General

The anticipation heading into an international football tournament, even for minnows not expected to compete for the trophy, is palpable. So when things don’t quite go according to plan, the inverse reaction to the failure can be intense, to say the least. Maybe the sports minister of the Gabonese government should have stepped outside and …

Gabon Sack Manager, Ban Aubameyang, and Suspend Entire Team in AFCON Failure Fallout Read More »

You have to go back to 1985 to find the last time that the Scottish Premiership title wasn’t clinched by either of the Old Firm teams: Celtic and Rangers. And, in fact, for much of that span since, those two Glaswegian outfits have had a monopoly on first and second place in the division – …

Hearts’ Blood Pumping as Old Firm’s Monopoly of the Scottish Premiership Title Weakens Read More »

When Moises Caicedo was sent off while playing for Chelsea against Arsenal in November 2025, it opened the door for a potential disaster. Not only did it mean that the Blues would have to play for around an hour with ten men against the Premier League table toppers – they would still claim a 1-1 …

Chelsea Close on Sunderland and QPR in the Premier League Hall of Shame Read More »

A trip to Anfield isn’t something that a promoted team would usually relish. But the Sunderland class of 2025/26 is a different breed, and they returned from the trip to Merseyside with a point courtesy of a 1-1 draw – in fact, the Black Cats led with just ten minutes left to play. It means …

Sunderland Deliver Best Start to a Premier League Season from a Promoted Team in 20 Years Read More »

What would you rather your football team be: successful but boring, or entertaining but mediocre? Most fans, you suspect, would opt for the former, although there’s no doubt that football is very much an entertainment business these days – managers continue to be sacked for their adherence to a subjectively dull brand of the beautiful …

AS Monaco Poised for Unofficial Crown as European Football’s Most Entertaining Team Read More »

The pandemic-impacted season of 2020/21 was simply extraordinary in Italy’s Serie A. The average goal-per-game ratio hit an eye-watering 3.06; seemingly unburdened by playing in empty stadia, Italy’s finest embarked on a season of net-busting antics. There was something of a carry-over into 2021/22 (2.87 goals per game), 2022/23 (2.56), 2023/24 (2.61) and 2024/25 (2.56), …

Where Have All the Goals Gone in Italy’s Serie A? Read More »

Buy low, sell high is typically the mantra when investing in the stock market; it’s a stance that could afford you the chance to maximise your return on investment. But when it comes to football finances, the opposite – buy high, sell low – can be true for clubs that acquire players in their prime …

France Dominates the Decade with £3.5 Billion in Transfer Revenue from International Player Sales Read More »

A jaw-dropping scandal has engulfed Turkish football. Some 17 referees have been arrested over allegations that have officially been described as ‘manipulating match results’ and ‘abuse of duty’. All told, a whopping 149 match officials have been suspended from duty, while a president from Turkish Super League club, Turgay Ciner, and a former owner, Fatih …

Turkish Football in Turmoil as 17 Referees are Arrested in Gambling Scandal Read More »