Neymar Sent off, PSG Title Chase Hit by Loss to Leader Lille

PSG's Neymar, center, talks with Lille's Tiago Djalo after he receives a red card from referee during the match against Lille, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, Saturday, April. 3, 2021. (AP)
PSG's Neymar, center, talks with Lille's Tiago Djalo after he receives a red card from referee during the match against Lille, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, Saturday, April. 3, 2021. (AP)
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Neymar Sent off, PSG Title Chase Hit by Loss to Leader Lille

PSG's Neymar, center, talks with Lille's Tiago Djalo after he receives a red card from referee during the match against Lille, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, Saturday, April. 3, 2021. (AP)
PSG's Neymar, center, talks with Lille's Tiago Djalo after he receives a red card from referee during the match against Lille, at the Parc des Princes stadium, in Paris, France, Saturday, April. 3, 2021. (AP)

Neymar was sent off late and then tried to confront a player after the game as defending champion Paris Saint-Germain lost 1-0 at home to Lille on Saturday, falling three points behind the new French league leader in a tense title race.

PSG is only one point ahead of Monaco, which earlier beat Metz 4-0 to take third place. Lyon is fourth after drawing 1-1 at Lens.

Neymar was shown a second yellow card in the 90th minute for kicking right back Tiago Djalo off the ball, having been booked in the first half for shoving midfielder Benjamin Andre in the face. Djalo was also sent off and remonstrated angrily with the referee.

As both players argued as they walked back to the locker rooms, footage from broadcaster Canal Plus captured Neymar pushing Djalo on the shoulder and then trying to get past some security officials to confront him.

An angry Djalo also reacted, trying to reach Neymar, causing one security official to fall over, while another intervened swiftly to block Neymar and lead him away.

Canada forward Jonathan David scored Lille's goal in the 20th minute with a slightly deflected strike, as PSG slipped to a fifth home defeat and eighth overall, with a tough trip to Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the Champions League.

“Each time we lose we say the same thing, that we lacked commitment. We shouldn’t find any excuses,” PSG captain Marquinhos said. “We need to be stronger than that at home. A lot of teams have come here and won, which we’re not used to. We’re at an important point of the season and must improve.”

PSG has been poor against the other sides in the top four, twice losing to Monaco, losing once to Lyon and drawing its other game against Lille 0-0.

“We need more consistency because there have been too many ups-and-downs,” Marquinhos said. “Our next match is one of the biggest.”

Frustration got to Neymar, who now faces another suspension after getting red-carded against Marseille at the start of the campaign. Shortly after shoving Andre in the face, he fell to the ground in a failed bid to win a penalty.

Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who came through PSG's youth ranks before leaving, kept out Neymar's shot on the hour mark and was relieved to see Neymar's diving header go wide in the 70th.

Starting his first game for two months after recovering from a torn adductor muscle, Neymar was wasteful, volleying a cross wide from a good position and squandering two free kicks.

After Maignan got a hand to Kylian Mbappe's low shot in the 15th, Lille caught PSG cold five minutes later on a classic counterattack.

Jonathan Ikone found space down the right and pulled the ball back to David, whose shot from just inside the penalty area looped over goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Andre and Boubakary Soumare, another promising player released by PSG, controlled midfield with relative ease in the absence of PSG's Marco Verratti.

With PSG camped in Lille's half, a counterattack was waiting to happen.

It arrived in the 78th as Timothy Weah squared the ball from the right to Turkey striker Burak Yilmaz, but Navas read his first-time shot well.

Verratti, already ruled out with a thigh injury, tested positive for the coronavirus for the third time. He will miss the first leg against Bayern.

Two hours before facing Lille, right back Alessandro Florenzi was removed from PSG’s squad as a precaution, even though he tested negative, the club said. He was on international duty for Italy recently with Verratti.

Lille was without attacking midfielder Yusuf Yazici, who has the virus.

Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta equalized in the 81st after Lens right back Jonathan Clauss struck midway through the second half.

Lyon forward Karl Toko Ekambi saw his shot saved by goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca in the 55th after going through on goal. Leca blocked Tino Kadewere's effort in the 63rd and Memphis Depay's low strike moments later.

Monaco, which has now lost only once in 16 league games, struck a double blow early in the second half.

Former Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas scored a penalty in the 49th minute after forward Stevan Jovetic was fouled, and striker Kevin Volland finished confidently two minutes later from Belgian midfielder Eliot Matazo’s pass.

Striker Wissam Ben Yedder was surprisingly left on the bench but came on to notch a fine third when he cut inside a defender and thumped the ball under the crossbar in the 76th.

Ben Yedder was fouled by central defender John Boye and took the penalty to make it 4-0 in the 88th and move onto 15 league goals, one more than Volland.



Thomas Tuchel Extends Contract as England Coach Until Euro 2028

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Manchester City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 8, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel in the stands REUTERS/Phil Noble
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Manchester City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 8, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel in the stands REUTERS/Phil Noble
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Thomas Tuchel Extends Contract as England Coach Until Euro 2028

Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Manchester City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 8, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel in the stands REUTERS/Phil Noble
Soccer Football - Premier League - Liverpool v Manchester City - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - February 8, 2026 England manager Thomas Tuchel in the stands REUTERS/Phil Noble

Thomas Tuchel has signed a new contract that will see him remain head coach of the England national football team through to the end of Euro 2028 in the UK and Ireland, the Football Association announced on Thursday.

Tuchel was confirmed as the successor to Gareth Southgate in October 2024 and has overseen an unbeaten qualification run to this year's World Cup in North America, with England winning all eight group games under their German boss.

"I am very happy and proud to extend my time with England," said the 52-year-old former Chelsea boss, whose previous deal with the national side ran only until the end of the 2026 World Cup.

"It is no secret to anyone that I have loved every minute so far of working with my players and coaches, and I cannot wait to lead them to the World Cup.

"It is an incredible opportunity and we are going to do our very best to make the country proud."

According to AFP, the FA said the new agreement with Tuchel would provide "clarity and full focus" on the World Cup.

Tuchel had been previously touted as a possible permanent successor to sacked former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, even though the English giants have experienced an upturn in form under caretaker boss Michael Carrick.

But in signing a new England contract, Tuchel appears to have ruled himself out of a post-World Cup move to Old Trafford.


Ukraine Skeleton Racer Disqualified from Olympics over Memorial Helmet

(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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Ukraine Skeleton Racer Disqualified from Olympics over Memorial Helmet

(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics on Thursday after refusing to back down over his banned helmet, which depicts victims of his country's war with Russia.

The International Olympic Committee said he had been kicked out of the Milan-Cortina Games "after refusing to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines".

Heraskevych, 27, had insisted he would continue to wear the helmet, which carries pictures of Ukrainian sportsmen and women killed since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022, during the men's skeleton heats on Thursday.

After the decision, a defiant Heraskevych posted on X "this is price of our dignity", alongside a picture of his headwear, AFP reported.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky had defended the athlete's right to wear the helmet but he knew he was taking a risk as gestures of a political nature during competition are forbidden under the Olympic charter.

The IOC said in statement on Thursday that the skeleton racer's accreditation for the Games had been withdrawn.

"Having been given one final opportunity, skeleton pilot Vladylsav Heraskevych from Ukraine will not be able to start his race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games this morning," the IOC statement said.

"The decision followed his refusal to comply with the IOC's Guidelines on Athlete Expression. It was taken by the jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) based on the fact that the helmet he intended to wear was not compliant with the rules."

Athletes are permitted to express their views in press conferences and on social media, and on Tuesday the IOC said it would "make an exception" for Heraskevych, allowing him to wear a plain black armband during competition.

"Mr. Heraskevych was able to display his helmet in all training runs," the IOC said.

"The IOC also offered him the option of displaying it immediately after the competition when going through the mixed zone."

Olympic chiefs said that IOC president Kirsty Coventry had spoken with Heraskevych on Thursday morning in a vain bid to make him change his mind.


Premier League's Nottingham Forest Fires Head Coach Sean Dyche

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - February 11, 2026 Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - February 11, 2026 Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
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Premier League's Nottingham Forest Fires Head Coach Sean Dyche

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - February 11, 2026 Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - February 11, 2026 Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Nottingham Forest has fired Sean Dyche and the Premier League team is looking for its fourth head coach of the season.

Dyche was relieved of his duties late Wednesday following a goalless draw with the last-place Wolves, having been in charge for just 114 days. Forest’s failure to convert any of their numerous chances against Wolves left them three points clear of the relegation zone.

“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach," the club said in a statement early Thursday. "We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the club and we wish them the best of luck for the future.

“We will be making no further comment at this time,” The Associated Press quoted the club as saying.

Forest finished seventh in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo last season, missing out on a Champions League spot after a poor end to the campaign. Nuno signed a new three-year deal at the City Ground in June 2025, but was fired in September after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was swiftly brought in as the Portuguese coach’s replacement, but lasted only 40 days in the job with Marinakis ending his tenure within minutes of a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.

The draw Wednesday’ left Forest with just two wins from their last 10 matches in the Premier League — a run during which they also exited the FA Cup to Championship side Wrexham.