Barcelona star Lionel Messi will appeal against the 21-month jail sentence handed down to him by a Spanish court after being found guilty of fiscal fraud.
The 29-year-old who received the backing of Barca following the ruling and his father Jorge were both given the same prison sentences for the offence, with the former Argentina international fined €2million for three counts of tax fraud and his dad penalised €1.7m.
Both men have always denied any wrongdoing, and Messi s representatives have confirmed the five-time Ballon d Or winner will fight his conviction at the Supreme Court.
The appeal was confirmed in a statement on Wednesday as Messi s camp insisted they had always behaved correctly, as well as expressing their confidence of success in challenging t…
Philippe Clement was pleased with the improved second-half performance of his Rangers side but suggested the bar was low during the 0-0 draw with Hearts.
Rangers started the encounter poorly, but Clement took encouragement from the improved display in the second 45 minutes, with Cyriel Dessers going closest as his header crashed against both crossbar and post.
Hearts had the better of the Scottish Premiership opener, having 18 shots to Rangers nine, and 0.78 of the hosts 1.28 expected goals (xG) was mustered in the first half.
Clement said: We showed the right images in half-time, we talked, we discussed, to do the right things – and then you see that we play better football and we create more and we have much more control of the game.
We need to conti…
Jose Pekerman has left his post as Colombia coach after transforming their international fortunes over the course of nearly seven years in charge.
Argentinian tactician Pekerman was appointed back in January 2012 during a turbulent period for Colombia, who at the time had not qualified for a World Cup since 1998.
Pekerman was Colombia s third coach in five months, as Hernan Dario Gomez resigned in August 2011 and his successor Leonel Alvarez only lasted until December.
But Pekerman had an instant impact and ultimately led Colombia to second place in South America s World Cup qualification campaign, securing a spot at Brazil 2014.
In Brazil, Colombia attracted acclaim from neutrals for their style of play and went as far as the quarter-finals – their bes…
Ashley Barnes scored a dramatic injury-time winner as Burnley beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in an enthralling Premier League contest at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Sean Dyche s men were in cruise control at half-time as goals from Sam Vokes and Johann Berg Gudmundsson put the Clarets into a 2-0 lead.
However, the hosts were rocked by a second-half Palace revival as first substitute Connor Wickham hammered home Wilfried Zaha s cross before Christian Benteke levelled from the penalty spot.
It appeared as though Palace had done enough to clinch a point but, with the clock winding down, Barnes whose last goal came in February 2015 finished another brilliant Burnley counter to steal the points.
Burnley consequently climb into the top half, while Palace s winless top-flig…
Roberto Martinez said his future as Belgium head coach will only be discussed after the World Cup later this year, having watching his side beat Poland 1-0 in the Nations League.
Michy Batshuayi s first-half header helped Belgium to their second win of this Nations League campaign, although they still trail the Netherlands by three points in Group A4 after being thrashed 4-1 by Louis van Gaal s men in their opening game earlier this month.
Results such as that one, as well as Belgium s failure to lift a major trophy despite producing a supposed golden generation of talent, have led to suggestions Martinez s job could be under threat.
But the former Everton manager will only entertain questions over his future after leading the Red Devils to the World Cup in …
England boss Sarina Wiegman maintained full faith in her side to stage the stunning second-half comeback that lifted the Lionesses to a 3-2 win over the Netherlands in their penultimate Women’s Nations League group-stage clash at Wembley.
Needing a victory to remain in contention to finish top in Group A1 and advance in the tournament, which serves as a qualifier for next summer’s Olympics in Paris, England quickly dug themselves a hole after Lineth Beerensteyn netted twice before the break to put the Dutch 2-0 up.
But the Lionesses battled back after the restart on a frigid night in London, Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp stoking the crowd back into a frenzy by the hour mark before substitute Ella Toone sealed a dramatic victory in stoppage time.
Ella Toone …
Riyad Mahrez was delighted with the way Manchester City effectively countered against Paris Saint-Germain, although he suggested this was not their aim in their Champions League semi-final victory.
City reached the final of Europe s elite club competition for the first time with a 2-0 second-leg win that clinched a 4-1 aggregate triumph.
Mahrez had hit the winner in Paris and added both goals at the Etihad Stadium, where the pitch was covered in hail following a pre-match shower.
His first came following a long pass from Ederson – It s something we work at all the time, Mahrez said – before Phil Foden led a stunning break for the second.
City were sloppy in possession in the opening stages but defended doggedly and soon found space in attack as PSG pr…
Marco Reus lavished praise on his new Borussia Dortmund team-mate Erling Haaland, convinced the club has not had a player like him since Robert Lewandowski.
Dortmund reportedly saw off competition from a host of major European clubs to land the young Norwegian striker, who joined at the start of this month after his move was confirmed in December.
Haaland emerged as one of Europe s most sought-after players after starring for Salzburg, scoring 28 goals in 22 matches this season.
Manchester United, Juventus and RB Leipzig were among the clubs said to be interested in the 19-year-old before BVB reported paid a relatively modest fee of €20million.
Reus says the teenager must be given time to settle in, but is adamant he has not seen a forward of Haaland s…
Gareth Bale s retirement announcement sparking a new wave of golf-related jokes and memes was par for the course – he might not have expected Pep Guardiola to chip in, though.
The Wales great confirmed on Monday his career in professional football has come to an end after representing his country at the 2022 World Cup.
Despite his brilliance as footballer over the years, it is certainly not the only sport Bale is closely associated with.
During his time in Madrid, Bale s penchant for taking to the golf course while injured began to tee Los Blancos fans off, and former player Predrag Mijatovic once suggested the Welshman s priorities were Wales, then golf, and after that, Real Madrid .
Wales fans subsequently turned it into a chant and slogan, with Bale …
Christian Eriksen believes Manchester United showed they have the legs to take on the best in the Premier League after outrunning Liverpool at Old Trafford.
The Monday night 2-1 win at Old Trafford will count for little if United stumble at Southampton on Saturday, but after defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford, the Red Devils found a big performance to sink their great rivals and lift spirits.
With Harry Maguire and Cristiano Ronaldo shuffled out of the starting XI, goals from Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford delivered three points for United, Erik ten Hag s first league win as United manager.
United had only 29.6 per cent of possession and their passing accuracy was a fairly dismal 65.93 per cent.
That was the worst accuracy United have …