City agree three-year deal in principle with Maresca
Chelsea able to demand compensation for Italian
Pep Guardiola has informed Manchester City\u2019s players that he will leave the club after Sunday\u2019s final Premier League game of the season against Aston Villa.
\nThe manager felt obliged to update his squad after news of his departure broke on Monday night, taking him by surprise while he was preparing for Tuesday\u2019s match at Bournemouth.
Continue reading...\n","content":"\nCity agree three-year deal in principle with Maresca
Chelsea able to demand compensation for Italian
Pep Guardiola has informed Manchester City\u2019s players that he will leave the club after Sunday\u2019s final Premier League game of the season against Aston Villa.
\nThe manager felt obliged to update his squad after news of his departure broke on Monday night, taking him by surprise while he was preparing for Tuesday\u2019s match at Bournemouth.
Continue reading...\n","enclosure":{"link":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/08294b514554778f0fd1a1116bfbe1e321c2c13f/475_0_4136_3308/master/4136.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=629c5ca3a3b25914846f7e4ce5db5021"},"categories":["Manchester City","Pep Guardiola","Chelsea","Football","Sport"]},{"title":"Scotland World Cup squad: striker Ross Stewart selected after four-year absence","pubDate":"2026-05-19 11:27:33","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/scotland-world-cup-squad-ross-stewart-steve-clarke-craig-gordon","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/scotland-world-cup-squad-ross-stewart-steve-clarke-craig-gordon","author":"Ewan Murray","thumbnail":"","description":"\nSteve Clarke impressed by Southampton player\u2019s form
Craig Gordon, 43, makes cut \u2013 but no Miller or McBurnie
The Southampton striker Ross Stewart has ended a four-year absence from international football by being named in the Scotland squad for this summer\u2019s World Cup.
\nStewart\u2019s excellent touch towards the end of the domestic season \u2013 the 29-year-old scored five times in 10 games as Southampton progressed to the playoff final \u2013 has prompted Steve Clarke to add him to his 26-man party. A substitute appearance in a Nations League game against Armenia marks the last time Stewart donned Scotland colours.
Continue reading...\n","content":"\nSteve Clarke impressed by Southampton player\u2019s form
Craig Gordon, 43, makes cut \u2013 but no Miller or McBurnie
The Southampton striker Ross Stewart has ended a four-year absence from international football by being named in the Scotland squad for this summer\u2019s World Cup.
\nStewart\u2019s excellent touch towards the end of the domestic season \u2013 the 29-year-old scored five times in 10 games as Southampton progressed to the playoff final \u2013 has prompted Steve Clarke to add him to his 26-man party. A substitute appearance in a Nations League game against Armenia marks the last time Stewart donned Scotland colours.
Continue reading...\n","enclosure":{"link":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/cad708bda9ce8c3e185b3cd2a44917f6da1c8658/341_83_3764_3011/master/3764.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=26a025f0086223ed1c0b30f15b72f565"},"categories":["Scotland","World Cup 2026","World Cup","Football","Sport","Southampton"]},{"title":"Uefa will not follow Fifa\u2019s lead on red cards for mouth-covering or walk-offs","pubDate":"2026-05-19 11:00:03","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/uefa-fifa-lead-red-card-mouth-covering-walk-off-world-cup","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/uefa-fifa-lead-red-card-mouth-covering-walk-off-world-cup","author":"Exclusive by Matt Hughes","thumbnail":"","description":"\nNew rules will not apply in European competitions
Uefa will monitor automatic red card rule in World Cup
Uefa has opted against following Fifa\u2019s lead and introducing automatic red cards for players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent or leave the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision.
\nFootball\u2019s law-making body, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), approved those regulations last month after prompting from Fifa and they will take effect on 1 June, with match officials instructed to apply them at the World Cup. But Uefa\u2019s decision means they will not apply in the men\u2019s and women\u2019s Champions Leagues or its other club competitions.
Continue reading...\n","content":"\nNew rules will not apply in European competitions
Uefa will monitor automatic red card rule in World Cup
Uefa has opted against following Fifa\u2019s lead and introducing automatic red cards for players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent or leave the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision.
\nFootball\u2019s law-making body, the International Football Association Board (Ifab), approved those regulations last month after prompting from Fifa and they will take effect on 1 June, with match officials instructed to apply them at the World Cup. But Uefa\u2019s decision means they will not apply in the men\u2019s and women\u2019s Champions Leagues or its other club competitions.
Continue reading...\n","enclosure":{"link":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/75e64e3ab9acd4545aeaa8044cd3461671d35bf1/91_0_1940_1552/master/1940.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=452ed052e5f414902dd5509ec4158491"},"categories":["Laws of football","Uefa","Referees","Fifa","Football","Sport"]},{"title":"David Squires on \u2026 Celtic crushing Hearts\u2019 hopes of a Scottish fairytale","pubDate":"2026-05-19 09:44:19","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2026/may/19/david-squires-on-celtic-crushing-hearts-hopes-of-a-scottish-fairytale","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2026/may/19/david-squires-on-celtic-crushing-hearts-hopes-of-a-scottish-fairytale","author":"David Squires","thumbnail":"","description":"\nOur cartoonist on the unbridled joy and soul-crushing pain that followed the Scottish Premiership title decider
\nOur cartoonist on the unbridled joy and soul-crushing pain that followed the Scottish Premiership title decider
\nWhatever Nicolas Jover is being paid, it\u2019s not enough \u2013 or so it must have felt for Arsenal fans watching tense title pursuit
\nThe best way out of a corner? A corner, it turns out. Nobody knows how much the dead-ball goal bonus is in Nicolas Jover\u2019s contract. Or indeed, if it exists at all. Although it would definitely explain why Arsenal\u2019s set-piece coach leaps up with such thigh-quivering excitement at every opportunity, presumably seeing the potential rewards whizzing by in front of his eyes, like the conveyor belt in a 1970s gameshow, a corner sofa, a speed boat, an enormous wheel of cheese.
\nBut whatever it is, it isn\u2019t enough. Or so it must have felt for Arsenal\u2019s fans watching another step in this most gruelling of title pursuits, another night of football as pain, sport as trauma, leavened only by the sight with 35 minutes gone of Kai Havertz floating in the soft evening air, as light as a reed, all alone suddenly in front of the Burnley goal as the ball veered gently into his orbit, one of those moments where the day just seems to stop.
Continue reading...\n","content":"\nWhatever Nicolas Jover is being paid, it\u2019s not enough \u2013 or so it must have felt for Arsenal fans watching tense title pursuit
\nThe best way out of a corner? A corner, it turns out. Nobody knows how much the dead-ball goal bonus is in Nicolas Jover\u2019s contract. Or indeed, if it exists at all. Although it would definitely explain why Arsenal\u2019s set-piece coach leaps up with such thigh-quivering excitement at every opportunity, presumably seeing the potential rewards whizzing by in front of his eyes, like the conveyor belt in a 1970s gameshow, a corner sofa, a speed boat, an enormous wheel of cheese.
\nBut whatever it is, it isn\u2019t enough. Or so it must have felt for Arsenal\u2019s fans watching another step in this most gruelling of title pursuits, another night of football as pain, sport as trauma, leavened only by the sight with 35 minutes gone of Kai Havertz floating in the soft evening air, as light as a reed, all alone suddenly in front of the Burnley goal as the ball veered gently into his orbit, one of those moments where the day just seems to stop.
Continue reading...\n","enclosure":{"link":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/a6206a2f437035cb7ae35f4a459a53361b4c764f/1235_267_3615_2891/master/3615.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=736a61d0babc90ec950d2e03fdaf4300"},"categories":["Premier League","Arsenal","Burnley","Football","Sport"]},{"title":"Unai Emery the Europa League king could be Aston Villa\u2019s final trump card","pubDate":"2026-05-19 07:00:05","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/unai-emery-europa-league-final-aston-villa-freiburg","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/unai-emery-europa-league-final-aston-villa-freiburg","author":"Ben Fisher in Istanbul","thumbnail":"","description":"\nPlayers hope their workaholic manager will let his hair down if he wins competition for fifth time in Istanbul
\nTwo years ago, during Aston Villa\u2019s first European adventure under Unai Emery, Vicente Iborra was asked about a manager he knows better than most. \u201cHe is a coach that takes into consideration every detail which might happen in the match,\u201d said Iborra, then of Olympiakos. Iborra has winner\u2019s medals from all four of Emery\u2019s Europa League triumphs, three on the spin with Sevilla, the last with Villarreal five years ago, before which the injured midfielder delivered a stirring dressing-room speech. \u201cYou have the chance to make a lot of people happy,\u201d he said, by way of opening gambit.
\nOn Wednesday, against Freiburg, Emery hopes to lift the trophy for a record-extending fifth time. Before Villa progressed past Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals, V\u00edtor Pereira spoke on behalf of the masses when he described Emery as the king of the Europa League. Emery has reached the final on six occasions, losing one with Arsenal, and is seeking his first silverware with Villa. This week Iborra\u2019s words feel more pertinent than ever: \u201cI have learned many things from Mr Emery, but one thing I will never forget from him is that, in order to find yourself in a final, in order to experience this great moment in your lifetime, one truly has to want that, one has to long for it.\u201d
Continue reading...\n","content":"\nPlayers hope their workaholic manager will let his hair down if he wins competition for fifth time in Istanbul
\nTwo years ago, during Aston Villa\u2019s first European adventure under Unai Emery, Vicente Iborra was asked about a manager he knows better than most. \u201cHe is a coach that takes into consideration every detail which might happen in the match,\u201d said Iborra, then of Olympiakos. Iborra has winner\u2019s medals from all four of Emery\u2019s Europa League triumphs, three on the spin with Sevilla, the last with Villarreal five years ago, before which the injured midfielder delivered a stirring dressing-room speech. \u201cYou have the chance to make a lot of people happy,\u201d he said, by way of opening gambit.
\nOn Wednesday, against Freiburg, Emery hopes to lift the trophy for a record-extending fifth time. Before Villa progressed past Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals, V\u00edtor Pereira spoke on behalf of the masses when he described Emery as the king of the Europa League. Emery has reached the final on six occasions, losing one with Arsenal, and is seeking his first silverware with Villa. This week Iborra\u2019s words feel more pertinent than ever: \u201cI have learned many things from Mr Emery, but one thing I will never forget from him is that, in order to find yourself in a final, in order to experience this great moment in your lifetime, one truly has to want that, one has to long for it.\u201d
Continue reading...\n","enclosure":{"link":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/33ee3c8530fa83302a6a6283b983b76aef775de6/0_0_5000_4000/master/5000.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=c23b15ef78561c4482452ec270c77b54"},"categories":["Aston Villa","Unai Emery","Football","Sport","Europa League"]},{"title":"V\u00e9ron Mosengo-Omba accused of bullying and intimidating Caf committee members","pubDate":"2026-05-19 07:00:05","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/veron-mosengo-omba-accused-of-bullying-and-intimidating-caf-committee-members","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/veron-mosengo-omba-accused-of-bullying-and-intimidating-caf-committee-members","author":"Exclusive by Osasu Obayiuwana","thumbnail":"","description":"\nIncident is alleged to have happened in October 2024
Mosengo-Omba set to be elected Fecofa president
V\u00e9ron Mosengo-Omba, the sole candidate to become the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo football federation, Fecofa, is at the centre of allegations of bullying and intimidation by members of the Confederation of African Football\u2019s (Caf) audit and compliance committee (AACC).
\nThe allegations centre on a two-hour meeting between Mosengo-Omba and the audit and compliance committee on 19 October 2024. During the meeting Mosengo-Omba, at the time the Caf general secretary, threatened to sue the members of the AACC and report them to the Fifa ethics committee because they endorsed a 2023-24 governance, risk and compliance (GRC) report which was highly critical of Mosengo-Omba\u2019s ethical conduct. The Guardian has listened to a recording of the meeting.
Continue reading...\n","content":"\nIncident is alleged to have happened in October 2024
Mosengo-Omba set to be elected Fecofa president
V\u00e9ron Mosengo-Omba, the sole candidate to become the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo football federation, Fecofa, is at the centre of allegations of bullying and intimidation by members of the Confederation of African Football\u2019s (Caf) audit and compliance committee (AACC).
\nThe allegations centre on a two-hour meeting between Mosengo-Omba and the audit and compliance committee on 19 October 2024. During the meeting Mosengo-Omba, at the time the Caf general secretary, threatened to sue the members of the AACC and report them to the Fifa ethics committee because they endorsed a 2023-24 governance, risk and compliance (GRC) report which was highly critical of Mosengo-Omba\u2019s ethical conduct. The Guardian has listened to a recording of the meeting.
Continue reading...\n","enclosure":{"link":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/d3b8385fc25d415257ecd04df8b851d9399652e5/565_73_2911_2328/master/2911.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=b292baaa599fb99af0149c59d72bcf3d"},"categories":["Football politics","Football","Sport","Sport politics","Democratic Republic of the Congo"]},{"title":"\u2018Akinfenwa had me in a headlock\u2019: how Bournemouth\u2019s James Hill rose to reach England\u2019s radar","pubDate":"2026-05-19 07:00:03","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/bournemouth-james-hill-fleetwood-interview-andoni-iraola-england","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/bournemouth-james-hill-fleetwood-interview-andoni-iraola-england","author":"Ben Fisher","thumbnail":"","description":"\nDefender on being watched by Barcelona in League One, how his father changed his outlook and the influence of Andoni Iraola
\n\u201cI just thought it was fake news,\u201d says the Bournemouth defender James Hill, casting his mind back to the time Barcelona sent a scout to watch him play for Fleetwood. The game in question was a League One defeat by Burton and although the then 19-year-old was highly regarded, there were a few double-takes when the request to attend landed. \u201c\u2018No, that can\u2019t be right.\u2019 And then afterwards someone told me they did come to the game: \u2018Oh, incredible.\u2019\u201d
\nAt that point Hill, who at the age of 16 became Fleetwood\u2019s youngest player, was fresh from making his England Under-20 debut and a couple of months later an under-21 call-up followed, though a knee injury prevented him from joining Marc Gu\u00e9hi, Morgan Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer and co. \u201cI remember being on the phone to Lee Carsley,\u201d he says. \u201c\u2018I\u2019m sorry, but I\u2019m in the scanner at the moment, I don\u2019t think I\u2019m going to be able to make it judging from the pain I\u2019m in.\u2019\u201d
Continue reading...\n","content":"\nDefender on being watched by Barcelona in League One, how his father changed his outlook and the influence of Andoni Iraola
\n\u201cI just thought it was fake news,\u201d says the Bournemouth defender James Hill, casting his mind back to the time Barcelona sent a scout to watch him play for Fleetwood. The game in question was a League One defeat by Burton and although the then 19-year-old was highly regarded, there were a few double-takes when the request to attend landed. \u201c\u2018No, that can\u2019t be right.\u2019 And then afterwards someone told me they did come to the game: \u2018Oh, incredible.\u2019\u201d
\nAt that point Hill, who at the age of 16 became Fleetwood\u2019s youngest player, was fresh from making his England Under-20 debut and a couple of months later an under-21 call-up followed, though a knee injury prevented him from joining Marc Gu\u00e9hi, Morgan Gibbs-White, Cole Palmer and co. \u201cI remember being on the phone to Lee Carsley,\u201d he says. \u201c\u2018I\u2019m sorry, but I\u2019m in the scanner at the moment, I don\u2019t think I\u2019m going to be able to make it judging from the pain I\u2019m in.\u2019\u201d
Continue reading...\n","enclosure":{"link":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/9bb87c68e8988658b9e051e4725ba1179ddedce3/661_166_3120_2497/master/3120.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=2b86102397692e5419a3d0d4b64a699c"},"categories":["Bournemouth","Football","Sport"]},{"title":"WSL 2025-26 season review: our writers\u2019 best and worst","pubDate":"2026-05-19 07:00:04","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/wsl-2025-26-season-review-our-writers-best-and-worst","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/wsl-2025-26-season-review-our-writers-best-and-worst","author":"Suzanne Wrack, Tom Garry, Sophie Downey, Emillia Hawkins, R\u00e9shma Rao and Renuka Odedra","thumbnail":"","description":"\nFrom the best matches and great goals to scheduling gripes and the biggest disappointments, how was the WSL season for you?
\nThere is little question that Khadija \u201cBunny\u201d Shaw is the best striker in the world right now. The Jamaica international capped off her league campaign in style with a double against West Ham, bringing her tally to 21. In doing so, she became the first player in WSL history to score over 20 goals in three different seasons. Sophie Downey
Continue reading...\n","content":"\nFrom the best matches and great goals to scheduling gripes and the biggest disappointments, how was the WSL season for you?
\nThere is little question that Khadija \u201cBunny\u201d Shaw is the best striker in the world right now. The Jamaica international capped off her league campaign in style with a double against West Ham, bringing her tally to 21. In doing so, she became the first player in WSL history to score over 20 goals in three different seasons. Sophie Downey
Continue reading...\n","enclosure":{"link":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/98e20928065919df467249a331c2e8d55fce5363/0_0_5000_4000/master/5000.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=016ca2f8ab5eb67d71c9b5519ae619d3"},"categories":["Women's Super League","Football","Sport","Women's football"]},{"title":"The donation drive that became a movement: \u2018If anyone\u2019s got any kit, we\u2019re taking some to Tanzania\u2019","pubDate":"2026-05-19 11:00:01","link":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/tanzania-malaika-meena-donationa-drive-kit-moving-the-goalposts","guid":"https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/19/tanzania-malaika-meena-donationa-drive-kit-moving-the-goalposts","author":"Tom Garry","thumbnail":"","description":"\nWSL2 midfielder Malaika Meena has been collecting football kit to send to her \u2018favourite country in the world\u2019
\nIt began with a social media post from a 13-year-old playing in Chelsea\u2019s academy who wanted to offer spare kit to people less fortunate than herself.
\nA decade on Malaika Meena, an established WSL2 player, finds herself shifting through more than 1,000 items collected from players, fans or coaches in the past month alone, as her family tradition of donating football boots and kit to schoolchildren in Tanzania has blossomed into a movement larger than anything she could have imagined.
Continue reading...\n","content":"\nWSL2 midfielder Malaika Meena has been collecting football kit to send to her \u2018favourite country in the world\u2019
\nIt began with a social media post from a 13-year-old playing in Chelsea\u2019s academy who wanted to offer spare kit to people less fortunate than herself.
\nA decade on Malaika Meena, an established WSL2 player, finds herself shifting through more than 1,000 items collected from players, fans or coaches in the past month alone, as her family tradition of donating football boots and kit to schoolchildren in Tanzania has blossomed into a movement larger than anything she could have imagined.
Continue reading...\n","enclosure":{"link":"https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3c0a41208afc9512b6b00a71da59d478750afb5e/0_492_1200_960/master/1200.jpg?width=140&quality=85&auto=format&fit=max&s=deadbc2a87a542a5f0f3b150793837f5"},"categories":["Women's football","Football","Sport","Tanzania"]}]}