Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is “conscious” after being taken to hospital following a wildly reckless challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts just eight minutes into Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round clash.

Palace chairman Steve Parish confirmed to the BBC at half-time that Mateta had a gash behind his ear and was at a local hospital receiving further treatment as he expressed his anger at the tackle, which saw Roberts sent off.

After the match, Palace manager Oliver Glasner said that Mateta is “conscious.”

“He’s conscious and he’s in hospital, but his ear obviously looks terrible. [It’s a] very serious injury, so of course we hope all the best for him and let’s see,” Glasner said.

Roberts rushed outside the 18-yard box and leaped to clear a long ball but his high left-footed follow-through struck Mateta in the side of the face.

Mateta remained on the ground for several minutes and needed lengthy medical treatment before he was fitted with a neck brace and carried off the field toward an ambulance.

“In all the time I’ve been watching football I don’t think I’ve ever seen a worse challenge. If you’re kicking someone in the head then you don’t know what damage may have been done,” Parish said.

Referee Michael Oliver initially did not even show Roberts a yellow card despite being only a few yards away from the incident but then brandished a straight red after being called over by VAR to review the incident on a pitchside monitor.

“They’re professionals and they have to treat each other like professionals and have a duty of care for your fellow professionals,” Parish said.

“That keeper has not had one [duty of care]. Credit to the players carrying on and it is difficult for me to think about anything else with JP [Mateta] in hospital.

“In all the time I’ve watched football, someone mentioned there was one like it in the World Cup in 1982.

“Why the referee [Michael Oliver] needed to go to the screen I have got no idea.”

Mateta is Palace’s leading scorer with 12 Premier League goals this season. Despite his lack of firepower up front for the remainder of the match, Palace still earned a 3-1 victory over the 10-man Millwall side.

“Maybe we are not really happy today. We can’t be really happy,” Glasner added.

“Of course, it’s a great win in going into the quarterfinals, but when you lose a player, especially with a foul like this, you have two different feelings in your stomach.”

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.

The post Mateta ‘conscious,’ in hospital after wild tackle appeared first on Sports News Boom.

Both sets of fan at the Vitality Stadium were up in arms during Saturday’s FA Cup fifth-round clash between Bournemouth and Wolves after the newly-introduced semi-automated offside system did not work, leading to an eight-minute VAR check.

Hosts Bournemouth were already a goal up just around the half-hour mark when Milos Kerkez extended their advantage with a back-post header. However, uncertainty over whether he was offside provoked a surpringly long check from the VAR, Timothy Wood.

A source told ESPN that the semi-automated offside system was temporarily out-of-action, causing the VAR to resort to protocol and use the old technology — drawing the lines and judging for himself.

That delay lasted around eight minutes, with both sets of fans angrily chanting “it’s not football anymore” and “this is embarrassing.”

Finally, the goal was ruled out for offside.

The long-awaited semi-automated offside system is making its debut in England this weekend during the FA Cup fifth round. It was used for the first time on Friday to assess the build-up to Aston Villa‘s opening goal in their 2-0 win over Cardiff City.

Information from ESPN’s Bobby Emmanuel contributed to this report.

The post FA Cup: Fans fume as semi-automated offside fails appeared first on Sports News Boom.

Spanish footballer Nico Hidalgo has died aged 32 following a lengthy battle with lung cancer, his former clubs said on Saturday.

Hidalgo, a midfielder, began his career at Motril, making his senior debut in 2010, before moving to Granada B in 2012.

He then joined Serie A giants Juventus in 2014, although he did not make a first-team appearance and would be immediately loaned back to Granada.

He was later loaned to Cadiz, who he joined permanently in 2017. He also played for Racing Santander and Extremadura.

Hidalgo was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and retired the following year.

“With Nico’s departure, not only is an excellent footballer gone, but also a great person. But the affection of his teammates, coaches, workers, directors and fans will always be present,” Granada said in a statement.

“We will never forget your smile and your joy. Your fight is our inspiration. Rest in peace.” Cadiz said in a statement posted to X.

The post Spanish footballer Nico Hidaglo dies aged 32 appeared first on Sports News Boom.

Burnley players refused to shake hands with Preston North-End striker Milutin Osmajic during their FA Cup fifth-round clash on Saturday as a sign of solidarity with teammate Hannibal Mejbri.

The Burnley midfielder accused Osmajic of racially abusing him when the two sides met in the Championship earlier this month.

“I will not be silent about what happened today,” Mejbri wrote on social media post-match.

“I will always call out racism whenever I hear or see it. That is the only way we change as a sport and a society. I am a strong person but nobody should have to experience this disgusting abuse on the pitch.”

Osmajic “strongly refuted” the claims per a statement released by Preston and the incident is being investigated by the English Football Association.

The rancor stemming from the incident carried into their FA Cup meeting on Saturday, where none of the Burnley players put their hands forward to Osmajic during the pre-match handshakes. Mejbri was fit to play at Deepdale but Burnley boss Scott Parker said he left him out of the squad to “protect” his wellbeing.

After realising he was going to be shunned by the Burnley squad, Osmajic walked past the line without any interaction.

The forward went on to score Preston’s second goal in their 3-0 win and celebrated by cupping his hands around his ears to mock the away fans.

The post Burnley shun Preston striker amid racism row appeared first on Sports News Boom.

Forwards Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford are quickly adapting to Aston Villa‘s style and growing in confidence, manager Unai Emery said after they linked-up again to lead the club into the FA Cup quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Cardiff City.

Rashford set up fellow January singing Asensio for the opener against English second-tier side Cardiff at Villa Park on Friday, having also assisted the Spaniard for both his goals in their 2-1 last-gasp Premier League home win over Chelsea earlier this month.

England international Rashford is on loan from Manchester United while Asensio has joined from Paris Saint-Germain until the end of the season.

“They are adapting of the structure …,” Emery told reporters.

“They have a lot of skills to add in our structure, helping us like they are doing. They are scoring goals and getting assists for their teammates, playing in our structure and feeling comfortable.

“They’re getting more confidence. It’s important how every player is trying to support and to help in our structure, getting us as strong as possible.”

Emery said it was important to enjoy the moment as Villa entered the FA Cup quarterfinals for the first time in 10 years, but he did not consider his side the outright favourites to win the title with Manchester City, Man United and Newcastle United still in the competition.

“We know this competition is a way for a trophy, a way for Wembley, a way for Europa League and prestige for the club and the supporters are excited and motivated to try and share this opportunity with us,” Emery said.

Villa next take a trip to Belgian side Club Brugge for the Champions League round of 16 first leg tie on Tuesday.

The post Emery: Asensio, Rashford adapting to Villa style appeared first on Sports News Boom.

• Sam Marsden

• Moises Llorens

Mar 1, 2025, 08:11 AM ET

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has revealed defender Andreas Christensen has picked up another injury just three days after being cleared to return to action against Real Sociedad this weekend.

Christensen, 28, came off the bench against Valencia in Barça’s first game of the season in August but was then sidelined until January with Achilles problem.

Upon his return to training at the start of the year, the Denmark international injured his calf, ruling him out until the end of February.

Earlier this week, Barça confirmed Christensen had been given the green light to play competitively again, but he received another setback on Saturday.

“What I can say now is that Andreas got injured in this morning’s training session,” Flick told a news conference.

“He was an option for Real Sociedad on Sunday, but again he is injured. We are looking now how heavy is the injury. Hopefully it’s not so much.”

Christensen joined Barça on a free transfer from Chelsea in 2022 and made 32 appearances to help the club win LaLiga in his first season.

He followed his debut campaign up with another 42 appearances last term, being used as a defensive midfielder at times by previous coach Xavi Hernández, but he has been limited to just one outing this season.

In his absence, Pau Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez have emerged as Barça’s first choice centre-back pairing, with Ronald Araújo and Eric García providing backup.

“We want at least four players for this position,” Flick added. “Normally we have five really good centre-backs, but without Andreas, it’s four.

“Ronald also had a huge injury but he’s doing really good now. He’s a leader. He has everything to reach a very high level. I am really happy with all of them.”

Squad depth may be needed in the coming weeks as the games come thick and fast for the LaLiga leaders.

After Tuesday’s 4-4 draw against Atlético Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal, Barça welcome Real Sociedad in LaLiga this weekend before travelling to Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Flick aid the fact his side are still in the running to win all three competitions, after already winning the Spanish Supercopa in January, is proof they are exceeding expectations this season.

“We have to accept [the busy schedule] and manage it with the players, maybe by using some fresh legs,” he said.

“It’s good to have [the games]. We have three competitions and can fight for three titles. When we start this season, at this time now, March 1, no one expected that. The team is going great.”

The post Barça’s Christensen suffers new injury setback appeared first on Sports News Boom.

• Alex Kirkland

• Rodrigo Faez

Mar 1, 2025, 05:14 AM ET

Real Madrid have been hit with a €30,000 ($31,130) fine and a partial stadium closure — suspended for two years — by UEFA over “discriminatory behaviour” by fans in their Champions League game with Manchester City at the Bernabéu last month.

Madrid beat City 3-1 in the Champions League knockout phase playoff second leg on Feb. 19, with forward Kylian Mbappé scoring a hat trick, as Madrid progressed to the round of 16 with an aggregate score of 6-3.

UEFA’s Appeals Body published the decision on Friday, citing a breach of article 14 of its Disciplinary Regulations, which sanctions “any person … who insults the human dignity of a person or group of persons on whatever grounds, including skin colour, race, religion, ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation.”

UEFA did not specify the nature of the fan behaviour which had led to the punishment.

As well as the €30,000 fine, Madrid were penalised with a partial closure of the Bernabéu of “at least 500 adjacent seats” suspended for a probationary period of two years.

The closure would be enforced “if a further offence of a similar nature is committed during the probationary period,” UEFA said.

Real Madrid will play Atlético Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie at the Bernabéu on Tuesday.

The post Madrid penalised for fan behaviour in City CL clash appeared first on Sports News Boom.

• Associated Press

Feb 28, 2025, 12:42 PM ET

Turkey Süper Lig club Fenerbahce said on Friday they have filed a lawsuit against rival Galatasaray for an “attack on the personal rights” of coach Jose Mourinho.

Galatasaray accused Mourinho of making racist comments after Monday’s Istanbul derby, saying in a statement that he had used “unequivocally inhumane rhetoric” after he referred to the opposition bench “jumping around like monkeys.”

Fenerbahce rejected the accusation and said the comments were “deliberately taken entirely out of context and distorted in a misleading manner.”

On Friday, they went further and said they had initiated legal action to recoup around $52,000 in damages.

“We would like to announce to the public that a lawsuit for moral damages of 1 million 907 thousand Turkish liras has been filed against Galatasaray Sports Club by Fenerbahçe Sports Club lawyers due to the attack on the personal rights of our Technical Director Jose Mourinho,” Fenerbahce said in a statement.

The figure appeared to be a reference to Fenerbahce having been founded in 1907, a number that is on the club’s crest.

Galatasaray said this week that Mourinho had “persistently issued derogatory statements directed towards the Turkish people” and intended to initiate criminal proceedings concerning the “racist statements” made by the Portuguese coach.

The Turkish Football Federation on Thursday handed Mourinho a four-match ban and fined him 1.6 million Turkish lira ($44,000) for comments made after about Turkish referees after the Galatasaray match.

In his post-match news conference Mourinho welcomed the decision to bring in a foreign referee — Slovenian Slavko Vincic — for the game and also praised the official for a “top performance.”

Mourinho said he’d gone to see the referee and thank him following the game.

When he saw the fourth official, a Turkish referee, Mourinho said he told him: “If you are the referee … would be a disaster.”

Mourinho moved to Turkey from Roma last year after stints at high-profile clubs including Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

He was fined and suspended earlier in the season for a tirade against local match officials and the league.

The post Mourinho sues Galatasaray for racism accusation appeared first on Sports News Boom.

Ballon d’ Or winner Rodri has returned to individual training with Manchester City, boosting his prospects of playing again this season after suffering an ACL injury in September.

The Spain midfielder was initially expected to miss the rest of the season after suffering the knee injury in City’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sept. 22. However, he was seen back at City’s training ground being put through drills in a video City put out on their social feeds, featuring the caption “on the road to recovery.”

The absence of Rodri, who was awarded the Ballon d’or for 2024 after helping Man City win the Premier League title and Spain lift the Euro 2024 crown, has been keenly felt by Pep Guardiola’s side.

On the road to recovery 💪 pic.twitter.com/WovR8p6417

— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 28, 2025

Without his commanding presence, City have fallen 20 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid earlier this month.

Rodri has said he is targeting a return in time to feature at the Club World Cup, which begins for City on June 18. Guardiola, though, has previously urged caution with the 28-year-old’s recovery.

“He’s positive but I don’t know to be honest. An ACL is an ACL,” the City manager said last month. “Always I believe in long injuries there’s a time you must respect because of the human body.

“The ACL is the ACL for every football player and every athlete so there is a time.

“[The] Most important [thing] for Rodri now is to recover well.”

The post Rodri returns to Man City training after ACL injury appeared first on Sports News Boom.

Bayern Munich fought back from a goal down to maintain their place at the top of the Bundesliga with a 3-1 victory at VfB Stuttgart on Friday.

The win keeps Bayern comfortably atop the Bundesliga with 61 points, 11 ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, though they have played one match more.

Stuttgart took the lead in the 34th minute through Angelo Stiller, who struck a left-footed shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

In first half stoppage time, Bayern equalised as Michael Olise made a perfectly timed run and finished with ease.

Bayern turned the match around in the 64th minute when a quick-thinking Leon Goretzka intercepted the ball from a defender inside the box and calmly slotted it home to give the leaders a 2-1 lead.

Stuttgart made another mistake just before the end when Josha Vagnoman attempted to play the ball back to keeper Alexander Nubel, only for Kingsley Coman to intercept it and slot it in from distance to give Bayern their third and final goal.

The post Bayern go 11 points clear with win at Stuttgart appeared first on Sports News Boom.