Despite being a charity event, one Premier League legend has been banned from participating in Soccer Aid following a “string of complaints.” The much-anticipated event has taken place every year for the last 20, and this year’s match – set for West Ham’s London Stadium on May 31 – boasts a star-studded lineup.

A host of high-profile ex-footballers and celebrities have been confirmed for the game, which will see Robbie Williams go head-to-head in the dugout with Olympic icon and world’s fastest man Usain Bolt to raise money for UNICEF. Jordi Alba leads the football debutants, alongside female stars Jen Beattie and Ali Krieger, all of whom will play for the Rest of the World team.

Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe, Theo Walcott, Toni Duggan, Joe Hart, and Steph Houghton are among the England stars, while history will be made as actor Owen Cooper becomes the youngest-ever player and first-ever teenager after his role in the hit Netflix series ‘Adolescence’. But while bigger names help raise more money for charity, one of the Premier League’s biggest stars finds himself alone on the ban list.

The Three-Time Premier League Winner Banned From Soccer Aid

Yaya Toure – a Manchester City legend and widely regarded as one of the best midfielders of his generation after winning three Premier League titles – played 73 minutes in the 2018 Soccer Aid at Old Trafford and was set to feature for the Rest of the World again in 2020. However, he exited the squad in disgrace.

Toure was axed from the fixture after The Sun reported that he had offered to hire sex workers for his teammates at the five-star hotel in a message sent in the WhatsApp group chat. The Ivorian also posted a video of a naked woman in a bath in the chat, which included female players and stars from both teams.

UNICEF and ITV received a “string of complaints” about Toure’s message, and he was criticised at breakfast in the hotel on the following Friday morning. After it was concluded his “behaviour didn’t align with the values of the event and its cause,” the former Barcelona midfielder was removed from the lineup and forced to issue an apology on social media for his “inappropriate joke”.

Yaya Toure’s Apology After Soccer Aid Controversy in 2020

“I would like to apologise to everyone involved in Soccer Aid for an inappropriate joke I deeply regret,” Toure wrote on X once the dust had settled on his misconduct. “It was meant as a joke, however, I lacked thorough consideration for the feelings of all the other participants. That being said, I deleted the jokes within minutes and I immediately apologised to all inside the group.”

That year’s Soccer Aid fixture was played behind closed doors and saw England win 4-3 on penalties. Toure has not been invited back to play in Soccer Aid since but made a surprise appearance on Sky Sports on Sunday after watching Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Chelsea, where he came under fire for his comments about the current Premier League leaders.

Rafael Leao has just issued a come and get me plea to the Premier League, with Manchester United given a clear green light to go and complete the Portuguese’s transfer.

Leao has long been linked with a move to England and it looks like now is the right time, with his seven-year spell at AC Milan set to come to an end.

United have been linked with Leao before, but never managed to get a deal done and with the Red Devils in the market for a left winger this summer – as well as two central midfielders – now could be the perfect time to bring Leao in.

Rafael Leao reveals he will leave AC Milan this summer

Speaking on Portuguese TV, Leao was asked about the rumours swirling around his future at the San Siro.

He said: “I’m proud as I made history at AC Milan but now I want a new chapter. I’m looking forward to playing in another league.

“I did my best for Milan, the club gave me everything, but I’m feeling ready for a new team, new league and new challenge.”

The 26-year-old has already played in Portugal, France and Italy, with the Bundesliga or La Liga the only real competition for Premier League sides if he does want to experience a new league.

There was a suggestion that Milan would demand in the region of £60million for him this summer, but that price tag has dropped slightly, with Leao having just two years left to run on his current contract in Italy.

Milan are now understood to be willing to trade at around £43million, with United already making moves to sign him this summer.

Recent reports in the the print version of Corriere dello Sport, via Sport Witness, claimed that United have already initiated contact with super agent Jorge Mendes over a potential summer move for the winger.

It has always been a “dream” of Leao’s to play in the Premier League and he may well get his wish this summer.

United will not have it all their own way when it comes to negotiating a transfer, however, with a number of other club interested in signing Leao – namely Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham. Chelsea could also make a move given their desire to sign another left winger this summer.

Rafael Leao has not had the best of seasons with AC Milan

Former AC Milan boss Stefano Pioli once described Leao as an “artist”. He said: “Rafa is an artist. Artists are geniuses, they must be guided but they also need a bit of freedom. He is a player who can decide any game at any moment, but he knows he still has steps to take to become truly unstoppable.”

Leao has had his troubles at Milan, falling out of favour with Paulo Fonseca and with the Milanese fans, booed off by his own fans during a game with Atalanta earlier in the season.

Despite his troubles he still managed 10 goals and three assists in 31 games as the Serie A giants finished a disappointing fifth. Those stats are well down on the 25 goal contributions he made in 2024/25 and the 29 he made in 2023/24, suggesting his time at the San Siro has naturally run its course.

Tottenham Hotspur might just have been forced to move a bit quicker in the transfer market after what happened at Liverpool on Saturday.

There was an element of surprise when Liverpool announced that Arne Slot had been relieved of his duties as manager at Anfield.

The Dutchman had guided the Reds to the Premier League title in his first season in charge, but followed it up this year with a disappointing fifth-place finish.

Liverpool make approach to bring in Andoni Iraola

And despite reports suggesting he had the backing of owners Fenway Sports Group ahead of the 2026/27 season, he was sacked, with the club citing that “change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward” in a long statement on his departure.

Slot is expected to be replaced at Anfield by outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, with the former Cherries manager the overwhelming favourite to take over in the Anfield dugout.

GIVEMESPORT understands that Liverpool have already made an approach to Iraola, who is the standout candidate to replace Slot and talks are expected to move quickly.

And that move to bring in Iraola could lead Spurs to hasten one transfer move.

Tottenham have had an agreement in principle in place to sign Marcos Senesi, following he conclusion of his contract at the Vitality Stadium, for some time, with journalist Rudy Galetti even stating earlier this week that it was a “done deal”.

However, a deal to take him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has not yet been confirmed by Spurs and there may be some nervousness in the fanbase now about getting the transfer over the line.

Konate exit could force Liverpool into the transfer market

Liverpool were one of the clubs linked with potentially hijacking the transfer this summer, given question marks over Ibrahima Konate’s future at the club. It has since been confirmed that he will be leaving, meaning the Reds will be in the market for another centre-back in this window.

And if Iraola is inserted as the new manager of Liverpool in the coming days, as expected, given their previous working relationship, the Reds may yet try to make a late move to hijack the Tottenham deal for Senesi.

Senesi is a free agent after leaving Bournemouth and can put pen-to-paper anywhere now, with his agent playing a key role in the 29-year-old’s future.