Jacob Whitehead and Luke Bosher
April 3, 2022 at 11:20 AM EDT
April 3, 2022 at 11:20 AM EDT
Laporta: ‘The agreement with Spotify is bigger than any other in Barca history’
Barcelona’s partnership with Spotify was ratified today at an extraordinary meeting of delegate members, with 89 per cent of the 909 participants voting in favour. The deal was announced two weeks ago.
“Due to a confidentiality clause, applicable in all of Spotify’s global agreement, we cannot give exact figures but what we can say is that its is the best jersey and stadium agreement in financial terms that FC Barcelona has received,” Laporta said earlier today.
“The name of Spotify will appear associated with the stadium for the next 12 seasons at least.”
Spotify will appear on the front of the Barcelona men’s and women’s team shirts starting next season for four years. The streaming giant will also sponsor the training shirts from next campaign for three years.
(Photo: Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
April 3, 2022 at 10:57 AM EDT
It finishes 2-1 to West Ham
Another away defeat for Everton.
They have won just six points away from home this season, the lowest in the Premier League.
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
April 3, 2022 at 10:32 AM EDT
Qatar want to avoid a repeat of Euro 2020 final scenes
And no wonder.
But it means fans cannot travel to Qatar without already having tickets for games.
More on this story below.
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
April 3, 2022 at 9:51 AM EDT
HT: West Ham 1-0 Everton
And what a goal it was from Liverpool fan Aaron Cresswell.
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
April 3, 2022 at 9:29 AM EDT
Postecoglou on that huge win for Celtic
The Celtic manager Postecoglou said to Sky Sports: “I was really proud of the players. It’s a difficult place to come to and they got off to a great start. In those kind of conditions, everything’s in their favour, and it’s going to take a massive effort for us to turn it around.
“The one thing people have overlooked is a real steel to this team. We had to show that, Rangers were at it and the crowd was behind them.
“It’s three points and there’s another three points next week. We’ll just keep accumulating them until it means something.”
That 2-1 win at Ibrox sees Celtic six points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
(Photo: Rob Casey/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
April 3, 2022 at 9:05 AM EDT
News: Ricketts Family present Chelsea fans with eight-point plan for club’s future
They say that they will never participate in a European Super League, and have committed to keeping the club at Stamford Bridge.
The Ricketts Family are one of the four shortlisted bidders to buy Chelsea, and also own the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Roman Abramovich put the club up for sale after being sanctioned by the UK government last month.
Financial backing has also been added by hedge fund manager Ken Griffin, and Rock Entertainment Group, headed by Dan Gilbert.
Some Chelsea fans have been critical of the Ricketts’ attempt to buy the club. There was a protest against their potential ownership ahead of Chelsea’s 4-1 loss to Brentford on Saturday.
That afternoon, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust released a statement that the Ricketts family’s bid was not “in the best interests” of the team.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 8:57 AM EDT
FT: Rangers 1-2 Celtic
A huge win at Ibrox for Celtic, who go six points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Cameron Carter-Vickers’ goal at the end of the first half the difference.
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 8:56 AM EDT
Late change for Everton!
Donny van de Beek pulls up injured in the warm-up, to be replaced by Mason Holgate. Hardly like-for-like…
Jacob Whitehead
🤕 | A late change to the XI – Mason Holgate replaces Donny van de Beek, who picked up an injury in the warm-up.
The Blues are without Seamus Coleman (illness), Nathan Patterson and André Gomes (both injury) this afternoon. #WHUEVE
— Everton (@Everton) April 3, 2022
April 3, 2022 at 8:53 AM EDT
Everton and West Ham name teams
Five changes after Everton’s loss to Crystal Palace two weeks ago, with Anthony Gordon dropped, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin starting.
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 8:23 AM EDT
News: Kick-off to second-half of Old Firm derby delayed after broken glass thrown on pitch
Kick-off to the second-half of the Old Firm derby between Rangers and Celtic was delayed after a broken glass bottle was thrown onto the Ibrox pitch.
The bottle, which had shattered into several sharp shards, was cleared out of Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart’s penalty area by Rangers ground staff.
The restart was delayed by around five minutes.
Celtic had come from behind to lead the crucial title clash 2-1 at half-time. They began the day three points clear of Rangers at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
More here.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 7:45 AM EDT
Rangers 1-2 Celtic!
Cameron Carter-Vickers with a crucial goal! There’s a ricochet in the box, and Carter-Vickers fires home with his left foot through a pile of bodies.
Big fist-pump from Ange Postecoglou.
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 7:25 AM EDT
News: Ukraine midfielder asks FIFA to further postpone WC qualifier against Scotland
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 7:09 AM EDT
Rangers 1-1 Celtic!
Wow! Brilliant by Callum McGregor to worm into the Rangers area, and Tom Rogic eventually converts after several blocked shots. What a start it’s been!
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 7:06 AM EDT
Rangers 1-0 Celtic!
What a start for Rangers and Aaron Ramsey!
Ryan Kent gets free down the left, directs a one-touch cross towards penalty spot, and Ramsey clips it home. Joe Hart got a hand to it, but it still squirmed through.
Ibrox is rocking, and Ramsey’s career in Glasgow has lift-off.
Jacob Whitehead
GOAL RANGERS!
Aaron Ramsey opens the scoring inside three minutes after great play from Bassey to play in Kent.
What a start.
— Jordan Campbell (@JordanC1107) April 3, 2022
April 3, 2022 at 6:54 AM EDT
Rangers vs Celtic line-ups
Aaron Ramsey starts for Rangers, while there’s no Kyogo Furuhashi in the Celtic squad.
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 6:40 AM EDT
Man Utd name team for WSL clash with Brighton
They beat Everton 3-1 last time out. Can they keep the good times rolling against a dangerous Brighton side?
Marc Skinner has named a strong XI.
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 6:01 AM EDT
News: Sergio Ramos back in PSG squad after two months out with calf injury
Paris Saint-Germain defender Sergio Ramos is set to return to action after over two months out with a troublesome calf injury.
The 36-year-old has been included in a 22-man squad to face FC Lorient at 19.45 on Sunday evening.
PSG have also revealed that Angel Di Maria will miss the game against Lorient with a muscle injury, while the match comes too early for Marco Verratti’s return, who will resume training this week.
Ramos last featured for PSG on January 23, scoring his first goal for the club in a 4-0 win over Stade Reims.
He joined from Real Madrid last summer, but has endured an injury-ravaged spell in the French capital so far, making only five appearances across all competitions.
More here.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
April 3, 2022 at 5:27 AM EDT
The Afghan Women’s football team sheltering in the north of England
“Najma was a natural. Before she knew it she was playing as a defender with the Afghanistan national team’s development squad.
“What Najma did not know at the time of taking up football as a hobby was that playing the game would soon endanger her life and the lives of those around her. When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, it forced Najma and her team-mates to flee the country. The previous time the Taliban ruled, women were banned from sports and the fear was that if the players and their families stayed put they would have been killed.”
By Caoimhe O’Neill.
Jacob Whitehead
GO FURTHER
‘They don’t have to worry about getting killed because they are female or footballers. This is the best feeling’