Premier League CEO Richard Masters says discrimination is "leaking into football" after Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused at Anfield.

• Semenyo reports racial abuse by fan
• Police arrest individual after Liverpool game
• Premier League CEO issues statement

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool's Premier League clash with Bournemouth was briefly halted in the first half of their 4-2 win on Friday after Semenyo flagged the mistreatment to the referee. Now, Masters has said that nobody should "suffer that sort of abuse", explained the turn of events that transpired after the incident, and that this is a "problem for society".

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  WHAT MASTERS SAID

  He told BBC Sport: "No Premier League footballer should ever have to, in their workplace or online, suffer that sort of abuse. It is important that we keep saying that. We have offered our support to Antoine, as has everybody. I think everyone can see the protocol is being overseen and was affected yesterday. Once Antoine had made it clear to the match official about what had happened, Anthony Taylor brought the game to a halt and talked to both managers, and spoke directly to the stadium’s security official. That allowed them to identify the individual and escort the person off the premises, and I understand he was detained by the police. That’s the way it should work. It is a problem for society. It leaks into football, and it shouldn’t happen in a football stadium. It shouldn’t happen online. It makes people like me and other football people in charge of the game think twice about what else we can do to ensure that these things don’t happen in the future."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Merseyside Police later said a 47-year-old man from Liverpool was identified, removed from Anfield following the report, and then arrested on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence – before being taken into custody. Bournemouth star Semenyo, who scored twice in the game, later said that "football showed its best side" following the support he had received but this is a problem that is unlikely to go away completely.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  As Masters alluded to, Premier League figureheads will likely take this incident under consideration in a bid to find a way to stop instances like this from happening again. Harsher bans for those found guilty could be one deterrent, but eradicating this entirely is not an easy task.

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O Lyon, da França, demonstrou interesse no atacante Wesley, do Corinthians. A consulta do clube francês foi feita ao estafe do atleta nos últimos dias, mas ainda não chegou ao Timão.

As conversas ainda estão em estágio inicial. Inicialmente, os franceses se animaram com a possibilidade de conversar com a diretoria corintiana sobre um possível empréstimo do jogador, que completará 18 anos no próximo dia 5 de março.

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+Em jogo de golaços, Renato Augusto e Roger Guedes são essenciais para a vitória do Corinthians

Wesley tem treinado com o elenco profissional do Corinthians desde que o clube alvinegro foi eliminado da Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior. Ao lado do zagueiro Murillo, do meio-campista Matheus Araújo e do atacante Arthur Souza, o camisa 36 forma o quarteto de jovens que ‘passou de ano’ no ‘vestibular da Copinha’.

+ Confira as movimentações do mercado da bola no vaivém do LANCE!

A prata da casa já havia ganhado chances no elenco profissional no ano passado, quando havia agradado bastante o ex-treinador Vítor Pereira. Já nesta temporada, ele tem adquirido a aprovação também do atual comandante, Fernando Lázaro.

O jovem foi retirado do último jogo do Timão na Copa SP para integrar o plantel principal na estreia corintiana pelo Paulistão, contra o Red Bull Bragantino, no dia 15 de janeiro. O pedido para que isso acontecesse foi da comissão técnica profissional. Contra o Massa Bruta, o garoto entrou aos 21 minutos do segundo tempo, no lugar de Júnior Moraes.

+ Confira a tabela do Paulistão e simule os próximos jogos da competição estadual

No total, Wesley tem cinco jogos como profissional. Além dos minutos contra o Braga, ele saiu do banco de reservas nos dois jogos contra a Portuguesa-RJ pela terceira fase da Copa do Brasil do ano passado e entrou nos minutos finais das partidas contra Cuiabá e Athletico-PR no primeiro turno do Brasileirão do mesmo ano.

No início da última temporada, o atacante firmou o seu primeiro contrato profissional com o Timão. O vínculo tem duração até março de 2025 e a multa rescisória é estipulada em 50 milhões de euros.

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Thomas Muller admitted he considered a surprise switch to Australia before choosing MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps in a move swayed by city and project.

Sydney FC offer politely turned downVancouver project felt right from startTalks with Schuster and Sorensen decisiveFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After parting ways with Bayern, legend Muller chose to begin a new chapter with MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps. Yet his move to Canada nearly took a different turn, as he came close to joining Sydney FC in Australia, where his former Bayern team-mate Alexander Baumjohann now serves as sporting director.

Baumjohann revealed to how close the talks had been, saying: "We exchanged messages and made phone calls during the Club World Cup. And at some point, I presented our project to him via a Zoom call. From then on, we were in regular contact with him and his advisor."

Manuel Neuer, who played alongside Baumjohann at Schalke, is also said to have helped open the door for discussions, acting as a mediator in the early stages. The Bavarian legend has opened up about the move, and revealed that the transfer in fact "appealing," but he ultimately made a "conscious" decision

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT WAS SAID?

"I spoke to Alex two or three times on the phone, and to be honest, he made the project sound very appealing," Muller said in an interview with . "I was keen for an adventure outside Europe, and the conversations gave me a good idea of what to expect in Sydney. So I was curious."

In the end, Muller decided against making the move to Australia, politely declining Sydney FC’s approach. Baumjohann recalled: "He called me a week and a half ago and told me his decision. That also speaks for Thomas, that he contacted me personally and told me that he was really impressed."

Explaining his choice, Muller revealed that the project in Canada simply resonated more strongly with him: "The whole package was just great. The Whitecaps' sporting ambitions combined with the great city convinced me. The talks with sporting director Axel Schuster and coach Jesper Sorensen were completely open from the start," he said. "I made a conscious decision to go to Vancouver and the Whitecaps. It just felt right for me from the start."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Muller ended his 25-year association with Bayern after the club opted not to extend his contract, leaving as a free agent in the summer. The German icon made his debut for the Whitecaps on Sunday night, featuring in a 1-1 draw against Houston Dynamo, and made an immediate impact by blasting the ball in the back of the net with, but was called offside.

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Muller will now look to settle into life in MLS and make an immediate impact with Vancouver. With his winning mentality and wealth of experience from Bayern, he is expected to become a central figure in the Whitecaps’ push for silverware this season. Sydney FC, meanwhile, will continue their search for marquee signings as they try to lure big-name players to Australia and boost the A-League’s international standing.

Kobbie Mainoo wants to leave Manchester United but may find his options limited as the transfer window comes to a close.

Mainoo wants Man Utd exitPushed aside by manager Ruben AmorimEngland international lacking suitors Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per the , Mainoo wants to leave United after being frozen out by manager Ruben Amorim. He has struggled for minutes since returning from injury in December of last year, and he was also hit with a muscle injury that saw him miss seven games between February and April. Mainoo has not played for United this season and now, he is seeking an exit before next week's transfer deadline.

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United are willing to sell the midfielder provided they receive the right offer, but Mainoo currently has limited suitors with six days left of the transfer window. Amorim has not found a position for Mainoo in his 3-4-3 system and does not believe he is capable of starting. As a result, Mainoo is seeking an exit.

DID YOU KNOW?

The 20-year-old has won 10 caps for England and even started the Euro 2024 final against Spain, but his stock has fallen dramatically. He has a contract until 2027. 

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Mainoo will hope to secure an exit as the transfer window comes to a close. United are also attempting to sell Alejandro Garnacho, who has interest from Chelsea. 

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No último domingo, a argentina Yami Rodríguez entrou em campo vestindo a camisa do Palmeiras pela primeira vez. A estreia aconteceu aos 20 minutos do segundo tempo da goleada por 9 a 0 sobre o Real Ariquemes-RO pelo Brasileirão Feminino. A entrada da atacante foi muito pedida tanto pelos torcedores presentes no Allianz Parque quanto pelos que acompanhavam o jogo em casa.

> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão Feminino-2023 clicando aqui

Em pouco tempo, ela mostrou a que veio. Antes mesmo de completar dez minutos no gramado, a atacante já havia concedido duas assistências uma para Duda Santos e outra para Bia Zaneratto marcarem seus gols. Para completar, ainda balançou a rede duas vezes, uma deles em falta batida diretamente para o gol do Furacão do Vale do Jamari.

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– Estou muito feliz, muito contente com o jogo de ontem, por ter conseguido ajudar o time a conseguir a vitória – disse a atleta.

Ao todo, quatro jogadoras alviverdes fizeram sua estreia nessa partida. O time, porém, mostrou um entrosamento tão grande que até mesmo Yami se mostrou impressionada.

>Palmeiras estreia no Brasileirão Feminino com vitória elástica

– É algo especial, sinto que já conheço todas elas de antes, é como se já tivesse jogado com elas, embora não seja o caso. O bom é que me adaptei rapidamente quando começamos a treinar juntas e, no fim, saiu tudo muito bem – comentou.

O Palmeiras volta a campo no próximo domingo (5 de março), quando vai até o Distrito Federal para enfrentar o Real Brasília, às 15h, pela segunda rodada do Brasileirão Feminino.

Legendary English forward Jamie Vardy’s next chapter may unfold in Italy as Cremonese pursue the 39-year-old after his Leicester City departure.

• Cremonese in talks with Vardy after his Leicester exit
• Club optimistic following initial negotiations
• Striker open to challenge abroad after 12 years at Leicester

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Leicester legend is in negotiations over a surprise move to newly-promoted Serie A club Cremonese. According to a report from , initial talks between the parties have been fruitful and there is cautious optimism that a deal can be completed for the 39-year-old free agent.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Vardy is searching for a final career challenge after his 12-year spell with Leicester, where he won the Premier League and FA Cup, came to an end. Cremonese, who marked their return to the Italian top flight with a shock 2-1 victory over AC Milan on the opening day, are looking to add an experienced goalscorer to their attack. The Lombardy club are already set to sign Faris Moumbagna from Marseille and can call upon Federico Bonazzoli and Antonio Sanabria, meaning Vardy would complete a potent forward line.

  Despite his age, Vardy remained productive in his final season in the Premier League, contributing 10 goals and six assists in 36 appearances for Leicester. The striker was also the division's top scorer at the end of the 2019-20 season.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  He leaves the Foxes with a legacy that includes 230 goals, 90 assists, a Premier League title in 2016, and a Golden Boot in 2019-20. Moreover, Vardy has never played outside England in his professional career. A move to Serie A would represent his first venture abroad at senior level.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VARDY?

  If talks continue positively, Vardy could become Cremonese’s marquee signing before the transfer window closes. The club will next face Sassuolo in Serie A, while Vardy weighs up whether to extend his career with a final challenge in Italy.

MatériaMais Notícias

A falta de partidas oficias permite tempo hábil para os jogadores do Santos terminarem tranquilamente o processo de tratamento de suas lesões. Recuperado, o volante Alison atrai responsabilidade emocional dos jogadores do Peixe e admite fragilidade do grupo neste quesito.

-Eu reconheço que hoje a gente vive um momento emocional abaixo do que aconteceu nos últimos anos. Eu e todos os atletas mais velhos e com experiência temos esse dever de chamar a responsabilidade para a gente ajudar os meninos mais novos, tirando um pouco da responsabilidade das costas dele. Momento difícil, então essa parte extracampo é muito importante para a gente no decorrer do ano para a gente se recuperar – avaliou Alison.

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+Procura-se rival! Palmeirenses fazem memes brincando com superioridade no Paulistão

O volante possui um perfil de liderança muito forte. Na última passagem, foi capitão da equipe no vice-campeonato da Libertadores e ganhou destaque pelos discursos motivadores antes de confrontos decisivos. Além de agregar ao clube de forma técnica, o atleta quer tomar a dianteira na função de apoiar o crescimento dos Meninos da Vila.

-Não é fácil jogar no profissional do Santos, mas é uma responsabilidade que os meninos carregam desde cedo, jogar na base do Santos já é uma responsabilidade desde cedo. Nunca é fácil e nós mais velhos precisamos pegar a responsabilidade, pegar a carga dele e passar para gente, porque estamos mais acostumados. São meninos, mas têm responsabilidades e estão cientes disso – relatou o jogador.

Fora da lista de inscritos do Campeonato Paulista, Alison, que não atua em uma partida profissional desde março do ano passado, relatou estar pronto para retornar aos gramados após tanto tempo afastado.

– Em relação a confiança, estou ganhando ela no dia a dia, treinamentos servem para isso, recuperar a confiança. Estou me sentindo muito bem. Desde o meu retorno tive um período intenso de treino e agora a gente vai ter um período forte para treinar e se preparar. Com certeza na Sul-americana eu vou poder estar estreando. Me sinto recuperado e pronto – concluiu o santista.

O jogo válido pela Copa Sul-Americana ainda não possui data definida. O sorteio da Conmebol, com a definição de grupos e confrontos, será realizado no dia 27 de março.

Erling Haaland had given the visitors the lead at the Amex Stadium, but they failed to make the dominance count before collapsing late on

Manchester City suffered their second-successive Premier League defeat as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at Brighton on Sunday. Erling Haaland marked his 100th appearance in the English top-flight with a goal, but Pep Guardiola's side fell apart in the final quarter of the match on the south coast.

Haaland wasted a golden early opportunity when he was played through on goal by Omar Marmoush as he fired a weak effort straight at Bart Verbruggen, while at the other end James Trafford got down well to tip Kaoru Mitoma's low shot past the post. Haaland eventually broke the deadlock, however, when he bounced back from having a header saved by Verbruggen to latch onto Marmoush's poked pass and net from close range.

City dominated proceedings until the midway point of the second half, only for a quadruple substitution from Fabian Hurzeler to bring the hosts to life. They almost-instantly won a penalty following those changes as Matheus Nunes was penalised for a handball inside the box, and James Milner sent Trafford the wrong way from the spot.

Brighton piled on the pressure in search of a winner, and Trafford was forced to perform heroics to claw away Jan Paul van Hecke's header. However, he could do nothing to deny Brajan Gruda from netting the winner in the 89th minute as he broke through after City's defence was torn apart.

GOAL rates City's players from the Amex Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  James Trafford (7/10):

  Didn't look like his confidence had been hit by last week's error as he showed comfort with the ball at his feet. Got down well to deny Mitoma early on before standing tall to keep out Minteh on the hour mark and performed heroics to claw away Van Hecke's header. Had no chance with either goal.

  Matheus Nunes (6/10):

  Continues to improve as a right-back as he kept Mitoma relatively quiet while using the ball well in possession. Slightly unfortunate to concede the penalty.

  John Stones (5/10):

  Played Mitoma onside for his early chance and looked a little slow at times. Not as effective in possession compared to a few years ago, and his failure to cut out a forward pass led to Brighton's winner.

  Abdukodir Khusanov (6/10):

  Perhaps his best performance in a City to shirt for the first 65 minutes as he carried the ball into midfield well and was aggressive when called on defensively. Booked shortly before the equaliser, and was targeted thereafter.

  Rayan Ait-Nouri (4/10):

  Gave the ball away in poor areas on a couple of occasions as he came out second-best on occasion up against Minteh. Booked in the second half.

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  Midfield

  Rodri (8/10):

  Oozed class in everything he did at the heart of the City midfield. Still getting up to full fitness, but showed exactly what the team have been missing due to his injury absence.

  Bernardo Silva (6/10):

  Didn't offer much of note in possession, but showed good energy in midfield to win the ball back and pressure the opposition.

  Tijjani Reijnders (6/10):

  Struggled early on with the ferocity of Brighton's press but grew into the game as it wore on.

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  Attack

  Oscar Bobb (7/10):

  Caused panic whenever he got onto the ball and drove towards the Brighton penalty area. Played his part in the opening goal.

  Erling Haaland (6/10):

  Wasted two early openings before being denied by Verbruggen. Eventually got his goal with an expert close-range finish, but faded out of the game in the second half.

  Omar Marmoush (7/10):

  Showed excellent, quick feet inside the penalty area to lay on Haaland's opener, and looked dangerous when picking up the ball in the half-spaces. Replaced for the final 20 minutes.

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  Subs & Manager

  Nico O'Reilly (5/10):

  On in midfield for the final 20 minutes but couldn't stop the waves of Brighton pressure.

  Jeremy Doku (5/10):

  Struggled to pose much of a threat after replacing Marmoush.

  Rico Lewis (N/A):

  On for Nunes in the final 10 minutes.

  Ruben Dias (N/A):

  Couldn't get across quickly enough to keep Brighton from sweeping through on their way to Gruda's winner.

  Pep Guardiola (5/10):

  His team looked like they were getting back to their best for an hour, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances and were made to pay. His failure to adapt after Hurzeler's inspired substitutions was concerning.

Wrexham's first Championship win of the season was marred by distressing scenes as Danny Ward was given lengthy treatment on the pitch.

Parkinson discusses Ward conditionGoalkeeper set for spell out of actionSuffered concussion & elbow injuryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ward was involved in a collision with a Millwall player in the closing stages of Saturday's victory – Wrexham's first in the second tier of English football in 43 years. He seemed to land awkwardly on his elbow, causing damage, but a blow to the head also left him concussed. With medics taking no chances around the head and neck area, the goalkeeper was carefully placed onto a back board, while oxygen was also administered.

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Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson was left to field media questions about Ward's condition. He wasn't able to offer much in the way of detail, but suggested the club are fearing a lengthy absence. Arthur Okonkwo replaced the Wales international for the final stages of the match, with 16 additional minutes played because of the long delay. The second goal of the 2-0 scoreline came from Lewis O'Brien in that time and was dedicated to Ward.

WHAT PARKINSON SAID

"It doesn't look promising when you see a player stretchered off like that. All we can do is wait and keep our fingers crossed," Parkinson said.

"But [Kevin Mulholland, physio] has said to me it doesn't look good so when the physio says that to you, you're fearing the worst. I think the concussion alone will rule him out for a certain period."

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Ward will have to withdraw from Wales' squad for internationals against Kazakhstan and Canada. At club level, Okonkwo, who has been number one for much of the last two seasons, will reclaim his starting place for the foreseeable future. With Callum Burton the only other senior cover, Wrexham could also dip into the transfer market before the summer deadline.

Neal Maupay' efforts to secure a move away from Marseille have gone in vain with the striker's prospects under Roberto De Zerbi looking grim.

Maupay stuck at MarseilleMove to Greece collapsed on TuesdayDe Zerbi not counting on him this seasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Maupay's options are narrowing by the minute as he looks to secure a move away from Marseille. The former Brentford and Nantes forward was close to joining Sassuolo in Serie A on Monday, followed by a move to Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki on Tuesday. Neither move came to fruition, though, leaving Maupay's future in limbo.

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Maupay appeared close to securing a move to Serie A, with Sassuolo showing serious interest. However, talks broke down abruptly on Monday evening, and the Italian club withdrew before a deal could be finalised. With the transfer window now closed across Europe’s major leagues, the Marseille man finds his options dwindling.

On Tuesday, a new lifeline emerged as PAOK Thessaloniki entered negotiations, optimistic about reaching a swift agreement. According to , talks were advancing well, and the Greek side were eager to finalize the move. However, PAOK insisted on registering Maupay for European competition, requiring the deal to be completed before midnight. Ultimately, the tight deadline proved insurmountable, leaving Maupay’s future uncertain once again.

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In Marseille, Maupay's situation is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. The 29-year-old knows full well that Roberto De Zerbi is not counting on him this season following the arrivals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Timothy Weah. His spell in the Premier League was not enough to open up new opportunities for him, nor were his discussions with Italian clubs. Today, the Frenchman finds himself stuck, unless a last-minute opportunity emerges in a market that is still open outside the major leagues.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR NEAL MAUPAY?

Although Thessaloniki had long placed their faith in a fortunate outcome, the club is now unwilling to gamble on a major investment without being able to count on Maupay for European competition. Unless Marseille make a significant financial concession, the Greek option appears to be all but off the table. As a result, the striker’s chances of an immediate departure are diminishing.