Erling Haaland suffered a freak accident while on international duty with Norway that left the striker needing three stitches.
Haaland suffers injury on international dutyStriker laughs about freak injuryNorway host Moldova on TuesdayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Manchester City striker shared a couple snaps showing off his new injury caused by a collision with a bus door. Sharing the photos on Snapchat, Haaland showed off his new battle scars, featuring the cut under his lip that required the stitching. Despite the incident, the 25-year-old was able to see the funny side and will not be kept out of the action.
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Haaland shared the photos with a caption, the first of which said: "Just got banged out by a bus door. Three stiches."
He then added: "Looks actually quite good."
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Fans of Norway and Manchester City will breathe a big sigh of relief that the bus door did not inflict more serious trouble on their star man. Haaland has started the season in typical goalscoring form with three goals in as many Premier League games – in spite of City's faltering start. The forward will hope his goals can power City to the Premier League title once again, having finished a disappointing third place last campaign.
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR HAALAND?
The powerful striker will be back in action against Moldova on Tuesday before returning to Manchester. City host their local rivals United on Sunday in a hugely important clash that, after their respective poor starts, could prove to be a make or break game for Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim already.
Xavi Simons has reportedly told Paris Saint-Germain that he will leave the club amid interest from Harry Kane's Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig.
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Simons has decided to leave PSGGerman clubs ready to snap himCould possibly be a loan deal until 2025WHAT HAPPENED?
During the 2023-24 season, Xavi Simons made a significant impact while on loan at RB Leipzig. The 21-year-old Dutch midfielder showcased his talent by scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists in the Bundesliga. Additionally, he contributed two goals and two assists in the Champions League, further elevating his profile. His performances have drawn the attention of major clubs, positioning him as a sought-after prospect in the transfer market.
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According to Simons plans to leave PSG on a loan deal until June 2025, with Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig keen on securing his services. While Bayern view him as a valuable addition to their squad, Leipzig are eager to retain the midfielder following his impressive loan spell. Moreover, Arsenal and Manchester United were also linked with a move for the midfielder. And the competition between these two Bundesliga giants underscores Simons' rising stock in European football.
WHAT SIMONS SAID
After a 0-0 draw against France in the European Championships, Simons addressed his future. He expressed satisfaction with his time at PSG and Leipzig but remained non-committal about his next move. "I was happy in Paris," Simons said, as reported by French journalist JS Grond-Tran. "I was in Leipzig this year, we’ll see after the Euro. I also see that the supporters always wish me the best, and that’s good".
DID YOU KNOW?
Simons' future at PSG has been a topic of speculation. While the club recognises his potential, they face a challenging decision. PSG's new manager, Luis Enrique, is an admirer of Simons but cannot guarantee him regular playing time in the upcoming season. Given this uncertainty, PSG also allegedly consider that a loan move would be a viable option for both parties.
Pakistan were given a shock in Lahore and have to figure out what their best combination is
The Preview by Andrew Fidel Fernando06-Oct-2019Big pictureIt was no real surprise that Sri Lanka rode an outstanding fifty from Danushka Gunathilaka to a competitive total in the first match. Were it not for injury and disciplinary issues, the opener would command a place in their first-choice limited-overs XI. He is among the more naturally gifted batsmen in any match.It was also no surprise that Dasun Shanaka helped Sri Lanka maintain their momentum through the later stages of the innings. He is one of the cleanest ball-strikers around.What was surprising was the ease with which Sri Lanka shut Pakistan’s chase down. Even without Lasith Malinga, the fast bowlers had the opposition 22 for 3. Pakistan are the top-ranked T20I side in the world, but this particular top order contained Umar Akmal, who had not contributed to that rise, and Ahmed Shehzad, who had not played a T20I since mid-2018. They made 4 off 9 balls and a first-ball duck respectively. As a result, coach Misbah-ul-Haq, who made these out-of-left-field selections, is facing a little scrutiny after his first T20I in charge.ALSO READ – Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad have my full backing as captain – Sarfaraz AhmedBut one victory does not make Sri Lanka invulnerable. Avishka Fernando appears to have hit some modest form in Pakistan, to follow his breakout World Cup, but the likes of Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga are also far from reliable wristspin options still. The more senior players in the Sri Lanka XI will need to continue to produce excellent innings and spells, so that the younger cricketers can play in their slipstream.Form guidePakistan LLWLL (completed matches, most recent first) Sri Lanka WWLLLIn the spotlightVery quietly, Shadab Khan has been having a disappointing 2019. His legspin has averaged 41.11 across 13 ODI innings this year (though his World Cup average of 35.55 was better). In T20Is, his numbers are even bleaker – his economy rate up at 9.42, and his average at 44, albeit from only four appearances. Sri Lanka is a team he had generally done well against, but several batsmen seemed to enjoy his bowling through the course of this tour, and his 1 for 35 on Saturday was modest without being terrible. In recent years, Sri Lanka haven’t loved playing wristspin. If Shadab can turn his form around, Pakistan will go some way to checking the opposition’s batting.Misbah-ul-Haq oversees Pakistan’s training session•AFPPrior to his debut, no uncapped Sri Lanka player had quite produced as much hype in the capital as Bhanuka Rajapaksa. A star at school level for one of the fanciest Colombo institutions – Royal College – Rajapaksa had been tipped by many to become one of the island’s best. But in senior cricket, his record has been modest, particularly in first-class and List A matches. Despite this, he has now got the chance to showcase his wares at the top level, and in his first T20I, he produced an innings that went some way to justifying the ten-year hype. If he can back Saturday’s 32 off 22 balls up with another good performance, the selectors may keep him on even when the first-choice players return to the fray.Team newsGiven Shehzad’s poor innings in the first match, Fakhar Zaman may come back into the XI.Pakistan (possible): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Umar Akmal, 4 Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt.) (wk), 5 Iftikhar Ahmed, 6 Asif Ali, 7 Imad Wasim, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Shadab Khan, 10 Mohammad Amir, 11 Mohammad HasnainSri Lanka will probably see no reason to change their XI.Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 4 Shehan Jayasuriya, 5 Minod Bhanuka (wk), 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt.), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Lakshan Sandakan, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Nuwan PradeepPitch and conditionsThe dew that both teams had expected did not turn up in force on Saturday. Expect Lahore to produce a similar surface.Stats and trivia Sri Lanka have lost each of their four most-recent T20 series, two of which have been at home, and two away. Their last away series win (outside one-off games) was against Bangladesh in early 2018. Pakistan have never lost a bilateral T20I series to Sri Lanka. Umar Akmal has not made a T20I fifty since February 2016. Shehzad had not made one since September 2017.
Three days after being skittled for 40 in a Championship defeat to Essex, Kent grab defeat from the jaws of victory
ECB Reporters Network23-Aug-2019Kent Spitfires suffered their second batting calamity of the week as they tossed away a winning position to lose their Vitality Blast South Group qualifier to Surrey by one run at shell-shocked Canterbury.Just three days after being skittled for 40 in a County Championship defeat to Essex, Kent grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory to suffer their fourth reverse and their first on home soil in this year’s T20 tournament.Chasing 172 at a tough asking rate of 8.6 an over for their seventh win of the campaign, Kent openers Zak Crawley and Daniel Bell-Drummond smashed 19 off Jordan Clark’s third over.Clark’s misery was compounded when he dropped Bell-Drummond off a skier at cover in the next over from Jade Dernbach as Kent’s openers posted 50 in five overs.Crawley raced to his maiden T20 fifty with two fours and three sixes as the Spitfires pair posted their century stand in 9.5 overs as Kent swept 26 runs ahead of Surrey’s midpoint score.Bell-Drummond reached his 19th career T20 half-century from 32 balls and with seven fours but their stand was finally broken for 115 when Mohammad Tahir had Crawley stumped for 59.With 18 required from 12 balls, Bell-Drummond went for 64 when his sliced drive against Dernbach flew to backward point to heap pressure on Alex Blake and Heino Kuhn.Blake upper-cut his third ball to deep point leaving Sam Billings and Kuhn to score 12 off the last over from Sam Curran, but it was Curran who held his nerve by conceding nine off the bat to give Surrey a surprise fourth Vitality Blast win.After a forceful start, Surrey stumbled mid-innings when Kent took pace off the ball, then plundered quick runs at the death through a barrage of Will Jacks sixes on their way to posting 171 for 7.Aaron Finch, who hit 83 here last July at a strike rate of 218.42 – only for the match to be abandoned to rain – clattered 18 off the second over of the night from Kent T20 debutant Matt Milnes but, with 25 to his name, miscued a Fred Klaassen slower ball back to the bowler.Surrey reached 49 for 1 by the end of the Powerplay, after which Spitfires brought on first-team debutant Marcus O’Riordan, a 21-year-old off-spinner whose excellent opening over cost only five runs.Kent turned to spin at both ends with the introduction of left-arm spinner Imran Qayyum who had Curran caught at cow corner with his second ball.Surrey lost further impetus when Bell-Drummond yorked Mark Stoneman, Qayyum squeezed one between the bat and pad to bowl Ben Foakes and then had Ollie Pope stumped by Ollie Robinson as Surrey raised their 100 in the 15th over.Qayyum finished his four overs with 3 for 22, after which Hardus Viljoen returned to pluck out middle stump via a bottom edge as Clark aimed to cut.Jacks clattered eight sixes late in the piece on his way to 63 off 27 balls before biffing Klaassen’s last ball of the innings into the hands of long off, even so, Surrey’s total appeared a little below par.
Illan Meslier’s error in Leeds United’s Premier League defeat against Arsenal on Sunday left BBC Sport pundit Stephen Warnock ‘astonished’.
The lowdown
Leeds slipped into the relegation zone as they fell to a 2-1 loss at the Emirates Stadium while positional rivals Everton won away to Leicester City.
It was a disastrous start for the Whites as Eddie Nketiah pounced on a heavy touch from Meslier following a back pass from Luke Ayling and lunged in to score the opener after just five minutes. Nketiah then doubled the home side’s lead on 10 minutes before Ayling saw red inside the opening half-hour.
Diego Llorente halved the deficit midway through the second half, but the visitors were unable to find an equaliser.
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Warnock rates Meslier’s highly but says that there was no excuse for failing to ‘put his foot through’ the ball in the lead-up to Nketiah’s first goal. The 40-year-old also questioned Jesse Marsch’s insistence on playing out from the back, claiming that it left Leeds vulnerable.
“Illan Meslier is an incredible shot stopper but you can’t defend him there,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live [8 May, 2:12pm], as quoted by MOT Leeds News.
“Put your foot through it, this is the problem when you get these managers or players who want to play out from the back so often.
“I’m just astonished the way Leeds are approaching this game. They keep on trying to play out and they are caught again.”
The verdict
Marsch might argue that this strategy was designed to ensure that Leeds had a foothold in the game. By kicking it long, they may simply have given the ball straight back to Arsenal and invited waves of pressure, whereas they could retain possession if they were more patient.
The problem with that tactic, though, is that there is no room for error, particularly against a Champions League-chasing team like Arsenal, and Meslier’s poor touch was all it took for Arsenal to score.
The Frenchman, who joined Leeds on an initial loan basis in 2019 (he signed permanently a year later) while Marcelo Bielsa was manager at Elland Road, was his team’s Young Player of the Year last season but has actually endured a difficult campaign this time around.
Data from FBRef shows that the £22,000-per-week stopper has conceded seven goals more than he ‘should’ have this term, based on post-shot xG.
Perhaps that’s a small part of the reason why his team has struggled throughout the 2021/22 campaign.
In other news, one Spanish outlet has dropped a further update on Raphinha’s future
Head coach believes 50-over struggles are in a category of their own as attention shifts to Perth
Cameron Ponsonby01-Nov-2025Brendon McCullum conceded that England “clearly need to improve” in one-day cricket after they fell to a 3-0 clean sweep against New Zealand. ‘Go harder’ has been the mantra of this England team, with Harry Brook imploring his side to double down in their efforts with the bat after his side’s first collapse in Mount Maunganui a week ago. Two matches and two further batting failures later, however, McCullum has reset the party line and called for England to adopt a more considered approach.”Harry’s said before that we need to put pressure back on the bowlers, and there are times when we do need to be a little braver and put some pressure on the bowlers,” McCullum said following the defeat in Wellington. “And then there are other times where we’ve got to adjust to their lengths and lines.”Not necessarily in a high-risk sort of way but just by being brave enough – whether that’s coming down the wicket or moving around the crease – just get things going a little bit more and bounce off one another.”Across the series, England lost 11 wickets in the opening 10 overs of the innings, compared to New Zealand’s four, and were bowled out in all three matches. Their innings in Wellington was their longest of the trip, batting for 40.2 overs before they were all out.”I think when we’re confronted with good, flat wickets, we’re a very, very good cricket team,” McCullum said. “I think we play a high-octane style of cricket and those conditions suit us. When the wickets have a little bit in them and they’re a bit more challenging, whether that be spin or seam or swing, we probably can’t quite adapt our tempo quick enough.Fewest runs by a team’s top four•ESPNcricinfo Ltd”We’ve got some talented players but, unfortunately, our performances at the moment in this form of the game aren’t quite up to scratch and we need to rectify that.”England’s top order combined for an historically poor series, managing just 84 runs between the top four, the lowest tally in one-day international history. Of the top six, only Brook, Joe Root and Jos Buttler made a score of 20 across the three matches.McCullum, however, does not believe it is a concern heading towards the Ashes, where Australia are expected to serve up similar styles of wickets. In the longer format, he argues that England have been able to counter different conditions well.”I like to separate it,” McCullum explained. “I think in T20 cricket we’re going really well and in Test cricket we have a pretty decent idea of where we’re at – and I think we’ve performed reasonably well, albeit we have a huge challenge ahead of us.Related
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“One-day cricket is clearly the area we need to improve, and my comments are more directed at one-day cricket. I think when we do come across the trickier conditions in Australia and Test cricket, we have a pretty good understanding of how we’re going to go about it. It doesn’t guarantee us anything but it gives us a level of confidence going into that series.”He also believes that, despite a number of players experiencing a poor run of scores, the likes of Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett and Root will be “better for the run” after getting a number of games under their belt.”They’ve marked centre a few times and gone through the process and I’m sure they’ll be better for it. With the prep that we’ve had with the other Test guys who’ve been here for a while too, we’ll have no excuses come Australia.”McCullum identified Jamie Overton as England’s “huge win” for the tour, after the bowling allrounder contributed with the bat in all three matches and put together his finest performance in ODI cricket in Wellington, scoring 68 runs and taking two for 32 with the ball.”I think there’s times when we think he’s a better player than he does,” McCullum said. “And on this tour he’s fully believed in the player he can be at this level. There’s not too many players around the world who can bowl 140kph, field the way he does and hit the ball as cleanly. It’s been a huge series for Jamie…he’s incredibly well liked within the group and we’re all delighted for him.”England’s next competitive fixture will now be in Perth, with the long-awaited Ashes series finally around the corner after years of build-up.”I’m proper excited,” McCullum concluded. “We’re incredibly respectful of the challenge Australia is going to present us and we know how hard that tour is going to be.”It’s going to require a team to stay together right throughout, to be as strong as we can to try and block out any of the outside noise. But we’re very respectful of who we’re coming up against, we’re so excited to get over there and we can’t wait to get started.”
The visitors need to win in Dambulla on Sunday if they are to keep the T20I series alive
Andrew Fidel Fernando12-Jul-2025Big picture: Are SL’s batters finally getting it right?For years, Sri Lanka’s bowlers have prevented a full-blown slide into irrelevance in the white-ball format. While there have been the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, and occasionally Dilshan Madushanka putting in good bowling performances over the past few years, there has been a dearth of batting stars, and a shortage of firepower.But it has begun to feel like Sri Lanka are serious of fixing this. From the way players in the camp are talking, the message has gone out from captain Charith Asalanka especially, that bowlers have been carrying the side for too long, and that it’s time for the batters to win matches with their own performances.In the first T20I on Thursday, the bowlers were good, restricting Bangladesh to a total that was perhaps 15 runs short of par. But the batters were exceptional, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis putting on a rollicking opening stand. Right through the tour, at least one batter in the top five has contributed heavily to Sri Lanka’s victories.Bangladesh must now find ways to halt these supremely in-form players. Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are perhaps in the form of their life at the moment, while Asalanka continues to perform consistently. Which of their bowlers can deck the top order? Sri Lanka have had trials against legspinners in the past, so perhaps if Rishad Hossain was deployed earlier in the match, he might have more say on the outcome. Could Mustafizur Rahman prove a greater challenge than Taskin Ahmed, who was expensive in the first match?In the first match, Bangladesh’s batters could also have shown a bit more hustle during the middle overs especially. Captain Litton Das finding some touch with the bat could also make a significant difference.Form guideSri Lanka: WWLLL Bangladesh: LLLLLIn the spotlight: Dasun Shanaka and Shamim HossainIn domestic cricket, Dasun Shanaka tends to be a big-hitting monster. Although there have been moments in international cricket in which he has showcased his power, he has not done so consistently. He’s back in the team after a while outside it, and in his first game back impressed with the skill and smarts with which he bowled. His bouncers were especially useful. If he can put a couple of good batting performances together this series, he will seriously recommend himself as an option for Sri Lanka’s 2026 World Cup campaign.In cynical terms, Shamim Hossain is a “bits-and-pieces”player. These players are the sorts that captains and selectors like because they allow decision makers to hedge their bets (or so the story goes).. But analysts are increasingly against, because these sorts of players rarely contribute to victories (or so that story goes). So far on tour, Shamim has contributed a tight spell in an ODI win, and in the first T20I, hit two sixes in a five-ball innings, and took a spectacular leaping catch running back from short cover. If he’s a bits-and-pieces player, he’s making plenty of all the bits and pieces at the moment.Taskin Ahmed sweats it out during a training session•AFP/Getty ImagesPitch and conditionsDambulla was a relatively high-scoring venue until mid-2024, when the curators started churning out more spin-friendly tracks. It remains to the seen whether the surface for the second T20I will favour the batters or spinners. Dambulla, a dry-zone venue, is fairly clear of rain this time of year.Team newsDespite the big loss in the T20I series opener, Bangladesh may show faith in the same XI. Jaker Ali may continue to be unavaiable due to his thigh strain.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Parvez Hossain Emon, 3 Litton Das (capt, wk), 4 Mohammad Naim, 5 Towhid Hridoy, 6 Mehiday Hasan Miraz, 7 Shamim Hossain, 8 Mohammad Saifuddin, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Rishad Hossain, 11 Tanzim Hasan SakibSri Lanka may not change much.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kusal Mendis (wk), 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Avishka Fernando, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Chamika Karunaratne, 8 Jeffrey Vandersay, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Binura Fernando 11 Nuwan ThusharaStats and triviaShanaka has never scored a T20I fifty against Bangladesh, but does strike at 145 against this team, compared to a career T20I strike rate of 122. Rishad has more T20I wickets against Sri Lanka (seven) than any other team. His economy rate of 7.05 against them, over 19 career overs, is also impressive.Quotes”I think his confidence is a bit low. We know what we can produce. We are working hard to get him to that stage. Hopefully he can get there in the next match, shows his ability.” “If you compare since 2023, we have improved our fielding substantially. We analysed where we needed to improve, and worked on our fitness, and increased repetition in training.” Sri Lanka fielding coach Upul Chandana
The international break couldn't have come at a worse time for Manchester United, with the Red Devils likely to have been keen to build on the momentum following the stunning, last-gasp win at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Two weeks have passed since that 4-3 triumph – a period that Erik ten Hag is likely to have enjoyed with the pressure somewhat lifted from his shoulders – with it yet to be seen if the Old Trafford side can kick on away to Brentford later today.
Bruno Fernandes
Ten Hag and his men will feel like they are returning to the scene of the crime in a sense in what is their first visit to the Gtech Community Stadium since the dismal 4-0 thrashing in August 2022, a day in which Cristiano Ronaldo and co simply wilted in fluorescent green.
GK – David De Gea
RB – Diogo Dalot
CB – Harry Maguire
CB – Lisandro Martinez
LB – Luke Shaw
CDM – Christian Eriksen
CM – Fred
CM – Bruno Fernandes
RW – Jadon Sancho
ST – Cristiano Ronaldo
LW – Marcus Rashford
A far different lineup is set to take to the field this time around, however, as United seek to close the gap on those above them, albeit with a handful of selection decisions there for Ten Hag to ponder…
Man Utd team news
In a season that has been a story of one injury blow after another, Ten Hag provided a sense of optimism during Friday's pre-match press conference, having revealed that Lisandro Martinez could be in line to make a welcome return to the matchday squad following an eight-week absence.
After also revealing that Luke Shaw may feature again before the season is out, the Dutchman offered further reason for positivity after revealing that Casemiro could also be in contention for the trip to west London, after making his return to training over the past week or so.
Casemiro in action for Manchester United in the Premier League.
With FA Cup hero Ama Diallo ruled out through suspension – and Harry Maguire also a doubt after sustaining an injury on international duty – the only real fresh and notable concern for United is the news that teen sensation Kobbie Mainoo has been struck down by illness this week.
Ten Hag was, however, hopeful that the 18-year-old – who starred on his first England start against Belgium in the week – would still be involved this evening, ensuring there could be minimal changes from the side that triumphed over Jurgen Klopp and co.
That being said, one potential tweak could see Mason Mount thrust back into the action alongside Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes, with that personnel change coming at the expense of a certain Scott McTominay.
Why Mason Mount should start over McTominay
On the face of it, that may seem like a bold call to make considering McTominay's recent form, with the towering midfielder having netted the opener against the Merseyside outfit last time out, while also providing the assist for Marcus Rashford's extra-time equaliser.
The Scotland star was also the notable hero against the Bees earlier in the campaign, the 27-year-old coming off the bench to net a clinical and crucial brace in stoppage time to send the Theatre of Dreams into a frenzy.
That deadly double came amid what has been a fine goalscoring season for the academy graduate in 2023/24, boasting career-best figures of nine goals in all competitions – a tally only bettered by Rasmus Hojlund.
Despite that 10/10 cameo against Thomas Frank's men – as dished out by GOAL's Richard Martin at the time – there may be wisdom in trialling Mount in that midfield three, with the Englishman making his long-awaited return off the bench against Liverpool.
Absent prior to that since Remembrance Day, the forgotten summer signing needs a run of games to try and get back fit and firing, hoping to return to the levels that saw him reach double figures for goals and assists in the league 2021/22, during his stint at Chelsea.
Scott McTominay
For all McTominay's merits, he is not the type of talent who can help United control games, instead capitalising on chaos, showcased by the fact that he ranks in just the bottom 47% among his European peers for pass completion, as well as the bottom 10% for progressive passes and the bottom 5% for attempted passes per 90.
Unlike the box-crashing brute, Mount, at his best, can offer a greater controlled and creative presence either as a number eight or as a ten, having previously been described as the "complete midfield player" by Ten Hag back in July.
Unleashing the former Blues man would allow the club to begin to see some return from their £55m investment, with McTominay waiting in reserve to be called upon if more dramatic late heroics are required.
For United's – and Ten Hag's – sake, hopefully it is a smoother ride today than recent meetings with the Bees…
Ten Hag must unleash Man Utd's “Rolls-Royce” instead of Martinez
Erik ten Hag will look to build on the impressive victory over Liverpool.
It remains unclear, however, whether the latter will contest after a bruising defeat two years ago
Tristan Lavalette20-Oct-2022The stage could be set for ICC chair Greg Barclay and his deputy Imran Khwaja to once again contest the leadership of the sport’s global governing body, but it remains unclear if the latter will make a run after a bruising defeat two years ago.ESPNcricinfo has learned that Khwaja, a veteran board director and long-time Associate chair, will be nominated for the chair election to be held during the ICC’s meetings next month in Melbourne. The ICC chair election will be held during the ICC’s meetings next month in Melbourne scheduled immediately after the semi-finals of the ongoing men’s T20 World Cup. It could not be confirmed whether any other candidates will enter the fray as the deadline for filing nominations closed on Thursday (1700 Dubai time).It is, however, unknown if Khwaja will accept the nomination after falling short against Barclay in the last election in late 2020. Then, acting ICC chair Khwaja had his support diminished during two rounds of voting as Barclay prevailed 11-5 after receiving influential support from the Board of Control for Cricket in India. In the first round Barclay had secured 10 votes while Khwaja had half-a-dozen members on ICC Board voting in his favour. However, as per the election process at the time, a clear winner needed a two-thirds majority, which Barclay secured after Cricket South Africa voted for him in the second round.If Imran Khwaja contests the election, he will strive to be the first ICC chair from outside the Full Member nations•ICC via GettyThis time though the ICC has modified its constitution and stated that a simple majority will be enough during the chairman elections. As per the election procedure, the candidate has to be proposed by a member on the ICC Board and once the person decides to contest, a second board director needs to be support the nomination.The influence of the BCCI remains vital once again for both candidates. ESPNcricinfo has learned that while the BCCI has decided not to field its own candidate in the ICC chair elections, it is keeping its options open.In July, Barclay publicly expressed his desire to continue for a second term. “I am available for re-election if members want,” Barclay told mediapersons immediately after the ICC’s annual general meeting in Birmingham.Having retained popularity through the Associates while sitting on numerous ICC committees and helming the working group tasked with looking into the issue of women’s cricket in Afghanistan, Khwaja remains a prominent figure. It is understood the Singaporean’s backers believe he can still triumph without the all-powerful BCCI endorsement, having apparently strong support in Asia and Africa. But he would need nine votes to prevail. If he does put his hand up, Khwaja would be striving to be the first ICC chair from outside the Full Member nations.
The Mexican football legend came out of retirement to play one more season with the Esmeraldas.
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Alajuelense, América, and Tigres are candidates to replace León.
León have a hearing with the CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) on April 23.
Guardado defends that his team earned their ticket through the right way.
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?
Club León’s expulsion from the Club World Cup for violating the tournament’s multi-ownership rule has become one of the most high-profile cases in Mexican football. The Guanajuato-based club is set to appear before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on April 23 to appeal the decision and determine whether they will be allowed to participate. Meanwhile, several teams – América, Tigres, and Costa Rica’s Alajuelense – have emerged as potential replacements.
Andrés Guardado, a Mexican football legend and current León player, criticized the teams positioning themselves to take León’s place in the tournament, which will be held this summer in the United States:
"The teams that are raising their hands to go to the Club World Cup, with what face are they going to say, 'I deserve to go,' if they also had the chance to qualify for a CONCACAF Champions Cup and win it? It was the same opportunity that León and Pachuca had,": Guardado said. "Honestly, I would be ashamed to go if I didn’t earn it on the field."
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Guardado explained, in his point of view, there are gaps in the competition regulations, arguing that "multi-ownership has existed" for "many years" and not just in Mexican football.
"I find it a brutal injustice, and for me, if someone did things wrong, it's FIFA, not León, because the issue of multi-ownership exists. Grupo Pachuca, how long has it been around? Many years," Guardado said. "Pachuca and León participate in a tournament sanctioned by FIFA, and they don't inform Grupo Pachuca that, if both their teams qualify, one won't be able to participate, and on top of that, they create a rule afterwards that says they can't be involved."
Getty Images SportWHAT JAMES RODRÍGUEZ SAID
Leon's star No. 10 James Rodriguez agreed with Guardado's assessment, saying, "It's a huge injustice, not just for me, but for all of us here. As the coach says, we've earned every right on the field. We're a bit hurt by all these things, and I think if we are out, it's something that isn't fair."
He added, "The team that goes in will go in tainted, it’s not fair for a club that has done great things, especially for all the people who have bought things. How do you tell the fans they're not going? Who gives them all of that? The interest goes beyond many things, like León being out. I have doubts about all these things, it's strange, and I believe there's a big interest in having someone else there. I have doubts and football is being tainted."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CLUB LEÓN?
While this case is being resolved, León is also focused on winning the Liga MX championship, where they currently sit in second place with 26 points, just one point behind América. Guardado and Rodríguez's team will return to action this Sunday after the FIFA break to host Efraín Juárez's Pumas in Matchday 13.