
Uefa drop VAR official who gave controversial PSG penalty vs Newcastle
A video review official has been removed from his Champions League game on Wednesday, one day after having a key role in a disputed decision to award Paris Saint-Germain a stoppage-time penalty for handball against Newcastle which contradicted Uefa’s own advice to referees. The VAR specialist from Poland, Tomasz Kwiatkowski, is no longer listed to work at the Real Sociedad-Salzburg game and has been replaced by a German match official. In Paris on Tuesday, Kylian Mbappe scored in the eighth minute of stoppage time to salvage a 1-1 draw after a ball struck Newcastle defender Tino Livramento in the chest and then deflected off his arm, and a penalty was awarded by Polish referee Szymon Marciniak following a VAR review. Marciniak refereed the Champions League final last season and the 2022 World Cup final with Kwiatkowski in his team. Marciniak initially allowed play to continue Tuesday but awarded the penalty after he was advised by his video assistant to review the incident on the pitchside monitor. However, a Uefa panel of storied coaches and former players said in April that “no handball offense should be called on a player if the ball is previously deflected from his own body, and, in particular, when the ball does not go towards the goal.” The advice to be given to match officials this season was detailed by the panel, chaired by Uefa Chief of Football Zvonimir Boban, in an April 25 statement headlined “Uefa Football Board urges more clarity on handball rule.” “The handball rule, for example, will always be disputed, but we can make it more consistent and aligned with the game’s true nature,” Boban, the former Croatia and AC Milan great, said in April. Uefa declined to comment, in line with a policy not to discuss field of play decisions. The current laws of the game allow for handballs to be penalized even if the contact was not intentional and after a deflection if a defender’s arm is judged to be in an unnatural position. “But his hand is not in an unnatural position,” Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said after the game, “(his hands) are down by his side, but he is in a running motion.” The cross from Ousmane Dembele that struck Livramento was also going backward — and not towards goal. The penalty decision in the PSG game directly affected the standings in the tightly fought Group F, as it kept PSG two points clear of Newcastle in the second qualifying place for the round of 16 behind group leader Borussia Dortmund. “I feel it is a poor decision and it’s hugely frustrating for us as you know how little time there is left in the game,” Howe said. “There is nothing we can do about it now.” Newcastle must now win its home game against last-place AC Milan on Dec. 13 and hope PSG fails to win at Dortmund. The second-place team advances to the Champions League round of 16 and the third-place team goes to the Europa League knockout playoffs. Read More ‘He is the future’: Newcastle and Lewis Miley robbed of night to remember VAR the villain as late penalty call denies Newcastle rearguard win in Paris Newcastle fans attacked in Paris before Champions League match On this day in 2015: Jamie Vardy scores in 11th game in a row Football rumours: Victor Osimhen keen on making Chelsea move The sporting weekend in pictures
2023-11-29 19:01

Topuria vs Emmett card: All UFC Fight Night bouts tonight
Ilia Topuria and Josh Emmett will go head to head in a UFC Fight Night main event tonight, in what should be an entertaining clash of featherweight contenders. Emmett, 38, enters the bout on the back of a dispiriting loss, having been submitted by Yair Rodriguez with the interim title on the line in February. However, the American was on an encouraging win streak before that defeat, and he will feel that he can re-enter the title picture if he secures an impressive victory on Saturday. That would be more easily said than done, however, with Topuria not only unbeaten as a professional but having won 12 of his 13 fights via stoppage. In his last outing, the Georgian, 26, stunned Bryce Mitchell by submitting the submission specialist in December. An undisputed champion will be crowned in July, when Rodriguez challenges official champion Alexander Volkanovski, and the winner of Saturday’s main event may even mark themselves out as the next contender for the gold. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? The event will take place on Saturday 24 June, at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. The prelims are set to begin at 4.30pm BST (8.30am PT, 10.30am CT, 11.30am ET). The main card is then due to follow at 8pm BST (12pm PT, 2pm CT, 3pm ET). How can I watch it? The card will air live on BT Sport in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. Odds Topuria – 5/2 Emmett – 30/100 Full odds via Betway. Full card (subject to change) Main card Josh Emmett vs Ilia Topuria (featherweight) Amanda Ribas vs Maycee Barber (women’s flyweight) Austen Lane vs Justin Tafa (heavyweight) David Onama vs Gabriel Santos (featherweight) Brendan Allen vs Bruno Silva (middleweight) Prelims Neil Magny vs Phil Rowe (welterweight) Randy Brown vs Wellington Turman (welterweight) Mateusz Rebecki vs Loik Radzhabov (lightweight) Tabatha Ricci vs Gillian Robertson (women’s strawweight) Zhalgas Zhumagulov vs Joshua Van (flyweight) Trevor Peek vs Victor Martinez (lightweight) Jamall Emmers vs Jack Jenkins (featherweight) Tatsuro Taira vs Kleydson Rodrigues (flyweight) Cody Brundage vs Sedriques Dumas (middleweight) Read More Fury vs Usyk: Behind the scenes, laughter is turning to anger Joe Rogan is right: Tyson Fury has ‘no chance in hell’ against Jon Jones How to watch The Ultimate Fighter 31 in the UK What time does Topuria vs Emmett start in UK and US tonight How to watch Topuria vs Emmett online and on TV tonight Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg ‘dead serious’ about cage fight, says UFC boss
2023-06-24 16:07

Corey Hawkins on facing down Dracula in 'The Last Voyage of the Demeter'
The Last Voyage of the Demeter star Corey Hawkins discusses what it was like to
2023-08-09 21:36

How did Melissa McCarthy celebrate Ben Falcone's 50th birthday? 'The Heat' star reflects on her 18-year-old marriage
Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone got married in 2005 and the couple met back in 1998
2023-08-26 07:36

Messi back in training with PSG after club lifts suspension
Lionel Messi has returned to training with his Paris Saint-Germain teammates after the club lifted his suspension
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Afghan women face 'pandemic of suicidal thoughts'
Afghanistan faces a worsening mental health crisis amid a clampdown on women's freedoms and rights.
2023-06-05 12:45

Transfer notebook: Everton eye Weghorst; Newcastle clear out; Reijnders nears AC Milan
Tuesday's transfer notebook includes Everton's transfer plans, Newcastle looking to move on a number of players, Viktor Gyokeres, Tijjani Reijnders and more.
2023-07-12 01:35

Pokémon GO Field Research Tasks: November 2022
A guide of all the Field Research Tasks available during November 2022 in Pokémon GO.
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Salesforce Jumps as Cost-Cutting Moves Propel Profit Outlook
Salesforce Inc. gained about 7% in extended trading after giving a profit forecast for the current quarter that
2023-11-30 05:41

Harrington waits until after U.S. Open round to discuss PGA Tour-Saudi partnership with Mickelson
Padraig Harrington and Phil Mickelson discussed many things during their two days playing in the same group at the U.S. Open
2023-06-17 07:40

Football transfer rumours: Arsenal 'fed up' with Havertz, Real Madrid express Son interest
Thursday's football transfer rumours, with updates on Kai Havertz, Son Heung-min, Jadon Sancho, Jamal Musiala & more.
2023-09-28 16:15

Britney Spears halts 42nd birthday celebrations midway after one of her dogs suffers a medical emergency
According to a report, Britney Spears, who has a soft corner for dogs, visibly appeared distressed and concerned while taking her dog to the clinic
2023-12-03 01:48
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