France Ligue 1

BORDEAUX have been denied promotion to Ligue 1 and deducted a point after their match versus Rodez was abandoned over crowd trouble. The French second tier side needed to better Metz’s result to secure promotion back to the top-flight on the final day of the season.
Rodez’s Lucas Buades was knocked to floor after scoringCredit: AFP
The match was abandoned in controversial circumstancesCredit: AFP
But things did not go to plan during the fixture on June 2 as Rodez netted first via Lucas Buades.
Angry Bordeaux ultras then stormed the field and pushed the goalscorer to the floor.
Buades had to be stretchered off as he suffered concussion, which led to the referee deciding to abandon the game due to safety fears.
The French football governing body investigated the situation and decided to hand Bordeaux a defeat.
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They have also been slapped with a one point deduction for the start of next season and ordered to close their south stand for four games, with two of those suspended.
The result means that Bordeaux will remain in Ligue 2 and Metz get promoted alongside champions Le Havre.
Giving Rodez the win also had huge implications at the bottom of the table as with the three points they now leapfrog Annecy, who will get relegated instead.
Annecy and David Guion’s side are both fuming over the decision and are set to appeal to the French Olympic Committee.
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Bordeaux labelled the move from the French FA as “incomprehensible and disproportionate”.
They said they will defend their “rights and sporting fairness”.
Meanwhile, Rodez pleaded for hateful messages to stop being sent to their squad including Buades. More

CHRISTOPHE GALTIER has been sacked as Paris Saint-Germain manager.The 56-year-old has been relieved of his duties just days after lifting the Ligue 1 title.
Christophe Galtier has been sacked as PSG bossCredit: The Mega Agency
PSG finished just a point clear of Lens to retain their Ligue 1 crown, but failed to win the Coupe de France or advance beyond the round of 16 in the Champions League.
Julian Nagelsmann is the front-runner to replace Galtier in the Parc des Princes hotseat.
French paper L’Equipe reported last week that talks between PSG and Nagelsmann had reached an “advanced stage”.
Their report added that the German wants to bring Arsenal legend Thierry Henry with him to Paris.
Galtier’s PSG future appeared to be hanging by a thread from the moment his side lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The French champions were meekly beaten 3-0 on aggregate by Bayern, then managed by Nagelsmann.
Last month, Galtier begged for more time as PSG boss.
Defending his credentials, he said: “I deserve a second season at Paris Saint-Germain.
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“I repeat it once again because no one wants to hear it but it was a very special season.
“We had to stay the course even when we thought everyone had their heads under water.
“I pay tribute to my players who have not given up. I am very happy and I don’t want us to trivialise [this title win]!”
Galtier began his managerial career with Saint-Etienne, managing Les Verts for eight years between 2009 and 2017.
He subsequently took charge of Lille, inspiring them to their shock Ligue 1 title win in 2021.
A year at Nice followed, where he guided Les Aiglons to the Coupe de France final, before landing the PSG job.
Galtier, 56, won the Ligue 1 title by a single pointCredit: Alamy More

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN have lost almost one MILLION Instagram followers since Lionel Messi’s final match on Saturday.Earlier this week, the Parisiens announced that their final game of the season would be Messi’s last for the club.
PSG lost 900,000 followers after Messi’s last gameCredit: Getty
An official statement read: “After two seasons in the French capital, Leo Messi’s adventure with Paris Saint-Germain will come to an end at the conclusion of the 2022–23 campaign.
“The club would like to extend its warmest thanks to the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who also lifted a Trophée des Champions and two Ligue 1 titles with Les Rouge et Bleu.”
Despite PSG’s impressive Ligue 1 campaign – which saw Christophe Galtier’s side claim an 11th title – Messi’s Parc des Princes farewell was marred by a shock 3-2 defeat by mid-table Clermont.
And to make matters worse, the Argentina international was BOOED by fans while leaving the pitch.
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Messi fell out of favour with PSG’s staff and supporters last month when he missed training to fly to Saudi Arabia on an unauthorised trip.
The 35-year-old was subsequently suspended for two weeks.
Despite this, he still has a significant global fan base.
PSG lost a whopping 900,000 Instagram followers after Messi’s last outing in France, suggesting many fans only followed the club to support the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.
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Messi joined PSG in a shock £25million transfer from Barcelona in 2021.
He has since scored 32 goals and registered 35 assists in 75 appearances.
The forward also helped the club to two Ligue 1 titles. More

THIERRY HENRY is set to join Paris Saint-Germain as assistant manager to Julian Nagelsmann, according to reports.The duo are claimed to be in advanced talks with the French giants.
Thierry Henry has been working as a Ligue 1 pundit for French tellyCredit: Getty
Julian Nagelsmann is set to become Paris Saint-Germain bossCredit: Getty
PSG are yet to part company with boss Christophe Galtier.
But following yesterday’s final day 3-2 home defeat to Clermont Foot, the French champions are expected to make a change.
According to L’Equipe, talks with Nagelsmann have reached an “advanced stage”.
The German is expected to bring Henry with him, despite having never worked with the former Arsenal forward before.
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Henry, 45, has not coached since departing as Belgium’s assistant boss following the World Cup.
He has been working as a Ligue 1 pundit on French TV, as well as providing Champions League analysis on CBS Sports.
The former France international began his coaching career as Roberto Martinez’s No2 with Belgium between 2016 and 2018.
He then took over as Monaco manager, but endured a disastrous stint at Stade Louis II.
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Christophe Galtier is expected to be axed as Chelsea bossCredit: The Mega Agency
Henry won just four of 20 matches in charge before being sacked.
He subsequently took charge of Montreal Impact in MLS, but stepped down following nine wins in 29 matches in charge,
The Gunners hero returned as Martinez’s No2 with Belgium, but did not follow the former Wigan boss after he landed the Portugal job.
Nagelsmann, meanwhile, was linked with the Chelsea and Tottenham jobs earlier this summer, following his Bayern Munich sacking.
But following initial talks, both London clubs distanced themselves from the 35-year-old.
Henry previously assisted Roberto MartinezCredit: Reuters More

LIONEL MESSI made a dismal Paris Saint-Germain exit as Clermont came back from behind to shock the champions.The Argentina legend and World Cup-winner has had a miserable spell in the French capital and will depart at the end of the month.
Lionel Messi was booed by PSG fans on his final appearance for the clubCredit: AFP

Messi bid farewell as the French champs suffered a 3-2 home defeat to ClermontCredit: AFP
Despite winning back-to-back Ligue 1 titles, Messi has failed to bring the oil-rich Parisians the Champions League glory they crave since joining two seasons ago.
And he has been accused of looking disinterested in domestic action.
Messi’s name was again roundly booed by the home fans before kick-off when announced on the loud speakers.
And the cat-calls continued when he missed a sitter during the 3-2 loss.
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Sergio Ramos – who is also leaving – opened the scoring in the 16th minute.
That was when PSG fans were cheering for keeper Sergio Rico, who is in intensive care following a horse-riding accident.
Kylian Mbappe made it 2-0 from the spot soon after – and celebrated by holding up Rico’s number 16 shirt.
But Clermont hit back through Johan Gastien – and Mehdi Zeffane leveled after Grejohn Kyei missed a penalty.
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Messi was barracked again for firing over when Mbappe had set him up – and Kyei then pounced to seal Clermont’s comeback.
Second-place Lens won 3-1 at Auxerre to finish just a point behind winners PSG in the Ligue 1 table.
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Messi was jeered before kick-off and again after missing a sitter
Messi infuriated his club and fans last month when he took an unapproved trip to Saudi Arabia with his family.
The ace was banned for two weeks before issuing a grovelling apology.
But after winning the title for a second straight season, Messi then skipped the team celebrations to watch Coldplay in his beloved Barcelona.
The forward is now tipped to seal a stunning return to the Nou Camp, two years after he was released from his contract there.
Messi scored 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona, winning 10 titles and four Champions Leagues in the process.
The new Spanish champs already boast Robert Lewandowski up front, but boss Xavi Hernandez – Messi’s former teammate – insists he’s already figured out his tactics to accommodate his old pal.
Xavi said: “The priorities are very clear, I would really like Messi to return. Messi knows that and I have spoken with him.
“He will decide next week and now there are 200 hypotheses. In the end he will decide his future and here he has the doors open, there is no more debate.
“If it is the coach who has to give the OK to come, he has the OK at 100 per cent.

“In the end you have to find a natural habitat to enhance all your game, but I do see that it can help us a lot.
“I think we lack that talent in the last third and Leo always give it to you.” More

SERGIO RICO’S wife begged him not to “leave me alone” in a worrying update on her stricken husband’s health crisis.The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, 29, has been in intensive care since a tragic horse-riding incident at the weekend.
Sergio Rico’s wife posted a heartbreaking update on his statusCredit: AP
Alba Silva took to Instagram with the desperate plea to her husbandCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrdTIqksQvW/?hl=en

And his partner Alba Silva shared a heartbreaking and desperate message on Instagram, suggesting Rico is struggling to recover.
She said: “Don’t leave me alone, my love, because I swear I cannot.
“I don’t know how to live without you. We love you a lot.”
Another post read: “Thank you for all the love you have for us. Sergio has a lot of people praying for him and he is very strong.
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“I have no words to describe what I feel.”
Rico was airlifted to hospital on Sunday morning after falling off his horse in Spain on his way to mass.
Reports claim that he suffered severe head trauma when the horse he was riding got frightened and threw him off before he was kicked in the head several times.
That meant he had to be intubated upon his arrival at the Virgen del Rocío hospital in Seville.
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PSG team-mate Carlos Soler and Sevilla president Pepe Castro both visited their friend in hospital on Monday.
Rico joined PSG in a £5.2million transfer from Sevilla in 2020 after a 14-year spell with the Spanish side – which included winning the Europa League twice and a year on loan at Fulham in 2018-19.
He has made just 24 appearances for the French giants since joining but has not played a match this season.
PSG claimed another Ligue 1 title on Saturday following a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg.
Following the game, Rico was given permission to head back to his hometown in Spain.
A family statement on Sunday said: “After a little over an hour and a half with his family and friends, he was heading to High Mass by the hermitage at El Rocio when he suffered an accident because of a cart with mules and a runaway horse that struck him.
“Sergio is in good hands, fighting to get better while he receives the best care from the medical team at Virgin del Rocio Hospital. We must act with precaution, especially in the next 48 hours.
“We are awaiting the results of his medical evolution which we hope will be favourable so we are able to tell you about his improvement as soon as possible.”
Rico’s wife is struggling with the awful turmoilCredit: https://www.instagram.com/albasilvat/?hl=en
The couple have a love for horsesCredit: https://www.instagram.com/albasilvat/?hl=en More

KYLIAN Mbappe has been praised by fans for his response after hitting a spectator with a ball on Saturday and leaving her with blood pouring down her face.The 24-year-old was warming up ahead of PSG’s Ligue 1 clash with Strasbourg when a wayward shot flew into the crowd and hit a fan.
Mbappe went to check on a spectator after accidentally hitting her with a ballCredit: Avalon.red
The striker led her to the touchline to receive treatmentCredit: Reddit
The spectator was immediately tended to by the stewards before Mbappe arrived at the side of the pitch to check on her.
Visibly concerned, Mbappe continued chatting to the woman while escorting her to the touchline so that she could receive medical attention.
The Frenchman then sat with her while she was being treated by medics.
Fans were quick to applaud Mbappe following his response to the incident, with one person simply tweeting: “Good kid.”
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Another added: “Going straight into the football respect compilation.”
While a third wrote: “Seems like every time I see a headline about Mbappe it’s pushing some narrative about him being a diva, and every time I see a video of him speaking to the press or interacting with people he seems grounded and mature for someone with such a spotlight on him.”
PSG claimed another Ligue 1 title on Saturday following a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg.
Lionel Messi’s second-half goal, which was later cancelled out by Kevin Gameiro, was enough to make the Parisians untouchable at the top of the table.
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Christophe Galtier’s side were being chased down by shock title contenders RC Lens until the penultimate game of the season, but a point was enough to seal the club’s 11th league title.
After the match, Galtier insisted that he deserves another year at PSG despite reports claiming that the club are willing to let him go.
He said: “I deserve a second season at Paris Saint-Germain.
“I repeat it once again because no one wants to hear it but it was a very special season.
“We had to stay the course even when we thought everyone had their heads under water.
“I pay tribute to my players who have not given up. I am very happy and I don’t want us to trivialize [this title win]!” More