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      Bradford keeper catches ball ‘miles’ outside his own box and only gets yellow card… but fans think they know why

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      BRADFORD goalkeeper Harry Lewis caught the ball miles outside his own box this afternoon… but was NOT sent off.The stopper was in action for his side as they travelled to Newport County in League Two.
      Harry Lewis caught the ball with no one around himCredit: Sky Bet League Two via Twitter
      Lewis, 25, caught a high ball several metres outside his box in a moment of madness on 21 minutes.
      Much to Newport’s fury, the keeper was only shown a yellow card, despite his deliberate handball.
      Their official Twitter account posted: “Absolutely unbelievable.
      “Bradford keeper Harry Lewis catches a long ball miles out of his goal and only gets a yellow for it.”
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      Newport share their Rodney Parade home ground with rugby teams Dragons and Newport RFC.
      During today’s match, rugby lines were clearly visible on the pitch, and may have put Lewis off.
      Fans believe that the reason he wasn’t sent off was that he didn’t directly prevent a goalscoring opportunity with his catch.
      One wrote: “It was a yellow card as no one around him so not a goal scoring opportunity but agreed the lines aren’t acceptable at this standard.”
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      A second tweeted: “Did it stop a goal scoring opportunity? No. Move on stop crying.”
      Another disagreed: “That’s literally the worst decision I’ve ever seen a ref give in a game live.”
      But a Bradford fan responded: “You know the rules don’t you? There’s no reason for a red, it wasn’t goal scoring.”
      Newport were left even more furious 15 minutes later, when Andy Cook fired Bradford into the lead.
      They levelled on the hour mark, however, via Liam Ridehalgh’s own goal. More

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      EFL fans could face soaring TV bills in huge blow with split rights between Sky and Scandinavian group mooted

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      EFL chiefs want bids for TV rights delivered by March 23 with Sky and Scandinavian group Viaplay battling for the best packages.There is every chance of a split in coverage for the next telly deal, starting in 2024-25, which is sure to spark much debate before the contracts are sorted.
      There could soon be a new Tella-vision deal for the EFL but Nathan Tella and his Burnley team-mates seem set to return to the Premier LeagueCredit: Rex
      Blackburn congratulate Harry Pickering after he opened up the Championship promotion race by sinking second-placed Sheffield United on SaturdayCredit: Reuters
      Swedish streaming giant Viaplay is emerging as a frontrunner – capable financially of nabbing some of the many packages available.
      It puts Sky’s position as the leading provider for the EFL is under serious threat.
      They’ve held the live rights since 2002 but new competition means Sky might need to almost double its £119 million deal to keep exclusive coverage.
      Another twist is that lower-division clubs are happy to consider a separate deal, which would include more live games.
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      The EFL is looking for increased TV revenue for its clubs down the divisions.
      But it also wants to adjust to changing way viewing habits, which increases the chance of more streaming being brought in.
      Rights for the Championship, League One, League Two, EFL Cup, EFL Trophy and play-offs are available from 2024-25.
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      And the Viaplay group has been steadily picking up sports contracts.
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      It bought the UK-based Premier Sports for more than £30million last year and aims to launch in America soon.
      EFL Chief Commercial Officer Ben Wright said last week: “Our objective remains to find the right mix of maximising value, increasing volume and providing a great viewing experience through evolution and innovation.” More

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      I was sick of Man Utd and p***ed off at board.. I had to quit or I was going to blow, reveals Class of 92 legend

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      A MANCHESTER UNITED legend has revealed why he had to quit the club – TWICE!This 48-year-old was part of the iconic Class of ‘92 alongside the Neville brothers, David Beckham and Paul Scholes.
      Nicky Butt has left Manchester United twice during his careerCredit: AFP
      He was part of the club’s legendary Class of ’92Credit: Getty
      He went on to win six Premier League titles, the Champions League and three FA Cups before joining Newcastle in 2004.
      The former midfielder spent six years with the Magpies, which included a season-long loan at Birmingham, before finishing his playing career in Hong Kong with South China.
      The 39-capped ex-England international returned to Old Trafford in 2012 as United’s reserve boss.
      Four years later he was named the head of academy and, after briefly helping out interim manager Ryan Giggs with the seniors following David Moyes’ sacking, he was then tasked with being the head of first-team development in 2019.
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      However, following nine years as part of the coaching set-up, this icon left United again after over two decades of service in March 2021.
      The man we are talking about, of course, is none other than Nicky Butt.
      Now in an interview with the Daily Mail, he has revealed that interfering directors left him “p***ed off” so much that he had to leave.
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      Butt said: “My vision and my philosophy and what I was brought up on at Man United didn’t go with the people running the club so it was time to leave.
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      “I am not saying I was right all the time but I knew if I didn’t leave I was gonna blow. And that wouldn’t be good.”
      Having left his boyhood team twice, Butt is adamant that the second time was nowhere near as heartbreaking as the first.
      He said: “Scholes and [Roy] Keane were better than me but I always played in the big games because we would play a three in midfield. So I was okay. Not always dead happy but okay.
      “But I truly couldn’t stand players who were not as good as me playing instead of me. Kleberson, Djemba-Djemba. Just because they had been bought.
      “I couldn’t have it so I left. But it was hard. The second time, two years back, wasn’t hard because I realised I couldn’t be there anymore.”
      Butt is far from done with football though, and he has just recently been appointed as chief executive of League Two side Salford City – who he part-owns with former United team-mates Gary and Phil Neville, Scholes, Beckham and Ryan Giggs.
      He added: “You don’t go through seven years of coaching badges to toss it off and not do it again. But I got to a fork in the road and I went the other way. I wasn’t happy at United so I left. I had a bit of a chip on my shoulder if I am honest.
      “I was sick of people upstairs telling me about football. If I was to tell people in the boardroom how to run a football club they would just look at me wouldn’t they? But they have the right to talk about developing players? So I was p***ed off about it.
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      “Eventually I left but before that I went and did a CEO course. I didn’t ever want to be one. I just wanted to be more in tune with a chief exec, to be more empathetic.
      “But then the world spins round and all of a sudden last year this job comes up and here I am. I’m enjoying it.”
      He is now the CEO of League Two Salford CityCredit: Getty More

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      Hartlepool sack Keith Curle as boss with strugglers fighting for survival in League Two

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      HARTLEPOOL UNITED have sacked Keith Curle as manager.Assistant manager Colin West also leaves the club with chairman Raj Singh thanking the pair for their efforts since taking over in September.
      Hartlepool have sacked manager Keith CurleCredit: Alamy
      Curle, 59, initially became interim boss following the dismissal of Paul Hartley.
      He was appointed on a full-time basis in December after picking up two wins and two draws in his first ten games.
      But he has been unable to guide Hartlepool away from the threat of relegation, leading Singh to make the “difficult” decision to sack him.
      The chairman said in a statement: “This has been one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make at Pools. Keith and Colin in so many ways have improved the football club and our culture.
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      “They are both consummate professionals and they have genuinely been a pleasure to work with. I will go on record with my thanks to them both and the way that they have conducted business.
      “Unfortunately we have just not seen the required results and I feel we must act now to give the club a chance in the final part of the season.
      “Following the transfer window we believe there is a group of players that can secure our place in the league. We will act swiftly and do all that we can to get an immediate and smooth transition in the manager position.”
      Hartlepool made 11 additions in the January window but have picked up just one win in seven games.
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      A 1-0 home defeat to struggling Newport on Tuesday proved to be the final straw for Curle with Hartlepool just one point above the drop zone.
      They have played four games more than 23rd-placed Crawley and relegation is a very real threat with the team having won just six of their 33 league games. More

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      Charlie Austin leaves Swindon crowd in stitches with hilarious comeback after confronting angry fan after Doncaster loss

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      CHARLIE AUSTIN left the Swindon crowd in stitches after a hilarious comeback to an angry fan.Swindon were on the end of a 2-0 loss to Doncaster to leave Town with just one win in their last four games.

      Charlie Austin confronted a fan after Swindon’s 2-0 loss to DoncasterCredit: Twitter
      The fan was giving Austin stickCredit: Twitter
      But the former Premier League ace produced a brilliant comebackCredit: Twitter
      Following the match, former Premier League striker Austin went over to the fans after being beckoned over.
      The fan in question then proceeded to give Austin, who has scored three goals since arriving at the County Ground in January, some stick.
      However, not one to mince his words, Austin had a brilliant response for the fan.
      He said: “What you gonna do mate, is go home and in half an hour have a pint and a Chinese.”
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      The 33-year-old then walked off to cheers of: “Charlie, Charlie Austin.”
      Fans online were also backing Austin’s corner.
      One fan wrote: “Fair play to him, deserves to defend himself. Not every game can we dominate. Lots of unsteadiness with changing players and coaches.
      “Have a good evening @chazaustin10. Just shows you give two win or lose.”
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      A second said: “I saw this from the Don Rogers. @chazaustin10 stuck up for the squad, fair play to him.
      “Yes, we didn’t get a result, but our own fan base shouldn’t be turning on our team. Support through and through, good times and the bad.”
      A third commented: “Fair play to Charlie, i’d be calling out my team mates too if i were him. Too many didn’t look interested today, it looked an effort just to go through the motions.”
      Another added: “Well done Charlie for putting the fan in his place x.” More

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      EFL set for streaming revolution as Swedish giant ViaPlay set to end Sky Sports monopoly with more games on offer

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      SWEDISH streaming giant Viaplay is emerging as the leading player in the next EFL TV deal.The company boasts major cash to take some of the many packages going.
      EFL football could be set to appear on streaming servicesCredit: PA
      There is growing talk that future coverage — starting in the 2024-25 season — will be split between several TV stations and opens the door to streaming.
      Sky enjoyed the lion’s share of coverage for years but it is now under threat in the bidding process.
      And lower-division clubs are open to the idea of a separate deal for them, meaning more live games.
      The EFL’s commercial team will present some of the options at a meeting later this month.
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      But Viaplay is the new name on the lips of those doing the deals.
      And the Viaplay group has been picking up sports contracts all the time.
      It snapped up the UK-based Premier Sports for more than £30million last year.
      Viaplay also plans to launch in America soon and a football package would help its cause.
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      Back in October, SunSport revealed Sky Sports had been hit by poor Championship viewing figures and reported they may axe games in their new broadcast deal.
      Insiders said that numbers were low in the first part of the season, with the highest coming in the opening match between Huddersfield and Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
      The exact audience sizes are kept quiet but sources claim the largest was only around 600,000. More

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      Stevenage fan runs on pitch to confront Bradford striker Andy Cook causing League Two match to be delayed

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      A STEVENAGE fan stormed the pitch to confront Bradford striker Andy Cook during their League Two clash on Saturday.Striker Cook, 32, scored Bradford’s second goal of the game as they led 3-2 heading into the final stages at the Lamex Stadium.
      Stevenage’s Alex Gilbey, centre, dragged the supporter away after he stormed the pitchCredit: PA

      The Bradford players were left furious after the intruder went for Andy CookCredit: PA
      Gilbey blocked off the fan before he was taken away by stewardsCredit: PA
      Cook scored a penalty in Bradford’s win over StevenageCredit: PA
      And one home supporter failed to take the defeat in a civilised manner as he sprinted onto the field in the 89th minute.
      He attempted to get at Cook before Stevenage player Alex Gilbey came over to defuse the situation.
      Bradford players were also quick to swarm around the fan as he was eventually ushered off the pitch by stewards.
      There was a brief delay to the game as the perpetrator was taken away.
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      And Bradford tweeted: “89′ | Delay in getting play restarted as a home supporter runs onto the field and looks to give Andy Cook a bit, only to be stopped by Stevenage’s Michael Bostwick. 🦌 2-3 🐓”.
      The match eventually resumed as Bradford attempted to prevent a late Stevenage equaliser.
      And they were successful in doing so as Jamie Walker’s 86th-minute strike proved to be the winning goal.
      The result sees Bradford move up to eighth in the League Two table, two points adrift of the play-off places.
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      Meanwhile, Stevenage’s defeat sees them remain in second as they fall eight points behind runaway league leaders Leyton Orient.
      They have a four-point buffer over Carlisle and two games in hand.
      But just one win in four league games leaves Steve Evans’ side in danger of dropping out of the automatic promotion places. More

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      Peter Allen dead at 76: Leyton Orient’s record-breaking midfielder passes away as tributes pour in

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      LEYTON ORIENT’S record appearance maker Peter Allen has died aged 76.The club legend played 490 times for the club between 1965 and 1978.
      Peter Allen made 490 appearances for Leyton OrientCredit: Rex
      The midfielder, who finished his career with a brief stint at Millwall, died on Monday.
      Allen played for Tottenham as a schoolboy but was picked up by former O’s boss Dave Sexton when he was 17.
      Known for his tough-but-fair tackling, he was a regular in the Orient midfield and turned down an offer from Everton to move to Goodison Park in 1970.
      Allen was a key player in the side that came within a point of promotion to the First Division in 1974 and then reached the FA Cup semi-final four years later.
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      The versatile ace, who filled in at the back and chipped in with 29 goals, broke Arthur Wood’s record for club appearances in 1976 and had a testimonial in the same year.
      His spell at Millwall, where he was reunited with manager George Petchey, was cut short by injury aged 32.
      After retiring, Allen qualified as a solicitor and set up his own firm in his hometown of Brighton & Hove.
      Tributes poured in on social media for the Orient stalwart.
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      The League Two outfit said: “Our deepest condolences go out to all that knew Peter at this terribly difficult time.
      “Peter will always have a place in the Leyton Orient history books.
      “However, he will just as fondly be remembered for his quiet, yet friendly personality, qualities Allen displayed at the 1969-70 reunion dinner held at Brisbane Road in October 2021′ his last visit to the club.
      “Rest in peace, Peter.”
      One fan wrote: “One of my all-time favourite Orient players. Without a doubt, one of the best and cleanest midfield tacklers I have ever seen.
      “Never met him but those who knew him, say he was a real gent.”
      Another supporter commented: “Absolutely gutted! Peter was a real gentleman as well as being a true Orient legend.” More