Former ref shocked as Dessers denied Rangers penalty
Former Fifa official Keith Hackett is in no doubt that Rangers should have been awarded a penalty after Cyriel Dessers had his shirt ripped by a pull from a defender in Athletic Bilbao's box during last night's Europa League defeat. (Football Insider), externalNico Raskin says he would only ever leave Rangers for a club that would guarantee him a starting place every week as he seeks a place in the Belgium squad for the 2026 World Cup. (RTBF via Daily Record, external)Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.
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South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Luciano Spalletti to leave Italy head coach role after Moldova match
The 66-year-old announced the news during his press conference ahead of Monday's World Cup qualifier against Moldova. Spalletti came under pressure after his country's campaign began with Friday evening's 3-0 defeat away to Norway. Italy vs. Moldova will be Luciano Spalletti's last game as Azzurri head coach.#Azzurri #VivoAzzurro — Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 8, 2025 His imminent departure – after he takes charge of the Group I meeting with Moldova in Reggio Emilia – was later confirmed by the Italian Football Federation. 'I spoke with (federation president Gabriele) Gravina last night and he informed me that I will be relieved of my duties as national team coach,' Spalletti told a press conference, according to The Athletic. 'I am disappointed: given the relationship we have, I had no intention of stepping down. Especially when things are not going well, I would have preferred to stay and do my job. 'However, it is a dismissal and I have to accept it. Defeat in Oslo. #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro — Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) June 6, 2025 'I have always seen this role as a service to my country and I want to facilitate the future of the national team. I think it is right to seek the best solution.' Former Roma and Inter Milan coach Spalletti succeeded Euro 2020 winner Roberto Mancini as Azzurri boss in 2023 after guiding Napoli to the Serie A title. He has won only 11 of his 23 matches in charge of the national team and oversaw a last-16 exit to Switzerland at Euro 2024.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
It feels like we're a group of mates – Skipper Harry Brook hails England unity
Brook has won five on the bounce against the West Indies since taking over from Jos Buttler, sweeping the tourists 3-0 in the ODI leg and going 2-0 up with one to play in the T20s. England did not have it easy in Sunday's four-wicket win at Bristol, with the asking rate climbing past 11 an over at one stage as they chased down a stiff target of 197. IT20 series win secured! 🔒 Victory in Bristol 🙌 Banton and Carse see us home 👏 Match Centre: — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 8, 2025 But they stuck together to get over the line, with five of their top six making handy contributions before Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton took the bull by the horns. The middle-order duo hammered 56 off just 21 deliveries between them to puncture the West Indian resistance and keep the good times rolling for Brook. It was the kind of game England were losing in the difficult final days under Buttler, whose reign ended with eight straight defeats across both formats. But there is a new lighter feeling around the group – including the newly liberated former skipper, who has top-scored with 96 and 47 in the last two games. 'It feels like we're a group of mates. We're just going out and having fun,' said Brook. 'It's been nice for me. The results are awesome and we're really enjoying it. We're having a good time out there. 'At the end of games we go around the circle and Baz (head coach Brendon McCullum) asks if anybody has anything to say. In every game so far someone has stood up and said something. I think that's a great way of showing how the team is at the minute and we feel a proper togetherness.' The West Indies made England sweat at times, taking 82 off their last five overs including an unexpected tirade against Adil Rashid in the 19th. For so long the team's most bankable bowler, the leg-spinner shipped five sixes and 31 runs in what goes down as the second most expensive over by an English bowler in T20s. Stuart Broad holds the unwanted record of 36, taken for six off every ball by Yuvraj Singh at the 2007 World Cup. Brook, though, insists he and his team were never rattled. 'I'm always very chilled. We knew that there was going to be one, two, maybe three big overs,' he said. From a different angle 📐 All 25 of our boundaries! 💥#ENGvWI | #EnglandCricket — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 8, 2025 'On a pitch that size, with 60-metre boundaries nearly all the way around, we accepted that before the game and we knew we could get big overs as well. 'The way Bants went about his business, getting 30 off 11 balls having never really batted in the middle order before was just awesome.' The West Indies have one more chance to avoid a winless tour in Southampton on Tuesday but head coach Daren Sammy paid tribute to Akeal Hosein, who took the field just six hours after arriving from the Caribbean following visa delays. 'He said to me, 'there's no way I'm not playing',' Sammy explained. 'Kudos to him, he turned up for us. An eight-hour flight straight into a game is not ideal but it shows his commitment.'
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
'We'll see': Honest Franco Smith addresses Glasgow Warriors future and makes telling squad admission
Glasgow boss will take time to reflect after season came to end at Leinster Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Franco Smith will take time to reflect on his future after Glasgow Warriors' reign as URC champions was ended in Dublin but the head coach has offered no guarantee he will be at the helm next season. Smith, 52, has been in charge for three seasons and has one year remaining on his contract. His success with Glasgow has seen him linked with a number of high-profile jobs, most notably at Leicester Tigers and Wales, and he has also been touted as a potential successor to Gregor Townsend as Scotland head coach. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leicester have now filled their vacancy by appointing Geoff Parling as coach but Wales are still searching for a permanent successor to Warren Gatland. Cardiff's Matt Sherratt will resume as Wales' interim boss for the two-Test tour of Japan in July. Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith. | SNS Group Smith, who was in charge of Italy from 2019-21, said earlier in the season that he would like to coach international rugby again and now finds himself at something of a crossroads. He has achieved great things with Glasgow, winning the URC in 2024 and taking them to the final of the European Challenge Cup the previous year. This season, they reached the semi-finals of the URC but were beaten by Leinster, losing 37-19 at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. The former South Africa international will have to work with a reduced budget next season and has expressed concern over losing some of his foreign players as Scottish Rugby puts more emphasis on developing native talent under the performance director, David Nucifora. Speaking to travelling Scottish media after the defeat in Dublin, a clearly emotional Smith explained that he needed some time to contemplate his future. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Smith's time to reflect 'I need to reflect a little bit,' he said. 'I can say I put my heart into this. That hasn't changed.' Asked directly about his future, Smith continued: 'We'll see. I was hoping we would be going to South Africa this week [for the URC final]. I'll sit down now and reflect a little bit. For now, I'm just proud of the season that's gone.' He added that he expected an announcement in the coming days on a replacement for Pete Murchie, Glasgow's defence coach who is leaving the club to work in Japan. But Smith also pointedly referred to 'budget restraints' and the pressure they could be under next season. 'Our squad's been reduced,' he said. 'We've lost some of the foreigners. I'll be as honest as possible: that's going to put a lot of pressure on every aspect of our environment.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Overseas players Henco Venter, Sebastian Canceilliere, JP du Preez and Facundo Cordero are all leaving Glasgow along with Scotland squad men Tom Jordan and Jack Mann plus young Scottish-qualified winger Amena Caqusau. Lock Alex Craig and stand-off/centre Charlie Savala have both been recruited for next season and Racing 92 No 10 Dan Lancaster is expected to join them but Smith admitted he 'would have loved to' have done more transfer business. Glasgow Warriors captain Kyle Steyn. | SNS Group Kyle Steyn, the Glasgow club captain, said it would be emotional saying farewell to the departing players. 'It's tough,' said the winger. 'Franco speaks about this three-year journey and some of those guys have been there longer than that three, four years. You get to know these guys, you get to know their families. There are some people there who have given an unbelievable amount for our club and to be a part of our group. You just wish that you could find a way to hang on to some of those guys.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Steyn said he would have loved to have reached the URC final for the sake of those leaving.
