Football

A look at the top performers from high school football games across the Southland this week.

RUSHING

• Matix Frithsmith, Hart: Rushed for 160 yards and scored four touchdowns in win over Golden Valley.

• Kayden Phillips, Anaheim Canyon: Rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns in win over St. Margret’s.

• Tru Warrior Casas, Fairfax: Rushed for 367 yards and four touchdowns in win over Westchester.

• AJ McBean, Gardena Serra: Rushed for 266 yards and three touchdowns in loss to Bishop Amat.

• Semaj Welch, Inglewood: Rushed for 151 yards and one touchdown in win over Mira Costa.

• Ceasar Reyes, Garfield: Rushed for 374 yards and five touchdowns in 39 carries in win over Bell.

• William Bryant, Chino Hills: Rushed for 142 yards and one touchdown in win over Damien.

• Christian Reis, Palos Verdes: Rushed for 117 yards and three touchdowns in win over Long Beach Millikan.

• Maliq Allen, St. John Bosco: Rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns in win over JSerra.

• Amir Morton, Crespi: Rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns in win vs. La Salle.

• Moyosoreoluwa Odebunmi, Cleveland: Rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns in win over Birmingham.

• Ryan Christianson, Orange Lutheran: Rushed for 114 yards and four touchdowns in win over Servite.

• Eric Wright, South East: Rushed for 155 yards and one touchdown in loss to Huntington Park.

PASSING

• Tahj Skinner, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame: Passed for three touchdowns, returned an interception for a touchdown in win over Chaminade.

• Dominic Golia, West Torrance: Passed for 277 yards and four touchdowns in win over North Torrance.

• Jaden Jefferson, Corona Centennial: Passed for 219 yards and four touchdowns in win over Vista Murrieta.

• Dane Weber, Chaparral: In his first appearance of the season because of injury, passed for 200 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 120 yards and one touchdown in win over Murrieta Valley.

• Trevor Scott, Long Beach Poly: Passed for 289 yards and five touchdowns in sophomore debut during a win over Lakewood.

• Seth Solorio, San Pedro: Completed 13 of 17 passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns in win over Banning.

• Reagan Toki, Orange Lutheran: Passed for 250 yards and three touchdowns in win over Servite.

• Eiler King, San Juan Hills: Passed for 473 yards and seven touchdowns in win over Los Alamitos.

• Talon Spencer, Capistrano Valley: Passed for two touchdowns, ran for two touchdowns in win over La Habra.

• Chase Curren, Crespi: Completed 10 of 11 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns in win over La Salle.

• Dominik Hardy, Calabasas: Passed for 255 yards and one touchdown in win over Oak Park.

RECEIVING

• Michael Farinas, Chaparral: Caugh four passes for 130 yards and one touchdown in win over Murrieta Valley.

• Braeden Villegas, San Pedro: Caught four passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns in win over Banning.

• Raiden Velasquez, Orange Lutheran: Caught four passes for 153 yards and three touchdowns in win over Servite.

• Luke Frith, San Juan Hills: Caught eight passes for 197 yards and three touchdowns in win over Los Alamitos.

• Mica Weaver, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame: Caught touchdown passes of 50 and 51 yards in win over Chaminade.

• Kingston Celifie, Calabasas: Caught eight passes for 103 yards vs. Oak Park.

DEFENSE

• Xavier Brooks, Laguna Beach: Recorded two sacks and blocked a field goal in win over Troy.

• Turner Odell, Chino Hills: Returned two interceptions for touchdowns in win over Damien.

• Evan Rojas, Los Altos: Returned an interception for a touchdown and rushed for 98 yards in win over West Covina.

• Dorian Franklin, St. John Bosco: Had two interceptions in win over JSerra.

• Isaia Vandermade, Santa Margarita: Had two of his team’s seven sacks in win over Mater Dei.

• Maddox Mataele, Mission Viejo: Had two sacks in win over Edison.

• Adonis Washington, South East: Had nine solo tackles vs. Huntington Park.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Colin Elia, Temecula Valley: Made three field goals, including a 49-yarder, and had two punts that landed inside the 10-yard line in win over Corona Santiago.

• Jake Martin, Santa Margarita: Blocked one field goal, pressured to force another miss in win over Mater Dei.

• Oliver White, Crespi: Returned kickoff 88 yards for touchdown and had six tackles in win over La Salle.

Cristiano Ronaldo withdrew from the Portugal squad, but Bruno Fernandes says forward remains team’s ‘greatest symbol’.

Portugal playmaker Bruno Fernandes said Cristiano Ronaldo remains the country’s greatest footballing icon despite walking out on the squad this week after finding out he would not start a match.

The 41-year-old superstar said on Wednesday that he had left the team after coach Jorge Jesus said he would not start against Denmark in the Nations League, a match Portugal won 4-2 without him.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United attacker’s future with the national team, for whom he is the leading goalscorer and most capped player, is in doubt after his walkout.

“Regarding Cristiano, I had a conversation with him, and what I told him, and what I repeat here, is this – the most important thing is that, regardless of what happens, Cristiano Ronaldo will never cease to be the greatest symbol of our national team, of our football, and of the country, for what he has done not only in Portugal but throughout the world,” Fernandes told reporters on Saturday.

Manchester United midfielder Fernandes called for unity after a tumultuous few days in which Portugal fans’ opinions have been split over Ronaldo’s decision.

“He has a reserved place not only among the best of all time, but also in the hearts of all Portuguese people and the most important thing is that we stop dividing things,” said Fernandes.

“There are no divisions in the national team, it is one and will remain so, despite any noise that may come from outside…

“We are outside of this controversy, but what I ask is that the country does not divide itself, does not make choices, that it respects all sides, but, at the same time, Cris is and will be the biggest icon of our national team, he deserves everyone’s respect, regardless of who likes him more or (who likes him) less.”

Portugal beat Norway and Denmark away from home without Ronaldo starting and face Norway again on Sunday.

Coach Jesus said Ronaldo was a “symbol of Portugal” and said there would be time to speak about him after Sunday’s game in Porto.

“I’m going to focus on the team, on the opponent which is Norway, one of the five best teams in Europe. That’s the problem right now,” said the 72-year-old coach.

Who: Portugal vs Norway
What: UEFA Nations League 2026-27, Group A4 match
Where: Estadio do Dragao, Porto, Portugal
When: Sunday, October 4, at 8:45pm local time (18:45 GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from 15:45 GMT.

For the second time in a week, Portugal and Norway clash in the UEFA Nations League. But this time, things are not quite the same in the Selecao camp.

Sunday’s fixture in Porto will see the Nations League title holders play without their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo, after the 41-year-old abruptly left their camp, raising questions about his international future.

Ronaldo’s dramatic exit and apparent rift with new coach Jorge Jesus have dominated headlines worldwide. Portuguese players have largely blocked the outside noise, however, maintaining a perfect record at the tournament where they are chasing a record-extending third crown.

Opponents Norway have won just one match, despite boasting a talented side that defied expectations with a historic quarterfinal finish at this year’s FIFA World Cup.

However, their striker Erling Haaland – one of Europe’s most lethal players – poses enough danger to put Portugal under pressure ahead of this weekend’s thrilling encounter.

What is the UEFA Nations League?

The UEFA Nations League was founded in 2018 to reduce the number of meaningless friendlies and give nations competitive matches against top-ranked teams.

In this competition, countries from across Europe participate in a league structure which features promotion and relegation.

What is the latest news on Cristiano Ronaldo?

Ronaldo left the squad late on Wednesday, shortly after a news conference in which coach Jesus confirmed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner would be left out of his starting line-up for a second consecutive Nations League game.

The 41-year-old’s decision to walk out came as a shock as he had been due to train with his teammates at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen.

Portugal’s leading scorer with 146 goals had already spent the entirety of last weekend’s 2-1 Nations League win in Norway on the bench, having captained the side in the 1-0 home victory over Wales last Thursday.

He appeared to indicate that the reasons behind Jesus’s decision ran deeper and hinted at a departure from the national team he has graced for more than two decades.

“In due course, I will tell the truth to all the Portuguese people about my reasons for leaving the national team, to which I have always been dedicated,” Ronaldo said in a cryptic Instagram post, announcing his sudden exit from the camp.

Spanish sports daily Marca said that Jesus and Portuguese federation president Pedro Proenca followed Ronaldo to Copenhagen airport in an attempt to persuade him to stay with the squad, before the player boarded his private jet.

Jesus insisted earlier on Wednesday that there was no rift between them, although the 72-year-old, who was appointed in July, acknowledged that his captain was disappointed to remain on the bench against Norway.

How have Portugal and Norway played in the Nations League?

Portugal are on top of Group A4 on nine points, with three wins out of three. They started their campaign with a 1-0 home win over Wales, before adding a 2-1 victory over Norway in Oslo. In the last match, they thrashed Denmark 4-2 in Copenhagen.

Norway are second-bottom in the group, with only three points. They started their campaign with a 3-2 home win over fellow Scandinavians Denmark but suffered identical 2-1 defeats at home to Portugal and to Wales in Cardiff.

When did Portugal and Norway last meet?

They met in matchday two of this year’s Nations League, with Portugal beating Norway 2-1 in Oslo.

Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos scored for Portugal, while Haaland struck the consolation goal for Norway.

Portugal vs Norway: Head-to-head

• Matches: 12
• Portugal wins: 9
• Norway wins: 1
• Draws: 2

Portugal vs Norway: Form guide

(Last five games, latest results first)

Portugal: W-W-W-L-W

Norway: L-L-W-L-W

Who are the top players to watch?

Joao Felix and Goncalo Ramos (Portugal): Al Nassr forward Felix has emerged as the reliable scorer in the Portugal setup, finding the net in each of the three games this term. Meanwhile, Ramos, playing in place of Ronaldo, has made up for CR7’s absence with goals in the last two matches.

Erling Haaland and Oscar Bobb (Norway): All of Norway’s goals in the ongoing competition have come through Haaland (three) and Bobb (two). While their partnership proved successful in the opening match, their goals were not enough in the following matches, as the Norwegians suffered back-to-back defeats. Norwegians will demand better from Haaland, especially after the Manchester City talisman’s incredible start to the club season that features seven goals in as many games.

Team news and predicted lineups

Portugal

Winger Francisco Conceicao is doubtful for the game due to a thigh injury.

Probable Portugal XI: Diogo Costa; Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes; Ruben Neves, Vitinha; Pedro Neto, Bruno Fernandes, Rafael Leao; Goncalo Ramos

Norway

Wing-back Julian Ryerson is doubtful with a muscle injury, while centre-back Torbjorn Heggem is suspended.

Probable Norway XI: Orjan Nyland; Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem, David Moller Wolfe; Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Patrick Berg; Oscar Bobb, Erling Haaland, Antonio Nusa

Portugal vs Norway: TV channel, livestreaming

• Portugal
• Norway
• United Kingdom: ITV1
• United States: FOX Sports, FuboTV, ViX
• India: Sony Sports Network
• Middle East and North Africa: beIN SPORTS
• South Africa: DStv Stream

You can find your regional broadcaster on UEFA’s official broadcaster listing.

Israeli journalists asked coach Hallgrimsson about the Flydubai attack and alleged racist abuse by Ireland’s players.

Members of an Israeli media contingent heckled Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson’s news conference prior to the UEFA Nations League football match, causing it to end abruptly amid growing political tensions and protests against the fixture.

During the media event on Saturday, an Israeli journalist asked Hallgrimsson about his views on an incident onboard a Flydubai flight to Israel earlier this week.

According to the prosecutor general of the United Arab Emirates, the Flydubai co-pilot “attempted to carry out a terrorist act”, using an axe against the pilot to take over the aircraft’s controls.

The plane carrying 174 passengers was on its way from the Dubai in the UAE to Tel Aviv in Israel on Wednesday when the copilot wounded Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who opened the cockpit door to seek help.

The aircraft briefly plunged about 17,000 feet (5,180 metres) before it was brought back under control.

The attacker was not officially identified, but media reports quoting unnamed sources said he was an Omani national, Hamam al-Hammami.

“What do you say about the people that you support? Their ideology is based on murder,” the journalist asked, purportedly hinting at Ireland’s stance on Palestine and attempting to link it to the aviation incident.

Before the Irish team’s coach could answer, the Football Association of Ireland’s communications manager Kieran Crowley stepped in and asked the journalist to refrain from asking questions not linked to the match.

The journalist persisted, carrying on with her question before Crowley stopped her again.

“We respected your questions at the last press conference, but we are doing football questions today,” he said, referring to Israeli journalists’ pointed questions about the calls to boycott the first leg of the European match.

Icelandic coach Hallgrimsson later termed the incident a “verbal attack”.

‘You’ve just broadcast a lie’

The first leg of the fixture was played on September 27 and the FAI faced strong calls for a boycott from the Irish public and former players. The match went ahead and Ireland beat Israel 3-0 amid a tense atmosphere on the pitch.

Following the match, Israeli supporters were accused of directing racist chants towards Ireland player Adam Idah and were filmed raising military slogans, but evaded disciplinary action from the competition’s organisers.

However, another Israeli journalist turned the incident on its head during Saturday’s news conference and accused the Irish team of calling Israel’s players “monkeys” during the match.

FAI’s Crowley was quick to shut out the accusation and ended the media event.

“That’s a lie. You’ve just broadcast a lie,” Crowley said before getting up to walk away.

According to Irish media reports, the FAI is continuing to investigate allegations that Irish players Adam Idah and James Abankwah were racially abused by Israeli fans.

An Israeli supporter also led chants about his country’s military from the stands as he attempted to brush aside the team’s drubbing on the football pitch.

The day before the first leg, goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu publicly withdrew, saying he felt “it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel”.

The second leg will be played at the TSC Arena in Backa Topola in Serbia on Sunday.

Ireland’s Hallgrimsson termed it “a game with a lot of emotions attached to it”.

He said the team was focused on winning the second leg as well.

“There’s been a lot of emotions from the people in Ireland about this and obviously that affects the players as well. We want to do good, but it’s always going to be a challenge when the environment is as noisy as it is.”

EXPLAINER

Real Madrid accuse Barcelona of paying former refereeing official Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira between 2001 and 2018.

Real Madrid have urged UEFA to conclude its ongoing investigation into the Negreira case with “utmost urgency” after European football’s governing body confirmed receiving a dossier from them on Thursday.

The case pertains to Barcelona football club allegedly paying millions of dollars to the company of Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, the former vice president of Spanish football’s refereeing committee, between 2001 and 2018, to try to influence referee decisions.

Barcelona have denied any wrongdoing or conflict of interest and said they paid him for reports and advice related to refereeing.

Thursday’s statement by UEFA was the latest update in its investigation into the payments opened in 2023, while there is an ongoing Spanish criminal case as well.

Here’s everything you need to know about the case:

What is the Real Madrid vs Barcelona Negreira case?

Barcelona allegedly paid more than 7.3 million euros ($7.95m) between 2001 and 2018 to firms owned by Negreira, who was vice president of the refereeing committee of the Spanish football association from 1993-2018.

In March 2023, Spanish prosecutors formally charged Barcelona as well as two of the club’s former presidents, Josep Maria Bartomeu and Sandro Rosell, and Negreira and his son, Javier Enriquez Negreira, with corruption over the affair.

Barcelona was accused of corruption in sports, fraudulent management and the falsification of mercantile documentation; it denies any wrongdoing and says the payments were made for technical refereeing reports.

In June 2023, UEFA’s investigators decided that Barcelona would not face any punishment, and the club has continued to play in European competition since then.

What are Real Madrid’s accusations against Barcelona?

Real Madrid have primarily accused Barcelona of sports corruption and influencing refereeing decisions through payments to Negreira.

The club joined the complaint filed by Spanish prosecutors against Barcelona and expressed their “deep concern about the seriousness of the facts”.

According to reports in Spanish media, Real Madrid have requested that Barcelona be stripped of the nine titles they won between 2001 and 2018, the years in which the Catalan club paid Negreira.

What have UEFA, Real Madrid, and Barcelona said?

All three entities issued separate statements on Thursday night.

• UEFA: The governing body confirmed receiving a “substantial amount of documents” — reportedly worth 50,000 pages — from Real Madrid pertaining to the investigation. “The UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspectors have also received these latest documents which they will assess as part of their ongoing review,” it said in a statement.
• Real Madrid: The club issued its statement following UEFA’s announcement and confirmed that it had provided “extensive documentation and evidence regarding events of extraordinary seriousness, which directly affect the integrity of the competition and confidence in the refereeing system.” It urged that UEFA’s investigation proceed with “utmost urgency until its full conclusion” now that the dossier has been handed over.
• Barcelona: Accused party Barcelona issued a statement clarifying that the latest development pertains to the same ongoing investigation, and that “proceedings have not been reopened because they have never been closed.” “As of today, they have not made any new requests to FC Barcelona nor have they forwarded Real Madrid’s complaint to the Club. Should they do so, the Club will respond accordingly, as it has done up to now.”

What else is going on between Real Madrid and Barcelona?

Some reports in Spain claim that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and FC Barcelona have been summoned to appear before a Madrid court on November 25 for a conciliation hearing ahead of possible criminal proceedings for defamation against Perez.

The hearing follows legal action launched by Barcelona on June 12 over comments made by Perez in May in the Negreira case.

Barcelona said the action was intended to force Perez to retract statements it described as knowingly false, defamatory and damaging to the club’s image and reputation.

The club warned that if the conciliation process failed, it would file a criminal complaint.

The dispute centres on comments Perez made at a May 12 news conference concerning the so-called Negreira case.

Perez described the affair as “the most serious case of corruption in football”, adding: “We could never have imagined Barcelona giving money to the head of the referees.”

He also claimed Real Madrid had been denied league titles, saying: “I’ve won seven leagues. I could have won twice as many. The others were stolen from me.”

Neither entity has issued any statement since UEFA acknowledged receiving Real Madrid’s dossier on Thursday.

Will the case have an impact on El Clasico?

The Spanish football giants will meet in the first leg of El Clasico on October 25 in La Liga. The case will have no bearing on the scheduling of the match but could provide an added touch of drama to what is known as one of the most bitter football rivalries in club football.

Oct. 2, 2026 10:01 PM PT

A look at how the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland fared this week:

Rk. School (record) result; Next game

1. SANTA MARGARITA (6-0) def. Mater Dei, 14-7; vs. Servite, Friday

2. ST. JOHN BOSCO (5-1) def. JSerra, 40-14; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday

3. SIERRA CANYON (6-0) def. Loyola, 41-0; at Gardena Serra, Friday

4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (3-3) def. Vista Murrieta, 65-14; vs. Murietta Valley, Friday

5. MATER DEI (4-2) lost to Santa Margarita, 14-7; at JSerra, Friday

6. MISSION VIEJO (4-1) def. Huntington Beach Edison, 42-14; at Yorba Linda, Thursday

7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (4-2) def. Servite, 56-21; at St. John Bosco, Friday

8. SAN CLEMENTE (6-0) def. Yorba Linda, 28-0; at Los Alamitos, Friday

9 . CHAMINADE (5-1) lost to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 28-21; at Bishop Amat, Friday

10. PALOS VERDES (6-0) def. Long Beach Millikan, 42-7; vs. Inglewood, Friday

11. JSERRA (4-2) lost to St. John Bosco, 40-14; vs. Mater Dei, Friday

12. SERVITE (3-3) lost to Orange Lutheran, 56-21; at Santa Margarita, Friday

13. CORONA DEL MAR (6-0) def. Villa Park, 24-10; vs. Tustin, Friday

14. BISHOP AMAT (5-1) def. Gardena Serra, 27-26; vs. Chaminade, Friday

15. LA SERNA (5-1) def. Warren, 27-3; vs. La Mirada, Friday

16. CREAN LUTHERAN (4-2) def. Tustin, 21-7; vs. Capistrano Valley, Friday

17. CARSON (5-1) def. Gardena, 57-0; at Banning, Friday

18. OXNARD PACIFICA (5-1) def. Oaks Christian, 38-17; at Newbury Park, Friday

19. GARDENA SERRA (3-3) lost to Bishop Amat, 27-26; vs. Sierra Canyon, Friday

20. TUSTIN (4-2) lost to Crean Lutheran, 21-7; at Corona del Mar, Friday

21. LA HABRA (5-1) lost to Capistrano Valley, 42-10; vs. Villa Park, Friday

22. HUNTINGTON BEACH (6-0) def. El Modena, 24-21; at Dana Hills, Friday

23. YORBA LINDA (4-2) lost to San Clemente, 28-0; vs. Mission Viejo, Thursday

24. SAN JACINTO (6-0) def. Temescal Canyon, 49-0; vs. Tahquitz, Friday

25. ORANGE (6-0) def. El Dorado, 42-14; vs. Segerstrom, Friday

Liverpool forward Federico Chiesa is on the radar of a trio of Serie A clubs, Man City striker Erling Haaland is more likely to join Barcelona than Arsenal if he leaves the club, Brentford‘s Michael Kayode is wanted by Juventus.

Inter Milan, Lazio and Atalanta are interested in signing Liverpool‘s Federico Chiesa, 28, with the Italian forward ready to leave Anfield in January. (Calciomercato – in Italian), external

Arsenal have the finances to sign Erling Haaland, 26, from Manchester City, but the Norway striker is more likely to join Barcelona than the Gunners. (Teamtalk), external

Juventus remain keen on Brentford‘s 22-year-old Italian right-back Michael Kayode. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Barcelona’s Spanish forward Dani Olmo, 28, does not want to leave despite links with Arsenal, Chelsea and clubs in the Saudi Pro-League. (Caughtoffside), external

Tottenham and Liverpool are monitoring Brighton‘s Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma over a possible January move for the 29-year-old who is out of contract next summer. (Teamtalk), external

Mexico attacking midfielder Gilberto Mora, 17, would prefer to join Real Madrid or Barcelona over Liverpool if he leaves Club Tijuana next year. (Football Insider), external

Barcelona are keeping tabs on Italy-born Germany Under-21 striker Nicolo Tresoldi, 22, who continues to impress for Club Brugge. (Sport – in Spanish), external

Ex-Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is planning to attend the club’s Champions League game with Paris St-Germain on 14 October in a show of support to his troubled former club. (Express), external

Groups of fans forced through entrances, damaging a gate at the teams’ CONCACAF Nations League match in Santo Domingo.

The Dominican Republic has banned Haiti’s national football team from playing at its sports venues after crowd trouble at a CONCACAF Nations League match between the two island neighbours.

Sports Minister Kelvin Cruz announced the ban after incidents before the match on Thursday night at the entrances to the Felix Sanchez Olympic Stadium in Santo Domingo.

Video posted on social media showed groups of fans forcing some entrances, with one gate damaged.

“What we saw yesterday with a gate at the Felix Sanchez, a sports facility that has cost millions and millions of pesos to make it shine, is unacceptable,” Cruz said, citing a zero-tolerance policy on indiscipline.

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader backed the decision, saying: “The position of the Sports Minister is the position of the Government.”

Haiti’s ⁠embassy in Santo Domingo said the remarks, made “in the heat of competition and the intensity characteristic of sporting events”, did not reflect the position of ⁠the Haitian government and thanked Dominican authorities for the event.

“Sporting ⁠rivalries must not call into question relations of good neighborliness and mutual respect that must prevail between the two states,” the embassy said in a statement.

In a post on X after the match, the federation called it a “beautiful night for Haiti, beautiful night for the island we share”, adding: “On the field, competition; off the field, respect for the neighbor.”

Haiti won the match 4-1, with Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor scoring twice. The win gave Haiti nine points in Group A, while the Dominican Republic remained on six points. Haiti play Costa Rica in San Jose on Sunday.

Isidor was filmed saying: “Hispaniola is Haiti.” Hispaniola is the Caribbean island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which have long clashed over migration and border security.

Dominican Football Federation president Jose Deschamps called Isidor’s remark “a lack of respect for national sovereignty” and said the federation would file a complaint with FIFA and CONCACAF.

Abinader’s government has stepped up deportations of undocumented Haitians since October 2024, when it pledged to deport up to 10,000 people a week.

Sport has been drawn into the neighbours’ disputes before.

In 2023, after Abinader shut the border in a dispute over a Haitian canal on the shared Massacre River, Haiti’s sports ministry ordered its football federation to stop staging national team matches in the Dominican Republic.

EXPLAINER

Heavyweights England play away to Croatia, with captain Harry Kane going up against veteran Luka Modric.

Who: Croatia vs England
What: UEFA Nations League 2026-27, Group A3 match
Where: Rujevica Stadium, Rijeka, Croatia
When: Saturday, October 3, at 6pm local time (16:00 GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from 13:00 GMT

Action in the Nations League continues this weekend with a matchday three tie between Croatia and England.

With a win and a defeat each, Croatia and England have both made a mixed start to this year’s competition.

Drawn in a group alongside the reigning world champions Spain and minnows Czechia, Croatia and England find themselves in an interesting yet challenging pool.

Captain Harry Kane has led from the front for the Three Lions, excelling in front of goal alongside winger Anthony Gordon, while Luka Modric continues to defy age, still playing a vital role in Croatia’s midfield even at 41.

Al Jazeera breaks down everything ahead of Croatia vs England:

What is the UEFA Nations League?

The UEFA Nations League was founded in 2018 to reduce the number of meaningless friendlies and give nations competitive matches against top-ranked teams.

In this competition, countries from across Europe participate in a league structure which features promotion and relegation.

How have Croatia and England played in the Nations League?

Both Croatia and England have won once and lost once.

Croatia started their Nations League campaign with a 2-1 win over Czechia in Prague before losing 4-1 to world champions Spain in Seville.

England, on the other hand, fell 3-2 to Spain in their campaign opener in London before beating a 10-man Czechia side 2-0 in Prague.

When did Croatia and England last meet?

They last met at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

England beat Croatia 4-2 in a World Cup group game on June 17 in Arlington, Texas. Captain Harry Kane scored a brace, while Marcus Rashford and Jude Bellingham scored a goal apiece.

Croatia vs England: Head-to-head

• Matches: 12
• Croatia wins: 3
• England wins: 7
• Draws: 2

Croatia vs England: Form guide

(Last five games, latest results first)

Croatia: L-W-L-W-W

England: W-L-W-L-W

Who are the top players to watch?

Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic (Croatia): The evergreen Modric, very much the heartbeat of the Croatian midfield even at 41 years old, scored the opening goal in their away win in Czechia. Time and again, the captain has pulled the strings in the middle of the park, proving age is just a number. His fellow experienced teammate, Perisic, is also chipping in style, bagging back-to-back assists.

Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon (England): The script for England has looked the same in the last two games: Gordon opens the scoring, and Kane follows suit. While that wasn’t enough to beat the mighty Spain, it did the job against Czechia. Can this dynamic duo strike again? The numbers swing in their favour – Gordon has five assists already for Barcelona this season, while Kane has scored six times for Bayern Munich.

Team news and predicted lineups

Croatia

Centre-back Martin Erlic is out injured until mid-October, and right-back Josip Juranovic is sidelined with illness.

Probable Croatia XI: Dominik Livakovic; Josip Stanisic, Luka Vuskovic, Josko Gvardiol, Ivan Perisic; Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic; Luka Sucic, Petar Sucic, Franjo Ivanovic; Dion Beljo

England

England are without left-back Nico O’Reilly, who withdrew from the squad with injury.

Probable England XI: James Trafford; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi, Lewis Hall; Elliot Anderson, Miles Lewis-Skelly; Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon; Harry Kane

Croatia vs England: TV channel, livestreaming

• Croatia: gol
• United Kingdom: ITV1
• United States: FOX Sports, FuboTV, ViX
• India: Sony Sports Network
• Middle East and North Africa: beIN SPORTS
• South Africa: DStv Stream

You can find your regional broadcaster on UEFA’s official broadcaster listing.

Italy’s Alessandro Bastoni cancels out Michael Olise’s opener for France in 1-1 UEFA Nations League draw in Saint-Denis.

Michael Olise scored another superb goal but France were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy on Friday in Zinedine Zidane’s first home game since being appointed coach of Les Bleus.

Four days after coming off the bench to score a stunning solo effort to give France a 1-0 win in Belgium, Bayern Munich star Olise again showcased his spectacular talent by smashing a shot in off the crossbar from a free kick early in the second half.

However, Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni equalised for Italy midway through the second half to prevent Zidane from making it three wins out of three in charge of his country.

France, who had defender Dayot Upamecano sent off late on, lead UEFA Nations League Group A1 with seven points, with Belgium just behind on six points after a 3-0 win over Turkiye.

France and Belgium meet on Monday in their last match of this two-week international window. Italy have four points before hosting Turkiye next.

Zidane was the focus of attention as his home debut, before a packed crowd of 77,118 at the Stade de France just outside Paris, came against the same opponents as in his final game as a player.

The now 54-year-old icon and former Ballon d’Or winner never played again after being sent off for an infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin, which Italy won on penalties.

It was a first appearance for the former Real Madrid playmaker at France’s national stadium since he played in a friendly against Mexico in May 2006, winning his 100th cap in the process.

Beyond the spotlight on his past, Zidane is trying to stamp his mark on the France team in this Nations League campaign, with one eye on the next major tournament, Euro 2028.

He was again without captain Kylian Mbappe here with the Real striker having returned to his club after suffering a knee injury while scoring the winner in Turkiye last week.

Olise returned to the starting lineup in one of six changes from the Belgium game, but new faces Jeremy Jacquet, the Liverpool defender, and Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha again played.

Italy are rebuilding under Roberto Mancini, who has returned for a second spell as coach of a nation who have failed to qualify for the last three World Cups.

They will be the happier of the two teams with the draw in this game, although they had goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Donnarumma to thank for keeping them in it with a host of saves in the second half.

Moise Kean should have given Italy an early lead after a sweeping move, only for his disappointing finish to be saved by Mike Maignan.

Davide Frattesi also came close in the first half while Kean had a goal disallowed for offside, as an Olise cross that landed on the bar was as close as France came.

The hosts turned up the volume after the break and Donnarumma saved from Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele and Olise before the latter crashed in the opener on 55 minutes when Rayan Cherki laid off a dead ball.

However, Bastoni caught Da Cunha in possession just outside the France box and was left with an easy finish to pull the visitors level.

Donnarumma, formerly of Paris Saint-Germain, then produced more magic to save from Adrien Rabiot and twice from Eduardo Camavinga, before Upamecano walked for a second yellow on 85 minutes.

WEDNESDAY’S RESULTS

City Section

Arleta 20, North Hollywood 6

Birmingham 8, Cleveland 7

Eagle Rock 39, Verdugo Hills 0

Fremont 29, Hawkins 6

GALA 35, Hawkins 0

GALA 18, Fremont 0

Granada Hills Kennedy 32, El Camino Real 20

Locke 19, New Designs University Park 6

Manual Arts 6, Los Angeles 0

MSAR 37, Valor Academy 0

Narbonne 28, Los Angeles Wilson 26

North Hollywood 36, Arleta 21

Port of Los Angeles 14, Crenshaw 13

SOCES 40, AMIT 0

South Gate 19, Maywood Academy 0

Taft 19, Chatsworth 12

Venice 13, Los Angeles Marshall 6

View Park 7, USC Hybrid 6

Southern Section

Adelanto 30, Indian Springs 0

Alemany 32, Louisville 8

Alhambra 27, Arroyo 0

Aliso Niguel 6, Mission Viejo 0

Arrowhead Christian 7, Woodcrest Christian 0

Azusa 25, Nogales 0

Baldwin Park 36, Duarte 0

Beckman 46, San Clemente 39

Bishop Amat 6, St. Mary’s Academy 6

Bishop Montgomery 68, Sacred Heart of Jesus 0

Buena Park 13, Katella 0

California 24, Mayfair 0

California Military Institute 25, Rim of the World 0

Cerritos 28, Santa Fe 0

Cerritos Valley Christian 47, Capistrano Valley Christian 0

Chino 13, Ontario 0

Compton 39, Dominguez 6

Corona del Mar 28, Marina 12

Cypress 13, Esperanza 12

Don Lugo 24, Chaffey 18

Downey 34, La Serna 20

Eastvale Roosevelt 22, Corona 18

El Rancho 26, San Gabriel 8

Fillmore 42, Bishop Diego 8

Flintridge Sacred Heart 49, Immaculate Heart 22

Gabrielino 13, La Canada 7

Garden Grove 28, La Palma Kennedy 21

Gardena Serra 71, St. Anthony 0

Godinez 12, Costa Mesa 7

Hacienda Heights Wilson 12, Rowland 0

Heritage 19, Elsinore 0

Huntington Beach 27, Edison 26

Irvine University 27, Laguna Beach 7

La Habra 18, Santa Ana Foothill 8

Lakewood St. Joseph 33, Fountain Valley 6

La Puente 27, Bassett 13

Linfield Christian 37, Aquinas 6

Long Beach Cabrillo 20, Compton Early College 0

Long Beach Poly 26, Long Beach Wilson 7

Magnolia 12, Century 6

Millikan 33, Lakewood 0

Montebello 12, El Monte 6

Monrovia 33, South Pasadena 0

Newport Harbor 29, Los Alamitos 0

North Torrance 12, El Segundo 0

Northview 14, Charter Oak 6

Ontario Christian 32, Riverside Notre Dame 6

Palos Verdes 32, Mira Costa 7

Panorama 39, Brentwood 0

Paramount 12, La Mirada 6

Patriot 27, La Sierra 7

Pioneer 21, Whitney 0

Pomona 12, Workman 0

Quartz Hill 26, Lancaster 0

Ramona Convent 40, Mary Star of the Sea 6

Rancho Alamitos 26, Estancia 13

Riverside King 74, San Jacinto 0

Rosary 13, Irvine 6

Rosemead 6, Mountain View 0

Saddleback 6, Los Amigos 2

Sage Hill 39, Northwood 7

San Juan Hills 45, Dana Hills 0

San Marino 45, Temple City 12

Santa Ana Valley 26, Bolsa Grande 18

Schurr 30, Bell Gardens 0

Segerstrom 32, Placentia Valencia 14

Sierra Canyon 31, Chaminade 0

Sierra Vista 7, Garey 6

Sonora 18, El Dorado 13

South El Monte 28, Keppel 0

St. Margaret’s 32, Newport Beach Pacifica Christian 7

St. Paul 38, Cantwell-Sacred heart 0

Troy 27, Brea Olinda 21

Tustin 16, Ocean View 0

Villa Park 19, El Modena 7

Warren 47, Bellflower 7

West Covina 19, Covina 0

Westminster 12, Laguna Hills 6

Westminster La Quinta 18, Garden Grove Santiago 6

Westridge 26, Chadwick 6

Whittier 27, Glenn 6

Woodbridge 48, Portola 12

Yorba Linda 27, Anaheim Canyon 0

Yucaipa 27, Citrus Valley 6

Intersectional

Eagle Rock 14, Vasquez 6

Panorama 39, Brentwood 0

Vasquez 38, Verdugo Hills 0

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

City Section

Contreras 26, Bernstein 6

Contreras 14, Hollywood 7

Elizabeth 6, Maywood Academy 0

Foshay 59, West Adams 0

Garfield 27, Bell 24

Jefferson 51, Diego Rivera 0

Los Angeles Hamilton 55, WISH Academy 0

Los Angeles Roosevelt 24, Legacy 12

Mendez 25, Roybal 12

Narbonne 56, Gardena 6

Palisades 7, Fairfax 6

RFK Community 27, Mendez 0

RFK Community 20, Roybal 0

San Pedro 13, Carson 12

Santa Paula 52, Bishop Diego 0

Santee 15, Los Angeles 0

Sotomayor 14, Marquez 0

Torres 0, Maywood CES 0

Venice 26, LACES 0

Westchester 8, Los Angeles University 6

Wilmington Banning 14, King/Drew 7

Southern Section

Antelope Valley 12, Eastside 6

Brentwood 33, Burbank Providence 6

Buena 24, Del Sol 12

Castaic 13, Valencia 6

Compton 6, Compton Early College 0

Gahr 14, California 6

Hart 32, Golden Valley 6

Hueneme 40, Cate 19

Inglewood 34, Culver City 7

JSerra 33, Sierra Canyon 12

Mater Dei 39, Beaumont 19

Moorpark 19, Royal 13

Oaks Christian 28, Newbury Park 22

Oxnard 25, Dos Pueblos 24

Oxnard Pacifica 20, Channel Islands 8

Palmdale 6, Knight 0

Redondo Union 19, Torrance 12

Santa Monica 21, Lawndale 0

Santa Paula 52, Bishop Diego 0

SEED: LA 25, Windward 6

Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 20, Chaminade 19

Simi Valley 27, Oak Park 25

South Torrance 28, Peninsula 0

St. Bonaventure 28, Fillmore 24

St. Margaret’s 38, Dana Hills 6

Tesoro 32, Capistrano Valley 12

Vasquez 30, Westridge 7

Village Christian 26, Rio Hondo Prep 0

Warren 45, Cerritos Valley Christian 26

West Torrance 12, Wiseburn Da-Vinci 6

Westlake 20, Agoura 0

Woodbridge 47, Corona Centennial 0

Who: France vs Italy
What: UEFA Nations League 2026-27, Group A1 match
Where: Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France
When: Friday, October 2, at 8:45pm local time (18:45 GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from 15:45 GMT.

It’s time for Zinedine Zidane’s homecoming.

Two-time world champions France face neighbours Italy in Friday’s Nations League match, with Zidane taking charge for the first time on home soil.

Appointed in late July as successor to Didier Deschamps, ex-captain Zidane has guided France to back-to-back away wins. Now he has the chance to complete a hat-trick of victories in front of Les Bleus faithful.

Despite losing captain Kylian Mbappe to injury, France have maintained their winning start, all thanks to their squad depth and talent across positions.

Like France, four-time World Cup winners Italy are also managed by a former player – Roberto Mancini – who is back in the job for the second time. Mancini’s first game back in charge ended in Roman jeers, but the Azzurri responded in style with an emphatic win in their second game.

Friday’s match is expected to be played in front of what will be a sell-out crowd of close to 80,000 fans at the national stadium north of Paris.

So, can Italy build on their dazzling display or will France give Zidane more reasons to rejoice?

Al Jazeera breaks down everything in this match preview:

What is the UEFA Nations League?

The UEFA Nations League was founded in 2018 to reduce the number of meaningless friendlies and give nations competitive matches against top-ranked teams.

In this competition, countries from across Europe participate in a league structure which features promotion and relegation.

How have France and Italy played in the Nations League?

France are on top of this group with six points after identical 1-0 wins over Turkiye and Belgium.

Italy, on the other hand, are second-to-last with three points after losing 2-0 to Belgium and thrashing Turkiye 4-1.

When did France and Italy last meet?

They last met in a Nations League group match in November 2024.

France defeated Italy 3-1 in Milan then, with a double from Adrien Rabiot and a Guglielmo Vicario own goal. Andrea Cambiaso netted the consolation goal for the Italians.

France vs Italy: Head-to-head

• Matches: 41
• France wins: 12
• Italy wins: 20
• Draws: 9

France vs Italy: Form guide

(Last five games, latest results first)

France: W-W-L-L-W

Italy: W-L-W-W-D

Who are the top players to watch?

Michael Olise and Desire Doue (France): Olise’s outrageous finish in Monday’s Belgium game had Zidane going berserk on the sideline. Such is his talent. He has been involved in both goals France scored in this year’s Nations League and is also enjoying a flying start at Bayern Munich this term with eight goals and four assists. Doue, 21, is equally impressive – he assisted Olise in the last game, earning player of the match.

Francesco Pio Esposito and Davide Frattesi (Italy): Pio Esposito not only scored a goal in the last game but also celebrated a sweet bit of history – he and his older brother Sebastiano played against Turkiye, marking the first time two brothers started for Italy in more than a century. Inter Milan striker Pio already has five goals in 10 Azzurri appearances. Italian fans should also watch out for Frattesi, another scorer from the last game who has also netted three times for Lazio in this year’s Serie A.

What have the coaches said?

Zinedine Zidane (France): “It is going to be really emotional,” said Zidane, whose last appearance at the Stade de France came as a player in a friendly against Mexico in 2006.

Roberto Mancini (Italy): “Facing Zidane will be a pleasure, but this isn’t a duel between us,” assured Mancini in his press conference.

“It is going to be a great game between France and Italy, teams who are still trying to figure things out. Whatever happens, I feel that this match will be very useful for the process.”

Team news and predicted line-ups

France

Mbappe is the biggest name missing from the France squad. He picked up a knee injury after scoring the winning goal against Turkiye and has since been sidelined for two weeks.

Elsewhere, central midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery is out with a thigh injury, and Matteo Guendouzi remains suspended.

Probable France XI: Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Jeremy Jacquet, Maxence Lacroix, Adrien Truffert; Rayan Cherki, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola

Italy

Italy have a fully fit squad.

Probable Italy XI: Gianluigi Donnarumma; Michael Kayode, Giorgio Scalvini, Alessandro Bastoni, Matteo Ruggeri; Sandro Tonali; Davide Frattesi, Nicolo Fagioli; Giacomo Raspadori, Francesco Pio Esposito, Sebastiano Esposito

France vs Italy: TV channel, livestreaming

• France: la chaine L’Équipe, TF1+
• Italy: RAI PLAY, Mediaset, Sky Italia
• United Kingdom: Prime Video UK
• United States: FOX Sports, FuboTV, ViX
• India: Sony Sports Network
• Middle East and North Africa: beIN SPORTS
• South Africa: DStv Stream

You can find your regional broadcaster on UEFA’s official broadcaster listing.

Real Madrid are keen on Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah, Liverpool are monitoring Club Tijuana’s teenage midfielder Gilberto Mora and Roma remain keen on signing Real Madrid striker Endrick.

Real Madrid are showing an interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s 23-year-old England defender Jarell Quansah, who Arsenal made a bid for in the summer and was subject of an enquiry from Chelsea. (Bild – in German), external

Mexico’s teenage star Gilberto Mora, 17, is on Liverpool‘s radar although Borussia Dortmund and Benfica are also keen on the Club Tijuana midfielder. (Teamtalk), external

Spain and Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo, 28, wants to finish his career with Dinamo Zagreb. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Canada forward Jonathan David, 26, is starting to convince Atletico Madrid that they should make his loan from Juventus a permanent £21m transfer. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Inter Milan are keen on Italy midfielder Alessandro Romano and might make a move for the 20-year-old, who is on loan at Calgliari from Roma, if Turkey international Hakan Calhanoglu, 32, leaves the club at the end of his contract next summer. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Roma missed out on a loan move for Real Madrid striker Endrick, 20, in the summer but remain interested in signing the Brazil international in January. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Barcelona made an enquiry about Croatia defender Josko Gvardiol last season but it was clear the 24-year-old did not want to leave Manchester City. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish), external

Barcelona and Inter Milan are monitoring Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch, with the 20-year-old German also attracting interest from Premier League clubs. (Sky Sports Germany), external

Bologna have agreed a deal to sign former Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian, 36, on a free transfer after the Italian left Inter Milan at the end of last season. (Fabrizio Romano), external

The computer hacker who released documents which led to the Premier League investigation into Manchester City says Fifa president Gianni Infantino “should have no place in the future of the game”.

City have been found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period, though they continue to deny any wrongdoing and have until 2 October to submit an appeal.

The Premier League investigation was launched following information released into the public domain by the Football Leaks website in 2018, via German publication Der Spiegel, and following a separate investigation by European football’s governing body Uefa.

In a message on X, external, Rui Pinto, creator of Football Leaks, repeated allegations from 2018 that Infantino intervened to help City and Paris St-Germain avoid financial fair play sanctions from European football’s governing body Uefa.

According to a report by Der Spiegel, external, the clubs overvalued sponsorship deals to help meet FFP rules and, when facing sanctions over the matter, the allegations in the documents state Infantino helped arrange more lenient punishments for them in 2014.

A PSG statement at the time said it “has always acted in full compliance with the laws and regulations enacted by sports institutions” and it “denies the allegations”.

“Since the introduction of Financial Fair Play, Paris St-Germain have been one of the most audited and scrutinised clubs in history,” the club added.

“Back in 2014, there was a man who was already aware of the irregularities involving Manchester City,” 37-year-old Portuguese Pinto wrote on Wednesday.

“The infamous Gianni Infantino, then Uefa general secretary, abused his authority, shared confidential documents and, in short, outmanoeuvred the investigatory chamber, doing everything in his power to ensure that both Manchester City and PSG would merely receive a fine, avoiding a deeper investigation that could have led to a Champions League ban.

“All of these details were also revealed through Football Leaks.

“Given his actions as Uefa general secretary and, more recently, as Fifa president, I can only say, in my humble opinion, that Gianni Infantino has become a cancer on football and should have no place in the future of the game.”

When the allegations first surfaced, Uefa stressed that it was within the remit of the general secretary to assist in such matters, adding: “This may include discussions, meetings, assistance to help find solutions, and other interactions to assist the [investigating body] in its work.”

Infantino similarly pointed to how his “job entails having discussions, having conversations, exchanging documents, drafts, ideas, whatever, on many, many, many, many, topics.

“So if then this is being portrayed as something bad, I think there’s not much I can do more than my job in an honest way, in a professional way and trying to defend the interests of football.”

BBC Sport has contacted Fifa following Pinto’s latest statement.

Infantino has come under increasing pressure following his now-shelved plans to sell stakes in the World Cup.

European football’s governing body Uefa accused Infantino of “criminal mismanagement” over the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, while the Swiss Football Association (SFV) is the latest association to withdraw its support for the Fifa president.

“The decision follows a comprehensive reassessment of developments over the past few months,” an SFV statement read.

“From the SFV’s perspective, various incidents raise fundamental questions regarding leadership, governance, transparency and decision-making processes within Fifa.”

Both Fifa and Uefa are based in Switzerland.

Infantino will stand for election for a fourth time in March 2027, with his opponents having until 18 November to find an alternative candidate.

Germany forward Kevin Schade wanted by Liverpool, while Erling Haaland and Phil Foden are among the Manchester City players drawing interest from Europe’s top clubs.

Liverpool have emerged as genuine contenders to sign Brentford and Germany forward Kevin Schade, 24, who has also been linked with Manchester United. (Teamtalk), external

Barcelona have confirmed that they tried but failed to sign Argentina and Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez, 29, in the summer. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external

Real Madrid and Barcelona have both been circling Norway and Manchester City forward Erling Haaland, 26, and will be ready to pounce if the opportunity arises. (Sun), external

German giants Bayern Munich would move for England midfielder Phil Foden, 26, if he becomes available for a move from Manchester City. (Teamtalk), external

Italy and Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini, 22 would like to experience playing abroad at some stage in his career, with Newcastle and Chelsea having already expressed their interest. (Football Italia), external

Nottingham Forest, Roma and Napoli target Dodo, 27, looks set to secure a move away from Fiorentina in Janaury, with several clubs interested in the Brazilian full-back. (La Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Brighton and Gambia winger Yankuba Minteh, 22, is still keen to join Liverpool after a summer move failed to materialise. (GiveMeSport), external

If there’s one positive to come out of the controversial play and video from Saturday’s USC vs. Oregon football game during which Oregon quarterback Dante Moore suffered a concussion after a late hit by USC’s Desman Stephens, it’s that high school football coaches are using it as a teachable moment on how not to react after a player is injured.

Stephens received a one-game suspension from USC after he was seen celebrating when hitting Moore in the head as he gave himself up on a slide to end a running play.

Whittier coach Lorenzo Hernandez said he reminded his players, “You’re always in someone’s lens.”

“You have to be compassionate about someone being injured,” he said.

St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro said there were plenty of lessons to point out to his players.

Negro said in a text, “As mentors, educators, and coaches we are constantly using moments like this to educate our players on how not to be. Football is a small fraternity and regardless of rivalries or spirited competitions we have to respect the health and safety of our opponents. Celebrating in a moment like that is disheartening and would never be tolerated here at Bosco.

“It wasn’t just the Dante Moore situation. It was also the situation from the Texas vs Tennessee game, too, with the unnecessary antics that draw penalties.

“We have to do better in making our kids realize there is a proper way to conduct yourself in an athletic contest. Personal character is revealed in these moments so choose wisely when you plan your actions after you make a good play.”

The Spanish coach won 20 trophies during a glittering 10 years as City manager before departing in May.

Former Manchester ‌City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken out ⁠in support ⁠of the Premier League club after they were found guilty of serious ⁠breaches of financial rules.

The Spaniard handed over to former assistant Enzo Maresca at the end ⁠of last season after a decade in charge.

“I want every single @ManCity fan to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have ‌been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo and you, our unique supporters,” Guardiola said on Wednesday ⁠in a first reaction on his ⁠X account.

“Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”

City’s Chief Executive Ferran Soriano addressed staff in a video on Tuesday in which he rejected the independent commission’s findings.

Guardiola ⁠took charge of City in 2016 and under his management, ⁠they won six Premier League titles – ⁠including four in a row – three FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League.

The Premier League charges, relating ‌to “sham” commercial contracts used as part of schemes to inflate revenue and understate costs by more ‌than 900 ‌million pounds ($1.2bn) over nearly a decade, cover the period from 2009-18.

In doing so, they concealed the true state of their finances and avoided breaching Premier League and UEFA spending limits during a period in which they won three league titles.

An independent commission found the club guilty on all charges related to breaches of financial rules over the nine-year period.

They have also been found guilty of most of the charges they faced in relation to a failure to cooperate with a Premier League investigation.

City, who continue to deny any wrongdoing, have said they will appeal and have until Friday to do so.

The ruling has sent shockwaves through English football and cast doubt over the future of a club that has become a European giant.

The likely punishment is uncertain but according to Premier League rules, City could face a substantial points deduction, a fine or even expulsion from the top division.

Everton and Nottingham Forest were handed points deductions in the 2023/24 season for single breaches of financial sustainability rules.

On that basis, City would likely face relegation given the sheer weight of the case against them.

There is speculation they could even be stripped of their titles.

“If the appeal fails, Manchester City cannot stay in the league, they have to suffer. And I say that as a supporter and a fan,” said the club’s former chairman, David Bernstein.

Another factor is a potential flood of compensation claims that could cost the club hundreds of millions.

Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow told the BBC that clubs would be “queueing up to seek compensation”.