of FC Barcelona celebrate after winning the Torneig Gamper Final - Friendly Match between FC Barcelona and Juventus at Estadi Johan Cruyff on August 8, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain.Barcelona started life without Lionel Messi on Sunday with a 3-0 win over Juventus in the pre-season Gamper Trophy.Memphis Depay opened the scoring for Barcelona after just three minutes, with Martin Braithwaite adding a second goal just before the hour mark from a corner. Young hope Riqui Puig scored a third in stoppage time with a fine left foot drive.In Sunday's other high-profile friendly, Real Madrid and AC Milan fought to a 0-0 stalemate.Messi had earlier Sunday said his farewells to the club he had served for 20 years at a tearful news conference.The 34-year-old Argentinian superstar, six...
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Villarreal forward Fernando Nino issues public apology after horror tackle on Leicester’s Wesley Fofana

Fernando Nino of Villarreal CF and Wesley Fofana of Leicester City challenge for a header during the Pre Season Friendly fixture between Leicester City and Villarreal at The King Power Stadium on August 4, 2021 in Leicester, England.Villarreal forward Fernando Nino has apologised to Wesley Fofana after a wild tackle on the Leicester defender left him with a broken leg in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday.With the Foxes 3-0 up in the second half at the King Power Stadium, 20-year-old Nino went with a wild scissor challenge on Fofana's left leg as the centre back went to collect the ball on the halfway line, causing the Frenchman to crumple to the ground in agony. After a period of treatment on the field, Fofana was stretchered off the pitch to applause and taken to hospital in an ambu...
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Nigeria: Former Super Eagles Coach Samson Siasia Sues FIFA in U.S. Court

Nigeria Coach Samson Siasia instructs team his during the International Friendly between Ghana and Nigeria at Vicarage Road on October 11, 2011 in Watford, England.The former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has sued the world football governing body, FIFA, at a United States court.According to court papers exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Siasia has filed a case against FIFA at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.The former Nigeria international is, among other things, seeking compensation for the 'damage' done to his reputation by FIFA with their investigation of an alleged bribery case against him."Here, Fédération Internationale de Football Association ("FIFA"), the worldwide governing body of soccer, exercised governmental function when FIFA ...
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Lille beat Paris-Saint Germain in Champions’ Trophy curtain raiser

Lille's Portuguese midfielder Xeka (2nd-L) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the French Champions' Trophy (Trophee des Champions) final football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lille (LOSC) at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, Israel, on August 1, 2021.Surprise French champions Lille beat Cup winners Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the Champions Trophy season curtain raiser in balmy Tel Aviv on Sunday.Portuguese midfielder Xeka scored the winner just before half-time with an unstoppable strike from outside the penalty area that left PSG stopper Keylor Navas no chance."We showed who we are and we deserve this trophy," said Xeka. "A few months after the league title we can all celebrate this new one. Work pays, and that's how we intend to cont...
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Shevchenko steps down as Ukraine boss

Andriy Shevchenko, Head Coach of Ukraine poses during the official UEFA Euro 2020 media access day on May 31, 2021 in Kharkov, Ukraine.Andriy Shevchenko has left his role as head coach of Ukraine, the former Chelsea striker announced on Instagram.Shevchenko, 44, was appointed head coach in 2016 and led Ukraine to the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, where they were beaten 4-0 by England in Rome."Together, we managed to show that our football can be competitive, productive and exciting," he said.Shevchenko, who retired from playing in 2012, is Ukraine's all-time record goalscorer with 48 goals in 111 games.He began his playing career at Dynamo Kyiv before joining AC Milan in 1999, where he won five major trophies including the Serie A title and Champions League, as well as Ballon d'Or in 2004.S...
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Brazil to face Mexico in Olympic semis; Spain secure dramatic win

Matheus Cunha #9 of Team Brazil celebrates with Richarlison #10 after scoring their side's first goal during the Men's Quarter Final between Brazil and Egypt on day eight of the Tokyo Olympic Games at Saitama Stadium on July 31, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.Brazil's men moved within two wins of back-to-back Olympic golds by beating Egypt 1-0 at Tokyo 2020.A first-half strike from Matheus Cunha put the defending champions through to the semi-finals, where they will face Mexico on Tuesday.Japan will meet Spain in the other last-four match.The hosts beat New Zealand 4-2 on penalties after a 0-0 draw, while Spain came from the brink of elimination to beat Ivory Coast 5-2 after extra time.When Max Gradel put Ivory Coast 2-1 ahead in the first minute of added time at the end of the 90 minutes, they lo...
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Tokyo 2020 Olympic: Richarlison sends defending champions Brazil into quarters as Germany tumble out

Richarlison #10 of Team Brazil scores their side's second goal past Mohammed Alyami #1 of Team Saudi Arabia during the Men's First Round Group D match between Saudi Arabia and Brazil on day five of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Stadium on July 28, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.Defending champions Brazil eased through to the quarter-finals of the men's Olympic football, but 2016 silver medallists Germany are eliminated.Everton striker Richarlison scored two late goals as Brazil beat Saudi Arabia 3-1 to finish top of Group D, with Ivory Coast second after holding Germany to a 1-1 draw.In Group B, South Korea beat Honduras 6-0 to qualify as group winners.New Zealand drew 0-0 with Romania to finish second on goal difference. Brazil looked set to be held to a frustrating draw when a header ...
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Switzerland’s Petkovic to take over at Bordeaux

Vladimir Petkovic, Head coach of Switzerland during the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar qualifying match between Bulgaria and Switzerland at Vasil Levski National Stadium on March 25, 2021 in Sofia, Bulgaria.The Swiss Football Association announced on Tuesday Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic will leave for Ligue 1 club Bordeaux after seven years in charge.Petkovic, who turns 58 in August, was born in Sarajevo and took Das Nati to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals earlier this year."Vladimir Petkovic asked the Swiss Football Association (ASF) to terminate his contract in order to take up a new challenge in French football," the ASF said."The ASF agreed to this demand and reached an agreement with the manager and his new employers, Bordeaux, to end his contract," it added. According to newspaper Su...
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USA draw with Australia in women’s Olympic football

Alex Morgan #13 of Team United States breaks away from Chloe Logarzo #6 and Tameka Yallop #13 of Team Australia during the Women's Football Group G match between United States and Australia on day four of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Kashima Stadium on July 27, 2021 in Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan.World champions the United States were held to a goalless draw by Australia in their final group game in the women's football tournament at Tokyo 2020.They finished runners-up in Group G after Sweden beat New Zealand 2-0 to claim top spot with three wins.The USA and Sweden are through to the quarter-finals, while Australia could progress as one of the best third-placed teams.Team GB topped Group E after a 1-1 draw with Canada.The USA came into the tournament unbeaten in 44 games before losing their...
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France’s Gignac hits hat-trick in Olympic thriller while champions Brazil held

Andre Pierre GIGNAC of France and Niels NKOUNKOU of France celebrate a goal during the football match in Group A between France and South Africa at Saitama Stadium on July 25, 2021 in Saitama, Japan.Andre-Pierre Gignac scored a second-half hat-trick as France came from behind three times to beat South Africa 4-3 and keep their Olympic hopes alive.Having lost their Group A opener, France looked to be heading out until former Marseille striker Gignac completed his treble from the penalty spot to level for a third time on 85 minutes, before Teji Savanier grabbed an injury-time winner.Gignac, who currently plays for Tigres in Mexico, is now top scorer in Tokyo with four goals from two matches.South Africa, whose hopes of qualifying have now been ended, led three times through second-half goals...
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Rangers boss Steven Gerrard reveals heart scan concern for new signing

Steven Gerrard, Manager of Rangers kisses the Scottish Premiership trophy following the Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Aberdeen on May 15, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has revealed new signing Nnamdi Ofoborh will not feature in the ‘short-term’ while a heart issue is assessed.The 21-year-old signed a pre-contract deal with the Ibrox club in February, linking up with his new side this summer after finishing last season at Wycombe Wanderers on loan from Bournemouth.The Nigerian midfielder however is still to feature during pre-season however, missing Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal in Glasgow.Speaking after the game, Gerrard explained how a heart issue detected during an electrocardiogram scan has raised a ‘red flag’ – with Ofoborh requiring more tes...
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