Sport

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has hired some of the world's highest-profile managers during his 16-year reign, but relative rookie Frank Lampard is emerging as the favourite to occupy the Stamford Bridge hotseat. With Italian Maurizio Sarri's departure to Juventus reported to be imminent, club talisman Eden Hazard already departed to Real Madrid and a FIFA transfer ban looming, Chelsea have arrived at a crossroads. Derby County boss Lampard, adored by the Chelsea faithful for his record-breaking goalscoring exploits during a...

West Ham United have signed Spain international attacking midfielder Pablo Fornals from Villarreal, the Premier League club said on Friday. British media reported West Ham paid 24 million pounds for the 23-year-old. Fornals, who agreed a five-year contract with an option to extend it for a further 12 months, will join Manuel Pellegrini's squad for the pre-season after representing his country at the June 16-30 Under-21 European Championship. "I feel very good, very happy and very grateful for the opportunity...

England coach Phil Neville has labelled Raymond Verheijen a "keyboard warrior" after the former Wales assistant coach criticised the women's World Cup and male coaches working with the teams. Verheijen, who was assistant to former Wales boss Gary Speed, said the tournament in France is worse than "watching grass grow". "So far, it would have been better if the World Cup had been played behind closed curtains. The level of play is shocking. Like watching grass grow," he wrote https://twitter.com/raymondverheije/status/1138794725610274817...

 Middlesbrough have appointed their former captain Jonathan Woodgate as head coach on a three-year deal, the Championship (second-tier) club said on Friday. Woodgate previously served on Boro's coaching staff under former manager Tony Pulis, who left last month after failing to secure promotion to the Premier League. "Middlesbrough Football Club are delighted to confirm that Jonathan Woodgate will head up a new-look senior coaching team," Boro said in a statement. "Our former captain will be joined by... current Republic of...

Champions Manchester City will kick off their 2019-20 Premier League season with an away trip to West Ham United while Liverpool get the ball rolling with a Friday evening home clash against promoted Norwich City. The fixtures, released at 0800 GMT on Thursday, also included a meaty first-weekend clash with Manchester United hosting Chelsea, who finished third last season. Tottenham Hotspur, who completed the top-four last season, are at home to Aston Villa, who returned to the top flight via...

The top flight club Brighton and Hove Albion fired the three groundsmen last week, after 'losing all trust and confidence' in them.

Anthony Joshua (22-1, 21 KOs) lost more than just a boxing match on June 1st at Madison Square Garden. Joshua’s stunning setback to Andy Ruiz Jr (33-1, 22 KOs) left the Briton’s reputation in tatters. The former heavyweight champ will start the undesirable process of rebuilding his stature in the sport with a rematch against Ruiz, likely in November or December 2019. While the specifics, such as date, location and purse split, still have to be ironed out, the contract...

Sunderland supporter Kieran Anthony Mark Richardson, 22, said he would shoot and bomb Portsmouth fans ahead of a match last month

A video has emerged of Tommy Robinson punching a man ahead of England’s game against Holland in Portugal last night. The far right activist – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – was filmed hitting a fellow England fan ahead of the match. After flooring one person shouts of "go on Tommy lad” can be heard coming from his crowd of supporters. A voice, thought to be Robinson’s, can also be heard confronting the victim’s friend, saying: "F*** about again, you'll get...