Boro say move is ‘only appropriate response’ to scandalAustralian Hull fan angry over possible postponementMiddlesbrough have demanded that the English Football League expel Southampton from the Championship playoff final against Hull and are furious at being denied a chance to argue their case at an independent disciplinary hearing.Southampton, who beat Middlesbrough 2-1 in the semi-final, are facing EFL misconduct charges after Boro said they had been the victims of training-ground spying. An independent disciplinary commission is due to hear Southampton’s explanation in person by Tuesday at the latest. There are suggestions that it could sit over the weekend. Continue reading...
A viral online movement has suddenly dominated the conversation in Spain, raising fresh questions about the future of the French superstar amid a difficult campaign filled with frustration, dressing-room drama, and growing supporter unrest. The atmosphere around Kylian Mbappe and Real Madrid has become increasingly tense ahead of one of the club’s biggest matches of the season. A viral online movement has suddenly dominated the conversation in Spain, raising fresh questions about the future of the French superstar amid a difficult campaign filled with frustration, dressing-room drama, and growing supporter unrest. Despite Mbappe continuing to deliver extraordinary numbers in front of goal, the mood around the club has shifted dramatically in recent weeks. Real Madrid’s struggles in La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Copa del Rey have pushed many supporters toward anger, and the noise surrounding the team has only intensified before El Clasico against Barcelona. The controversy began after an online petition titled “Mbappe Out” spread rapidly across social media platforms. According to multiple reports, the petition gathered more than 50 million signatures within days, far surpassing its original target of 200,000 signatures. The message attached to the campaign read: “Madridistas, make your voice heard. If you believe change is needed, don’t stay silent — sign this petition and stand for what you think is best for the club’s future.” Photos circulating online showed the Frenchman spending time in Italy while recovering from a hamstring injury. Although reports stated that the trip had been approved internally by Real Madrid’s medical staff, many fans questioned the timing, especially with El Clasico approaching and the club’s season hanging by a thread. 𝟱𝟬 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗢𝗡 people have now signed a petition for Real Madrid to sell Kylian Mbappé 🤯 ✍️Madrid have been winning almost every game without him…but with him in the team recently, they’ve managed just one win in six 📉To put things into context…50 million people… pic.twitter.com/S8QK1H84li— OneFootball (@OneFootball) May 8, 2026 The situation quickly transformed into a social media storm. Supporters flooded comment sections, reposted images connected to the petition, and openly debated whether the 27-year-old star had become a symbol of the club’s recent decline despite his remarkable individual statistics. Mbappe’s numbers tell a very different story The backlash has surprised many observers because Mbappe remains Real Madrid’s most productive attacking player. As per statistical data confirmed by Transfermarkt and Sofascore, the France captain has scored 85 goals in 100 appearances since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain. This season alone, the forward has reportedly produced 41 goals in 41 appearances, numbers that would normally place him beyond criticism. Even with the controversy surrounding him, Mbappe continues to lead conversations about the world’s elite players because of his consistency in front of goal. Alvaro Arbeloa attempted to calm the growing storm during a recent press conference. The Real Madrid coach defended his player and insisted that the club remained in control of the recovery process. “All planning with injured players is supervised by the medical staff,” the manager explained, before adding, “In his free time, Mbappe can do whatever he considers appropriate, like any other player.” Can the petition actually change Real Madrid’s stance? As the petition gained attention worldwide, many supporters began asking whether such a movement could genuinely influence Real Madrid’s decision-makers. The short answer appears to be no. According to Fabrizio Romano, Real Madrid has no plans to sell Mbappe, and the player remains under contract until 2029. Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid reacts during the warm up prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match. Multiple reports described the petition as largely symbolic rather than something capable of forcing institutional ch
Real Madrid announced the punishment for Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni. In the middle of a turbulent week, the conflict between Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni took another turn on Friday. Real Madrid announced the financial sanctions that will be imposed on both players: fines of €500,000 (approximately $590,000) each. “Real Madrid C. F. announces that, following the events that led to the disciplinary proceedings initiated yesterday against our players Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, both appeared today before the investigator assigned to the case,” begins the statement published on the club’s official website. “During their appearance, the players expressed their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to each other. Furthermore, they extended their apologies to the club, their teammates, the coaching staff, and the fans, and both have made themselves available to Real Madrid to accept whatever sanction the club deems appropriate,” Los Blancos added. “Under these circumstances, Real Madrid has decided to impose a financial penalty of five hundred thousand euros on each player, thereby concluding the corresponding internal procedures,” the club announced, officially bringing the matter to a close. Official Announcement.— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 8, 2026 The sporting situation for Valverde and Tchouameni As made clear in the statement published by Real Madrid, the club consider the matter closed following the financial penalties imposed on both players. That means neither Federico Valverde nor Aurelien Tchouameni will face any sporting consequences. However, the situation leaves both players in very different circumstances. As a result of the altercation, Valverde suffered a blow to the head that required hospitalization, and the injury will prevent him from being part of the squad for Sunday’s El Clasico against Barcelona. Tchouameni, meanwhile, is in perfect physical condition and, with the possibility of a club-imposed suspension now ruled out, has a strong chance of being included in the squad traveling to Catalunya. Whether or not he features in the starting lineup will depend on the decision of head coach Alvaro Arbeloa. Real Madrid injuries for clash against Barcelona Federico Valverde is not the only player who will be unavailable for Sunday’s match against Barcelona. Due to physical issues, Daniel Carvajal, Eder Militao, Rodrygo Goes, Arda Guler, and Ferland Mendy will also miss the game. In addition, Kylian Mbappe is expected to arrive less than fully fit after dealing with muscular problems over the past week that kept him out of the squad for the win over Espanyol.
A team of Iranian football officials left Canada before the start of this week's FIFA Congress due to the "inappropriate behaviour" of immigration officials at Toronto airport, Iranian media reported Wednesday. The Iranian federation's president is a former member of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, which is a designated terror group in Canada.
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