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      Jude Bellingham squares up to England pal Declan Rice as tempers risk boiling over in Real Madrid vs Arsenal clash

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM squared up to Declan Rice during Real Madrid’s crunch match with Arsenal.The Los Blancos star cut a frustrated figure on the pitch as his side struggled to close the gap on the Gunners.Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham challenged for the ballCredit: AFPBellingham squared up to Rice in the aftermatchCredit: ReutersThe North London side won the first leg 3-0 and were maintaining their lead in the second leg in Spain.And Bellingham could not hold his temper in during the match as he clashed with Rice.The midfielders were caught in a tangle as they jostled for the ball by the halfway line.After the ball went out of play, Bellingham squared up to Rice before officials ran over to intervene.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe former Borussia Dortmund man did back off after the arrival of Rice’s team-mates Bukayo Saka and Jurrien Timber.Tensions were already high in the Spanish capital with the home fans praying for a famous comeback victory.This was also seen during half-time as Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal was seen clashing with Saka.The Spaniard grabbed the back of the Arsenal star’s neck as he walked down the tunnel.Most read in Champions LeagueJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSThis caused Saka to react angrily to the attempted goading.They were eventually separated after Carvajal put his finger in Saka’s face.Crocked Real Madrid star Dani Carvajal pulled away from Bukayo Saka after confronting Arsenal star at half-timeThat moment came after Saka had missed a penalty in the first half to put Arsenal out of sight.The Gunners were handed a boost after the miss as VAR overturned a Real Madrid penalty after it was judged that Declan Rice had not fouled Kylian Mbappe.Uefa then confirmed the call with a brief statement.They said: “The penalty for Real Madrid has been taken away due to a non-foul by Declan Rice.”Saka made amends for his missed penalty as he scored a great goal in the 64th minute.However, Vinicius Jr levelled the game on the night just minutes later.But hopes of a comeback were put to bed as Gabriel Martinelli scored a winning goal in the 93rd minute.Bellingham appeared frustrated during the match as Real struggledCredit: Getty More

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      Man Utd enter brand new tournament with huge prize pot just weeks after Lionesses boss voiced burnout fears

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are set to enter a brand-new seven-a-side women’s football tournament which could see them pocket a huge prize.As announced last month, the inaugural World Sevens Football (W7F) event will take place in Portugal at the end of May – just weeks before the start of Euro 2025.Man Utd Women are set to take part in a new seven-a-side tournament next monthCredit: GettyEngland stars including Ella Toone and Maya Le Tissier could be involved – just weeks before the start of Euro 2025Credit: GettyOrganisers have made a commitment to invest £77million ($100m) across a five-year period, with the winners receiving £1.9m.And the Telegraph report that Man Utd will be one of the eight teams battling it out for the huge prize.Bayern Munich are also expected to be involved.It will be up to each club to decide which players they take to Portugal for the tournament.READ MORE ON MAN UTDIt is believed that United will select a strong squad.The winners of W7F will take home more than the Women’s FA Cup top prize (£814,000) and the Women’s Champions League top prize (£950,000) combined.But concerns regarding player welfare have been raised by some managers and WSL stars due to the increasing number of injuries.The likes of Vivianne Miedema, Leah Williamson and Beth Mead have all previously spoken about the need to restructure the schedule in the women’s game.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSSarina Wiegman is not convinced the tournament will work in the long termCredit: GettyMeanwhile, England manager Sarina Wiegman believes W7F will not be good for women’s football in the long term.The two-time European champion previously said: “If you look at the short term before these Euros now, we have a very good contact with clubs and [if] they would get some, I would say meaningful minutes to get prepared for the Euros and do what’s right to get [in] the best possible shape for the Euros, then in this short term, for some it would not be too bad.Man Utd boss Ruben Amorim issues open invite to Rory McIlroy as Masters champion’s private jet lands in England”But in the longer term I don’t see how we can fit that in the schedule in the calendar.”With Man Utd set to take part, England Lionesses Ella Toone, Grace Clinton, Maya Le Tissier, Millie Turner and Gabby George could all feature.Georgia Stanway will likely miss out for Bayern Munich due to an LCL injury.A second W7F tournament is set to take place between November and December on a different continent – midway through the WSL season.England captain Leah Williamson has previously claimed there needs to be a restructure in the women’s football calendarCredit: Getty More

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      Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal confronts Bukayo Saka and grabs Arsenal star’s neck in angry half-time tunnel row

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      BUKAYO SAKA had to be separated from Dani Carvajal during a heated half-time bust-up.Carvajal grabbed the back of Saka’s neck as Real Madrid and Arsenal made their way towards the tunnel during the half-time interval of the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.Dani Carvajal had some choice words for Bukayo Saka during the half-time intervalCredit: TNT SPORTSCarvajal tried to wind up Saka by grabbing the back of his neckCredit: TNT SPORTSSaka reacted angrily to the Spaniard’s attempt to goad himCredit: TNT SPORTSThe pair had to be separated after Carvajal stuck his finger in Saka’s faceCredit: TNT SPORTSAn irate Saka snapped at the Spain international, who proceeded to point his finger in his face.They were promptly separated, with Saka going down the tunnel and Carvajal being gestured towards the pitch.Footage of Carvajal’s attempt to wind up Saka went viral.One footie fan said of the incident on X: “Carvajal aggravating Saka at halftime.”READ MORE ON REAL VS ARSENALAnother said: “Playing mind gamesssss.”And another said: “Does he know his team are losing 3-0?”One remarked: “You are getting [are] destroyed, hence you make a fuss off the pitch.”It’s so embarrassing LMAO.”Most read in FootballJOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUSBukayo Saka had his head in his hands in the 13th minute after missing a penaltyCredit: RexAnother chimed in: “Dirty in a moment, dirty forever.”Saka missed a golden opportunity from the penalty spot to put the visitors 4-0 up on aggregate in the 13th minute.Ian Wright fears three Arsenal superstars could run down contract, including Saka But the England international fluffed his lines with a poor attempt at a spot kick, which Real stopper Thibaut Courtois easily saved.Real thought they’d have the chance to reduce the arrears when they were awarded a penalty of their own ten minutes later.But VAR overturned the spot kick due to an offside in the build-up, much to the relief of Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and the travelling Emirates faithful.Saka would eventually break the deadlock in the 65th minute with a beautiful dinked finish following a beautiful move.But a clanger from William Saliba two minutes later would tee up Vinicius Jr to reduce the deficit back to three goals.But Gabriel Martinelli wrapped up safe progression, and a 2-1 away win, with a cool as you like injury-time strike.Saka had the last laugh though as he scored with a fab chipCredit: GettyDani Carvajal missed the game through injuryCredit: AFPArsenal ratings v Real MadridARSENAL’S heroes dumped the Kings of Europe out of the Champions League in dramatic fashion. More

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      Arsenal handed huge reprieve as Uefa release statement on why Real Madrid penalty was rescinded

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      DECLAN RICE escaped a controversial yellow card as Real Madrid saw a penalty chalked off following a five-minute VAR check.And that means he will still be available for the semi-final with PSG.Referee Francois Letexier showed Declan Rice a yellow card – but rescinded itCredit: APRice was initially penalised for pulling down Kylian Mbappe in the areaCredit: APRice, 26, was the Gunners’ hero in the first leg with his two wonderful free-kicks.But he was penalised midway through the first half of the second leg at the Bernabeu when he gave a penalty away.Rice briefly held on to Kylian Mbappe at the back post – with the French striker hurling himself to the ground.Referee Francois Letexier immediately pointed to the spot and brandished a yellow card to the English midfielder, who was utterly baffled by the decision.READ MORE ON ARSENALHowever, after a lengthy stoppage to check both whether it was offside and if it was a foul, the ref was sent over to the pitchside monitor.And eventually Letexier decided no foul had been committed – chalking off both the penalty and the yellow card.Uefa then confirmed the call with a brief statement. They said: “The penalty for Real Madrid has been taken away due to a non-foul by Declan Rice.”Most read in Champions LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSThat proved a major reprieve for Rice, who went into the clash in Madrid knowing a yellow card would see him suspended for the first leg against PSG should Arsenal progress. But that was not the only huge VAR penalty decision of the first half at the Bernabeu.Earlier on, Raul Asencio dragged Mikel Merino down off the ball from a corner.Mikel Arteta slide tackles his own player in training a day before Arsenal’s biggest game of the season vs Real Madrid It was initially missed by everyone as play continued – but Letexier was then ordered to stop and watch the replay.And much to the fury of the home crowd, he pointed to the spot. However, Bukayo Saka stepped up and dinked his penalty – but saw it saved by Thibaut Courtois.Saka broke the deadlock in the 65th minute with a beautiful chipped finish following a beautiful move.But a clanger from William Saliba two minutes later teed up Vinicius Jr to reduce the deficit back to three goals.Then Gabriel Martinelli wrapped up a historic 2-1 away win, with a cool-as-you-like injury-time strike.Mbappe went down under little contactCredit: TNT SportsRice protested his innocence as he pointed an accusatory fingerCredit: TNT SportsArsenal were awarded a penalty earlier in the halfCredit: TNT SportsBukayo Saka dinked his penalty but saw it savedCredit: PA More

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      ‘Should be hauled straight off’ – Fans furious at Crystal Palace star Ebere Eze’s penalty in Newcastle clash

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      EBERECHI EZE was blasted by footie fans after taking one of the “worst” penalties ever against Newcastle.The England international had the chance to draw Crystal Palace level from the spot in the first half of their St James’ Park showdown.Eberechi Eze spurned a golden chance to draw Crystal Palace level from the penalty spotCredit: GETTYHe tamely fired his spot kick at Nick Pope after an exaggerated run-upCredit: AFPThe Toon Army created a cauldron of atmosphere to try to put off the winger as he weighed up which direction to shoot.And he tried to silence them with a multiple-step stutter spot kick.But he was embarrassed himself with the tamest of finishes straight at Nick Pope.Fans couldn’t quite believe their eyes, with one saying: “ONE OF THE WORST PENALTIES EVER.”Another said: “I’ll defend Eze to the end of the earth, but that is awful. What on earth are you thinking there?”And another said: “Utterly, utterly, utterly [and] embarrassingly poor penalty from Eze.”One remarked: “Should be hauled straight off.”Another chimed in: “That Eze pen was one of the worst I’ve ever seen. Most read in FootballEberechi Eze was left embarrassed by his poor attempt of a spot kickCredit: GETTY”Also embarrassing to do that after taking it from Mateta.”Eze paid the price two minutes later as an own goal from Marc Guehi doubled the Magpies’ advantage in the 38th minute.Harvey Barnes killed off the game with a neat finish in first-half stoppage time to put Eddie Howe’s troops 3-0 up.And Fabian Schar fired the Toon into a stunning 4-0 lead with a beautiful near-post header a few moments later.Isak added some serious gloss to the scoreline with a fifth, to leave the Magpies in third in the Premier League. More

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      Arsenal awarded controversial penalty minutes into crunch Real Madrid clash… but Saka fluffs spot kick

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      REAL MADRID players were left furious when Arsenal were awarded a controversial penalty during the Champions League quarter-final second leg.A VAR intervention was required in the 10th minute when Mikel Merino was dragged down by Raul Asencio in the box – even though both players were nowhere near the ball.Mikel Merino was dragged down by Raul Asencio in the box – but both players were far from the ballReal Madrid players were furiousCredit: ReutersBukayo Saka’s penalty was savedCredit: ReutersPlay initially resumed as normal before referee Francois Letexier was called to the monitor to review the incident.And it didn’t take him long to overturn his original decision.Real Madrid players immediately ran to the referee to appeal while Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the fourth official.But the penalty call stood.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLArsenal forward Bukayo Saka stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his effort was saved by Thibaut Courtois and parried behind for a corner.Fans on social media fumed about the incident, with one person writing: “Football is finished.”Another commented: “Give me a f***ing break.”While a third said: “Bro a mile from the ball though…”Most read in Champions LeagueCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITSA second penalty incident was overturned at the other end of the pitch just a few minutes later.Kylian Mbappe went to ground in the Arsenal box following a tussle with Declan Rice.Real Madrid fire ominous eight-word warning to Arsenal in 20 LANGUAGES as they plot historic Champions League winThe referee immediately gave the penalty, but a five-minute VAR intervention resulted in no foul.Rice’s yellow card was also rescinded which means he will be able to play in the semi-final against PSG.Saka bounced back to break the deadlock in the 65th minute with a beautiful dinked finish following a stunning move.But a clanger from William Saliba two minutes later would tee up Vinicius Jr to reduce the deficit back to three goals.But Gabriel Martinelli wrapped up safe progression, and a 2-1 away win, with a cool as you like injury-time strike. More

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      ‘I couldn’t care less’ – Ange Postecoglou has no idea where his future lies ahead of do-or-die Tottenham clash

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      ANGE POSTECOGLOU is in the dark over his future as he prepares for his do-or-die clash in Germany.The Tottenham boss will be in danger of the sack if his team lose their Europa League quarter-final second leg at Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night – where they are without injured captain Son Heung-min.Ange Postecoglou spoke on the eve of his side’s crucial Europa League clashCredit: GettyThe Aussie oversaw training at Eintracht Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank ParkCredit: GettyThat is because it would extinguish any chance of salvaging what has been a miserable campaign in the league where Spurs are out of both cups and down to 15th in the league.There have been some suggestions his job would be under threat even if he went all the way in Europe this term given how badly the Prem form has been.Asked if he knew what his future holds whatever happens this term, the Aussie replied: “Do I know? No, I’ve got no idea.“We’ve got a game tomorrow night… but it’s not something I need to think about.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“I’ve never thought about those kind of things in terms of what’s important.“What’s important is we have a game tomorrow night that’s a massive opportunity for this group of players, for us as a team, for this football club to get closer to achieving what everyone wants to achieve.“Anything else other than that, and particularly in terms of me, I don’t have much thought process that thinks about life or my career or what I’m doing in that way.”Postecoglou has lost 17 games in the league this season and went out of the Carabao Cup at the semi-final stage as well as the FA Cup in round four.Most read in FootballBEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UKTottenham have trained in Frankfurt ahead of their huge Europa League clashCredit: GettyIt heaps the pressure on Thursday night’s trip to a hostile Deutsche Bank Stadium, where the scores are tied 1-1 after last week’s first leg in North London.But the ex-Celtic boss, 59, insisted he was not being weighed down by the occasion.’Turning gold into c–p’ – Ange Postecoglou kicks off again over criticism of Tottenham penalty farceHe said: “No, not at all, mate, because I don’t define my career and me as a person by what people think about me. I never have. Never will.“You either think I’m capable of doing the job now or you don’t. That’s where I sit with these things.“If people think that us winning tomorrow all of a sudden makes me a better manager than what I am today or us losing tomorrow somehow makes me a worse manager, I guess that’s their burden, not mine.“I don’t think that way and I don’t think most people think that way. Or I’d like to think they don’t, in terms of their own sort of self esteem and who they are as people.“I couldn’t care less. Really. I couldn’t care less.“There’s no burden on me, there’s no anxiety on me. What I’m sitting here doing is thinking we’ve got a great opportunity to get to the final four of a major tournament.“Mate, I’m not going to let that slip by without fighting tooth and nail for it irrespective of what may come the day after.”Skipper Son, 32, did not travel due to a foot injury which kept him out of Sunday’s 4-2 loss at Wolves – though Kevin Danso is available following five weeks out with a hamstring issue.Read More on The SunThe South Korean’s absence is just the latest in a string of crock problems that have dogged the Spurs squad all season long.Postecoglou added: “It’s a blow but it’s consistent with everything else that’s happened this year, so it’s just another challenge for us to overcome.”Son Heung-min is OUT of tomorrow night’s huge matchCredit: Reuters More

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      Leo Beenhakker, Winning Soccer Coach Without Borders, Dies at 82

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      Among many other accomplishments, he led tiny Trinidad and Tobago to the World Cup and Poland to its first appearance in the European championships.Leo Beenhakker, a globe-trotting soccer coach who managed his native Netherlands during the 1990 World Cup, won three Spanish League titles with Real Madrid in the 1980s and, perhaps most impressively and improbably, guided Trinidad and Tobago to the 2006 World Cup as the smallest nation at the time ever to compete in soccer’s global championship, died on April 10. He was 82.His death was announced by the Dutch soccer federation and by Ajax, the powerful Amsterdam club that Beenhakker coached to two Dutch League titles. The announcement did not cite a cause or say where he died.His own playing career, as a winger, did not carry him beyond the amateur level. But neither did it prevent him from achieving national and international success as a coach.In that role, Beenhakker displayed wit and charm as well as the ability to engage with and inspire his players and to immerse himself in various cultures in the soccer diaspora. One of his accomplishments was to coach Poland to its first appearance in the European championships, in 2008.He dismissed the idea that to coach at a high level, one needed to have played at a high level. “You can be a very good milkman,” he once said, “without having ever been a cow.”Beenhakker (pronounced bin-HACK-er) never possessed the authority or standing of Johan Cruyff, who captained the Netherlands to second place at the 1974 World Cup and is considered one of the greatest players of all time. Nor did he have the tactical skill of Guus Hiddink, who in 1988 coached PSV Eindhoven to both the Dutch League title and the European Cup, the forerunner of the European Champions League title.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe. More