The player’s lawyer wanted the Slavia Prague defender suspended for a year after UEFA found him found guilty of “racist behaviour”.
All the important info around the quarter-final second leg
All you need to know ahead of the quarter-final second leg
Liverpool and Real Madrid both have key players missing for tonight’s Champions League quarter-final second-leg clash at Anfield. Jordan Henderson remains sidelined, meaning Jurgen Klopp has a decision to make in midfield: James Milner or Thiago Alcantara. Up front, Sadio Mane should come in, despite his wretched form in from of goal, after being rested from the off against Aston Villa.
Manchester United fans are no strangers to excuses that poor results have been down to players struggling to see each other. Tuesday marked 25 years to the day since Sir Alex Ferguson famously ordered his players to change from their grey kit to a blue-and-white strip midway through a 3-1 loss at Southampton. Now, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says United’s inconsistent home form is partly down to the fact his players were unable to see each other clearly due to the red stadium wrap at Old Trafford.
Conor McGregor’s fight was announced while the countdown to the Olympics continued.
Everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s knockout tie
Everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s knockout tie
Everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s knockout tie
Erling Haaland will hope to end his barren run in front of goal when Borussia Dortmund battle Manchester City in the Champions League tonight. Haaland, who is being chased by almost every top European side, has not scored in six games for club and country - his longest goalless drought since moving to the Bundesliga. Marco Reus's away goal may prove vital against City, but he may not be fit for the quarter-final return leg along with Mats Hummels with Dortmund trailing 2-1.
Liverpool must pull off another famous European comeback at Anfield tonight if they are to knock out Real Madrid and reach the Uefa Champions League semi-finals. A 3-1 defeat to Zinedine Zidane’s Real in Spain means Liverpool have it all to do in the second leg of their quarter-final tie - though Mohamed Salah’s away goal will give the Reds hope of setting up a last-four battle with Chelsea. It has been a disappointing season for Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League champions, with injuries and a loss of form leaving Liverpool likely to end the season empty-handed.
Man City’s Champions League quarter-final clash with Borussia Dortmund is perfectly poised heading into tonight’s second leg at the Westfalenstadion. Phil Foden’s late goal earned City a 2-1 win at the Etihad last week, but Marco Reus’ away goal means Dortmund are well in the game as both sides look to set up a semi-final meeting with PSG, who knocked out holders Bayern Munich last night. Despite their relative dominance of English football in recent years, City have not been beyond this stage of the competition since doing so for the first time in 2016, and have never reached a final.
Hans-Joachim Watzke has quashed suggestions that the club must wave goodbye to their star men
Football Index collapse: MPs and peers urge Johnson to hold public inquiry
Former Netherlands international Clarence Seedorf believes players who cover their mouths to speak to opponents or referees should be punished in a bid to combat racism. On Wednesday, Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela was banned for 10 matches by Uefa after being found guilty of racist behaviour towards Rangers player Glen Kamara. The Finn was incensed after Kudela whispered into his ear during a Europa League tie at Ibrox on March 18.
Everything you need to know before the quarter-final second leg
The incident happened on March 18.
Manchester United star Paul Pogba has signed a deal with Amazon to be the subject of a new documentary series. The French Amazon Original series, named ‘The Pogmentary’, will offer “a unique and intimate look at Pogba’s life” and is set for release on Amazon Prime in the UK next year. As well as focusing on the key moments in Pogba’s career - likely to include his departure from and later return to United, as well as France’s 2018 World Cup win - the makers have promised to provide and insight into the 28-year-old’s life off the field, including interviews with family and friends, as well as previously unreleased footage from his childhood.
Everything you need to know ahead of tonight’s knockout tie
Replacing Poch with tactics to make George Graham look like Ossie ArdilesSign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! Mauricio Pochettino: one trophy in the bag, Big Cup in his sights. Photograph: Dave Winter/REX/Shutterstock