All posts by n8rngtd.top

Virgil van Dijk is being driven “crazy” by a Lionel Messi jibe at Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah and Alexis Mac Allister tormenting their captain.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Dutch defender faced Argentina at 2022 World Cup
• Involved in fiery quarter-final contest
• Continues to be reminded of events from that day

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, commanding centre-half Van Dijk formed part of the Netherlands squad that came up against Argentina at the quarter-final stage. A fiery encounter saw 18 cards handed out, as the Albiceleste prevailed on penalties, and arguments carried over into the tunnel.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Messi famously clashed with Dutch striker Wout Weghorst, branding him a “fool” during a spicy clash in the tunnel, and Mac Allister has – with the help of Egyptian colleague Salah – been quick to remind Van Dijk of that fact at every opportunity.

• WHAT MAC ALLISTER SAID

  Mac Allister, who savoured global glory in the Middle East alongside Messi, has told programme of winding up a club colleague at Anfield: “Me and Salah, all day long are saying 'Anda Pa Alla Bobo!' [What are you looking at fool] to Van Dijk. We are driving him crazy and we also do that among ourselves.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  The incident in question was captured by cameras on Netflix’s ‘Captains of the World’ documentary, as Messi refused to shake Weghorst’s hand, and will go down in World Cup folklore – with Van Dijk unlikely to escape the episode any time soon due to antics of his supposed friends on Merseyside.

Glasgow Rangers fans are livid at Michael Stewart following the BBC pundit’s take on Glen Kamara’s allegations of racist abuse from Ondrej Kudela.

Slavia Prague defeated Rangers 3-1 on aggregate to progress to the quarter-finals of the Europa League. However, in the aftermath of Thursday’s clash at Ibrox, the situation involving Kamara and Kudela has dominated the headlines. Kamara has released a statement backing up his claim, while Slavia themselves have moved to vehemently deny the allegations (slavia.cz).

Stewart was speaking on BBC Sportsound (via The Daily Record), and he was asked about the Kamara situation. However, instead of standing with the Finland international, he suggested there is a chance the former Dundee man may have misheard Kudela and has asked for there to be caution in judging the situation.

The comments were shared on Twitter by @thisisibrox, and they attracted plenty of attention from the Rangers supporters. They took to the social media platform to shared their anger with Stewart.

Let’s see what the fans had to say about the comments from Stewart below

“He should be sacked immediately @BBCSportsound Utterly deplorable description of events of the last 24 hours. How @mstewart_23 can come out with this is beyond belief. An embarrassment to his colleagues and fellow professionals.”

Credit: @JohnGirvan2

“That’s what Scottish sports journalism amounts to sadly. Some never was given so much air time. Tragic”

Credit: @JohnAnd53999512

“Would be sacked for less. Shocking comments to make.”

Credit: @SteveGSmith_

“The BBC wish to bulld bridges with the club. It now ends.”

Credit: @ferguslie_james

“Lost for words with that statement from Michael Stewart. I think the reaction from everyone at Glasgow Rangers tells you exactly that there was racial abuse. Once again just trying to be controversial but, comes over as someone who deserves no respect.”

Credit: @Shunksy62

“he should be sacked. Simple, the player went with his mouth covered, said x & ran off. If polite he wouldn’t have. He said exactly what has been suggested, reactions followed. Forget what is said after. Fact he had is hands in an unnatural position, he is guilty.”

Credit: @iamdbali

In other news, Alan Hutton has suggested this Rangers ace could leave the club this summer.

Plenty of Aston Villa fans have been reacting to footage of the club’s Under-18 side on social media.

Villa’s youngsters turned out at Villa Park on Wednesday afternoon against Burton Albion in the FA Youth Cup last-16.

Sean Verity’s side put nine past their opponents to advance to the quarter-finals where they will now take on Newcastle United.

Louie Barry scored a hat-trick, Carney Chukwuemeka netted twice and Aaron Ramsey, Brad Young and Seb Revan also got on the scoresheet in an emphatic display.

Villa were actually six goals to the good before half time, bouncing back brilliantly from a 7-0 defeat to Chelsea on the weekend.

Villa fans react

The club shared all nine goals on their official Twitter page on Wednesday evening in highlights which lasted close to eight minutes.

This is what these Villa fans had to say in reply, with many full of praise and one describing the clip as ‘special’.

“Wow”

Credit: @tw1708

“I am so excited for the future of AVFC”

Credit: @_JJ_stone

“Something special about this youth team”

Credit: @CarlvHarris

“Fantastic. Well done lads.”

Credit: @SmokeeLou

“How good are these lads man”

Credit: @danlawlor28

“Poetry in motion”

Credit: @AvfcBoxing

In other news: Many AVFC fans react to Ross Barkley update, find out more here. 

The ultimate piece of Lionel Messi memorabilia is about to go on sale, with a match-worn shirt from the 2022 World Cup final being put up for auction.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• All-time great inspired his country to glory in Qatar
• Jerseys worn along the way going under the hammer
• Record held by Michael Jordan could be broken

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner completed his remarkable medal collection in Qatar when inspiring his country to World Cup glory. Messi walked away with the Golden Ball award as player of the tournament and registered seven vital goals.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Six jerseys that he wore en route to lifting the most famous trophy in world football are now going under the hammer. Sotheby’s are preparing to auction shirts that Messi wore in the first half of a final showdown with France, a semi-final clash with Croatia, an epic quarter-final against Netherlands, Argentina’s round-of-16 match versus Australia, and two of the Albiceleste’s three group-stage games.

• Getty
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  A portion of the funds raised will go to charity, with it suggested that records could be broken if the collection is sold for upwards of £8 million ($10m). The current record for sports memorabilia stands at £8.1m ($10m) – with Michael Jordan’s iconic Chicago Bulls jersey from Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals selling for that figure in September 2022.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Sotheby’s have said of the collection that they are preparing to part with – as bids are invited between November 30 and December 14: “These match-worn shirts are artefacts of Messi's legacy. They symbolize the culmination of a career filled with hard work, and an undying passion for the beautiful game. Messi's 2022 World Cup journey was about more than just winning; it was about inspiring generations of footballers and fans. In the years to come, these shirts will serve as a reminder of Messi's greatness and the indelible mark he left on the world of football. Worn through the first half of each respective match, they are symbols of triumph and perseverance.”

Phil Parkinson is “very excited” about the Kop End projects that Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are piecing together at Wrexham.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Welsh outfit updating famous stadium
• Set to welcome more supporters through the turnstiles
• Atmosphere will improve again as a result

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  SToK Racecourse is in the process of undergoing a serious facelift, with a tired old stand behind one of the goals about to be brought into the 21st Century. That redevelopment remains a work in progress, with a stop-gap solution being sought for now that allows more supporters to head through the turnstiles.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  A temporary stand has been constructed in North Wales, with the hope being to offer a pre-Christmas boost to loyal supporters when a further 2,289 tickets are made available for a derby date with Newport County on December 23 – with an increased capacity then set to be enjoyed through to the end of the season.

• WHAT PARKINSON SAID

  Red Dragons boss Parkinson has said of ramping up what is already a passionate atmosphere: “I'm so pleased, when the supporters arrive at the ground there's a different feel to the place. We're very excited about getting the supporters in there. When you look at it, there's a lot of people who support the club who have been unable to get tickets and this enables over 2,000 [to be] in the ground, but also it enhances the atmosphere around the stadium and that's what the Racecourse is all about.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?

  Wrexham’s capacity is about to nudge above 12,000 for the first time in 16 years, with the new 5,500 all-seater Kop End set to replace a structure that has been out of commission since 2007. Red Dragons supporters have had plenty to get excited about of late, leading to regular sell-outs, and the club are currently flying high in League Two as they push for back-to-back promotions.

Chelsea could accept a ban from UEFA competitions next season if they qualify for the Europa Conference League, according to a new report.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Chelsea could qualify for Conference League
• Would bring them under European Profit and Sustainability rules
• Chelsea may accept ban instead of playing

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per , Chelsea are only currently bound by the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability rules (PSR), which allow for losses of up to £105m ($133m) over three years. They met that objective last season and have maintained they will again meet the threshold this year. However, if they were to qualify for the Europa Conference League by winning the Carabao Cup this weekend, they would then be bound by UEFA's PSR rules.

  Under those regulations, Chelsea can only lose up to £68.5m ($86m), a significant squeeze on their current obligations, and it has been speculated that the club could now look to avoid playing in Europe altogether next season.

Advertisement

• THE EXPLANATION

  As Kieran Maguire, a financial expert, explained to , Chelsea could receive more financial freedom if they follow AC Milan's example. The Serie A club breached FFP three times, per UEFA, and the two parties reached a compromise that allowed the Italian side to sit out one year of Europa League football in 2019. Normally, clubs would be banned for two years for such an offence but Chelsea may find it productive to try to strike a similar deal with the European governing body if they beat Liverpool this weekend. The Conference League winners last season were West Ham and they were paid £16m for their win; Chelsea earned £82m by reaching the round of 16 of the Champions League last season.

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT KIERAN MAGUIRE SAID

  Maguire said: “It could be in Chelsea’s interests to do the same as Milan. We’re moving into the realms of three-dimensional chess here, which some clubs are capable of playing.

  “By the time you pay the players’ bonuses for qualifying for the competition, transport, accommodation and other costs, you’re only making a small amount of money from the Conference League. You’ll struggle to get a decent number of fans to attend Stamford Bridge if the opposition is modest. That isn’t a criticism of them. It’s modern-day economics.

  “If they are exceeding the UEFA limits, the question becomes: ‘Do we want to go and play in the Conference League next season?’. Because they won’t make any money from it.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  If they beat Liverpool this weekend, the Blues will qualify for the Conference League play-offs. They are currently 10th and any chance of qualifying for Europe through the league appears remote.

Chelsea could be punished by the Premier League over payments made during the Roman Abramovich era, which may have breached Financial Fair Play rules.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Chelsea's finances under scrutiny
• Payments made worth "tens of millions of pounds"
• Punishment could include points deduction

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  A recent investigation by has uncovered a number of payments worth "tens of millions of pounds" made over the space of a decade, diverted through Abramovich's offshore vehicles. Beneficiaries of said payments, according to the report, include Eden Hazard's agent, as well as an associate of 2017 Premier League title winner Antonio Conte. It also allegedly involves the transfer dealings for Willian and Samuel Eto'o.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The files were voluntarily surrendered by Chelsea's new owners after they found "incomplete financial information" relating to Abramovich's tenure, which earned them an £8.6million ($10.7m) fine from UEFA. In the long term, however, the ramifications could be more significant. continues that if said payments are found to be in breach of their football rules, such as FFP, then the Premier League could impose strict punishments on the Blues – including a potential points deduction.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Chelsea won 18 major trophies during Abramovich's tenure, which was the most of any English club during that 19-year period. That haul includes five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, two Champions Leagues, two Europa Leagues, two Community Shields, a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  The Premier League's investigation is ongoing, meaning the payments must first be found to be in breach of FFP before punishments are decided. With the threat of a potential deduction, Mauricio Pochettino's Blues will look to put some more points on the board after the international break, when they take on injury-hit Newcastle on November 25.

The Welcome to Wrexham documentary has earned plenty of plaudits, but it is now being mocked for a wildly inaccurate map of British football clubs.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Dragons star in their own show
• Hollywood co-owners at the helm
• Geographical mix-up causes amusement

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The series, which is produced by Dragons co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, has lifted the lid on goings on in North Wales since a stunning takeover of the club was completed in the spring of 2021. It has followed Wrexham’s adventures on and off the field during a memorable era in the club’s long and distinguished history.

Advertisement

• FX/GOAL composite
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Reynolds and McElhenney have often been the stars of the show – as they are most comfortable on camera – but household names have been made of the likes of star striker Paul Mullin and local pub landlord Wayne Jones.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Welcome to Wrexham – which airs on the FX network – has helped to raise the Dragons’ profile, particularly in the United States, but “questions” are being asked of a bizarre map that has features in series two which is supposed to highlight where certain teams are based in the United Kingdom.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  The map in question has led Premier League outfit Brentford – who are based in west London but sit in the North East according to the Wrexham doc – to quip on social media: “We’re just a bus stop in Hexham.” The likes of Blackburn, Newcastle, Everton, Cardiff and Swansea will also be taking issue with their supposed geographical locations, with fans across the British game being given a good laugh at Wrexham’s expense.

It has been a long nine days since Wolverhampton Wanderers were last in action.

Nuno Santo’s men played out a 0-0 draw with Midlands rivals Aston Villa – a game that they should have won.

Romain Saiss somehow blazed an effort over the bar from just a matter of yards out; a moment in the match that proved pivotal for both teams.

Small cracks are starting to appear in this Wolves side again, though. They haven’t won in their last three games and received a battering at the hands of Manchester City in the process.

In a normal season, they may well be on the end of a similar result against Liverpool on Monday. That being said, the Reds have lost six of their last seven Premier League outings. It’s a remarkable turn of events for a club who have been so impressive in recent years.

With that in mind, Wolves should feel confident about their chances this evening, but how will they line-up?

Here’s what we’re predicting at Football FanCast.

We think that Nuno may go in a similar way to how he fielded his team against Manchester City.

That means Nelson Semedo starts at right wing in order for Wolves to get the most from his attacking attributes. As a result, Willian Jose drops out and Adama Traore moves into the central role he started in at the Etihad.

Jose has found life difficult since moving from Real Sociedad in the winter and is yet to score a single goal in Wolves colours. With Liverpool’s defence as fragile as it is, Traore could prove to be a real weapon for the Molineux outfit.

[snack-amp-story url=”https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/check-out-the-latest-news-on-wolves-from-molineux” title=” Check out the latest news on Wolves from Molineux!”]

With Semedo moving forward it means that Ki-Jana Hoever comes in at right wing-back to play against the team that sold him last summer.

There is a second change in defence where the £23k-per-week Saiss drops out. We bemoaned his performance against Villa a few weeks ago and with Willy Boly now fit, he has to start.

The Frenchman has been back on the bench and after having nine days to train with the squad, should be in good shape to play from the off.

AND in other news, Shi could land Wolves’ perfect Moutinho heir in £35k-p/w gem with “boundless energy”…

Cristiano Ronaldo made a young Al-Nassr fan's day when he met up with him ahead of their AFC Champions League clash with Persepolis.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ronaldo met up with fan
• Posed for picture
• Signed boy's Al-Nassr shirt

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The youngster was sporting an Al-Nassr jersey with Ronaldo's name on the back and was escorted into a room where the Portuguese superstar was waiting. Ronaldo posed for a picture and signed the child's jersey.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The meeting occurred ahead of the Saudi Arabian side's opening Champions League match against Iranian side Persepolis in Tehran on Tuesday. Ronaldo's side are on a five-game winning run heading into the tie.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  "Hey! How are you?" Ronaldo asked when the boy walked into the room. "Are you good? Give me a hug!"

  The young fan even showed off his impression of Ronaldo's famous goal celebration.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Al-Nassr will hope to get their Champions League campaign off to a strong start. They are in a group with Persepolis, Al-Duhail and Istiklol.