Vitaly Mutko has stepped down from his role on the organising committee for the 2018 World Cup as he fights allegations relating to Russia s state-sponsored doping program.
Mutko, who is Russia s deputy prime minister, was banned by the IOC this month after the release of the Schmid Report.
Commissioned by the IOC, the report confirmed allegations of the widespread manipulation of anti-doping procedures during Mutko s tenure as Russian sports minister, chiefly at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
He is set to challenge the ruling with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, while Russian Football Federation (RFS) director general Alexander Alayev has been named acting president of the governing body in his stead.
FIFA praised Mutko earlier this week after …
Everton, Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers are among the clubs interested in signing Samuel Chukwueze from Villarreal in the January transfer window, according to . Manchester United, Leicester City and Chelsea are also reportedly monitoring the 21-year-old winger.
Villarreal are aware of interest in the youngster and will not sell him for anything less than his full release clause of £80 million, according to the report. The player himself is considering his future and is ready to take the next step in his career and move to a bigger club.
Chukwueze has been on the books of Villarreal since 2017 and has established himself as an important player in the team. The 21-year-old Nigeria international winger has scored one goal and provided one assist in eight La La Lig…
Barcelona presidential candidate Victor Font has no intention of attempting to re-sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain should he win his election bid.
Neymar spent four trophy-laden seasons at Camp Nou before joining the French giants for a record €222million in August 2017.
He has since been embroiled in a court battle with his former club over an alleged breach of contract and unpaid loyalty payments.
Amid fresh rumours last week linking Neymar with a return to Catalonia, Font has ruled out making an approach for the 28-year-old.
Institutionally, Neymar s not in my plans, said Font, who has previously stated he wants to bring Pep Guardiola back to the club to reunite the Catalan coach with Lionel Messi.
For financial reasons and for other r…
Valencia are lining up an £8m move for out-of-favour Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian, according to the Mail Online.
The twenty-nine-year-old has been strongly linked with a return to Italy with Napoli, Inter Milan, Roma and Juventus all interested though he is set for an offer from La Liga.
He moved to Old Trafford from Torino in the summer of 2015 and has since played ninety-two times in all competitions with his one and only goal for the club coming in a 2-0 league win over Crystal Palace back in April 2016.
He only made seven appearances in all competitions last term while internationally he hasn’t featured for his country in over eighteen months.
He has been capped thirty-six times for Italy and went to both the 2014 World Cup fin…