5 h. ago 'I knew David Beckham for brief period and saw his true colours at son's football match'

Brooklyn Beckham accused his family of putting public promotion and endorsements first in a scathing statement, following months of feud rumours

Politics

18 h. ago Mbappé and Vinícius lead Real Madrid resurgence as Monaco are hit for six

The scars remain and there is much to be fixed still but this was a significant step towards reconciliation and something of a statement too. Not just in the goals they scored, but the reaction to them. Nine days after Xabi Alonso’s sacking, six after their captain said they had hit rock bottom with Copa del Rey elimination and three after the protest of a generation, white hankies and whistles greeting the players and even the president, there were songs and support at last as Real Madrid defeated Monaco 6-1.Kylian Mbappé, Franco Mastantuono and Jude Bellingham all scored, while there was also an own goal from Monaco’s Thilo Kehrer. The Englishman celebrated his with a drinking celebration following rumours about his supposed off-field habits and accusations about his part in Alonso’s sacking. He had already referred to that by posting: “Honestly, what a load of shit.” Smiling now, this response was even more pointed, and done from a position of power, at the end of an impressive p...

Events

19 h. ago Thomas Frank lives to fight another day as Tottenham sweep aside Borussia Dortmund

TOTTENHAM 2-0 BORUSSIA DORTMUND: On a night when Spurs boss Thomas Frank desperately needed a positive result, his side delivered one of their best of the season

Politics

19 h. ago Gabriel Jesus stakes claim at Inter as Arsenal celebrate qualification in style

Mission accomplished for Arsenal. A seventh win out of seven ensured Mikel Arteta’s side will head straight into the last 16 of this competition as one of the favourites for the Champions League after Gabriel Jesus scored twice – including their 19th goal of the season from a corner – to see off last year’s beaten finalists.It means that as well as getting one back over an Inter side that beat them here 14 months ago, Arsenal have surpassed their longest winning streak at this level. While Manchester City’s surprise defeat in Norway in the earlier kick-off had removed any jeopardy about them progressing, this was more evidence of the ruthless streak they have developed under Arteta. The only blot on the copybook in a fourth successive away game in four different competitions was Petar Sucic’s equaliser in the first half after Jesus had given them an early lead, although this was all about the Brazil striker even after the substitute Viktor Gyökeres sealed the points late on with a c...

Politics

19 h. ago Gabriel Jesus fulfils ‘dream’ at Inter as Arsenal celebrate qualification in style

Mission accomplished for Arsenal. A seventh win out of seven ensured Mikel Arteta’s side will head straight into the last 16 of this competition as one of the two top seeds after Gabriel Jesus scored twice – including their 19th goal of the season from a corner – to see off last year’s beaten finalists.It means that as well as getting one back over an Inter team that they lost to 14 months ago, Arsenal have surpassed their longest winning streak at this level. While Manchester City’s surprise defeat in Norway in the earlier kick-off had removed any jeopardy about them progressing, this was more evidence of the ruthless streak Arsenal have developed under Arteta. The only blot on the copybook in a fourth successive away game in four different competitions was Petar Sucic’s equaliser in the first half after Jesus had given Arsenal an early lead, although this was all about the Brazil striker even after the substitute Viktor Gyökeres sealed the points late on with a classy finish. Cont...

Politics

19 h. ago Arsenal send Champions League statement with dominant Inter victory

INTER MILAN 1-3 ARSENAL: Gabriel Jesus was on hand to score twice for the Gunners as they continue to sit top of the pile with the Champions League knockouts closing in

Sport

21 h. ago Bodø/Glimt give Manchester City one hell of a Champions League beating

To channel Bjorge Lillelien and his famous commentary on Norway’s win against England in 1981: Pep Guardiola, your Manchester City boys took a heck of a beating here on the shores of the Norwegian Sea, below the skies of the aurora borealis, and on the Aspmyra Stadion’s artificial pitch graced by this immortal Bodø/Glimt victory which downed a continental superpower.Jonas Gahr Støre was present to witness a win that came courtesy of Kasper Høgh’s two first-half goals plus Jens Petter Hauge’s curled peach after the interval, as Norway’s prime minister escaped Donald Trump’s curious obsession with the Nobel peace prize: another measure of how this result will never be forgotten. Continue reading...

Sport

21 h. ago Man City suffer Champions League humiliation as Erling Haaland concerns grow

BODO/GLIMT 3-1 MANCHESTER CITY: Pep Guardiola watched his defence get cut apart time and time again as the team sat second in Norway enjoyed one of their most memorable nights

Sport

43 h. ago Kostoulas’s brilliant bicycle kick rescues point for Brighton against Bournemouth

Just when it seemed another match would be dominated by the dreariness of a debatable video assistant referee decision, a moment of majesty from Charalampos Kostoulas provided a pertinent reminder of the beauty that football can provide.With his side staring at what would have been a controversial defeat, the Greek substitute found himself facing away from the Bournemouth goal in the first minute of injury time. A touch of his chest bounced the ball upwards, before the 18-year-old produced a wonderful bicycle kick to send the Amex Stadium wild. Continue reading...

Events

51 h. ago Police issue urgent appeal over awful footage in Welsh football match

A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault after a video circulated showing a player elbow a member of the opposing team in the face

Events

54 h. ago Man, 35, arrested for alleged assault at Wales football match after clip goes viral

A player was treated for concussion

Events

55 h. ago Did God fix a football match? Welcome to the great divine intervention debate | Ravi Holy

Vicars, the devout – and some who are desperate – do a lot of praying to get their wishes fulfilled. But it's complicated by lots of dos and don'ts‘I don’t believe in an interventionist God,” sings Nick Cave in the opening line of his 1997 song, Into My Arms. But Jim Sharma, a football fan who is a devotee of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, very much does – and who can blame him?For the detached, the uninformed and nonsports fans, the issue here is that Wolves had a terrible start to the season and, until the other day, looked set to beat Derby County’s unenviable record as the worst-performing team in Premier League history. Then they played my team, West Ham, and had their first taste of victory since April. Wolves 3 West Ham 0.Ravi Holy is the vicar of Wye in Kent and a standup comedian Continue reading...

Politics

67 h. ago Pape Gueye fires Senegal to Afcon glory against Morocco after walk

This had been, by general agreement, the most predictable, least dramatic Cup of Nations in living memory. And that was true, until eight minutes into injury time in the final, when a video assistant referee decision contrived to produce perhaps the most ludicrous finale to any major final in history. Senegal won it, but that is a tiny detail in the denouement that erupted. There was a walk-off in protest, a missed Panenka and a brilliant winning goal from Pape Gueye.The chaos began two minutes into injury time when Abdoulaye Seck was penalised for a slight push on Achraf Hakimi as he headed against the post. Ismaïla Sarr nodded in, but the whistle had already gone. Four minutes later, Adam Masina was penalised, following a VAR review, for a pull on Morocco’s Brahim Díaz as he defended a corner. For Senegal, already convinced there was a plot against them, that was too much and the majority of their players stormed off. Sadio Mané seemed notably reluctant to go, and it was he who ev...

Events

68 h. ago AFCON final descends into chaos as Senegal players walk off after controversial penalty

Chaos ensued at the Africa Cup of Nations final, as Senegal's manager ordered his players to leave the pitch after hosts Morocco were awarded a controversial penalty deep into stoppage time

Sport

69 h. ago Aston Villa blow big chance as Everton do Arsenal favour in Premier League title race

ASTON VILLA 0-1 EVERTON: Unai Emery's side had the chance to go within four points of Arsenal but a goal from Thierno Barry ended their run of 11 consecutive wins at Villa Park

Sport

2 d. ago Aston Villa’s title hopes hit after Thierno Barry fires resolute Everton to victory

Unai Emery did not hold back. In his programme notes – at least the words were attributed to him – the Aston Villa manager turned to caps lock. “THIS MATCH IS CRUCIAL,” he said, spying an opportunity. After Arsenal and Manchester City dropped points, a golden chance to return second and cut the leaders’ advantage to four points. Everton, however, had other ideas and approaching the hour Thierno Barry pounced on a Emiliano Martínez fumble after a Pau Torres lapse to condemn Villa to a punishing defeat. They are almost unheard of around here, this only a third home league defeat since the start of last season.For David Moyes, who bounced back from the setback of Jake O’Brien’s first-half header being disallowed because an offside Harrison Armstrong was deemed to be interfering with play, this was a major triumph. For Villa, this threatened to be a frustrating afternoon from the moment Merlin Röhl clinked a post inside 11 seconds and things went from bad to worse when John McGinn was f...

Events

3 d. ago Newcastle struggle to find cutting edge in drab stalemate with Wolves

Newcastle arrived at Molineux in retro shirts to bring back memories of David Ginola and Les Ferdinand but there was no swagger or flair in their goalless draw against Wolves. There was the potential to go fifth in the Premier League with a win for the Magpies but they toiled on their way to a point instead.With two-thirds of possession throughout the game, Newcastle must have expected to come away with more but they possessed neither the creativity nor finishing. Wolves were worthy of the draw, which leaves them three points shy of Derby’s worst-ever tally of 11, a total many at Molineux, at Christmas, feared would not be overcome. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Sels frustrates Arsenal as leaders move seven points clear with draw at Forest

This game was summed up neatly in the 82nd minute when two Nottingham Forest players hunted down Gabriel Jesus as the Arsenal substitute tried to see the ball out for a throw-in. Elliot Anderson was not settling for that, crashing into the tackle that actually won his team the restart. Sixty yards down the touchline, Sean Dyche’s hands went clapping above his head; Mikel Arteta reached his out to either side, palms raised to the skies in incredulity.Yet such is the way of this season. Just as the opportunity knocked, with Manchester City losing to Manchester United earlier in the day, for Arsenal to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points, with Nottingham Forest seemingly on the ropes with only one win in six previous games, up comes the underdog with a performance to sum up this manager. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Arteta rails at Arsenal being denied ‘clear penalty’ as Forest hold leaders

Mikel Arteta was adamant his team should have been awarded a penalty for handball by Ola Aina 10 minutes from time that would have given Arsenal the opportunity to move nine points clear at the top of the Premier League.Instead Nottingham Forest hung on gamely for a doughty goalless draw in a performance redolent of the team last season who were pushing for European qualification. They may only be five points clear of the relegation zone, after West Ham’s last-gasp win at Tottenham, but Sean Dyche was understandably proud of his team’s efforts that suggest Forest are moving in the right direction. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Liverpool booed as Dominik Szoboszlai pays penalty in fourth league draw in a row

LIVERPOOL 1-1 BURNLEY: Dominik Szoboszlai missed a penalty as Liverpool ended up drawing for the fourth time in a row in the Premier League

Politics