29/01/2026

SPORTS THURSDAY | JAN 29, 2026

30

Prass helps Hoffenheim go third A RUTHLESS Alexander Prass strike helped Hoffenheim go third with a 2-0 win at Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga yesterday, while RB Leipzig were held 1-1 late at St Pauli. Relegation battlers last season, Hoffenheim won thanks to Prass’ long-range effort and a Grischa Proemel goal. They have now lost just one of their past 13 games and sit three points behind Borussia Dortmund in the table. Even the sending off of Hoffenheim’s Wouter Burger for a dangerous tackle early in the second half did not derail Hoffenheim’s momentum. In Hamburg, Leipzig took the lead with 66 minutes gone when Diomande’s speculative effort took a wicked deflection and landed in the net. With Leipzig on track to go one point behind Hoffenheim, captain David Raum fell clumsily, taking out Martijn Kaars in the box. The contact was accidental but the referee immediately pointed to the spot. Kaars secured Pauli a valuable point which lifted them off the bottom of the table.

Iraola’s attacking options following the departure of Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City this month. “We believe he has enormous potential, and Bournemouth is the right environment for him to continue his development and make an impact,” Bournemouth’s president of football operations Tiago Pinto said in a statement. Bournemouth, who last week claimed a shock 3-2 win over cham pions Liverpool, are 13th in the Premier League standings on 30 points. They travel to bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. Abraham rejoins Villa ASTON VILLA signed Tammy Abraham from Besiktas yesterday to bolster their forward options for an unexpected Premier League title challenge.

Abraham returns to England after five years abroad with Roma, AC Milan and the Turkish giants for the past six months. Villa are just four points adrift of leaders Arsenal as they aim for a first top-flight league title since 1981. Unai Emery’s men are also among the favourites to win the Europa League. Villa will reportedly pay £18m (RM99m) for Abraham after Besiktas exercised an option to turn his loan move from Roma into a permanent transfer earlier this month for £11m (RM61m). The 28-year old already has fond memories of Villa Park from a loan spell during his time at Chelsea. Abraham scored 26 times in 40 appearances to fire Villa back into the Premier League from the second-tier Championship. “Some clubs play a big part in your journey and stay with you,” Abraham said. “I’m back at Aston Villa, ready to work and give everything.”

SIDENETTING

Bournemouth sign Brazilian forward BRAZILIAN forward Rayan has joined Bournemouth from Vasco da Gama on a five-and-a half-year contract, the Premier League club said yesterday. Bournemouth did not disclose financial details of the deal, with British media reporting that the Brazilian Serie A club will receive an initial fee of £24.7m (RM136m) plus a potential £5.6m (RM31m) in add-ons. Rayan, 19, made 34 appear ances in Serie A for Vasco da Gama last season, net ting 14 goals as they finished 14th. He has played 11 matches for Brazil’s U-20 team, scoring twice, and will bolster Bournemouth manager Andoni

Pep defends outburst Guardiola accuses referee of attempting to make story about himself against Wolves

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28/01/2026 (WED)

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Draw Date: 28/01/26 (Wed)

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Ű BY ANDY HAMPSON

on debut and it happened. I know they are sensitive, everyone. I know that.” Guardiola’s anger about refereeing decisions has been bubbling underneath the surface for much of the season. But throughout this month he has been unable to keep a lid on his feelings. Even before the most recent incidents, Guardiola had at least some grounds for complaint. The Premier League’s Key Match Incidents Panel ruled City should have been given a penalty in a 2-1 loss at Newcastle in November. Phil Foden was caught by home defender Fabian Schar after he had released a shot, but the VAR did not inter vene. In the same game Newcastle scored a goal which looked like it might be offside, but Bruno Guimaraes was within the 5cm tolerance level. The more recent decisions were more subjective. The Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) accepted Antoine Semenyo’s goal should not have been dis allowed through a VAR intervention at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. While off side against Haaland was technically cor rect in law, it was an overstep by the VAR. The potential red card for Diogo Dalot for a studs-up challenge on Jeremy Doku in the Manchester derby was a borderline call which was influenced by referee Anthony Taylor providing a good descrip tion of the incident. As Webb said, if the on-field decision had been a red card that would have stood too. The Mosquera handball was similar, too. You could make a case for a penalty as the Wolves player had his arms out from the body. But you could also argue his arms would justifiably be in that position as he slowed down his run to challenge Omar Marmoush. The annoyance for Guardiola was all these close calls have gone against his side – and they keep adding up. – The Independent/Agencies

RM11,854,342.20

P EP GUARDIOLA (above) has doubled down on his criticism of referee Farai Hallam following Manchester City’s clash with Wolves last weekend. Guardiola accused Hallam, who was taking charge of his first Premier League game, of attempting to make the story about himself after sticking by a decision not to award City a penalty. Hallam had been advised to review an appeal for handball against Wolves’ Yerson Mosquera on the pitchside moni tor but did not change his original verdict. City manager Guardiola later demanded an explanation and broad ened his complaints to reference other decisions he feels have gone against his club. While opinions on the actual penalty decision have varied, Guardiola’s com ments about Hallam have been widely condemned. Guardiola, however, has not back tracked – although he did offer a qualified apology for any offence. Speaking ahead of this morning’s Champions League encounter with Galatasaray, Guardiola said: “They defend each other with their statements, always, completely understandably – they have to do that. “(Referees chief) Howard Webb defends the referees. But, at the same time, I have to defend my club. How many times last season did I criticise referees – our worst season in 10 years? How many times? It never happened. “Against (Manchester) United, after the game, what were my comments about the referees? I was incredibly respectful, in 9-10 years, with the referees. Never ever – with defeats – I never comment on abso lutely anything. When I do it, it’s because I believe it’s fair enough to tell.” Asked specifically about Hallam, Guardiola said: “I’m so sorry. If he felt offended I’m so sorry. I know it’s not easy

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