Sports

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has outlined a duty to help protect Ukrainian children amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Ukraine was invaded by Russia last week and the fighting continues to escalate.

Millions of people are seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, and UEFA s Foundation for Children has pledged €1million in aid.

The UEFA foundation has also promised to provide an emergency fund of €100,000 to assist children and refugees fleeing into Moldova.

Children are very vulnerable during conflicts and it is our duty to help defend their fundamental rights and their health, said Ceferin, chairman of the foundation s board of trustees.

Thanks to the solidarity of European football and the support of our partners, we will be a…

While the U21 European Championship semi-finals get underway on Wednesday night, we are treated to a stacked MLS schedule in the early hours.

So, for those of you looking to place a midweek flutter, we have created your ultimate Wednesday betting double.

00:30 Orlando City vs Toronto FC

Making a welcomed return to winning ways over the weekend thanks to another eye-catching performance at the Exploria Stadium, Orlando will be smelling that they have been handed a golden chance in the early hours of Wednesday. Eventually breezing their way to a 3-1 romp at home against Chicago, Oscar Pareja’s men find themselves tipped as a standout contender in the play-off chase.

Unbeaten in their three domestic showdowns since returning from June’s international …

Marcelo is convinced Real Madrid will get back to winning trophies in the new season after he was named as Carlo Ancelotti s captain.

The Brazilian left-back takes on the leadership role from Sergio Ramos, who has left the Spanish giants to join Paris Saint-Germain, and said he felt extremely lucky to be chosen.

At the age of 33, Marcelo will hope to be a mainstay under Italian boss Ancelotti, who is back in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu after Zinedine Zidane left following a lack of silverware in the 2020-21 campaign.

It is Ancelotti s second crack at the Madrid job, after a prior spell covering two seasons from 2013 to 2015. Capturing the LaLiga crown that Atletico Madrid snatched last term will be a priority.

Marcelo said: We re aware that it s very …

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes winning the Europa League title can be a catalyst for his team after they reached another semi-final.

United set up a semi-final showdown with Roma after Thursday s 2-0 victory over Granada at Old Trafford sealed a 4-0 aggregate triumph.

Solskjaer s United have reached four semi-finals and lost them all – the Red Devils beaten in last season s Europa League semi, having also missed out on trips to the FA Cup and EFL Cup deciders in 2019-20.

United – second in the Premier League standings – also fell to Manchester City in this season s EFL Cup semi-final, leaving Solskjaer hungry for that last elusive step.

Not since the 2016-17 season, when they claimed the Europa League, EFL Cup and Community …

Graham Potter has acknowledged the need for Chelsea to snap out of their frustrating run of form quickly, saying: long-term doesn t exist in this job .

Potter has come under pressure amid a difficult period for the big-spending Blues, who recorded three successive Premier League draws for the first time since 2012 after Saturday s 1-1 stalemate with West Ham.

Chelsea have won just one of their eight games across all competitions since the turn of the year (D4 L3), and the Champions League now represents their only chance of avoiding a trophyless season.

With a trip to Borussia Dortmund for the first leg of an enticing last-16 tie on the horizon, Potter is aware of the need for things to change at Stamford Bridge.

You can t talk about the long-term becaus…

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti insisted there is still a long way to go in the LaLiga title race after Los Blancos moved eight points clear ahead of next week s derby.

Vinicius Junior and Luka Jovic scored in the second half as leaders Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 2-0 away from home on Saturday.

After defending champions Atletico Madrid were stunned 2-1 by Real Mallorca earlier on Saturday, Ancelotti s men are now 10 points above their city rivals heading into the December 12 derby.

However, Ancelotti knows there is still plenty to play for after 16 rounds, with Atletico boasting a game in hand, while Sevilla – who have also played a match less – sit second in the standings.

I think it was just a good day for us, Ancelotti told reporters. Th…

Manchester United matched their own record for the biggest home win in Premier League history as Southampton suffered the unprecedented ignominy of 9-0 defeats in consecutive seasons.

Ralph Hasenhuttl s men saw their outing at Old Trafford unravel from the moment Alexandre Jankewitz was shown a second-minute red card for an ugly lunge on Scott McTominay.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka began the rout and efforts from Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani either side of a Jan Bednarek own goal made it 4-0 at half-time.

Anthony Martial and McTominay made it 6-0 inside the final 20 minutes before a Bruno Fernandes penalty, Martial s second and a closing goal from Daniel James left Southampton – who also saw Bednarek sent off – in an unsightly heap.

From nine goals to ni…

Former Brazil forward Ronaldo admits he would love to see Pep Guardiola or Carlo Ancelotti take the reins of the Selecao, stating it would be a historic move.

With the Qatar 2022 World Cup set to start next month, Tite s side are bidding to break a two-decade European hold on the sport s greatest prize, led by talents such as Neymar, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo.

But regardless of their ultimate tournament performance, the 61-year-old s tenure could well be coming to an end after more than six years in the role, with pundits floating the Manchester City and Real Madrid bosses as potential successors for Tite.

In a country where the national team has always been led by a native, there is significant pushback to the suggestion of an outsider but Ronaldo believes it coul…

Jordi Alba labelled Luis Enrique as the best coach in the world as Spain aim for World Cup glory in Qatar.

Alba worked with Luis Enrique at Barcelona when he was in charge between 2014 and 2017 before the latter left and went on to become La Roja coach.

The former Real Madrid and Barca midfielder initially left his role in 2019 due to family reasons before returning in the same year, subsequently guiding Spain to the semi-finals of Euro 2020.

A second-place finish in the 2020-21 Nations League further added to the resume of Luis Enrique, who Alba feels is the right man to lead Spain in the Middle East at the World Cup, which starts next Sunday.

I already know him from Barcelona. He is a direct person, who trusts the players a lot, the Barca left-back tol…

There is a debate to be had that, even if Real Madrid lose Saturday s Champions League final at Stade de France and Carlo Ancelotti never lifts another trophy again, the Italian will still be able to stake a claim as being remembered as the greatest coach of all time.

After all, he has already won 22 trophies across a managerial career spanning 27 years that has seen him coach 10 different clubs in five different countries. Indeed, he this month became the first coach to win each of the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and LaLiga.

There is no questioning Carlo s credentials, then, but victory against Jurgen Klopp s Liverpool in Paris really would take the 62-year-old into GOAT  territory as the outright most successful coach in terms of major European …