Football

CRISTIANO RONALDO’s wayward penalty did more than send Al-Nassr crashing out of Saudi Arabia’s biggest cup competition.Ronaldo’s injury time spot-kick also managed to smash a young fan’s phone and send him collapsing to the floor.Cristiano Ronaldo missed an injury time penalty that saw Al-Nassr crash out of Saudi Arabia’s biggest cup competitionCredit: Sky SportsThe wayward spot-kick slammed into a filming fan in the crowdCredit: Sky SportsThe kid saw his phone go flying out of his handCredit: Sky SportsHe fell to the ground as a resultCredit: Sky SportsThe Al-Nassr captain had the chance to hand his team a lifeline in the Saudi King Cup last night when he stepped up to take a 96th minute penalty while trailing 1-0 to Al-Taawoun in the last 16 of the cup.But in an uncharacteristic moment for Ronaldo, the 39-year-old blazed his penalty over the bar and into the crowd behind the goal.The miss saw Al-Nassr knocked out of the competition as a result.And being knocked out wasn’t the only bad thing for one young fan in the crowd, who was also knocked over.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLRonaldo’s powerful pen slammed directly into the youngster behind the goal, knocked him to the ground and saw his phone fly out of his hand.Fans online reacted to Ronaldo’s clumsy moment, with one writing: “Breaking more phones than record these days”.While a second fan posted: “Two heartbreaks for that fan”.And another added: “Well, at least the kid shot the video of his life”.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSRonaldo himself reacted to the loss with a seven-word social media post, taking the positives from a tough day at the office.He wrote: “Every challenge is an opportunity to grow.”I watched Cristiano Ronaldo play for Al-Nassr, the atmosphere and standard had me shocked… but he didn’t seem botheredThe result means a golden opportunity for silverware goes begging, with Al-Nassr already playing catch-up in the league.They sit six points adrift of table toppers Al-Hilal after drawing three of their opening eight matches.Ronaldo’s only silverware since joining Al-Nassr was last year’s Arab Club Champions Cup. More

SEVERE flooding hit Meadow Park in 2007 and left the stadium a whopping eight feet under water.The huge amount of damage saw the ground abandoned for a 13 years – only to be eventually rebuilt with a clever flood defence.Meadow Park was submerged under waterCredit: Neil PhelpsThey have now transformed the stadium with a clever flood defenceCredit: AlamyGloucester City played at the stadium on the bank of the River Severn from 1986 to 2007.But the location of their home proved a constant problem when adverse weather conditions hit the UK, with it first being flooded when heavy snow melted in 1990.Meadow Park was out of action for a month as they repaired it and the same happened again after heavy rainfall struck the area a decade later.These two incidents left the club without stadium insurance such was the cost of fixing the damage the previous two times. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSo when mass flooding hit the West of England in 2007, Gloucester City were left with a huge bill.The pitch was submerged under eight feet (2.4 metres) of water, with the rain reaching almost as high as the crossbar.As well as the playing surface, the stands, clubhouse, kitchen facilities, changing rooms and shop were all swamped.It forced the now seventh tier club to abandon their home and they played home matches in four different ground over a ten-year period.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThey had to leave Gloucester, moving to Forest Green Rovers’ New Lawn ground for a season and then Cirencester Town’s Corinium Stadium.A further seven years was spent at Cheltenham’s Whaddon Road and three more at Evesham United’s Jubilee Stadium. Fifa confirm 12 stadiums for new-look Club World Cup including TWO £1.2BILLION NFL grounds and 88,500-seat Olympic venueBut Gloucester City eventually got the green light to renovate their spiritual home, spending £4million on an improved 4,000 capacity ground.Planning permission was granted in 2019 for two 350-seater stands and a modern stand featuring a clubhouse and a shiny new home changing room.To prevent the New Meadow Park from flooding again, building works took place to raise the level of the pitch, stands and clubhouse by 3.5 metres.Gloucester City eventually moved back home in 2020 and it is now known as the TigerTurf Stadium due to a three-year sponsorship deal.Who are these famous footballers? More

ROY KEANE has been left speechless after former rival Giorgio Chiellini picked his shirt over Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.The Italian legend gatecrashed a recent recording of Sky’s new show The Overlap on Tour.Giorgio Chiellini made a surprise appearance on The Overlap On TourCredit: The OverlapRoy Keane was stunned to see the Italian legend had picked out his shirtCredit: The OverlapKeane was joined by fellow analysts Gary Neville, Ian Wright and Jamie Carragher for the recording. Seated in a restaurant, the quartet were left shocked as former Juventus centre-back Chiellini made a shock entrance.The 40-year-old strode into camera shot wearing a vintage Manchester United strip. Neville gasped: “You look great in that kit!”READ MORE ON MAN UTDA visibly stunned Keane agreed: “It suits you.”The former Juve centre-half spun around to reveal the strip had Keane’s name and number on the back.Chiellini explained: “I was at an event of classic shirts and they ask me ‘Okay, pick one.'”I look for the first one. It was not Ronaldo, it was not Messi.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”I said I want Manchester United and Roy Keane.”One fan laughed in response to the clip on X: “Chiellini got Roy Keane blushing so hard.”Roy Keane left red-faced after Sky Sports colleague tells Man Utd legend to ‘bring this look back’Another said: “Keano! Greatest ever CM in prem history.”While a third added: “That’s brilliant. Chiellini is a class act.”And a fourth quipped: “When you see Keane smiling, you are already more blessed like when you see 20 unicorns.”Chiellini later joked he almost left Juventus to “join Sunderland” when Keane was manager of the Black Cats in 2006.Keane laughed in response: “You would have loved it!”Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man UtdWHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers. The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.Chiellini is widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs of his generation. He started his career at Livorno, before joining Juve in 2004.The Italian would go on to play over 400 times for the Old Lady, winning nine Serie A titles.READ MORE SUN STORIESChiellini earned over 100 caps for Italy during his 23-year career, wining the Euros in 2020. He finally hung up his boots last year at the age of 39 after a season in the MLS with Los Angeles FC. More

THE son of one of England’s 1966 World Cup heroes was denied the chance to keep his father’s winners’ medal due to government taxes.John Charlton, eldest son of Jack Charlton, couldn’t inherit his father’s medal after he passed in 2020 – labelling the reasons behind it as “scandalous”.Jack Charlton passed away in 2020, leaving his World Cup winners medal to his sonCredit: SportsfileJack’s son John Charlton (centre) was unable to keep the medal due to sky high inheritance taxCredit: SportsfileThe World Cup winners medal and match shirt was valued at a whopping £200,000Credit: GettyJohn, 64, was left the medal by his father, who passed away at the age of 85.But despite it being just one of two remaining medals from the 1966 World Cup still owned by the families of the winners, John was forced to give it up because of inheritance tax.The HMRC valued Jack Charlton’s medal and his famous shirt from that day at an incredible £200,000.Which means, had John kept both of the prized possessions, he would have been slapped with a WHOPPING £80,000 tax bill.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLExplaining the fact he had to pass up on the medal, John told The Mirror: “My dad kept his England shirt from the World Cup final. And his World Cup medal should have come to me. “But the taxman valued them at somewhere between £100k to £200k, so we have left that in possession of my mum.”The value of it in gold is not a massive amount of money. It is impossible to say how much it would be worth at auction.” John, who is also the nephew of Sir Bobby Charlton, went on to slam the tax system, adding: “I think the inheritance tax in this country is absolutely scandalous: who can put a value on that medal?Most read in Football”I think it is only my dad and uncle Bobby who have not sold theirs. I wonder what would happen if I said that I could not afford the tax on it. Would the Government take my dad’s medal from me?”The medal, which is now kept in a bank safe, won’t be going anywhere soon.Footballers you didn’t know were related from Premier League icons to Lionel MessiJohn has vowed to keep it in the family and pass it down every generation to ensure that the piece of footballing history isn’t lost – no matter what the cost.He added: “I would rather sell my business than sell the medal. It will be passed to my children and hopefully my children’s children.”Jack and Bobby Charlton are the only two members of the 1966 World Cup winning team that kept their medals in their familyCredit: Getty More

ARSENAL have tasked a former fan favourite with finding the next Bukayo Saka.Ex-Gunners captain Per Mertesacker hopes to bring another golden ticket through the club’s youth ranks.Ex-Arsenal centre back Per Mertesacker is currently the manager of Arsenal AcademyCredit: GettyThe club are hoping to find the next Bukayo SakaCredit: GettyArsenal first-team stars Saka, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have all risen to fame through the Gunners Academy.Mertesacker took over his current role as manager of the Arsenal youth setup in July 2018. And the towering German believes the “most important age group” in the Academy is the under-9s.He claims that by the age of 8, talented youngsters could have “five or six offers from clubs in London.”READ MORE ON FOOTBALLMertesacker told The Telegraph: “That is where the resources go and also where I need to present to parents. “I would not call it an under-eight transfer market but it is probably close to that.”Mertesacker adds that “football talent” initially gets you into the building on Wadham Road. But he warned: “It’s the character that sets the ceiling. Kicking the ball around is not enough.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS”We are big on respect and humility – you are here to respect yourself and make yourself better.”You have to respect others and the environment as well.”Bukayo Saka left looking ‘so helpless’ in bizarre moment Conor McGregor tries UFC moves on Arsenal star Mertesacker, who played 104 times for Germany, admits scouting young talent has come a long way from his own playing days.He claims all he could do as an eight-year-old was “run in a straight line.”But despite being tasked with creating the Premier League stars of the future, Mertesacker doesn’t rush his recruits.The 40-year-old eases in youngsters to build an “inclusive environment.”Mertesacker continued: “Obviously it is early, and at that age, you make it fun. “You make it playtime, you make it musical. It’s a foundation phase, where they need to express themselves as much as possible.”Mikel Arteta has given first-team opportunities to a host of academy players in this year’s Carabao CupCredit: AlamyLiverpool impressed at Arsenal, but it was a match Jurgen Klopp probably would’ve wonBy Jordan DaviesON the face of it, Liverpool continue to go from strength to strength with Arne Slot’s tenure still in its infancy.Away at Arsenal as title contenders — with a formidable record at the Emirates having won four of their last six there — the Reds fought back, not once, but twice to earn an impressive point to remain four clear of the Gunners.Nine games in, Liverpool have seven wins, 22 points collected and sit in second in what is one of the club’s best ever starts to a Prem campaign.Nothing to sniff at there, and that is without mentioning three straight wins in the Champions League and a 5-1 Carabao Cup third-round thumping of fellow top-flight side West Ham.So to even attempt to pick flaws in Slot’s start with a run that solid would come across needlessly pedantic, deliberately nit-picky.But, and there is a but, given the standards Liverpool have set in these early months, it needs to be said: this draw in North London was a massive missed opportunity.And to go one step further, maybe this is a game Jurgen Klopp would have found a way to win?It has been a long time since Arsenal have gone into a game feeling so vulnerable defensively with world-class centre-back William Saliba missing through suspension.Full-back Riccardo Calafiori was also out injured, usual right-back Ben White began the game at centre-half and midfielder Thomas Partey started on the far right side of the defence.And then, in a chaotic second half, both Jurrien Timber and Gabriel limped off, forcing Gunners boss Mikel Arteta to swap around his back line THREE times by the 76th minute.And yet, despite all of that, a Liverpool side boasting attacking talents like Mo Salah, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo were hardly making the home fans sweat with a peppering of the Arsenal goal.It was not until a Klopp-style counter-attack from back to front in the 81st minute did the visitors properly test the home defence.But even that finish was a tame one — Salah tapping in past David Raya into an almost empty net.And with nine minutes left plus seven minutes injury time, the expected onslaught for another, to nick all three points — the tally-ho approach — never came.Not Klopp’s heavy metal style, more pleasant folk music with a ukulele in a country pub.You get the impression that Slot was delighted with this outcome.For large parts, Liverpool were defensively sound, gave very little away and snuck away back to Merseyside with a point tucked under their arm and a bloody nose avoided.Yet it was in these sorts big blockbuster matches that Klopp and Liverpool thrived over their nine-year romance, full of excitement, thrills and last-gasp wins that earned them a Prem trophy in 2019-20 and plenty more down-to-the-wire chases with Manchester City.And with Arteta’s Arsenal on their knees — quite literally in some cases — and hanging on for dear life, these are the moments in title races that require a bit of crazy, not caution.A Klopp team of the past would have gone completely and totally Kloppy, throwing men forward at will, blasting their opponents away and forcing the ball into the net through passion and thunder alone, regardless of how open it left them at the back.Slot is not this sort of coach.He is measured, considerate, calm. Good qualities, but not always needed in do-or-die matches that ultimately determine where you finish in May.It is hard to say if this will come back to haunt Slot, who still insists on avoiding any use of the phrase ‘title contenders’ despite clearly being title contenders.With Aston Villa and Manchester City visiting Anfield over their next five Prem outings, we will see whether the Dutchman can loosen the leash and let his team grab games by the scruff of the neck instead of playing it safe.Because as we have seen in this league, going for broke often rewards you — just ask the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola.Fortune favours the brave.Slot needs to discover his own version of that if he is to truly emulate Klopp and transform this Liverpool side into one capable of seizing moments when they matter most.Mertesacker’s success was in evidence earlier this month in a Carabao Cup third round tie against Bolton. Boss Mikel Arteta named academy product Jack Porter, 16, as goalkeeper for the clash.It made him the youngest-ever player to start for the Gunners.Teenagers Ayden Heaven, Josh Nichols, Ismeal Kabia and Maldini Kacurri could all feature in Wednesday’s fourth-round tie against Preston.Arteta said: “It’s not a question about age, it’s that if they play it’s because they deserve to, the same as the rest of the players.READ MORE SUN STORIES”At the end of the day, we have to reward the people who each day they behave in a certain manner and they have the level to play in the manner we want.“I don’t care if they are players from the academy, youth players or seniors, tomorrow they will play.” More