Kylian Mbappe appeared to be enjoying his time off from Paris Saint-Germain duty, as his proposed transfer to Real Madrid edges closer.
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Liverpool have confirmed that a youth player was racially abused in an Under-16 game against Juventus, leading the team to walk off the pitch.
Why did the Liverpool U16 team walk off the pitch?
Playing in the Next Generation Trophy last Friday – a tournament held in Austria – the Reds were up against their Italian counterparts when the incident took place.
As per The Athletic, the Liverpool teenager involved went to the touchline to report the abuse to the coaching staff, who informed the players to follow protocol and leave the field.
The Juventus youngster involved was then suspended by his club for the rest of the tournament while staff offered the English side a full apology.
A Liverpool spokesperson said: “We can confirm that a member of our under-16s team was racially abused by an opponent while playing in the Next Generation youth tournament in Austria.
“The individual responsible was identified immediately and removed from the competition as a result of the swift intervention of our own players and staff, tournament organisers and opposition management, who have also taken additional disciplinary measures inclusive of education.
“We would like to place on record our appreciation for the prompt actions taken by all involved. This applies most of all to the player subjected to the attack, who showed remarkable maturity in following established protocols, including leaving the pitch, in order to report the matter as soon as it occurred. He is receiving the full support of the club.
“We would also reiterate that our condemnation of all forms of racist abuse remains unequivocal and absolute.”
What has been the reaction to the racist incident in the Liverpool U16 game vs Juventus?
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, before the statement had been officially given by Liverpool's spokesperson, former player Djibril Cisse took to social media to express his dismay and anger about what had happened.
The ex-French footballer has a son, Prince, who currently plays in the Reds' academy and was involved in the game.
Writing to his two million Instagram followers, Cisse said (via TalkSport): “Now it’s too much.
“During the game @LiverpoolFC vs @Juventus under 16s (my son Prince Cisse was playing) a kid from Juventus called a @LiverpoolFC a n****.
“The @LiverpoolFC staff had to stop the game. @Juventus what are you gonna do now? It’s a f****** shame. 15 years old kid @Juventus, you better act strongly now and shame.”
As per The Athletic, direct action has already been taken. Indeed, they report that staff members from Juventus’ academy and tournament organisers Red Bull Salzburg have since contacted Liverpool academy director Alex Inglethorpe to express their regret about the incident and check on the youngster’s well-being.
While it's also mentioned that the Juventus youth player is now undergoing a course to educate him that racism and all forms of discrimination are unacceptable. It is understood that senior Liverpool figures are happy with how Juventus have handled the matter.
All in all, it's a shameful incident and thoroughly disappointing to learn of such attitudes and behaviour existing within the academy of Europe's biggest football clubs.
In response to the incident, however, in a show of solidarity ahead of their following game at the Next Generation Trophy, Liverpool and their Argentinian opposition Independiente took the knee before kick-off.
Ross Barkley is being backed for an England recall after his 'Andres Iniesta-like' display in Luton Town's 4-4 draw at Newcastle United.
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Kaushal Adhikari
Nepal stunned defending champions India on the third day of the Under-19 Asia Cup in Kuala Lumpur. Playing a key role in the 19-run win was the captain Dipendra Singh Airee. First he made 88 in Nepal’s modest 185 for 8. Then he took 4 for 39 to wrestle India down from 91 for 1 to 166 all out.There were several points in the match when the eventual result looked quite unlikely. Like when Himanshu Rana got the chase off to a brisk start, smacking seven fours and a six in his 38-ball 46. Though he fell to Kamal Singh Airee, India seemed to have things well in hand. At one point, they only needed 96 runs in about 27 overs with nine wickets in hand.The game turned when Dipendra dismissed Atharva Taide. Pawan Sarraf (2-24) and Shalab Alam (2-11) also chipped in with a couple of wickets to ensure India’s middle and lower order felt the pressure of the chase. And eventually the quarter-finalists in the last Under-19 World Cup secured victory.It was perhaps the situation Dipendra had hoped for when he was batting earlier in the day, doing his best to repair the innings after the loss of both openers inside 10 overs. He added 49 for the third wicket with Jitendra Singh, before taking charge with an innings that included six fours and two sixes. Having faced 101 deliveries, he was dismissed only in the penultimate over.Nepal, who were beaten by Bangladesh by two wickets in their tournament opener, play Malaysia next on Tuesday, while India, winners by 202 runs against Malaysia, take on Bangladesh.
Manchester City fullback Kyle Walker could be "tempted by the possibility" of leaving the club this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The 33-year-old has been at the club since 2017.
What is the latest news regarding Kyle Walker?
Walker is closing in on a move away from the Etihad this summer according to reports.
The Athletic are reporting that the England international has verbally agreed terms with German juggernauts Bayern Munich on a two-year deal. Whilst an agreement between the two sides has not been reached yet, the reported asking price from the current Champions League holders is in the region of £15m.
Current City boss Pep Guardiola has stated that he is determined to keep the fullback, citing his importance for the side and the qualities he brings to the team: "“Kyle is incredibly important for us. He has specific qualities that are so difficult to find out wide. I don’t know what’s going to happen, both clubs are in touch. We will fight for him like I’m sure Bayern will. I don’t know how it will finish.”
Walker has made 254 appearances for the Manchester club since his £50m move in the summer of 2017, registering six goals and 18 assists en route to winning 12 major honours with the club, including five Premier League titles and one Champions League.
There were also reports earlier in the window that Arsenal were interested in signing the former Tottenham Hotspur full-back, however, nothing ultimately materialised regarding that potential move.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Italian journalist Romano revealed that the 78-time-capped England international is "tempted" by the opportunity to join Bayern, with the German side's manager Thomas Tuchel "really pushing" to secure the deal: "Manchester City are really trying their best to keep Kyle Walker, but it's not an easy situation. Also for the player, I can guarantee to you that Walker is tempted by the possibility of joining Bayern Munich. It's a big chance, it's a big contract, and Thomas Tuchel is really pushing to have him."
How can Manchester City replace Kyle Walker?
The Citizens have two real options to replace the 33-year-old should he make the switch to Bavaria.
One option is to delve into the transfer market. The Manchester club are reportedly in talks with Bayern over French international defender Benjamin Pavard however they face stiff competition from local rivals Manchester United as well as Italian giants Juventus. The player is in the final 12 months of his contract at the club, and the German side do not want to lose the 27-year-old on a free transfer next summer so have placed a €30m price tag on the defender. Pavard is set for a reduced role next season following the arrival of Kim Min Jae and the potential arrival of Walker, so may push for a move for more regular first-team football ahead of Euro 2024, and due to both clubs wanting a respective player, a swap deal could be negotiated between the sides which could make City the favourites.
Man City do also have a couple of potential in-house solutions as well. Portuguese full-back Joao Cancelo could be reintroduced into the first-team setup following his six-month loan spell in Munich during the second half of last season following a fallout with boss Guardiola. The player has featured during the side's pre-season tour so far and has even registered an assist. Another in-house option could be giving young Rico Lewis increased minutes next season. The full-back made his mark at City last season, making 23 appearances in all competitions and playing his part in helping the club secure an illustrious treble. Referred to as the clubs "little Phillip Lahm" by Guardiola, the youngster may be ready for an increased role with greater responsibility next season should Walker depart this summer.
Mohamed Salah could potentially join an exclusive club – including Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney – if he scores for Liverpool against Newcastle.
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Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale failed to secure a trophy in his debut season in the dugout at Ibrox after replacing Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The English manager joined during the break for the 2022 World Cup, having started the campaign with Queens Park Rangers, and used his knowledge of the Championship to bolster the squad during his first window in charge.
Beale signed former Norwich City wizard Todd Cantwell in January to bolster his forward options and the 25-year-old proved to be a sensational addition to the team.
How much was Todd Cantwell sold for?
According to The Sun, the Canaries cashed in on the attacking midfielder for a fee in the region of £1.5m, despite rejecting an offer for the same price from Blackburn Rovers earlier that month, as his contract was due to expire at the end of the season.
He proved his worth to the Light Blues with a string of fantastic performances across the middle of the park. Cantwell averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.36 across 16 Scottish Premiership appearances, which placed him third in the squad – only behind James Tavernier and Borna Barisic.
However, Beale could help the Gers number 13 to become even better by securing a deal for reported transfer target Jack Clarke, who could make his compatriot unstoppable at Ibrox by giving the opposition another threat to deal with.
Is Jack Clarke staying at Sunderland?
Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray recently claimed that the young winger is in no rush to leave Wearside but refused to completely rule out a transfer, which could open the door for Rangers to swoop over the coming weeks.
The "exciting" talent – as he was once described by ex-Premier League forward Noel Whelan – enjoyed a terrific campaign in the Championship to draw interest from the Scottish giants.
He produced nine goals to go along with an outstanding 11 assists in 44 league starts for the Black Cats, as the former Tottenham Hotspur man proved himself capable of making a significant impact at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis from a wide position.
To highlight how impressive those numbers are, Malik Tillman (ten) was the only Rangers midfielder with more than nine goals while none of Beale's stars from last season hit double figures for assists.
These statistics suggest that the £15k-per-week sensation has the potential to be an exceptional addition to the team if he is capable of translating his form at Sunderland over to Scotland.
Cantwell could, therefore, become unplayable in the number ten position as Clarke would provide a huge threat on the left flank that would cause opposition defenders to double up on him, subsequently opening up more space for the ex-Norwich ace to thrive.
The Sunderland star's ability to assist his teammates regularly could also allow Cantwell to improve his own goal return, after six goals in 15 league starts for the club last term, as the former Leeds starlet has proven himself to be more creative than any of Beale's existing options.
The Norfolk-born maestro was one of the team's top performers last season but the arrival of the Sunderland phenomenon could take his game to another level, making him an unstoppable proposition in midfield for the Light Blues.
Sussex have appointed wicketkeeper Ben Brown as their Championship captain for the rest of the season, with Ross Taylor taking charge in the NatWest T20 Blast
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2017
Sussex wicketkeeper Ben Brown has been appointed Championship captain for the rest of the season•Getty Images
Sussex have appointed wicketkeeper Ben Brown as their Championship captain for the rest of the season, with New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor taking charge in the NatWest T20 Blast, following Luke Wright’s decision earlier this month to stand down.Brown, who has been absent since early May after suffering a broken finger, steps up from vice-captain, after Chris Nash led the team to two wins from two as Wright’s initial replacement. Brown has been with Sussex since the age of 11 and captained the team in several games last season, with Wright injured.”For someone who has been associated with Sussex for so long being appointed as captain is a very proud moment for me,” Brown said.”I enjoyed the challenge of captaining the side last season but I feel in the last 12 months that the team has grown with a good core of senior players. Of course, I have my own ideas about how I want to lead the side but I also know there are some very solid cricketers in our dressing room who can give me support and advice if I need it.”It’s an exciting time. We have eight Championship games left but we go into Monday’s match against Gloucestershire with some real momentum. If we keep playing as we have in recent weeks the table will take care of itself and we can challenge for promotion.”Sussex lost three of their first four games in Division Two but rebounded with victories over Worcestershire and Leicestershire. Approaching the halfway point of the season, they lie fifth in the table, 43 points off the promotion places.Brown’s first game in charge will be a day-night fixture, played with a pink ball, against Gloucestershire at Hove starting on Monday. He scored 72 on his comeback from injury earlier this week, playing in a T20 for Nash’s testimonial in Horsham.Sussex’s head coach, Mark Davis, said: “As our vice-captain and a key senior member of the team we’re delighted Ben has agreed to take over as skipper. He learned a lot last season when he led the side when Luke Wright was injured and he will be a better captain for that experience.”He will do the job for the rest of the season when the cricket management team will review the situation. We have no plans to appoint a vice-captain because we feel there is already a good group of senior players in our squad who can support Ben.”I’d also like to say a big thank-you to Chris Nash who led us to victories in his two games in charge against Worcestershire and Leicestershire. I’m looking forward to Nashy making a big contribution in the rest of the season as a senior player and a key batsman in the side.”Taylor, the former New Zealand captain, is returning after a spell as Sussex’s overseas player last season and will lead the team in the T20 Blast, which begins next month.”I am very proud to be appointed captain of the Sharks for this season’s competition,” Taylor said. “I know the club and the players well from my time at Hove in 2016 and I am looking forward to joining up with the boys again. I believe we have a very exciting squad for this format and one that can challenge any team in the competition.”
Steve O’Keefe has been banned from this year’s domestic limited-overs competition by New South Wales and fined for the second time in eight months
Daniel Brettig07-Apr-2017Steve O’Keefe has been banned from this year’s domestic limited-overs competition by New South Wales and fined $20,000 by Cricket Australia for making highly offensive comments while intoxicated at the after-party following the Steve Waugh Medal presentation.In what was his second alcohol-related offence in the past nine months – he was fined $10,000 and handed an infringement notice by NSW Police for an incident at a Sydney pub last year after returning home injured from the Test tour of Sri Lanka – O’Keefe is believed to have made a string of offensive remarks after the awards ceremony, which was held at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney on Saturday night.Having performed so well for Australia on the recent tour of India, O’Keefe now finds himself on exceedingly thin ice with both his state and the national team. O’Keefe said he would seek specialist counselling in the wake of the episode.”At an official Cricket NSW function I became intoxicated and made highly inappropriate comments. There is no excuse for this and I take full responsibility and offer an unconditional apology,” O’Keefe said in a statement. “I accept the sanctions imposed by Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW and welcome the chance to receive specialist counselling.”I have a big challenge ahead and I am determined to meet it with actions, not just words. To all of the members of the cricket family I love and respect so much, again, apologies for letting you down.”Senior officials from both Cricket NSW and CA were furious at O’Keefe’s behaviour, particularly after he worked assiduously and well to prepare himself for the India tour, where he was among Australia’s most accomplished performers.”Stephen has not upheld the standards expected of a NSW and Australian cricketer in the aftermath of the India tour where he proudly represented his state and country,” NSW chief executive Andrew Jones said. “As this is his second recent offence we believe a strong penalty is appropriate. At Cricket NSW, we want all our people to achieve their potential on and off the field and Stephen needs to refocus himself on that task.”Pat Howard, the CA team performance manager, said the incident overshadowed what had been a most productive season for O’Keefe. “There is no time or place for unacceptable behaviour from any of our players in Australian Cricket, and we continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to this,” he said.”We’re extremely disappointed this situation occurred, particularly on the back of a previous incident, and it now overshadows Stephen’s on field performance on the recent tour of India.”
With the deadline for direct qualification for the 2019 World Cup on September 30, and with that luxury given only to the top eight teams including hosts England, West Indies who are at No. 9, are in a precarious position
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Mar-2017The new West Indies coach Stuart Law has said his main aim is to make sure the team qualifies directly for the 2019 World Cup.Currently ranked No. 9 by the ICC, West Indies have to improve their position by at least one spot before the September 30 deadline. The top eight ODI sides, including hosts England, on the cut-off date gain automatic entry into the showpiece event while the bottom four will have to go through the rigours of a qualifying competition, where ten contenders fight for only two spots.West Indies’ quest begins with the first of three ODIs at home against England on March 3. Then they take on their nearest competition on the rankings table – Pakistan at No. 8 – in April over three matches, which could prove decisive to which of the two teams end up in the top eight. West Indies also have the cushion of five more 50-over matches against England in the UK before September 30. While winning as much as possible would be the priority of any international cricket team, Law knows it is especially important for his.”The main aim is to qualify for the next World Cup, the 50-over World Cup, so these one-day games are extremely important to us,” he said. “So that’s our main focus really at this stage. I know we have Pakistan coming for T20s, Tests and one-dayers as well but the one-day series probably will take paramount importance.”There is considerable disappointment in West Indies at missing out on the Champions Trophy. They had won the tournament in 2004 but now, for the first time ever, they will not be part of it. Several issues – prominent among them the spat between the WICB and their biggest match-winners – have meant the one-day team, unlike its counterpart in T20s, is rarely at full strength. These concerns, however, are being addressed with the help of Jimmy Adams, the former captain and the new director of cricket in West Indies.”It’s a great little tournament, the Champions Trophy, the mini World Cup and to not be there probably isn’t where you want to be,” Law said. “You want to be in every single one of those tournaments but it is what it is. We’ve just got to make sure we have our heads screwed on for the one-day tournaments we play in upcoming tours and if we can win those, we can get through to qualify for the World Cup. That’s probably the bigger one to worry about.”Law is confident of the men under his charge – “We’ve got power. We’ve got extreme power. Match that with a bit of technique as well, we’re looking pretty good.” – and that helps because he is only into his second month on the job and there are other challenges to navigate as well.”For me, it’s about seeing how it all operates,” Law said “Learning the different cultures from the different islands and how to address people and how to get the best out of the young kids is probably the most important thing for me now. I’m not going to focus on becoming No. 1 in the world at this stage. I’m focusing on building a culture, building a work ethic in the dressing room that will put the little brick in place so that they can become the best they can be.”