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      Chelsea’s FA Cup final loss draws 124 BBC complaints for pundits being biased in favour of Leicester

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      THE BBC’s coverage of this month’s FA Cup final has drawn 124 complaints from viewers complaining about the punditry being biased in Leicester’s favour.Brendan Rodgers’ Foxes beat Chelsea 1-0 to lift their first-ever FA Cup thanks to a second-half screamer from Youri Tielemans.
      The BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup drew 124 complaints over a perceived ‘Leicester bias’Credit: EPA
      Match of the Day host Gary Lineker wildly celebrated Youri Tielemans’ winner vs ChelseaCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
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      But some viewers were left unimpressed by the punditry, suggesting it was skewed in Leicester’s favour.
      The broadcast was hosted by ex-Leicester striker Gary Lineker, with former Chelsea defender Ashley Cole joining Ian Wright and Alan Shearer in the studio.
      Guy Mowbray led the commentary alongside ex-Tottenham and England midfielder Jermaine Jenas.
      Ahead of the game, many neutrals had been throwing their support being Leicester in protest of Chelsea.
      The Blues were infamously one of the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ who signed up for the European Super League, before quickly withdrawing after an epic fan backlash.
      It’s not clear who complained to the BBC or what particular moments left them irked.
      While not broadcast live, footage of Foxes fan Lineker wildly celebrating Tielemans’ strike was shown by the Beeb.
      However, pundits across the world – including Rio Ferdinand and Wright – have been praised by viewers for showing their passion with animated reactions to goals from Manchester United and Arsenal down the years.
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      Following Leicester’s win, Clive Tyldesley gifted Lineker his framed matchday notes.
      The commentator has produced versions of his handwritten pre-match research from the biggest games he has covered, for fans to buy.
      And after Rodgers’ side ended their 137-year wait to lift the oldest cup competition in football for the first time, Tyldesley gave fan Lineker a special momento.
      It includes the match details, starting XIs, benches and coaches for Chelsea and Leicester alongside their squad numbers, goals scored, ages and pre-game facts ready to pull out live on air.
      Lineker, 60, revealed the present on Twitter and thanked Tyldesley.
      He wrote: “So, this just arrived in the post. What a lovely surprise. Very thoughtful of you @CliveTyldesley. Thank you.”
      Lineker, born and raised in Leicester, made his Foxes debut in 1979 and went on to play 216 times for the Midlands giants, scoring 103 goals.
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      Watch Leicester heroes belt out Sweet Caroline in dressing room after beating Chelsea in FA Cup final More

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      Classy Clive Tyldesley gives Gary Lineker framed matchday notes from Leicester’s historic FA Cup win over Chelsea

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      CLASSY Clive Tyldesley gifted Gary Lineker framed matchday notes from Leicester City’s historic FA Cup win.The commentator has produced versions of his handwritten pre-match research from the biggest games he has covered, for fans to buy.
      Gary Lineker was gifted these matchday notes from Leicester FA Cup final win by commentator Clive TyldesleyCredit: Twitter @GaryLineker
      Foxes fan Lineker was at Wembley to see his side lift the famous silverware for the first timeCredit: Getty
      And after Brendan Rodgers’ side ended their 137-year wait to lift the oldest cup competition in football for the first time, he gave fan Lineker a special momento.
      It includes the match details, starting XIs, benches and coaches for Chelsea and Leicester alongside their squad numbers, goals scored, ages and pre-game facts ready to pull out live on air.
      Lineker, 60, revealed the present on Twitter and thanked Tyldesley.
      He wrote: “So, this just arrived in the post. What a lovely surprise. Very thoughtful of you @CliveTyldesley. Thank you.”
      Lineker, born and raised in Leicester, made his Foxes debut in 1979 and went on to play 216 times, scoring 103 goals before spells with Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham and Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan.
      He famously presented the first Match of the Day of the 2016-17 season in his undies after his beloved City miraculously won the title the previous May.
      The former striker followed up the tweet by sharing a picture of the signed ‘Lineker 60′ Leicester shirt he was given by the club for his big birthday in November.
      He added: “Will put it next to this, which @LCFC kindly sent to me for my 60th birthday.
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      Will put it next to this, which @LCFC kindly sent to me for my 60th birthday. Who would have thought back in November that these would be the signatures of the FA Cup winners? Marvellous. pic.twitter.com/xfS2RB8xTL— Gary Lineker 💙 (@GaryLineker) May 22, 2021

      “Who would have thought back in November that these would be the signatures of the FA Cup winners? Marvellous.”
      Lineker was at Wembley on May 15 on hosting duties for the BBC.
      Youri Tielemans’ sensational strike sent Lineker and the 6,250 Leicester supporters wild under the Arch.
      And thanks to Kasper Schmeichel’s heroics and a tight VAR call, it proved the only goal of the game to secure a maiden FA Cup triumph for the East Midlanders after a record four previous defeats.
      Fans wanting a copy of Tyldesley’s detailed prep can purchase their own at commentarycharts.com, with the option for the 66-year-old former ITV chief caller to personally sign it for an additional fee.
      Youri Tielemans scored the only goal of the final with a phenomenal strike into the top cornerCredit: Andy Hooper-The Daily Mail
      It was a memorable day for the 6,250 fans at Wemley to witness their side win the FA CupCredit: AFP
      Tyldesley was replaced as ITV chief football commentator last yearCredit: PA
      Lineker presented Match of the Day in his pants after his side won the Premier League in 2016Credit: PA:Press Association

      Watch Leicester heroes belt out Sweet Caroline in dressing room after beating Chelsea in FA Cup final More

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      Wigan chairman savages Tottenham in cheeky tweet and jokes he is ‘monitoring the Harry Kane situation closely’

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      NEW Wigan chairman Talal Al-Hammad has mocked Tottenham by telling his Twitter followers the League One side are ‘monitoring’ Harry Kane.The England captain wants to leave North London and the Wigan chief jokingly offered to have him at the DW Stadium next season.
      New Wigan chairman Talal Al-Hammad has mocked Tottenham on Twitter
      Harry Kane, 27, wants to leave Spurs this summerCredit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail
      Having lifted silverware more recently than Tottenham Hotspur we are continuing to monitor the Harry Kane situation closely https://t.co/UV0Dw8ZEMt— Talal Al Hammad | طلال الحماد (@Talalalhammad32) May 21, 2021

      The banter started when Al-Hammad tweeted an inspirational quote.
      He wrote on the social media platform: “Dream big – dream very big.
      “Work hard – work very hard, don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon. Up the Tics.”
      Al-Hammad, who became Wigan’s new chairman in March following a takeover, then received a bit of banter from a fan.
      The Latics supporter tweeted: “Can’t believe we’re in the running for Kane.”
      To which Al-Hammad replied: “Having lifted silverware more recently than Tottenham Hotspur we are continuing to monitor the Harry Kane situation closely.”
      The Wigan chief was referring to the club’s FA Cup final victory against Manchester City in 2013, when Ben Watson’s header secured a famous 1-0 win.
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      Wigan were a Premier League club at the time but were relegated the same season and have gone on to struggle financially, dropping down to League One three times.
      But the Latics have also won the division twice during that time, meaning they’ve lifted three trophies since Tottenham’s last success in 2008, when they won the League Cup.
      Kane, 27, is yet to win a major club honour in his career and he’s made no secret of his desire to play at the highest level and win trophies.
      Tottenham have failed to qualify for the Champions League for the second successive season and seem unlikely to even reach the Europa League.
      They are currently seventh in the Premier League, three points behind West Ham in the final UEL spot heading into the last game of the season.
      If they remain in their current position, Tottenham will compete in the Europa Conference League next term – Uefa’s new tertiary competition.

      Some Spurs fans were furious with Al-Hammad’s banter, with one replying: “Us buying Alfie Devine is one of the reasons your club still exists.”
      Wigan sold the 16-year-old midfielder, who scored in the FA Cup against Marine earlier in the season, to Tottenham last summer during the peak of their financial woes.
      And one Latics fan wasn’t impressed by the chairman’s joke either, telling him current strikers Callum Lang and Will Keane are BETTER than the England forward.
      The Wigan pair have scored 20 League One goals between them this term, two less than Kane’s managed in the Premier League.
      SunSport understands Kane is not interested in joining Wigan this summer.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Harry Kane will hold transfer talks with Tottenham amid Man Utd and Man City interest More

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      Leicester City’s FA Cup win against Chelsea is inspiring Leicester Tigers ahead of Challenge Cup final at Twickenham

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      LEICESTER TIGERS are hooked on FA Cup fever as they look to copy Brendan Rodgers’ history-making Foxes.It used to be the Tigers, not the Foxes, who were the trophy-hungry hope for the Midlands city.
      Leicester City’s neighbours Leicester Tigers have been inspired by their shock FA Cup win
      George Ford said the Foxes have inspired the Tigers ahead of the Challenge Cup finalCredit: Getty
      But ahead of Friday night’s Challenge Cup final against Montpellier, England fly-half George Ford is feeding off what happened to their neighbours just half a mile from Welford Road.
      As Tigers chase their first major trophy in eight years, Ford said: “I don’t think there’s extra pressure.
      “But, we as Leicester Tigers, were unbelievably proud of what Leicester City did in the FA Cup.
      “I think they went into the game as underdogs – which I think we are as well.
      “And going and producing a performance like they did, and the way they played – the courage they played with, the workrate, the effort, the skill, in a big game on the big stage, was incredible to watch.
      “So it inspires us. It definitely inspires us seeing the football team Leicester City go and beat a massive team like Chelsea in the FA Cup final, which they’d never done before. It’s incredible.”
      Steve Borthwick’s current crop of Tigers are a shadow of the famous Martin Johnson era during the late 90s and early noughties when they won back-to-back Heineken Champions Cups and five Premierships.

      When asked if that was a burden, Ford said: “No, not really.
      “I don’t get sick of hearing about it at all. Leicester’s is a quite well-followed club.
      “It’s traditionally a big club in English rugby because of the tradition, the history and how successful they’ve been in the past.
      “We’re a different team to where that team was – a different era, and we’ve got to work hard to go and win things ourselves and build a bit of a memory bank that we can be proud of as well.
      “But, no, I don’t get sick of hearing it at all. Those teams in the past that went and won all those trophies obviously deserved to do so.”
      And he added: “I definitely feel like we’re going in the right direction, we’re improving.

      “We’ve improved in a lot of areas this year, but there’s a lot more growth in us as well.
      “I feel it more because I’m on the field and it’s a massive difference to last year and the year before.
      “The belief, the foundations of our game. . . we just feel like we’re getting better and we’re on the right track.
      “That’s all you want to feel – that you’re improving yourself and you’re part of a team getting better as well.
      “If you keep doing that you know you’ll put yourself in the mix at the very least to win things.”
      Leicester celebrate with the trophy after they win the FA Cup More

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      Chelsea 3 Everton 0: Reiten and Kerr star as Blues reach Women’s FA Cup quarters and keep treble hopes alive

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      GURO REITEN helped Chelsea put their defeat in Europe to bed as the Blues beat Everton 3-0 to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals.The Norway ace’s thumping opener and a Sam Kerr belter were among the goals that saw the champs avenge their loss to the Toffees in last year’s contest.
      Guro Reiten was on target for Chelsea who knocked Everton out of the Women’s FA CupCredit: Getty
      Sam Kerr got on the scoresheet to help the Blues double their lead in the second halfCredit: Getty
      And the gritty win means the WSL juggernauts’ hopes of notching up a domestic treble are still alive.
      Emma Hayes made five changes to the side that fell to a 4-0 loss to Barcelona in their first-ever Champions League final.
      Erin Cuthbert, Beth England and Reiten were among the players who made the starting line-up for the hosts at Kingsmeadow.
      And the match saw Ingrid Moe Wold pull on the Everton captain’s armband with the Norway international playing her final game before retirement.
      The champs got off to a mildly jittery start with Everton having a couple of early first-half chances.
      One of the first came through Valerie Gauvin latching on to a sixth minute Hayley Raso pass and attempting to flick the ball into Ann-Katrin Berger’s net.
      And the Toffees went close around the 20th minute with Claire Emslie’s half-volley forcing a classy fingertip save from Berger at the far post.
      But it was Chelsea who broke the deadlock a minute before the half-hour mark with Kerr teeing up Reiten.
      And the Norway star buried a fierce bottom corner shot for the champions’ opener.
      Minutes later Sandy MacIver pulled off a fine double-stop to keep the scoreline 1-0.
      The hosts thought they had a second goal with a glancing Beth England header minutes before half-time.
      Beth England netted twice for Chelsea but both her efforts were ruled offsideCredit: Sportimage

      But the Lionesses forward, who netted off the back of a fine floated pass from Kerr, was adjudged to have been offside.
      The second spell saw Chelsea maintain the pressure with Millie Bright rattling the woodwork in the 50th minute with a corker of a strike from more than 30 yards out.
      And MacIver pulled off a fine save moments later.
      This occurred with Kerr going one-on-one with the Toffees stopper who came out swiftly to block the shot at Australia skipper’s feet.
      Everton had a couple of good forays forward with Gabrielle George jetting down the left in the 62nd minute.
      However, there were no Toffees in the box to get on the end of her dangerous whipped in cross.
      The WSL champs countered almost immediately with Kerr dribbling her way to the box and unleashing a hefty right-footed effort saved by MacIver.
      Chelsea will find out who they will face in the FA Cup quarter-finals with the draw taking place on May 28Credit: Reuters
      There were a couple of nervy moments around the 74th minute when Berger saw her clearance in the penalty box blocked by a Toffees shirt and almost land at the foot of an Everton player.  
      But Kerr helped the hosts double their lead with the Blues making a swift counter and the Australia star thumping in a high strike minutes later.
      And they added a third goal with substitute Drew Spence getting her head on the end of Kerr’s lofted pass.
      The goal saw the Blues wrap up a 3-0 result to end their season with a win.
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      Drew Spence was on target to help Emma Hayes’ side wrap up a 3-0 winCredit: PA
      Emma Hayes gets stuck into Chelsea training More

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      James Maddison brilliantly hits back at Chelsea fans’ X-rated Mason Mount chant by pretending to lift the FA Cup

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      LEICESTER playmaker James Maddison brilliantly trolled Chelsea fans after being taunted by supporters at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night.The England international was subject to X-rated chants of ‘You’re just a s*** Mason Mount’ during the Foxes’ 2-1 Premier League defeat in West London.
      James Maddison mimicked lifting the FA Cup to Chelsea fans during Leicester’s 2-1 defeat at Stamford BridgeCredit: EPA
      Maddison came off the bench on Saturday to help the Foxes beat the Blues to win the FA CupCredit: Getty
      Chelsea fans instantly looked to poke fun at the 24-year-old after he came off for Kelechi Iheanacho in the second half.
      But Maddison was quick to hit back as he reminded Chelsea of their FA Cup final meeting on Saturday where Leicester won 1-0.
      The former Norwich midfielder mimicked lifting up the iconic trophy towards the stands as he made his way back to the bench.
      Fans were loving his response on social media, as one tweeted: “Top banter, all involved. Well played.”
      Another messaged: “It’s this level of bantz you can’t get from fake crowd noise. Also, top work from both sides.”
      A third added: “Unreal s***housery. Start him for England.”
      Despite heartbreak at Wembley, Thomas Tuchel’s side gained instant revenge on Brendan Rodgers’ men after grinding out a win.
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      The victory saw them leapfrog Leicester into third spot to give them a huge boost in qualifying for the Champions League next term.
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      With Liverpool in fifth still having a game in hand, Chelsea couldn’t afford to slip up.
      However for the Foxes, they are now in danger of missing out on the top four for a second successive season after winning just once out of their last four league games.
      Should the Reds beat Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday evening, they will climb above Leicester into fourth spot with a game to play.
      Leicester face Tottenham at the King Power Stadium on Sunday knowing they must win if they wish to avoid playing in the Europa League yet again.
      Thomas Tuchel discusses Chelsea’s important 2-1 win over Leicester More

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      Kirk expects Everton to face Chelsea backlash in FA Cup after Champions League final loss

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      WILLIE KIRK expects Everton will feel Chelsea’s wrath when they meet in the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup.The Toffees boss reckons Emma Hayes’ side will come into the game wanting to avenge their brutal 4-0 loss to Barcelona in their first-ever Champions League final.
      Kirk reckons Chelsea will come at Everton with their full mightCredit: Reuters
      But the 42-year-old plans to halt the Blues by starting the game on the right foot to make them uncomfortable.
      The clash on May 20 will be the final game of the season for the Women’s Super League rivals.
      Kirk said: “They will come at us with a full-strength squad and the players will feel as though they have to do something after the other night.
      “We have to start brightly, get on top of them and make them feel uncomfortable.”
      The Toffees beat Chelsea 2-1 when they met in the quarter-finals of the 2020 contest in September of that year
      And Kirk intends to use that victory to inspire his team to inflict another defeat on the WSL champions.
      The Edinburgh-born manager added: “We will take inspiration from the game against Chelsea at Goodison.
      “That day we beat them, but we felt like there was so much more to come from this group.
      Everton are aiming to reach the Women’s FA Cup finals for a second successive yearCredit: Rex
      The Toffees reached the 2020 finals of the competition where they were beaten by Manchester CityCredit: Alamy

      “Seven or eight months on and we’re ready to go again.”
      Chelsea go into the game with a domestic treble in their sights after already lifting the Women’s Super League and League Cup trophies this season.
      Their hopes of a quadruple were blown out of the water by a ruthless Barcelona.
      The Catalan outfit had won all 26 LaLiga Women’s games they played this term ahead of their Champions League duel with the Blues.
      But despite their heavy drubbing in the final, Hayes and her players are already looking towards the future
      And they vowed to return to the contest even stronger next term.
      That is the promise the Blues boss and her team gave to club owner Roman Abramovich, who was present to see their performance in Gothenburg.
      Emma Hayes and her team are looking to win the treble this year after claiming the Conti Cup and WSL crownCredit: Getty
      Hayes said: “Our owner came in to see us. All the girls were very quick to tell him we’ll be back here (in the Champions League final)
      “We’ll work hard on the training pitch to make sure we do that.
      “If I know this group well enough, I know they mean these words.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Chelsea will compete in the Women’s FA Cup quarter-finals in September if they defeat Everton in the fifth roundCredit: PA
      Everton ‘plot shock Philippe Coutinho transfer and hope to land Barcelona and ex-Liverpool star for just £35m’ More

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      Leicester stars Wesley Fofana and Hamza Choudhury will NOT face FA action after holding Palestinian flag at FA Cup final

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      LEICESTER stars Wesley Fofana and Hamza Choudhury will NOT face any FA action for their Wembley flag-waving.The two Foxes brandished a Palestinian flag during their FA Cup Final celebrations on Saturday.
      Hamza Choudhury and Wesley Fofana carried the Palestine flag at Wembley
      The FA will take no action as the flag is internationally recognisedCredit: Getty
      Fofana and Choudhury were praised by pro-Palestinian groups for their “gesture of solidarity” during the ongoing violence and rocket launches from and against Israel.
      An official complaint about their behaviour was made to both Leicester and the FA by Action Against Discrimination, who insisted: “Sport and in this case football must never be used as a platform for either politics or racism.”
      But the FA, which has supported players “taking a knee” for more than a year, does not believe it should act in any way.
      Wembley’s position remains that the FA does not investigate the general use of internationally-recognised national flags on the field of play or in the stadium.
      The moment came after Leicester claimed their first-ever FA Cup crown on Saturday.
      A Youri Tielemans wondergoal fired the Foxes past Chelsea, who had a late leveller ruled out after VAR picked up a tight offside infringement.
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      However, there were unsavoury scenes after the match as Leicester’s Daniel Amartey was subjected to hideous racist abuse online.
      The player, a substitute throughout the final, had been filmed jokingly throwing Chelsea’s official pennant over his shoulder in the celebrations.
      The cup finalists meet again on Tuesday night in a Premier League clash as the race for a place in next season’s Champions League continues.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Leicester stars dedicate FA Cup win to late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s son in touching gesture More