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      Forgotten Chelsea flop lashes out and throws boots away after being subbed in World Cup qualifier

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      CHELSEA flop Hakim Ziyech threw his boots on the floor in a huge tantrum after being substituted. The attacking midfielder was in action for Morocco in a 2-1 World Cup qualification win over Zambia. Hakim Ziyech raged after being subbed off during Morocco’s clash against ZambiaThe Chelsea ace trudged off the pitch and threw his boots on the floorHe has been slammed by fansZiyech opened the scoring from the spot after six minutes but was subbed off an hour later.And the 31-year-old reacted furiously to being replaced by Soufiane Rahimi.Ziyech threw his arms into the air in anger and trudged off the pitch.Team-mates like former Wolves star Romain Saiss went in for a hug but were brushed aside.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLZiyech then made another frustrated gesture towards manager Walid Regragui before slumping into his seat in the dugout.But his strop did not stop there as he took off his boots and slammed them on the floor.Fans hit out at his antics, with one saying: “Ziyech is such a manchild.”Another added: “Spoilt kid.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSZiyech is still on the books of Chelsea after a season-long loan at Galatasaray.The Turkish giants reportedly have the option to make the deal permanent.Ziyech has played 107 times for Chelsea and scored 14 goals since his reported £34million move from Ajax in 2020.He previously retired from international duty with Morocco after falling out with previous boss Vahid Halilhodzic, who claimed the star faked injury to miss a game.But Ziyech reversed his decision following the appointment of Regragui and helped fire them to the World Cup semi-final in 2022.Hakim Ziyech has been on loan at GalatasarayCredit: Getty More

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      Who is Daniele Orsato? Meet Euro 2024 referee

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      REFEREE Daniele Orsato is set to hang up his whistle at the end of Euro 2024.The vastly experienced referee, 48, took charge of his final Serie A match last month, receiving a standing ovation from Atalanta and Fiorentina fans – he also broke down in tears after his final Champions League game. Italian Daniele Orsato is one of the world’s most respected and experienced referees but will retire after Euro 2024Credit: GettyWho is Daniele Orsato?The Italian made his first World Cup appearance in 2018 and also officiated at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.Orsato had before officiated a series of international friendlies and World Cup qualifying fixtures, including the first leg of the World Cup play-off between Honduras and Australia.He’s also been a senior referee in Serie A since 2010, officiating 290 games before retiring.Orsato made his Serie C debut in 2002, moving to the premier Serie A division for the 2006-07 season. He has gone on to make nearly 200 appearances in the division.Since 2012, the Italian has been involved in Champions League fixtures. Orsato went on to referee the 2020 Champions League final and multiple semi-finals.Most read in sport He faced huge criticism from Croatian legend Luka Modric in the last World Cup.The Real Madrid star branded Orsata as “one of the worst” and said his performance was a “disaster” as Argentina beat Croatia in the sem-final.Modric said: “Argentina were a fair winner of the match, they were better, they deserved to win, but these things have to be mentioned, I generally don’t do them, but today they have to be done.”‘I don’t like to talk about referees, but this is one of the worst. I don’t have a good memory of [Orsato], he’s a disaster. For me it wasn’t a penalty.”Despite this, I don’t want to detract from Argentina. The penalty killed us. We have to recover for third place and win that match.” More

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      Who is Danny Makkelie? Meet the Dutch referee officiating at Euro 2024

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      OFFICIAL Danny Makkelie is back on the world stage for Euro 2024 and is seen as one of the best referees around.The Dutchman, 41, has huge experience in the middle – having first taking up the job in 2005 and being placed on the Elite list in 2014. Danny Makkelie was in charge during England’s Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark when he awarded a controversial penaltyCredit: PAWho is Euro 2024 referee Danny Makkelie?A former police inspector, Makkelie will accept no messing about in Germany.He was first listed as a Fifa referee in 2011 and at 38 years old, still has plenty of mathches under his belt.Having taken charge of 47 Champions League matches in his career – including Bayern’s 1-0 win over Arsenal in the quarter-finals this year – he also has experience at two international tournaments.Makkelie refereed games at Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup.England fans may remember a controversial penalty against Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-final that helped the Three Lions reach the final.Makkelie made his Eredivise debut in 2009 and has gone on to make over 300 appearances since.Most read in sportHas he used VAR before?The Dutchman has been involved in two major controversies with the VAR system.Makkelie became the first referee to send-off a player using the technology after he changed his yellow-card decision to a sending off against Willem II’s Anouar Kalu in a KNVB Cup game in 2016.He was also involved in one of the most famous and controversial usages of VAR when he took charge of the Dutch Super Cup final between Feyenoord and Vitesse.During that match, Feyenoord saw a goal disallowed and a penalty awarded to Vitesse instead after a VAR review showed Makkelie should have given the spot kick before the goal was scored. More

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      Who is Euro 2024 referee Istvan Kovacs?

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      ISTVAN KOVACS Istvan Kovacs is used to brushing away nonsense from footballers – given he deals with rowdy pupils in his day job as a PE teacher.The 39-year-old Romanian has been picked to officiate at Euro 2024, having also reffed in Euro 2020.Istvan Kovacs, who will referee at Euro 2024, was blasted by Xavi after sending the ex-Barcelona coach off in the Champions League earlier this seasonCredit: AFPKovacs was appointed as an 2010 and nominated to the elite list in 2020.Who is Istvan Kovacs?Kovacs, a native of Carei, grew up a sports fanatic and turned his attention to officiating from a young age.After following his dream, he was appointed as a professional referee in his homeland ahead of the 2007/08 season.In his debut season, Kovacs officiated 17 Romanian top-flight fixtures and within three years he took charge of Europa League matches.He has since become a fixture at the top level of European football, taking charge of numerous games in the Europa League and Champions League.Most read in FootballHe had a perfect view as Ademola Lookman scored a brilliant hat-trick in the final of the Europa League last month.However, he was in Xavi’s crosshairs in April after Barcelona were dumped out of the Champions League.The ex-Barca coach was sent off after complaining over Ronald Araujo conceding a penalty against PSG.Xavi said: “The decision completely changed the game. It was too much to give a red card.”I told the referee his performance was very bad. He was a disaster. He killed the tie.”What games will he officiate at Euro 2024?Uefa have not yet revealed which games will be officiated by which referees.That information will be updated as the tournament approaches. More

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      England risk World Cup ban as huge storm kicks off over FA Cup replays being scrapped

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      MPs demanding a U-turn on the FA Cup replay row could risk England being banned by Fifa.During the second reading of the Football Regulation bill in Westminster on Tuesday, former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron promised to propose an amendment to give the Regulator the power to force the FA to reintroduce replays.England risk being banned from the World Cup over the FA Cup replay rowCredit: APHe argued, with backing from MPs across the House, that all member clubs must have a vote on deciding the rules of the competition.Yet such a move by the Regulator would leave open the possibility that Fifa could determine the FA had been subjected to “government interference” in the running of the game.That would be a breach of membership rules.In recent years, the world governing body has temporarily suspended the football associations of Zimbabwe, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Pakistan because of outside influence.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLLast night, it emerged that Spain’s government could take over the RFEF (Spanish FA) following disgraced ex-president Luis Rubiales’ kiss-gate scandal at the Women’s World Cup final.That could see them run the same ban risk as England, although in reality such a punishment is unlikely. BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERLast week, the English FA announced plans to scrap all replays in the FA Cup.Every round will now also be played on a weekend.Most read in FootballChris Wilder leads furious backlash to FA Cup replays being scrapped as fans urged to protest at ‘ridiculous’ decisionWhile there will be no clashes with the Premier League in the fourth and fifth rounds, as well as the quarters.The final will also be played on a Saturday, with no Prem fixtures to take place on the same day.But in another major change, it will take place before the final match of the Premier League campaign.Lower-tier clubs have been left in uproar, with some EFL and National League sides even threatening to boycott the FA Cup next season.An EFL statement read: “The EFL wishes to clarify further its position in respect of yesterday’s Premier League and Football Association bi-lateral announcement over the removal of FA Cup replays and the role of the League’s representatives on the Professional Game Board (PGB). “The agreement which now sees the abolition of replays from the competition format was agreed solely between the Premier League and FA.”Ahead of the deal being announced there was no agreement with the EFL nor was there any formal consultation with EFL clubs as members of the FA and participants in the competition.”In September 2023, the EFL did initially discuss with clubs potential changes to the FA Cup format but only as part of a wider and more fundamental change to financial distributions.”As is now clear, there has been no movement in this area since September.READ MORE SUN STORIES”This latest agreement between the Premier League and the FA, in the absence of financial reform, is just a further example of how the EFL and its clubs are being marginalised in favour of others further up the pyramid and that only serves to threaten the future of the English game.”The EFL today calls on both the Premier League and the FA, as the Governing body, to re-evaluate their approach to their footballing partnership with the EFL and engage more collaboratively on issues directly affecting our clubs.”Why FA Cup changes are GOOD NEWSBy Martin Lipton
      THE FA and Premier League should have done the deal to scrap FA Cup replays years ago.
      No doubt traditionalists will moan but it is right that the competition has finally been brought into the 21st century.
      Ending replays will bring extra sharpness and excitement to the ties, with the knowledge that there will be a winner, whether in 90 minutes, extra-time or penalties.
      If big guns have a bad day, they are more likely to pay the price. Replays after draws give them a fall-back they do not deserve.
      Giving the FA Cup total and absolute priority over four weekends – and ensuring there is no competing match on the day of the Final – will enhance the profile of a competition that was in danger of falling out of the spotlight.
      And as long as the FA ensures a better split of the prize money fund, weighting it more towards the earlier rounds, and potentially a similar move with  TV match money, there should be few losers.
      Read more on the FA Cup by clicking here. More

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      I’m a World Cup icon who quit football as it became unrecognisable – stars care more about cars, contracts and boots

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      WORLD CUP icon Miroslav Klose laid the boot into modern-day football, claiming stars these days are more concerned about cars and contracts than the beautiful game.Revealing he quit playing because he “no longer recognised” the sport, Klose reckons football is now far removed from its “purest form” because of the focus on money and image.World Cup legend Miroslav Klose claims modern players only care about money and imageCredit: GettyThe 45-year-old is widely recognised as one of the best strikers in history, having ended his career as Germany’s all-time top scorer.Klose scored 71 goals in 137 games for his country while firing them to glory at the 2014 World Cup.He remains the top scorer in the tournament’s history, netting 16 times across four different events.And Klose also enjoyed a brilliant club career, scoring goals and winning trophies for the likes of Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHis career came to an end in 2016 after five seasons with Italian giants Lazio.After retiring, Klose moved into coaching as he took up roles with the German national team and Bayern Munich.But the legend claims he made the decision to quit playing after falling out of love with the lifestyle.He believes young players these days don’t put in a fraction of the work his generation used to.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERKlose hit out at the obsession with image and cash, insisting players are more worried about the car they drive and what boots they wear.And as far as he’s concerned, the classic image of the beautiful game “no longer exists.”Premier League star leaves Syria camp hours before World Cup qualifier and first match after row over his ‘demands’Miroslav Klose’s career statsThose incredible numbers in full…

      FC 08 Homburg, 1998-99: 18 games, 1 goal

      FC Kaiserslautern, 1999-2004: 147 games, 52 goals

      Werder Bremen, 2004-2007: 132 games, 63 goals

      Bayern Munich, 2007-2011: 149 games, 53 goals

      Lazio, 2011-2016: 170 games, 63 goals

      Germany, 2001-2014: 137 games, 71 goals

      Trophies: German League Cup (Werder Bremen); Bundesliga x2, German Cup x2, German League Cup, German Super Cup (Bayern Munich); Italian Cup (Lazio); World Cup (Germany)

      Klose said in October: “I stopped playing football because I no longer recognised it. “Today, young players think about other things. As a child, I only thought about training and becoming someone in this sport that I always loved. “At Lazio and in the national team, after each training session, I put myself in a bathtub full of ice to avoid injuries. But the young players on the team systematically refused.“When they saw me picking up the bags of balls to put them away at the end of training, they said to me ‘But who tells you to do that?’. “At that moment, I said to myself: ‘You’re 20 years old and you can’t help a 60-year-old worker?’“They care more about whether their boots go with their socks. That’s why I said stop. The football I knew no longer exists.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Today’s young players think first of cars, contracts with their sponsors, and their new boots. It is only after all these things that football comes. “For them, their image is the most important thing. Whereas for me, all that mattered was football in its purest form.” More

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      Lily Allen’s actor dad reveals he’s still raking in £20,000 PER YEAR from iconic World Cup anthem decades on

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      LILY ALLEN’S dad is still raking in a whopping £20,000 per year from his iconic World Cup anthem. Keith Allen, 70, wrote the lyrics to Vindaloo ahead of the 1998 World Cup.Keith Allen is the father of singer Lily AllenCredit: GettyAllen stars in the music video and sings on VindalooCredit: YouTube @UnionSquareMusicThe song was released just before the tournament in France and was initially written as a parody of football chants with its references to the spicy curry.But it took off as Allen Sr teamed up with bassists Alex James and Guy Pratt – as well as daughter Lily with him on vocals – to produce the single under the band name Fat Les. It reached No2 in the UK charts, pipped only by David Baddiel and Frank Skinner’s Three Lions remake. And Allen is still reaping the rewards of its tremendous success. READ MORE ON SPORTAsked if he still gets royalties for his football record, he told The Telegraph: “Oh God yeah, a lot, probably about £20,000 a year. “I mean, I get more money from Vindaloo than a lot of things.”I’m always earning money off Vindaloo. “The song gets used for all sorts of things and various campaigns. In fact it’s going to be used for one for Deliveroo.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”Guy Pratt played bass on it and he’s earned more money from Vindaloo than anything he’s ever done with Pink Floyd.”Vindaloo remains a hugely popular song, especially for England fans around major tournaments.Every Premier League club’s most famous and also most surprising fanSo it will no doubt resurface this summer during Euro 2024 alongside the likes of Three Lions and World In Motion.Allen also co-wrote the lyrics to World In Motion for Italia 90 as New Order linked up with the England team – specifically guest rapper John Barnes – to record the UK No1. The actor, author, broadcaster and comedian – who was paid £182,000 in today’s money to appear as the tooth fairy in a Listerine advert – has six children with four different women.That includes pop star daughter Lily and Game of Thrones actor Alfie Allen with his first wife Alison Owen.Lily was crowned British Female Solo Artist of the Year at the 2010 Brit Awards following the release of her It’s Not Me, It’s You album. More

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      Captain resigns and retires after ‘humiliating’ World Cup qualifier and tells wife ‘I really cannot accept it’

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      CHINA’S national team captain has retired from international duty after his country’s “humiliating” draw with Singapore.Zhang Linpeng threw in the towel after China could only muster a 2-2 stalemate in yesterday’s World Cup qualifier.China captain Zhang Linpeng has retired from national team dutyCredit: AlamyThe 34-year-old defender currently plays for Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port, having previously spent 11 years with rivals Guangzhou Evergrande.Zhang had featured 105 times for China ever since his debut in 2009, with World Cup winner and ex-boss Marcelo Lippi previously labelling him the nation’s “best footballer.”But his extraordinary international career is now at an end.China were expected to easily triumph over Singapore on Thursday.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThere are 70 places between the pair in Fifa’s world rankings, with China currently 88th.And things appeared to be going smoothly for the world’s third-biggest country as they raced into a two-goal lead.But Singapore pulled a goal back in the second half before levelling things in the 81st minute.And during the post-match press conference, Zhang announced that not only was he stepping down as China’s captain due to the “humiliating” result, he was also retiring from international duty for good.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERHe said: “I thought about it for a long while, I think it’s time to end my national team career.“We could not even beat the Singapore team. I think it’s unacceptable and I find it humiliating.”Oscar shows off his best moves for Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League Meanwhile, Chinese state media reported that Zhang’s wife posted a message he sent her to social media.It read: “I really feel like I cannot do any better than this anymore.“Every day I am really putting in 100 per cent to 200 per cent effort, but this result, I really cannot accept it, so let’s just end it here.”China will now look to avenge their draw when they play Singapore in Tianjin next week.China national team results in 2024The games that led to Zhang’s shock retirement…

      China 1 Hong Kong 2
      China 0 Tajikistan 0
      Lebanon 0 China 0
      Qatar 1 China 0
      Singapore 2 China 2 More