Lionel Messi has sent one of his signed Paris St-Germain shirts to Pope Francis via the Prime Minister of France. Francis, 84, is said to be a big football fan and supported Argentinian club San Lorenzo as a child. French Prime Minister Jean Castex met up with the Holy Father over the weekend, visiting the Vatican to commemorate 100 years of diplomatic relations between France and the Holy See...Full Story »

A STAND collapsed at the Stadion De Goffert as Vitesse Arnhem's players celebrated with their fans - but miraculously NO ONE was hurt. The incident happened after the Eredivisie game on Sunday, when the Dutch club's stars approached supporters at the away end of the ground. De Vitesse-supporters zijn door het dolle heen na de zege in de derby, maar een deel van het uitvak in het Gofferstad...Full Story »

David Turnbull struck a glorious goal on his first appearance back at Fir Park for Celtic as the visitors beat Motherwell 2-0.The midfielder showed why Celtic paid Motherwell £3million for his services in August last year when he sent a swerving 25-yard effort past a motionless Liam Kelly and into the top corner to put the visitors two ahead.Jota had scored a well-taken but controversial e...Full Story »

Misfiring Preston failed to give their late owner Trevor Hemmings a fitting send-off victory after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Derby at Deepdale.A bumper crowd of 18,092 packed into the ground as the Lancashire club paid an emotional tribute to Hemmings, a huge name in football and horse racing who died aged 86 on Monday evening.All tickets for the match were £5, with the gate receipts goi...Full Story »

Liverpool are considering a sensational swoop for Philippe Coutinho in the January transfer window, according to reports. The Reds sold the Brazilian to Barcelona for a club-record fee of £142m in January 2018. That proved to be a masterstroke from Liverpool, who had paid just £8.5m to buy the attacking midfielder five years earlier. Coutinho's signing has been disastrous for Barc...Full Story »

Burton striker Kane Hemmings is fit for the visit of Morecambe.The 30-year-old was forced off after just 21 minutes of last weekend’s defeat at Plymouth with a tight calf but has trained this week and is ready to play.Defender Michael Mancienne and midfielder Danny Rowe, who have both not featured since the end of August, are also available for selection again.Captain John Brayford is side...Full Story »

Lionel Messi has admitted he had "other offers" from "various clubs" after leaving Barcelona last summer before opting to join Paris Saint-Germain. Messi, 34, was available on a free transfer when his Barcelona contract expired on June 30, after the LaLiga club's precarious financial situation meant they were unable to register a new deal. Weeks of uncertainty followed before PSG announced Mes...Full Story »

An angry Ian Baraclough was left “annoyed and appalled” by a controversial red card for Jamal Lewis which he felt proved decisive as Switzerland’s 2-0 win in Geneva effectively ended Northern Ireland’s World Cup hopes.Lewis collected a second yellow card in the 37th minute of the match, with referee Slavko Vincic deciding the 17 seconds he took over a throw-in was far too...Full Story »

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes Mohamed Salah’s wonder goal in the 2-2 draw with Manchester City at Anfield will still be talked about in 60 years’ time.City, who had suffered at the hands of Lionel Messi in their midweek Champions League defeat to Paris St Germain, had seen Phil Foden cancel out Sadio Mane’s opener only to go behind again to a brilliant individual goal...Full Story »

Patrick Vieira insists the credit for Crystal Palace’s comeback against Leicester belonged to his players as two substitutes struck to earn the Eagles a Premier League point.Leicester were two goals ahead at the interval, capitalising on defensive errors as birthday boy Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy struck to silence Selhurst Park.But the Foxes remain without a league win since August ...Full Story »

Luton could not follow up their 5-0 midweek thrashing of Coventry with another goal-laden performance as they played out a goalless Championship draw with Huddersfield on Saturday afternoon.Hatters defender Kal Naismith missed an early chance from 40 yards on a sodden surface, but the ball skidded wide, while team-mate Harry Cornick’s angled effort was gathered by visiting goalkeeper Lee N...Full Story »

Mark Robins explained that he told his Coventry players to believe at half-time before their second-half onslaught against Fulham resulted in a 4-1 Sky Bet Championship victory.The Sky Blues went into the break a goal down after Kyle McFadzean’s own goal before a brace from Viktor Gyokeres, Matty Godden’s penalty and Ian Maatsen’s thunderbolt completed a remarkable turnaround.&...Full Story »

Raiola pushing Pogba to join Real Madrid Real Madrid have emerged as the most likely destination for Paul Pogba, El Nacional reports. The midfielder could leave Manchester United for free at the end of the season when his contract expires. His agent, Mino Raiola, is trying to convince him to join the Spanish giants because their rivals Barcelona cannot afford to sign him, but Paris Saint-Germ...Full Story »

Adam Lewis has dropped out of the Livingston squad to face St Mirren in the cinch Premiership.The on-loan Liverpool player suffered a fractured metatarsal in training on Monday and faces 12 weeks out.Craig Sibbald (leg wound) and Jaze Kabia (knee) remain out while Scott Pittman is working to recover his fitness after injury.St Mirren’s Eamonn Brophy will be available for the trip to West L...Full Story »

Reece James will miss Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Southampton due to continued ankle trouble.Boss Thomas Tuchel also revealed the full-back would miss next week’s World Cup qualifiers with England, despite having been called up to Gareth Southgate’s squad this week.Mason Mount is fit after a minor knock, but N’Golo Kante (self-isolation) and Christian Pulisic (ank...Full Story »

Millwall manager Gary Rowett admitted his side’s 1-0 victory over Bristol City was the lift they needed after a frustrating run of draws.The Lions had settled for a point in their last four Championship games, and six of their previous nine in the league this season, but they were able to celebrate victory at last thanks to Jed Wallace’s penalty.After what was just their second leagu...Full Story »

Neil Warnock is delighted he answered Sol Bamba’s call for a “favour” in the summer after the cancer survivor helped Middlesbrough shut out Sheffield United and secure a valuable 2-0 Sky Bet Championship victory.Duncan Watmore’s sumptuous eighth-minute opener and Paddy McNair’s thumped finish seven minutes before the break delivered just a third win of the season fo...Full Story »

Neil Warnock will hope to have midfielder Matt Crooks available for the visit of Sheffield United on Tuesday night.The 27-year-old was sent off in the late stages of their 1-0 loss to Reading after a challenge on goalkeeper Luke Southwood but referee Peter Bankes later admitted he ‘made a mistake’ and Boro have lodged an appeal against the red card.Marc Bola played 90 minutes on Satu...Full Story »

Joe Ralls will miss out once again for Cardiff’s game against West Brom at the Cardiff City Stadium.The 27-year-old midfielder has not featured since Cardiff’s 2-1 loss to Bristol City last month because of an ongoing groin issue which will keep him out for at least another fortnight.Lee Tomlin has yet to feature for the Bluebirds this term after being riddled with injuries throughou...Full Story »

Mansfield had Tyrese Sinclair sent off for violent conduct as they fought out a goalless draw with high-flying Leyton Orient at Brisbane Road.The Stags were awarded a free-kick with five minutes remaining but Sinclair kicked out at Theo Archibald.That led to a heated confrontation between players from both sides which ended with a red for Sinclair.Orient’s Shad Ogie and Alex Mitchell and M...Full Story »