BELGIUM
Januzaj opts for Belgium
Manchester United’s teenage winger Adnan Januzaj has ended months of speculation by choosing to represent Belgium at international level, national coach Marc Wilmots revealed on Wednesday. The 19-year-old — who has been at United since he was 16 and has made several eye-catching performances this season — could have played for Albania, Turkey, Kosovo, Serbia or even England. However, his decision means he is available for selection for Belgium for this year’s World Cup finals. “I have received the official confirmation that Adnan Januzaj is available for selection for Belgium for the rest of his career!” tweeted Wilmots, who has guided Belgium to their first World Cup finals since 2002. “It is good news and I am overjoyed that a talented player is available for selection for the Red Devils.” Januzaj is of Kosovar descent, but was born in Belgium and came through the RSC Anderlecht academy before leaving for England.
ENGLAND
Reds unveil Anfield plans
Premier League leaders Liverpool on Wednesday published plans for the redevelopment of their Anfield home that would raise the stadium’s capacity from 45,276 to about 54,000. The club plan to add 8,500 seats to the arena’s Main Stand, which would also become the new home of the memorial to the 96 Liverpool fans killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. Liverpool have also presented separate “outline proposals” to expand the Anfield Road stand by adding about 4,800 extra seats. The club expect to submit a planning application to Liverpool City Council at the end of the season, with a view to starting construction work on the Main Stand early next year. Liverpool have played at Anfield since their foundation in 1892.
ENGLAND
FA charges Chelsea trio
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, his assistant Rui Faria and midfielder Ramires have been charged by the Football Association (FA) over their conduct during last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat by Sunderland. The FA said Mourinho’s post-match comments “constitute improper conduct, in that they call into question the integrity of the referee.” Faria has been charged with two counts of misconduct for an alleged use of “abusive and/or insulting words” toward the fourth official and his behavior after being asked by the referee to leave the technical area. Ramires struck Sebastian Larsson with a flailing arm in an off-the-ball incident that match officials missed, but a panel of former elite referees reviewed the video evidence and “were unanimous that it was an act of violent conduct.”
GERMANY
Nuremberg sack Verbeek
Bundesliga strugglers Nuremberg announced on Wednesday they had sacked coach Gertjan Verbeek after just 184 days in charge. The decision to fire the 51-year-old Dutchman follows Sunday’s 4-1 home to defeat to Bayer 04 Leverkusen that kept the club second from bottom of the league and set to be relegated. Under-23 coach Roger Prinzen is to take over as coach on an interim basis.
CYPRUS
Supporter loses an eye
Police said a 27-year-old man has lost an eye after fans of Cyprus’ top two teams threw rocks at each other before a key championship match. Police spokesman Andreas Angelides said on Wednesday that nine fans and six police officers were also injured during the incident. The violence occurred along a highway leading to the capital Nicosia shortly before APOEL played AEL on Tuesday.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
MARRED FINAL: As most of Senegalese players walked off the pitch after a controversial decision, some supporters threw objects and attempted to get onto the pitch Senegal on Sunday won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Pape Gueye’s extra-time winner sunk hosts Morocco 1-0 after a chaotic final that saw the eventual champions storm off the pitch late in the game. Brahim Diaz could have won the trophy for Morocco with a controversial spot-kick in the 24th minute of added time at the end of normal time as ugly scenes broke out in the stands. However, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy easily saved the weak attempted “Panenka” chip by the Real Madrid winger, who was clearly distracted by the long delay that followed the penalty award.
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
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