‘Our first No 7’: Lynda Hale, pioneer who scored in England’s first women’s match, dies

Southampton winger won Women’s FA Cup seven times Lionesses will wear black armbands against Ukraine Tributes are being paid after the death of the trailblazing footballer Lynda Hale, who scored in England’s first official women’s international fixture. Hale, who was also a seven-time winner of the Women’s FA Cup as part of the Southampton Women’s FC side that dominated the English women’s game throughout the 1970s, started the Lionesses’ first formal game, against Scotland in November 1972. Continue reading...

Infantino’s idolisation of Trump has left football with blood on its hands | Barney Ronay

The Fifa president’s sycophancy towards the US president has left the organisation facing a new nadir, but any reckoning seems a distant prospect Mr President. Fellow exco members. We’re going to need a bigger Board of Peace. How many mini‑pitches are we up to now? Gaza got 50 of them last month. What will it take to football-fix the global conflict being set in train by Fifa’s own Peace Prize Boy ? A hundred mini-pitches? Four billion mini-pitches? All the mini‑pitches in the universe? In a more sane version of what we must, out of habit, call the real world, it would seem absurd to talk a

Referees get a hard time but they have got the big calls right in the past couple of weeks | Chris Foy

It was right to disallow Tottenham’s goal in the north London derby and it was also correct to rule out the goal that would have given Burnley a 4-4 draw against Brentford At the start of the season, clubs, fans and the media were told referees would be taking a proactive approach to holding in the penalty area, or grappling as some call it. We have since seen some really good examples of on-field referees making decisions where they have clearly identified holding offences and others where the VAR has recommended a review. But in the past six or eight weeks the issue seems to have intensified

France to increase nuclear arsenal and European weapons cooperation, Macron says

French president says Paris could deploy nuclear capable fighter jet to countries such as Germany and Poland France will increase the size of its nuclear arsenal for the first time in decades and significantly intensify nuclear weapons cooperation with eight European allies including the UK as part of a “major” strengthening of its deterrence doctrine, Emmanuel Macron has said. Amid growing concern among European leaders about wavering US commitments to help defend the continent, the French president said on Monday that Paris could deploy nuclear-capable Rafale fighter jets to partner countrie

Monday Night Club

Mark Chapman and guests discuss the weekend's football

France to boost nuclear arsenal and extend deterrence to European allies

Emmanuel Macron said eight countries could enjoy protection from France's nuclear umbrella - but that Paris would retain sole decision-making power.

Iraq or UAE could take Iran’s World Cup finals spot due to Middle East crisis

Fifa regulations vague on issue of replacing any teams Withdrawal would be first since France and India in 1950 Iraq and the United Arab Emirates are viewed as the most likely beneficiaries should Iran withdraw from the World Cup. Fifa’s general secretary, Mattias Grafström, said on Saturday that “our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating”, but the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, has raised doubts over his country’s participation by saying: “After this attack, we cannot be expected to look forward to the World Cup with hope.” Fifa has not comme

Mbappe set for tests on knee but no surgery planned

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe is set to have further assessments on a knee problem but will not have surgery at this stage.

Sutton's predictions v singer-songwriter & Chelsea fan Noah Kahan

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton takes on singer-songwriter Noah Kahan plus the BBC readers and AI with his predictions for this week's midweek Premier League fixtures on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Will Iran play at World Cup co-hosted by USA? How Middle East crisis affects sport

With the conflict between Iran and US-Israeli forces intensifying, Sky Sports looks at how the Middle East crisis is affecting sport...

Greaves drawn against Pilgrim at UK Open

Beau Greaves has been drawn against Darryl Pilgrim in the opening round of the UK Open, where Luke Littler returns as defending champion.

Transfer Centre LIVE! 'Spurs players facing wage cuts if club relegated'