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Former Ireland great Robbie Keane has been hired to coach Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv

The safety plans of every organisation responsible for staging next year’s Champions League final at Wembley must be “tested to destruction”, Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt has said. There is immense pressure on the FA and UEFA for the event to be a success after problems arose at the last two finals. The 2022 match in Paris almost became a “mass fatality catastrophe” according to an independent report commissioned by UEFA. Liverpool fans found themselves penned against stadium perimeter fences ahead of the match against Real Madrid due to organisational failings, and were then tear-gassed by French police. While the problems around this year’s final in Istanbul were less severe, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin admitted last week that “not everything was perfect”, with supporters reporting problems getting to and from the Ataturk Stadium and in accessing drinking water and toilets. Ceferin assured delegates at the European Football Fans Congress in Manchester that the 2024 final would be “a unique experience” for supporters. That appeared to ratchet up the pressure on Wembley, a venue which itself hosted a chaotic Euro 2020 final two summers ago. An independent review by Baroness Casey identified more than 20 near-miss incidents that could have resulted in serious injury or death at the match between England and Italy on July 11 2021, as ticketless individuals stormed turnstiles to force entry. FA chair Hewitt insisted there was “healthy paranoia” among organisers around what could go wrong at every Wembley event, and pledged everyone involved would aim to work out the pitfalls and how to respond to them. “It isn’t the regular stuff that goes wrong,” Hewitt said. “It is the stuff that hasn’t happened. In that particular tournament (Euro 2020), it was the first time we had 30,000 empty seats (due to Covid-19 capacity restrictions). “It’s really easy for me standing here and saying ‘well, that was obvious, that was the thing that was different’. You have to search for the thing that is different. You don’t make the same mistakes, you make different ones. So what is the thing that is different? “Secondly, it is about making sure every one of the stakeholders completely and utterly understands, and tests to destruction, the plan. “It is no good the police doing their bit in one room and the stewards doing their bit in another and us doing our bit in that room and UEFA doing theirs in that room. It is getting everyone in the same room and testing each other’s plans to destruction. There is pressure on every event we host at Wembley. We have got paranoia, healthy paranoia I would say, but we are paranoid. Yes, there is pressure but there is pressure on everything we do. FA chair Debbie Hewitt “I believe in a process called pre-mortem, not post-mortem. I use it a lot in business, what could go wrong and how do we deal with it? It’s a bit like pretend crisis management in a way but it is much more deep than that. “There is pressure on every event we host at Wembley. We have got paranoia, healthy paranoia I would say, but we are paranoid. Yes, there is pressure but there is pressure on everything we do. “You write about (the pressure) because of the fact there have been two finals where things have gone wrong. But every time we host something at Wembley – (a) Tyson Fury (fight), Harry Styles, Coldplay, no matter what, where you have groups of people together, something that can go wrong will go wrong, and it is times so many multiples because it is the national stadium. “We are paranoid about it and we try to test to destruction. I am sure we will make some mistakes that have yet to be made in other stadiums, but it won’t be because we didn’t try and test. That is important to us. It is very important we learn the lessons from Paris and Istanbul.” Asked if she was confident there would be no repeat of the storming of the turnstiles at Euro 2020, Hewitt said: “You can never be confident with something like that can you? It would be very over-confident for me to say that. Because anything can happen. “It is one of the biggest events in Europe and anything can happen. You just have to be confident you have thought through what you would do if something did happen. Rather than say ‘I am confident that will never happen’, the question is ‘what if it did? What would you do?’ That kind of testing is crucial.” By the time Wembley hosts the Champions League final on June 1 next year, the FA will also know whether or not the stadium will host the Euro 2028 final. The UK and Ireland is bidding to host that tournament in competition with Turkey, with a decision due to be taken by UEFA’s executive committee on October 10 this year. Hewitt is expecting tough questions given the chaos of July 2021 and knows it is important to have the answers. “We are on our feet in October convincing people why we should win,” she said. “One of the things I am absolutely convinced UEFA’s Exco will ask us is ’how can you assure us nobody will storm the turnstiles?’. “Being well rehearsed – and not just having the answers but having worked through what is the answer – that is an important part of the bid. We have to convince every one of those Exco members we have not only thought about it but that we have planned for it – that we know what we would do in what order and who is accountable, and that is why they should vote for us.”

Formula One team Alpine has secured a $218 million boost from a group of investors that includes Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds

Golf influencer Paige Spiranac has hit out at “‘hypocrites” who enjoyed a performance of “semi-naked” men before a baseball game. Spiranac has often spoken about the negative attitudes she faces as a former professional golfer and influencer posting supposedly ‘risque’ content on Instagram. The 30-year-old shared her own experiences in a new Twitter post, claiming that people online were hypocritical for cheering a performance of men dancing topless while at the same time “harshly treating” her content. Spiranac posted a video of the dancing duo named “the Savannah Party Animals” who appeared before a recent baseball game wearing only trousers and cowboy hats. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Giving her take, she wrote: "Interesting how different the reaction is online when men choose to show off their bodies. “Not one comment on this video calling them attention w****s or s***s. Just a ton of women saying baseball is now their favourite sport but those same women harshly judge me. The hypocrisy lol." Spiranac has spoken about being judged by members of the golfing world in the past, including when she offered a set of clubs to a charity auction – only to be rejected because of her “cleavage”. Speaking on her podcast Playing-A-Round with Paige, she said: “I wanted to help this charity out and I wanted to give them free golf clubs. "The guy wrote back and said, ‘We would love to but, because of the way our board members view you, you can’t help out’. I want to give back to these kids who don’t have anything, because I grew up not having anything. And I can’t even f***ing do that because of my cleavage.” Spiranac also recently clapped back at a TikTok troll who accused her of "insulting men" with her outfit choice. The golf influencer was wearing a grey bodysuit as she demonstrated to her 1.4m followers how to hit a certain type of golf shot by changing their set up in a video earlier this year. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Luka Modric has extended his contract with Real Madrid for another year. The LaLiga club announced on Monday that Croatia playmaker Modric, 37, would remain with the Spanish giants until at least the end of June 2024. Modric – who joined Real from Tottenham in 2012 and has gone on to win the Champions League five times as well as three LaLiga titles – would have been out of contract this summer and so could have left on a free transfer. A statement from Real Madrid read: “Real Madrid and Luka Modric have agreed to extend the player’s contract, which remains linked to the club until June 30 2024.” Modric – who helped Croatia reach the 2018 World Cup final and won the Ballon d’Or that year – had been linked with following former team-mate Karim Benzema in making a big-money move to Saudi Arabia. Following the announcement of his new contract at Real Madrid, Modric wrote on Twitter: “Home Sweet Home. #Modric2024”. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

It may take more than an injury to Jacob deGrom to knock the Texas Rangers out of first place

RB Leipzig are seeking a world record transfer fee for a defender in order to sel Josko Gvardiol to Manchester City.

Victor Wembanyama says he won’t play with France's national basketball team at this year's World Cup in order to protect his still developing body

Ilkay Gundogan has reflected on his “bittersweet” exit from Manchester City after the club’s treble-winning captain confirmed his move to Barcelona at the end of his contract. Gundogan departs City after seven years at the club having played a major part in the most successful season of in the club’s history. The Germany international lifted the club’s first Champions League title following a 1-0 win against Inter in his final game with the club, after scoring key goals in City’s Premier League and FA Cup victories - including a double in the 2-1 win against Manchester United at Wembley. The 32-year-old won five Premier League titles with City after arriving from Borussia Dortmund as City manager Pep Guardiola’s first signing. Gundogan has signed a two-year contract with Barcelona, the Spanish champions, with the option of a further year at the Nou Camp. “Today is bittersweet,” Gundogan said in a piece published on the Players’ Tribune. “Goodbyes are never easy, but it’s even harder with this team. “When I had to break the news to the boys that I was leaving in our group chat, I was very emotional. “I will miss all of them, honestly. But I am happy to say that I’m leaving here as a champion, and I have nothing but love for the club in my heart. How many footballers can say goodbye as the captain of a treble team? “It’s amazing what we achieved. Five Premier League titles in my seven years here. Two FA Cups. The Champions League. The treble. “But those are just trophies. The thing that I will remember the most is the feeling inside the squad, especially this season. I’ve never experienced something like it in football.” Manchester City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain said Gundogan had “cemented his place in the history” of the club as he paid tribute to the midfielder. “Ilkay has been a wonderful servant for Manchester City, and he leaves our club on a very special high having captained us to a historic Treble,” Begiristain told Man City’s website. “He has played a huge part in the successes we have enjoyed in recent seasons and Ilkay’s intelligence, leadership and commitment to the Club - both on and off the field - has been an inspiration to everyone.” Read More Ilkay Gundogan, the man who transformed Man City and timed a perfect goodbye Ilkay Gundogan, the man who transformed Man City and timed a perfect goodbye Barcelona set to sign Man City captain on free transfer Rain and threat of lightning fail to dampen Manchester City’s trophy parade

Manchester City’s director of football Txiki Begiristain paid tribute to the “inspirational” Ilkay Gundogan after the midfielder’s long-expected free transfer to Barcelona was confirmed. The treble-winning captain turned down the chance to stay at City and is set to sign with Barca, who have set his buyout clause at 400million euros (£342m), until 2025 following the expiration of his existing contract. Gundogan, who was manager Pep Guardiola’s first signing in July 2016, signed off in style by lifting the Champions League earlier this month after victory over Inter Milan in his 304th and final appearance. “Ilkay has been a wonderful servant for Manchester City, and he leaves our club on a very special high having captained us to a historic treble,” said Begiristain. “He has played a huge part in the successes we have enjoyed in recent seasons and Ilkay’s intelligence, leadership and commitment to the club – both on and off the field – has been an inspiration to everyone. “Ilkay has truly cemented his place in the history of Manchester City and we all wish him well in the next chapter of his career.” During his seven years at City Gundogan won the Premier League five times, in addition to two FA Cups – this season scoring the quickest goal in final history at 12 seconds – four League Cups and the Champions League. “I have been lucky to have experienced so many unforgettable moments in my time here and to have been captain for this extra-special season has been the greatest experience of my career,” said the former Germany international. “First, I would like to thank Pep. To have been able to play under and learn from him for so long has been something I will never forget. “I would also like to thank all my team-mates – past and present – who have all played such a special part in making my time here so amazing. “Finally, I would like to thank the incredible City fans. They have supported me from the moment I arrived, and I owe them all so much for their support. “This club made me realise all my dreams and I will forever be thankful for this opportunity.”

The St Louis Cardinals stormed back from a 4-0 first-inning deficit to beat the Chicago Cubs 7-5 and split Major League Baseball’s second London Series. For some punters this event was about gawking at two-foot long hot dogs and potentially seeing a handful of home runs, though noises around London Stadium suggested a decent number of the 55,565 in attendance were genuinely invested in the sport. Players from both sides emphasised the seriousness of MLB’s trip across the pond – which holds genuine consequences for the National League Central rivals’ postseason hopes – while MLB will be evaluating if and how they can continue to stage games in London after the last scheduled series here in 2026. Chicago were dealt a blow when pitching ace Marcus Stroman was forced off with injury in the bottom of the fourth, while the division-bottom Cardinals (32-45) benefitted from an alert offence and strong performance from the bullpen in a game that featured 11 different men on the mound. Stroman entered the afternoon with wins in an MLB-leading seven straight starts, while Cardinals boss Oliver Marmol turned to Matthew Liberatore after Jack Flaherty was a late fitness scratch. The Cardinals quickly fell behind after the ‘visiting’ Cubs batted first, capitalised on a pair of errors and got themselves out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. But St Louis rallied in the bottom half of the second and had the bases loaded with two outs before singles from Tommy Edman and Brendan Donovan made it 4-3. With a man on first, Marmol swapped his starter for right-hander Jake Woodford at the top of the third, while neither of the two pinch runners Cubs boss David Ross introduced for the subsequent at-bats crossed home plate and the score stood at 4-3. But it was all tied up at the end of the inning after Jordan Walker’s line drive to centre brought home Lars Nootbaar. The Cards took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the fourth through Paul Goldschmidt, who this weekend became the first MLB player to play in five countries and drove in Edman to make it 5-4. Something seemed to be troubling the usually reliable Stroman. He began the game with the national league’s lowest earned-run average, but in London he ended the afternoon with six runs allowed and hit Donovan with a pitch. A mound visit determined the Cubs ace was suffering from a blister to his right index finger and he was pulled after 3.1 innings and replaced by Michael Fulmer, St Louis extending their lead when Lars Nootbaar’s sacrifice fly allowed Donovan to score from third. The Cardinals managed just six hits across all nine innings on Saturday. By Sunday’s seventh-inning stretch they had posted 11, including Nolan Gorman’s fifth-inning single to make it 7-4. The bullpen quartet of Woodford, Genesis Cabrera, Giovanny Gallegos and Andre Pallante combined for seven scoreless innings before Jordan Hicks gave up a sacrifice fly to Nico Hoerner, allowing Nick Madrigal to cross home plate. Though the Cubs had no given up a run since the fifth it was too late to spark a comeback, despite winning a video review challenge. It was down to Seiya Suzuki to make magic happen with their last out. Instead, Hicks caught him swinging to seal the all-important victory in Britain. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Football rumours: Jadon Sancho and Harry Maguire may be shown Man Utd exit door Cameron Norrie ‘really excited’ about leading British men into Wimbledon battle Andy Murray recalls ‘huge relief’ of his maiden Wimbledon win 10 years on

What the papers say Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag will open the door for 11 players to leave the club, including Harry Maguire and Jadon Sancho, in an effort to bring new talent to the club, the Sun reported. After three failed bids for Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount, Manchester United’s fight for the 24-year-old has become more difficult as Bayern Munich have reportedly entered the fold for his signature. The Guardian reported Thomas Tuchel, who coached Mount at Chelsea, is a big supporter of the England international and could try to match Chelsea’s hefty transfer fee to bring him to Germany. Everton winger Demarai Gray is attracting interest from the Saudi Pro League team Al-Hilal with negotiations set to begin next week, the Daily Mail reported. The Daily Mail also says Fulham are looking to sign American forward Brenden Aaronson on a loan deal from Leeds, and the Sun add that Marco Silva’s side will sign free-agent Yerry Mina, who will leave Everton. Social media round-up Players to watch Josko Gvardiol: He has been labelled as Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola’s “dream player” but the 21-year-old’s club RB Leipzig have set a mammoth £77million asking price for the Croatian defender, Sky Sport Germany reports. Micky van de Ven: The 22-year-old Dutch defender appears likely to move to England with Liverpool and Tottenham both interested in snaring him from Wolfsburg, according to Football Insider. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live