Latest news with #League1
The Irish Sun
18-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Former European champions who beat Barcelona in famous final BANNED from winning promotion from second tier
FORMER European champions CSA Steaua have been banned from winning promotion from Romania's second tier. The club used to be known as Steaua Bucharest and won the 1986 European Cup after a famous final against Advertisement 1 Former European champs CSA Steaua are banned from playing in Romania's top flight Credit: Getty The Romanians triumphed on penalties, with goalkeeper Helmut Duckadam saving all four of Barca's spot-kicks. Steaua Bucharest ended up effectively splitting into two teams in 1998 following a bitter takeover saga, with CSA recognised as the original outfit and FCSB forming as an offshoot. The latter, who are privately owned, are top of Romania's first division, which is now in the playoff part of the season. While CSA, who are owned by the Ministry of Defence, are currently second in their respective promotion playoffs. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL It had set up a mouthwatering encounter next season, with both sides finally set to meet. But CSA are blocked from promotion by Romania's FA. They state that all clubs who play in the top tier require some form of private ownership. And as CSA is fully controlled by the Ministry of Defence, they are unable to feature in the elite flight. Advertisement Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS In a statement to Romania outlet Playsport, the country's FA explained in 2022 after a similar promotion possibility for CSA occurred: 'Regarding the status of the CSA Steaua Bucharest club in the League 2 Play-off, it is identical to that of any other club that has obtained the sporting merit to play in the League 2 Play-off. 'Although you did not specify what you are referring to when you talk about the CSA 'club status', we assume that it is related to the rights, obligations and any other rules regarding the participation of the respective club in the League 2 Play-off. At least 25 rushed to hospital after fans storm pitch in huge invasion as club wins promotion to Germany's Bundesliga 'Therefore, we would like to emphasise that all clubs participating in the League 2 Play-off benefit from the same treatment, having the same rights and obligations within the Play-off. Advertisement 'We believe that this extremely widely debated issue, regarding the possibility of a public law club, in general, CSA Steaua, in the particular case, has already been clarified. 'We recall, however, that, from a legal point of view, CSA Steaua does not have the right to promotion to League 1 and, implicitly, in the situation in which it will obtain the sporting merit to promote to League 1, the club will not be able to exercise this right. 'Regarding the club's possibility to participate in the promotion play-off to League 1, this issue was clarified in detail by the Decision of the FRF Executive Committee dated 18.08.2020, which establishes, among other things: 'In all cases where a team located in a promotionable place or that gives the right to the promotion play-off does not hold a license for League 1 or does not meet the statutory and regulatory requirements for participation in League 1, the respective place will be occupied by the next, best-ranked team from League 2 that meets the conditions for participation in League 1'.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Football Accumulator Tips For Today: 265/1 Fourfold For Wednesday
Today's Football Predictions Maeda to score at any time against Aberdeen - 17/10 William Hill Stockport to beat Orient and BTTS 3/1 BetVictor Mbappe to score two or more against Mallorca - 10/3 William Hill AC Milan to beat Bologna & BTTS - 9/2 Bet365 The fourfold pays 265/1 with William Hill The season might be in its last throws but the action isn't showing any let-up yet, with cup finals, play-offs and the all-important jostle for European qualification. It just means looking slightly further afield when it comes to today's football accumulator tips for the Wednesday night matches. Advertisement We've compiled a fourfold from those games that returns at 265/1 with William Hill and comparable odds on other betting sites. Aberdeen vs Celtic Prediction (8pm, Sky Sports Football) Celtic have already won the league and sit 17 points clear of second-placed Rangers, but they are still going hard with eight wins from their last 11 games. After spending the early part of the season pushing Celtic, Dons have now slipped to fourth in the SPL table, 35 points behind the champions and three behind third-placed Hibs, who they would love to catch with third going into the Europa League qualifying rounds next season. Advertisement Celtic have already beaten Wednesday's opponents three times by an aggregate score of 12-1, while the first meeting of the season, back in October, at Celtic Park ended 2-2. Striker Daizen Maeda has already scored five goals against Aberdeen this season, including a hat-trick in the 6-0 League Cup win back in November. He also has 11 goals in his last 13 games, and 34 for the season, so he looks a good option to add to that tally on Wednesday. You can get odds of 11/2 on him scoring first or last and 17/10 to score at any time. Accumulator betting tip 1: Maeda to score at any time - 17/10 William Hill Stockport vs Leyton Orient Prediction (8pm, Sky Sports Main Event) It's all square after the first leg of an action-packed League 1 play-off tie that was not without controversy with an offside goal and two penalties. Advertisement County defender Fraser Horsfall was in the thick of the action as he won a penalty, scored a goal and conceded a penalty as the two teams played out a 2-2 draw at Brisbane Road. Stockport finished nine points ahead of Orient in the regular season, but that counts for nothing in this one-off game. The head-to-head for the season stands at one win each, and the draw last time out. County won the league meeting at Brisbane Road 1-0 after being beaten 4-1 in the reverse fixture back in September. Dave Challinor's side are looking for their third promotion in four years, and they finished the season by winning seven of their last eight league games, drawing the other. Advertisement Football betting sites make Stockport second favourites for promotion behind Charlton at 15/8 and should punch their ticket for Wembley here. A home win is a best-price of 19/20 on Wednesday, but throwing in both teams to score, which has landed in Stockport's last five games and six of Orient's last seven matches, brings the price up to 3/1 Accumulator betting tip 2: Stockport to win and BTTS - 3/1 BetVictor Real Madrid vs Mallorca Prediction (8.30pm, Premier Sports 2) Real Madrid's chances of winning LaLiga all but slipped away on Sunday after their 4-3 defeat away at Barcelona. They now sit seven points behind Hansi Flick's side with just three games to go. Failure to beat ninth-placed Mallorca would hand Barca the title before they play on Thursday evening. Advertisement Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick on Sunday and still ended up on the losing side. He'll take little comfort from the fact he surpassed the record for goals in a debut season for Los Blancos as he took his tally to a huge 39 goals in 55 games. Betting apps are offering 11/4 on him scoring first or last, or 10/13 on scoring at any time. He has scored more than once on eight different occasions this season and you can get 10/3 on him doing it again. Accumulator betting tip 3: Mbappe to score two or more - 10/3 William Hill AC Milan vs Bologna Prediction (8pm, Premier Sports 1) They've already won the Supercoppa Italiana this season, and now AC Milan are just one win away from lifting the Coppa Italia for the first time since 2003. Advertisement The finalists are separated by one place and two points in the Serie A table, and the head-to-head record so far this season is one apiece. Bologna won their home match 2-1 before Milan claimed a potential psychological boost for the final by coming from behind to beat the Rossoblu 3-1 just last Friday. Riccardo Orsolini gave the visitors the lead before Milan responded well with Santiago Gimenez scoring twice and Christian Pulisic netting the other. Milan have won their last four games and while you'd expect Bologna, who are appearing in their first final since 1974, to go down swinging, the Rossoneri should prove the superior side. Advertisement Accumulator betting tip 4: AC Milan to win & BTTS - 9/2 Bet365 Please gamble responsibly Sports betting can be enjoyable, but it's important to stay in control and gamble responsibly. Whether you are using the best online casino, slot sites, poker sites, or online bookmakers, responsible gambling should always be a priority. All licensed gambling sites in the UK are required to provide tools such as deposit limits, time-outs, self-exclusion, and self-assessment questionnaires. These are designed to help you manage your gambling activity and protect your wellbeing. Online bookmakers and new casino sites will offer free bets or a casino bonus occasionally. While these can be tempting, it is vital to read the terms and conditions of any offer before taking part. Advertisement Gambling should be treated as entertainment—not a source of income. If you are concerned about your gambling behaviour, support is available from: We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Daily Mirror
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
From League 1 golden boot to dream of USMNT World Cup call-up for Orient star
League 1's surprise top goalscorer Charlie Kelman believes he can force his way into Mauricio Pochettino's USA squad once given the chance to shine in next season's Championship Charlie Kelman's golden boot arrived by post on Wednesday but League One's top marksman would exchange it for play-off glory without a second thought after following through on a pre-season promise to himself. Last summer Kelman felt at a crossroads at QPR so flew to Dallas, where he spent much of his childhood, to cut himself off from all distractions. He trained 'obsessively' at The Star facility used by the NFL 's Cowboys and admits 'my missus was fuming because we barely spoke' while he was in the zone. When the chance to rejoin Leyton Orient on loan for a second time presented itself upon his return, he told manager Richie Wellens that he would score 20 goals. Brave talk from a player whose previous best return was seven, when the Os won League Two the season before last. But Kelman, who was 250/1 to be the division's top scorer, surpassed his target to guide them to a sixth-place finish and a semi-final with Stockport County. 'Last season was tough,' he says. 'I was playing out of position at QPR and then went to Wigan on loan and I'd never lived that far away from home before. 'But when it came to the summer I cancelled my holiday, went to the States - my older brother lives in Dallas - and I trained every day. It was do or die for me in a sense so I was working my arse off and I knew it would happen. 'When I met with the gaffer he said he wanted me back because of my defensive side of the game but I said, 'Look, gaffer, I'm going to get 20 goals this year and I'll have my holiday when I get my golden boot.' I've held up my end of the bargain, now hopefully we can get our second promotion together.' That holiday has been delayed further by the play-offs and Kelman has gone to bed all this week visualising chances that could fall to him today. Orient may have finished nine points behind Stockport but after winning six in a row to take the final spot confidence is sky high. 'We both have very talented players,' Kelman says. 'And with this gaffer, you can get the gist of what we're going to go and do – we'll be on the frontfoot, energetic and hopefully get a result.' Kelman has not given any thought to what happens immediately after. He loves being at Orient, describing Wellens' tightknit squad as like 'best friends, like being back at school,' and is determined to make an impact in the second tier next season. But long-term he has set himself one big ambition – a place in Mauricio Pochettino 's USA squad for next summer's World Cup. 'I've been very vocal that I want to play for America,' says Kelman, who is eligible through his father and has played underage for the Stars and Stripes. 'Obviously the Gold Cup is in the summer, maybe that will come too soon. But I want to prove I can play at that level. I want to play in a World Cup for America. I'll take it a step at a time and next up is to prove it in the Championship.' Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Zayn Malik sports thick beard as he reveals VERY rugged appearance in an unreleased football shirt after friends shares fears for his wellbeing after 1D
Zayn Malik revealed his new rugged look as he sported a full beard and his longer hair pushed back in a hair band in an Instagram post. The musician, 32, who was wearing a pink Bradford City AFC shirt, shared the snap to his Stories with fans on Tuesday evening. Zayn has been rocking the more unkempt look in recent weeks, after previously showing off a closely-shaved appearance while on tour earlier this week. The former One Direction star was wearing gold hoop earrings and a colourful necklace, as he revealed his side profile in the sexy shot. Zayn is a huge Bradford supporter and showed his commitment to the side in the new shot after attending games over the years. Following the team's recent promotion to League 1 Zayn showed his support as fans gathered in Centenary Square for the open-top bus parade. The musician, 32, who was wearing a pink Bradford football shirt, shared the snap to his Stories with fans on Tuesday evening Zayn posted an image to his 53.6 million followers on Instagram of himself in a yet-to-be-released pink City top. The team will wear the shirt when they kick off the new season following their promotion later this year. Zayn, who was born in the city, was name as an ambassador last year for its City of Culture celebrations, of which he was expected to attend. At the time, Zayn - who now spends much of his time in the US - said: 'I've travelled all over the world but my roots and family remain in Bradford.' The announcement was made at Valley Parade, the home of Bradford City AFC, Zayn's beloved soccer team. In a video message, Zayn said: 'Bradford is and always will be home to me. 'It's a very special place and I'm happy to see it being recognised as the UK City of Culture for 2025. 'There are some exciting projects I am taking part in throughout the year that I can't wait to share with you. 'Now we can celebrate this great city and the people who live and work here with the rest of the world.' The new snap comes as Zayn's daughter Khai, four, was credited with 'saving him' by his friends and motivating him to turn his life around. Zayn, welcomed his daughter with ex Gigi Hadid, in September 2020 before the pair called it quits on their romantic relationship for good in October the following year. Since leaving One Direction in March 2015, Zayn has battled crippling anxiety, faced concerns about his drug use and hit the headlines after being filmed during a shirtless altercation in New York. While last year saw him dealing with the tragic death of his former bandmate Liam Payne, leading him to postpone his debut solo tour - the first in a number of delays to the tour. But last month, Zayn successfully completed his Stairway to the Sky shows, concluding in Mexico City with the words: 'We got there'. And now his daughter has been credited with helping him make the 'incredible turnaround', after fears that it could have 'gone so differently', according to The Sun. A source told the publication: 'Friends inside and outside of the music industry are incredibly proud of the man Zayn has become. 'It could have all gone so differently - there have been genuine concerns for him over the years, but the storms he has weathered have given him strength and clarity. 'Finishing the tour was a huge hurdle for him to overcome. It's been an incredible turnaround. Fatherhood has been the making of him. Khai has absolutely saved him.' Last year, Zayn himself explained how fatherhood had changed him, admitting Khai unlocked a love in him he'd never had before. Opening up about his daughter on The Zach Sang Show, he said: 'I feel like my daughter brought that colour back in my life. 'She just makes me happy. I have so much love in me that I didn't have before she was born. 'She laughs all day. She wants to do the silliest things and she gains so much excitement from it. She just has a whole fresh perspective on life that had somewhat become grey for me.' He added: 'She's a force of nature. She's given me maturity. She's forced my sensibility to become this mature father for her, this good responsible role model that takes accountability for their actions and sticks to their work and proves that my word is bond.' Zayn splits custody with supermodel Gigi, 30, who he began dating in 2015, before a brief split in 2018 and again in 2019, and then a final separation in 2021. Their decision to finally call things off once and for all was reportedly caused by tension between Zayn and and Gigi's mother, Yolanda Hadid. Zayn was charged with four counts of harassment after he pleaded no contest to the charges after allegedly pushing Yolanda into a dresser and calling her a 'f*****g Dutch s**t' in September 2021. Court documents revealed that he had to complete 360 days probation in addition to completing an anger management class. However, the former couple seem to have put the drama behind them, with them now sharing an amicable co-parenting relationship.
Scottish Sun
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Title-winning club ‘eye £3.5m double swoop for Rangers duo' as Ibrox club get set to transform squad
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IT'S set to be a summer of major transfer upheaval at Ibrox as Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises get their feet under the door. And that's likely to mean a raft of new players coming in AND old faces being shown the door. Sign up for the Rangers newsletter Sign up 3 Ben Davies in action for Birmingham Credit: Alamy 3 Ibrox Stadium in the sun Credit: Kenny Ramsay 3 Kieran Dowell is capable of operating at Championship level Credit: Alamy Getting cash in for players who are deemed surplus to requirements if something the Gers have struggled massively with in recent seasons. The likes of Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos were allowed to walk for nothing, not to mention stars like Borna Barisic and John Lundstram. So it will be good news for the Ibrox side if a report from south of the border which suggests Birmingham could make loan deals for Ben Davies and Kieran Dowell into permanent transfers for £3.5m this summer. That's what Birmingham World are reporting, saying that talks have been held internally on permanent deals for both players ahead of their contracts expiring on July 1. The pair are two of four loan stars at the League 1 champions, with Luke Harris, a utility man on-loan from Fulham, rated the least likely to re-sign. Icelandic right back Alfons Sampsted, who's on-loan from FC Twente, is already joining due to an obligation to buy. Dowell, played either as an attacking midfielder or off the right flank, contributed five goals and five assists in 22 appearances since January. Davies has been a mainstay at the back, where he has played 44 matches since the summer. One Scottish star who could move on from St Andrews' this summer is Grant Hanley, who has made just three starts since arriving in January. Kris Boyd explains why Celtic striker Adam Idah and Rangers' Cyriel Dessers are similar players Scott Wright is another former Gers star at the club. He made a promising start to life in the Midlands, with three goals in 20 appearances but he's currently rehabbing a serious knee injury. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
