The SL keeper is understood to have failed a doping test during LPL 2024
Madushka Balasuriya16-Aug-2024
Niroshan Dickwella had captained Galle Marvels in LPL 2024•SLC
Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella has been suspended indefinitely following a doping violation, Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed.Dickwella is understood to have failed a doping test held in line with World Anti-Doping guidelines, during the recently concluded Lanka Premier League, and will be suspended from all forms of cricket while further investigations take place.”The suspension is effective immediately and will remain in place until further notice,” stated an SLC media release.”The test, which was conducted by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024, is part of SLC’s ongoing commitment to maintaining the integrity of the sport.”This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines, is aimed at ensuring that cricket remains free from the influence of prohibited substances.”SLC, together with the Ministry of Sports and SLADA, conducts these tests during domestic tournaments randomly to safeguard the sport against anti-doping violations.”The 31-year-old, who had captained Galle Marvels in LPL 2024, had last turned out for the national side in March 2023 but had received a call-up for Sri Lanka’s T20I series against Bangladesh earlier this year. He did not feature in a single game.Following his selection, the selectors intimated that they had spoken with Dickwella over his poor disciplinary record. The left-handed batter has been no stranger to controversy throughout his career, with his off-field lifestyle proving a lightning rod for criticism in light of his frequently erratic form. He was most notably among three players banned for breaching bio-bubble protocols in 2021, alongside Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilake.Dickwella has kept wicket for Sri Lanka across formats, scoring 2757 runs in Tests, 1604 in ODIs and 480 in T20Is.
The tour includes three T20s, three one-day games and a four-day match on the Gold Coast
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2024
Tahlia McGrath will captain the Australia A limited-overs sides•Getty Images
Australia A will take on India A in a multi-format series in Queensland during August with the home side featuring Tahlia McGrath, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt and Tayla Vlaeminck across the limited-overs matches.The tour involves three T20s in Brisbane, three 50-over games in Mackay and a four-day match on the Gold Coast.McGrath, Australia’s vice-captain, will captain the T20 and 50-over squads while Queensland allrounder Charli Knott will lead the four-day side. All three squads feature leading domestic players who will look to push their claims for higher honours.The four-day game will give players from both countries a rare chance to play long-form cricket.”I’m really looking forward to being a part of this series and for the challenge that India A will pose,” McGrath said. “It presents those of us not playing in the Hundred with the chance to prepare for a huge summer against a strong opposition.”Shawn Flegler, the national selector, said: “This series will allow us to take a closer look at some of the players who have impressed at domestic level while giving the nationally contracted players the chance to fine tune their preparations ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup.”Australia will return to action with a three-match T20I series against New Zealand in mid-September before heading to Bangladesh for the T20 World Cup. That begins another hectic season with the WBBL set to start shortly after the World Cup followed by an ODI series against India, a short tour of New Zealand in December then the multi-format Ashes in January.Australia A T20 squadMaddy Darke, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Charli Knott, Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath (capt), Grace Parsons, Megan Schutt, Courtney Sippel, Tayla Vlaeminck, Tahlia WilsonAustralia A one-day squadMaitlan Brown (2nd & 3rd matches only), Maddy Darke, Sophie Day, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Kim Garth, Charli Knott, Katie Mack, Tahlia McGrath (capt), Grace Parsons, Megan Schutt (1st match only), Courtney Sippel, Tayla Vlaeminck, Tahlia WilsonAustralia four-day squadMaitlan Brown, Maddy Darke, Sophie Day, Emma de Broughe, Nicole Faltum, Tess Flintoff, Charli Knott, Katie Mack, Lilly Mills, Grace Parsons, Kate Peterson, Courtney Sippel, Georgia VollAustralia A vs India A women’s series7 August: 1st T20, Allan Border Field 9 August: 2nd T20, Allan Border Field 11 August: 3rd T20, Allan Border Field 14 August: 1st 50-over match, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay 16 August: 2nd 50-over match, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay 18 August: 3rd 50-over match, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay 22-25 August: Four-day match, Gold Coast District Cricket Club
With promotion sealed, Sunderland have now been handed another boost by reports that one of their summer targets is now open to completing a move to the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland secure promotion back to Premier League
In one tense, nervous affair, the beauty and the heartbreak of the playoffs was on show for all to see at Wembley. Sheffield United were left in shock, but Sunderland were left delirious when Tommy Watson coolly placed home from range to hand the Black Cats promotion at the death. Coming from behind, Regis Le Bris’ side took Sunderland back to the Premier League for the first time in eight years.
Le Bris had his say on an unforgettable moment, telling reporters after his side’s triumph: “It feels fantastic to have lived this moment with our fans. I am really proud of the work we have done this season.
“The players, the staff, and the people in the building have been really connected and believed that it was possible. In the end, the emotion and the feeling are really impressive.
“We are always focused on the present, and the path – the journey – is something we live together. It had its ups and downs, so we are always focused on the next step. In the next few days, we will realise what we have achieved together.”
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Now that they’re in the top flight, Sunderland undoubtedly have a tough task on their hands. None of the last six promoted sides have survived at the first time of asking in the Premier League, meaning that the Black Cats are up against a growing trend next season. What would certainly help their push for safety, however, is the arrival of someone who knows exactly how to win in England’s top tier.
Henderson now "open" to Sunderland return
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Jordan Henderson is now open to completing a move to Sunderland this summer with those at the Stadium of Light also keen to make a deal happen as, according to talkSPORT, they ‘believe he would add valuable experience to their young team’.
The Ajax midfielder is seemingly on his way out of the Netherlands after 18 months this summer and could enjoy a full circle moment by heading back to where it all started.
Jordan Henderson for Ajax.
The England international should, on paper, take hold of the opportunity to enjoy a fairytale ending to his career with both hands. Since leaving Liverpool for Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq in a move that came with plenty of criticism, Henderson’s reputation has arguably been on a downward spiral, however, during his time at Ajax, he has managed to break back into the England setup under Thomas Tuchel.
Games
79
Goals
5
Assists
10
Minutes played
6,067
There’s no denying his experience no matter what some think of his recent decisions, though. Henderson has won it all as a captain in English football and could be worth every penny of his £75,000-a-week base salary if Sunderland make their move this summer.
Dubbed “selfless” by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in 2019, Henderson could receive the chance to complete the most fitting move to end his career in the Premier League courtesy of Sunderland.
Chelsea have now submitted a £47m offer for a “world-class” goalkeeper, and talks are expected to move quickly in the coming weeks, according to a report.
Maresca and Chelsea's goalkeeper problem
After a poor showing in the 2-1 UEFA Conference League defeat against Legia Warsaw, the Blues have responded with back-to-back victories, most recently picking up a 1-0 victory against Everton at Stamford Bridge, securing their third Premier League clean sheet of the month.
Robert Sanchez has returned to the starting XI in the Premier League, and the recent defensive showings have been much-improved, but the mistakes the Spaniard made earlier in the campaign are likely to be in the back of Enzo Maresca’s mind.
Sanchez has made five errors leading to goal in the Premier League, the joint-highest number of any player in the division, meaning there have been widespread suggestions that Maresca could look to bring in a replacement in the summer.
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Enzo Maresca’s side have thrown their hat in the ring.
1 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 26, 2025
AC Milan’s Mike Maignan is one goalkeeper of interest, with the west Londoners making contact over a potential deal earlier this month, while they are also in the race for Angers shot-stopper Yahia Fofana, who has been recommended by Didier Drogba.
However, it appears as though a different goalkeeper could be one of Chelsea’s key targets, with a report from Spain revealing they have now submitted a €55m (£47m) offer for Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel.
Kobel’s performances for Dortmund have attracted the attention of a number of European clubs, but the Blues are the most interested party, and talks over the deal are expected to move quickly over the next few weeks.
The 27-year-old has made it clear he wants to play for an elite club, which means a move to Stamford Bridge could be of great appeal, should they manage to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
"World-class" Kobel could be Sanchez upgrade
The 6 foot 5 colossus is clearly very highly regarded by his current employers, with Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl lauding him as “world-class”, while he also impressed scout Ben Mattinson in the semi-finals of the 2024 Champions League.
The Swiss shot-stopper’s top-level experience is likely to be appealing to Chelsea, while he has also received plaudits for his ability in possession of the ball, which could be crucial, given Maresca’s passing style of play.
While the Blues have started to pick up more clean sheets recently, Sanchez’s howlers earlier in the campaign indicate it is the right decision to bring in a new goalkeeper this summer, and it is exciting news that the move for Kobel is now gaining traction.
If this season has proven anything, it’s that Arsenal desperately need attacking reinforcements.
With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out injured and Mikel Merino in midfield, Mikel Arteta had just a single senior attacking player on his bench last night: Raheem Sterling.
This lack of options became increasingly apparent as the game went on, as for all his efforts, Leandro Trossard was painfully ineffective down the middle.
It’s not been a great campaign for the Belgian international this season, which makes recent reports linking the club to a potential hardly surprising.
Arsenal transfer news
Plenty of wingers have been touted for moves to Arsenal in recent weeks, so before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some, like Nico Williams.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The Athletic Bilbao star has been a long-term target for the Gunners and, thanks to a release clause in his current contract, would be available for around £50m this summer.
A far more expensive option, however, could be AC Milan’s incredibly talented Rafael Leão.
AC Milan's RafaelLeao
The Portuguese international could be available for about £86m at the end of the season, and while that is an incredible sum of money, he might be worth it, as in just 47 appearances this year, he’s scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists.
However, given the club’s need to sign a game-changing striker this summer, they might want to spend a little less on a new left-winger, which is where Kingsley Coman comes in.
According to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all keen to sign the Bayern Munich star this summer.
The good news is that, due to his squad role at the Allianz Arena, the Frenchman should be available for the relatively reasonable price of around €40m, which is about £34m.
It might be complicated to get ahead of the other interested parties, but given Coman’s ability and experience, this is a transfer worth fighting for, especially as he could be an ideal Trossard upgrade.
How Coman compares to Trossard
So, with Coman primarily playing off the left, Trossard would be one of his main competitors for game time, but how does he stack up to the Belgian?
Well, from a pure output perspective, he comes out on top, as in just 1684 minutes of action, across 38 appearances, he’s scored seven goals and provided four assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 153.09 minutes.
In contrast, the former Brighton & Hove Albion ace has scored ten goals and provided eight assists in 315 minutes across 51 appearances, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 175.05 minutes.
How about when we take a look under the hood, then? Who comes out on top when we compare their underlying numbers?
Once again, the Frenchman, whom former Bayen Sporting Director Matthias Sammer once described as “one of the biggest talents in European football,” emerges victorious.
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.55
0.47
Non-Penalty G+As
0.72
0.52
Progressive Passes
3.41
3.61
Progressive Carries
4.44
2.82
Shots
3.11
2.62
Shots on Target
1.27
0.80
Passing Accuracy
85.1%
73.6%
Key Passes
2.38
1.43
Passes into the Final Third
2.06
1.59
Passes into the Penalty Area
2.14
1.63
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.40
0.36
Shot-Creating Actions
6.04
3.10
Goal-Creating Actions
0.87
0.24
Successful Take-Ons
2.94
1.15
Ball Recoveries
4.29
3.57
For example, he comes out miles ahead in almost every single relevant metric, including, but not limited to, actual and expected non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive carries, crosses and passes into the penalty area, passes into the final third, key passes, shot and goal-creating actions, successful take-ons and more, all per 90.
Finally, with a Champions League, 12 league titles, a Club World Cup and a mountain of domestic cups to his name, the former Juventus star would bring some much-needed title-winning experience to the Gunners’ squad.
Ultimately, while Trossard is a useful player, Coman is a clear upgrade in almost every respect and if Arsenal can sign him this summer, they should.
Hall of shame display: 4/10 Arsenal dud had his worst game all season v PSG
Arsenal suffered a 1-0 defeat in the first-leg of their Champions League semi-final with PSG.
They are India’s most vital players and if they’re on form, it’s a big battle won
Ian Chappell22-Sep-2024India have the ideal build up to their tour of Australia with two Tests against Bangladesh, then a more demanding three-game series with New Zealand.Apart from winning both series, India’s priority will be to get as many players as possible into form without suffering major injuries. However, the most pressing matters are to achieve those aims with Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant.Pant’s ability to bounce back onto the Test scene is quite remarkable given his horrific car accident. He is a crucial wicketkeeper-batter in the Indian line-up and he’d give the team a major boost if he’s at the peak of his powers for the Australian tour.Related
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As an in-form batter, Pant is vital, which he displayed on the 2020-21 Australian tour with crucial innings in both the SCG and Gabba Tests. His ability to score quickly utilising his innovative aggression is an important part of India’s strategy.His wicketkeeping is also vital – if Pant can perform at his best, he’s the ideal keeper for Australian conditions. If he’s able to continue with his agile performance standing back, that is what is required in Australia. You need a keeper who capably covers a lot of territory to both sides of the wicket. Any keeper who fulfils those requirements not only improves the team’s fielding but also allows the slip fielders to spread wider to cover extra territory.Pant’s keeping standing up to the stumps drastically improved before his serious injury, following an ultimatum from coach Ravi Shastri. The fact that Pant progressed from being a dubious keeper against spinners to a very good gloveman standing up to the stumps, admirably displayed his willingness to work hard.Pant’s improvement sums up the thoughts of that excellent Australian gloveman Rod Marsh: “If you’re the incumbent,” he said, “and you don’t improve, then you’re not thinking correctly.” Marsh rightly concluded that if you were keeping and practising most days of the week, then you should become a better keeper.
At the start of the 1972 Ashes tour I suggested we might keep Dennis Lillee in cotton wool. He told me: “Like a batsman, I need to be in form. When I take a five-wicket haul, you can talk about putting me in cotton wool”
While the batting needs to be at its best, the other crucial factor will be the Indian pace bowling. The presence of a keeper-batter in the middle order and allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin give India the luxury of selecting five bowlers for each Test.That makes the choice of fast bowlers paramount. The good form and fitness of both Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj – the two most successful pace bowlers on the last Australian tour – is essential. Of those two, Bumrah is the attack leader.A critical part of India’s build-up to the Australian tour will be ensuring Bumrah is in form but remains fit to play the bulk of the five Tests. The difficulty of balancing this task was summed up perfectly by Australian pace hero Dennis Lillee on the 1972 tour of the UK. At the start of the long tour I suggested we might keep Lillee in cotton wool. He told me in very strong terms: “Like a batsman, I need to be in form. When I take a five-wicket haul, you can talk about putting me in cotton wool.”It was a lesson I learned from the big-hearted fast bowler and never forgot.It would be ideal if the mercurial Mohammed Shami is fit for Australia but the presence of a good left-arm paceman would also improve India’s variety in attack.The spin bowling is in good hands with Jadeja and Ashwin. Nevertheless I wouldn’t discount the importance of Kuldeep Yadav on some Australian surfaces.Of the young batters Yashasvi Jaiswal looks very talented but he needs to show good form in Australia. Both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should act as guiding lights for the younger batters on tour.The batting needs to be good in Australia as India showed with their series wins on the last two visits. Batting aside, it will help India’s chances enormously if both Pant and Bumrah are performing at their best in Australia.
The side has struggled in the powerplay this year, but Litton stepped up in Adelaide and gave India a scare
Mohammad Isam02-Nov-20221:36
Moody: Litton aside, Bangladesh went about their power-hitting the wrong way
Everyone is talking about Litton Das’ run-out. It was a defining moment in the game, as Bangladesh not only lost their best batter, but also the momentum. They ended up six runs short of their DLS-adjusted target of 151 in 16 overs. India are now best placed to make the semi-finals, while Bangladesh are on the brink of being knocked out.Litton’s 60 off 27 balls, however, had knocked the wind out of India’s sails in the first seven overs and left them nervous even when the rain came down. It was that sort of an innings – full of beautiful strokes – as Litton got out of his shell for the first time in this T20 World Cup.More than anything else, it was a knock that Bangladesh have been waiting for a long time. The confidence in the top order was so low that the team was clutching at straws. Questions about the opening pair often drew frustrated responses from the team management. Everyone knew about the struggles, but there was also a sense that someone just to play such an innings. You can’t go through two World Cups in two years without a good knock from one of the main batters.Related
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Litton’s 21-ball fifty is the second fastest by a Bangladesh batter. His strike rate of 222.22 is the second highest among Bangladesh players with a 60-plus score in T20Is. Litton also became the second Bangladeshi to get to his fifty within the powerplay. His strike rate was also the second highest among batters who have faced a minimum of 25 balls in a T20 World Cup innings – slotting in behind AB de Villiers.Litton had cracked three fours off Arshdeep Singh’s first over, threading the gaps at point, mid-on and cover respectively. He deposited Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six over deep square-leg, before driving him down the ground and dabbing him through slip and short third-man, in the next over. Another six off Bhuvneshwar was followed by a duel against Mohammed Shami. He slammed two pulls off him that went for a four and a six, racing to his half-century, before crashing him through extra-cover. In all, Litton hit seven fours and three sixes in the powerplay.Litton has given Bangladesh such rapid starts in T20Is in the past, most notably in 2018, when it looked like he was finally coming out of his shell in the shortest format. It has taken him a while but he has, at long last, played a significant knock at the T20 World Cup.Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said that Litton’s confidence from Tests and ODIs has finally transferred to his T20I batting and that they never doubted his ability.Litton Das raced to a 21-ball half-century•Getty Images”He has been scoring runs in Tests and ODIs for the last two-three years,” Shakib said. “He is doing well in T20Is this year. The confidence is back in his T20 batting. He knows how to score the runs. He had a big opportunity, and he played to his capability. We rate him quite highly. He didn’t play anything out of the box. We know this is how he plays.”It is expected that Litton’s knock will not only open him up further for Bangladesh’s last group-stage game against Pakistan in Adelaide next week, but also give the top order some muscle. The top order hasn’t provided the team with a good start lately.Top-order batters are expected to attack more often in T20Is, but Bangladesh have struggled so much in the powerplay that their run-rate (7.23) during this phase is among the bottom half among teams who have played at least 15 innings this year. This is partly because of the lack of stability – Bangladesh have used as many as 10 different opening pairs in 20 matches this year.Litton was slotted at No. 3 as a back-up for the openers, though he is an accomplished opener himself. Litton was tried seven times at the top with four different partners, but that didn’t work for Bangladesh. The team management then tried to protect Litton by pushing him down to No.3, but that didn’t work for him.Litton is now the top scorer for Bangladesh in all three formats this year. He was scoring runs regularly in the middle order in the Test side, and his opening stand with Tamim Iqbal in ODIs is one of that side’s strengths.Litton was also a heavy scorer last year, but found it hard to score in the T20Is at home, where the series against Australia and New Zealand were played on raging turners. Litton’s struggles seeped into the 2021 T20 World Cup as well in the UAE, resulting in the selectors dropping him for the following series against Pakistan.Now that drop looks like it happened ages go. Litton’s team-mates have never doubted him, not since his underwhelming debut season in 2015. Now, they will draw a lot of confidence from him in one of their worst years as a batting side.
They chanted names, they came up with slogans, and they did what they haven’t been able to do for years – show their love for the game
Umar Farooq in Rawalpindi09-Feb-2020″, Babar Azam, Babar Azam.”The meaning of this expression might get lost in a literal English translation. But if you know Urdu, you should be able to tell how big a compliment it is. It literally translates to ‘the prime minister of hearts’, and when thousands chant it in unison in Urdu, it can give you goosebumps.Pakistan are playing only their third Test in the country since the return of international cricket to Pakistani soil, after spending a decade playing “home” matches in the UAE. It’s possible that the ongoing Test has seen more people in the stands in Rawalpindi over the last three days than at all of the Pakistan matches in the UAE over the last 10 years combined. The intensity of the excitement among the crowd at the stadium may go some way towards establishing the enormity of its size.
“, Imam-ul-haq, Imam-ul-Haq.”
This doesn’t mean anything at all when translated literally. What the fans did in Rawalpindi was to pick up an ad jingle for TUC biscuits and make it rhyme with Imam-ul-Haq (who was not even playing the Test).The Rawalpindi Stadium doesn’t have a massive capacity; it can accommodate close to 17,000 fans but it benefits from being the twin city of Islamabad, the country’s capital. There were phases of play over the past three days when the Test appeared to be progressing at a glacial pace but, in the stands, there was never a dull moment. Chants of ” Pakistan” and “Pakistan ” rang aloud, lending testimony to how fervently the fans missed the cricket in the country over the last decade.Even though hockey is Pakistan’s national sport and inspired many youngsters growing up between the ’70s and early ’90s to develop a liking towards sports, it never quite had the allure of cricket. With the two Ws – Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram – at their peak, it was in the ’90s era, that cricket had the most profound impact on the nation’s consciousness. Pakistan has since become a largely one-sport country, the game turning into a powerful means to influencing several generations, with one of their all-time greats, Imran Khan, going on to become the prime minister.
” Fawad Alam, Fawad Alam.”
“A little bit of bread, a little bit of gravy, and then Fawad Alam, Fawad Alam.” Don’t go hunting for the meaning of this chant either; it’s just another creative chorus the Rawalpindi crowd came up with to celebrate the return of top-flight cricket on home soil.There was a time in Pakistan when not only stadiums would be packed during international games, but hundreds of fans would throng the grounds even during net sessions to catch a glimpse of their favourite overseas players. Traditionally, Test cricket in Pakistan may have never consistently drawn full houses, but there hadn’t been any want in passion among Pakistan’s cricket fans, until the connect between the sport and its followers in the country snapped in the wake of the attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009.AFPThat era of Pakistan’s “home” matches being played in the UAE won’t be remembered for how the fans received it. It forced nearly a generation of them to stay glued to their television sets even for their home matches, instead of filling the stadiums and cheering for their favourite players. Pakistan played 31 Tests from 2009 to 2019 in the UAE, lost only eight of them, and achieved historic feats, but all in front of scant crowds. They whitewashed the then No. 1-ranked England 3-0 in early 2012, Misbah-ul-Haq slammed the fastest Test century at the time, against Australia in 2014, equalling Viv Richards’ mark, and a day-night Test was played there in 2016 which Pakistan won against West Indies, but again, with not as many fans to witness it.
“, Yasir Shah, Yasir Shah.”
By now, you must have learnt the drill: Don’t bother with the meaning; it’s another food-related chant forced to rhyme with a player’s name. Here’s the translation, anyway: “A (ice lolly made of condensed milk) is for five, a tea for 10, and there’s Yasir Shah.”When Azhar Ali got out in the first innings, the crowd erupted with the name of the incoming batsman, Babar Azam. He has already achieved the status of a hero in Pakistan and the fans’ chants made Shan Masood say to Alam, who was carrying drinks: “This is the sort of thing our players haven’t been able to experience for 10 years. To see your team-mate have his name chanted by your countrymen tells you everything.”All those years spent in the UAE has meant the cricket infrastructure in Rawalpindi has not been upgraded adequately. The stadium still has cemented stands with not enough chairs. That, however, didn’t discourage the fans from turning up in big numbers at the ongoing Test. Could this mark the dawn of a new era, with more cricket coming back to the country on a regular basis? If the attendance over the first three days is anything to go by, the passion among Pakistan fans for cricket on home soil has received a shot in the arm.
Craque da Seleção Colombiana, James teve uma atuação de gala na vitória da equipe contra a Espanha, na noite de sexta-feira (22), em Londres. Sem ritmo, o craque entrou no segundo tempo e foi decisivo, iniciando a jogada do gol da vitória.
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Impressionado, Néstor Lorenzo, técnico da Colômbia, rasgou elogios ao jogador, que vem recebendo pouco tempo de jogo no São Paulo desde que chegou ao Brasil.
– O James é um grande jogador, diferente. Está buscando sua melhor forma e pensamos que o ideal era que ele entrasse no segundo tempo e o fez muito bem – Afirmou.
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– Digamos que jogue pouco. Outro dia jogou 11 minutos e em 11 minutos o São Paulo chegou mais vezes do que nos 80 anteriores graças ao James. A mim não surpreende, tomara que jogue muito mais no São Paulo para chegar na seleção e poder render os 90 minutos – completou.
Nesta temporada, James esteve próximo de deixar o São Paulo. Até o momento, atuou em apenas quatro partidas, com um gol e uma assistência. Desde que chegou ao Tricolor, foram 16 jogos, com dois gols e quatro assistências.
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James volta a campo nesta terça-feira (26), pela Colômbia, contra a Romênia.
Former Premier League boss Gus Poyet has quit his post at South Korean club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors days after his assistant manager departed amid a racism scandal. Poyet, who guided Jeonbuk to both the K League 1 title and the Korea Cup this season, informed the club he wished to terminate his contract after Mauricio Taricco was handed a severe punishment for what league officials deemed a racist gesture towards referee Kim Woo-seong.
Taricco incident sparks crisis of trust
The storm erupted during a league match last month when, deep into stoppage time, Jeonbuk were leading 2-1 and protesting a handball not initially given by the referee. Tempers flared as VAR intervened and awarded a penalty, prompting Taricco to continue his protests after being booked. Moments later, he was shown a second yellow card, during which he placed his fingers near the corners of his eyes, a gesture the referee interpreted as a racial insult. Referee Kim immediately reported the act to league authorities. The K League’s disciplinary committee reviewed the footage and issued a damning verdict, declaring Taricco guilty of making a universally recognised “slanted-eye” gesture mocking people of Asian descent. In their statement, the panel emphasised that the gesture had been penalised multiple times by FIFA and was unequivocally regarded as ethnic mockery. Taricco was banned for five matches and fined 20 million won ($13,600).
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Poyet's breaking point in Korea
Rumours of a split between former Sunderland boss Poyet and the club surfaced at the K League Awards on December 1, where he hinted that Taricco’s departure might force his hand.
"Touching my coaching staff is the same as touching me," Poyet allegedly said, as reported by
Jeonbuk officials attempted to convince him to stay, offering reassurances about next season and support for Taricco, but the 58-year-old insisted he could not continue under the circumstances. According to sources, the episode created "psychological pressure" for Poyet, who was concerned that the depleted think tank would not be able to give the best results in the future.
In a message to fans, he said: “I’m sorry to leave without properly saying goodbye. The passion of our supporters will stay in my heart. I’ll keep cheering for Jeonbuk from afar and hope to return to Korea one day.”
Taricco has defended himself
In his response, Taricco said he had only intended to ask the referee whether he had clearly seen the disputed handball incident, claiming cultural context had been ignored.
"I have worked with many people in many countries and have lived and socialised with them without any problems related to their culture or race, and I have considered this a blessing," he wrote in a statement. "However, I have now been branded a racist by ‘self-proclaimed’ authorities due to a single misunderstanding where the context, cultural expressions, and meanings of all situations I continuously explained were ignored. I merely covered my eyes to emphasise that the referee should have directly seen the handball foul.
"My life, regardless of nationality and race, must continue in a place where there is safety, respect, peace, and equality before the law as a football person, so with a heavy heart, I have decided to leave this place after the end of this season. I would like to express my gratitude to the club and players with whom I could share success and history, and I am truly grateful to the fans who have given me unwavering support. I will not forget you."
Jeonbuk also showed support for their assistant manager and wrote: "It would be unreasonable to view [Taricco’s behaviour] as an intention of racial discrimination. The club expects a more objective and balanced judgment to be made through the appeal process and will do its best until the end so that coach Tano [Taricco] can quickly get out of this dishonourable situation and his memory of the K League and Korean football does not remain as a bitter pain."
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What comes next?
Poyet’s departure marks a sudden and bittersweet ending to a campaign that had otherwise transformed Jeonbuk’s fortunes. He is expected to return to the UK in the coming days, drawing another chapter in a colourful career to a close. Before embarking on his coaching career, Poyet was a dynamic midfield presence in English football. He scored 45 goals in 145 games for Chelsea between 1997 and 2001, winning the Cup Winners’ Cup, the Super Cup and the FA Cup. His later spell at Tottenham was more controversial but equally memorable, featuring 18 goals in 82 appearances. As a manager, he guided Brighton to the Championship play-offs, kept Sunderland afloat in the Premier League and later served as head coach of Greece.