Sports
Referee Got Major Decision Wrong, Says Ex-PGMOL Chief
EX-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has claimed the officials got a major decision wrong in the clash between Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa on Thursday evening.
The two Premier League clubs went head-to-head at the City Ground for the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. It was the home side that picked up the win in the evening thanks to Chris Wood’s 71st minute penalty.
However, the match was without controversy, as Elliot Anderson controversially avoided a red card for a heavy challenge on Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
Keith Hackett Slams Officials in Forest 1-0 Aston Villa
After 31 minutes at the City Ground, Anderson, considered one of the best English players in the world, slid in to try and dispossess Watkins. Anderson’s outstretched leg rolled over the top of the ball and made contact with Watkins’ ankle, leading to Villa’s forward collapsing to the ground in pain.
Anderson escaped punishment from referee Joao Pinheiro and, after review, VAR Tiago Martins agreed and upheld the decision.
Ex-PGMOL chief Keith Hackett has now given his take on the incident. He believes that the English midfielder should have been shown his marching orders. He said:
“The challenge is made with excessive force, and the player is off the ground and out of control. It is clearly reckless and endangers the safety of an opponent. The outcome should have been a red card for serious foul play. To do nothing is clearly not an option.”
Unai Emery Fumes at VAR After No Anderson Red Card
Unai Emery deleivered a scathing rant at VAR after Anderson went unpunished. He said:
“Fantastic, the referee, fantastic. But the VAR is so, so bad. It’s a clear red card – I don’t understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it’s so clear. And it’s very, very important. It’s a huge, huge mistake. VAR is responsible.
“The referee – fantastic, fantastic job, 10 out of 10. I appreciated how he managed the match for 90 minutes.
“But I watched it back – wow. Huge. He could break his ankle. Wow, VAR – where are you? Please. It is your responsibility, we are professionals. You are doing very bad work because it was so clear for everybody [to see]. He could break his ankle.
“I respect the referees always but VAR, I don’t understand. It’s not fair.”
He added, per the BBC: “I watched the action of Anderson on Watkins, and the referee did a fantastic job.
“I was so, so feeling comfortable with how he managed the game in 90 minutes, but after watching it again, it is the VAR responsibility.
“It is a huge mistake – a huge mistake. Ollie Watkins was close to breaking his ankle. The VAR has a huge responsibility and he must give us an explanation. It is crazy!
“The ref can’t watch it like me. One action like that can break his ankle. The VAR makes sense if they are fair. What is your opinion? Wow.
“In football I work 20 years as a coach. Sometimes decisions are tight. I am 100% with VAR, but we must manage it good and in the right way. One action like that, there is no doubt. Where is VAR?”
The two sides will contest the second leg at Villa Park on Thursday, May 7.
Sports
Newcastle Make New Transfer Plan As £69M Star Set To Leave
Newcastle United are set to be in the market for a striker this summer, as Football Insider reports that a transfer exit could spark a move in the coming weeks.
It comes as the Magpies look to reinforce the squad with more quality, after a disappointing Premier League campaign that saw the side finish mid-table.
Several exits are expected, with Anthony Gordon’s move to Barcelona just the first of a few deals that could help create space and funds for other deals in the market.
Another Newcastle star looks set to follow Gordon out of the club, with a plan now in place for a replacement.
Nick Woltemade Expected To Leave Newcastle
As Newcastle prepare to ramp up their business this summer, Football Insider reports that an exit for Nick Woltemade is likely to come in the next few weeks.
The Germany international signed for £69 million last summer and was viewed as an ideal replacement for Alexander Isak, who left to join Liverpool after that deal was sealed.
Despite a quick start, Woltemade struggled, alongside fellow summer signing Yoane Wissa, as William Osula was given the nod ahead of the pair in the latter half of the campaign.
With the striker moves not exactly working out, it looks like an exit for the 24-year-old could be on the cards. The report describes a move as “likely”, claiming that Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund remain interested in a deal.
Premier League rivals Aston Villa have been linked in recent weeks, but the report adds that he is not currently on their radar as they look to strengthen elsewhere in the squad.
It remains to be seen how much of that £69 million fee Newcastle could recoup this summer, but it could be a huge factor in what other moves the team could consider.
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Newcastle Striker Transfer Plan
With an exit for Woltemade now likely, Football Insider adds that Newcastle’s plan is to replace him with a young striker who has plenty of potential for the future.
It’s the type of profile that plenty of clubs want, meaning there could be plenty of competition for the Magpies for some key targets over the summer transfer window.
Liam Delap could be one star they consider. The 23-year-old has struggled at Chelsea and looks set to leave this summer, but there are signs of quality with his spell at Ipswich Town the year before.
Newcastle Want to Sign Prolific £52m Winger After Victor Munoz Hijack
Newcastle are back in the market for a potential winger signing, after losing out in the race to sign Victor Munoz.
Other options could emerge in the coming weeks, but for now, it appears as though the priority is for wingers as direct replacements to Gordon in the forward line.
It may take an exit for someone like Woltemade to step up the interest in those strikers for the future.
Sports
Man Utd Join Race For Wonderkid Ty Livesey
Manchester United are looking at potential future stars, as TeamTalk reports that the club are joined by seven of their Premier League rivals in the race for a transfer target.
The Red Devils continue to balance the need for short-term improvement and long-term gains, with transfers that have reflected both sides of the squad-building challenge that faces the recruitment team.
Players at their peak such as Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were signed last summer to bring instant improvement to the team, while someone like Benjamin Sesko was landed with a view to the future.
It certainly worked, as Michael Carrick eventually got Man United back to the Champions League, but the task next season remains a challenging one.
While some signings will join with that in mind for the coming campaign, the Old Trafford outfit keep on scouting for the stars of the future.
Man United Want Blackburn Wonderkid Ty Livesey
As Man United continue to scout for young stars to add to their talent pool, TeamTalk reports that they are in the mix to sign Blackburn Rovers youngster Ty Livesey.
The attacking midfielder, who is described as a “sensation” in the report, is viewed as a quality up-and-coming star in academy football, having featured recently for the Rovers’ under-18s at just 15 years old.
The youngster is claimed to have registered over 100 goals and assists in the youth setup already, as he continues to rise the ranks towards a senior football career.
Man United are outlined as a leading contender to land Livesey, if he wishes to leave Blackburn, while Manchester City and Liverpool are also believed to be at the front of the pack.
There are five other teams in the mix, as Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham are claimed to be monitoring his progress, while Newcastle and Brighton are also there.
It means Man United face tough competition to land another future star for their setup, while Blackburn have their own fight to try and keep hold of the talented youngster for the future.
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Manchester United Keep Building For The Future
Manchester United face some important decisions this summer that will determine whether they can keep competing at the top, or whether they need to reassess the current situation.
The concerning decline of the club in recent years has been halted and there is a sense that things are moving in the right direction again with some smart signings.
At the forefront of future success will be long-term thinking with signings, ensuring that new talent can stay with the club for a while, maximising their potential while at Old Trafford.
Man Utd Plotting Move to Sign £70m Brazilian ‘Superstar’ to Boost Attack
The young winger is said to be attracting plenty of interest this summer
Livesey could be the latest addition to a Man United academy that is stocked full of talent. It’s that youth which has been a core identity of the club in the past.
Rediscovering that and giving opportunities to young players will play a huge part in the club returning to the top, so scouting the next generation and landing them ahead of their rivals shows United mean business again.
Sports
Steve Clarke Slammed For Interview After Scotland 0-3 Brazil
Steve Clarke is being slammed for his live TV post-match interview after his Scotland side suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brazil on Wednesday night.
The Scots beat Haiti 1-0 in their 2026 World Cup opener but then suffered defeat to Morocco in their second fixture – a result that put pressure on Scott McTominay and co. to get something out of their daunting clash against five-time world champions Brazil.
However, it took the Brazilians just seven minutes to score at the Miami Stadium. Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior netted twice in the first half, leaving Scotland with a mountain to climb after the break.
Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha scored his third goal of the tournament on the hour-mark as Brazil wrapped all three points, leaving them top of Group C, ahead of Morocco, by virtue of goal difference.
Scotland, on the other hand, now require results to go their way in order to reach the Round of 32 as one of the highest-ranked third-placed teams.
World Cup 2026 Top Scorers: Players with Most Goals in Race for Golden Boot
The battle for the World Cup Golden Boot is already heating up, with a number of familiar faces and a few surprise standouts in contention.
Clarke Blasted For ‘Poor’ Interview
Clarke, who has been in charge of Scotland since 2019, has been blasted by fans for his blunt post-match interview, broadcast live on the BBC.
The 62-year-old was asked for his thoughts on the 90 minutes as a whole, to which he replied: “We made it difficult for ourselves. That’s it.”
When the reporter suggested Brazil didn’t need to work too hard for their three goals, Clarke added: “We gave them the goals, we gave them the game they wanted… disappointing.”
Clarke then stormed off when the reporter suggested it was now a matter of waiting to see if they secure qualification for the knockout stages.
“Always waiting,” Clarke replied, “I don’t even want to think about that. Sorry, I don’t even want to think about that.” He waved his hand up before walking off. Watch Clarke’s interview here:
Reaction to Clarke’s Interview
Fans have been left dismayed by Clarke’s interview. One person said on X (Twitter):
“You can be annoyed, not want to do this immediately after the game before you’ve even spoken to the players. I get that. But this is atrocious.”
A second fan commented: “Who does this miserable git think he is? Every interview he gives is like this. Horrible man. Rude. He has his job to do and he has failed so he makes it difficult for an interviewer to do their job. Deserves what he gets.”
A third added: “An absolute clown of a man. Cringeworthy stuff again at a tournament,” while a fourth said: “He should be sacked for that interview.”
A fifth supporter added: “The way Steve Clarke conducts his interviews is absolutely disgraceful and disrespectful to his players, the journalists, and the fans. McGinn was able to compose himself to give a full interview, least his manager can do is back him up.”
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While Clarke was clearly frustrated after witnessing his side fail to compete against Brazil, his post-match interview appears to have made things worse.
Midfielder John McGinn told BBC Sport: “We lose poor goals at poor times against a team that can punish you with quality. We had a few chances but we’ve got to wait now.
“The lads are gutted, we fell short on quality but we gave it absolutely everything. The lads are empty now. It’s unlikely [that we qualify] but we’ll wait and see.
“It’s a bit raw at the minute but we appreciate the support of the fans, we know it’s difficult to be there. Hopefully the journey is not over and if we have to go again, we will go again.”
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