France Ligue 1

NEAL MAUPAY was sent off after receiving two bookings in just three minutes last night.The former Brentford and Everton forward, 28, was handed just his second start of the season as Marseille took on Angers at Stade Velodrome.Neal Maupay laughed as he was sent offThe striker, 28, received a second yellow for this late challengeAhead of the game, players were greeted onto the pitch by an incredible tifo display celebrating Marseille’s 125th birthday.And the occasion may have gotten to ex-Prem prankster Maupay, who was heading in for an early bath within half an hour.The feisty affair had its first flashpoint in the 22nd minute, when visiting star Lilian Raolisoa lunged in on Marseille defender Ullises Garcia.This prompted fury among Marseille’s ranks, with Maupay one of the most vocal in trying to get Raolisoa sent off.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSFollowing a VAR check Maupay would get his wish, with Raolisoa eventually shown a red card in the 26th minute.Moments later, Maupay was also in the referee’s book.Then on the half hour mark he joined Raolisoa in being sent off, receiving a second yellow for a late challenge by the halfway line.As he received his marching orders, Maupay risked the further wrath of Marseille fans by smiling and laughing.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSHe then shook his head as he made his way off the pitch.The match proceeded 10 vs 10 for an hour, with Marseille stumbling against their newly promoted opponents.Embarrassing footage emerges of Premier League star Neal Maupay falling over in lift while in just swimming trunksNorwich loanee Jonathan Rowe gave Roberto De Zerbi’s side the lead on 51 minutes.The England Under-21 international followed up his amazing last minute winner at Lyon a fortnight ago by converting in the box against Angers following a neat turn.Marseille’s lead would last barely three minutes, with Farid El Melali grabbing a spectacular equaliser – converting a brilliant free-kick beyond keeper Geronimo Rulli.The result leaves De Zerbi’s men third in the Ligue 1 table, two points behind both Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain.Monaco face a tricky trip to Rennes this evening, before PSG round off the weekend’s Ligue 1 action at Nice on Sunday night.Maupay will be suspended when Marseille travel to Montpellier after the international break.The Frenchman has scored once this season in Ligue 1, an effort in his side’s 2-0 win over Nice last month.Prior to leaving England, Maupay developed a reputation as something of a cult villain.Last season he was involved in a social media war with James Maddison, after mimicking the midfielder’s darts celebration during Brentford’s 3-2 defeat at Tottenham.He was also booked while not even on the pitch against Chelsea after kicking the ball away as he warmed up as a substitute, stopping the Blues taking a free-kick.READ MORE SUN STORIESDuring his Brighton days, Maupay bagged a late winner against Arsenal, having argued with Bernd Leno as the then-Gunners keeper was taken off on a stretcher.He then enraged Matteo Guendouzi at the final whistle, with the Frenchman grabbing his compatriot Maupay by the throat after what turned out to be his final game for Arsenal.Maupay was involved in a spat with Matteo Guendouzi in 2020Credit: Getty More

FRENCH football chiefs are looking to “transform” Ligue 1 because it is “not sexy”. France’s first division has previously received criticism regarding its quality with some referring to the competition as a “farmer’s league”.French football chiefs are looking to ‘transform’ Ligue because it is ‘not sexy’Credit: GettyLigue 1 have lost many stars, such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel MessiCredit: GettyThat is why the Ligue de Football Professionnel launched a decisive step in their plan to change the public perception of French football and shed all the negativity.According to L’Equipe, the LFP president Vincent Labrune is planning a major revamp that has been in the works for two years.The president said he would be taking steps to tackle Ligue 1’s image problem, through “the transformation of the product”. Labrune added: “We have been working on this for more than two years and basing it around three strong pillars: Image, experience, and culture.”Read More on FootballThe LFP’s Chief Transformation & Innovation Officer Jerome Dumois has been placed in charge of Ligue 1’s rebrand and insists the competition needs to become more “sexy”.Global stars who mainly played for Paris Saint-Germain, like Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, have left but there is still belief the top flight could still turn into the “coolest league to follow”.Dumois said: “We might love our league, our season, our clubs, but in the end, we have this image problem: Ligue 1 is not sexy.“We need this change of image to work on our brand. This is not an advert, it is a new behaviour to instil a need for change. Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”Maybe we won’t have the best players in Ligue 1 but we can become the coolest league to follow.”Cristiano Ronaldo has been among the biggest critics as he ruffled a lot of feathers recently when he made the staggering claim that the Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1.Fuming Kylian Mbappe’s incredible reaction to being subbed by PSG in Marseille victoryThat led to some furious reaction, most notably from Chelsea legend Frank Leboeuf who told Al-Nassr superstar Ronaldo to “shut up”.Leboeuf suggested the Manchester United great spoke ill of the French first division because that is where his nemesis Messi used to play. More

MASON GREENWOOD was handed a special badge to wear by Ligue 1.The former Manchester United star has made a fast start to his Marseille career since joining in the summer.Mason Greenwood wore a special badge against NiceCredit: Instagram @olympiquedemarseilleHe was signed by the French club for around £30million, with the Red Devils inserting a 50 per cent sell-on clause in the deal.Greenwood has scored five goals in his first four games including a brace against Toulouse in a 3-1 victory before the international break.That feat means he was given a unique badge to wear for Marseille’s match against Nice on Saturday, which no other Ligue 1 player got to wear.Greenwood, 22, wore the top scorer badge after scoring the most goals in the previous gameweek.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe white and gold logo is called the S1 badge and was introduced at the start of the season.However Greenwood failed to mark the occasion with a goal as he drew a blank for the first time this season, with Marseille winning 2-0.And although he has started the season on fire, interim England boss Lee Carsley ruled him out of returning to the Three Lions squad.He said: “Mason wasn’t a player that we can consider to be honest, no.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”I’m aware of how he’s doing but he wasn’t under consideration.”Greenwood could switch his allegiances to Jamaica instead with the process to transfer the forward’s international registration already underway.Cristiano Ronaldo and Rio Ferdinand in hysterics as they remember Man Utd nicknames from ‘Shrek’ and ‘SatNav’ to ‘J-Lo’ More

NICE’S Ligue 1 match against Toulouse FC is at risk of postponement due to mushrooms growing on pitch. The owners of the Allianz Riviera were criticised the state of the pitch.Nice’s Allianz Riviera stadiumCredit: BFM TV Côte d’AzurBut Nice responded by putting it down to mushrooms growing on the pitch after it was relayed this summer. American rapper Travis Scott performed a concert in the stadium while it was also used for Olympic football matches. Nice are due to welcome Toulouse on Sunday but it is currently at risk of being postponed by the French FA who are set to make a decision.Elsewhere, the French side have extended forward Evann Guessand’s contract until 2028. READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe striker, who scored seven in 38 games last season, said: “I’m proud and honoured. “I know that people’s expectations, both of the team and of me, are getting higher and higher, but I’ll keep working like mad to be an even more key player and to help the club to perform well. “I have a deep love for OGC Nice, which I joined when I was 12, and my aim and my desire are for us to go as high as possible together.”Nice have also added Canadian defender Moise Bombito to the squad ahead of the upcoming season. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSBombito said: “It was time for me to take a new step in my career. I will be discovering both Ligue 1 and the Europa League at the same time, and I feel ready. I am very ambitious, like Le Gym. “I hope we will achieve great things this season and go far in all the competitions we will play in.”Conor Gallagher sends packed Atletico Madrid stadium wild at unveiling by speaking SPANISH after Chelsea exit More

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG has opened up on suffering from depression before he left Arsenal.The former Gunners skipper, 34, was stripped of the captaincy by Mikel Arteta in December 2021, after arriving back late from an authorised trip to France.Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has given a wide-ranging interviewCredit: YOUTUBE /Colinterview – Oh My GoalThe striker, 34, fell out of with Arsenal boss Mikel ArtetaCredit: GettyAubameyang never played for Arsenal again, going on to sign for Barcelona after having his Gunners contract terminated the following February.After a successful six-month stint with Barca he returned to the Premier League with Chelsea.But he did not earn a permanent deal at Stamford Bridge and ultimately signed for Marseille, for whom he scored 30 goals in all competitions this season.With the French campaign having concluded, the striker hopped on the Colinterview – Oh My Goal YouTube channel to discuss his career.READ MORE ON ARSENALDuring the wide ranging conversation Aubameyang opened up on the end of his time with Arsenal, admitting mental health issues caused him to “drink a lot”.Aubameyang said: “I’m sure I was depressed.”There are attitudes that are seriously different from your daily life.”For example, I started drinking a lot. It was a difficult passage. It started a little before I was fired from Arsenal.Most read in Football”So yes, it was depression, I think that personally it was related to the state of health of my parents. It affects a man, it was difficult.”How to get out? Often we say that we have to talk about it, there’s no shame in that.”Chelsea striker Aubameyang filmed taking HUGE swipe at Mikel Arteta claiming Arsenal boss ‘can’t handle big namesAubameyang signed for Barcelona in February 2022Credit: AlamyThe last of Aubameyang’s 163 appearances for Arsenal came as a late substitute in their 2-1 defeat at Everton on December 6, 2021.He subsequently went back to France on an authorised to trip to visit his unwell mother.Delving into his side of the story, Aubameyang explained that following that clash with Everton, he had received permission from Arteta to go to France to visit his mother, who had suffered from a stroke a few months earlier.On what happened next, he said: “I’m going home to Laval, normally I was supposed to leave on the free day and return in the evening rather than the morning of training.At that moment I tell myself that I’m not going to answer him because it’s going to end angrilyPierre-Emerick Aubameyang”My mother had exams to do, I couldn’t leave in the evening so I left the next morning on training day.”Once I got there, I had to take my test but in fact I should have done it the day before since I was coming from another country.”I arrive, the coach finishes his meeting and then he grabs me and he completely tears into me, he shouts at me like I’m crazy, he says: ‘You put a knife in my back. You can’t do that to me given the times we’re going through.’”At that moment I tell myself that I’m not going to answer him because it’s going to end angrily.”I didn’t go partying. He knows very well the reason for my departure so at that moment I don’t understand why he is lecturing me like this.”Aubameyang then revealed that he was told that Arteta did not want him to join up with the group, and that he would have to train on his own.Next came the bombshell that he was losing the armband, with the Arsenal boss summoning his skipper to a one-on-one meeting to reveal the news.READ MORE SUN STORIESDuring those same talks Aubameyang learned that he would no longer be working with the rest of the group at all, with his time at Arsenal effectively over.Two months later he left the club, joining Barcelona after having his contract terminated.The forward has enjoyed a resurgent season with MarseilleCredit: AFP More