Birmingham City are set to sign a new player for Chris Davies in 2025, with an agreement already reached, according to a Sky Sports reporter.

Birmingham flying under Davies

The Blues are looking good for League One promotion at the first attempt under Davies, currently sitting two points clear at the top of the table with two games in hand.

Davies’ side have navigated their way through a busy festive period, with their last third-tier defeat coming back in November. The games continue to come thick and fast for Birmingham, including an eye-catching trip to Wrexham later this month.

Birmingham City vs Lincoln City (FA Cup)

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Swindon Town vs Birmingham City (EFL Trophy)

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However, with the transfer window open, there have been rumours of a new defender arriving at St Andrews, including Swansea City’s Harry Darling. It looks as if a move for a long-term target has now been reached, though, in what will be a boost for the Blues and Davies.

Birmingham set to sign defender

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg, Birmingham have “sealed” the services of Hannover 96 defender Phil Neumann. The 27-year-old is out of contract in the summer where he will join the Blues on a free transfer.

Neumann, a former Germany U20 international, is primarily a centre-back but can also play at right-back if required.

He came through the youth academy at FC Schalke before turning out for FC Ingolstadt and Holstein Kiel, signing for Hannover 96 in 2022.

Neumann’s next club is set to be Birmingham, though, and talking to Football League World, Blues fan pundit Mike Gibbs thinks he could be a “massive addition”.

“I think the Neumann deal is outstanding. Based on the reading I’m doing, and looking at some of the data, looking at some of the reports that are coming out, he’s probably the most respected defender (in Germany) outside of the Bundesliga I think.

“He’s obviously done very, very well. We were in for him in the summer, I think there was talk of about £4m. I think he’d be an outstanding signing, and all of the signals lead to him being a massive addition.

“I think, obviously, there’s a lot of chat about, yes, it’s a pre-contract agreement, but can we then do a deal with Hannover where he joins in January? A lot of the chat on some of the groups that I’ve been in is if you can get him in January, but almost give him six months to acclimatise.

“It doesn’t majorly disrupt what’s going on now, but what it does mean is that, come the summer, he’s raring to go for next season, which is hopefully in the Championship. I think, next year, if he has a full summer, or we do bring him in in January, I do think he’s a natural starter, personally.”

The American scored for the second-straight game on Saturday to bag his 14th strike of the regular season

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Norwich City fall to Plymouth 2-1Sargent scores 14th goal of season still in race for promotion playoffsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. men's national team striker Josh Sargent scored a terrific goal for Norwich City on Saturday in their 2-1 loss to Plymouth in the English Championship. The 24-year-old smashed home from close range with a lovely left-footed volley.

It was his 14th of the campaign, and his 10th since his return from injury in January. However, another disappointing result from Norwich has them departing the match with their heads low.

The sit 11th after the full-time whistle in the Championship as they continue their hunt for a promotion playoff spot in an attempt to play Premier League soccer in the 2025-26 season.

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Sargent has been a man in form for the in 2024-25, and has now scored in back-to-back games since returning from the CONCACAF Nations League with the USMNT – where he left the camp goalless – extending his scoreless streak with the national team to 2019.

If he continues his fine club form to close out the regular season in England, he will be in contention to be called up to the national team again this summer in either the June FIFA international window, or during the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR NORWICH?

The return to the pitch on Tuesday for a match against Sunderland as they look to bounce back from Saturday's performance. Now sitting eight points out of a promotion playoff spot, their hopes of top-flight soccer next season are slowly beginning to fade.

James Tarkowski's wife has slammed the "disgusting" trolls for "wishing death" on the Everton star over his foul on Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister.

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• Tarkowski avoids red for Mac Allister foul
• Everton man sent death threats online
• Wife Samantha slams "disgusting trolls"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  During Everton's 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, Tarkowski escaped a red card for a reckless tackle on Mac Allister – something he later apologised for. In the aftermath, his wife Samantha revealed the 32-year-old has been subjected to death threats, saying these "pathetic" acts go "far beyond football".

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  WHAT SAMANTHA TARKOWSKI SAID

  She wrote in an Instagram story: "I wasn't actually going to say anything because we usually just laugh if off but f*** it. The level of abuse my husband is receiving – wishing death on him, vile comments about me, about us as a couple, and about him as a person – is beyond disgusting. People forget that he is more than just a footballer. He is a husband, a father, a brother, a friend, and most importantly, the father of our two children. He goes out there and does his job and does it very f****** well yet he's subjected to so much hate. For those acting like he deliberately set out to hurt someone – are you serious?! Football moves at speed, and tackles are split-second decisions. No player goes out there to injure someone and do you think any player would feel good about it if they did? But the pure s*** messages, the threats? That's intentional. That's on you. Football is a sport, but the way some so-called 'fans' behave is disgraceful. The abuse, the threats – it's not passion, it's pathetic. We're real people, and this goes far beyond football."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Tarkowski admitted his high challenge on the Argentine was "not a great one from me", with the PGMOL later admitting the centre-back should have been sent off for the foul. While the ex-Burnley man was in the wrong, nobody should be subjected to that sort of abuse.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Tarkowski is likely to return to action on Saturday when Everton host Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal at Goodison Park.

Liverpool meet West Ham United at the London Stadium this evening as Arne Slot looks to claim another victory in the Premier League. First-placed and flying, the Reds have been rampant this season.

However, West Ham have a point to prove after a disappointing start to life under Julen Lopetegui but have hit a degree of good form in recent weeks, unbeaten across their past four top-flight fixtures (two wins, two draws).

While Liverpool have won ten of their past 12 matches against the Hammers in all competitions, they drew at the London Stadium last term in a heated contest that saw tempers flare between Mohamed Salah and outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp.

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Slot will demand cooler heads, but the harmony woven together within this Reds team is sure to remain intact and puts the visitors in a great position to continue their incredible title-chasing campaign.

Liverpool team news

Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley won’t be risked in east London, but both are in contention to return against Manchester United next weekend. The defenders have been sidelined since the beginning of December.

In midfield, Slot won’t be able to call upon the tireless energy of Dominik Szoboszlai, for the Hungarian has been suspended for one match after picking up his fifth yellow card of the year during the Boxing Day victory over Leicester City.

Up front, Liverpool might be tempted to unleash an unchanged line, but given the task at hand, Slot might be tempted to drop two members.

Slot must boldly drop Cody Gakpo

Salah, of course, will retain his starting spot on the right wing, looking to continue his staggering form this season, notching 19 goals and 15 assists across 25 appearances.

However, Darwin Nunez failed to take command at number nine on Boxing Day despite plenty of huff and puff. He brought energy and impetus, but Liverpool need Diogo Jota for this one.

Jota has been reduced to off-the-bench roles since returning from injury this month, with Liverpool’s coaches wary of his fitness record.

He should be fit enough for a starting role now though. With nine victories from ten matches against West Ham, the Portugal forward could be the difference-maker, bringing a clinical edge that Nunez simply doesn’t possess. As per FBref, Jota actually ranks among the top 15% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90.

If Jota is to start up top, Liverpool’s Dutch coach might want to boldly drop the in-form Cody Gakpo too. The 25-year-old has scored four goals across his past seven Premier League starts but Luis Diaz might be preferable to ensure Jota’s chances of scoring are maximised.

Once hailed for his “special skillset” by Pep Lijnders, Gakpo has been a revelation this season, taking the positives from his season-and-a-half under Klopp’s wing and playing almost exclusively on the left flank this year, something that has sharpened his goalscoring edge and then some.

Of course, he could thrive alongside Jota at the London Stadium, but Liverpool could do with Diaz’s electricity and multi-faceted threat.

The Colombian’s hardly a non-existent goal threat himself, bagging seven goals from 11 league fixtures this season.

Such exciting depth is a reflection of Liverpool’s devastating frontline, as deadly as it is deep. Slot’s success has been in large part down to Diaz and Gakpo being able to rotate and attack problems with their own distinct formula.

Whatever Slot picks, Liverpool will feel they have what it takes to complete the job, but Diaz might be the better man for the job today.

Dream Diaz replacement: Liverpool may have Mane 2.0 in "frightening" teen

Liverpool’s academy has risen to elite status in recent years – and this teen might be the pick of the bunch.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 28, 2024

South Africa three wickets down and still 78 runs behind heading into final day

Valkerie Baynes29-Jun-2022

Issy Wong provided the spark on a gloomy evening to put England firmly in control heading into the final day of their Test with South Africa.After hours of watching rain fall, 20-year-old debutant Wong removed dangerous opener Laura Wolvaardt for the second time in the match after also dismissing Lara Goodall to take two wickets in as many overs.Nat Sciver has been at the heart of the action throughout this match, her unbeaten 169 allowing England to declare 133 runs ahead and she took two crucial catches as South Africa were reduced to 55 for 3 at the close on the third day, still 82 runs in arrears.Play only resumed at 6.30pm local time after a second rain delay lasting nearly three hours and, with just 11 balls bowled, the rain returned, although play continued and the shower passed.It was just as well for England when Wong had Goodall caught behind by Amy Jones amid an excellent spell, firing the ball in full down the leg side and catching a faint edge as it passed by.Wong then claimed the prize wicket of Wolvaardt for just 16, edging to gully where Sciver took a sharp catch diving to her right.The weather was surely a factor in the timing of England’s sporting declaration with about half an hour left in the morning session. And while it left Sciver 20 runs shy of Betty Snowball’s record for the highest Test score by an England Women’s player, set in 1935, the fact that more rain is forecast for the final day and that England were keen to force a result, team goals took precedence over personal milestones.Sciver was in the action again when England made an early breakthrough in South Africa’s second innings, Kate Cross claiming her fifth wicket for the match when she invited Andrie Steyn to drive at a ball pitched up just outside off stump and got an edge to fly to gully, where Sciver took a sound, low catch.England then thought Cross had Goodall out lbw but their attempts to overturn umpire Anna Harris’ not-out decision failed when the DRS confirmed that Goodall had put bat on ball. Moments later rain arrived and the players sprinted from the field.Only another eight overs were bowled when play resumed with South Africa closing the gap to 106 before another heavy shower brought about an early tea.Earlier, Sciver, 119 not out overnight, surpassed Marizanne Kapp’s 150 in South Africa’s first innings. Having resumed with a 44-run advantage, Sciver and Sophie Ecclestone added another 65 runs in the first hour of the day, both finding the boundary with relative ease as they looked to accelerate.Sciver had shared a 207-run partnership for the sixth wicket with old schoolmate Alice Davidson-Richards, who fell on the final ball of the second day with a century on Test debut to her name.Anneke Bosch dropped a return catch off Ecclestone, on 18 at the time, in her second over of the day, the firmly struck chance slipping through her hands during her follow-through. Then Sciver immediately picked off consecutive boundaries, pulled through square leg and cracked over midwicket. She brought up her 150 a short time later pushing Nonkululeko Mlaba to long on for a single.Ecclestone fell for a handy 35 when walking across her stumps trying to clip Mlaba towards fine leg she was struck on the front pad in line with leg stump.Cross’ dismissal four balls later prompted England’s declaration after Sciver hit another Mlaba delivery towards midwicket where Nadine de Klerk gathered and threw to the non-striker’s end. Cross had turned back but failed to ground her bat.Sciver had admitted the previous evening that the desire to put on a show in the context of wider discussions about the future of women’s Tests, had been raised in the England camp before the match.”We spoke about that before we started the game,” she said. “And yeah, there were comments that didn’t support women’s Test matches, which is not something that we agree with so we are playing I guess in the limelight after that comment a little bit. So yeah, we want to push for a result.”For me, I didn’t take it out onto the pitch. We spoke about it a little bit before the game but when I’m out there, we’re playing cricket, we’re playing for each other, we’re playing for our team.”With only seven wickets needed, the hosts’ prospects of that looked brighter, provided the weather doesn’t play too big a factor. Sune Luus was unbeaten on 4 at the close alongside nightwatcher Tumi Sekhukhune on 1.

كشف الإعلامي أحمد شوبير عن كواليس ملف المدير الفني الجديد للنادي الأهلي، مؤكدًا أن الأمور لا تزال قيد التحفظ الشديد داخل القلعة الحمراء، في أعقاب قرار النادي توجيه الشكر للمدير الفني السويسري مارسيل كولر.

وكان الأهلي قد أعلن منذ أيام قليلة، في بيان رسمي، إنهاء التعاقد مع مارسيل كولر وجهازه المعاون، بعد فترة شهدت تحقيق عدة بطولات محلية وقارية، أبرزها دوري أبطال إفريقيا مرتين على التوالي، إلى جانب الدوري الممتاز وكأس مصر والسوبر المصري.

وتحدث شوبير، خلال برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأحد، قائلًا: “أحذر الجميع من تصديق أي أخبار تتحدث عن أن الأهلي قد أنهى اتفاقه مع المدرب الجديد، بل سأؤكد لكم أن ملف المدير الفني تتم إدارته بشكل مباشر من قبل الكابتن محمود الخطيب شخصيًا”.

طالع أيضًا | هل طلب أكرم توفيق اللعب مع الأهلي في كأس العالم للأندية؟.. شوبير يحسم الجدل

وأضاف: “هذا الملف تتم مناقشته في دائرة مغلقة جدًا جدًا، ولا يتحدث فيه إلا عدد محدود للغاية من المسؤولين داخل النادي، حتى شركة كرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي ليست لها أي علاقة أو دور في التعاقد مع المدرب الجديد”.

وأوضح أن هناك العديد من الأسماء والاجتهادات التي ستظهر خلال الأيام المقبلة عبر وسائل الإعلام، قائلًا: “ستسمعون عن الكثير من الأسماء المطروحة، لكن الحقيقة أن كل هذه اجتهادات فقط، الملف مغلق تمامًا ولا يعرف تفاصيله سوى قلة قليلة داخل الأهلي”.

واختتم: “حتى أقرب المقربين للكابتن محمود الخطيب داخل النادي لا يعلمون أي شيء عن هذا الملف، والأمر مستقر بشكل كامل لدى رئيس النادي فقط، وسيتم الإعلان الرسمي عن المدير الفني الجديد في الوقت المناسب”.

Surrey exacted satisfying revenge for their defeat against Yorkshire in the Vitality Blast quarter-final with another nerve-jangling victory, this time in the Championship, as they completed an immaculately-judged pursuit of 227 in 44 overs by four wickets with three balls to spare at North Marine Road.At 147 for 6 in the 28th over, their chase was faltering badly. But Ben Foakes’ unbeaten 42, astute from the outset, and 40 not out from the Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie on Championship debut, a committed innings which grew in authority as it progressed, brought them home with an unbroken stand of 81 in 16 overs.Hardie was thrilled at his first experience of Championship cricket. “To come here today and win was a bit of a dream,” he said. “Everything had to go perfectly to plan, and it pretty much did. Our plan was to take it deep because we knew we’d be the ones driving the game. It worked.”Surrey needed this victory to consolidate their position at the top of the Championship after Hampshire had won earlier in the day. If Hardie had departed early, they might have settled for the draw and Foakes, dropped back down to No. 7, would have been charged with organising it. But victory leaves them 15 points ahead of Hampshire with five matches remaining, Lancashire now a distant third, their hopes fading.As for Yorkshire, they had shared in a memorable struggle despite a colossal list of absentees, but their second defeat of the season (made worse by the docking of two points for a slow overrate) sends them to Taunton next week fearing they might yet be dragged into a relegation fight. They have taken every game into the final session but have not won since their opening match against Gloucestershire.A season’s best 6 for 61 for Jamie Overton, two on the previous evening, had set up the chase as Yorkshire were dismissed for 220 in their second innings despite a maiden Championship half-century for Matthew Waite. They now must wait for the ECB to confirm which, if any, players will be released for Blast Finals Day on Saturday. The clash of fixtures between England and the climax to county cricket’s biggest week of the season is unconscionable – either greedy, cynical and deliberate or greedy incompetent and lacking in empathy: take your pick.Dom Bess, after his five wickets in the first innings, bore Yorkshire’s hopes. He struck the first blow on the brink of tea, a loopy, turning delivery which drew Rory Burns down the pitch and beat the outside edge, Johnny Tattersall completing the stumping. Yorkshire entrusted the offspinner with a decisive spell, and he did little wrong, but he never asserted the control he would have wanted and finished with 1 for 105 from 18 overs.Not that they had many options. With the West Indies quick, Shannon Gabriel off the field initially because of a hip injury sustained in the field, his presence was delayed until the 20th over. In that time, Surrey lost Ryan Patel, who paid for a wind-up at Steve Patterson, and Hashim Amla, an uppercut against Jordan Thompson which flew to third man. The catcher was James Wharton, shortly after he had passed a concussion check after being struck on the helmet at short leg by Overton. Standing at short leg when Overton is swinging is nobody’s idea of fun.Related

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Overton clubs sixes even when his bat is barely in the same postcode and Bess suffered more than once, but Thompson befuddled him with a back-of-the-hand slower ball, leaving Surrey 106 short with 20 overs remaining.Gabriel’s contribution caused a tremor, but only a short one: 2 for 18 from three overs. Jacks pulled him for six, but then fell lbw – unfortunately so as the ball struck him outside the line. There was no doubt about Jamie Smith’s dismissal as Gabriel plucked out his off stump. Short-term overseas signings face quite a task to hit the ground running, and injury problems in the second innings and 16 no balls in the match told its own story.Surrey’s assault on Bess with 43 needed from six overs shifted the match their way. Both Hardie and Foakes swept him for six. With 35 overs behind him in the first innings, and the need to pull off several goalkeeping dives off his own bowling, he was a weary, sweat-soiled figure by the time he was withdrawn from the attack with four overs remaining, but days that will hurt in the here and now will bring long-term benefit.Yorkshire had a 71-run lead banked overnight with eight second-innings wickets left. The loss of two wickets in the penultimate over the previous evening had left them vulnerable and a dank morning suggested that an inexperienced batting line-up were even more up against it. For Yorkshire supporters, it was a folded-arms sort of morning as they sat back, demanding the best but fearing the worst. They were proved right – but had to wait til after half-past six to say they’d always known as much.Only 18 overs into the day, they were 123 for 6. Surrey sensed the game was theirs – and some of their supporters wondered if they would even see it before they had to catch the 5.30 back to London. Those first four wickets fell to lbws, to four different bowlers, as Surrey bowled at the stumps, seeking a bit of seam and indifferent bounce. George Hill, dropped at cover, limped off as Overton had him lbw on the boot. There was a brief interruption for bad light but Will Fraine fell to Dan Worrall immediately on the resumption. James Wharton and Will Luxton were then caught on the crease as Tom Lawes and Hardie maintained the approach.Surrey could not be reliant on a second new ball to finish off the Yorkshire innings – by then there would have been fewer than 30 overs and a successful chase would probably have been beyond them. As Waite assembled a stand of 52 with Tattersall, the imperative for a further breakthrough was clear. Jacks had bowled only five overs of offspin in the first 58 – lightly used compared to Bess, his Yorkshire opposite number, but his first ball brought dividends as he turned one to end Tattersall’s vigil. Another lbw, this one bringing grumbles, but it seemed fair enough.Thompson unsuccessfully tried to shift the equation away from Surrey with a quick salvo, but Overton was hitting his straps for the first time in the match and he claimed Thompson and Patterson in successive balls.With the lead 193, some sort of last-wicket resistance was essential for Yorkshire and Gabriel, for all his hulking presence, came to the crease at No. 11 with a first-class average of 5.17 and a top score of 20. Waite attacked in selective fashion. He was put on his backside as he dug out an Overton yorker, but he hooked him resoundingly to reach a maiden Championship 50. They added 32, and were beginning to scent safety, when Overton had Gabriel caught at the wicket for his sixth wicket. Surrey had time – but only just.

Celtic have now made an enquiry about signing an “outstanding” Premier League player who wants to leave in January, according to a report.

Rodgers keen on a midfielder

Brendan Rodgers has set his sights on a new midfielder this January, and there are indications that there could be more than one new arrival, with claims suggesting a potential double signing could even be in the works.

The Hoops are now expected to push for Chelsea duo Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka, who have both found game time difficult to come by at Stamford Bridge so far this season.

With Rodgers looking for a potential long-term replacement for Callum McGregor, there have been reports that Celtic could also look to sign Ajax’s Benjamin Tahirović, with the Bosnian also struggling to force his way into his manager’s plans.

Rodgers clearly has a number of options in mind ahead of the rapidly approaching January transfer window, and there are now indications that some groundwork has been done in pursuit of another target.

According to a report from The Boot Room, Celtic have made an enquiry over Manchester City’s James McAtee – and he looks like he could be on the move this winter.

The City midfielder wants to leave in January, having been unable to impress Pep Guardiola so far this season, with game time proving difficult to come by.

The Premier League outfit would rather not lose McAtee this January, but it has been claimed that Guardiola would not stand in the way of any player who wants to leave, meaning a January move could be possible.

There are a number of clubs from England and across Europe hot on the 22-year-old’s tail, so the Hoops will need to fend off significant interest from elsewhere if they are to get a deal over the line.

Three clubs keen on unhappy Celtic player who could now leave in January

He’s found minutes hard to come by at Celtic Park this season.

By
Barney Lane

Dec 28, 2024

McAtee could go right to the top

Although the Salford-born midfielder has been unable to make a name for himself at City, his potential was on show for all to see during his two loan spells with English Championship side Sheffield United.

During the Blades’ promotion-winning campaign in 2022/23, the Englishman scored nine goals in 37 Championship games, showcasing his talent going forward.

Clinton Morrison was full of praise for the “outstanding” young midfielder during his time in Sheffield, while Leam Richardson stated he could go all the way to the top:

Previous reports have alleged that McAtee could cost £20m, which could prove to be a stumbling block for Celtic, but it is promising news that initial contact has now been made over a deal.

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana is set to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on a fresh hamstring injury.

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• Fofana had an injury-hit season
• Chelsea ace suffers another setback
• Defender set to miss rest of campaign

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 24-year-old had been out for three months with a hamstring injury and only just returned to first-team action last month. However, the Blues have revealed he has now been forced to have surgery on another muscle issue, and the Matt Law reports the centre-back's season is now over.

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  Fofana has only made 14 appearances this season and he missed much of last campaign with a knee injury. The ex-Leicester City man has been short on luck since moving to Chelsea in 2022 for £75 million ($96.6m). The Frenchman will also not be available for this summer's Club World Cup, reports The Athletic.

• WHAT CHELSEA SAID

  In a statement, Chelsea said: "The club can confirm that defender Wesley Fofana has today undergone successful hamstring surgery. Wesley was assessed by specialists this week after the 24-year-old suffered an injury of the muscle. Following that assessment, it was concluded that an operation would be required. The 24-year-old will now begin his recovery and undergo rehabilitation with the club's medical staff at Cobham over the coming weeks. Everyone at the club is fully focused on supporting Wesley in his recovery."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will have to rely on Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Benoit Badiashile when it comes to centre-backs for the rest of the season. The Blues will look to strengthen their Champions League qualification hopes when they take on Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday.

أطلق عدلي القيعي، رئيس شركة الكرة السابق بالنادي الأهلي، تصريحات نارية كشف خلالها تفاصيل أزمة مباراة الأهلي والزمالك الأخيرة، مُتهمًا اتحاد الكرة بـ”التسبب المتعمد” في الأزمة، ومؤكدًا أن الأهلي “لم ينسحب”، بل انتظر تأكيدًا رسميًا لتأجيل المباراة بعد وصول الحكام الأجانب.

وقال القيعي في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر فضائية الأهلي: “أخاطب العقول اليوم، لأن العواطف سيطرت على الموقف، والحقيقة كادت أن تضيع”.

وأضاف القيعي أن موقف الزمالك، عبر ممثله أحمد حسام ميدو، كان واضحًا بأن النادي “تضرر من التحكيم المحلي، وكان يريد التأجيل لضمان تكافؤ الفرص، أما موقف الأهلي، فقد كان محددًا منذ البداية برغبته في إدارة المباريات الترتيبية على القمة بحكام أجانب”، مشيرًا إلى أن النادي دفع 70 ألف دولار لتكاليف الحكام الأجانب في المباراة الأولى ضد الزمالك.

مستشهدًا بـ الزمالك.. المصري يوجه استفسارًا لـ رابطة الأندية قبل مواجهة الأهلي

وأوضح أن رابطة الأندية المحترفة، المنظمة للمسابقة، أعلنت رسميًا أن مباريات الأهلي والزمالك وبيراميدز “ستُدار بحكام أجانب حرصًا على المصلحة العامة والشفافية”، لافتًا إلى أن الرابطة تحملت التكلفة بعد عجز الزمالك عن الدفع.

وتساءل القيعي: “أين المشكلة إذًا؟”، مشيرًا إلى أن الأندية الثلاثة كانت متضررة من التحكيم المحلي، لكن قبل المباراة بـ48 ساعة، تدخل اتحاد الكرة – رغم عدم اختصاصه بالمسابقة – ورفض استقدام حكام أجانب بحجة “عدم إخطاره قبل 15 يومًا”.

وعلق ساخرًا: “كيف يتم ذلك والمباراة حُددت قبل 5 أيام فقط؟”، مشيدًا بتدخل وزير الشباب والرياضة، الذي وعد بالسعي لاستقدام حكام أجانب، وهو ما أدى إلى “تغيير مواقف بعض الأطراف فجأة”.

وأكد القيعي أن الرابطة أرسلت للأندية صباح يوم المباراة تؤكد إجرائها بحكام أجانب، لكن اتصالات الوزير مع النادي الأهلي – عبر المهندس خالد مرتجي – أفادت بأن “الحكام الأجانب في طريقهم إلى القاهرة”، مما دفع الأهلي لانتظار بيان رسمي بالتأجيل.

وأكد أن “من فتح الملعب وأرسل الحكام المصريين أراد إحراج الجميع”، مشيرًا إلى أن لجنة المسابقات أصدرت قرارًا بخصم نقاط من الأهلي واعتباره “منسحبًا” دون إعلان رسمي من الرابطة، مؤكدا أنه تم تسريب القرار عبر لاعب كرة يد سابق بالنادي المنافس.

وأوضح أن رابطة الأندية نفت لاحقًا اعتبار الأهلي منسحبًا، مؤكدة وجود “عذر قهري”، وعدم إمكانية إخطار اتحاد الكرة قبل 15 يومًا بسبب ضيق الوقت.

كما هاجم القيعي قرار لجنة المسابقات، واصفًا إياه بأنه “صناعة مدير المسابقات”، ومطالبًا بفتح تحقيق في دوره، قائلًا: “ليقولوا لنا مَن هو وما هو تاريخه”.

وشدد على أن الأهلي “لم يعتذر، بل انتظر تحديد موعد جديد”، معتبرًا أن عدم التأجيل “كان مقصودًا لخلق الأزمة”، واختتم: “هذه مرافعة للرأي العام.. الأهلي لم ينسحب، ولا يجوز تطبيق اللائحة، ويجب محاسبة من افتعل الأزمة عمدًا”.

يُذكر أن الأزمة لا تزال مستمرة بين الأهلي واتحاد الكرة، وسط مطالبات من الجماهير بالكشف عن كافة التفاصيل واتخاذ إجراءات عادلة.