Sport
Manchester United star Antony dropped from Brazil squad due to domestic assault investigation
While Antony continues to deny the accusations, pressure is mounting on the club to also drop him.
Manchester United star Antony has been officially dropped from the Brazil squad for this international break after fresh allegations of domestic assault have been levelled at the player, and both Brazilian and Greater Manchester Police are now said to be investigating the claims.
Antony had already been accused of domestic abuse and acts physical of assault by his ex-girlfriend Gabriela Cavallin earlier this year, but the 23-year-old insisted that there was no truth to these claims, assuring that his “innocence will be proven” following an investigation back in his home country.
However, following fresh allegations and evidence reportedly coming to light, Brazil’s national team have decided to drop the Man United winger from the squad until the matter is resolved.
Issuing a statement on Monday 4 September, they wrote: “As a result of the facts that have come to light, and which need to be investigated, and in order to safeguard the supposed victim, the player, and the Brazilian national team the CBF have withdrawn [him] from the squad.”
Responding the further allegations published in Brazilian outlet UOL on Monday, Ms Cavallin provided access to videos, images and messages that corroborate her claims – which are said to include throwing a glass which result in “cutting her fingers to the bone”.
The 22-year-old also went on to expand on a previous allegation made on TV in more detail. “I don’t remember exactly who the fight was about, but it was someone I had been with years ago”, said Cavallin. “He punched me in the chest and my silicone turned over”, adding that she required surgery and that Antony responded by stating, “I didn’t mean to hurt you, it was accidental, it wasn’t a punch; I just pushed you and held you against the wall”.
Following this latest report, Antony has once again come out to deny the claims in a statement on social media, writing: “Out of respect for my fans, friends and family, I feel obligated to speak publicly about the false allegations I have been a victim of. From the beginning I have handled this issue seriously with respect, providing due clarifications to authorities.
“The police inquest is still ongoing, therefore, I cannot make the content public. However, I can say with confidence that the accusations are false and that the evidence already produced and more to be produced show that I am innocent of the accusations made”.
He goes on to insist that his relationship with the DJ and influencer “was tumultuous, with verbal offence from both sides”, but that he “never practiced any physical aggression”.
Prior to this most recent report in Brazilian media, when asked if Antony’s allegations were of concern to him at the time, Man United manager Erik ten Hag simply replied, “No”, adding that “the outcome in Brazil was clear” and that their focus is “on football and on performing.”
To make matters worse, with this fresh scandal coming just a couple weeks after United finally parted ways with Mason Greenwood following his own allegations of assault and attempted rape, many are piling pressure on the club to make a clear stance against domestic abuse.
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Whether things will progress to the point that Antony is not just dropped, but suspended and/or removed from the squad entirely as the case carries on, remains to be seen.
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Featured Image — Antony (via Instagram)
Sport
Academy graduate Oscar Bobb is leaving Manchester City on a permanent transfer
Danny Jones
Manchester City youth academy graduate Oscar Bobb is leaving the club after sealing a move to Fulham FC.
Despite plenty of loan interest throughout the January transfer window, the Man City attacker has secured a switch to the in-form West London team on a permanent basis.
Bobb looked increasingly likely to leave in some capacity following the arrival of another winger in the form of instant hit, Antoine Semenyo, but it now looks as though his departure is all but confirmed, bar an imminent official announcement.
As reported by Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, the agreement has now been reached between the two clubs pending a full medical today (Thursday, 29 January).
According to Romano, Fulham will pay Man City approximately £27 million for Bobb’s services, who becomes the latest addition in what has already been a fairly busy period of recruitment.
He goes on to add that “City also mantain [a] 20% sell-on clause, matching rights and future control on the player based on his decision.”
There is no suggestion of a buy-back clause at this time, but given his age and having already made a fair few appearances for Pep Guardiola‘s first team, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility to see him return to the club one day.
Bobb also arrives at Craven Cottage following the exit of multiple wingers and offensive options, including Adama Traore, ex-Man United product Andreas Pereira and Arsenal youngster, Reiss Nelson, whose loan deal has expired and has signed another temporary deal at local rivals, Brentford.
A similar scenario played out with James Trafford at the start of this season, though it now looks as though the young keeper could once again leave before the end of the month. Many City supporters understandably have some mixed feelings about both situations.
The young Norwegian winger joined the Etihad Campus back in 2023 and went on to contribute a handful of goals and assists, despite limited appearances and some very unfortunate injury issues.
Only seven months ago, his soon-to-be former parent club released a short video charting his return from the sidelines after fracturing his leg – a setback which kept him out for roughly five months.
Plenty of fans have quickly placed him in the so-called ‘what if?’ category of players, and given that he’s still just 22 years old and has already impressed on a number of ocassions for such a big club, we wouldn’t be surprised if he goes on to have a very exciting career.
Can you see the Blues bringing in or letting anyone else go before deadline day?
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Featured Images — pantkiewicz (via Flickr)/El Loko (via WikiCommons)/Man City (via YouTube)
Sport
Tyson Fury has officially revealed his comeback fight after coming out of ‘retirement’ once again
Danny Jones
Tyson Fury has officially announced the opponent for his comeback fight after yet again returning to professional boxing.
Fury supposedly ‘retired’ for seemingly the umpteenth time last January following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk the month prior, and some even believed it might have actually been his final outing.
Nevertheless, ‘The Gypsy King’ said he was coming out of retirement once more earlier this year, and now his next match-up has been confirmed.
Revealing the other contender as Aslanbek Makhmudo, the fight will be aired live on Netflix only.
Partnered exclusively with boxing magazine, Ring, the bout between Fury and Makhmudo is the latest big fight night to be picked up by the streaming giants.
The most recent example was, obviously, Anthony Joshua’s brutal knockout of influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul this past December.
Makhmudo, just a year younger than his opposite number, is a fellow experienced heavyweight based mainly out of Canada with a decent pedigree of his own.
The Russian, simply known as ‘The Lion’, has a record of 21 wins – more than half of those coming by KO.
With that in mind, he presents a potentially exciting prospect for the famous Manchester fighter, who hasn’t won a proper competitive fight since the defence of his WBC belt against Derek Chisora in December 2022.
Similarly, this should at least see two very well-seasoned pros going head to head.
He did fight MMA veteran Francis Ngannou in a one-off exhibition, but there was no title or anything tangible on the line.
In fact, even Fury himself admitted it was a “below par” showing.
Many fight fans would argue that there haven’t been enough proper big heavyweight dates since Fury vs Usyk, and even then, we are still yet to get a date for the all-but fully confirmed final fight of the trilogy.
Fury himself did state that the conclusion of their clash is scheduled for this April, but nothing official has been set in stone by any promotion or venue and the new date means it’s even less likely to be any time soon; meanwhile, plenty are still hoping for AJ vs Fury.
The 37-year-old will take on Makhmudo on Saturday, 11 April, and you can bet the world will be watching.
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Featured Images — FurociTV (via YouTube)/Netflix/Ring Magazine/@Mike_DiDomizio(via X)
