Comme son coéquipier Lionel Messi, son entraîneur Christophe Galtier et son président Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Neymar n’a pas été épargné par les foudres des supporters du Paris Saint-Germain. Alors que l’attaquant argentin de 35 ans a été insulté et traité de “mercenaire”, l’international brésilien de 31 ans a été prié de quitter le PSG. Des membres du Collectif Ultras Paris se sont délibérément rendus au domicile de la star auriverde pour lui demander de faire ses valises et de quitter le club de la capitale lors du prochain mercato estival.
Dans un communiqué officiel, « le Paris Saint-Germain condamne avec la plus grande fermeté les agissements intolérables et insultants d’un petit groupe d’individus, qui ont eu lieu ce mercredi. Quels que soient les différends, rien ne peut justifier de tels actes. Le Club apporte tout son soutien à ses joueurs, à son encadrement et à toutes les personnes concernées par ces comportements honteux. » Mais comme à son habitude, Neymar a tenu en personne à répondre aux fans parisiens.
Neymar, qui se remet actuellement d’une opération à la cheville en mars, lui a demandé de quitter le Paris Saint-Germain sur les réseaux sociaux après les protestations des Ultras. Lié au Paris SG jusqu’en juin 2027, le compatriote de Marquinhos a d’abord liké une affiche du média brésilien TNT Sports dans laquelle il apparaissait aux côtés de Lionel Messi en légende sous un maillot du FC Barcelone.
« Ils étaient TRÈS heureux à l’époque ! » Neymar a ensuite partagé une pensée philosophique. « Ne laissez pas les gens vous mettre dans leur tempête, mettez-les dans votre paix », a écrit le numéro 10 des Rouge et Bleu.
Wayne Rooney has been nominated for the Championship manager of the month award for the first time since becoming Plymouth Argyle boss.
The former England captain – who took over at Argyle in May – has been recognised for his work in September alongside John Eustace of Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder and Burnley manager Scott Parker.
Rooney led an upturn in form at Home Park last month that saw Argyle beat Championship leaders Sunderland 3-2 before a narrow 1-0 loss to West Bromwich Albion.
The club ended the month with a 3-1 home win over relegated Premier League side Luton Town.
The results saw Argyle climb from the relegation places to 13th in the Championship with Rooney claiming his first league wins as boss.
The former Everton and Manchester United striker also led Argyle to victory over Blackburn Rovers last week, but faces FA charges after he was sent off.
Rooney was unhappy with a decision that led to Rovers’ equaliser and is accused of three counts of improper conduct.
“We want to be pitting ourselves against the best, that’s what we’re doing. But the next step is to start getting these results and we’re desperate for them.”
McLean has been a mainstay of Scotland squads under Clarke, earning 44 caps, mainly as a replacement.
The 32-year-old did start both matches in September’s international window and feels he is in a strong position to keep pushing for a place in the side.
“I’ve always worked as hard as I can back at club level to be part of it and that’s all every player can do really,” he added. “I’ll keep doing as much as I can and I’ll always be as available as I can for the manager and then the decision is his.
“I don’t want to here just because I’ve been here in the past. I want to continue to do as well as I can for Norwich and then hopefully it keeps me and the manager’s plans for as long as possible.”
England interim manager Lee Carsley says John Stones “deserves” to be picked as captain for the Nations League match against Greece at Wembley, with regular skipper Harry Kane not fit to start.
READ MORE: England captain Kane not fit to start against Greece
Who has more caps – Steven Gerrard or Frank Lampard? Does Bukayo Saka have more England goals than Phil Foden? Have a go at our England higher or lower quiz.
Ranger’s promising career was almost over before it had even started.
He signed for Crystal Palace at the age of 10 but was released two years later for bad behaviour at school.
Aged 15, he was sentenced to 11 weeks in a young offenders’ institute for his part in an armed robbery in north London.
“We weren’t going around shooting or stabbing people,” he says. “We wanted to get some quick money so we said ‘let’s just take phones off people’.
“One of our entourage had a knife but I don’t know why because he wasn’t using it. We were acting like idiots.”
There is regret for the hurt he caused.
“Armed robbery is terrible. I wasn’t wanting to hurt them,” adds Ranger. “I was just thinking about getting the goods and running off.
“Now I’m older I do think I must have caused people trauma. At times I was a lunatic. I don’t know what else to call it.”
Ranger was a highly-promising £110-a-week player at Southampton’s academy when he was sentenced but the club supported him following his release and moved him into a flat with his mum, Karen, so she could keep an eye on him.
“My mum has had to come to meetings at every club I have been at to discuss my behaviour,” he says. “It’s been like that since my schooldays.”
Ranger was eventually kicked out of Southampton when he stole boots, training kit and even a staff member’s box of chocolates.
Where was his dad when all this was happening?
“He was around but I lived with my mum. Dad was in my life but what is he going to do? Punch me in the face? He could only speak to me.
“I’m my own man and he used to try to talk sense into me but I just didn’t listen.”
Ranger joined Swindon Town on trial before Newcastle came calling with a two-year contract and a £20,000 signing-on fee.
The 17-year-old headed to the north east hoping to put his troubled past behind him and make a name for himself playing alongside the likes of Fabricio Coloccini, Andy Carroll and Alan Smith.
Biggleswade have come through five matches for the chance to take on York, whose FA Cup pedigree includes a run all the way to the semi-finals in 1955.
Incredibly, eighth-tier Biggleswade saw off Canvey Island 1-0 in the previous round despite finishing the game with only nine men on the pitch after Michael Fisher and Charlie Hayford had been sent off.
“I got through it by praying,” said Northfield.
“For 20 minutes we weren’t very good, we struggled to get a foothold, and weirdly enough, the sending-off (of Fisher) got us playing how I wanted us to play.
“We stayed positive, got on the front foot, created one or two openings and then scored our goal from a great header from Lawrie Marsh late in the half.
“Second half, I felt we were matching a lot of what they did although obviously we had to defend an awful lot of balls into our box. You just block up holes, block up the angles and keep it in front of you.
“George Rose in goal made two or three unreal saves, one with his feet. Charlie Hayford, the second player to be sent off, cleared one off the line. Last five minutes we went to a 4-4-0 and it’s just a big rearguard action.”
Fisher will miss the game against York after his red-card appeal was turned down, but Hayford can play as he only received a one-match ban for two yellows against Canvey Island.
Bradley was offered the chance to shine by Klopp last season, and he says he is ready to take the next step under Slot, who replaced the German in the summer.
“They are two different people but I have really enjoyed working under the new gaffer,” he added.
“I’ve learnt a lot from him and it’s been really good. Long may that continue.
“I’m still young, I’m only 21. I know I’m not the complete player and I still have loads of places I can improve.
“As long as I keep working hard, in the gym and on the pitch every day, I can only get better and hopefully I’ll continue to do that.”
Bradley is ambitious, and that is something that is no secret. Despite Trent Alexander-Arnold being ahead of him in the pecking order at Anfield, he says his “ultimate aim” is to be a regular starter under Slot.
“I want to be playing week in, week out for Liverpool,” he said.
“I know I have a tough challenge ahead of me but I want to give my all every day and see where that takes me.”
Dani Cuesta posted photos from several locations in Singapore, including from outside what is thought to be Peter Lim’s home
A Spanish couple on their honeymoon in Singapore have been detained after protesting against the Singaporean owner of the football club they support.
Dani Cuesta posted photographs of himself outside the home of Peter Lim, the billionaire owner of Valencia CF, holding a banner criticising the business magnate.
Mr Cuesta and his partner Mireia Sáez were stopped while trying to leave Singapore airport on Friday and had their passports confiscated, Valencia Mayor María José Catalá told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.
It is unclear what charges the pair face, if any, but the matter will be resolved later on Wednesday, the BBC understands.
Singapore has some of the world’s strictest laws on vandalism and public assembly, which includes assemblies even of one person.
The government says these laws are necessary to maintain order and safety.
In 2020, a Singaporean activist who had long campaigned for freedom of speech was arrested for posing with a placard of a smiley face.
Shortly after arriving in Singapore on Thursday, Mr Cuesta posted on X that he would “take some photos with my lovely flag”, which reads “Lim Go Home”.
Mr Lim is deeply unpopular with Valencia fans, who have seen their club’s fortunes decline significantly over the course of his ten year tenure.
Encouraged by users online, Mr Cuesta posted a series of photos of himself at various tourist spots in Singapore holding the yellow banner.
Another image shows him outside what is believed to be the luxury complex where Mr Lim lives in Singapore.
A video he posted shows Mr Cuesta placing a yellow sticker reading “Lim out” – a common sight in the city of Valencia – on the residence’s gate.
The images quickly went viral among Valencia fans and Mr Cuesta even gave a light-hearted interview to a Valencia football podcast on Thursday.
He explained that as soon as his wife suggested going to Singapore, he had a “lightbulb moment” and decided to bring a banner and some stickers, which he placed on lampposts around the city.
“I told her ‘this is something I have to do’… perhaps it will be for nothing but it sends the message that we don’t want these people in Valencia,” Mr Cuesta told Tribuna Deportiva.
“I’ve not been detained yet,” he joked. “My wife’s been reading up about the laws in Singapore – she’s looking forward to getting through immigration tomorrow.”
Unhappy Valencia fans have been protesting against Mr Lim’s tenure for several years
Earlier that day, Mr Cuesta had joked on X that he did not want to “end up in a Singapore prison as that’s not the way I see my honeymoon going”.
The following day, as they attempted to board a flight to Bali, Singapore authorities stopped Mr Cuesta and Ms Sáez, according to Valencia’s mayor.
“[The Spanish embassy in Singapore] confirmed that two people had their passports taken away, due to an ongoing police investigation,” Ms Catalá told Spanish radio station Onda Cero.
“They have not been told what type of crime they are being investigated for. They can leave their hotel but not the country,” she added.
Valencia CF, meanwhile, said it was aware of the situation of two of the club’s supporters in Singapore.
“Valencia CF and La Liga are in contact with the Spanish embassy in Singapore, who have assured us that both are being advised and assisted in everything necessary with the objective of this being resolved as quickly as possible,” the club said in a statement.
Neither the Spanish embassy in Singapore nor the Singapore police have responded to the BBC’s request for comment.
Peter Lim, left, is one of Singapore’s richest men and has owned Valencia CF since 2014
Who is Peter Lim?
One of Singapore’s richest men, Mr Lim purchased Valencia CF in 2014 and became the first foreign owner in the club’s history.
After an initial honeymoon period, he quickly became unpopular with fans as the team’s performances declined and the club ran up huge debts off the pitch.
Traditionally a team that would challenge for league and European titles, Valencia currently lie second-bottom in the league.
Mr Lim has particularly been criticised for his friendship with Portuguese “super agent” Jorge Mendes and his alleged influence on the club’s recruitment of players and coaches.
Another associate of Mr Lim is former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, with whom he co-owned English lower-league club Salford City until earlier this year.
Despite having no managerial experience, Mr Neville was appointed Valencia’s head coach in 2015 but was sacked four months later after a disastrous spell in charge.
Libertad VCF, a Valencia fan group, said in a statement it had “total support and solidarity” with the recently married couple and called for them to be “freed immediately”.
“Their freedom of movement has been violated, simply for peacefully exercising their right to expression,” the statement added.
Former Republic of Ireland striker Stephanie Zambra has announced her retirement from football.
The 35-year-old won 58 Republic of Ireland caps and scored 14 international goals.
Under her maiden name Roche, she went viral in 2013 after scoring a superb goal for Peamount United against Wexford Youths.
The goal, which saw her twice flick the ball before volleying it into the top corner, saw her finish second in the Puskas Award the following year behind Colombia’s James Rodriguez.
After featuring for a number of clubs in the Republic of Ireland, Zambra had stints with ASPTT Albi in France, Houston Dash in the USA, Sunderland and Fiorentina.
She returned home in 2020 with Peamount and signed for Shamrock Rovers in 2022.
Her final match will be Shamrock Rovers’ final league game of the season against Shelbourne on Saturday.
“From kicking a ball around the streets of Shanganagh Cliffs to scoring goals for my country, I can truly say that football has given me enough memories to last a lifetime,” Zambra posted on social media.
“I hope that I’ve been able to inspire girls and show that dreams can come true with a bit of luck, lot of persistence and the self belief that you are good enough to become the best version of yourself.”
