Champions League

BELGIAN football has been rocked by a major scandal after two teams played out a ‘fixed’ draw.Westerlo and Genk drew 1-1 with each other in their final Belgian Pro League fixture of the season on March 17.Westerlo players passed the ball amongst themselves as the two teams played out a 1-1 drawCredit: AFPGenk were happy not to push for a winner after scoring a late equaliserCredit: GettyPlayers even shook hands before the full-time whistleCredit: X/@ElevenBeFRGenk manager Wouter Vrancken was spotted laughing on the touchlineCredit: X/@ElevenBeFRWhile referee Lawrence Visser appeared bemused by the situationBut the two teams stopped playing after Bryan Heynen equalised for Genk in the 86th minute.Despite having an extra man following a Genk red card, Westerlo passed the ball amongst themselves as both teams were happy to see the game out with the score level.One Genk player even decided to undergo fitness exercises and players shook hands before the full-time whistle instead of trying to go for the win.That is because Westerlo needed just a point to escape relegation, while Genk only needed one point to finish sixth and secure qualification for the Championship round.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThey beat Gent to the last qualification spot by that single point and will now challenge for the league title, which offers an automatic place in the Champions League.But the result has been met with backlash as Belgian FA chiefs slammed a “sham of fairness” and a “parody” and have now issued fines on all 21 players on the pitch and bans for the two captains and both coaches.The two clubs could also be fined £8,500 over what the Federal Prosecutor’s Office has labelled “blatant fraud”.Both captains and managers have received a two-match ban but Westerlo went one step further by sacking boss Rik De Mil.Most read in FootballWesterlo have sacked manager Rik De MilCredit: GettyBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe club released a statement explaining their decision which read: “The club has terminated the contract with head coach Rik De Mil with immediate effect. “Despite considering long-term collaboration, we found it necessary to make this decision. Football icons’ strange hobbies”The club regrets having to take this measure but cannot accept that its values and norms would be questioned. We thank Rik for his performance and dedication, and wish him every success in the future.”The Prosecutor’s Office slammed the two managers for their role in the affair, suggesting they were best placed to prevent the fiasco from unfolding.A statement read: “The only people who could have stopped this unsporting scene because they could influence the players were the coaches, which did not happen (consciously).“It is impossible to determine who took the initiative, and no one would feel called upon to make statements about it.“It is absolutely unbelievable that they could not stop this spectacle.”Fans have also been left fuming with one reacting saying: “Genk is a shame for football I hope they get slapped in PO1.”Another added: “A real shame for football which has become a rotten and uninteresting sport. Sad.” More

PORTO manager Sergio Conceicao has been forced to deny attacking and threatening to kill a town mayor during a children’s football tournament.The youth tournament – the Copa Gafanote – was held in the Spanish port city of Huelva and featured Seville and Porto in the final.Sergio Conceicao has been forced to deny attacking and threatening to kill a town mayorCredit: GettyManuel Barroso, mayor of Huelva, claims he was informed that the referee of the final was being attacked on the pitch.Barroso said on radio: “I ran to support him, the man was about to enter the tunnel. Before entering, one of them slapped him.”I stood in the middle, serving as a shield, saying who they were to jump on to the grass, that they couldn’t jump on to the grass like that.”With a grotesque and arrogant attitude, they told me, ‘You don’t know who you are talking to.’ READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”I identified myself as the mayor of Cartaya and told him, ‘Sorry, you don’t have to jump here, you don’t have to jump or attack anyone’.”Then they started insulting me, disrespecting me. They push me, they grab me by the neck and I try to resist by pushing them until the authorities, the Civil Guard, arrive.”Borroso then alleged that it was Porto boss Conceicao who was at the centre of the argument.He said: “Later I found out that he was the coach of the FC Porto first team. I told him when I found out.Most read in Football”I told him, ‘Aren’t you ashamed that, as the leader of this club, you disrespect me and even attack me?’. But then he continued disrespecting me and even threatened to kill me.”According to Lisbon paper A Bola, Conceicao denies Barroso’s accusation of assault.Die-hard England fan cuts message into grass for Southgate and Co ahead of Euro 2024 that can be seen from SPACEBut the football manager confirmed he was at the match as his son Moises plays for a Porto youth side.Record also state that Conceicao plans to sue Barroso for “falsely accusing him of assault”.And it is added that Conceicao also accuses mayor Barroso of initiating the row after attacking his son.A statement from his legal team read: “Yesterday, immediately after the events, a criminal complaint was filed against Mayor Manuel Barroso for attempted assault on Sérgio Conceição’s son (Moisés Conceição). We repudiate the accusations made by the mayor himself, which are untrue.”Conceicao, a former winger for the likes of Inter Milan, Lazio and Porto, has been in charge of the Portuguese side since 2017.He has three league titles to his name but is trailing league leaders Sporting Lisbon by seven points this season.And his Porto side were recently knocked out of the Champions League by Arsenal in the last 16, which was followed by a row with opposite number Mikel Arteta.READ MORE SUN STORIESConceicao even accused Arteta of insulting his family – something Arsenal as a club denied.The former Portugal player has also had run-ins with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel when the German was in charge of Chelsea.Porto boss Conceicao and Mikel Arteta clashedCredit: TNT Sports More

ARSENAL face a nightmare run up to the North London derby compared to Tottenham.The Gunners are still fighting for silverware in both the Premier League and Champions League.Mikel Arteta faces a nightmare run up to the North London derbyCredit: GettyArsenal will be playing four matches after Tottenham’s final game before the derbyCredit: GettyIt means Arsenal will play at least SIX HOURS more football than Ange Postecoglou’s sideCredit: AlamyMeanwhile, Spurs have 15 days offCredit: GettyApril will prove to be a pivotal month in their hopes of landing either, with crucial fixtures in both competitions.Meanwhile, Spurs only have to focus their energy on the fight for the Prem’s Champions League spots, the last of which they currently occupy with a six-point gap to Manchester United.And this has led to a dramatically different schedule for the two sides ahead of the North London derby on April 28.The last fixture Ange Postecoglou’s side will contend with before the derby is an away clash with Newcastle on April 13, meaning they will have a whopping 15 DAYS to prepare for the match.READ MORE ON ARSENALOn the other hand, Mikel Arteta will be juggling his squad with FOUR games being played in that 15 day period.Following Spurs’ April 13 match, Arsenal have league clashes against Aston Villa on April 14, Wolves on April 20 and Chelsea on April 23, the latter of which is a rescheduled date.And then there is the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final to consider on April 17 which will be played at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena in Germany.And it means Arteta will have his work cut out managing the workload of his squad before the game, with at least SIX HOURS more football set to be played by the Gunners compared to Spurs.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSThe cause of such scheduling chaos is from FA Cup disruptions and the progress made by clubs such as Arsenal and Manchester City in European competitions.Spurs were due to play Man City on the weekend of April 20-21.What happened to Highbury?But due to City’s progression into the FA Cup semi-final that game was postponed, with the Premier League yet to announce a new date.So the scheduling chaos ahead of the North London derby could prove instrumental in the outcome and therefore have major repercussions in both the title and Champions League race.How Arsenal and Spurs’ outlook is for a crucial time of the season More