SOCCER

Manchester United Women will face Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in the second round of qualification for the UEFA Women's Champions League. The second-round fixtures will be played in the format of a mini-tournament, with the semi-finals scheduled for 27 August and the final, along with a third-place play-off, set for 30 August.

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Lionel Messi’s 50th Inter Miami goal in only his 61st appearance for the club sealed a 2-1 comeback win over FC Porto in their FIFA Club World Cup Group A clash, securing a first-ever victory in the competition. Both sides contested goalless draws in their respective opening matches, but the deadlock was broken after only eight minutes in Atlanta through a controversial Porto penalty.

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Juventus are on the verge of the FIFA Club World Cup (CWC) knockout rounds after Kenan Yıldız netted a brace to condemn Wydad AC to a 4-1 defeat at Lincoln Financial Field, leaving the Moroccan side on the brink of an early exit.  After conceding early in the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City, Wydad would have been desperate to make a better start in their second group encounter.

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It is no secret that Alexander Isak has been catching admiring glances from Liverpool. But Newcastle United do not want to sell their star striker, so how do the Reds pull off another blockbuster transfer? Sources say the good impressions of Isak stretch beyond the 23 Premier League goals he scored last season.

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The court case against England goalkeeper Khiara Keating has been dropped nearly a year after she pleaded not guilty to possessing nitrous oxide canisters. The 20-year-old Manchester City player was charged with possession of a Class C drug on 18 June last year following an investigation by Greater Manchester Police. In July, she appeared at Manchester and Salford Magistrates' Court with her mother, Nicola Keating, who also denied the same charge. Both were released on unconditional bail.

The Premier League confirmed that Manchester City accepted the charges and issued an apology. The club has been given 14 days to pay the fine. This is not the first time City have been sanctioned for similar behavior. In the previous season, they were fined £2.09 million for delaying 22 matches. At that time, manager Pep Guardiola acknowledged the issue and said he would try to shorten his team talks.

According to a statement from the Premier League, rules governing kick-offs and restarts are essential for maintaining the professionalism of the competition and providing consistency for fans and clubs. These rules also ensure that televised matches remain on schedule, which is crucial given the significant investment broadcasters make in securing rights to air games.

Manchester City are also currently awaiting the outcome of 115 charges related to alleged breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations. These charges cover a period from 2009 to 2018 and were referred to an independent commission in February 2023 after a four-year investigation. The club has strongly denied any wrongdoing and claims to have a comprehensive body of evidence in its defense.

BBC Sport's Shamoon Hafez noted that City have made efforts to reduce delays this season. The number of incidents has dropped by 59 percent compared to the previous season. The club maintains that last season was especially challenging, and Guardiola likely needed additional time during team talks due to the pressure of competing in multiple tournaments. However, despite the reduction in delays, the Premier League expects clubs to meet their responsibilities moving forward.

Simon Stone of BBC Sport emphasized that broadcasters rely on accurate scheduling as part of their multi-billion-pound agreements. While player injuries can disrupt timing, kick-offs and halftime restarts remain within a team's control. Although some may see City's breaches as the result of intense preparation, others view it as disregard for regulations.