
Chelsea offers free travel to fans for Premier League match on Christmas Eve
Chelsea fans travelling to Wolves for the Premier League clash on Christmas Eve will be offered free transport to and from the game by the club. The match itself was originally scheduled for 23 December but has been moved back a day for a 1 pm kick off, becoming the first Premier League to take place on 24 December since 1995. It is a decision that has been unpopular with fans, given the already congested festive fixture schedule. "The club is aware that transport options are more limited than usual on this date, as it is a Sunday and also Christmas Eve," Chelsea said in a statement. "As a sign of appreciation for fans making this trip, Chelsea Football Club will be offering free travel as a goodwill gesture to anyone who purchases a ticket." The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said: “It is totally unacceptable that Wolves v Chelsea has been scheduled for Christmas Eve. “Not only could this lead to staffing issues at Molineux, but holiday transport timetables will further inconvenience supporters.” Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino will also be unable to celebrate his wedding anniversary as well as the holiday. The manager said last week: "It is difficult because it is not easy to change," he said last week. "We need to accept we are in England and it is different to the rest of the world ... "Even if I am not happy, we need to try to be in our best level and accept a situation we cannot change." In August Chelsea were criticised for putting financial strain on fans after removing a £10 subsidy on coach travel to domestic away matches, deciding it was not ‘financially sustainable’. The club has spent almost £1bn on signings since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital bought the club in 2022. With reporting from Reuters. Read More Mauricio Pochettino insists Chelsea must rebuild trust with supporters Wolves v Chelsea on Christmas Eve means ‘unhappy wife’ for Mauricio Pochettino Reports of Premier League games on Christmas Eve a ‘kick in the teeth’ for fans Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea ‘not nasty enough’ after defeat by Brentford Brentford end Chelsea’s mini-revival and continue Stamford Bridge success story Chelsea vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result and final score
1970-01-01 08:00

Luis Rubiales intends to appeal against his three-year ban from football
Former Spanish Football Association president Luis Rubiales has said he intends to appeal against his three-year ban from all football-related activity imposed by FIFA. Rubiales kissed Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the trophy presentation following Spain’s victory over England in the World Cup final on August 20, but Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual. World football’s governing body announced earlier on Monday that Rubiales had been banned for a breach of article 13 of the FIFA disciplinary code. Rubiales confirmed in a statement on social media he will appeal against FIFA’s punishment. He ended his lengthy post by saying: “I will go to the last resort so that justice is done and the truth shines through.” FIFA’s statement released earlier on Monday read: “The FIFA disciplinary committee has banned Luis Rubiales, the former president of the Spanish Football Association (RFEF), from all football-related activities at national and international levels for three years, having found that he acted in breach of article 13 of the FIFA disciplinary code.” FIFA said its decision was subject to a possible appeal before its appeal committee. After Rubiales’ resignation from RFEF was made public on September 10, he stated his desire to “defend my innocence” and insisted he had “faith” in the truth. The actions of the former UEFA vice-president at the World Cup final were widely condemned at the time, after he also celebrated his nation’s victory by grabbing his crotch while standing alongside Spain’s Queen Letizia and 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia in the VIP box in Sydney. Rubiales did apologise for his actions in a video statement a day after, but later in August insisted he would not resign and claimed the kiss was consensual during a speech in front of Spain’s regional federations, clubs, players, coaches and referees in Madrid. All of Spain’s World Cup-winning squad subsequently indicated they would be unavailable for national team duty while Rubiales remained in post before he was banned by FIFA from all football-related activities for an initial 90-day period on August 26. Spain manager Jorge Vilda was sacked soon after on September 5 and the RFEF apologised at the time for the “enormous damage” caused by Rubiales’ actions. After Hermoso formally submitted a complaint about Rubiales to Spain’s national prosecutor’s office that same week, days later the complaint of sexual assault and an allegation of coercion was filed by the office to the high court. Former Levante defender Rubiales’ did eventually resign, but later in September refused to apologise directly to Hermoso and continued to insist it had been a “consensual” kiss. Read More Aryna Sabalenka ‘really disrespected by the WTA’ after poor organisation How Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have fared since their big-money transfers Police investigate ‘freak accident’ death of Adam Johnson in ice hockey match Jurgen Klopp impressed by Alexis Mac Allister in Liverpool’s win against Forest Sam Burgess hopes to bring ‘fresh approach’ to get Warrington back on track FIFA sends ‘support and prayers’ to Luis Diaz as search for his father continues
1970-01-01 08:00

Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has been cleared to return to lineup after missing 3 games
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones has been cleared to return to the lineup after missing three games with a neck injury
1970-01-01 08:00

Cleveland Guardians interview Brewers manager Craig Counsell for managerial job, AP source says
A person familiar with the meeting tells The Associated Press that Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell is meeting with the Cleveland Guardians about their managerial opening
1970-01-01 08:00

Column: Ryan Blaney carries momentum into NASCAR's championship finale as he chases 1st Cup title
Ryan Blaney began to doubt himself and his ability to compete at NASCAR’s top level as he was mired in a 59-race losing streak and all his buddies he’d grown up racing against were thriving in the Cup Series
1970-01-01 08:00

Mainz lifts Anwar El Ghazi's suspension for social media post about Israel-Hamas war
German soccer club Mainz says it is lifting a suspension it imposed on Dutch forward Anwar El Ghazi over a social media post about the Israel-Hamas war
1970-01-01 08:00

History is against Ten Hag as he tries to turn Man United's season around
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United is on the way up
1970-01-01 08:00

Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati favorites to win Ballon d'Or awards
Lionel Messi is the favorite to win a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or in Paris
1970-01-01 08:00

Luis Rubiales banned from football for three years after World Cup final kiss
Luis Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activities for three years after kissing player Jenni Hermoso on the lips in the aftermath of Spain’s Women’s World Cup final victory, Fifa has announced. The former president of the Spanish FA, who was forced to resign from his post in disgrace after Hermoso said the kiss was not consensual, was ruled to have breached Fifa’s disciplinary code under the section of “offensive behaviour”. Rubiales was suspended for 90 days by football’s governing body in the wake of Spain’s 1-0 victory over England, which was marred by the former president’s behaviour during the trophy presentation. Fifa has since been investigating the events that followed the Sydney final on 20 August. Rubiales also grabbed his crotch in celebration while standing alongside Spain’s Queen Letizia and 16-year-old Princess Infanta Sofia in the VIP box and initially refused to step down or apologise for his actions, insisting that his kiss with Hermoso was “mutual”. In Fifa’s statement announcing the ban, football’s governing body said Rubiales had been notified of its decision and would have 10 days to request an appeal. Under the ban, Rubiales will not be allowed to take part in any football-related activity at national or international level until 2026. Rubiales, 46, is also facing a criminal investigation in Spain into his conduct and a Madrid judge issued a restraining order to keep him away from Hermoso, who is Spain’s all-time leading goalscorer. A former player who rose to the head of Spanish’s football federation, Rubiales had initially played down the significance of the unsolicited kiss and called his critics “idiots” in the aftermath of the World Cup final. Rubiales eventually announced his resignation as president of the Spanish FA during an interview with Piers Morgan but has still not apologised for the incident. Read More Reporter challenges Ten Hag on not starting Varane: ‘Did you actually say why?’ Major military search begins after kidnapping of Luis Diaz’s father How Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have fared since their big-money transfers
1970-01-01 08:00

WTA defends its court after No. 1 Sabalenka calls conditions at finals 'another level of disrespect'
The women’s tennis tour has defended the court built for the WTA Finals as meeting its “strict performance standards” after No_ 1-ranked Aryna Sabalenka called the conditions at the season-ending championship “another level of disrespect.”
1970-01-01 08:00

Slumping Ajax turns to former player John van ’t Schip as coach for rest of calamitous season
Four-time European champion Ajax has appointed former player John van ’t Schip as coach for the rest of a so-far calamitous season in which it sits last in the Dutch league
1970-01-01 08:00

EA Sports FC 24 Team of the Week 7 Looks Massive Based on Predictions
EA Sports FC 24 Team of the Week 7 should feature big name players like Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and more.
1970-01-01 08:00