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Chelsea fans are "absolutely fuming" and have accused the Blues of exploitation ahead of Jose Mourinho's much anticipated return to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League. The clash has been slapped with a Category AA label, the most expensive tier in the club’s pricing structure, meaning adult general sale seats stretch up to a staggering £83.

• Opportunistic Chelsea raise ticket prices

  To add insult to injury, the number of junior and senior concession tickets has been cut, leaving families and long-standing season-ticket holders fuming. Many fans say the announcement, made just a week before kick-off, feels like a brazen cash grab timed perfectly for Mourinho’s much-hyped return.

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• AFP
  

  'They’re killing football’ – fans vent anger

  The outrage isn’t just about Chelsea, say supporters, it’s about the wider direction of the sport. In an interview with David Johnstone, of the CFCUK fanzine, didn’t mince his words: "I am absolutely fuming. And I’m not just fuming because it’s a Chelsea thing. It’s a football thing. These people running football now are absolutely killing it. I haven’t got a problem if people want to pay £10,000 to sit in that Dugout Club. If they want champagne and bells and whistles, good luck to them. 

  "But don’t forget the majority of people who are struggling to pay their electricity, gas bills, pay their mortgages, put food on the table, for whom football is the one release at the end of the day, at the end of the week. I’ve got a 12-year-old kid, he’s 12 on Saturday, and I’m having to pay £50 for a ticket for him, because I can’t get a kids’ one. In 10 years’ time, he isn’t going to be able to afford to go to a game. It’s shocking.”

• Short notice and scrapped concessions spark backlash

  Tim Rolls, ex-chair of the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST), echoed the fury.

  “There’s a number of issues around the short notice, the increase in pricing, the removal of concession pricing," he said. “By removing the concession pricing without any advance notice, they’ve just increased prices for youngsters, for over-66s. They probably are happy to alienate groups of season-ticket holders, especially the older ones, because they think that they can sell tickets – especially for this type of game – to one-offs. People who are happy to pay more because of the Mourinho effect. And it will inevitably have an effect.”

  Many suspect the categorisation was no coincidence, though Johnstone disagrees.

  “They’d have done it anyway," he claimed. “They don’t want oiks like me who struggle to get £800 for a season ticket. We’re no good to them. Why’s the atmosphere so rubbish? Because they’re filling it up with tourists. If people want to come and see Chelsea, I welcome them from anywhere in the world. It must be great. They’d rather have those people paying £70, £80, £90 for an ordinary ticket and going and spending £300 in the megastore and coming once in their life. People like me, at the bottom of the food chain, we’re not going to have anything left.”

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• Trust calls out ‘exploitation’

  This row follows hot on the heels of another storm three weeks ago, when Chelsea flogged bundle tickets for all four group games, against Benfica, Ajax, Barcelona, and Pafos, at a discounted rate. Season-ticket holders feared losing their usual seats unless they stumped up more cash.

  A CST spokesperson said: “The Chelsea Supporters Trust is deeply concerned with the club’s handling of ticket sales for upcoming Uefa Champions League fixtures. Recent decisions have been marked by poor communication, unjustifiable price increases and a disregard for supporters. The message is clear – stop exploiting our loyalty.”

His left knee has minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Dec-2024Mohammed Shami will not be considered for the fourth and fifth Tests of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy due to swelling on his left knee.The BCCI press release on Shami’s fitness came days after India captain Rohit Sharma called on the National Cricket Academy to provide an update on the fast bowler’s progress upon being asked once again about it at the end of the Brisbane Test.”Shami bowled 43 overs in the Ranji Trophy match for Bengal against Madhya Pradesh in November,” the BCCI said in a statement. “Following this, he played in all nine games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he also engaged in additional bowling sessions on the sidelines to build his bowling volume in order to get ready for the Test matches.Related

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“However, his left knee has exhibited minor swelling due to increased joint loading from his bowling workload. The swelling is on the expected lines, owing to the increased bowling after a prolonged period.”Based on the current medical assessment, the BCCI medical team has determined that his knee requires more time for controlled exposure to bowling loads. Consequently, he has not been deemed fit for consideration for the remaining two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.”Shami has not played for India since the ODI World Cup final in November last year, after which he underwent surgery for a heel injury in February. The BCCI said he had “completely recovered” from the heel injury and would “continue to undergo targeted strength and conditioning work under the guidance of the medical staff at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence and build his bowling loads needed to meet the demands of the longest format of the game”.Shami was not included in Bengal’s squad for their first game of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy on December 21 and the BCCI said his participation in the tournament would depend on the state of his knee.

Arsenal are beginning to turn a Liverpool target’s head as we enter the final few weeks of this summer transfer window, with Mikel Arteta’s side making an approach for the player amid their long-winded pursuit of Eberechi Eze.

Arsenal can hand Arteta his own Isak-level signing in £100m Eze alternative

The incredible international could be a real game-changer for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Aug 6, 2025

Sporting director Andrea Berta has already made quite the impression in his first summer operating as Edu’s replacement, spending north of £200 million on the signings of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and star striker Viktor Gyokeres.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

25/26 – summer

£208m

The Gunners are seemingly determined to end the club’s two-decade-long wait for another Premier League title, and despite their need to offload surplus squad members right now, Arsenal could still sign Eze before the window closes.

They view the England international as a more potent playmaker in terms of goals, and who could complement club captain Martin Odegaard in a central role (Sky Sports).

Eze is Arsenal’s top target from now until the transfer deadline on September 1, and they’re expected to make a formal bid for the Palace star after holding extensive talks with his representatives.

The 27-year-old has also spoken directly to both Arteta and Berta about joining Arsenal, according to Ben Jacobs for talkSPORT, with some initial talks taking place with Palace as the north Londoners aim to get his signing done for around £55 million.

However, Eze may not be there only signing in the next few weeks, with Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet believed to be a target as well.

The promising Ligue 1 sensation only signed a new deal until 2029 in May, but some reports suggest Jacquet is increasingly tempted by the prospect of a move to Arsenal, with Fabrizio Romano also reporting that an approach has been made.

Jeremy Jacquet debating future with camp as Arsenal and Liverpool eye moves

According to journalist Graeme Bailey for TBR Football, Jacquet is holding talks with representatives over his future amid this contact from Arsenal, while it is also believed that Premier League champions Liverpool have registered an interest.

While Rennes insist that he’s not for sale, the 20-year-old is still speaking to his camp about what could be next for him, so Jacquet’s head may be turning amid this attention from England.

There is a feeling among the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool that he could still be attainable despite Rennes’ stance, with the idea of a ‘buy-to-loan’ type move, similar to how Arteta’s side got William Saliba from Saint-Etienne, not ruled out.

Even in that scenario, Rennes would keep Jacquet in France for at least another season, but Arteta would have to wait before fully integrating him into the squad.

His price tag is rumoured to be around £25 million, which could be a savvy investment for the future considering his already-glowing reputation across the channel.

Jacquet has been dubbed the “technical leader of his generation” by his former development coach at Rennes, Pierre-Emmanuel Bordeau, and football writer Phil Costa believes he’s “one of the best defensive prospects in France” in a similar mould to Ben White.

Bangladesh’s selectors have recalled Mehidy Hasan Miraz to the T20I squad for the three-match series against India starting next week. Mehidy played the last of his 25 T20Is in July last year, missing Bangladesh’s last 24 matches in that format while being a key allrounder in the two longer formats.There were also recalls for opener Parvez Hossain Emon and left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan.Related

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Shakib Al Hasan is the big absentee but this was expected following his announcement on Thursday that he was retiring from both Tests and T20Is. Soumya Sarkar is the other player who featured in the T20 World Cup earlier this year who has been left out.Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain paid tribute to Shakib, saying Bangladesh would have a tough time replacing him, and hoped Mehidy could step up to a batting-centric role in Shakib’s absence. Ashraf explained that Mehidy had been picked to bat higher up the order without a set bowling role.”The great Shakib Al Hasan has already announced that he has played his last T20I for Bangladesh,” Ashraf said. “We don’t have anyone to replace his experience and performance but we feel that Mehidy Hasan Miraz is a good batter who can handle the middle order. Mehidy can play as a batter. We didn’t pick him in the previous [T20] World Cup as we usually feel that he has a strong role as an allrounder in Tests and ODIs.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“We didn’t feel his bowling was a great option in the powerplay in T20s. We didn’t want to disturb his rhythm in the other formats. This is why he wasn’t in our T20 World Cup plans, which we had clearly communicated to him. We are hopeful of seeing him higher in the order, just above the finisher’s role.”The new role will be quite a challenge for Mehidy, who currently has 248 runs in 20 T20I innings at an average of 14.58 and a strike rate of 118.66, with a highest score of 46. He has opened the batting twice, and batted once each at Nos. 5 and 6.Ashraf said that Parvez, the left-hand opener, impressed the selectors in various camps during the off-season. He added that Rakibul got the nod due to an injury to left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam.”We have made changes in the opening, middle order and spin attack while keeping the pace attack intact,” Ashraf said. “We have brought in Parvez Hossain Emon in Soumya Sarkar’s place. We have observed him in the recent camps. He is part of our future plans. Rakibul has taken Tanvir’s place, as the latter is recovering from a broken hand. Rakibul is useful with the new ball.”Ashraf said the selectors still believe the veteran Mahmudullah can do a job in the T20I side, despite his mixed-bag performance in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. “We have our future squad in mind,” he said. “We will give value to experienced players. We have belief in Mahmudullah. The captain will have all the options for combinations in this squad.”Bangladesh’s T20Is against India are in Gwalior (October 6), New Delhi (October 9) and Hyderabad (October 12).

Bangladesh squad for T20Is against India

Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah, Litton Das, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rakibul Hasan.
IN: Parvez Hossain Emon, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rakibul Hasan
OUT: Soumya Sarkar, Shakib Al Hasan.

اعترفت فايزة العماري، والدة كيليان مبابي، نجم نادي ريال مدريد، أن ابنها كان مغرورًا بعض الشيء في مرحلة ما، كاشفة عن حب الدولي الفرنسي لـ زين الدين زيدان وكريستيانو رونالدو منذ الصغر.

مبابي انتهى به المطاف بتحقيق حلمه واللعب في صفوف ريال مدريد خلال صيف العام الماضي، حيث وقع اللاعب مع الملكي في صفقة انتقال حر عقب نهاية عقده مع باريس سان جيرمان.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مدرب إسبانيا: هويسن يشبه لامين يامال.. وكوبارسي قد يشارك معه أساسيًا

وقالت العماري في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس”: “بالطبع كانت هناك أوقات كان بها مبابي مغرورًا، لكن كأم عليكِ أن تعيديه إلى أرض الواقع، من حقه أن يشعر بالضيق أحيانًا، إنه إنسان في النهاية”.

وعن كريستيانو رونالدو وزيدان: “بدأ الأمر مع زيدان وكيليان في الرابعة من عمره، ثم حبه لـ كريستيانو رونالدو، بالنسبة له كان يتعامل وكأنه برتغاليًا، كان يذهب لمشاهدة مباريات البرتغال ويشجع رونالدو ويقول لي أنا برتغالي”.

واستكملت: “في الرابعة عشر من عمري، قال لي كيليان: أمي، لقد لمس زيدان سترتي، لن أغسلها مرة أخرى”.

وعن كون مبابي أسطورة، أجابت العماري: “لا أحب كلمة أيقونة، إنها تخيفني، يتحدث الناس عن الشهرة، لكنهم لا يتحدثون عن التوقعات والعواقب، أنا فخورة بكيليان الرجل الذي أصبح عليه أكثر من فخري بكيليان اللاعب”.

واعترفت أنها تأثرت وبكت كثيرًا بعد شائعات تورط مبابي في فضيحة اغتصاب بفندق ستوكهولم في السويد، واختتمت: “كانت تلك أصعب لحظة بالنسبة لي، بكى، وقلت له: سنقاتل، حينها تدرك مدى هشاشة كل شيء، لو ارتكب كيليان أي خطأ في السويد، لكنت أخذته إلى الشرطة بنفسي”.

Aston Villa have a busy couple of weeks ahead amid their need to ensure they don’t overstep the FFP mark and one of their star men is now being lined up for a move ato Manchester United.

Aston Villa's balancing act in light of PSR

Profit and Sustainability Rules have become a contentious topic for fans who don’t support one of the traditional ‘Big Six’ clubs. However, they have become a frustrating reality that everyone now has to abide by.

Unfortunately, Aston Villa are now at risk of breaching regulations after recording £202.6 million in pre-tax losses over the past two years, which is the most out of anyone in the Premier League.

Losing a maximum of £105 million over three consecutive years is the limit for top-flight clubs, which has created plenty of speculation regarding potential sales to bridge the gap.

BBC Sport columnist Fara Williams has named Jacob Ramsey as a player Aston Villa could sell to make ends meet, as she said: “It does feel like Aston Villa will have to sell some key players this summer if they are to bring others in and keep within PSR regulations.

“There has been a lot of rumours around it and I believe Jacob Ramsey was a name being mentioned who, as a homegrown player, they would make more money from.”

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The Villans have also passed on signing Marcus Rashford permanently, prioritising Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho as a more affordable alternative.

Nevertheless, the feeling around the West Midlands is one that Aston Villa must sell before they can buy, and Unai Emery could now have a dilemma on his hands following recent developments.

Emiliano Martinez in talks with Man Utd

Now, according to reports via CaughtOffside, Emiliano Martinez is in talks over a move to Manchester United and may be a sacrificial lamb for Aston Villa amid their current PSR state of limbo, and he is thought to be open to the idea of moving to Old Trafford.

Due to the Red Devils’ status as a domestic rival, the Villans are reportedly demanding a fee north of £40 million to sell the World Cup-winning stopper this summer, who has been identified as a successor to Andre Onana under Ruben Amorim.

Emiliano Martinez in 2024/25 – Premier League (Fotmob)

Appearances

37

Goals conceded

45

Clean sheets

8

Penalties saved from penalties faced

1/2

Labelled “magnificent” by Alan Shearer, Martinez now appears primed for a move elsewhere, begging the question of who could replace the Argentina international between the sticks.

Going off recent times, OGC Nice stopper Marcin Bulka is a prominent target for Aston Villa, illustrating that Emery may have his eyes on a younger alternative in the event he is left searching for new blood.

Either way, Martinez has been a brilliant servant in the West Midlands and would be sorely missed, even if his departure feels like the best source of action for all parties involved.

Celtic are on the march to another potential domestic clean sweep, but could now face a battle on their hands to retain a talented young star, per reports.

Celtic take one step closer to a domestic treble

Hampden was literally a sea of green last weekend as Celtic fans packed out the national stadium on Sunday to witness their side batter St Johnstone 5-0 to reach the Scottish Cup final.

Brendan Rodgers now stands effectively one game off becoming the first ever Hoops manager to win three trebles in charge at Parkhead. They only need one point this weekend away to Dundee United to seal a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title.

In essence, Celtic have one match left this campaign that carries direct jeopardy. However, the thought of post-split clashes such as their trip to Tannadice followed by a meeting with Rangers the week after leave enough motivation for the champions to retain a healthy fire in their belly.

Come the summer, Rodgers’ priority will centre around securing Champions League-calibre additions to bolster his side ahead of the final qualifying round.

Crystal Palace youngster Jesse Derry is a target for Celtic following his refusal to sign a new contract at Selhurst Park. On the same token, Stoke City winger Million Manhoef is on the Bhoys’ radar, though may cost £10 million to bring to Glasgow’s east end.

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While incomings are always on the agenda, it would be negligent to rule out the fact that several departures could occur at Parkhead this summer to make room for fresh blood.

Further down the food chain, Celtic could now be set to lose a talented young star in a scenario that fans have seen unfold all too often in recent years.

Celtic could lose Dara Jikiemi to Nottingam Forest

According to Football Insider, Celtic could lose young defender Dara Jikiemi to Nottingham Forest after the Premier League outfit set their sights on bringing the 15-year-old to the City Ground.

Following some excellent performances at club level that led him to captaining Scotland’s Under-15 side earlier this year, he could become the latest in a long line of youngsters who have departed Lennoxtown to move on before making a sustained first-team breakthrough.

Ben Doak, Rocco Vata, Daniel Kelly, Liam Morrison and Cameron Harper are just a handful of prodigious stars who have left the Scottish champions in recent years while at a young age, enjoying a mixed degree of success south of the border and further afield.

Brexit has made Scottish soil a hotbed for scouts from English clubs due to tightened rules over signing EU-based players while they are under the age of 18. Celtic aren’t immune to this and will routinely face challenges in keeping hold of young talent for years to come.

Under new captain Latham, the likes of O’Rourke and Ravindra have shown what they can do, and there are others knocking on the door

Deivarayan Muthu27-Oct-20245:09

Latham: Immensely proud moment for this group

At 3.55pm local time in Pune on Saturday, Tom Latham’s New Zealand did the unthinkable by beating India in India in a Test series. Before 2024, New Zealand had visited India for 12 Test series across 69 years without ever winning one. Before 2024, they had two Test wins in India in 36 years. Now, in a space of less than two weeks, New Zealand have doubled that tally and made history.After Tim Southee coolly took the winning catch at the edge of the long-on boundary to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja, Latham sprinted all the way from leg slip to embrace him. Having stepped down as captain ahead of the Test series in India, Southee was no longer a certain starter in spin-friendly Indian conditions. But, as it turned out, he had the first say under cloudy skies in Bengaluru and the final say under cloudless skies in Pune.More than three years ago, when Ross Taylor hit the winning runs for New Zealand in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against India in Southampton, he exchanged hugs and glove-punches with Kane Williamson. This image of the pair walking off the ground together became iconic, with the New Zealand public even suggesting it should be immortalised as a statue at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe bear hug between Latham, Southee and Daryl Mitchell in Pune was perhaps just as iconic, with their screams of joy reverberating around the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium, where more than 20,000 Indian spectators were stunned into silence.Southee was the only fast bowler from both teams to have taken a wicket in Pune. Latham was the only batter from both sides to have scored more than 80. The pair is the last link to New Zealand’s golden generation. Kane Williamson, who missed the first two Tests of the ongoing India series with a groin injury, has knocked back his New Zealand central contract, as have Trent Boult, Devon Conway, Martin Guptill and Jimmy Neesham. Meanwhile, Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme have all retired from international cricket.Related

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Transitions are always tricky and New Zealand have a limited talent pool, but they have found ways to invest in their next line of players. And it felt like Pune 2024 marked the beginning of a new era, with some old, familiar faces still around to oversee the transition.”I guess in cricket teams you have times where you’re grouped together a long time,” Latham said at his post-match press conference. “I guess around that World Test Championship, the group had been together for a long time and we obviously had guys retire, we’ve had guys move on. We’ve obviously seen a new wave of players come through and I think for them to come in and perform straightaway has been the most pleasing thing. You’ve obviously still got a mix of older guys or more experienced guys and some youth, which is awesome.”I guess the likes of Will O’Rourke and Rachin [Ravindra], those two guys are going to play a lot of cricket for New Zealand. It’s obviously really special for them to come here and be in this position. Certainly really proud of this group and everyone’s proud of each other.”Everybody wants a bit of Mitchell Santner•AFP/Getty ImagesLatham and Mitchell beamed with pride every time they spoke to the Indian reporters about their Canterbury team-mate O’Rourke’s potential.In his first Test in India, O’Rourke, 23, took out Virat Kohli for a duck on his way to match figures of 7 for 114. Kohli’s dismissal had New Zealand’s planning written all over it. They placed their best fielder Glenn Phillips at leg slip and had their tallest bowler bouncing him out in Bengaluru. They were braced for the conditions changing in Pune and once again made a percentage call by bringing in Mitchell Santner and that paid off handsomely too.Everything has to come together perfectly for wins like these and they did, which is having quite an effect back home.

Congratulations to the @BLACKCAPS on a famous and historic test series win in India! Absolutely brilliant!

— Christopher Luxon (@chrisluxonmp) October 26, 2024