Sports
Government step in to overturn Aston Villa ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans
Senior government officials are in talks today to reverse a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans for the Europa League fixture against Aston Villa at Villa Park on November 6.
Yesterday Aston Villa released a statement saying no visiting fans from Israel would be allowed to attend following an instruction from the Safety Advisory Group.
The news provoked widespread criticism with Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling the decision “wrong” and Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch labelling it “a national disgrace”.
Starmer has now intervened and tasked Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy with finding a resolution.
“Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is meeting officials to discuss what more can be done to try and find a way through to resolve this, and what more can be done to allow fans to attend the game safely,” said a Downing Street spokesperson.
“The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, spoke to the local council this morning, and the Home Office is urgently working to support police to try and find a way through this.”
Downing Street sources add talks are happening “at pace” and further updates are expected today. There is now a strong chance Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters will now be able to attend the match.
High risk
West Midlands police said on Thursday the fixture is “high-risk” and cited violence that took place during last year’s Europa League match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax which led to 62 arrests.
The Jewish Leadership Council responded, calling the ban on away fans “perverse”, adding: “Aston Villa should face the consequences of this decision and the match should be played behind closed doors.”
UEFA declined to comment on specifics but said travelling fans should be able to support their team in a “safe, secure and welcoming environment”.
Maccabi Tel Aviv remain in dialogue with Aston Villa and are waiting to hear on the outcome of today’s fast-moving government-led talks.
The two teams are due to go head-to-head in the Europa League clash on Thursday, November 6, so there is plenty of time for a resolution to be found. Villa take on Go Ahead Eagles in the same competition before that, with that fixture scheduled for Thursday, October 23.
Villa have a 100% record from their opening two games in the competition, having yet to concede a goal.
Sports
Tottenham Consider Move For Third Free Transfer Of The Summer
Tottenham look set to confirm two new signings on free transfers this summer, with Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi joining the club from Liverpool and Bournemouth respectively.
And there could be a third freebie of the window to add to Roberto De Zerbi‘s squad. According to reports, Tottenham are considering a move to sign Harry Wilson, following his departure from Fulham.
Spurs are making sensible moves in the transfer market, as De Zerbi looks to put his stamp on the ailing squad he inherited from Igor Tudor at the end of March. The Italian rescued the Lilywhites from relegation to the Championship on the final day of the season and he will be aiming to push Spurs up the Premier League table in 2026/27.
De Zerbi still has a big number of injuries at Tottenham
Robertson and Senesi will bolster a backline that conceded more goals last season than every team bar the bottom three, but De Zerbi needs players further up the pitch too.
With a number of players in attacking areas out injured – see Mohammed Kudus, Dejan Kulusevski, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert – De Zerbi will want to add attacking reinforcements this summer.
Wilson would certainly add a touch of class. The Welsh forward really came into his own this season, stepping forward as Fulham’s main man in a campaign where the Whites only finished outside the top half on goal difference.
Wilson notched an impressive 10 goals and added seven assists in 36 matches, only missing two top-flight games. He was named inn the starting lineup for 32 of those matches, proving he was a player Marco Silva could count on.
Wilson had the season of his career at Fulham
Speaking earlier in the season, Silva said: “Right now, everything that he touches turns to something magic. Fans should just try to enjoy it. The numbers are incredible, but it’s not just about the numbers, this season he’s been incredible.
“He’s humble, and a hard-worker always. I don’t have doubts he is in the best moment of his career.”
Spurs may not have it all their own way when it comes to getting Wilson to put pen-to-paper on a deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Given his impressive campaign, there are likely to be other candidates for his signature, with Liverpool named as an interested party.
Wilson has been named by Spurs transfer writer Paul O’Keefe as being on Spurs’ radar this summer as they look for forwards. Savinho has been most heavily linked recently.
Wilson’s contract with Fulham expires at the end of June and at 29 years old he will be looking for what will probably be the last big contract of his career.
Forgotten Tottenham Star Now Set For De Zerbi Stay After Transfer Exit Planned
Spurs star set for extended stay at the club having looked destined to leave
Sports
The Reason Why Wales Players Pose For Bizarre Team Photos Before Matches
The Wales National Team have a history of posing badly for squad photos at major international tournaments, and the men’s team recently reminded everyone of that fact before their international friendly against Ghana.
Wales drew 1-1 with the African side, who have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, in Cardiff on Tuesday night. Caleb Yirenkyi put the visitors 1-0 up midway through the second half, but Lewis Koumas struck a last-gap equaliser for Craig Bellamy’s side.
Prior to kick-off, Wales’ players took part in their bizarre pre-match tradition of posing for their team photo in rather unusual fashion. See their awkward squad photo below:
It’s not just the men’s team who pose like this. Last summer, while making their long-awaited Women’s European Championship debut, Wales’ women’s team followed suit with their own peculiar team photo. See the picture below:
The chaotic pre-match squad photo has become part of tournament tradition for Wales these days, but some may not be aware of the origin story behind the random ritual.
It has been spotted at both women’s and men’s international tournaments since Euro 2016, when the men made it all the way to the semi-finals in France with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale starring.
Story Behind Wales’ Bizarre Pre-Match Squad Photos
Speaking back in 2016 – when the images first started to go viral – Joe Ledley outlined that they noticed they were getting “lucky” whenever they took an unusual squad photo.
“We were just not very good at them. At first, we didn’t look into it, but then gradually a few photos got together, and it was awful, so we just thought we may as well keep it the same,” he said, as per Belfast Live.
“It’s been lucky for us too. It’s not really superstitious, but I don’t think we will have a proper photo.”
Jonny Williams backed up Ledley’s claims in 2016, adding: “I wasn’t there at the last game, but it looked on the TV like it’s got worse. I’ve been involved in a couple, but they were by accident, to be fair.
“I just don’t think we’re very good at them, and now we’re just doing it for banter I think, but I don’t know how much further we can go….unless we leave Wayne Hennessey on his own at the back!”
We won’t be seeing Wales’ strange team lineups at the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico because they failed to qualify for the showpiece international tournament. Bellamy’s men suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-off semi-finals back in March. Their sights are now set on the UEFA Nations League, which gets underway in September.
Sports
Liverpool Doing Everything to Sign Yan Diomande for Iraola Before World Cup
Liverpool are doing everything to sign Yan Diomande for new manager Andoni Iraola before the World Cup starts, but one piece of information around a transfer regarding the Reds is wrong, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg.
Liverpool are facing a transformational summer just 12 months after winning the Premier League title in what was Arne Slot’s debut season in charge at Anfield.
A year later, the Dutchman has lost his job and the Reds are on the verge of appointing Andoni Iraola in the dugout to replace him.
The 43-year-old’s stock rose during the second half of the 2025-26 Premier League campaign, as his side ended the season on an 18-match unbeaten run that saw them finish sixth and qualify for the Champions League, all after losing Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City during the January transfer window.
The Spaniard will already know that he needs new players in his frontline especially ahead of next term, with Mohamed Salah leaving the club this summer and Hugo Ekitike unlikely to be available again for months after rupturing his Achilles.
Iraola has limited options in attack and Alexander Isak’s unavailability for much of this season suggests he cannot be relied on fitness wise either.
Sky Sports: Liverpool Working Hard on Yan Diomande Deal
According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, both Liverpool and Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain want to sign RB Leipzig sensation Yan Diomande.
According to the reporter, the Reds in particular are ‘doing everything’ to complete a deal for the winger before the World Cup starts on June 11.
Some reports have suggested that the ‘sensational’ 19-year-old has agreed to join both Liverpool and PSG already, but Plettenberg denies that is the case.
After a stunning breakthrough season, the Bundesliga outfit are said to be valuing their ‘superstar’ at €100m ahead of the summer transfer window.
Romano Hints at £100m Liverpool Striker Move
While Liverpool are looking to strengthen in the wide positions because of Salah’s exit, they may need a new striker too.
As mentioned previously, Isak showed in 2025-26 he shouldn’t be solely relied upon at a time when Ekitike is on the sidelines, and it means they could look to recruit another centre-forward.
While Fabrizio Romano didn’t confirm the Merseysiders’ interest in Eli Junior Kroupi at Bournemouth, he did hint that they could join the race for his signature once Iraola is confirmed as new Liverpool manager.
There are a lot of big clubs keen on the 19-year-old Cherries forward who, like Diomande, had a brilliant breakthrough campaign in the Premier League.
The teenager ended the campaign with 13 Premier League goals in 33 games, proving the huge potential he has for the future, although Liverpool would face competition from the likes of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain for his signature.
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