SPORTS

CRISTIANO RONALDO wants Gareth Bale to be left out of Real Madrid’s starting XI for tomorrow’s Champions League clash against Juventus (7.45pm), it has been claimed. The Champions League is Real Madrid’s final hope of lifting any major silverware this season after a wretched La Liga campaign and early Copa del Rey exit. There are a number of question marks ...

The FIFA Referees Committee has selected 36 referees and 63 assistant referees, representing 46 different countries, for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. Out of the number, 16 match officials are from Africa. The contingent comprises six referees and ten assistants. Preparations for the road to Russia kicked off in September 2014 not only for the 32 participating teams, but ...

Japan completed its preparation for the Women’s Asian Cup in emphatic style Sunday with a 7-1 victory over the Black Queens of Ghana in an international friendly. With an eye on her lineups for the April 6-20 tournament in Jordan, coach Asako Takakura made multiple changes throughout the match against the Black Queens, including bringing veteran forward Nahomi Kawasumi off ...

Aduana Stars striker Yahaya Mohammed rolled back the years to register a hat-trick-the first in this season’s Ghana Premier League in their 6-0 win over Inter Allies. Mohammed’s first was in the 8th minute when he connected from close range and doubled the lead ten minutes from inside the box. In the 28th minute, he made it a treble of ...

Ghana attacker Kevin-Prince Boateng believes he possessed sufficient talent to play for Real Madrid, though he insisted that he’s satisfied with his career so far. Boateng, 31, has had a decent career thus far after lining up for some of the best teams in the world; AC Milan, Tottenham, Dortmund and Schalke 04. However, the Eintracht Frankfurt attacker believes he ...

WEST BROM have axed Alan Pardew with six games of the season left to go. Pardew was appointed as Tony Pulis’ successor in November but has failed to spark a revival in the relegation strugglers’ fortunes. West Brom are 10 points from safety and look destined to drop out of the Premier League. Former Baggies defender Darren Moore has been ...

DELE ALLI grabbed the two goals that ended twenty eight years of pain for Tottenham and crushed Chelsea and insisted: “I have got nothing to prove.” The Spurs and England forward has had an erratic season, losing his place in Gareth Southgate’s England side and scoring only six goals before yesterdays clash at Stamford Bridge, but his two strikes in ...

JOSE MOURINHO insists he has not spoken to Didier Deschamps about out-of-form Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba. Mourinho was said to have contacted the France manager to discuss problems with Pogba. United’s one-time world’s most expensive player has endured a miserable few weeks at Old Trafford but did score for France during the international break. Yahoo! had claimed Mourinho and ...

ANTONIO CONTE has warned his Chelsea players that Sunday’s top four showdown against Tottenham is a must-win game – and demanded maximum points from all their last eight games. Pogba scored and provided an assist for France as they beat Russia 3-1 on Tuesday. It was in direct contrast to his form for Manchester United where he has started just ...

Liverpool and Manchester United are set to meet in pre-season in the US, with the second biggest stadium in the world lined up as a potential venue. The game will be part of the annual International Champions Cup in July. While a venue has yet to be agreed, Michigan’s 107,000-capacity ‘Big House’ in Ann Arbor is a possible option for ...