18/07/2025

SPORTS FRIDAY | JULY 18, 2025

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Eagles ‘still fighting’ Crystal Palace chairman says club will appeal Europa League exclusion C RYSTAL PALACE will mount a legal challenge to Uefa’s decision to exclude them from next season’s Europa League, with chairman Steve Parish announcing the club will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “We are still fighting,” Parish told the The Rest is Football podcast. “There’s an appeal process, so we go to CAS which is the court for arbitration and, you know, we’re very hopeful. We think we’ve got great legal arguments.

SHORTS Yamal to be investigated BARCELONA’S teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal is to be the subject of an investigation by Spain’s Prosecutor’s Office, at the request of the nation’s Ministry of Social Rights, after claims that his 18th birthday party included people with dwarfism that were hired to provide entertainment. It’s alleged that Yamal hired a group of entertainers with dwarfism at his party last Sunday, held in the town of Olivella, around 50km from Barcelona. A BBC report says that the Association of People with Achondroplasia and other Skeletal Dysplasias in Spain (ADEE) described the act as “unacceptable in the 21st century” and that the ADEE has filed a legal complaint against the footballer. As a result, the Directorate General has asked the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate whether the law or the rights of disabled people have been broken. Conversely, someone claiming to be one of the entertainers at the party appeared on the Spanish radio station RAC1 in defence of Yamal, saying: “No-one disrespected us, we worked in peace. “I don’t understand why there’s so much hype. We’re normal people, who do what we want, in an absolutely legal way. We work as entertainers. Why can’t we do it? Because of our physical condition? “We know what our limit is and we will never exceed it: we are not fairground monkeys.” The artist also claimed that, after the show, the entertainers had joined in with the party. Bournemouth sign Chelsea keeper Petrovic BOURNEMOUTH have completed the signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic on a deal until June 2030. The 25-year-old has been at Stamford Bridge since joining from Major League Soccer side New England Revolution in 2023 and made 31 first-team appearances for the Blues. Petrovic enjoyed a successful loan spell at Ligue 1 club Strasbourg last season and has now joined the Cherries for a reported £25 million (RM145m), signing a five-year contract at the Vitality Stadium. “I’m really happy to be here,” the Serbia international said. “I came to Bournemouth because I want to grow and I want to play at the best level. “Together with this club, with these facilities, I think we can achieve it. I want to help the team get the results, improve every day and be a better player.” Bournemouth had Kepa Arrizabalaga on loan from Chelsea last season. The Spain international has since joined Arsenal on a permanent basis, while Cherries back-up Mark Travers signed for Everton on Wednesday.

regulations was March 1. Forest, who stand to gain from the ruling, were at risk of being in a similar situation but their owner Evangelos Marinakis – who also owns Greek side Olympiacos – placed his shares in a blind trust ahead of the deadline in anticipation of the club qualifying for Europe. “We feel that there are a lot of very genuine mitigating circumstances and more than enough wriggle room to put us in the competition,” said Parish. “It does look bad. This is the dream right? This is what keeps football alive. This is why everybody goes, because they think one day they might win a cup and they might qualify for Europe. “These things can be defining moments for a club and completely change the course of history forever. “Hopefully when we go to CAS we get the right answer. “We get the written version of (the ruling) with the detail then apparently the appeal is 10 days” – The Independent

“We don’t think this is the right decision by any means. We know unequivocally that John didn’t have decisive influence over the club. “We know we proved that beyond all reasonable doubt because it’s a fact.” Uefa rules say that no owner or co-owner can have a controlling interest in more than one club competing in the same European competition during the same season. Palace’s position throughout has been that Textor, who had previously spoken publicly about his frustration over the lack of influence he was able to exert at Selhurst Park, did not have a sufficiently controlling role for the club to fall foul of the regulations. The deadline for shareholders to divest their interest in a club, or in some other way to alter their ownership structure, in order to comply with the

The FA Cup winners have been demoted to the Conference League owing to what Europe’s governing body says is a conflict of interest regarding former director and co-owner John Textor, who also owns part of Ligue 1 side Lyon. The American stepped away from Palace at the start of July, but the ownership issue relates to the end of last season when the club secured a first European appearance by beating Manchester City at Wembley. Uefa’s ruling would mean Nottingham Forest, who

finished seventh in the Premier League, taking Palace’s place in the Europa League.

Devils get Watkins green light

Ollie Watkins. – REUTERSPIC

MANCHESTER have reportedly been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Aston Villa star Ollie Watkins. The Red Devils have been keen to bolster their attacking ranks significantly this summer, and a No. 9 is firmly among their priorities. Ruben Amorim has already welcomed Matheus Cunha to his ranks from Wolves, and negotiations are still ongoing with Brentford over a deal for Bryan Mbeumo. United are also looking at adding a focal point to their frontline. UNITED

the move to come to fruition. But after missing out on their primary targets, a move for Watkins is now a strong consideration and could be made towards the latter stages of the transfer window once United have offloaded a host of their fringe players. The club are keen to sell Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia, who all do not feature in Amorim’s plans next season. The Red Devils are also aware that Watkins will not be available cheaply, given that he is first-choice at Villa Park. Unai Emery’s side are demanding in excess of £50 million (RM290m) to part ways with the 29-year-old, with any sale likely to push them into the market for a marquee striker addition. Villa have already been linked with Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson in recent weeks, and other targets are likely to be considered given that the club will not risk heading into the 2025/26 campaign without a ready-made striker ready to hit the ground running in the Premier League. Emery’s side are also keen to sign United wantaway star Garnacho, which could open up the possibility of a swap deal or player-plus-cash deal involving Watkins, as long as the Argentine would be willing to snub interest from the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham. – Express Newspapers

Watkins has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent weeks, and GiveMeSport report that the England international would be open to the move if United arrive with an offer over the coming weeks. The Red Devils have

prioritised alternative options so far this summer, missing out on Liam Delap to Chelsea before being snubbed by Sporting star Viktor Gyokeres, who is keen to join Arsenal instead and talks are ongoing for

Toure key part of Guardiola’s coaching staff at City

Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

academy into the first team. “As we already saw throughout his time with Pep Guardiola, Pep Lijnders and James French this summer, his massive personality of optimism and positivity is hugely infectious and we’re already looking forward to his work moving forward.” Toure made 102 appearances in four seasons as a City player, joining from Arsenal in 2009, being appointed captain in 2010 and winning the Premier League title in 2012. A member of Arsenal’s “Invincibles”, he also had spells at Liverpool and Celtic. He has taken up coaching roles at Celtic and Leicester under Brendan Rodgers and had a brief spell as Wigan manager in 2022-23, failing to win a game. – The Independent

three departures with Juanma Lillo and Inigo Dominguez returning to Spain and Carlos Vicens becoming head coach of Braga. And director of football Hugo Viana believes the bubbly Toure will help youth-team players graduate into Guardiola’s side. “We’re delighted to permanently add Kolo to our first-team coaching staff,” he said. “Not only does he bring his immensely precious experience at football’s elite level, but he also has a deep connection with Manchester City and a deep knowledge of the club. “We’ve also been hugely impressed with his work and success with our Under-18s, and by adding him into our senior staff permanently, this will only strengthen the transition for players in our

KOLO TOURE has joined Pep Guardiola’s backroom team at Manchester City on a permanent basis after being appointed as assistant coach. The former City captain, who had been coaching the club’s U-18s, impressed Guardiola when he was promoted to work with the senior side during the Club World Cup. He forms part of a new-look coaching team with Pep Lijnders, Jurgen Klopp’s former right hand man at Liverpool, becoming Guardiola’s assistant and set-piece specialist James French arriving from Anfield. Guardiola has got an injection of new blood around him after City’s disappointing season led to