Zinedine Zidane quits as Real Madrid manager after third Champions League crown
(Source)
Zinedine Zidane has quit as Real Madrid manager just days after becoming the first coach to win the Champions League in three consecutive seasons.
Zidane, 45, replaced Rafael Benitez in January 2016 and despite his European success has come under pressure for winning only one La Liga title during his two and a half years in charge.
He told Real president Florentino Perez he would be leaving on Wednesday before informing captain Sergio Ramos.
"I know it is a strange moment for everyone involved," said Zidane. "But it had to be done for everybody.
This team has to continue winning and need a change. After three years they need a new voice, a new way of saying things - possibly another way of working.
"That's why I've taken that decision. I love this club, I love the president, he's given me the chance to come as a player and a manager. I'm eternally grateful to him but today for me and for everyone we have to change."
Perez said Zidane's decision was completely unexpected after the club's 13th Champions League title last weekend.
"It is a sad day for me and will be for the fans, the players and everyone at the club," said Perez. "I wanted him to be next to me forever. But I know it is his final decision.
"I would have liked to convince him to stay on but I know what he is like."
Zidane opted to rest Ronaldo more in his final season in charge, while Bale became frustrated with limited first-team opportunities.
"I had the respect of all, above all the players, which has been fundamental in achieving things," Zidane added. "The players have nothing to do with my decision, it is about what I think."
Zidane, who was applauded by journalists in Spain as he left his news conference, denied his decision has anything to do with a Ronaldo 'crisis'.
Chelsea put plans for new Stamford Bridge stadium on hold
(Source)
Chelsea have announced they have put their plans for a new stadium on hold.
The club were given the go-ahead to start work on their new 60,000-capacity stadium by Hammersmith and Fulham council in March.
However, a brief statement on the club's website said they had temporarily stalled the new stadium project because of the "current unfavourable investment climate".
The statement continued: "No further pre-construction design and planning work will occur.
"The club does not have a time frame set for reconsideration of its decision."
The news comes after Theresa May's spokesperson said Chelsea's Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich can enter Britain only on a visitor visa and cannot work in the country.
World Cup 2018: Referee Fahad Al-Mirdasi dropped for attempted match fixing in Saudi Arabia
(Source)
Fifa has dropped Saudi Arabian referee Fahad Al-Mirdasi from the 2018 World Cup after he was banned for a match-fixing attempt in his country.
Al-Mirdasi, 32, was already banned from officiating for life by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF).
The body claims he confessed to trying to fix the King's Cup final between Al-Ittihad and Al-Faisaly.
After considering evidence, Fifa said "the conditions to be selected for the World Cup are not satisfied anymore".
World football's governing body also stood down Mohammed Al-Abakry and Abdulah Al-Shalwai, the two assistant referees who were due to work with Al-Mirdasi.
According to the SAFF, Al-Mirdasi's misdemeanour involved him contacting an Al-Ittihad official, who handed the messages over.
His confession arrived just weeks before he was due to fly to Russia for the World Cup and the SAFF said he admitted soliciting the corrupt payment after being taken into police custody.
Al-Mirdasi has been a Fifa referee since 2011.
Fifa's referees committee chose not to replace him directly at the World Cup but have instead called up two assistant referees - Hasan Al-Mahri from the UAE and Japan's Hiroshi Yamauchi.
They will work with Mohammed Mohammed Abdulla of UAE and Ryuji Sato of Japan respectively, who had already been appointed to officiate at the tournament.