FULL LIST : Ronaldo, Messi And Neymar Make Shortlist Of 2017 FIFA Football Awards

FULL LIST : Ronaldo, Messi And Neymar Make
Shortlist Of 2017 FIFA Football Awards

The final nominees for a host of The Best
FIFA Football Awards have been revealed at
an event in London as the countdown to the
ceremony itself in England’s capital
on October 23 begins.
This year, the Best FIFA Men’s Player 2016
Cristiano Ronaldo is once more in the final
three, with long-time rival for FIFA’s top
individual award Lionel Messi also in the top
trio, alongside his former Barcelona team-
mate Neymar.

See the full nominee list below…
Men’s Player

* Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Real Madrid)

* Lionel Messi (ARG – FC Barcelona)

* Neymar (BRA – FC Barcelona/Paris Saint-
Germain)
Women’s Player

* Deyna Castellanos (VEN – Santa Clarita Blue
Heat/Florida State Seminoles)

* Carli Lloyd (USA – Houston Dash/Manchester
City Women)

* Lieke Martens (NED – FC Barcelona Femeni)
Men’s Coach

* Massimiliano Allegri (ITA – Juventus)

* Antonio Conte (ITA – Chelsea)

* Zinedine Zidane (FRA – Real Madrid)
Women’s Coach

* Nils Nielsen (DEN – Danish national team)

* Gerard Precheur (FRA – Olympique Lyonnais
Feminin)

* Sarina Wiegman (NED – Netherlands
national team)
Goalkeeper

* Gianluigi Buffon (ITA – Juventus)

* Keylor Navas (CRC – Real Madrid)

* Manuel Neuer (GER – FC Bayern Munich)
Puskas Award

* Kevin-Prince Boateng (Las Palmas)

* Alejandro Camargo (Universidad de
Concepcion)

* Deyna Castellanos (Venezuela U-17)

* Moussa Dembele (Celtic)

* Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)

* Aviles Hurtado (Tijuana Xolos)

* Mario Mandzukic (Juventus)

* Oscarine Masuluke (Baroka FC)

* Nemanja Matic (Chelsea)

* Jordi Mboula (FC Barcelona U-19)
Fan Award

* Borussia Dortmund supporters

* Celtic supporters

* FC Copenhagen supporters

You Guys Remember That Coach Who Made Ebola Jokes About Nigerian Player ? He ’ s Been Sacked By English FA

You Guys Remember That Coach Who Made
Ebola Jokes About Nigerian Player ? He ’ s Been
Sacked By English FA

34 year old Mark Sampson, who is the coach
of England National Women team has been
Sacked by the English FA over inappropriate
relations with Bristol Academy female
players.

This is coming after Eniola Aluko’s, the elder
sister of Nigerian striker, Sone Aluko accused
him of subjecting her alongside her Nigerian
family to a racist ebola joke.

The FA in its statement has however said that
Aluko’s allegations has nothing to do with the
coach’s sack. The FA says it was recently given
full details of the report into Sampson’s
conduct, despite the allegations first being
made in March 2014 which he denied.

Share This Post on
“The Football Association can
confirm that Mark Sampson’s
contract as England Women’s
head coach has been terminated
with immediate effect,” said a
statement by the FA.
“Prior to taking charge of the
national team in December 2013,
Sampson was manager of Bristol
Academy.

“In 2014, safeguarding
allegations were made against
him about his time with Bristol
Academy. The safeguarding
assessment was that he did not
pose a risk working in the game.
However, the full report of that
investigation was only brought to
the attention of the current FA
leadership last week and it is our
judgement that it revealed clear
evidence of inappropriate and
unacceptable behaviour by a
coach.

“It is on this basis that we have
acted quickly to agree a
termination of Sampson’s
contract.

“In respect of investigations into
specific allegations made by
Eniola Aluko in 2016, The FA
stands by the findings of the
independent barrister Katharine
Newton’s investigation.
“Sampson has denied all of the
accusations put to him and no
evidence of wrong-doing was
found.

We will continue to support the
independent investigation as it
reviews the recent evidence
presented to it and publish any
new findings and
recommendations.”

Man United Rashford Is Better Than €180 m Mbappe , €105 m Dembele ’- Gary Neville

Man United Rashford Is Better Than €180 m
Mbappe , €105 m Dembele ’- Gary Neville

Former Manchester United and Liverpool
defender, Phil Neville believes that
Manchester United teenage striker, Marcus
Rashford deserves to be in discussions in the
same level alongside PSG’s Kylian Mbappe
and Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele.

According to Neville, Rashford, who scored
twice to lead the reigning EFL Cup champions
to a 4-1 win over Burton Albion at Old
Trafford on Wednesday, deserved praise.

“Everybody praises Ousmane Dembele and
Kylian Mbappe but nobody talks about
Rashford in this country,” Neville told Sky
Sports.

“Because he’s English we just say ‘he plays on
the left wing, he’s OK’. He is up there with
Dembele and Mbappe, who also play on either
wing. People say you have to play Rashford as
a centre forward but you can play him
anywhere because he is good enough.

Neville said, “Rashford is in the same bracket
as those two – £100m-£150m players – he is
every bit as good as those two and can be in
the future because he is improving every
season.

He said, “He broke in under Louis van Gaal
and set the world on fire, in his second
season under Jose Mourinho everyone thought
he wouldn’t play but he did in all the big
games. Now he is adding goals to his game
and he can be absolutely world class.”

Just In!! Manchester City & Chelsea Both Investigated By FIFA For This Reason…

Just In!! Manchester City & Chelsea Both
Investigated By FIFA For This Reason…

Chelsea and Manchester City are being
investigated by Fifa over their recruitment of
young players.

This is the third time football’s world
governing body has looked at Chelsea, and in
2009 they were banned from making signings
for two years.

In May, the Premier League fined City
£300,000 and banned them from signing
academy players for two years.
Fifa has stringent rules in place for signing
players under the age of 18 to prevent
exploitation and trafficking.

When asked by BBC Sport about Chelsea and
Manchester City, it confirmed an
investigation was “ongoing”.
City have no knowledge of an investigation
and are adamant they have done nothing
wrong, while Chelsea insist they “comply with
all Fifa statutes and regulations when
recruiting players”.

In 2009, Chelsea were banned from signing
players after being found guilty of inducing
Gael Kakuta to break his contract with Lens,
though the sanction was lifted on appeal.

They were also scrutinised last year for the
2014 signing of Bertrand Traore from
Association Jeunes Espoirs De Bobo-Dioulasso.

City’s punishment, meanwhile, came after
they were found to have approached the
family of two young players who were
registered with other clubs.

They are also awaiting a verdict from the
Court of Arbitration for Sport over their
signing of 16-year-old midfielder Benjamin
Garre from Argentine club Velez Sarsfield in
2016.

Fifa cleared City of Sarsfield’s allegation
that they were not allowed to sign the player
because of his nationality, on the basis Garre
had an Italian passport.

However, the club opted to take the matter
further, and the case was heard at the
beginning on July.

In January last year, both Real Madrid and
city rivals Atletico were banned from signing
players for two transfer windows after
breaching Fifa rules relating to the signing of
minors.

Real had the sanction halved on appeal but
Atletico had theirs upheld by the Court of
Arbitration for Sport.

Ligue 1!! PSG Boss Emery Explains Penalty FIGHT Between Cavani & Neymar

Ligue 1!! PSG Boss Emery Explains Penalty
FIGHT Between Cavani & Neymar

Paris Saint-Germain manager, Unai Emery,

says he expects Edinson Cavani and Neymar,
to reach an agreement over who takes
penalties.

The two players fought over a spot-kick,
during their 2-0 win over Lyon in Ligue 1 on
Sunday.

Cavani and Neymar argued over the penalty
in the 79th minute, with the Uruguayan
eventually taking it, but he missed from 12
yards.

“The penalties are to be struck by a few
players, one is Cavani and the other is
Neymar,” Emery said.

“It takes a gentleman’s agreement on the
ground to hit the penalties.

“Afterwards, we will arrange internally for
the penalties that are coming in, because I
think both are able to score them, and I
want the two to alternate in this exercise.

“If there is no agreement, I will decide. I do
not want it to be a problem for us.”

Transfer News!! Super Eagles Ogenyi Onazi Opens Up On Failed Move To England

Transfer News!! Super Eagles Ogenyi Onazi
Opens Up On Failed Move To England

Super Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, has
admitted that there was an “opportunity” for
him to move to England last summer, but he
has put it behind him.

Onazi, who plays for Turkish club
Trabzonspor, was denied a work permit as he
tried to seal a transfer to Championship side,
Birmingham City.

The 24-year-old has moved on from the
debacle and on Sunday, he scored his first
goal for his club, in their 3-1 win over
Genclerbirligi.

“Every disappointment is a blessing. I’m not
disappointed,” he told the BBC.
“I’m still strong, working hard, because I
know there are better chances ahead.

“Somehow you can call it disappointment
because there was an opportunity for me to
go to England to start another life, another
football entirely, but nevertheless there is
never a dull moment.”

Beware Messi !! PSG Star Neymar Speaks About Winning Ballon d ’ Or price

Paris Saint-Germain star forward, Neymar,
has insisted he is not obsessed with winning
his first Ballon d’Or prize.

The Brazilian, who cost the Ligue 1 giants a
princely €222million last month, says teams’

trophies are more important to him.
Neymar’s move away from Barcelona, was
considered by many as desire to escape Lionel
Messi’s shadow and fight for football’s top
individual gongs.

The 25-year-old has taken his tally to five
goals and five assists in as many games,
after inspiring PSG to a 5-0 thrashing of
Celtic on Tuesday.

“Of course a football player wants to win the
Ballon d’Or,” he said after the Champions
League win in Glasgow.

“But I don’t have to think about it. I have to
think about what’s better for our group, our
club.
“This is a great team and, if we keep going
like this, we have a big chance of doing it
[winning the tournament]. “I’m very happy

to start with a win. Of course, it’s not only
about getting goals, but that’s the most
important.”

Arsenal destroy struggling Bournemouth 3-0 at Emirates

Arsenal destroy struggling
Bournemouth 3-0 at Emirates

- Arsenal return back to winning ways after
back to back defeats against Stoke City and
Liverpool

- The Gunners walloped struggling
Bournemouth 3-0 at the Emirates
- Both teams were under pressure following
series of poor performances this season

- Danny Wellbeck got a brace in the match
while Lacazette scored in his second
appearance at the Etihad
Premier League giants Arsenal on Saturday

afternoon, September 9, produced an
astonishing performance as they defeated
struggling Bournemouth 3-0 at the Emirates
Stadium.

Both teams before the game were under
extreme pressure following series of poor
performances that left them in the lower half
of the table.

Arsenal destroys struggling Bournemouth 3-0 at
the Emirate (Image: Guardian)
Danny Wellbeck was on top form as he netted
a double in the 6th and 50th minutes of the
game, while new signing Alexandre Lacazette
got the second goal of the match in the 27th
minutes of the game.

READ ALSO: Manchester City defeat
Liverpool 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium
Alexis Sanchez replaced the ‘brace hero’
Welbeck in the 75th minutes as the fans
cheered the return of their ‘prodigal son.’

And in the 75th minutes of the match it was
a French striker replacing another, as Giroud
came in for Lacazette.
Arsenal destroys struggling Bournemouth 3-0 at
the Emirate.

Arsenal made a good start to the Premier
League campaign, winning 4-3 against
Leicester, but were then beaten by Stoke and
thrashed by Liverpool.

Bournemouth have lost all four games this
season and Eddie Howe's men look set to be
on the end of another defeat this afternoon.

The attendance at the Emirates for the match
was 59262.

Choupo-Moting brace ends Manchester United winning run

Choupo-Moting brace ends
Manchester United winning run

- Stoke City held Manchester United to a 2-2
draw at the bet365 stadium
- Cameroon international Choupo-Moting

was the star performer in the game getting
a brace
- Lukaku grabbed a goal for Man United as

he is now the league's highest goal scorer
with four goals
Stoke City held Manchester United to a 2-2
draw at the bet365 stadium ending the red
devils 100% start this season.
Cameroon international Choupo-Moting
opened the scoring for the host before
drawing his side back level after Romelu
Lukaku and Marcus Rashford had struck for
the visitors.
Eric Choupo-Moting opened the scoring for
Stoke (Photos: Reuters)
Choupo-Moting had given the Potters the lead
on the cusp of half time when he converted a
low cross.

But less than three minutes later, Rashford
had inadvertently nodded United level, as the
frontman accidentally diverted Paul Pogba's
header home - by getting in the way.

Sloane Stephens beats Venus Williams to reach final

Sloane Stephens beats Venus
Williams to reach final

 Sport at Flushing Meadows

Stephens is only the fourth unseeded woman to
reach the US Open final in the Open era
US Open
Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York

Live radio and text
commentary on selected matches every day.
Unseeded Sloane Stephens held her nerve to beat
Venus Williams in three sets and set up a US
Open final against fellow American Madison
Keys.
Stephens, ranked 83rd after recently returning
from injury, won 6-1 0-6 7-5 in the first semi-
final in New York.
In another all-US contest, 15th seed Keys then
beat compatriot Coco Vandeweghe 6-1 6-2.
Both Stephens and Keys will make their Grand
Slam final debuts on Saturday.
It will be the first time since Serena Williams
beat Venus in 2002 that Flushing Meadows has
hosted a women's final featuring two American
players.
"Having four Americans in the semi-finals, I
think that says a lot about American tennis and
where we are right now," said Stephens.
"I don't think I would have had it any other
way. I'm just super proud and honoured to be a
part of what these four girls were, what we did
tonight."
Relive the semi-finals as they happened
Keys thrashes Vandeweghe to make final
Live scores and results
"I have no idea how I have done it.
Your guess is as good as mine.
Sloane Stephens
Stephens only returned to action at Wimbledon,
ranked 957th, after missing 11 months with a
foot injury.
Two months later the 24-year-old is on a run of
14 wins in 16 matches and through to her first
major final, with her speed of foot and
athleticism to the fore.
"I have no words to describe my feelings and
what it took to get here. I have no words," said
Stephens.
"I have no idea how I have done it. Your guess
is as good as mine.
"If someone had told me when I started my
comeback that I would make two semi-finals
and a Grand Slam final I would have passed
out. I don't know how I did it. Just hard work."
Williams, 37, misses out on returning to the US
Open final 15 years after her last, and the two-
time champion will end 2017 without adding
another major title despite reaching two finals
and a semi-final.
"For me, it's about putting myself in the
position all the time to get the titles, and that's
exactly what I did," said Williams.
"That's all I could do."
'I hung tough, gritted it out'
Williams was playing in her 23rd major semi-
final, as opposed to Stephens in her first, but
the seven-time Grand Slam champion made a
nervous start.
Seventeen unforced errors from Williams saw the
first set disappear in 24 minutes, and she was
in danger again facing three break points at
the start of the second.
However, she grew in confidence from clinging
on and began to attack the Stephens serve at
will, breaking three times to level without
dropping a game.
After 54 minutes of wildly uneven quality, the
third set proved to be a gripping decider.
Williams twice recovered from a break down and
appeared to be on the brink of victory at 5-5,
30-30, pushing Stephens back into the corner as
she advanced to the net.
It brought the best out of the younger player,
who found a magnificent backhand pass that
brought the 23,000 spectators to their feet and
wrenched the initiative her way.
Stephens would win six points in a row, including
chasing down two drop shots and making
spectacular winners, on her way to breaking the
Williams serve.
Both women had dropped serve five times, but
there was no wobble from Stephens as she moved
confidently to match point, before Williams
tamely netted a return.
"I hung tough, gritted it out," said Stephens. "I
worked my tail off. We played some incredible
points in the third set."
Analysis newsupdate Sport tennis correspondent Russell Fuller
After two of the most one-sided sets you are
ever likely to see in a Grand Slam semi-final,
Williams threw everything she had at Stephens in
the decider.
The younger American's defence was
extraordinary, but it was matched by the
resilience of Williams who twice recovered a
break.
And then, as she served to stay in the match, at
4-5 30-all, Stephens hit one of the backhand
winners of her life to end a pulsating rally -
and went on to win 10 of the last 11 points.
She was ranked 957 in the world in late July,
after nearly a year out with a foot injury.
"Eventually, I will beat someone," she said
after a first-round defeat in Washington the
following week.
How right she was.

Boxing

Floyd Mayweather stops Conor McGregor in
10th round in Las Vegas
BBC Sport boxing reporter in Las Vegas

The moment Mayweather beat McGregor
Floyd Mayweather extended his perfect career
record to 50 fights unbeaten by stopping Conor
McGregor in the 10th round of one of the
richest bouts in boxing history.

The former five-weight world champion faced
flurries of early punches from UFC's most iconic
figure, who was making his debut in professional
boxing at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena.

McGregor delivered a crisp uppercut in round
one and, though he edged close to breaking the
rules with several punches to the back of the
head, he imposed himself admirably without
ever looking as though he would knock out
Mayweather.

The American, who came out of retirement for a
potential $300m (£230m) pay day, executed a
gameplan which pounced on McGregor's lack of
conditioning for the late rounds which prove so
key on big fight nights.

As the Irishman tired, Mayweather upped his
ferocity and by round nine the 40-year-old
began to stalk his opponent, whose legs were
weakening under more successful shots.

And in the 10th, with McGregor again near the
ropes and offering little, the fight - which
followed weeks of manic build-up, spiteful
words and chaos - was over. He was not bowled
over by a conclusive blow, but with Mayweather
throwing rapidly, his target was left too
vulnerable.

Referee Robert Byrd's stoppage may have
arrived too early for some, as McGregor's early
effort led to a belief inside the arena he could
pull off the biggest upset in the history of the
sport.

But the 29-year-old was wilting and was down
89-81 89-82 87-83 on the ringside cards when
the stoppage came.
His effort and display should be commended,
but Mayweather's poise and invincibility remain
constant into retirement.

Mayweather said: "He was a lot better than I
thought. But I was the better man. I guaranteed
everybody this would not go the distance.

Boxing's reputation was on the line."
McGregor, who said he would return to the UFC
but would not rule out boxing again, said: "I
thought it was close and I thought it was a bit of
an early stoppage. I was just a little fatigued."