NOTTINGHAM FOREST owner Evangelos Marinakis has lost his appeal against a five-game stadium ban for SPITTING – with his behaviour branded “disgusting”.
The 57-year-old was found guilty of improper conduct for launching his saliva towards the floor as the match officials walked past after his side’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham in September.
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Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has seen his five-match stadium ban upheldCredit: PA
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The 57-year-old was accused of deliberately spitting towards a match official in SeptemberCredit: AP
Marinakis, who has already served three games of the suspension, denied the charge, citing a hacking cough because he smokes two or three cigars a day.
He claimed the incident, which came after Forest lost following a VAR-awarded penalty, was therefore unintentional.
But the commission who turned down his appeal believed the Greek supremo “deliberately spat in a disrespectful and disgusting display of contempt towards the match officials”.
In publishing its written reasons for the decision, it added that there was “no excuse” for such an “egregious display of disrespectful behaviour” that could “fuel disrespect towards match officials” – and that a severe punishment was warranted to act as a deterrent.
The Brazilian had helped oversee the Gunners’ rise to title challengers under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal confirmed his resignation in a statement, writing: “We thank Edu for the part he has played in our renewed football strategy and driving the club forward with the values of Arsenal in his heart.”
How Edu made Arsenal great again
By Jack Rosser
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EDU GASPAR has been on a mission to ‘Make Arsenal Great Again’ ever since returning to the club he played for 2019.
After a few wobbles early on – signing Nicolas Pepe will never reflect well – the Brazilian has, alongside Mikel Arteta, been crucial in the club’s transformation.
Arteta was brought in as the new manager within months of Edu’s return to North London and the former midfielder stuck by the boss when the pressure was on two years into the job.
Instead of making the knee-jerk decision to change manager again, the former Brazil international, joined forces with Arteta to institute a huge change of culture at The Emirates.
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Overpaid toxic influences such as Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were purged from the dressing room and Arsenal set about adding strong characters.
Edu finally got the club competing in the transfer market again, with Martin Odegaard an outstanding capture for the club. In landing Declan Rice ahead of Manchester City last year Arsenal showed they couple compete for and sign some of Europe’s biggest talents once more.
Arsenal have become one of the most attractive clubs in the Premier League and one of the most efficient in the market.
While there have been big deals for the likes of Rice and Calafiori, there have been smart ones too – picking out value where others have lost hope.
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Kai Havertz appeared as a surprising signing after a dreadful season at Chelsea. But after Edu gave the German space and support to rebuild his confidence he has developed into a fine asset for Arteta.
Edu does not only have a tight relationship with Arteta – who many fans will be glad signed a new deal before the sporting director’s departure – but the players too, always ready and waiting to check in, keep them going.
London Colney and The Emirates will feel a very different place for all of them without Edu.
Edu added: “This was an incredibly hard decision to make.
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“Arsenal has given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people and the chance to be a part of something so special in the club’s history.
“I’ve loved working with so many great colleagues across our men’s, women’s and academy teams, especially Mikel, who has become a great friend.
“Now it is time to pursue a different challenge. Arsenal will always remain in my heart. I wish the club and its supporters only good things and all the very best.”
RUBEN AMORIM is set to be handed an instant injury boost when he finally takes charge at Manchester United after Mason Mount returned to first-team training.
The Portuguese boss has been confirmed as Erik ten Hag’s successor at Old Trafford.
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Mason Mount is back in full training at Man Utd after another injury setbackCredit: Getty
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The boost comes as Ruben Amorim prepares to leave Sporting Lisbon for Old TraffordCredit: EPA
But he will not be taking the reins until after November’s international break.
It means the current Sporting Lisbon chief has plenty of time to prep for his first game against Ipswich Town as interim gaffer Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge of fixtures with PAOK and Leicester.
And Amorim is sure to be running his eye over United’s talented, yet underperforming, squad.
He certainly won’t be short on options after Ten Hag was provided with £200million-worth of new stars over the summer.
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But one forgotten ace is also set to rejoin the pack, with Mount returning to full training after missing the whole of October with injury.
Mount was signed from Chelsea a year ago for £55m.
Now 25, he should be hitting his peak after leading the Blues to the Champions League and Club World Cup.
But Mount has been hit by numerous injury problems at United and so far has just one goal in 25 outings.
The England star will be desperate to relive his Stamford Bridge glory days at Old Trafford.
And he could be one of the beneficiaries of Amorim’s new 3-4-3 formation, which sees two versatile forwards sit either side of the striker.
‘Career threatening!’ Ex-Prem ref reacts to Martinez’s tackle on Cole Palmer in Man Utd vs Chelsea | The Whistleblower, Mark Halsey
Mount played a similar role on the right at Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel.
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But he will first need to prove his fitness while also convincing Amorim that he is more deserving of a place in the forward line than the likes of Marcus Rashord, Bruno Fernandes or Alejandro Garnacho.
Ruben Amorim is ‘Mourinho 2.0’ who turned Sporting from ‘walking dead’ into Portuguese champs… he can revive Man Utd
WHEN Ruben Amorim took charge of Sporting Lisbon in March 2020, one club official compared their situation to the “walking dead”, writes Jordan Davies.
Optimism and hope was at an all-time low.
But the Amorim-effect was almost instantaneous, guiding the Portuguese sleeping giants to their first league title for 19 years in 2020/21, losing just once and only conceding 20 goals.
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Since then, Sporting have lifted another league title in 2023/24 – as well as two League Cups – and currently sit top with nine wins from nine this term.
He may be young, but Amorim already has an eye for rebuilding and revitalising fallen super powers with his infectious charisma and intense tactical philosophy that hardly ever wavers.
The “walking dead” at Manchester United must be praying for a similar sort of revival.
And they may just get it from one of the most talented young coaches on the continent – a man accustomed to breathing new life back into crumbling institutions such as Old Trafford.
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Amorim has spent the last decade dreaming of one day gracing England’s Premier League, such was his admiration for an ex-United boss in Jose Mourinho growing up.
Often nicknamed ‘Mourinho 2.0’, Amorim spent a week with his coaching idol in an internship capacity at United’s Carrington training base in 2018, going on to cite him as his “reference point”.
United should not be expecting a mini-Mourinho, as Amorim said himself: “Mourinho is one of a kind. There won’t be another Mourinho. Mourinho is unique.”
And yet, you cannot help but compare the two.
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For all the mismanagement in the Old Trafford hot seats over the years, this would be a real get – finally a slap in the face United’s Prem rivals have no answer for.
Rory Smith breaks down why Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso turned down Liverpool and Bayern Munich last summer, but could well end up as the next Real Madrid manager next summer.
Watch all the action from the Uefa Champions League on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website & app from 22:00 GMT on Wednesday 6 November.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shook off a late injury scare as his side won 30-24 in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to continue their unbeaten start to the season.
Mahomes threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns without an interception while running back Kareem Hunt claimed a two-yard game-winning touchdown to take the Chiefs, playing at home, to 8-0.
Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl winner, had rolled his ankle in a win over the Las Vegas Raiders last week and was left limping again after escaping pressure to send a touchdown pass to Samaje Perine that pulled the Chiefs level at 17-17 early in the fourth quarter.
The 29-year-old needed help to get to the sideline, but after treatment he returned to hit DeAndre Hopkins with a five-yard touchdown pass that put the reigning Super Bowl champions 24-17 up with four minutes and 17 seconds remaining.
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Tampa Bay responded when quarterback Baker Mayfield controlled the game, leading to a touchdown from Ryan Miller and when the Bucs opted not to go for a two-point conversion and the lead, the extra-point kick tied it at 24-24.
Kansas City’s final drive in regulation failed to yield anything, but they got the ball to start overtime with Mahomes guiding them to the game-winning score as the Bucs suffered a fourth defeat in their past five games.
Erling Haaland can join Real Madrid from Manchester City if the two European giants can agree on a swap deal, reports said. The Premier League champions are likely to be offered Real Madrid’s proven Brazilian attacker if they are interested in an exchange.
Erling Haaland has openly claimed that he has no intentions of retiring at the Etihad and was open to transfers in future. Real Madrid is a dream destination for most high-profile footballers and the Norwegian has never showed any lack of respect for the “Kings of Europe.”
Vinicius Jr or Rodrygo: Who will be sold?
The Brazilian duo of Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo Goes remain at the heart of Real Madrid’s attack despite the arrival of Kylian Mbappe from PSG. Ballon d’Or runner-up Vinicius’s availability means French superstar Mbappe is forced to play as a Centre Forward rather than his preferred left-wing for the Los Blancos. Rodrygo, meanwhile operates on the right wing, if not as a CF.
Real Madrid is not willing to swap Vinicius Jr for Haaland, although earlier reports suggested Saudi clubs willing to offer ridiculous sums to get the winger. With his Ballon d’Or dream remaining unfulfilled, it is unlikely that Vini will make a switch to the Saudi Pro League for money.
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Rodrygo’s story, meanwhile, is different. According to Spanish media reports, Manchester City gaffer Pep Guardiola is impressed with him and would like to link him up with fellow Brazilian Savinho.
The Middle-East-funded English champions had made plans to make a €150m (£127m) bid’ for the Real Madrid attacker. Carlo Ancelotti-managed Real, on the other hand, has plans to make an offer worth 200 million euros (£168m) for Haaland, football365.com said quoting multiple Spanish reports. It is in the backdrop of this scenario that the possibility of a player swap has emerged.
Micah Parrish added 17 points and six rebounds for the Buckeyes, who led wire-to-wire and shot 55.6% in the second half.
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Devin Royal had 16 points and John Mobley Jr. scored 14 off the bench, leading Ohio State to a 33-10 advantage in bench scoring.
Freshman Tre Johnson led all scorers with 29 points and five rebounds for the Longhorns, and Arthur Kaluma and Kadin Shedrick each had 10. The rest of the Longhorns shot a combined 7-of-29 (24.1%) from the floor.
Takeaways
Ohio State: The Buckeyes built a 15-point lead in the first half after opening the game by shooting 50% (10-of-20) from the floor, including 9-of-12 from 3-point range.
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Texas: The Longhorns had won 21 of their previous 22 season openers before Monday’s loss.
Key moment
After the Longhorns pulled within four early in the second half, Ohio State’s Evan Mahaffey snatched a rebound off the defensive glass and converted in transition with a layup at the other end. The bucket triggered a 9-3 run that instilled confidence in the Buckeyes, who controlled the pace after rebuilding a 49-39 lead.
Key stat
15 – Johnson showed no signs of freshman jitters in his college debut, as his offense in the first half kept the Longhorns in the game. Johnson scored 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, in the first 20 minutes.
Up next
Ohio State hosts Youngstown State on Monday, while Texas opens the home portion of its schedule Friday against Houston Christian.
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