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      Watch Tottenham star Royal get ‘assist of the season’ as he picks up referee’s red card to show to Marseille’s Mbemba

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      EMERSON ROYAL has been credited with getting the assist of the season after handing the referee his card as he sent off a Marseille player. Just after the interval, Harry Kane played a ball in behind the Marseille defence for Son Heung-Min to run onto, but a last-man tackle from Chancel Mbemba saw Son tripped up.
      Referee Slavko Vincic goes to get his red card out of his pocketCredit: Twitter @@bbojjaksonny
      The card drops onto the pitch but Emerson Royal reacts quickly to pick it up for himCredit: Twitter @@bbojjaksonny
      Chancel Mbemba is shown his marching orders following Royal’s assistanceCredit: Twitter @@bbojjaksonny
      Consequently, referee Slavko Vincic was left with no choice but to brandish a red card.
      However, as he opened his back pocket the card fell out and onto the pitch.
      But Emerson was quick to react and picked up the card to hand it back to the ref.
      Mbemba was then shown his marching orders.
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      Spurs ended up winning the game 2-0 thanks to a headed brace from Richarlison on his competition debut, but the part Emerson played in the win was not overlooked by fans.
      One Twitter user said: “Emerson Royal with the assist of the season as he picks up the referee’s red card to send a Marseille player off.”
      A second user wrote: “Emerson Royal frantically picking up the red card and giving it to the ref,” followed up by a laughing emoji.
      A third user added: “Na love you Emerson, how’s he picking up the red card for the ref lmaoo.”
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      The game was also marred by fan violence in the stands, with riot police needed to break up the incident.
      Victory marks a winning return for the club to the Champions League, in a week where Premier League teams struggled on the continent.

      Manchester City, Spurs, Arsenal and West Ham were the only teams to win their midweek fixtures, while Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all fell to defeat.
      Chelsea’s defeat also proved to be the final straw for Thomas Tuchel as The Blues manager – and he has subsequently since been replaced by Graham Potter.
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      The Premier League and EFL have announced this weekend’s fixtures will be postponed as a mark of respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II after Buckingham Palace announced she had passed away on Thursday.
      Tributes from around the world of sport have poured in to pay homage to the Monarch. More

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      ‘He should be my agent’ – Arsenal star Folarin Balogun hails Lacazette for encouraging Ligue 1 loan after stunning start

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      ARSENAL star Folarin Balogun joked Alexandre Lacazette should be his agent after a fast start to life in France.Balogun, 21, joined Ligue 1 side Stade Reims on loan for the season and has five goals in just six games.
      Folarin Balogun has five goals in six games on loan at Stade ReimsCredit: Alamy
      Alexandre Lacazette encouraged Balogun to play in Ligue UnCredit: AP
      It is the second time he has gone on loan in as many seasons after a spell at Middlesbrough earlier this year.
      He scored just three goals in 18 games under Chris Wilder but has fared a lot better in Ligue Un – as Lacazette said he would.
      Balogun revealed his former team-mate encouraged him to make the switch to France as he felt he had the skillset to succeed there.
      In an interview with Amazon Prime Video, Balogun said of Lacazette: “He’s a great player.
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      “When he was at Arsenal he would always help me progress and improve, teaching me techniques and giving me advice.
      “I remember speaking to Lacazette and he kept on telling me: ‘You need to go to Ligue 1, you will do well here’.
      “Maybe he should become my agent as well because he has a great knowledge of football.”
      Balogun is the joint-third highest scorer in Ligue 1, and has two assists.
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      Lacazette has also got off to a good start in front of goal after returning to Lyon this summer when his Arsenal contract ended.
      The French striker has three goals in five games and is just one goal shy of last season’s league total. More

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      Kylian Mbappe and PSG boss Christophe Galtier slammed for laughing off question about making 239-mile private jet trip

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      KYLIAN MBAPPE was slammed by the Paris mayor after laughing off a question about using a jet to fly to a game against Nantes.Paris Saint-Germain beat the Ligue Un side 3-0 on Saturday with Mbappe netting twice.
      Kylian Mbappe could not contain his laughter when asked if PSG could use trains to travel to away matchesCredit: Getty
      Several French politicians criticised Mbappe’s attitudeCredit: AFP
      But when a reporter suggested the squad ought to travel to such games by train rather than plane the France forward had no reply.
      Instead, he burst out laughing as his manager Christophe Galtier dismissed the reporter’s proposal with a sarcastic retort.
      He said: “This morning we talked about it with the company which organises our trips and we’re looking into travelling on sand yachts.”
      Nantes is 239 miles from Paris and is accessible via a two-hour high-speed train.
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      So several French politicians were angered by the PSG pair’s carefree attitude, including Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo.
      She responded on Twitter saying: “It’s not on to answer stuff like that???? Wake up guys??? This is Paris.”

      French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera added: “Mr Galtier – we have become accustomed to more relevant and more responsible answers from you. Shall we talk about it?”
      Mbappe also drew criticism from Economy minister Bruno Le Maire, who told BFM-TV: “I adore Mbappe and it can happen to all of us that we burst out laughing at the wrong moment.
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      “And I think this was the wrong moment to burst out laughing.”
      “We must all take climate change seriously. It is serious, it is about our planet and about our ability to live on this planet.”
      PSG reportedly take climate change seriously but do not consider rail travel a viable option due to security concerns. More

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      How Nice can line up this season with SEVEN ex-Premier League stars after free transfer for former Chelsea ace Barkley

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      NICE could field a whopping SEVEN former Premier League players on their starting XI this season. That is after Ross Barkley arrived on a free transfer following his release by Chelsea in the summer.

      Ross Barkley was paraded in front of the Nice fans last nightCredit: https://twitter.com/ogcnice
      The former England man was unveiled to fans ahead of Sunday’s defeat against Monaco – after checking himself out in the mirror in a cringe-worthy announcement video.
      Barkley followed Aaron Ramsey in joining the South France side as a free agent this summer.
      The Welshman, 31, made his switch earlier this summer after he agreed to terminate his Juventus contract.
      He was swiftly followed to the Allianz Riviera Stadium by Leicester stalwart Kasper Schmeichel.
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      Aaron Ramsey has signed for Nice on a free transferCredit: Instagram @AaronRamsey
      Kasper Schmeichel followed Ramsey to the South of FranceCredit: Getty
      Nice then added Arsenal’s £72million flop Nicolas Pepe on a season-long loan.
      And Fulham left-back Joe Bryan also headed to Nice on loan.
      The Ligue 1 side were linked with an ambitious move for Edinson Cavani.
      The Uruguayan, 35, had been a free agent since leaving Manchester United at the end of last season but instead signed for Valencia.
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      But it is possible Nice manager Lucien Favre could still line up with seven former Prem players in his team this season.
      That is because former Southampton midfielders Mario Lemina and Morgan Schneiderlin also play for Nice.
      Fans may be familiar with defender Dante, who spent three years at Bayern Munich earlier in his career.
      While he has partnered ex-Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo so far this season.
      Nice’s team is brimming with young French talent, with Under-21 internationals Khephren Thuram, Amine Gouiri and Melvin Bard all players to watch.
      Algerian right-back Youcef Atal appears to be the first-choice on that flank while Andy Delort and Gaetan Laborde will battle it out up front after the latter was snapped up from Rennes.
      Nicolas Pepe signed on a season-long loan from ArsenalCredit: Getty
      Joe Bryan secured a loan switch from Fulham despite their promotionCredit: AFP More

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      Lionel Messi ‘buys £9.5m mansion in Ibiza with huge pool and football pitch but faces having to DEMOLISH rooms’

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      PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN star Lionel Messi has reportedly bought a mansion in Ibiza for £9.5million… but faces having to demolish the rooms.The 35-year-old is claimed to have purchased the property on Ibiza’s western coast from Swiss businessman Philippe Amon.
      Lionel Messi has reportedly splashed the cash on a mansion in IbizaCredit: AFP
      It has been claimed that PSG ace Messi has forked out £9.5million on the propetyCredit: Instagram
      Respected island newspaper Periodico de Ibiza says the property deal was finalised on February 3, with a lawyer for Messi signing the paperwork as the legal representative of a company called Edificio Rostower.
      That company belongs to another firm whose director is the footballer’s brother Rodrigo.
      It has been said that the mansion has planning problems and has not yet been granted a certificate of occupancy – a document issued by a local government agency certifying it is in a liveable condition.
      The planning issues are linked to the construction of several rooms in the property’s garage before Messi’s purchase according to the paper.
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      A lawyer acting for the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is now said to be talking to local town hall officials to try to resolve the issues.
      It is thought that Barcelona legend Messi may have to demolish the rooms that did not form part of the original plans in the new-build property.
      Although no-one from San Jose Town Hall which is the municipality Cala Tarida is in could be reached for comment.
      Periodico de Ibiza is reporting that despite having planning issues, Messi and his wife spent time at their Ibiza home this summer.
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      As well as a large basement, the 1860 square metre property reportedly boasts a huge pool almost the same length of the house, as well as an outdoor football pitch.
      Periodico de Ibiza, which carried the exclusive about Messi’s Ibiza property purchase, said: “When the operation was concluded the footballer’s legal representative, a lawyer in Barcelona, was not aware of the mansion’s planning issues.
      “They are now aware of the planning problems and Messi’s legal representatives know what they have to do to legalise the property.
      “Some discussions have already taken place between a lawyer for the footballer and the town hall.
      “San Jose Town Hall has told us it can be legalised if the areas that didn’t form part of the original project are removed, namely the rooms in the garage.” More

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      Nuno Tavares blasts Arsenal and claims they blocked him from including option to make Marseille loan transfer permanent

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      NUNO TAVARES has slammed Arsenal for not including an option to make his Marseille loan move permanent.The let-back, 22, revealed he is happy at the French giants as he left in search of more game time.
      Nuno Tavares is enjoying himself at Marseille with three goals in six gamesCredit: AFP
      He has found that, featuring in all six league games – with Marseille also offering him to chance to play in the Champions League starting with the trip to Tottenham on Wednesday.
      But Tavares is baffled by Arsenal refusing to include the option to make his Marseille loan permanent, should the French club wish to do so.
      In an interview with RMC Sport he said: “At Arsenal, I do not know if it was a problem of competition with Kieran Tierney, but for me, that’s not even the point.
      “I came to Marseille to finally be able to play in my position. When signing with OM, I wanted to have an option to buy, but Arsenal refused. With my agents, we always wanted this purchase option, but Arsenal didn’t.
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      “Now I’m at OM, and with or without an option, I’m happy. At Arsenal, I would have probably only played in the cup.
      “I came to Marseille to play in my position, in the Champions League, in the league and in the cup. Marseille gave me this opportunity.”
      Tavares is making the most of his newfound game time and has already scored three goals in his six appearances.
      The Portuguese shocked Gooners with a screamer on his debut, with his latest goal coming in the 3-0 win over Nicolas Pepe’s OGC Nice.
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      Tavares scored just once in 28 Arsenal appearances last term but was allowed to leave following the signing of Oleksandr Zinechnko.
      And with the Ukrainian set to battle Kieran Tierney for the left-back role, Tavares cannot understand why he was held back from leaving permanently.
      Tierney revealed he is relishing the competition for his place in a sly dig at Tavares which suggested the youngster was not good enough to challenge him for a place in the team.
      The Scot said: “At a club like Arsenal, you need competition.
      “For where we want to go, you need at least two players for each position. He [Zinchenko] is a great signing.” More

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      Fans watch Troyes vs Rennes from pitch-side HOT TUB and sink beers as supporters brand French league ‘best ever’

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      FOUR FC Troyes fans watched their game against Stade Rennais from a pitch-side hot tub.The unique experience allowed the supporters to watch on in style, and with maximum comfort in the heated jacuzzi.
      Supporters watched on in comfort sipping beers
      Two fans had the best seats in the house as Troyes opened the scoringCredit: Ligue 1 uber eats official youtube
      Troyes are not the first club to offer a pitch-side hot tub experience
      They were allowed to drink beer and had deck chairs available to use just yards from one of the corner flags.
      One pair of fans had a brilliant view of Ike Ugbo opening the scoring for Troyes in the 1-1 draw, before they were replaced by a different duo.
      The hospitality seats drew fans’ attention on social media with many impressed by the opportunity to watch a match from a hot tub.
      One supporter wrote: “Best league ever.”
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      Another added: “It is a very original experience. Very very good idea of the club.”
      And a third said: “Where do I sign up?”
      Troyes are not unique in offering quirky pitch-side seats, with the Allegiant stadium in Las Vegas selling £5000 tickets for nightclub-style VIP booths by the pitch for Chelsea’s pre-season friendly against Club America in July.
      Elsewhere in the US, NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars boast two swimming pools at EverBank Field, with £200 tickets also giving fans access to a free bar and as much food as they can eat.
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      A few years ago Scottish side Falkirk also gave fans an opportunity to watch games from a pitch-side hot tub.
      And Charlton introduced a ‘fan sofa’ in the 2014-15 season which gave Addicks the chance to watch the game pitchside on a comfy suite. More

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      Everton outcast Andre Gomes joins Lille on loan transfer after failing to play a single minute for Lampard this season

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      EVERTON have shipped out Andre Gomes on loan to Lille.The Portuguese midfielder has not played a single minute of football under Frank Lampard this season, and only featured in the squad for The Toffees 1-1 draw with Leeds.
      Andre Gomes suffered a number of injuries throughout his time at EvertonCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      And following deadline day acquisitions for James Garner and Idrissa Gueye, the Everton engine room was looking cramped.
      A statement on Everton’s website confirmed the deal.
      They said: “Everton midfielder André Gomes has joined LOSC Lille on loan for the remainder of the 2022/23 campaign.
      “The 29-year-old, who made a permanent move to Goodison Park in the summer of 2019 having impressed during a season-long loan from Barcelona in 2018/19, joins the Ligue 1 outfit after making 100 First-Team appearances for the Blues.
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      “Portugal international Gomes, who was part of his nation’s European Championship win in 2016, has previously won league titles in his homeland and Spain.”
      In his 100 appearances for Everton, Gomes registered two goals and seven assists.
      Last season the 29-year-old played 14 times in the Premier League, with most of these coming either from the bench or when the squad suffered a shortage.
      Everton were also bolstered in midfield earlier in the window when they brought in Amodou Onana for £32.4million.
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      It means the deal for Gomes to join the Ligue 1 side sees the two teams effectively swap players for the season.
      Everton have brought in a total of eight players during the transfer window, adding quality all over the pitch while also removing a number of players considered deadwood, including ex-Tottenham star Dele Alli. More