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Legendary Indian football manager Sukhwinder Singh will be conferred with the Dhyan Chand Award by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports of India on August 29, the National Sports Day of India.

From winning the maiden National Football League (NFL) title in 1996-97 to guiding the Indian national team to some memorable international wins, Sukhwinder Singh, whose coaching career spanned for more than 20 years, has tasted his fair share of success.

Singh expressed his joy as well as gratitude towards the authorities after being conferred the prestigious award.

“It felt great, to be honest. It really feels nice when you get recognised. I have had a long coaching career and I have been given this award for that. Thanks to everyone,” the veteran coach told Goal.

Sukhwinder Singh’s coaching career as a senior team head coach began in 1992 with JCT FC. He recalled taking charge of a rookie side, with which he managed to create a stir in his debut year.

“Before 1992, I had worked with the junior teams as well as an assistant coach in the senior team. In the first season, there were only three recognised players in my team, others were all youngsters. With such an inexperienced side we went to Durand Cup. In the first round, we defeated East Bengal. We had also defeated Mohun Bagan and then Mohammedan Sporting in the final to win the trophy.

“It was really a special win as we had defeated all three Kolkata clubs and at that time it was a big deal. I remember there was a headline in Economic Times after the final which read, ‘JCT shows the way’. The specialty of my team was fitness and hard work,” said the former JCT coach.

Singh recalled what prompted him to sign stars like IM Vijayan, Carlton Chapman and Jo Paul Ancheri in the 1995-96 season which eventually resulted in JCT winning the first-ever National Football League (NFL) title in 1996-97. Before that, JCT were more known for developing local talents.

“I had a great batch of young players. But after the first three seasons, many of the players left for other clubs. I never liked how other clubs use to take away our players so one day I told our club owner Samir Thapar about this. There was a prevailing rule in the club until then that only Punjabi players should play for JCT in order to uplift the game in the state. But before the 1995-96 season, Thapar told me ‘why don’t you bring in some big names from other clubs’?

“We got IM Vijayan and Jo Paul Ancheri and I had also approached Bhaichung Bhutia but he told that he would like to play one more season at East Bengal as gratitude towards the club for launching his career. I respected his decision. Instead of Bhaichung, I brought Carlton Chapman. In 1995 we had won three trophies which include the Sait Nagjee Football Tournament and the Federation Cup.

“Next season, Bhaichung joined us and some quality foreigners like Bernard Oparanozie and Stephen Abarowei were also there. We won the NFL in the very first year. It was indeed a memorable experience,” said the NFL winning coach.

Unfortunately, the dream had lasted for just two seasons. In 1997, Vijayan and Ancheri joined FC Kochi while Bhaichung Bhutia returned to East Bengal.

With once again a new batch of players, JCT for a very long time, could not replicate their performance from the first edition of the league.

In 2005 again, Singh decided to bring in players from outside Punjab once again. They signed national team star Renedy Singh and then promising youngster Sunil Chhetri from Mohun Bagan who had just made his debut in the national team.

“In 2005 again, we decided to bring in some known names as we were not getting the desired results in the league,” recalled Sukhwinder. "So we signed Sunil Chhetri and Renedy Singh. Brazilian striker Edu (Eduardo Da Silva Escobar) had also joined us. He was a very good striker."

“Whenever a player used to score against Kolkata clubs, the fans there never used to appreciate that and even abused the opposition player. But Edu got a standing ovation during the 2005-06 season in Kolkata. We had played Mohun Bagan and East Bengal back to back within a gap of three days. Against Mohun Bagan, we had won 3-2 where Edu had scored a hat-trick and against East Bengal, we once again scored two goals. It was one such rare occasion that the crowd had appreciated Edu’s performance.”

Having a good striker in a team is a good idea. Retaining a player who scored more than half of the team's goals last season should, in nearly all cases, be a no-brainer. 

The deal with Bartholomew Ogbeche at Kerala Blasters appeared to be straightforward at first but then the Coronavirus pandemic took football for a ride. Everything seemed okay for a while initially but then the realization dawned on Indian clubs that the pandemic will have a massive financial impact in the football world. 

Every club functions and operates their finances differently. Kerala Blasters were left with no choice but to suggest deferred payments to their players.  

The deferrals felt better to some players compared non-payment of salaries, which did occur for a few months during the 2019-20 season. After the dues were cleared, Ogbeche's case stood out. 

The player did not want to take a deferral - from his point of view, he had just had two back-to-back brilliant seasons in the ISL and it didn't make sense to earn less money. 

And after weeks of discussions, during which Mumbai City swooped in with an offer, both parties came to an amicable resolution. 

Earlier this week, Ogbeche sent a farewell message to his Kerala Blasters' teammates, which read, 

Hi everyone, I trust you’re all doing fine. This is simply to inform you all that i won’t be part of the team for the upcoming season. I enjoyed the workouts as well as the times we’ve had virtually with some of you and I appreciate the oneness and love that reigned amongst us last season regardless of how tough the season was. 

Take good care of yourselves and all the best for the season ahead. God bless

As   Goal   had earlier revealed, Mumbai City were in advanced talks to sign the former PSG striker and that deal was wrapped up.

The Nigerian's 15 goals were vital for not only the player himself who surpassed Iain Hume as Blasters' all-time top scorer (in just one season!) but also revitalized a Blasters fanbase that felt lethargic seeing their team struggle in front of goal week in week out in the last few years. 

Given how Blasters have chosen to approach the current uncertain transfer market, with a preference to wait and observe rather than wrap up deals early, Ogbeche's exit was a long time coming and the club should be well prepared for his departure. Kerala Blasters will move on. And so should the fans. 

And now would be a good time to stop creating hashtags to bring back former players. It's time to move on.

"Your dream, our desire." That was the recurring slogan spotted on the streets of Rosario on Thursday as Newell's Old Boys fans paraded in a push to convince Lionel Messi to return to his boyhood club. 

Messi came through the youth ranks of the Argentine side before joining Barcelona in 2001 and going on to win a record six Ballon d'Ors among countless other honours. 

After nearly two decades at Camp Nou, however, the now 33-year-old has handed in a shock transfer request as he looks to move on from the club that failed to win a trophy last season. 

While Manchester City are the favourites to sign Messi should he secure an exit, Newell's haven't given up hope of the Argentine returning, with the club's faithful taking to the streets in a show of support. 

Following a push to parade gathered momentum on social media, Old Boys fans gathered across Rosario on Thursday waving red-and-black flags, letting off the occasional flare and donning countless forms of Messi merchandise. 

As it stands, Messi returning to Newell's is a long shot, with even the head of their English supporters club, Jamie Ralph, hopeful but conceding a reunion right now is unlikely. 

"Personally I think it’s a bit too soon, but what people need to understand is that Newell’s have a bit of a track record of pulling flagship signings out of nowhere, and that’s why people think it’s not that impossible," Ralph told the PA news agency. 

"Diego Maradona was at Sevilla in Spain – he was only 33, so he was the same age as Messi – and he came back and signed for Newell’s, which was unbelievable at the time. This was the year before the ’94 World Cup.

"There’s this real feeling that for players who come through the club, money doesn’t matter, it’s really the feeling to come back and play for their shirt again in front of the fans and really feel that you’re part of that club again.

"There’s a bit of romanticism going on. I do think Messi will play for Newell’s one day, but personally think it’s a little bit too soon."

Newell's Old Boys vice-president Cristian D'Amico, meanwhile, recently reiterated that the doors are open for Messi to return to the club.

"I don't know if it is impossible. It is all up to him and his family," the director told TNT Sports. 

"As directors we have to provide the best context possible to help him make a decision. When Maradona came to Newell's nobody thought he could come. I hope that something similar can happen with Leo.

"Obviously we shouldn't be making things up, this is a delicate subject. What Newell's doesn't dream of seeing the world's best player in their team's colours? Time will tell maybe, we have to stay calm."

France head coach Didier Deschamps insisted Antoine Griezmann can successfully play alongside Lionel Messi as the Barcelona superstar eyes an exit.

Messi has sensationally told Barca he wants to leave the embattled La Liga giants, having spent his entire professional career at Camp Nou.

Griezmann, who arrived from Atletico Madrid at the start of the 2019-20 season, and his relationship with Messi made headlines throughout the campaign as the former struggled for consistency.

As Messi generates interest from the likes of Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter, Deschamps was asked about the situation and Griezmann after naming his squad for France's upcoming Nations League fixtures.

"I don't know," Deschamps told reporters. "On the first part, it doesn't concern me. It concerns Leo Messi and Barca, so I'm not going to talk about it.

"As for Antoine, can it have an influence? It remains to be seen. The question is more about his position, the position on the pitch. He was sincerely happy to play with Messi. Sometimes it went well and sometimes not so well. Their association is not incompatible.

"It's not up to me, I have other things to take care of. That's about the clubs. Antoine had a rather complicated season, even if that didn't stop him from making a difference. Of course, less than with his former club where the team was built around him at Atletico Madrid.

"That doesn't change the importance he has with the French team. It depends on the coaches who can use different systems. The players have to adapt anyway."

Griezmann scored 15 goals across all competitions in his first season for Barca, which saw the Spanish powerhouse dethroned by Real Madrid in La Liga and humiliated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

After replacing Ernesto Valverde in January, head coach Quique Setien was also sacked following the 8-2 embarrassment earlier this month, with Barca turning to Ronald Koeman.

Koeman has since revealed his plans for Griezmann moving forward with the Frenchman's former agent recently revealing he was considering exiting Camp Nou but now seems content to remain at the club after talks with the Dutch manager.

Vincent Kompany is hoping Lionel Messi does end up joining Manchester City and believes the Barcelona legend could help the club end their Champions League drought. 

Messi handed in a shock transfer request this week with Pep Guardiola's side the strong favourites to sign the Argentine should he secure a Camp Nou exit. 

Having previously played under Guardiola, Messi reportedly favours a move to the Etihad with City's manager also seemingly keen on a reunion after the two held initial talks about a move. 

Kompany, who recently confirmed his playing retirement as he focuses on managing Anderlecht, is hoping Messi does end up playing for Manchester City and believes his relationship with Guardiola could prove decisive. 

"It’d be incredible for the club to have a player like him - he could help them take the next step by winning the Champions League," Kompany said via The Sun. 

"I know Guardiola’s way of thinking, so I can well imagine the two of them will still have a rapport. I can imagine Pep and Messi still have one another’s phone numbers. So they can give one another a call.

"If Messi has decided to leave Barcelona then I can only respect his decision. Let’s be clear - as a City fan, I hope Messi joins them."

There has been no firm offer from City as yet, however, and any deal for Messi would be extremely complex given the financial details involved in such a transfer. 

Messi is planning to break his silence and explain the reasons behind his decision to leave Barcelona in the coming days. 

Former Barca president Joan Gaspart recently declared the Argentine will likely have to remain at Camp Nou for another season as he slammed Messi for turning his back on the club. 

"He will have to leave in 2021. I have seen the contract and it is very clear. The clause ended in June and there is no going back," Gaspart told Marca.

"I prefer him to leave next year for zero than to go now for less than €700 million. The club is in charge here, not the player. The club paid the players. And this is not a matter of money, there is a signed contract and that's it.

"I don't understand why he is leaving Barcelona. Well, I do understand because I know these plays by football players well.

"We all want him to stay at Barcelona. Doesn't he want to stay? What's going on? Are the millions of club members who ask him to stay not worth it? Does he think that Barcelona have not helped him to be what he is?"

Barcelona forward Antoine Griezmann wanted to leave Camp Nou before speaking to new head coach Ronald Koeman, claims former agent Eric Olhats.

Griezmann endured a difficult first season with Barca following his €120 million arrival from La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid, struggling for consistency despite scoring 15 goals across all competitions.

The 29-year-old's struggles prompted talk of an exit amid links to Paris Saint-Germain, while the front page of Friday's Marca reports Atletico rejected a proposed exchange deal from Barca that would have seen Griezmann and Joao Felix swap clubs.

Olhats, who previously represented Griezmann, claims the France international was eyeing a move away from Barca prior to Koeman replacing Quique Setien.

"Before the [8-2] defeat in the Champions League to Bayern [Munich], Antoine only had the desire to leave Barcelona," Olhats told RMC.

"The reality is that Griezmann perceived that he was not part of the club's plans, that he could not continue like this.

"He was seriously studying how to leave. Then what we know happened and a conversation with Koeman reassured him. [Koeman] expressed his plans, because he considers him an important player for the future."

Griezmann scored nine goals in 35 appearances as Barca were dethroned by bitter rivals Real Madrid in La Liga in 2019-20.

He also netted twice in the Champions League for Barca, who were embarrassed by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals as they suffered a historic 8-2 defeat.

Barca are now braced for Lionel Messi to sensationally leave the club after the six-time Ballon d'Or winner handed in a transfer request, plunging the Catalan giants into further chaos following a tumultuous season.

While Messi may be leaving Barcelona, Koeman recently revealed his desire to play Griezmann in his preferred position next season as he looks to ensure the Frenchman shelves thoughts of an exit. 

"He is not a traditional winger, so you have to play him in his own position, in a role that suits him and where he can showcase his abilities," Koeman told NOS. 

"You have to know your players as a coach and ensure you get the best out of them."

Juventus attacker Juan Cuadrado cannot see Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi joining Cristiano Ronaldo at the Serie A champions.

Messi has sensationally told Barca he wants to leave the club, where the six-time Ballon d'Or winner has spent his entire professional career.

Though he has yet to explain his decision, Goal understands Messi intends to give his version of events in the coming days.

Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter have been most strongly linked with moves for the 33-year-old, who has won 10 La Liga titles and four Champions League crowns during his time at Barca.

Others have suggested Messi could join Ronaldo in Turin to bring together the two best players of the modern day, but Cuadrado would be surprised if such a move happened.

"I can't imagine it at all. The truth is that I don't," he told ESPN Nexo on Thursday.

Cuadrado added: "Just like with Cristiano, many people did not believe and suddenly he arrived."

Man City is considered one of the most likely landing spots for Messi, with his former manager at Barca Pep Guardiola at the helm.

Goal has reported that Guardiola and Messi have spoken in recent days, with the pair still enjoying a strong relationship.  

PSG could also be an option, with Messi potentially reuniting with former team-mate Neymar in the French capital.

Meanwhile in Turin, Juve are preparing to begin their 2020-21 campaign under a new head coach after Andrea Pirlo replaced Maurizio Sarri at the helm earlier this month.

Despite winning a ninth straight Serie A title, Sarri was dismissed after just one season in charge following his side's Champions League exit to Lyon in the round of 16.

Cuadrado, who has been at Juve since 2015 and initially arrived on loan, said he was yet to hold talks with Pirlo about his plans.

"I have not had the opportunity to talk to him yet. When it is my turn I will surely tell him where I feel much more comfortable [playing]," he said.

"Hopefully what he knows and what a good player he was, he can contribute to the team and that we can get many titles together."

France manager Didier Deschamps has given details as to why he selected Houssem Aouar, Eduardo Camavinga and Dayot Upamecano ahead of Le Bleus Uefa Nations League ties against Sweden and Croatia.

The trio who are of Algeria, Angola and Guinea-Bissau descent respectively have been starring in their respective clubs.

Aouar was ever-present for Olympique Lyon as they reached the Champions League semi-finals, seeing off Juventus and Manchester City along the way and the 22-year-old’s technical abilities were too good for Deschamps not to notice.

“He [Aouar] has technical skills, he is able to score goals. He has brought more continuity to his performances,” Deschamps said in a press briefing.

“He's still a young player. We had been following him for a long time. I often talk to [France Under-21 manager Sylvain] Ripoll, he gives me more information.

“[Aouar] is rather versatile, he is an attacking midfielder that can be axial. He is more efficient in the offensive phase, in the use of the ball. He has a lot of interesting things."

Camavinga is a 17-year-old who plies his trade for Rennes and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. He played 36 times last season with the Red and Blacks finishing in third place in Ligue 1 and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time ever.

He came in as a replacement for Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba who had tested positive for Coronavirus and Deschamps has been impressed by what Camavinga has accomplished at such a young age.

“I know his [Camavinga’s] trainer well. It might come early, but sooner or later it would have come,” Deschamps continued.

“In terms of personality, it shows when he's on the pitch. He has an influence despite his young age. He's able to do things at his age. We will have to be vigilant, but he has a potential that will make him an integral part of this team sooner or later. It is a pleasure to be able to have him with us at this gathering.”

Upamecano meanwhile was at the heart of the RB Leipzig defence with his sturdy performances seeing them reach the Champions League semis and finish third in the Bundesliga, qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition for the third season in a row.

“He's [Upamecano] a player we've been following for a long time. He is one of the players who was likely to come,” Deschamps said.

“He is very athletically, he goes fast, good in duels. The ball is not a problem for him, even if he must be careful not to abuse it too much at times. He's young, I felt it was time to prepare him. It is up to him to maintain this level. He still has a good margin of progress."

A handful of games in America were cancelled in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man who was shot seven times by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Games across the NBA, MLS, MLB and WNBA were called off with players boycotting the matches in order to stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Two demonstrators were killed two days after Blake's shooting at a protest in Kenosha by a 17-year-old white man.

Blake's shooting invigorated protests for racial justice taking place across America, further igniting the racial tension throughout the country that has been growing for months. That movement has now seen strong support across sport, stemming from George Floyd being killed by a white police offer in May.

What teams have boycotted games?

Severa NBA teams had boycotted their fixtures, starting with Milwaukee Bucks calling off Game 5 of their play-off series against the Orlando Magic.

The Bucks were meant to emerge from their locker room and take the court at 4pm on Wednesday, but instead released a statement later that afternoon condemning the police actions and calling for justice for Blake: "When we take the court and represent Milwaukee and Wisconsin, we are expected to play at a high level, give maximum effort and hold each other accountable. 

“In this moment, we are demanding the same from our lawmakers and law enforcement.”

The Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball also decided to forego their game.

MLS sides soon followed suit with a boycott of their own, with five games postponed on Wednesday evening as several players took their own collective stands against racism.

Atlanta United vs Inter Miami, FC Dallas vs Colorado Rapids, Portland Timbers vs San Jose Earthquakes, Real Salt Lake vs LAFC and LA Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders were all postponed with players refusing to participate in order to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

Players involved in Houston Dynamo vs Sporting Kansas City, which went ahead on Tuesday, kneeled beforehand.

The only match played on Wednesday was between Orlando City and Nashville SC, with former Manchester United player Nani stating he was not aware other matches had been postponed: “We didn’t know. We understand and we respect what’s going on and what the other teams did.

“This is a situation we must stick together from today to try to do our best to see what we can help and what we can support.”

Players in MLB and the WNBA also boycotted their games, while the Women's Super League have also outlined their support for the movement.

“MLS unequivocally condemns racism and has always stood for equality, but we need to do more to take tangible steps to impact change,” an MLS statement read.

“We will continue to work with our players, our clubs and the broader soccer community to harness our collective power to fight for equality and social justice.”

Real Salt Lake defender Nedum Onuoha said: “People will miss out on the entertainment, but at the end of the day it’s entertainment. There are other things going on which are essentially life and death, which should be a bigger part of any conversation that exists today.”

Will the NBA and MLS seasons be called off?

Reports stated that the LA Clippers and LA Lakers had voted to cancel the NBA season on Wednesday night, but according to ESPN, players have decided to continue with the play-offs following a meeting held on Thursday.

Further meetings are to be held to discuss how the league can better address issues related to social injustice and racism.

MLS stated that the postponed games would be rescheduled: "Major League Soccer has made the decision to postpone the remaining five matches - Miami vs Atlanta, Dallas vs Colorado, Real Salt Lake vs LAFC, San Jose vs Portland, LA Galaxy vs Seattle - scheduled for this evening.

"Each match will be rescheduled."

Why are protests happening in America?

Protests are still ongoing throughout America following the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed on May 25 by a white police officer in Minneapolis.

The police officer responsible was not initially arrested, but was later charged with second-degree murder.

America has a dark and ugly history of systemic racism in tangent with police brutality, with the latest events in Kenosha further re-igniting and amplifying discussions about racial inequality at the hands of the current criminal justice system.

Rennes have announced the signing of Serhou Guirassy from Ligue 2 side Amiens on a five-year deal.

It has been made known that the Red and Blacks are looking to bolster their squad ahead of their Champions League debut and had identified centre-back and centre-forward positions.

Rennes had already completed the signing of Morocco defender Nayef Aguerd from Dijon and Guirassy’s arrival is a part of the transfer mission already accomplished.

The 24-year-old had openly admitted after Amines’ Ligue 2 opener against Nancy in which he scored, that he was hoping to get the move to Rennes done and now that it’s happened, he says he is relived.

"I am relieved. It took a while but I'm very proud and very happy to join a club like Stade Rennais FC,” the Franco-Guinean said on the club website.

“I can't wait to meet the supporters and my new teammates. I hope that we will do great things this season in the league and in the Champions League.”

Rennes sporting director Florian Maurice meanwhile declared the Brittany outfit as a good choice for Guirassy to continue the progress of his career.

“He's a great signing, a player we've been waiting for some time. It took a little longer than expected but we are happy to get to the end," Maurice said.

“He has been known in the national youth teams, he has also been known abroad by playing in Germany. After relaunching at Amiens, the idea for him was to continue his progression in a club like ours.

"It's a good choice for him and for us. He has this mix of experience and youth that will allow him to continue to grow.”

Before Amiens got relegated from Ligue 1, Guirassy scored a total of 12 goals in 46 appearances.

He will face competition for a starting berth with Senegal forward M’Baye Niang who notched 10 goals in Ligue 1 last season as Rennes finished third.

Julian Stephan’s men kicked off the new campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Lille, both sides finishing 10 men after Mozambique left-back Reinildo Mandava and Franco-Cameroonian right-back Sacha Boey were given straight red cards for dangerous tackles.

Luiz Suarez could be playing for Juventus next season with Andrea Pirlo's side considering a move for the Barcelona outcast. 

Goal can confirm that Suarez has been offered to the reigning Serie A champions after seemingly being shown the door at Camp Nou. 

Juventus are in the market for another striker with new manager Pirlo recently confirming the departure of Gonzalo Higuain. 

Suarez, now 33, has never played in Serie A before and moved to Barcelona from Liverpool in 2014 having first turned heads while playing in the Eredivisie for Ajax. 

Following the appointment of Ronald Koeman as the Catalans' new manager, Suarez was left off the Dutchman's list of names that were seen as vital to the future of the club with the forward quickly pleading for clarity from club president Josep Maria Bartomeu. 

“There is talk of some names that the president gave, of changes that can be made, but nobody told me that they want to do without me,” Suarez said in an interview with El Pais. 

“If this is the desire of the club, it would be good if the person in charge speaks directly to me. I've been at Barca for six years, enough time to say what they think. It's better to tell me if I am one of the ones that they want out. It remains to be seen.

“I also want the best for the club and my plan today is to continue, but if the club thinks that I am expendable, I have no problem speaking with those who decide.

“[I want to stay], as long as I am counted on, I want to continue contributing as much as I can. I have felt the support of the fans since I arrived and that also gives me a lot of strength to continue.”

With Lionel Messi recently revealing his desire to leave Barcelona, Suarez could find himself lining up alongside Cristiano Ronaldo instead next season if the Uruguay international seals a move to Juventus. 

The Bianconeri are set to further investigate a possible move for Suarez in the coming days with initial signs suggesting the Serie A side are open to a transfer. 

As speculation swirls about Suarez's future, the striker has come out and declared he will speak for himself when the time is right to provide clarity on what is next for him. 

Harry Maguire says he was scared for his life during the recent incident which saw him found guilty of aggravated assault in Greece, with the Manchester United captain maintaining he won't apologise for his actions.

Maguire, 27, has already appealed and maintained his innocence after being handed a 21-month suspended prison sentence on Tuesday.

The Man Utd captain was found guilty of charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and repeated attempts of bribery after an incident in Mykonos, Greece last week.

Speaking to BBC Sport’s Dan Roan in his first public interview since the incident, Maguire said he thought he was being kidnapped - and denied that he had attempted to bribe police.

"These two men approached my little sister," Maguire said. 

"They asked where she was from, she responded and then my fiancee saw her eyes going to the back of her head. She ran over, and she was fainting, in and out of consciousness.

"My initial thought, I thought we were getting kidnapped. We got down on our knees, put our hands in the air.

"They started hitting us, he got one of my hands in the handcuff and he was hitting my leg saying, 'Your career’s over, no more football, you won’t play again'.

"At that point I thought there’s no chance these are police, I don’t know who they are, I tried to run away. I was in that much of a panic, fear... I was scared for my life."

Maguire added that he doesn't see any reason to apologise for his actions.

"I don’t feel like I owe an apology to anybody," he said. "An apology is when you’ve done something wrong. I regret putting the fans and the club through this."

Asked if he had attempted to bribe the police, Maguire replied: "No, for sure. As soon as I saw that statement, it’s just ridiculous."

Maguire was also asked whether he will be able to continue as Man Utd captain. 

"It’s a massive privilege to play for the club, never mind to be captain. It’s not my decision to make.

"I have great faith in the Greek law, that the retrial will give us more time to prepare, gather evidence and allow witnesses into the court, and the truth will come out."

Under Greek law, Maguire's appeal nullifies his conviction and means there will be a full retrial in a more senior court.

The defender, his brother Joe Maguire and their friend Christopher Sharman were all found guilty after a trial in Syros, Greece following the incident.

Greek police claimed the three defendants had been involved in an altercation with officers, and that bribery was attempted after they were taken to the police station.

The court heard the altercation began after an incident with another group, who they believed had injected Maguire’s sister Daisy with a suspected ‘date rape’ drug.

Maguire pleaded not guilty to all charges and was represented by one of his lawyers, Alexis Anagnostakis.

England manager Gareth Southgate dropped Maguire from his latest England squad after the guilty verdict was returned, but Man Utd backed their player after his appeal was accepted by the Greek court.

Former Ghana defender Mohammed Gargo believes it would be better if Baba Idrissu left Real Mallorca.

The 24-year-old Accra-born midfielder was ever-present for Los Bermellones last season, playing in all but two Spanish La Liga games. His consistency on the pitch could however not save Mallorca as they finished in 19th place, four points adrift of safety.

It marks an immediate return to the second tier for the islanders, who made it to La Liga via the Segunda Division play-offs in 2018-19 by seeing off Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 on aggregate

Baba is rumoured to be of interest by Atletico Madrid who would need a replacement should the €50 million release clause for Arsenal-linked and Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey be met.

Gargo is of the opinion Baba needs to take his career to the next level, hence should leave the Estadi de Son Moix.

“I think he [Baba Idrissu] should move,” Gargo told Citi Sports. “This is a great opportunity for him to take the next step in his career after what he did last season.

“If a club like Atletico Madrid has contacted him, then it means they’ve scored him and are aware of what he can do. He should leave.”

During the 2019-20 campaign, Baba averaged 28.6 passes per game at 81-percent success rate while his touches were 48.3 per game. His successful dribbles stood at 1.5 per match (85-percent success rate) and total duels won at 6.5 (51-percent success rate).

On the defensive side, his interceptions were 1.1 per match, the same as clearances, and he averaged 1.6 tackles per match. Baba did not commit any error leading to a goal in the 36 La Liga games he played.

Baba moved to Spain at a young age and started his football career at Leganes’ academy before moving to the Mallorca youth team. He had a loan stint at Segunda Division B side Barakaldo CF and was finally given his Mallorca senior debut on August 2018, going on to play 30 times in all competitions that season.

Baba has earned two caps for Ghana, playing 90 minutes in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against South Africa and Sao Tome and Principe on November 14 and 18, 2019 respectively.

Bayern Munich defender David Alaba has explained why he rushed to console Neymar after the Champions League final.

While his team-mates sunk to the ground or sprinted off in celebration, Alaba went straight to his beaten opponent at the full-time whistle after a 1-0 win.

Neymar had chances to score for PSG, denied more than once by Manuel Neuer, and he made little attempt to disguise his disappointment after the game.

Alaba was applauded for his sportsmanship in the moment, and he said he recognised the burden Neymar carried as one of his side’s star players.

“It turned out that way. He's a player who has a lot of pressure on his shoulders, who carries a large burden, who carries the whole club," Alaba said on the FC Bayern Podcast.

Alaba said it wasn’t just the way Neymar played, but the fact he does so with a smile on his face. "That's important,” he added. “We all love these athletes.”

As gracious in victory as Alaba may have been, Neymar didn’t quite manage to repay the favour, mistakenly congratulating ‘Bayer’ – perhaps confusing the Bavarians with Bayer Leverkusen – as the dust settled.

It didn’t dull the Bayern celebrations. After already lifting the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, Alaba said the feeling of completing the treble was one “which cannot be described. We are very happy and grateful that we can celebrate this triumph.”

Alaba’s suggestion that Neymar carried PSG – particularly with Kylian Mbappe putting in a disappointing performance on the night – perhaps rang true with PSG boss Thomas Tuchel, who bemoaned his side’s reliance on their key men.

“We've lacked efficiency,” Tuchel told RMC Sport after the game. “We want Kylian and Neymar to score all the time. I'm proud because Ney had another amazing game. He showed his abilities, his mentality.

“For Kiki, it’s difficult. It was a miracle that he was with us [after injury]. Small details made the difference.

"It was a real fight! We gave our all, we left our hearts on the field. We couldn’t control the outcome. It was a goal that made the difference between two super strong teams. I'm very proud of the way we played, of our mentality. That's all a coach can ask of his players.

“I'm disappointed, but not too disappointed. It's a close score. I'm convinced that if we score first, we win the game 1-0.”

While the Black Lives Matter movement has gathered support from every corner of the sporting world during the summer, women’s football in England is getting ready to show its solidarity with the fight against racism.

Wednesday night was yet another chapter in the continued battle in the United States, as the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks set the tone by boycotting Game 5 of their play-off with Orlando Magic.

The NBA then postponed games in three more play-off series, while three WNBA, three Major League Baseball and five Major League Soccer games were also called off.

The protests come in response to an incident in Wisconsin where Jacob Blake, a Black man, was shot seven times in the back by police while entering his vehicle.

Across the Atlantic, there has been support across many major football leagues, including England’s Premier League, who have been wearing ‘Black Lives Matter’ on their shirts and kneeling before games.

Women’s sport has taken a backseat during the coronavirus pandemic, with few sports and football leagues resuming.

Clubs in the Women’s Champions League have been kneeling before their games since the competition resumed on August 21. Now, Women’s Super League clubs in England have been showing their solidarity in pre-season and want to see that continue when the league returns next weekend.

“We’ve been kneeling before the whistle in pre-season friendlies which has been something that’s good to show our support,” Harriet Scott of Birmingham explains. “Even if it’s not in front of anybody but [it] actually means a lot to us."

“We have been [taking a knee] for our pre-season games, so I can’t see why - at the start of WSL games – it would be a problem or why anyone would object to that,” Reading’s Dan Carter adds. “I’m expecting everyone to be taking knees for at least the first game of the season.”

The Football Association (FA) has made clear their support for those backing the Black Lives Matter movement, saying that it “will support any player who wishes to take a stand against discrimination in a respectful manner, this includes taking a knee”.

The Football Leadership Diversity Code was also created back in June by Paul Elliott, chair of The FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board, and the FA is fully supporting it.

“This is a prominent issue globally,” Anita Asante, who signed for Aston Villa this summer, says. “I think it’s for the players themselves who feel comfortable to [take a knee] and show their support to do that. I think myself personally, I will do that. I think it’s an important message to show solidarity.

“We have to do more in terms of how we impart direct actions that will create the kind of change that athletes and people and society want to see. That’s just a small part of a bigger goal, ultimately.”

Before the WSL gets underway next week, the Women’s Community Shield returns this weekend for the first time since 2008.

Players from Chelsea and Manchester City have confirmed that they will take a knee before the game, which is being played at Wembley as part of a double-header with the men’s game.

Tottenham goalkeeper Becky Spencer believes it is a perfect opportunity to support the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Moving forward we have to stand together and be as a collective because it’s so important and we can’t be quiet at this stage,” she says. “We have to voice everything, if that shows on televised games or interviews, I feel like we all need to stand up for what’s right.

“It’s sad that it’s got to this stage at the moment and I just feel like, us as players we have a voice and we can fight this as much as everyone else. We all need to stick together and get through this all together as one. I feel like we have a massive stage to show that.”

After games across several sports in the U.S. were cancelled on Wednesday, Brighton’s Victoria Williams said she would be willing to take that step should she and her team-mates feel it is necessary.

“If [boycotting games] is what is required, if that's the only way that we can demonstrate to people that it is not acceptable, then I would be more than happy to do it.” Williams said.

“I believe in those movements, in anything to engage change. I think we have a responsibility. I have a responsibility as a professional sportswoman to support people.”

Real Salt Lake defender Nedum Onuoha has said he does not want to play for the club anymore after owner Dell Loy Hansen ripped his team for boycotting their game on Wednesday night. 

RSL did not play their match against Los Angeles FC, part of a larger movement across American sports in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin on Sunday.

Games across the NBA, WNBA, MLB and MLS were called off as players protested an incident in which Blake, a 29-year-old Black man, was shot seven times in the back and left seriously injured.

Hansen, however, did not respond kindly to seeing his team refuse to play, saying: "The disrespect is profound to me personally.

"It’s taken a lot of wind out of my sails, what effort I want to put into recruiting players and building a great team. It just seems that’s not a very good path to take."

Onuoha, formerly of Manchester City and QPR, admitted that he has been forced to consider his future after hearing his owner's comments.

"I don't want to be here because I'm not here to play for someone who isn't here to support us," ex-Manchester City player Onuoha told BBC World Service.

"We are trying to create a bigger conversation but a lot of the people who are in power don't empathise or sympathise or do anything. They are more concerned with themselves."

Hansen is also the owner of NWSL side Utah Royals FC, and rookie attacker Tziarra King took to Twitter to criticise her team's owner.

"Any player’s hope is to be in an environment where they are fully supported not only as a player, but most importantly as a person," King said.

"For DLH to take this very real situation for the black community, and try to turn it around and make it about himself is completely unacceptable.

"Messages about inclusion and diversity are in complete contradiction with an owner who refuses to understand the relevance of a player strike for racial equality. I’m disappointed, but not surprised, by the lack of understanding in this situation."

Black Leopards caretaker coach Mongezi Bobe is backing Mamelodi forward Lesedi Kapinga to follow the footsteps of Hlompho Kekana and Tiyani Mabunda to become a key player at Chloorkop.

After scoring six goals in 27 appearances across all competitions for Leopards this season, Kapinga caught the attention of Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, who signed him in July.

Bobe, a former Leopards captain, witnessed Kapinga’s rise closely, and feels the forward will transform himself into an instrumental figure in Mosimane’s side.

“Before Lesedi left, I wished him all the best. It’s not going to be easy, Sundowns have got a lot of quality players. I think about five players in each position if not four,” Bobe said at a South African Football Journalists Association virtual press conference, "and Lesedi is one of the quality players who have come from Black Leopards and he is a quality player.

"I think he will do well for Sundowns, they have a quality player there.”

Kapinga follows players like current Downs captain Kekana and Mabunda who previously turned out for Leopards before becoming key figures at Sundowns.

Having started out at Leopards, the attacker rose to make a name for himself as arguably Sundowns’ most successful captain, leading them to a Caf Champions League crown and two Premier Soccer League titles among other accolades.

Bobe said that if the Limpopo outfit survive relegation from the PSL, they would try to retain their best talent and build a formidable side.

“Again we have produced so many quality players like Tiyani Mabunda, [Hlompho Kekana], they were with us they came when they were young when I was still captain,” said Bobe. “As well as [Rodney] Ramagalela, you know when I was still playing he came for trials and we saw him, we liked the pace and the quality striker he was and look he went further.

“So many players who came to the team went further and no one knew about them and they came to Leopards. I can say Leopards is one of those universities where we produce quality players.

“This time around I think we have to be selfish, we have to keep our quality players and not sell our players to other teams and make sure we build a strong team that can challenge for next season.

“If you mention Leopards, you mention that we are always fighting for relegation," he added. "You are right but it is time for change and we need to make sure that we keep our players and make sure that we challenge [for trophies]. We can challenge.”

Leopards are currently battling for PSL survival, placed at position 13 on the log, and just two points above basement side Polokwane City.

Azam FC defeated KMC FC by a solitary goal in a pre-season friendly played on August 27 at Azam Complex, as the hosts needed a late strike by new signing Prince Dube to give the fans something to smile about.

The 2014 league champions used the match to gauge the new signings as the team prepares for the 2020/21 Tanzania Mainland League season.

The visitors gave as much as they received, especially in the first half, with the strikers trying as much as they could to get a goal, but resolute defending by the Ice-Cream Makers kept them at bay.

Despite the fans receiving ample entertainment in the first half, the only disappointing thing was that there was no goal to celebrate.

The match was heading to a stalemate until substitute Dube received a good pass from the right, managed to get hold off his marker, before passing to Obrey Chirwa.

The Zimbabwean back-heeled the ball to the countryman, getting the defenders off guard, and the latter unleashed a first-time shot past the custodian to hand his team a late win.

It was the second consecutive loss for the Kinondoni-based side, who had lost 3-1 to Simba SC in another pre-season friendly game.

For Azam, the win is their second in a row after 2-1 loss against Namungo FC in their last build-up match.

Against Namungo, it took Azam 37 minutes to change the scoreboard, when Zimbabwe attacker Chirwa managed to beat the defenders and the goalkeeper to hand the 2018/19 FA Cup champions the lead. The 26-year-old was in fine form last season and scored 12 league goals to inspire the Ice Makers to a third-place finish.

Never Tigere picked out the striker in a good position, and miscommunication between the goalkeeper and defender allowed the forward to tap the ball into an empty net for the only goal of the first 45 minutes.

Namungo came into the second half an improved side and upped their tempo in search of the equalizer. It came in the 57th minute when the unmarked Steven Say nodded home a cross from the left.

Azam were not ready to spoil the mood of their fans and they intensified their attacks in search of the second goal. Their efforts paid dividends in the 66th minute courtesy of Andrew Simchimba.

The league resumes on September 6, before Azam host Polisi Tanzania and KMC play Mbeya City in the following days.