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Some Fans Criticizing Villarreal for Signing Israeli Forward

Israel's Manor Solomon applauds supporters at the end of the Euro 2024 qualifying soccer match between Romania and Israel at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP)
Israel's Manor Solomon applauds supporters at the end of the Euro 2024 qualifying soccer match between Romania and Israel at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP)
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Some Fans Criticizing Villarreal for Signing Israeli Forward

Israel's Manor Solomon applauds supporters at the end of the Euro 2024 qualifying soccer match between Romania and Israel at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP)
Israel's Manor Solomon applauds supporters at the end of the Euro 2024 qualifying soccer match between Romania and Israel at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest, Romania, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (AP)

Spanish club Villarreal is facing backlash from some of its fans after a last-minute deal to sign an Israeli player who has publicly supported his nation in its war with Hamas.

Some fans criticized Villarreal through social media posts after the club signed forward Manor Solomon near the end of the transfer deadline late Monday.

The 26-year-old Solomon arrived after Villarreal struck a loan deal with Tottenham. The Israel international played last season on loan with Leeds United, which he helped gain promotion to the Premier League.

Solomon had already been criticized by some fans in England after posting messages in support of Israel in the war. He has previously played for Fulham and Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk.

Solomon's signing capped a busy transfer window for Villarreal, which is returning to the Champions League this season.

The club from eastern Spain spent more than 100 million euros ($116 million) in signings, the third highest amount in Spain, according to the Transfermarkt website. It earned nearly as much with the sales of playmaker Álex Baena to Atletico Madrid, forward Yéremy Pino to Crystal Palace and striker Thierno Barry to Everton.

Other signings by Villarreal during this window included striker Georges Mikautadze from Lyon and defender Renato Veiga from Chelsea.

Villarreal's first Champions League opponent will be Solomon's former club Tottenham on Sept. 16.

Revamped Atletico

Atletico was the club that spent the most in Spain with a total of more than 175 million euros ($203 million) in nearly 10 new signings, according to Transfermarkt.

In addition to Baena, Diego Simeone's club also added defender Dávid Hancko from Feyenoord, midfielder Johnny Cardoso from Real Betis, forward Nico González from Juventus and playmaker Thiago Almada from Brazilian club Botafogo.

Real Madrid's top three

Madrid was the second highest spender (more than 167 million euros ($194 million)) but had the top-three most expensive signings.

It paid 62.5 million euros ($72 million) for defender Dean Huijsen, 50 million euros ($58 million) for left back Álvaro Carreras and 45 million euros ($52 million) for teenage forward Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, according to Transfermarkt.

Madrid also signed Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool for 10 million euros ($11 million).

Quiet Barcelona

Barcelona still isn't able to spend much because of financial fair play regulations. The Catalan club paid 25 million euros ($29 million) for goalkeeper Joan García from Espanyol, and reached a deal for the loan of forward Marcus Rashford from Manchester United.

It also added young forward Roony Bardghji from Copenhagen for 2.5 million euros ($2.9 million), Transfermarkt said.

Real Betis also made headlines by signing forward Antony for 22 million euros ($25 million) from Manchester United, according to Transfermarkt. Sevilla added veteran Chilean forward Alexis Sánchez on a free transfer, while Getafe sent forward Christantus Uche on a loan to Crystal Palace to try to clear some salary-cap space.

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Sports

Man City Boss Guardiola Backs Marmoush to Play Big Role in Run-in

Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Brentford - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 9, 2026 Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates scoring their third goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Brentford - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 9, 2026 Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates scoring their third goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Man City Boss Guardiola Backs Marmoush to Play Big Role in Run-in

Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Brentford - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 9, 2026 Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates scoring their third goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Brentford - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 9, 2026 Manchester City's Omar Marmoush celebrates scoring their third goal. (Action Images via Reuters)

Pep Guardiola expects Manchester City striker Omar Marmoush to have a key role in the closing stages of the English season.

City have four games left this campaign, including the FA Cup final, in a busy 12-day spell that could yet see them finish with a domestic treble following their League Cup success.

Such is City's squad strength, Egypt forward Marmoush has made just seven Premier League starts this season, but he proved his worth with a goal off the bench in Saturday's 3-0 defeat of Brentford.

City manager Guardiola now hopes Marmoush and other fringe players can step up when called upon as his side, who have a game in hand, look to overhaul a five-point gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal with three matches to play.

"We've talked many times," said Guardiola. "I know it's not easy for them, but I'm pretty sure in the next games they're going to play.

"I want to rotate the team because otherwise we cannot arrive in the final or Bournemouth a little bit (fresh).

"Especially Omar. It's not easy because normally you just want one striker. He's a proper striker but Erling (Haaland) is there.

"Erling is so important for us but the contribution of Omar -- the amount of goals for the minutes played -- is so high."

The prolific form of Haaland has been largely responsible for Marmoush's prolonged spell on the sidelines, with the Norway international Haaland scoring his 50th goal of the season for club and country at the weekend.

"It's incredible, and there was a period when he was so tired in November when he came back from Norway qualification," said Guardiola.

"It was a struggle."

Sports

Argentine Plazas Buzz with World Cup Sticker Trading Fever

This photograph taken in Namur on May 6, 2026, shows Panini collectible stickers featuring Belgian football players for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. (AFP)
This photograph taken in Namur on May 6, 2026, shows Panini collectible stickers featuring Belgian football players for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. (AFP)
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Argentine Plazas Buzz with World Cup Sticker Trading Fever

This photograph taken in Namur on May 6, 2026, shows Panini collectible stickers featuring Belgian football players for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. (AFP)
This photograph taken in Namur on May 6, 2026, shows Panini collectible stickers featuring Belgian football players for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. (AFP)

With just under a month until the FIFA World Cup kicks off, thousands of people are filling Argentine plazas strategizing to win a different game that has become a beloved part of the quadrennial competition: collecting and trading stickers to complete the official World Cup stickerbook.

For more than half a century, Panini stickerbooks have been a treasured part of the World Cup experience, with schools, plazas and even offices becoming zones to barter for coveted rare stickers and duplicates laid out ready to be discarded.

In South America, swapping stickers is even more important than simply collecting them, with WhatsApp groups, apps and websites popping up to facilitate the trades.

On Sunday, throngs of people gathered in the heart of Buenos Aires exchanging multicolored decks of stickers with the faces of some of the world’s most famous football players.

Children cradle books where they carefully paste the stickers.

“This connects you with the world. Everyone does it,” said Juan Valora, a fan who was collecting stickers with his girlfriend. “And if this was virtual, you wouldn’t be face to face looking at the cards and trading them. I think you’d miss out a bit on the human touch.”

Panini launched its largest sticker collection ever for this World Cup, coinciding with the increase in participating countries from 32 to 48. Each pack contains seven stickers, and the price in both Argentina and Uruguay is around $1.50. The legendary stickerbooks, which can sell online for thousands of dollars, will come to an end after the 2030 World Cup when Fanatics takes over as FIFA’s exclusive sticker partner.

Some sticker collectors now avoid trading by buying boxes of up to 104 sticker packs for $180, payable in installments, and bundled packages with albums. Even the so-called “rare” stickers, like those of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Kylian Mbappé, are available.

“It’s a way to avoid spending extra money to finally complete it,” said Matías Inglesi, a software developer and father of 9-year-old Lucas, who spends about $20 a week on the hobby.

For many children, completing the album is an even more cherished goal than their national team winning the World Cup, and parents, eager to please them, take over to help them meet their goal.

Child psychologist Agustina Zerbinatti says that more than just a fun challenge, the activity helps children develop fine motor skills and learn, “from geography, knowing which languages are spoken in each country, number sequencing and notions of cardinality and ordinality.”

Sports

West Ham’s Bowen Questions VAR Consistency After Wilson’s Equalizer Rule Out

Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Arsenal - London Stadium, London, Britain - May 10, 2026 General view of the big screen after West Ham United's Callum Wilson goal that was later disallowed. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Arsenal - London Stadium, London, Britain - May 10, 2026 General view of the big screen after West Ham United's Callum Wilson goal that was later disallowed. (Action Images via Reuters)
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West Ham’s Bowen Questions VAR Consistency After Wilson’s Equalizer Rule Out

Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Arsenal - London Stadium, London, Britain - May 10, 2026 General view of the big screen after West Ham United's Callum Wilson goal that was later disallowed. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Arsenal - London Stadium, London, Britain - May 10, 2026 General view of the big screen after West Ham United's Callum Wilson goal that was later disallowed. (Action Images via Reuters)

West Ham United captain ‌Jarrod Bowen questioned the consistency of VAR reviews after Callum Wilson’s stoppage-time equalizer against Arsenal on Sunday was controversially ruled out.

Wilson fired home in a goalmouth scramble following a corner, but his effort was disallowed for a foul on Arsenal keeper David Raya after a lengthy VAR check.

"When you look at the screen for five minutes, you'll find something - a lot of grappling and a lot of holding," ‌Bowen told ‌the BBC. "I'm sure if you look ‌long ⁠enough, you'll find ⁠something. Do I think it's the right decision? No.

"Where's the consistency? As a fan you don't want to celebrate a goal and then wait eight minutes and it's taken off you."

Arsenal have previously faced criticism for crowding goalkeepers at corners, while Bowen ⁠also pointed to a decision earlier this ‌month when West Ham ‌were denied a penalty during a 3-0 loss at ‌Brentford after Tomas Soucek was held in the ‌box.

"Corners are physical. The Premier League is physical. That's why everyone loves it," Bowen added.

"You have to expect contact at corners. If you give that you have to ‌give all the holding calls in the world and that's not the way ⁠people want ⁠the game to go down."

The defeat left West Ham 18th in the league, one point from safety, while Arsenal extended their lead to five points over Manchester City.

VAR has come under intense scrutiny this season, with a survey by a football supporters group in March showing 75% of Premier League fans do not support the continued use of the system.

The Premier League says VAR has led to more accurate outcomes while remaining less disruptive than in other European competitions.