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      Ross Barkley in fresh career blow as ex-Chelsea star is axed from Nice’s Europa Conference League squad

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      ROSS BARKLEY has been snubbed from Nice’s squad for the Europa Conference League knockout stages.The 29-year-old joined the French club last September after leaving Chelsea by mutual consent.
      Ross Barkley has not been included in Nice’s squad for the Europa Conference League knockout stagesCredit: AFP
      While he hasn’t been a weekly starter, Barkley has made 15 appearances in all competitions for Nice this season.
      So boss Didier Digard’s decision to omit Barkley from the 25-man Europa Conference League knockouts squad, according to Get French Football News, comes as a surprise.
      Barkley, who has 33 England caps, also wasn’t part of the squad for the group stages.
      However, that was because he joined the club too late to be registered.
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      Reports suggest he had been expected to be named in the squad for the knockouts, with three spots up for grabs.
      But January signings Terem Moffi and Youssouf Ndayishimiye, as well as youngster Badredine Bouanani, have got the nod instead.

      Bouanani, 18, makes the squad despite starting just one game this season.
      Although the teenager does play on the right hand side, and an injury to Arsenal loanee Nicolas Pepe means the club could be short of options in that position.
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      But Barkley’s omission still comes as a shock, especially after he scored twice in a 6-1 win over Montpellier last month.
      The Ligue 1 outfit will discover their opponents for the Round of 16 when the draw is made on February 24th.
      Barkley is out of contract at Nice at the end of the season. More

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      FCSB 0 West Ham 3: Fornals celebrates 150th game for Hammers with two goals as Moyes’ troops make it a perfect six

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      WEST HAM ended their Romania hoodoo on a history-making European night.The Hammers became the first team since the Europa Conference League’s inception last year to win six from six group stage games after a comfortable victory over FCSB.
      Pablo Fornals scored twice on his 150th appearance for West HamCredit: Rex
      Fornals celebrates after scoring his secondCredit: AP
      Divin Mubama thought he had made it two before his effort went down as an own goalCredit: EPA
      On his 150th appearance for the club out in Bucharest, Pablo Fornals scored twice in a first win in five on Romanian soil – a run dating back to 1980.
      Cruelly, 18-year-old academy graduate Divin Mubama was denied a goal on his senior debut, with his deflected header being awarded as an own goal for defender Joyskim Dawa.
      Having already topped their group, boss David Moyes took advantage of this dead rubber to also hand a starting debut to another homegrown talent in Ollie Scarles.
      At 16 years and 326 days, midfielder Scarles is the sixth youngest debutant in West Ham’s history, and came close to scoring himself.
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      The bench had an average age of just under 19 – excluding 35-year-old back-up keeper Darren Randolph – with several of them being chucked on late on.
      A total of four home grown talents started the game, including Conor Coventry and Ben Johnson – the latter teeing up Fornals with a long ball in the 40th minute.
      Replays showed the Spaniard – also becoming the first West Ham player to chalk up 20 Euro outings – was clearly offside before volleying home but the goal stood with no VAR to call on.
      Skipper Declan Rice stayed at home for this one, alongside the likes of Gianluca Scamacca, Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen, Said Benrahma, Craig Dawson and Tomas Soucek.
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      But it did not take long for Moyes’ starlets to strut their stuff, Scarles flashing a superb delivery across goal only for Mubama’s effort to be blocked by keeper Stefan Tarnovanu.
      FCSB’s shot-stopper was called into action soon after to prevent Flynn Downes from bulging the net with a flick-on from a Fornals pick-out.
      Mubama wheeled away in celebration in the 56th minute, connecting with a Vladimir Coufal cross, yet Uefa deemed Dawa’s touch was decisive.
      Fornals made sure of the result with an acrobatic 65th minute finish, their 13th goal of the group stages – a tally only Villarreal and Basaksehir could better.
      Fornals fires his first effort of the night into the bottom cornerCredit: AP More

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      West Ham 1 Silkeborg 0: Lanzini’s penalty enough for the Hammers as they maintain 100 per cent Conference League record

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      WEST HAM’S European winning streak continues as they confirmed top spot in their Europa Conference League group with a game to spare.The Hammers recorded their seventh straight Euro victory of the season after Manuel Lanzini’s 24th minute penalty saw off Silkeborg at the London Stadium.
      West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini slots home West ham’s penalty winnerCredit: AP
      Lanzini celebrates his penalty breakthrough with Said Benrahma as West Ham stay 100 per cent in the Conference LeagueCredit: Reuters
      And on a night when they only needed a point to get the job done, it was also their sixth successive home win in all competitions – the first time they have done that in 24 years.
      Boss David Moyes can now play the kids in his side’s dead-rubber group stage finale away in Bucharest next week with all eyes on the Last 16 in March as top seeds.
      The Conference League has been a godsend for Moyes, providing a rhythm and momentum for his team who started their Premier League campaign with three losses on the spin.
      When West Ham visited Silkeborg for the group opener last month – a 3-2 win out in Denmark – they had just one win on the board and sat in the Prem bottom three.
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      Fast forward to now and things certainly look rosier. Just two defeats in their last nine in all competitions and back to fighting at the right end of the league table.
      And with £30million summer signing Nayef Aguerd making his long-awaited first start, there are reasons to be cheerful and optimistic in east London once more.
      The 26-year-old Moroccan defender signed on June 20, only to pick up an ankle injury in a pre-season clash with Rangers on July 19 that required surgery.
      Over three months later and Moyes’ first acquisition of a busy summer finally made his debut, starting in the middle of a back three.
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      Michail Antonio is felled by Silkeborg keeper for West Ham’s spot-kickCredit: Getty
      West Ham striker Antonio reacts dramatically as he tumbles to win a spot-kickCredit: Getty
      He lasted 76 minutes, being replaced by Thilo Kehrer to rapturous applause and hugs from the bench.
      His Morocco national team coaches will also be breathing a sigh of relief, kicking off their Qatar World Cup group against Croatia on November 23.
      Aguerd’s return comes at a good time with Craig Dawson still struggling with a troublesome dead leg, in a race to be fit for a trip to Old Trafford on Sunday alongside Lucas Paqueta.
      In total, Moyes made nine changes from the starting XI that beat Bournemouth on Monday night, including Jarrod Bowen who also was a worrying absentee from the squad.
      In contrast to the reverse fixture, where Silkeborg took the lead and almost snatched a point in a thrilling encounter, West Ham cruised in a drab affair on home soil.
      Michail Antonio’s dramatic collapse from minimal contact with keeper Nicolai Larsen won the spot-kick on a night with no VAR, while Pablo Fornals and Said Benrahma missed several sitters in either half.
      Nayef Aguerd fires in an acrobatic shot for the HammersCredit: Getty
      West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal tangles with Silkeborg’s Lukas Sparre KlittenCredit: Reuters More

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      Football yob jailed for eight weeks after assaulting emergency worker amid horror scenes at West Ham vs Anderlecht

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      AN ANDERLECHT fan has been jailed for eight weeks after he assaulted an emergency worker during his team’s clash with West Ham.Last week’s Europa Conference League game was marred by crowd trouble.
      Anderlecht apologised after their fans’ behaviourCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Police desperately tried to keep order as West Ham clashed with AnderlechtCredit: Getty
      The ugly scenes in the away end saw fans rip up seats and flares being set off.
      Joey Degroof, 36, was convicted on Saturday at Croydon’s Magistrates’ Court.
      He was found guilty of an assault of an emergency worker.
      Degroof was one of three Anderlecht fans convicted for their behaviour while another 13 were arrested.
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      The Belgian club apologised for their fans’ behaviour.
      Two police officers needed hospital treatment after the game.
      One needed stitches for a head injury and another had a suspected broken wrist.
      A statement by the Metropolitan Police on Saturday said: “Assaults on emergency workers will not be tolerated.”
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      Two other Anderlecht fans were also punished including Dean Pierre Daquano.
      The 28-year-old was fined £120 by Thames Magistrates’ Court for going on to the pitch.
      While Frederik Jules Desnet was fined £200 after being convicted of racially and/or religiously aggravated harassment.
      The crowd events almost overshadowed an impressive win for West Ham as they made it two victories in a week over the same opponents.
      The Hammers, who got to the Europa League semi-finals last year, have now won all four group games and sealed their place in the knockouts.
      David Moyes’ side are also enjoying an uptick in domestic form with back-to-back wins ahead of today’s trip to Southampton. More

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      West Ham 2 Anderlecht 1: Benrahma and Bowen send Hammers into Europa Conference League knockouts before fan chaos

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      SAID BENRAHMA and Jarrod Bowen fired West Ham into the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League in a 2-1 win over Anderlecht – before ugly scenes in the stands.The Hammers, last season’s Europa League semi-finalists, ensured a second successive run to the latter stages of continental competition with a fourth win from four Group B matches.
      Jarrod Bowen got West Ham’s first goal of the nightCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Said Benrahma struck a beautiful free-kick for 2-0Credit: Reuters
      The Algerian was feeling the love at the London Stadium as West Ham booked their place in the knockoutsCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      They now need just a point from their last two games, against Danish side Silkeborg and Romania’s FCSB, to ensure they finish top of the group and move straight into the round of 16, avoiding a play-off in February.
      But some of the gloss was taken off their achievement by crowd trouble which required riot police to intervene.
      The hosts took the lead in the 13th minute when Anderlecht enforcer Amadou Diawara fouled Benrahma on the edge of the box.
      Aaron Cresswell had moments earlier curled a free-kick over but this time he stepped over the ball, allowing Benrahma to whip his shot right-footed over the wall and inside the near post.
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      After half an hour the Hammers had their second, Emerson Palmieri galloping down the left before pulling the ball back for Bowen to finish from 15 yards.
      The goal made Bowen West Ham’s joint leading scorer in Europe with six, alongside Johnny Byrne and David Cross.
      He should have moved out on his own with seven just moments later when Cresswell cut the ball back, but the England hopeful fluffed his lines.
      Anderlecht, whose boisterous fans lit five flares in the way end, one of which landed near the pitch, threatened to spoil the party when Yari Verschaeren drilled narrowly wide and Sebastiano Esposito forced a fingertip save from Alphonse Areola.

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      But it was largely plain sailing for the hosts and Pablo Fornals, on at the break for Lucas Paqueta, should have hit a third only to see his shot blocked by Diawara on the six-yard line.
      Bowen was given a rest after an hour by David Moyes with Gianluca Scamacca sent on, and the Italian almost converted a cross from Fornals while Benrahma put a header narrowly wide from Vladimir Coufal’s centre.
      It should have been an ultimately comfortable night for West Ham, although the scenes in the stands were depressingly unpleasant.
      A pitch invader briefly halted play to tackle Areola before missiles were hurled between sets of rival fans including another flare which landed in the home end and police officers were injured.
      While attentions were focused on the nonsense in the crowd Anderlecht scored a consolation from the penalty spot through Esposito after a foul by Ben Johnson.
      A pitch invader tried to tackle Alphonse AreolaCredit: Reuters
      At least five flares were set off at the groundCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Fans clashed with riot police and chairs were thrownCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Sebastiano Esposito grabbed a late consolation from the penalty spotCredit: Reuters More

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      West Ham fans left ‘blind for 20 mins’ after being pepper-sprayed by Belgian police at Anderlecht in Conference League

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      WEST HAM fans were pepper-sprayed by Belgian police after the Hammers’ Europa Conference League win at Anderlecht on Thursday.Around 50 supporters, including elderly fans, were affected – with some blinded for up to 20 minutes.
      West Ham fans were pepper-sprayed by Belgian police after their team’s 1-0 Europa Conference League win at Anderlecht on ThursdayCredit: Focus Images
      Earlier in the day this bleeding Hammers fan was helped by local copsCredit: PA
      The incident occurred as around 1,000 away supporters were being escorted from the stadium back into Brussels city centre.
      Brussels police said a number of fans near the front of the group “became aggressive” towards cops who deployed the vicious spray to “push them back”.
      Irons supporter Adam Brown, 28, said: “It was horrible, my eyes were burning like there was no tomorrow.
      “We were half-way back in the crowd, miles from any trouble if there was any. Innocent people were affected. It’s not on at all.”
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      No West Ham fans were arrested in Belgium and were said to be otherwise impeccably behaved.
      Met Police sent four officers to the Belgian capital in a strictly liaison capacity.
      SunSport has been told Met reps “shrugged it off” and adopted a “not our problem” attitude when fans complained about use of pepper-spray.
      A Met statement said: “As people were leaving the stadium following the match, our officers were alerted by fans there had been disorder.
      Gianluca Scamacca fired the Hammers’ 79th minute winner to move them five points clear of their hosts at the top of Group BCredit: Getty
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      “Met officers spoke with their counterparts in the Belgian Police to establish what had happened and relayed the information back to fans.”
      Gianluca Scamacca gave the Hammers a 1-0 win to extend their Group B lead over their hosts to five points.
      Second-placed Anderlecht visit London Stadium for group match four of six on Thursday.
      Earlier this year, Paris police apologised for using tear gas on Liverpool supporters during disturbing chaos ahead of the Champions League final.
      Full Belgian police statement
      In the course of Thursday night, our police forces had to intervene on three occasions in incidents where pepper-spray had to be used to ensure safety.
      A first time involved a number of Anderlecht supporters who sought a confrontation with some passing West Ham fans before the start of the match.
      In order to protect the West Ham supporters, pepper-spray was deployed against the Anderlecht fans.
      A second incident occurred at the end of the match, when Anderlecht supporters tried in various ways to get close to VIPs.
      Again, pepper-spray was used to ensure the stewards’ safety, among others.
      Finally, there was a third incident during the escort of West Ham supporters after the match.
      During this police escort, in which 1,000 fans were escorted to the centre of Brussels, certain supporters walking at the beginning of the escort became aggressive, and continued to put pressure on police forces.
      A pushback of this group of supporters then occurred in which pepper-spray had to be used. More

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      Fiorentina slammed for leaving Hearts away dressing room a mess as rarely seen footage emerges

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      HEARTS groundstaff got a shock last night as Fiorentina’s Serie A superstars left the away dressing room at Tynecastle in a state. A video clip widely shared on social media showed towels, tape, empty water bottles and debris scattered across the changing room after their 3-0 win.
      Hearts staff found the dressing room in a state
      Jambos fans weren’t happy
      Jambos fans felt it lacked class with one sharing the video on Twitter.
      The two sides are set to meet up again in Italy next week.
      He wrote: “This was the state of the away dressing room after the game last night … stay classy Fiorentina.”
      While the ethics of such matters are unclear, in rugby the New Zealand All Blacks always make it a ritual to ‘sweep the sheds’ after a game.
      Former fly-half Andrew Mehrtens said: “It’s an example of personal discipline, it’s not expecting somebody else to do your job for you.
      “It teaches you not to expect things to be handed to you.
      “If you have personal discipline in your life, then you are going to be more disciplined on the field.”
      Fiorentina put the Jambos to the sword with a 3-0 win at Tynecastle.
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      On the field, Hearts boss Robbie Neilson admitted Fiorentina taught Hearts a lesson as schoolboy errors cost them at Tynecastle.
      Viola star Rolando Mandragora fired the Italians ahead after just four minutes – and the Jambos never recovered.
      Christian Koaume and Luka Jovic were also on target as they won 3-0, while Lewis Neilson was sent off for the Jambos.
      And while Neilson agreed the Serie A side were good he felt the goals his side lost were all avoidable.
      He said: “I’m disappointed with the result. I think this is a huge learning curve, playing against a very good Fiorentina team.
      “The disappointing thing for me was the goals we conceded, for all the possession they had in good areas, the goals were poor.
      “When you play against a level of opposition like Fiorentina, that was the first time a few of the players have played at that level.
      “I thought there were areas of the park where we did well and contained them. But if you stop and if you switch off for even half a second you lose goals.
      “I felt we were reactive as opposed to be proactive. We need to be proactive and believe what is going to happen rather than wait for it.”
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      Uefa’s wacky new Champions League schedule with group stage games proposed until end of JANUARY

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      JURGEN KLOPP look away now, because Uefa’s proposed new Champions League schedule includes group stage games until the end of JANUARY.Europe’s governing body want to expand the Champions League and Europa League in 2024, but keep the Europa Conference League the same.
      The Champions League and Europa League are set to be revampedCredit: Getty
      Jurgen Klopp has already hit out at the crowded scheduleCredit: AP
      Fuming Liverpool boss Klopp said last month that the action-packed schedule was “not right”.
      And if things weren’t already hectic enough, Uefa’s wacky new plans would see Champions League and Europa League teams play an extra two games, according to ESPN.
      The two competitions are also set to expand from 32 teams to 36.
      So instead of European football entering its knockout phase after Christmas, two more rounds of Champions League and Europa League games will be played right up until the very end of January.
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      But eight rounds of games spread out over 10 weeks are set to cause chaos to the domestic schedule.
      The first round of proposed Europa League games clash with the third round of the Carabao Cup.
      Further European matchdays in December and January then clash with the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively.
      It gets worse, as the final round of European games are proposed for the same time as a full Premier League midweek schedule at the end of January 2025.
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      Uefa’s proposed new European schedule
      The fixture congestion could reportedly see FA Cup replays from the third round onwards scrapped in order to move the Carabao Cup and Prem games.
      The Prem is the only one out of Europe’s big five leagues with a secondary cup competition.
      Or, like Liverpool did in 2019 when their Carabao Cup match against Aston Villa clashed with a Club World Cup game, Prem teams could choose to field academy sides.
      A worst case scenario, claimed to be seen as the very last resort, is cutting the Prem from 20 teams to 18. More