Sport

Vincent Kompany’s cheeky jab at Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t go unnoticed

Touché, Vinny.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 23rd November 2022

Amidst a whirlwind day of news over at Old Trafford, Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany managed to get in a sly dig against outgoing Cristiano Ronaldo.

Not long after the news of Ronaldo‘s departure from Manchester United for a second time and just hours before it was announced that the Glazer family could be willing to sell the club after 17 years, Kompany was on the panel for France’s World Cup opener against Australia.

The reigning world champions went on to win the game 4-1, but the 37-year-old’s abrupt exit was naturally a massive talking point amongst the pundits.

With that in mind, lead anchor Gary Lineker posed the question, “Would you take him at Burnley?”. The former City star’s answer was priceless.

I mean, whether you’re a United fan or not, he’s got a point.

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Kompany was appointed as manager of Burnley FC back in June of this year and currently has the Lancashire-based club on track for a Premier League return, sitting three points clear of Sheffield United at the top of the table.

Notably, he has also helped change the playstyle significantly, dominating possession significantly (averaging 63.1% per game) and completely overhauling their passing stats and pressing off the ball.

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In contrast, while Ronaldo has been in the team this season, United have covered less distance and averaged around two fewer points per game.

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A workhorse he may have once been and clearly still in immense physical condition, but as Ronaldo has gotten older, his game has naturally had to change and it seems apparent that so did his desire to play for United.

The footballing veteran and sporting icon is now set to leave the club that launched his career following a turbulent second spell during which he took aim at the manager and ownership, as well as several current and former players.

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Although he is obviously away with Portugal in Qatar, it is rumoured that Ronaldo’s next destination could be either Newcastle United or a move to their owners’ country of origin, as he told Piers Morgan that he received several offers over the past year.

Well, thanks to Kompany, we know it won’t be Burnley at least…

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Featured Image — BBC Sport

Sport

Football fan handed ban and hefty fines for ‘tragedy chanting’ during Man United v Liverpool match

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A football fan has been handed a football banning order and some hefty fines for ‘tragedy chanting’ at Old Trafford last month.

Michael Avery, from Manchester, was in attendance at Manchester United‘s home ground last month as the Red Devils took on fierce local rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter final on Sunday 17 March, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

But due to his actions at the hotly-anticipated match, the 49-year-old has now been “successfully convicted”.

His convictions come after GMP’s Specialist Operational football investigation team carried out enquiries following obtaining video footage of a man in the home section of the Old Trafford crowd making gestures – which was also widely-shared on social media.

Avery was subsequently charged with Section 4a of the Public Order Act 1986, and this was in addition to arrests and charges made to other supporters relating to pyrotechnics.

Avery pleaded guilty to the offence yesterday (Monday 22 April) at Salford Magistrates Court, and for this, received a three-year Football Banning Order (FBO) alongside costs of £85, a victim surcharge of £320, and a fine of £800, which was reduced due to an early guilty plea.

GMP says it’s keen to continue taking “proactive action” against football supporters who take part in behaviour of this type of behaviour.

A football fan has been banned and fined for ‘tragedy chanting’ during a Man United v Liverpool match / Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Reflecting on the case, following Avery being convicted earlier this week, Chief Inspector Jamie Collins, from GMP’s Specialist Operations Branch, commented: “Following the understandable concern raised online following the video being shared of Avery’s actions, we undertook an investigation into this to ensure justice was brought.

“We are continuing to take a proactive action against those engaged in this type of behaviour that is intent on causing distress to victims and supporters impacted by terrible football tragedies of the past.

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“Any kind of gesture or comments in relation to tragedy chanting will not be tolerated and is totally unacceptable.”

Featured Image – GMP

Sport

Antony labelled ‘classless’ and ’embarrassing’ for celebrations after Man United’s penalty shootout win against Coventry

Danny Jones Danny Jones Antony celebrations controversy FA Cup semi-final Coventry City penalty shootout

Manchester United star Antony has been labelled “classless”, “embarrassing” and plenty worse following his celebrations after the Red Devils’ slim FA Cup semi-final win on penalties against Coventry City.

The Brazilian winger has been a divisive figure ever since he arrived at Old Trafford, with most arguing that the club have seen nowhere enough for his hefty price tag, not to mention that moments like his trademark spinning has served as little more than a meme at Man United‘s expense.

However, it’s his behaviour both on and off the pitch that has also made him an unlikeable figure this season. Being embroiled in an ongoing domestic assault case certainly has only exacerbated his public image but it was his latest viral moment against Coventry that has now irked even more people.

United managed to blow a 3-0 lead against the Championship side on Sunday, allowing the Sky Blues to push them all the way to penalties following a catastrophic 19-minute collapse (by no means the first this year), but it was Antony’s reaction after surviving the shootout that has left people countless arguing.

These are the celebrations Antony is being criticised for as United secured their place in the FA Cup final for the second year in a row.

Several supporters, Reds included, have come out to criticise the celebrations from Antony, who decided to direct his taunts towards the opposition who shone at Wembley from start to finish even after the heartbreaking twist of fate in what was a truly epic comeback.

While there has been plenty of controversy surrounding the game – Coventry’s last-minute penalty to tie the game and what they thought was the winner only for it to be ruled in a ridiculously tight offside, just to name a couple – there can be no question as to it going down as an FA Cup classic.

All that being said, despite the game being a dramatic delight for the neutral, Antony’s ear-cupping after Rasmus Højlund scored the winning penalty has left many with a sour taste in their mouth and his reputation dented even further.

The backlash on social media has been pretty vocal, with the 24-year-old branded as everything from “shameless”, “embarrassing” and “a disgrace” to “everything wrong with modern football”; one person even went so far as to label him “the most hateable player” in the sport. Yep, not a very popular bloke.

There are too many tweets to count when it comes to the debate Antony has sparked.

Although the vast majority have come out to condemn it as needless showboating, perceiving it as unnecessary salt in the wound to those already hurting in the stands, there are some dismissing the celebrations as simply part of the game.

Fan account Stretford Post wrote: “I have no issue with what Antony did, so what, he loves the game and loves to win, it’s emotional and we all let ourselves go sometimes. Accept the man’s personality and stop the agenda.”

That being said, it’s fair to say the chaotic ending to the game gave the bulk of Man United fans in the stadium and watching home much to fully celebrate given the nature of their capitulation and even some of his teammates on the pitch looked reticent to run over to excitedly to Højlund after he scored.

ln fact, both captain Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire – who went straight to commiserate the Coventry players after the final penalty – were quick to acknowledge how fortunate they were to scrape through in the end, simply boiling it down a season-defining statement: “We have to do much better”.

Maguire reiterated that the penalty decision was harsh but that the opposition deserved ‘full credit’.

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Be it naivety or just getting swept in the spirit of a crucial FA Cup final-securing penalty shootout, the celebrations by Antony haven’t gone down well with many fans or pundits.

Former United and fellow winger Lee Sharpe told talkSPORT that while his age may have been a factor, he deemed the reaction “out of order” given how close his team came to bottling it. What did you make of the moment: perfectly acceptable given the circumstances or needless and ’embarrassing’?

It will now be a Manchester derby FA Cup final for the second year running and, one thing’s for sure, Erik ten Hag’s side can’t afford to make that many mistakes against Man City.

You can watch the highlights from the frantic semi-final down below but, the better question is, which half of Manchester is going to leave with their hands on the trophy on 25 May?

It had everything this game.

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Featured Images — BBC Sport/@MatthewStanger (via X)

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