Kick & Banter

Arsenal’s penalty at Newcastle should NOT have been overturned, says ex-ref.

VIKTOR GYOKERES’ penalty should not have been overturned - the Arsenal forward went through on goal and was fouled by Nick Pope.

Newcastle goalkeeper Pope got a touch on the ball but he did not win the ball. The touch does not negate the award of a penalty..

Why did VAR get involved? It was not a clear and obvious error from referee Jarred Gillett. The on-field decision should have stood.

Gyokeres played it on to Pope, that is how he got the touch and then there is a late challenge and brings him down.

How many times do you see a foul given for a player that wins the ball and follows through?

The touch does not mean it is not a penalty. VAR should not have got involved.

We saw this last season at Brighton when William Saliba was adjudged to have committed a foul on Joao Pedro after he headed the ball.

Newcastle then wanted a penalty of their own late on after Anthony Elanga’s cross struck Gabriel’s arm inside the box.

But Gillett got this right. It was not a penalty.

It was a blocked tackle, it came back off Elanga and hit Gabriel’s arm, which was in a natural position.

When you go to ground, where else can your arm go? Your arm has got to be in the air.

And look at the pace of the ball and the close proximity.

Rummenigge: Congrats to Stuttgart for finding fool paying so much for Woltemade.

The Woltemade change is still a topic at FC Bayern.

At the end of August, Nick Woltemade (23) left VfB Stuttgart and moved to Newcastle United in England for a transfer fee of 85 million euros. Previously, Bayern Munich had also been interested in him but decided against it due to the high transfer fee.

Now Bayern's Supervisory Board Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (70) is speaking about the drama.

Rummenigge in the show "Blickpunkt Sport" on BR: "You also have to have an authentic opinion about things. Because only then will you be taken seriously, both internally and externally."

"I say quite honestly: When back then this story about Woltemade and then the demand from Stuttgart came up, I, as well as Uli, as well as Herbert Hainer, as well as Jan Dreesen and also Max Eberl said - folks, we're slowly getting into magnitudes that I simply no longer find acceptable."

"We shouldn't fulfill every demand just to make someone happy – especially the financiers at VfB Stuttgart."

The sum that Newcastle paid to VfB was by far the highest ever paid by a club for a Stuttgart player. Before Woltemade, defender Pavard was the player with the highest transfer fee; in 19/20, he moved to Munich for 35 million euros.

Rummenigge: "I can only congratulate those in Stuttgart that they – I'm saying this in quotes now – have found an fool who has paid so much money. Because we in Munich would surely not have done that!"

For even more money, Florian Wirtz (22) left the Bundesliga in the summer. He, too, did not switch to Bayern but instead opted for FC Liverpool (transfer fee: €125 million).

Rummenigge: "We actually feel a bit sorry for Florian because he's a great player, and I believe he would have fit in perfectly with us."

Romano: Chelsea board never had doubts that Enzo Maresca remains the manager.

According to Romano, Chelsea board never had doubts that Enzo Maresca remains the manager.

:
🚨💙 Chelsea board never had doubts: Enzo Maresca remains the manager and there are no issues or thoughts about immediate change.

Barring any surprises over the next 8 months, Maresca seen as ideal manager to lead the project and any review will be made at the end of the season.

MESSI vs RONALDO .

🔥THE ENDLESS DEBATE 🔥

⚽ Lionel Messi ,The Magician 🪄
✅ 8 Ballon d’Ors 🏆
✅ World Cup Winner 🌍
✅ King of dribbles & playmaking 🎯
✅ Makes football look effortless 👑

⚡ Cristiano Ronaldo – The Machine 💪
✅ 5 Ballon d’Ors 🏆
✅ All-time UCL Top Scorer 🏟
✅ Goal-scoring beast in every league 🐐
✅ The definition of hard work & dedication 🔥

💭 Some say Messi is pure talent, others believe Ronaldo is the ultimate athlete.
Both have changed football forever.

💥 Drop your GOAT below: MESSI or RONALDO? 💥
(And tell us why 👇)

It's not positive' – Luis Enrique waits on Vitinha, Kvaratskhelia injury news.

Paris Saint-Germain are waiting for updates on Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after they exited Saturday's 2-0 win over Auxerre early, but Luis Enrique has admitted the situation is "not positive".

PSG bounced back from their 1-0 defeat to Marseille with their fifth win in six Ligue 1 games this season, with centre-backs Illia Zabarnyi and Lucas Beraldo scoring.

But just four days out from a heavyweight Champions League clash with Barcelona, PSG's injury crisis deepened as two more key players were withdrawn.

Vitinha was taken off during the first half after complaining of discomfort, while Kvaratskhelia was replaced at half-time after sustaining a thigh issue.

PSG were already without Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, fellow France forward Bradley Barcola, key midfielder Joao Neves and captain Marquinhos.

"I can't tell you anything. We have to wait for tomorrow's results. But that's normal," Luis Enrique told Ligue 1+ when asked about the duo.

"We have to stay calm; we are trying to overcome this with the strength of the team and the fans.

"It's not positive but we have to wait for the medical staff tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, to know what type of injuries they have.

"With Vitinha, we made the change because he noted some problems. I don't know if there will be an injury or not. I don't want to take any risks with anyone."

Amorim still has the backing of Man United’s minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Ruben Amorim still has the backing of Manchester United’s minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe despite doubts over his future at Old Trafford.

United’s 3-1 defeat at Brentford on Saturday was their third in six Premier League games amid a poor start to the season that includes a Carabao Cup humiliation at Grimsby Town.

Amorim, who was appointed midway through United’s worst season in more than half a century, has now picked up just 34 points from his 33 league games in charge.

However, it’s understood that United are still behind their 40-year-old head coach, and Ratcliffe is refusing to panic.

It’s understood that the Ineos billionaire believes Amorim deserves time to work his players after United spent £236million on new signings in the summer. United sources said on Sunday that the club are not lining up any replacements.

After the defeat at Brentford left his team in 14th place in the table, Amorim insisted that he is not concerned about his job and remains confident he can turn United’s season around.

I am always comfortable with the job. I am not concerned, it is not my decision,’ he said. ‘I will do the best I can every minute I am here. I am never concerned about my job, I am not that kind of guy.

‘I'm always doing my job. If I win, I'm in a different state of mind. That is normal, but I'm always confident because I know what to do. I've always taken a lot of responsibility on your own shoulders.

‘We can play better and we need to play better. It's like ups and downs. When you win, you feel that everything, the momentum is here. When you lose, you go back to the same place and you fight again for one win that can help you to create the momentum.

‘I cannot tell you more than I say every time I lose the game. Sometimes you see one team that performs really well and you see improvements. And then sometimes you have some games that you don't see that improvement.‘That gives you the confidence to say that Manchester United is going to get back. So it's always the same conversation. It depends on the next game. So let's try to win the next game and to improve certain things.’

Newcastle vs Arsenal LINE-UPS: Saka & Gyokeres lead as Eze, Rice and Timber in.

The line-ups of Newcastle vs Arsenal have been announced.

Galatasaray get major Osimhen boost ahead of Liverpool Champions League clash.

Galatasaray will host Liverpool at RAMS Park on Tuesday night in the UEFA Champions League and the Turkish giants have been handed a huge boost ahead of the clash.

Galatasaray have received a massive boost ahead of their Champions League showdown with Liverpool. The Turkish heavyweights will welcome Arne Slot's men to RAMS Park on Tuesday evening as both sides aim to surge up the Champions League standings.

Following Galatasaray's 1-0 triumph over Alanyaspor on Friday evening, head coach Okan Buruk spoke to journalists and offered an encouraging update on Victor Osimhen, who made a fleeting appearance from the substitutes' bench.

The Nigerian striker has been battling an ankle problem picked up during a World Cup qualifier against Rwanda earlier this month. "We wanted to play him for ten minutes. We wanted him to experience the pain," said Buruk, as quoted by All Nigeria Soccer. "Sometimes there's pain, and it's important to [play] through pain."

"He's not 100 per cent physically ready. He hasn't had a team training session since returning from the national team. He played with us briefly yesterday (on Thursday).

"We'll assess his pain and physical condition before thinking about the next match," added the Galatasaray boss. "Baris might have wanted a winger there when he came off today, but I specifically brought Osimhen on so he could play 10 minutes, have a chance to play the next match, and contribute to us.".

Regarding ensuring Osimhen is available to face Liverpool, Buruk revealed: "We may have changed our formation and had trouble covering the opposition. However we're taking these risks to ensure he plays."

Galatasaray were hammered 5-1 in their opening European fixture by German side Eintracht Frankfurt despite the former initially going in front.

Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid 24 hours earlier, with a late Virgil van Dijk header sealing all three points after a Marcos Llorente brace cancelled out early goals from Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah.

Following the trip to Galatasaray, Liverpool also take on Frankfurt with Hugo Ekitike set for a return to his old club just a few months on from leaving. Real Madrid, PSV, Inter, Marseille and Qarabag are Liverpool's Champions League opponents after that..

Usain Bolt: Man United's performance is like a joke.

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim's 3-1 defeat to Brentford was dubbed "a joke" by Usain Bolt.

Amorim's side endured their third defeat of the current Premier League campaign on Saturday when they made the trip to the Gtech Community Stadium. Bees forward Igor Thiago netted a first-half brace before Benjamin Sesko reduced the deficit, and despite United being awarded a spot-kick on 76 minutes, Bruno Fernandes was unable to find the net.

Brentford claimed a third strike to confirm United's downfall deep into stoppage time, and during a disastrous opening period, one of the club's most prominent supporters, 100m and 200m world record holder Bolt, labelled the display a "joke."

Brentford's opener on Saturday saw Harry Maguire keep striker Thiago onside before he found the net beyond Altay Bayindir after merely nine minutes. Fewer than 10 minutes later, and it was 2-0, the Brazilian claiming his second as United's keeper pushed a delivery into his path.

This catastrophic opening 20 minutes left some supporters furious, and even Bolt felt compelled to express his disappointment. He turned to social media and wrote on X: "This must be a joke."

Supporters in the comments section of this post shared similar frustrations, with one stating: "United are a joke. Have been for a decade." Another commented: "Even Bolt cannot believe how useless this club is."

Despite Sesko netting his maiden goal for the visitors to reduce the deficit, Amorim's team suffered another setback. The Portuguese manager has still not managed to secure back-to-back Premier League victories since taking charge of the Red Devils.

Reported: Marquinhos and Dembélé are practically ruled out for Barça clash.

According to La Ser, Marquinhos and Dembélé are practically ruled out for Barça clash, while other PSG players suffer from injury.

⚠️🩹 Vitinha and Kvaratskhelia, injured four days before the match in the UCL

📌 Marquinhos and Dembélé are also practically ruled out

📌 Many doubts surrounding Doué, and Fabián Ruiz has not played as a precaution.

Kick Off: Nuno replaces Potter as West Ham manager; Liverpool lost to the Eagles.

Welcome to Kick & Banter, we bring you all important news in the past 24 hours. Make sure you do not miss out.

OFFICIAL: West Ham United can confirm that Graham Potter has left the Club

West Ham announce that Nuno Espírito Santo becomes team's head coach.