Noel Gallagher has claimed he was left “covered in blood” after being headbutted at the Manchester City game yesterday.
The former Oasis founding member and longtime Manchester City fan was in attendance at the Etihad Stadium as the sky blues came back from 2-0 down against Aston Villa to secure the victory and claim the title of 2021-22 Premier League champions yesterday – but after the winning goal went in the back of the net, things sound like they didn’t quite go Noel’s way during the celebrations.
Noel was in good spirits this morning as he told talkSPORT that he found himself needing “stitches in his top lip”, and actually walked away with “two black eyes” after being headbutted by who he claims was City centre back Ruben Dias’ dad.
He described the whole thing as “absolute bedlam”.
Relaying what happened after the match, Noel told talkSPORT: “Let me tell you what happened to me yesterday. As the third goal goes in, there is absolute bedlam in the stadium.
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“Where we sit, Ruben Dias’ family are a couple of boxes up. I’m jumping around like an idiot, passing my son around like the Premier League trophy, everyone’s lifting him up. I turn around, Ruben Dias’ dad runs straight into me, headbutts me, I’m on the floor, covered in blood.
Noel continued: “I’ve got stitches in my top lip, two black eyes. As I’m going down the corridor, Pep is running up crying and we hug each other. He says, ‘What’s up with your face?’ And I said, ‘Go and be with your players!’
“If you saw me today, I look like I’ve just arrived home from the eighties at Elland Road, I look like I’ve had my head smashed in. It’s unbelievable.
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“Lots of City fans are asking me what happened and I’m just saying, ‘You’ll never guess’.”
It sounds like Noel came off a lot worse as he also claimed that there’s “not a mark” on Ruben Dias’ dad following the incident, adding that he’s “a big bear of a man”.
“He almost knocked my teeth out,” Noel claimed.
Manchester City were crowned 2021-22 Premier League champions at the Etihad Stadium yesterday / Credit: Manchester City (via Twitter)
After what had been one of the closest title races of the past few years, Manchester City yesterday pipped North West rivals Liverpool to the post during an impressive comeback in their final match of the Premier League season to successfully retain their title as the winners of English football’s top flight.
The Citizens eventually made their dream a reality by beating Aston Villa 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium after first going 2-0 down.
Two goals came from İlkay Gündoğan, and one from Rodrigo, all in the second half.
The victory yesterday was Manchester City’s sixth Premier League title in total since returning to the top flight in 2002, and the fourth Premier League title in five years won under current manager, Pep Guardiola.
Pep Guardiola apologises for ’embarrassing’ camera operator confrontation
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has apologised after confronting a cameraman following the Premier League fixture against Newcastle United this past weekend.
The Blues boss was left visibly frustrated as Man City were beaten 2-1 away at St James’ Park by Eddie Howe’s side following a flurry of three finishes in the space of just six minutes.
However, this wasn’t the only action pitchside during the game, as not only have some supporters argued they should have had a penalty as Phil Foden was brought down in the box, Pep was also seen engaging in a loaded exchange with opposition captain Bruno Guimarães, as well as a camera operator.
Guardiola has since apologised for the incident, confessing he was left “embarrassed” by his own conduct and admitting that even “after 1,000 games, I’m not a perfect person – I make huge mistakes.”
As you can see, the Catalan coach approached the member of the broadcasting team following a fairly widespread spat both during the second Newcastle goal and following the full-time whistle.
Despite journalists recognising a natural amount of frustration and passion amidst the narrow loss and speculation over decisions, he went so far as to say he wasn’t “ashamed” of his actions at the time and doesn’t like or condone this kind of behaviour.
He was also seen smacking his seat in the dugout after conceding as well as after missed chances by his own players.
Pep assured that he apologised to the cameraman within seconds, remarking, “I am who I am” and reminding football fans that he is a human capable of acting on instinct just like anyone else.
He also clarified that the bulk of his issues on the day were to do with the officiating, taking umbrage with the referee’s decision-making in multiple instances.
You can see the clip down below:
"I feel embarrassed and ashamed when I see it"
Pep Guardiola apologises for his behaviour towards a camera operator after the defeat at Newcastle. pic.twitter.com/wVYfJDbnLm
As for his conversation with Guimarães, he wouldn’t disclose any details of their conversation, but did insist to one reporter that they share a good relationship, confessing that he is “an emotional guy” and can often appear particularly animated as he is known for gesticulating.
It seems that the 54-year-old was just annoyed over the potential penalty, but match-winner Harvey Barnes’ brace in particular, too.
Not only were there questions of a foul on new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma – whose shot-stopping was otherwise excellent for the majority of the match – but Guimarães was supposedly offside in the build-up to the strike.
Regardless, Pep went on to add that the confrontation with the cameraman, Donnarumma’s booking for dissent, and general disappointment have been “immediately forgotten”, and all eyes are now focused on City’s big European meeting with Bayern Leverkusen.
You can see the highlights from Newcastle vs Man City down below.
Kids can now send their Christmas lists to the North Pole as Royal Mail’s Santa Mail returns for 2025
Emily Sergeant
Children all across the UK can now send their Christmas wish lists directly to the big man himself in the North Pole.
That’s because Royal Mail’s hugely-popular Santa Mail scheme has returned for 2025.
With just over a month to go until Christmas Day is officially here, Royal Mail is once again helping to make festive wishes come true by lending a helping hand to one of its most special customers, Santa, just like it has done for more than 60 years.
The postal service will be sending children’s letters and Christmas wish lists directly to the ‘North Pole’ this year.
Santa’s team of helpers at Royal Mail are gearing up to deliver the hundreds of thousands of letters sent to him by children from all across the UK.
With the very busy Christmas period ahead – one of the busiest times of the year for the postal industry, by far – Royal Mail is encouraging children to get their letters written and sent as soon as they can – with the cut-off date being no later than Wednesday 10 December.
To send your letters to the ‘North Pole’, you need to pop them in a stamped envelope and send them to this special address:
Santa / Father Christmas, Santa’s Grotto, Reindeerland, XM4 5HQ.
Don’t forget to include your name and full address on your letter, so that Santa knows where to send his replies back to.
Kids can now send their Christmas lists to the North Pole as Royal Mail’s Santa Mail returns for 2025 / Credit: Phil Hearing | Marina Abrosimova (via Unsplash)
“Royal Mail continues to play a cherished role in the nation’s Christmas traditions,” commented Lisa Luveniyali, Royal Mail’s Chief Elf, who oversees the safe delivery of children’s letters to Santa at his magical grotto in Reindeerland.
“For over 60 years, we’ve proudly helped Santa manage the thousands of heartfelt letters sent by children across the UK.
“Our dedicated team of festive elves especially love seeing the wonderful wishes children share, and helping Santa send his replies.
Emily Sergeant -
23rd May 2022 
