Category: Sports News

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has left the club by mutual consent after their relegation from the Premier League.

The 42-year-old led the Cherries in more than 450 games across two spells spanning more than a decade.

The Englishman, who leaves after talking to club officials on Saturday, said he believes it is “the right time for the club to have a change”.

Bournemouth’s five-year stay in the top flight ended despite a 3-1 win at Everton on the final day of the season.

“Having spent a total of 25 years with the club as both a player and a manager, this decision – made together with the club – is one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make,” said Howe in an open letter to fans.

“However, although the affection and love I have for this football club will always remain, we collectively feel that now is the right time for the club to go in a new direction.

“Bournemouth will always be in my heart, but I firmly believe now is the right time for the club to have a change.”

Bournemouth had risen from League Two to become an established Premier League team under Howe, who guided them to three promotions in six seasons.

Liverpool’s chief executive officer Peter Moore will step down at the end of August after three years in the role, the Premier League champions said on Friday.

Liverpool owner John Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon said in a joint statement that Moore had helped the club move forward since coming onboard in 2017

“He has strengthened the club’s business operations through his leadership and we are grateful to him for his passion, dedication and support, ” they said.

Managing director Billy Hogan would replace Moore from September 1, the club said.

“To think we have won the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and the Premier League title during my time here is way beyond my dreams,” Moore said.

“It’s been a phenomenal achievement by the manager, players and staff. The team fully deserves the plaudits and recognition and the memories I will cherish forever.”

Criminal proceedings against Fifa president Gianni Infantino have begun in Switzerland over meetings he held with the country’s attorney general.

A special federal public prosecutor, Stefan Keller, was appointed last month to examine complaints made in relation to the meetings in 2016 and 2017 involving Infantino, attorney general Michael Lauber and the chief public prosecutor for the Upper Valais region, Rinaldo Arnold.

Keller has now opened criminal proceedings against Infantino and Arnold, and has sought approval from the Swiss parliament to do the same against Lauber, who must have immunity from prosecution lifted before proceedings against him can be opened.

He has concluded that “there are indications of criminal conduct” in relation to the meetings.

Infantino and Fifa say they will co-operate fully with the investigation, with Infantino insisting he was trying to assist Lauber with the attorney general’s investigation into historic corruption.

The Fifa president was asked about the meetings with Lauber at the world governing body’s Council meeting in June, and said: “To meet with the Attorney General of Switzerland is perfectly legitimate and it’s perfectly legal.

“It’s no violation of anything. On the contrary, it is also part of the fiduciary duties of the president of Fifa.”

The first meetings with Lauber occurred in 2016, just after Infantino had been elected as president and in the aftermath of the corruption scandal which engulfed Fifa under Infantino’s predecessor Sepp Blatter.

Lauber’s office was investigating that scandal, in which Fifa was being treated as a victim rather than a suspect.

Infantino said there was a “mountain of questions” regarding those investigations, and added in June: “It’s legitimate to offer to contribute to the Swiss attorney general about the clarification of these events, hoping that those who have done criminal acts and damaged Fifa will be held to account for that.”

The statement from the supervisory authority for the office of the attorney general said the meetings had generated concerns of abuse of public office, breach of official secrecy, assisting offenders and incitement to these acts.

Infantino added on Thursday: “As president of Fifa, it has been my aim from day one, and it remains my aim, to assist the authorities with investigating past wrongdoings at Fifa.

“Fifa officials have met with prosecutors in other jurisdictions across the world for exactly these purposes.

“People have been convicted and sentenced, thanks to Fifa’s co-operation, and especially in the United States of America, where our co-operation has resulted in over 40 criminal convictions.

“Therefore, I remain fully supportive of the judicial process, and Fifa remains willing to fully co-operate with the Swiss authorities for these purposes.”

Manchester City have agreed a deal to sign Valencia winger Ferran Torres, according to reports.

City recently said goodbye to Leroy Sane, as the winger returned to Germany to join Bayern Munich. But with their Champions League ban overturned, they have quickly shifted focus to attracting a replacement.

The player it appears they are about to sign has been in demand for several months. Torres made 34 appearances in the recently completed La Liga season, and has attracted interest from Liverpool and Manchester United.

The latter had reportedly identified Torres as a cheaper alternative to Jadon Sancho. However, their rivals have stolen a march on them.

According to sources in England, City are on the verge of agreeing a deal for Torres. The initial fee is said to be in the region of £20.9m.

Valencia are under pressure financially to sell some of their prize assets, presenting a good opportunity for potential suitors. With Torres in the final year of his contract, they have been able to reach an agreement at a lower price than may have been expected.

With the clubs happy for the deal to go through, the player has also given the move his blessing. According to The Guardian who say the fee is actually £24.5m Torres has agreed to sign a five-year deal.

The chance to work under Pep Guardiola was a major factor in convincing Torres, who is a Spain Under-21 international. Valencia had previously valued him at around £40.8m.

Torres became Valencia’s youngest ever Champions League goalscorer in 2019. Valencia will not be in the competition again next season, but his potential new club will, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned City’s UEFA ban.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice as Milan picked Sampdoria apart and extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches in all competitions with a 4-1 victory.

Stefano Pioli’s men have not lost since the Serie A season resumed in June, a run of form that has taken them to sixth place and European qualification while securing the coach an extended contract.

January signing Ibrahimovic has been key and proved the star of the show again with his two goals plus an assist for Hakan Calhanoglu – following a VAR review – in a dominant display at the Marassi that concluded with Rafael Leao’s well-taken fourth.

Gianluigi Donnarumma saved a penalty in the second half but was eventually beaten by a brilliant effort from Kristoffer Askildsen.

Milan were outstanding from the off and needed just four minutes to forge the opener as Ante Rebic’s smart turn on the left created space for a cross that found Ibrahimovic inexplicably unmarked for a simple header.

A second should have swiftly followed, but Theo Hernandez shot straight at Wladimiro Falcone, who bounced back up to steer Davide Calabria’s drive clear.

Falcone then got a toe to Rebic’s low finish, before he again came to Samp’s rescue with a scrambling stop from a scuffed Ibrahimovic effort on the half-hour mark.

The home side somehow made it to half-time just a goal behind and almost capitalised with an equaliser six minutes after the restart as Donnarumma parried Fabio Quagliarella’s free-kick and Omar Colley nodded the rebound over.

However, Milan went straight down the other end and deservedly doubled their lead, with Calhanoglu reaching Ibrahimovic’s knockdown to thrash home. Referee Fabrizio Pasqua initially perceived a non-existent foul on Ronaldo Vieira by the goalscorer but made amends with a visit to the pitch-side monitor.

Now ruthless where they had earlier been wasteful, Milan had a third when Calhanoglu returned the favour and fed Ibrahimovic to shoot through Falcone.

Donnarumma blocked from close range to deny Quagliarella a consolation and Samp still could not beat the goalkeeper even after Simon Kjaer barged Andrea Bertolacci to the ground in the area, with Gonzalo Maroni’s penalty saved.

It took a spectacular effort to finally get the better of Donnarumma as Askildsen curled into the top-right corner three minutes from time, far too late to cause Milan major concern as Leao instead restored the three-goal cushion in style in stoppage time.