Gareth Southgate believes the fight against racism in football may have reached a defining moment as the fall-out from the abuse levelled against Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior in Valencia last weekend continues.

The England boss has led calls for stricter punishment since his side came close to walking off the field after some players were subjected to racial abuse during a match in Bulgaria in 2019.

Vinicius threatened to leave the pitch in the second half of Sunday’s LaLiga match at the Mestalla after being subjected to alleged monkey chants from the crowd and Real Madrid, who said the incident constituted a “hate crime”, filed a complaint with the Spanish State Attorney General’s Office.

In response, Valencia were given a partial stadium ban for five…

Erik ten Hag has hinted that Harry Maguire may leave Manchester United this summer if the defender decides he is not happy with a lack of playing time.

The club captain played only 16 Premier League games this season and has been culpable of a number of high-profile errors, most recently in last month’s Europa League exit to Sevilla.

Ten Hag has consistently praised the influence of the 30-year-old – who joined in 2018 from Leicester for £80million, a world-record fee for a defender, and is under contract until 2025 – around Old Trafford, even when he has endured long spells out of the team.

When fit, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane have been the preferred central-defensive partnership in the former Ajax boss’s first campaign, with Luke Shaw sometim…

Casemiro said the qualities of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric made it easy to star in Real Madrid s midfield ahead of his move to Manchester United, as he backed Los Blancos to replace him from within.

The Brazil international is joining United in a deal reportedly worth an initial £60million (€70m), having won an incredible 18 trophies during a nine-year spell with Madrid. 

Casemiro lifted the Champions League on five occasions during his time in the Spanish capital, and produced a masterful performance as Carlo Ancelotti s team clinched their 14th European crown against Liverpool in May.

Modric, Kroos and Casemiro have been key throughout one of the most successful spells in Madrid s history, starting together in four Champions League finals (in 2016, 2017, 201…

Bruno Fernandes became the first Portuguese player to score 10 goals in a Premier League season since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008-09, but it was not enough to seal a win for Manchester United at Leicester City.

Fernandes, who teed up Marcus Rashford s opener at the King Power Stadium on Boxing Day, thought he had secured the points for United when he struck home after latching onto Edinson Cavani s pass with 11 minutes remaining.

It took Fernandes onto double figures in league goals for the season.

That made him the first player from Portugal to score 10 or more in a single campaign in England s top-flight since former United star Ronaldo did so in 2008-09, when the winger netted 18 times.

Fernandes has had a direct hand in over half of United s Premier …

Christian Pulisic has joined the growing number of players to leave Chelsea this summer after completing a move to AC Milan.

The 24-year-old midfielder has signed a contract with the Serie A giants until June 30 2027, with an option to extend for a further year.

Pulisic spent four years at Stamford Bridge after joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2019, making 145 appearances and scoring 26 goals for the Blues.

One of those goals was in the 2021 Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid, which helped Chelsea into the final where they beat Manchester City.

The United States international also won the European Super Cup and Club World Cup with Chelsea the following season.

Pulisic, who has made 60 appearances for his country and helped them reac…

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until June 2025.

The Brazilian s original deal was set to expire at the conclusion of next season.

But he will now remain at the Santiago Bernabeu for a further two years after putting pen to paper on fresh terms.

The 29-year-old is the latest player to extend his stay in the Spanish capital after Karim Benzema and Federico Valverde also committed their futures in the past week.

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid)

Casemiro has made 288 appearances for Madrid since arriving from Sao Paolo on an initial loan spell in January 2013, scoring 30 goals.

He has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with the club; winning four Champions Leagues, three Club …

DR Congo international winger Jody Lukoki has died aged 29, with the cause of his death currently unknown.

Lukoki came through the ranks at Dutch giants Ajax before spells with PEC Zwolle, Bulgarian club Ludogorets and Turkish side Yeni Malatyaspor.

The 29-year-old, who won three Eredivisie titles with Ajax, signed for FC Twente on a two-year deal last June but suffered a cruciate ligament injury in pre-season training.

Lukoki had his contract terminated by Twente in February for what the club described as  events in his personal life .

Twente confirmed the passing of Lukoki on Monday in a statement that read: This morning FC Twente received the terrible news that Jody Lukoki has passed away.

The club is shocked and deeply moved by this tr…

Jack Grealish has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa in the past, and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is a known long-term admirer.

Grealish is currently on holidays after Euro 2020, but talks of a huge transfer to City have not gone away.

Could the Premier League champions be about to make their move?

MAN CITY SET TO TABLE GREALISH BID

Manchester City are set to officially commence their move for Aston Villa s Jack Grealish with a £75m bid, claims the Daily Mail.

According to the report, Villa will hold out for £100m for their star England international.

Villa have no desire to sell Grealish for anything less and will know Guardiola is keen to secure his services.

Man City are set to make an opening…

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino says Sergio Ramos could be involved in Sunday’s Coupe de France clash with fifth-tier Feignies-Aulnoye.

Ramos has only featured once for PSG since arriving from Real Madrid on a free transfer due a calf injury.

The veteran defender made his long-awaited debut in last month’s win at Saint-Etienne, but fresh muscle problems culminated in another spell on the sidelines.

Pochettino revealed he could return on Sunday when the runaway Ligue 1 leaders launch their Coupe de France defence against a side four divisions lower than them and the former Tottenham boss is also set to give young players an opportunity at Stade de Hainaut.

We think [Sergio] will be in the squad tomorrow. We will see if he starts…

Germany s Euro 2016 qualifiers started with an unconvincing 2-1 win over Scotland, while Portugal suffered a shock 1-0 home loss to Albania.

Thomas Muller struck twice as world champions Germany stuttered against the determined Scots at Signal Iduna Park.

A 4-2 friendly defeat to Argentina on Wednesday raised questions in the Germany squad and, although Joachim Low s side were far from their best, a better display earned the hosts three points.

Muller headed Germany in front in the 18th minute of a first half they dominated, but the visitors greatly improved after the break and levelled through Ikechi Anya.

Scotland s joy lasted only four minutes, though, as Muller s scrappy second – scrambled in from five yards – was enough to defeat Gordon Strachan …