French prosecutors on Friday called for Moroccan international Achraf Hakimi to face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023 which the Paris Saint-Germain player denies.

The Nanterre prosecutor’s office told AFP that they had requested that the investigating judge refer the rape charge to a criminal court.

“It is now up to the investigating magistrate to make a decision within the framework of his order,” the prosecutor’s office told AFP in a statement.

Hakimi, 26,  played a major role in PSG’s run to their first Champions League title, the full-back scoring the opener in the 5-0 rout of Inter Milan in the final in May.

Hakimi, who helped Morocco to their historic charge to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, was charged in March, 2023 with raping a 24-year-old woman.

Hakimi allegedly paid for his accuser to travel to his home on February 25, 2023, in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt while his wife and children were away on holiday.

PSG, Morocco football star Hakimi placed under formal investigation over rape allegations

He denies the accusations.

In Qatar, Hakimi was a cornerstone of the Morocco team that became the first African or Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup.

Source: AFP

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has been ruled out of playing in the club’s pre-season tour of the United States with a hamstring injury.

The 29-year-old Cameroon international has responded well to initial treatment and will join his team-mates on the flight to America later this month, but he will focus on recovery and will not feature in the Premier League Summer Series.

Altay Bayindir, 27, is expected to deputise during United’s pre-season campaign, which begins with a match against Leeds in Stockholm on July 19 before they head to the US to face West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton in a tournament that takes place from July 27 to August 3.

United’s final pre-season friendly will be a match against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 9 before they begin the Premier League campaign at home to Arsenal on August 17.

Veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton, 39, signed a new one-year deal to remain with United earlier this week.

Source:Independent.co.uk

Liverpool forward Diogo Jota has died in a car crash in Spain.

The car left the road due to a tyre blowout while overtaking another car, local police say.

His brother, Andre Silva, also died in the crash.

Jota, 28, married his partner last month – the couple had three children together.

The Portuguese international was a key part of the Liverpool side that won the Premier League last season, and earlier played for Wolves and Porto.

Liverpool FC say they are “devastated” by what they call an “unimaginable loss”, while Cristiano Ronaldo says “it doesn’t make sense.”

The national federation says Jota was “not only a fantastic player” but “an extraordinary person who was respected by all his teammates and opponents.”

Source: BBC

Paul Pogba has signed a two-year deal with Ligue 1 side Monaco to return to football after a near two-year absence, the club announced on Saturday.

The 2018 World Cup winner has made only 12 appearances across the last three seasons due to injuries, an 18-month doping ban and an extortion case in which he was the victim.

Pogba failed a drugs test in August 2023 after a match for Juventus and has been free to return to football since March, although his contract at the Italian giants had been terminated last year.

The midfielder will now play club football in Ligue 1 for the first time in his professional career.

“I am determined to get back on the pitch, mentally ready, physically ready, it’s just a matter of time,” the 32-year-old told French television last weekend.

Pogba played in the Le Havre youth team before signing for Manchester United in 2009.

He made only a handful of first-team appearances for the three-time European champions before signing for Juventus in 2012.

Pogba won four consecutive Serie A titles in Turin before rejoining United for a then-world record 105 million euros ($123 million).

He moved back to Juventus three years ago but struggled with a series of injuries.

In 2024, his brother Mathias was sentenced to three years in prison, with two years suspended, for his role in a plot to extort 13 million euros from Pogba in 2022.

Pogba has scored 11 goals in 91 appearances for the France national team, playing a starring role and scoring in their World Cup final victory over Croatia seven years ago.

His new club Monaco will play in the Champions League next season after finishing third in Ligue 1 last term.

Source: AFP

Kylian Mbappé has accused Paris Saint-Germain of moral harassment in a legal filing, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed on Thursday.

The Real Madrid star is at odds with his former club, arguing PSG owes him 55 million euros ($61 million) in unpaid wages.

Mbappé is also unhappy with the way he was treated by the Ligue 1 club when the France captain was sidelined before the 2023-24 season, following his decision not to extend his club contract.

The prosecutor’s office said Mbappé is “denouncing the ‘lofting’ he claimed to have been subjected to at Paris Saint-Germain.” The word lofting is used in France to describe a practice that involves isolating a player from the main squad for sporting, administrative, or disciplinary reasons.

Mbappé joined Real Madrid last summer on a free transfer after scoring a club-record 256 goals in seven years at PSG, which won the Champions League without him this year.

Mbappé’s relationship with PSG ended amid deep tensions, and some fans booed him in his last home game at Parc des Princes. PSG felt let down by Mbappé after offering him the most lucrative contract in club history when he signed a new contract in 2022.

But Mbappé was frustrated because he felt promises to sign key players were not kept. When he signed that deal, he was paraded in front of fans holding up a jersey with 2025 on it. Mbappé was reportedly annoyed because the contract was until 2024 – with a player’s option for an extra season.

Mbappé stunned PSG in June 2023 by informing the club he would not take the option for an extra year. With his contract effectively into its final year, it put PSG in the position of needing to sell Mbappé to avoid losing him for nothing when the contract expired.

His PSG career could have ended that summer amid a tense transfer standoff.

After telling the club he would not extend, Mbappé was left off a preseason tour to Japan and South Korea and forced to train with fringe players. PSG said it would rather sell him than let the player leave for free in 2024, but he rejected a 300 million euros move to Saudi Arabia team Al-Hilal.

PSG left Mbappé out of the opening league game of that season but he soon returned to the lineup following talks.

Mbappé’s legal team said in April it would start an action against PSG for harassment because of the way he was treated at the time.

Source: AP

Marc Guehi is ready to see out the final year of his contract at Crystal Palace, while Marcus Rashford remains hopeful of joining Barcelona.

Liverpool-target Marc Guehi, 24, is prepared to see out the final year of his contract at Crystal Palace if the centre-back does not get the right offer for his career, despite the Eagles being keen to cash in on the England defender. (Guardian), external

Italian champions Napoli have joined Inter Milan in the race to sign 22-year-old Manchester United Danish striker Rasmus Hojlund, who is open to being sold by Ruben Amorim. (Gazzetta Dello Sport – in Italian), external

Arsenal’s move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo, 24, has hit a stumbling block because of the Brazilian’s wage demands of £10.2m-a-year. (AS – in Spanish), external

Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal made an enquiry for Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay, 28, but the Serie A side did not even discuss a deal as they have no intention of selling the Scotland international. (Football Italia), external

Chelsea are open to the sale of Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, 24, with Italian clubs Juventus and Napoli both interested. (Gianluca Di Marzio – in Italian), external

Arsenal’s desire to bolster their midfield could result in the Gunners making a move for Brentford’s 31-year-old Denmark midfielder Christian Norgaard. (Mirror), external

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, 29, wants to stay and fight for his place with the Cameroon international subject to interest from Monaco. (Guardian), external

Bayern Munich still hold out hope of signing Spain winger Nico Williams, 22, from Athletic Bilbao, despite an agreement having already being reached between the player and Barcelona. (Mundo Deportivo – in Spanish), external

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford, 27, has not given up hope of a move to Barcelona despite the Catalans being on the brink of signing Williams. (Times), external

Paris St-Germain have resumed talks to sign 22-year-old Ukraine defender Illia Zabarnyi from Bournemouth. (L’Equipe – in French), external

Manchester United and England winger Jadon Sancho, 25, is prioritising a move to Napoli over fellow Serie A side Juventus. (Sky Sports Italia – in Italian)

Source: BBC

Uriah Rennie, the Premier League’s first black referee, has died aged 65.

Rennie officiated more than 300 games between 1997 and 2008, including 175 Premier League matches.

Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out said Rennie was “a trailblazer in every sense”, adding: “He will always be a Premier League legend by becoming its first black referee, providing leadership, talent and visibility that proved inspirational to many.

“Uriah played a massive role in shaping the game as we know it today. Football should always be grateful to him.”

The Premier League said: “Uriah was a pioneering trailblazer whose legacy will live on, continuing to inspire future generations.”

Rennie recently revealed he was learning to walk again after a rare condition left him paralysed from the waist down.

Born in Jamaica, he moved to Sheffield as a child and grew up in the Wybourn area of the city.

He started refereeing in local football in 1979 before making history in 1997 when he oversaw a top-flight match between Derby County and Wimbledon.

“Incredibly sad news about the passing of Uriah Rennie. A Black pioneering referee and leader in the game,” said Leon Mann, co-founder of the Football Black List.

“We owe so much to those who push open the doors. Uriah should never, ever be forgotten.”

Rennie had been a magistrate in Sheffield since 1996 and campaigned on issues including improving equality and inclusion in sport, mental health and tackling deprivation.

He had a master’s degree in business administration and law and, in November 2023, was awarded an honorary doctorate by Sheffield Hallam University for his distinguished contributions to sport and his work with South Yorkshire communities.

In May, Rennie was installed as the new chancellor of the university.

Sheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association, external described their former chair as a “trailblazing referee” who “broke down barriers, shaped our football community and inspired generations to come.”

Source: BBC

Portugal beat neighbours Spain in a penalty shootout to settle a frantic final in Munich and win their second Nations League trophy.

Cristiano Ronaldo pulled Portugal level at 2-2 in the 61st minute, but there was nothing else to separate the two sides when the referee signalled the end of normal time.

Subbed off before extra time, Portugal captain Ronaldo dropped to the turf and sobbed tears of joy on the sidelines after Ruben Neves slotted home the winning penalty following Diogo Costa’s save from Alvaro Morata’s spot-kick.

Winners of the 2023 edition, Spain had opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Martin Zubimendi poked home after Portugal failed to clear their lines.

Their lead was short-lived as Nuno Mendes slammed a low, angled strike past Unai Simon and into the far corner of the net five minutes later.

Mikel Oyarzabal, who netted a late winner in last summer’s European Championship final against England, restored La Roja’s advantage before the break.

But Ronaldo came to Portugal’s rescue as he shrugged off Marc Cucurella to reach Mendes’ deflected cross and hook a volley in from close range.

Goncalo Ramos, Vitinha, Bruno Fernandes and Nuno Mendes all calmly fired their penalties home before Morata’s weak effort was stopped by Costa.

And as Neves converted the final spot-kick, Portugal became the first team to win two Nations League titles – denying Spain, who were vying for the same honour.

Source: BBC

Luciano Spalletti has announced his own sacking as Italy’s head coach at a news conference on Sunday after his side lost 3-0 to Norway in a World Cup qualifier on Friday.

Italy conceded three first-half goals in Oslo to fall to defeat in their opening qualifier for the 2026 tournament

The 66-year-old said he would still take charge of Monday’s game against Moldova, but it will be his last with the national team.

“Last night we were very together with president [Gabriele] Gravina. He told me that I will be relieved of my position as coach of the national team,” said Spalletti.

“I had no intention of giving up. I would have preferred to stay in my place and continue doing my job. I’ll be there tomorrow evening against Moldova, then we’ll resolve the contract.”

The Italian, who eventually stormed out of the news conference, has been in charge since 2023 and led the team at Euro 2024 where Italy were knocked out in the last 16 by Switzerland.

Spalletti, who has managed Napoli, Inter Milan and Roma in Serie A, has taken charge of 23 matches as Azzurri head coach and won just 11.

Italy are in Group I of Uefa World Cup qualifying alongside Norway, Moldova, Estonia and Israel.

“I’ll be there tomorrow night against Moldova,” added Spalletti. “These are the results under my management and I have to take responsibility.

“I love this shirt, this job and the players I’ve coached. Tomorrow night I’ll ask them to demonstrate what I asked even if I haven’t been able to get them to express their best.”

Source: BBC