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Ukraine’s number two tennis player, Marta Kostyuk says she will not shake hands with rivals from Russia and Belarus during the Australian Open as she feels they have not done enough to speak out against the invasion. Belarus is being used as a key staging ground for Russia’s war in Ukraine, which Moscow terms a “special operation. The 20-year-old tennis star from Kyiv generated headlines last year when she refused the customary handshake at the net with former world number one Victoria Azarenka after the Belarusian beat her at the US Open.   After winning her first match at the Australian Open on Monday, upsetting 28th seeded American Amanda Anisimova, Kostyuk said she would snub handshakes with any Russian or Belarusian opponent who had not openly condemned the invasion. “I haven’t changed about the war and everything that’s going on, on tour,” she told Reuters. “Because people who just say they don’t want war, it makes us (Ukraine) sound like we want war. “Obviously, we d

Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Wout Weghorst on loan until the end of the 2022-2023 season.    The 30-year-old has joined from the Clarets to fill the hole left in Erik ten Hag's squad by the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, who had his contract terminated by mutual consent in November.   Weghorst was on loan at Besiktas until the end of this season, but United have paid the Turkish club £2.6million, via Burnley, to terminate their agreement with the Clarets early, which has allowed the forward to complete the switch to United.   United do not have an option or obligation to make the deal permanent in the summer.   “I feel privileged to be joining Manchester United. I’ve played against the club in the past and it’s a fantastic feeling to now have the chance to pull on the famous red shirt," said Weghorst. I’ve seen United’s progress under Erik ten Hag this season and can’t wait to start playing my part in pushing the team towards its aims.   “Whatev

FIFA have announced 14 men's nominees for The Best 2022 World Player of the Year Award with Cristiano Ronaldo missing on the list.    The award recognizes the best footballer of the calendar year 2022, and Lionel Messi heads a 14-man shortlist for the Best FIFA Men's player award after leading Argentina to World Cup glory last month.   Messi will have an edge to win the award, having scored seven goals in games in Qatar to finally win the World Cup. He was also given the Golden Ball after being deemed the best player at the tournament.   Mbappe, who netted a hat-trick in the World Cup final for France,was nominated with two Paris Saint-Germain players are nominated in Neymar and Achraf Hakimi.   Karim Benzema, who won last year’s Ballon d’Or for his performances with Real Madrid, is also nominated, as is Robert Lewandowski, winner of the FIFA prize in the last two years.   CHECK OUT THE 14-MAN SHORTLIST FOR 'THE BEST' AWARD BELOW.   Lionel Messi (PSG) Kylian

Arsenal captain, Martin Odegaard has been named Premier League Player of the Month for November and December.   The midfielder guided the Gunners to four consecutive victories in the top flight, helping them pull seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the league table.   Odegaard produced three goals and three assists across November and December, the most goal involvements by any Premier League player during the two months.    Odegaard bagged a brace against Wolves before the 2022 World Cup break in November and returned in similar fashion after the major tournament.   Upon his return to action, he assisted Eddie Nketiah’s goal against West Ham United before laying on two more against Brighton and getting on the scoresheet himself in their 4-2 victory.   The 24-year-old becomes only the second Norwegian to win the accolade after Manchester City's Erling Haaland earned the award back in August for his stellar start to the season.   He is also the first Arse

Saudi Arabian businessman, Mushref Al-Ghamdi has reportedly bid $2.66m (£2.2m) for the 'Beyond Imagination' ticket that would allow him to meet Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.   An auction is currently being held for the ticket which is for the game between a Saudi All-Star's XI featuring players from Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr , Ronaldo's new club and PSG in Riyadh on January 19.   The auction is set to close on January 17, and Al-Ghamdi, the general manager of real estate group AqarOne, is leading the way with his lucrative offer, according to Reuters.   After watching the match, the lucky winner will get the chance to attend the winner's ceremony and enter both dressing rooms, meaning they can meet Ronaldo and Messi. It also promises to be a special occasion, with Ronaldo in line to make his debut in Saudi Arabia after signing with Al-Nassr last month.   The 37-year-old put pen to paper on a £175m-a-year deal that is due to run until 2025.

Saudi Arabian businessman, Mushref Al-Ghamdi has reportedly bid $2.66m (£2.2m) for the 'Beyond Imagination' ticket that would allow him to meet Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.   An auction is currently being held for the ticket which is for the game between a Saudi All-Star's XI featuring players from Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr , Ronaldo's new club and PSG in Riyadh on January 19.   The auction is set to close on January 17, and Al-Ghamdi, the general manager of real estate group AqarOne, is leading the way with his lucrative offer, according to Reuters.   After watching the match, the lucky winner will get the chance to attend the winner's ceremony and enter both dressing rooms, meaning they can meet Ronaldo and Messi. It also promises to be a special occasion, with Ronaldo in line to make his debut in Saudi Arabia after signing with Al-Nassr last month.   The 37-year-old put pen to paper on a £175m-a-year deal that is due to run until 2025.

Lionel Messi's father Jorge is rumoured to be in Riyadh for talks with Al-Hilal about the possibility of his son joining the Saudi club on a staggering £245m-a-year contract.   If the move eventually happens, it will re-ignite on-pitch rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently joined Al-Nassr   The Argentina captain's deal with PSG is due to expire in June and, he is said to have assured PSG that he will sign an extension. But it has now emerged that Al-Hilal are keen to bring him to Saudi Arabia.    They would be willing to pay him $300m-a-year (£245m) to get a deal over the line, according to Mundo Deportivo.     Nasser Al-Attiyah, a relative of the Emir of Qatar, has further fuelled speculation that he will move to the Middle East after reportedly stating: 'Messi, his next club after his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, will be Saudi Arabia.   Al-Hilal are currently banned from adding players until the next transfer window, but they want Messi to sign n

Borussia Dortmund footballer, Youssoufa Moukoko has reportedly been caught up in the age storm that has rocked Cameroonian football.   Moukoko, who was born in Yaounde, Cameroon, before moving to live in Germany in 2014 where he was adopted, is alleged to be 22, rather than 18, according to claims in Germany.    Last week Cameroon's Under-17 side were preparing to play Central African qualifying games in the Nations Cup this month when it was found 21 of the 30-strong squad failed age tests.    Fresh players were quickly drafted in by coach Jean Pierre Fiala but, in a further humiliation, it was  discovered that 11 of the additions were also over-age.    It has now been claimed in Germany that a birth certificate dated for the year 2000 with the name Yousouffa Mohamadou and attributed to Dortmund striker Moukoko was discovered in 2022.   Austrian news outlet Laola1 details claims that Moukoko's adoptive father had sent the alleged unearthed birth certificate to a jo

Catalonia's Supreme Court has confirmed that former Barcelona and Brazil defender, Dani Alves is under investigation over an allegation that he sexually assaulted a woman in a nightclub in Spain last month. It comes after Spanish media had reported that a woman had accused Alves of touching her beneath her underwear without consent, when she was with friends at a nightclub in late December 2022.   The 39-year-old who now plays for Mexican side UNAM Pumas, has denied any wrongdoing.  The court in Barcelona said in a statement that it had opened proceedings 'for an alleged crime of sexual assault as a result of the complaint filed by a woman for events that allegedly occurred in a nightclub in Barcelona last month.' While the statement did not specifically name Alves, a court spokeswoman confirmed to Reuters that he was the subject of the complaint.   She said the case was under investigation but that the court had no more information.     A spokesperson for Alves

Sebastien Haller has been named on the bench for Borussia Dortmund's friendly against Fortuna Dusseldorf just six months after being diagnosed with testicular tumour. If Haller gets any game time, it will be the first time that he has played for Dortmund since his £31m move from Ajax last July. Less than two weeks after joining Dortmund, Haller fell unwell in training, before it was confirmed that he had a tumour.   Having been through treatment, Haller has made remarkable progress, and is now back with the Dortmund squad for their clash with Dusseldorf. Haller has also opened up on his journey since first being diagnosed with a tumour, and has explained that telling his children about his situation was the hardest moment for him.   'I first discussed with my wife how best to explain it to our children,' Haller told Bild.   'We looked online for tips and asked other people. We then found a way and explained it to them with a small video.   'The hardest p

Piers Morgan has defended Cristiano Ronaldo after fans said the 37-year-old's career was 'finished' following his transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.   Ronaldo signed a £175million-a-year contract with Al-Nassr after leaving Manchester United in November following his damning and controversial interview with Morgan on TalkTV.    Many fans felt Ronaldo's decision to join the Saudi Arabian team meant his career was 'finished' but Morgan disagreed.   The controversial journalist praised Ronaldo for signing 'the biggest transfer deal in football history to become the world's highest-paid athlete'.   A football fan took to Twitter to discuss Ronaldo's status as an elite athlete. They wrote: 'Thoughts on Ronaldo being finished?'.  Morgan responded: 'Last time I checked, Cristiano had just signed the biggest transfer deal in football history to become the world's highest-paid athlete at the age of 38, playing

Joseph Parker has called out Anthony Joshua to a rematch, with the two heavyweights looking to rebuild their careers.   Parker, who Anthony Joshua defeated in 2018, will return on January 21 against Jack Massey, on the undercard of Chris Eubank Jr's fight with Liam Smith.   But the former WBO champion is eyeing revenge against his British rivals after returning against Massey in Manchester.   He told Sky Sports: "I would love to fight Dillian Whyte again, I think that first fight [we had] was very exciting and again on that day, he was the winner and he got the better of me.   "There wasn't a lot in it. If I can get a good win over Jack, that could be next.   "David Higgins, my manager, sent a message to Matchroom [to ask] if Joshua needed a fight but we got no reply back.   "He's got to fight someone. I know he's looking for a trainer or working with a few trainers in America but if AJ wants a fight, let me finish Jack off, if you're

Manchester United star Antony was pictured arriving for training on Monday, January 9 in his stunning £337,000 Lamborghini.   This comes after the Brazilian winger crashed his plush BMW on the motorway New Year's Eve.   Manchester United star Antony was pictured arriving for training on Monday, January 9 in his stunning £337,000 Lamborghini.   This comes after the Brazilian winger crashed his plush BMW on the motorway New Year's Eve.  According to reports, United's £85million summer signing crashed his £100k BMW X6 in roadworks after helping the Red Devils beat Wolves 1-0. However, he was recently seen arriving at United's Carrington training base behind the wheel of a sleek black Lamborghini. Antony bought the car back in November according to SunSport. Manchester United will face Charlton Athletic on Tuesday in the Carabao Cup 

Trans Nzoia Falcons women's football team players were on Saturday, January 7, evicted from their hostels at the Kitale Show Ground by the club officials after losing a game.   The club suffered a 3-0 loss to the Vihiga Queens in the Kenya Premier League match on Saturday.   It is reported that the Falcons slept hungry the night before and woke up the following day to prepare for the game against the Queens without being provided with breakfast.   Consequently, they were defeated by their counterparts.   Following the loss, the players were thrown out of the camp without considering where they would reside before leaving for their respective homes.   This has generated public outcry.

NFL star and Buffalo Bills safety, Damar Hamlin has been released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center a week after suffering cardiac arrest.   Hamlin made the good news in a tweet, where he also confirmed that he would be going to Buffalo General Hospital to continue testing and be monitored.   'Headed home to Buffalo today with a lot of love on my heart,' the safety tweeted. 'Watching the world come together around me on Sunday was truly an amazing feeling. The same love you all have shown me is the same love that I plan to put back into the world n more. Bigger than football!' This comes just one week after Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during Week 17's Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals.   'I can confirm he is doing well and this is the beginning of the next stage of his recovery,' said UC's Dr. William Knight.   'We continue to be ecstatic about his recovery,' Dr. Timothy Pritts add

World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 36 on Monday evening, January 9.   The Tottenham and France stopper,  won a record 145 caps and captained the side a record 122 times, but retires from international football out after the heartbreak of losing the World Cup final against Argentina in Qatar last year as France tried to retain their 2018 title.    He said on Instagram: 'There comes a time when you have to know how to hand over the reins. I have always said over and over again that the French team doesn't belong to anyone, and we all have to make sure that's the case, me first.   I think that the team is ready to go on. There is also a goalkeeper who is ready (AC Milan's Mike Maignan). 'I prefer to go out at my peak than wait for a downturn. There is also a family choice, I feel the need to spend more time with my wife and children.'  The French team

Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement to sign Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid. According to The Athletic, it is expected that Chelsea will pay a loan fee of £9.68million (€11million), which is below what Atletico initially wanted.  Felix has been linked with Manchester United and Arsenal but Chelsea's project is appealing to him.  The 23-year-old has struggled for consistency at Atletico this season - he has scored four goals and provided three assists in 14 La Liga appearances. In 2019 Felix joined Atletico from Benfica for £113million, which remains the fourth-highest transfer fee in football history.   Chelsea have scored just three goals in their last eight games in all competitions  So far in this transfer window Chelsea have already secured the signings of Benoit Badiashile (who cost £58million from Monaco), David Datro Fofana, and Andrey Santos.

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has quit his role as the interim sporting director of the football club.   He appointed himself interim sporting director after Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech's Stamford Bridge departures last summer, and he has since led transfer negotiations at the west London club.   However, The Telegraph report he is no longer operating in the role after hiring a new recruitment team, some of whom started work this month. Boehly will continue as solely the Blues' chairman.   Boehly has now transferred the responsibility to new technical director Christopher Vivell and director of global talent and transfers Paul Winstanley.   Chelsea have already completed three January signings, acquiring teenage duo David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos and securing a £35million deal for Benoit Badiashile.

Former Brazil international Roberto Dinamite has died aged 69 after a battle with colon cancer.   Dinamite, played 38 times for Brazil, scoring 20 goals, and represented his country at the 1978 and 1982 World Cups. Dinamite had a brief spell with Barcelona but spent most of his club career at Rio de Janeiro based side Vasco da Gama. Dinamite’s 190 goals in the Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A is the most in Brazilian top-flight history. His passing comes just days after the death of Brazilian icon Pele. The Brazilian FA (CBF) paid tribute to Dinamite, writing in a statement on Monday, January 9: “With regret, the CBF mourns the death of Roberto Dinamite, one of the greatest athletes in Brazilian football.   “For the Brazilian national team, the former player scored 25 goals and was top scorer in Brazil’s [second-place campaign at] the 1983 Copa America. “He also played in the 1978 and 1982 World Cups. You will always be part of our football history. “Thanks for everything, Rob

Cristiano Ronaldo's latest manager, Rudi Garcia, has defended him amid his recent challenges, saying all he wants for the Portuguese is for him to 'enjoy his football and smile'.    The forward has endured a difficult few months which saw him leave Manchester United following his controversial interview about the club and former teammates.   He also suffered some setbacks at the World cup, which started brightly but ended with him being dropped to the bench for Portugal's two knockout ties, leading to his fallout with the then-national team boss Fernando Santos.    Ronaldo and his partner, Georgina Rodriguez also suffered the tragedy of losing a baby boy in April when they were expecting twins.    Speaking of his role at the Saudi Arabian club, Garcia stressed that all he wanted to see was the Portuguese smiling and enjoying being on the pitch again.   'The only thing I want is for him to enjoy playing football again and smile,' the Frenchman said.