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      Premier League ref tells funny story of how Matija Sarkic ‘did him like a kipper’ in tribute to tragic Millwall ace, 26

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      PREMIER LEAGUE referee Bobby Madley has shared a heartwarming tribute for the late Millwall goalkeeper Matija Sarkic.The Championship club announced tragic news yesterday morning that the 26-year-old had died after falling ill in the coastal town of Budva, Montenegro.It was announced Matija Sarkic passed away at the age of 26 yesterdayCredit: GettyReferee Bobby Madley revealed a heartwarming story between the twoCredit: GettySarkic had been on international duty with Montenegro, and put in a man of the match performance in his last display with nine saves in a 2-0 defeat to Belgium.Montenegrin state-owned TV station RTCG report that Sarkic went for a walk with pals, had dinner in a restaurant and returned to his apartment early on Friday evening.He is believed to have told friends he felt ill after waking up at around 6am morning and they called an ambulance but it was too late.Tributes poured in from across the football world following the terrible news.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLOne tribute came from referee Madley, who shared an interaction the pair had as he prepared to take charge of a Montenegro Under 19s game in 2016.Taking to social media, Madley said: “I met Matija in 2016 when refereeing my first U19 Euros qualifying game between Montenegro and France.”Matija was the captain which, as a goalkeeper, isn’t always the easiest for a referee. “Standing in the tunnel before the game Matija came down and shook hands. Most read in Football”Given that my grasp of the Montenegrin language wasn’t the best, in a shocking broken English accent I tried to explain to Matija with many hand gestures and ridiculous facial expressions that as a captain and goalkeeper it would be hard to work with him. “My question of ‘Is there player in team, speak English, maybe can speak with me if problem today?’ was met with a blank look from Matija. “I tried again with even worse broken English and the stone look remained on his face. “I was defeated. I looked at Matija and said clearly I’m wasting my time and getting nowhere.”Matija half smiled before replying in a strong Balkan accent: ‘Nine. Speak English him’.”Delighted and very proud of myself I replied ‘Ah you understand English little. This is good. He speak good English?’ “Matija smiled and replied… ‘Yeah, it’s not bad, it’s my brother Oliver, we’re from Grimsby… I just wanted to see how long you’d carry that nonsense on.'”He’d done me like a kipper.”Madley added: “Sincerest condolences to his family and his friends. Rest in peace Matija.”He has whistled over 90 top flight matches in his career. Grimsby-born Sarkic was the son of Montenegro ambassador Bojan Sarkic.Sarkic had only moved to the Den last season, where he helped the club to a midtable finish and penned a long-term contract.READ MORE SUN STORIESHe had also starred for Wolves, Shrewsbury, Birmingham, Stoke, Aston Villa and Anderlecht in his career.Matija Sarkic careerAll you need to know about his career:
      Clubs:
      Aston Villa (2015-2020)
      Wigan (Loan 2017/2018)
      Stratford Town (Loan 2018/2019)
      Havant & Waterlooville (Loan 2019)
      Livingston (Loan 2019/2020)
      Wolves (2020-2023)
      Shrewsbury (Loan 2020/21)
      Birmingham (Loan 2021/22)
      Stoke (Loan 2023)
      Millwall (2023/24)
      Honours:
      Birmingham City Player of the Season 2022
      International:Montenegro (9 caps) More

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      ITV VAR expert Christina Unkel is a former player, referee and current president of up-and-coming US team

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      ITV expert Christina Unkel has done it all.The American, 37, will be gracing our screens as a refereeing analyst throughout Euro 2024.Christina Unkel picked up her first whistle at a young ageCredit: GettyChristina Unkel is a feature of the CBS Champions League show alongside Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah RichardsCredit: Instagram @christina.unkelThe former ref advanced quickly through FIFA’s ranksCredit: GettyAnd it is hard to think of anybody more qualified to talk us through the inevitable VAR controversies.Unkel’s refereeing career started when she was just 10.The youngster’s coach Bob Harris – a referee and assessor – told her to stop shouting at officials, who she felt were not paying enough attention to girls’ games.Told she could either take a course or stop voicing her opinions, Unkel became a certified US Soccer Referee in Cape Coral, Florida.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“I could ref two games and make $40 and have all the concession stand food you could want,” she said in an interview with Stetson University.“For me, it was kind of a no brainer. It was something where I could play and practice soccer and then on my off-days referee. I ended up falling in love with it.”The rising star continued to play as well and featured at the collegiate level for Palm Beach Atlantic University, where she unfortunately suffered a torn ACL.After recovering while at Stetson University College of Law, Unkel began travelling to referee and ended up overseeing over 80 professional games while continuing her studies.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“I would go to school, then on Friday afternoons I would fly out to some place and do a game and then fly back on Sunday evening to go back to school on Monday,” she told the University’s website.Unkel received her FIFA badge in 2013 at just 25 years old – the youngest possible age.EURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENTBest XI of players snubbed for Euro 2024She has been involved with VAR since its introduction in the MLS in 2017.The former whistler is a refereeing analyst on the CBS Champions League show, which has soared in popularity on both sides of the pond.Unkel regularly features alongside host Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher.She has now replaced Mark Clattenburg on ITV and made her debut as Germany hammered Scotland.As well as working for ITV and CBS, Christina previously worked at Fox Sports and Paramount+ and has also been a journalist for The Athletic.A qualified attorney, Unkel is the president and general counsel for the Tampa Bay Sun – an expansion team who will enter the USL Super League this year.READ MORE SUN STORIESShe describes herself as an entrepreneur and has co-founded multiple businesses, including Scorch Fitness and the Deadlift Effect, sports science and strength training firms.She is married to current MLS referee Ted, with the couple having one daughter, Quinn.Unkel made her ITV debut as Germany beat ScotlandCredit: Getty More

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      I’m the first ever man to be sent off for England in match decided by coin toss – I’ll forever be ultimate quiz question

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      I WAS out shopping recently and minding my own business when a guy about 60 introduced himself with his teenage kids.He said: “It’s lovely to meet you, Alan.” And I replied likewise.Alan Mullery was the first player to be sent off for EnglandFormer Tottenham Hotspur player Mullery spoke to SunSport’s Russell LanningCredit: RexHe’ll forever be ultimate quiz questionAnd then he turned to the youngsters next to him and proudly boasted: ‘This is Alan Mullery. He was the first player to be sent off for England.’It’s strange but despite playing over 700 games for club and country I will always have that tag around my neck for being the first senior player to be sent off for England.I have always been hugely patriotic and I’m incredibly proud that I played 35 times for England at senior level. It remains my greatest honour to have been able to walk out and play for my country.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSUnfortunately this was a match in which Spanish referee Jose Maria Oritz de Mendibil allowed the ­Yugoslavian team to kick and scythe us down at every opportunity.The official was an absolute ­disgrace. He let them get away with blue murder.Dragan Dzajic gave them the lead in the 86th minute. Then with a minute to go Dobrivoje Trivic — who had been the worst of all the dirty Yugoslav players that day — raked his studs down my calf and blood started pouring down my leg.It was the last straw. Human ­reaction got the better of me.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSAll my pent-up frustrations over the previous 88 minutes turned to anger and I turned round and kicked him with my best foot in Trivic’s how’s your fathers!The ref was about two yards away from me. I’m sure it was the only thing he had seen the whole match.10 Steps to Victory for England: A Fan’s GuideIt didn’t affect the result of the game. There was only a minute to go so by the time I was going down the tunnel the ref blew the final whistle.I had no idea at that moment that I had become the first English player in 424 internationals to be sent off.However, I will forever be remembered for and be the ultimate football quiz question.Manager Alf Ramsey was very unhappy at the end and had a few harsh words with me but he was more raging about how our opponents had kicked lumps out of us.Typically Alf stuck up for me and even agreed to pay the £50 fine dished out to me by the FA.England football team manager Sir Alf Ramsey was left fuming, according to MulleryCredit: GettySince that game in 1968 there have been another 19 red cards dished out to England players — but I’m the one that no one ever forgets.The fact we were beaten by a team who just went out to kick us off the park and had a referee who let them —  it made the game an absolute joke.These were different times. Today, games are analysed and under the same scrutiny the Yugoslavs would have been found out for their outrageous dirty tricks.Had we had some sort of protection from the officials, I am convinced the result would have been different.We may have lost 1-0 but I still have a great deal of sympathy for the other losing semi-finalists Italy.Their match against the Soviet Union finished goalless after extra-time. There was no replay or even a penalty shootout.Can you believe that the outcome was decided by the toss of a coin?Indeed these were different times.I hope Euro 2024 is a tournament we get to see this ­outstanding crop of English talent produce what we know they are capable of.For instance, I watch and drool when I see the way Phil Foden plays for Manchester City.But I have yet to see him do the same in an England shirt.READ MORE SUN STORIESIt would be magical to see Foden and Co turn on the style for their country as they do for their clubs over the next month in Germany.It would certainly lift the grey skies from this miserable June. More

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      Meet ITV VAR expert Christina Unkel – former referee part of punditry team at Euro 2024

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      CHRISTINA UNKEL is the refeering analyst for ITV during Euro 2024 and will be part of the coverage throughout the tournament.Although she is new to these shores, the American has had a formidable career both in the middle and off the pitch.Christina Unkel (left) is a feature of the CBS Champions League show alongside Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah RichardsCredit: Instagram @christina.unkelUnkel is a former referee who took charge of games Stateside.She was a Fifa-licensed referee before hanging up her whistle and making a move into media.Unkel, who has also worked as the president of the Tampa Bay Sun, replaces Mark Clattenburg as ITV’s refereeing analyst for Euro 2024.The 37-year-old analyst has become a hugely popular figure for doing the same job on American TV.Full list of ITV Presenters and Pundits
      Presenters – Mark Pougatch, Laura Woods.
      Pundits – Ian Wright, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Karen Carney, Graeme Souness, Eni Aluko, Ange Postecoglu, Danny Rohl, Christina Unkel.
      Co-commentary – Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist, Andros Townsend.
      Commentary – Sam Matterface, Clive Tyldesly, Seb Hutchinson, Pien Meulensteen, Joe Speit.

      Champions League ExperienceShe is a refeering analyst on the CBS Champions League show, which has soared in popularity on both sides of the pond.Unkel regularly features alongside host Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher.As part of ITV’s pundit line up, she will line up alongside the likes of Laura Woods, Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Gary Neville.According to her website, Unkle also has a career as a litigation attorney, focusing on “complex business and construction litigation” with a focus on sports law – she is also a committee member of the US National Soccer Hall of Fame.Most read in Euro 2024She also played football at the collegiate level before moving into the professional game as a referee.As well as working for ITV and CBS, Christina previously worked at Fox Sports and Paramount+ and has also been a journalist for The Athletic.EntrepreneurShe describes herself as an entrepreneur and has co-founded multiple businesses, including Scorch Fitness and the Deadlift Effect, sports science and strength training firms.Christina, who also regularly appears as a speaker at corporate events, graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic, the Stetson MBA Program and Stetson Law.She is married to Ted, with the couple having one daughter, Quinn. More

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      England vs Serbia referee is controversial Italian set to retire after Euro 2024 who Modric called ‘one of the worst’

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      ITALIAN ref Daniele Orsato will officiate England’s powder-keg Euros opener against Serbia – before he hangs up his whistle at the end of the tournament.The Venetian, 48, is retiring from the game following his stint in Germany after 18 years as a referee.Modric called the ref ‘one of the worst’Credit: GettyThe ref famously sent off Paul Pogba during a feisty Man Utd game against PSGCredit: GettyFourteen of those have been spent as a Fifa-listed official, with his most prestigious match being the 2020 Champions League final between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.Manchester United fans may remember him for sending off Paul Pogba in a feisty Champions League last-16 tie with PSG in 2019, in which ten yellow cards were dished out.While Orsato incurred the wrath of Luka Modric for awarding a controversial penalty to eventual-winners Argentina in Croatia’s World Cup semi-final in Qatar two years ago.Ballon D’Or winner Modric blasted at the time: “I don’t like to talk about the referees, but this is one of the worst. I don’t have a good memory of him, he’s a disaster”READ MORE ON FOOTBALLOrsato was in tears after blowing the final whistle in PSG’s Champions League semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund last month, knowing it was the last game he would officiate in the competition.The Serie A stalwart was also the man in the middle for Manchester City’s Champions League quarter-final second leg with Real Madrid in April, when Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions lost on penalties to the eventual winners.Sunday’s clash in Gelsenkirchen is expected to be a fiery encounter, particularly given the hooligan reputation of some of Serbia’s fans.Orsato will be assisted by fellow Italians Ciro Carbone and Alessadro Giallatini, while another compatriot, Massimiliano Irrati, is on VAR duty.Most read in FootballEURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENTMeet England’s Euro 2024 Wags
      England Wags range from childhood sweethearts to recently blossoming love stories.
      Katie Goodland (Harry Kane’s wife)
      The fitness instructor has been married to the England captain since 2019 and joined him in Germany with their four children after he joined Bayern Munich.
      Laura Celia Valk (Jude Bellingham’s girlfriend)
      The stunning Dutch model, 25, has more than half a million Instagram followers and is said to be absolutely smitten with the Real Madrid star.
      Rebecca Cooke (Phil Foden’s girlfriend)
      Foden’s childhood sweetheart and the mother of his two kids tends to keep out of the spotlight, but is a regular at England games.
      Dani Dyer (Jarrod Bowen’s girlfriend)
      England’s most famous Wag, former Love Island winner and daughter of Eastenders’ Danny Dyer.
      Iris Law (Trent Alexander-Arnold’s daughter)
      Dani Dyer isn’t the only actor’s daughter dating an England star. Iris’ dad is Hollywood legend Jude Law.
      Megan Davison (Jordan Pickford’s wife)
      Megan has been with Pickford since he was 14 years old. The couple married in 2022 and have one son.
      Olivia Naylor (John Stones’ girlfriend)
      The 33-year-old former beautician has stepped back from her role after giving birth to a baby son.
      Read more about the Wags who will be supporting England at Euro 2024 here

      Meet Serbia’s Euro 2024 Wags
      Serbia’s Wags include a former Versace model, a warlord’s daughter and the country’s answer to Dua Lipa.
      Sofija Milosevic (Luka Jovic’s girlfriend)
      Leggy model who rocked up at the catwalk in Milan used to date Jovic’s team-mate Adem Ljajic.
      Vanja Bogdanovic (Dusan Vlahovic’s girlfriend)
      Belgrade native Vanja is said to have known Vlahovic since the couple were teenagers. They briefly broke up before reuniting.
      Natalija Ilic (Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s wife)
      Perennial Man Utd transfer target is married to a qualified doctor.
      Anastasija Gudelj (Nemanja Gudelj’s wife)
      Midfielder’s wife is the daughter of one of Serbia’s most popular singers, Ceca, and a warlord, Arkan, who was assassinated in 2000.
      Tea Tairovic (linked to Uros Racic)
      Serbia’s equivalent to Dua Lipa has over 800,000 Instagram followers but denied links to midfielder Racic in 2023.
      Read more about Serbia’s Euro 2024 Wags here

      England have been handed a massive injury-boost ahead of their first game of the tournament.Both John Stones and Luke Shaw were able to take part in training after their respective injury doubts.Why teams should fear ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ SerbiaStones had been confined to his room having suffered with an illness while away on camp.EURO 2024 LIVE: LATEST UPDATES FROM THE TOURNAMENT More

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      Euro 2024 set for major rule change with cricket technology entering the tournament

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      FOOTBALL chiefs have turned to cricket for a new spin on vital decisions at Euro 2024.Technology will switch from the three stumps to the Three Lions in the latest push to help referees get the tightest calls right.Football’s version of snickometer decided Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t touch this, meaning the 2022 World Cup goal went to Bruno FernandesCredit: Sunday TimesCricket has long used snicko as well as hotspotCredit: Sky SportsInstead of monitoring flicks down the off-side, broadcasters will monitor flicks through for offside – thanks to a special version of the snickometer.The device is most commonly used in cricket for marginal judgements on catches and LBW appeals.Frame-by-frame replay measures whether the ball hits something, such as a batting pad.In contrast, it will be deployed at the Euros for handballs and offsides.MOST READ IN FOOTBALLVAR officials at the 2022 World Cup used the motion-sensing microchip in real time.Cristiano Ronaldo famously had a “glancing header” taken off his goal slate in Qatar and awarded to Portugal team-mate Bruno Fernandes – as snicko suggested the five-time Ballon d’Or winner hadn’t touched the ball.TV viewers might be delighted to hear Euro 2024 broadcasters will be sent “touch detection” graphics used by refs on what could include some key decisions.The posh name for football’s snicko is “connected ball” technology.Most read in FootballEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERSThe innovation is the latest in a series of high-tech features at the Euros.VAR itself leads the way, of course – with a slight amendment.Wayne Rooney claims Trent Alexander-Arnold ‘can’t defend’ and says he ‘shouldn’t be near’ England’s midfieldEach match will get one Video Assistant Referee and two assistant VARs, compared to three assistants per game at Euro 2020.Meanwhile, a semi-automated system for checking offsides should mean an end to the line-drawing and endless angles that frustrate many viewers.Instead the technology in Germany will instantly rule on the point of ball contact and the offside judgement – thanks to ten cameras monitoring 29 different body points on players.Qatar 2022, as well as the Champions League, have used this device – and successfully so.There are also two major changes that have nothing to do with technology.A new rule aims to stop players crowding around refs – with only captainS allowed to approach the official.READ MORE SUN STORIESThere’s just one exception – if the stopper himself is the skipper then he can nominate an outfield player to do the approaching for him.The other alteration is already done ‘n dusted – the increase in squad sizes from 23 to 26.PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament. More

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      Euro 2024 rule changes: What will referees enforce at the tournament?

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      EURO 2024 is just around the corner as football fans flock in their thousands to Germany for the highly-anticipated tournament.The action gets underway on Friday when Scotland face hosts Germany in Munich, while England start their campaign with a Group C clash against Serbia on Sunday.Europe’s elite are preparing to battle it out to win Euro 2024Credit: ReutersThe action never fails to disappoint at major tournaments and supporters can expect to be thoroughly entertained over the next month.However, the travelling fans will be hoping that their experience won’t be tainted by the officiating – as it so often is in the Premier League.Referees have been cherry picked from around the continent to ensure the best of the best are taking charge of the games at Euro 2024.But they and the players will have to be clued up on some new rules ahead of the tournament.Here SunSport breaks down what may look different out in Germany this summer.VARPremier League fans know just how infuriating VAR can be, but on an international level it is largely used well.VAR will be in operation for every game of the tournament this summer and the officials will be operating out of technologies hub in Leipzig.Each game will be assigned one Video Assistant Referee and two assistants VAR’s – that’s one less than the three assistants that were employed for each game at Euro 2020.Most read in Euro 2024The Video Assistant Referees will work out of the VAR room in LeipzigCredit: GettyThis will hopefully lead to less complicated VAR reviews and speed up the process of decision making.Uefa’s regulations state that they will also use the big screens inside stadiums to show VAR replays and display decisions to fans.VAR will intervene for clear and obvious errors relating to goals, penalty incidents, red cards and mistaken identity.Semi-automated offsidesFootball fans will be pleased to know that there won’t be any meticulous line drawing by the VAR this summer.Instead Uefa will be using semi-automated offside thanks to Connected Ball Technology inside the balls at the tournament.The tech will immediately identify the point of ball contact and assess the offside thanks to ten specialised cameras monitoring 29 different body points on the players.Semi-automated offsides were successfully used in the 2022 Qatar World Cup and are already used in the Champions League. The official Euro 2024 ball will feature Connected Ball TechnologyCredit: GettySurrounding refereesA new rule being introduced at the tournament will aim to prevent players from crowding the referee in order to plead their case regarding a decision.Uefa have announced that any player surrounding the officials will be booked, stating that only the captain can discuss decisions made on the pitch with the referee.The only exception to the rule will be teams who field their goalkeeper as their captain.In that instance a teammate can be nominated to approach the ref.Squad sizesAnother change to the rules has already been made.READ MORE SUN STORIESUefa have allowed teams to take 26-man squads instead of the usual 23-strong selections.The expanded squad size means more firepower for the nations stacked with talent. More

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      Fans convinced World Cup qualifying clash is ‘rigged’ and demand referee banned for ‘shameful’ decision

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      BRUTAL words such as “shameful” and “disgrace” were used to describe a refereeing decision after India were controversially eliminated from World Cup qualification by Qatar.India needed a win away in Qatar to progress through to the third round of qualifying, while the hosts had already booked their place in the next stage.The ball clearly looked as though it had gone out behind the India keeperThe referee let the game continue despite the ball seemingly having gone outYousef Aymen tapped home to draw Qatar level in controversial circumstancesAnd it was the visitors who led with 17 minutes remaining thanks to Lallianzuala Chhangte’s opener.But Qatar levelled things up late on in dubious fashion when centre-back Yousef Aymen bundled home from close range.The ball appeared to be dead when Aymen’s header squirmed through keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and out of play.The India players stopped under the assumption a corner was going to be given, before Aymen prodded into an open goal.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut referee Kim Woo-Sung awarded the goal, much to the astonishment of the India players as their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup were extinguished.After seeing a replay, the commentator said: “There is no doubt about it, there can be no doubt about it, this ball has gone out.”All of it has gone out, [then] it has been pulled back and then has been scored by Qatar. Wow.”Surely somebody has to see this and that goal has to be disallowed. It doesn’t seem to be disallowed as of this moment.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe goal stood and Qatar went on to win the crucial game 2-1 thanks to a late strike from Ahmed Al-Rawi.The decision then went viral on social media as fans poured in to criticise the call.The Sun’s Nick Parker reports from England’s first training session in Germany ahead of Euros 2024One said: “This is shameful. @FIFAcom should ban this referee. #Qatar team happily accepted the goal that wasn’t there.”Another added: “Why [did] India not walk out?”While a third simply responded: “Disgrace.”There is no evidence to suggest the match was in any way fixed or rigged. More