Sports

Facts About The New Champions League Rule

Published

7 months ago

August 31, 2024

By Ojomah Austin.

The draw has been revamped accordingly, with each team now set to play eight fixtures rather than being sorted into groups. From England, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa have secured their spots, with Scottish champions Celtic also in the mix.

As usual, teams cannot face opponents from their own country, but this year’s format introduces the possibility of some blockbuster matchups.

Gone are the traditional group stages in the Champions League, replaced by a new league phase that UEFA hopes will inject more excitement into the competition’s early rounds.

For the first time, clubs can face rivals from the same seeding pot, meaning last season’s champions Real Madrid could potentially clash with Manchester City. Madrid triumphed over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley last season to claim a record-extending 15th European title.

Highlights to note

New Format: The traditional group stages have been replaced with a league phase where each team will play eight matches.

Teams to Watch: From England, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Aston Villa have qualified, with Scottish champions Celtic also in the running.

Potential Blockbuster Matches: Teams from the same pot can now face each other, raising the possibility of major matchups like Real Madrid vs. Manchester City early in the competition.

Aston Villa’s European Return: Aston Villa, a former European champion from 1982, makes a long-awaited return to the Champions League after 41 years. Under Unai Emery, the team clinched a top-four finish last season, including notable victories over Manchester City and Arsenal.

Villa also reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, where they were narrowly defeated by Olympiacos. Emery, with a record four Europa League titles, brings a wealth of experience to Villa’s Champions League campaign.

Fans at Villa Park can look forward to some electrifying European nights, though the team will need to find the right balance to avoid the pitfalls that hindered Newcastle’s campaign last season. The new format adds another layer of complexity to their journey.

How the draw works
The draw is set to be a mix of manual and automated processes. All eight matches will be against different teams, with four at home and four away, determined by seeding. Teams will be seeded into four pots based on their club coefficient, and the draw will ensure that no team faces an opponent from their own country.

The draw will be conducted manually, with automated software randomly assigning each team’s opponents, revealing the matchups on screen during the draw ceremony.

Sports

Super Eagles safe hands, Nwabali in high demand as European teams chase after him

Published

6 hours ago

March 31, 2025

Austin Ojomah

European clubs, including a prominent team from France, are intensifying their pursuit of Stanley Nwabali, the Super Eagles and Chippa United goalkeeper.

BSNSports.com.ng gathered from The South African news outlet, that the interest in the Nigerian international goalkeeper is growing as new suitors emerge.

Already on the radar of South African giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, Nwabali is now attracting serious attention from a French club.

Sources close to the player have revealed that this unnamed French club has made inquiries about Nwabali, who recently played a key role for the Super Eagles during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

“There is definitely interest from a club in France. Initially, the first interest came from Belgium, but this latest inquiry is from France. Every day, there are more clubs interested in Stanley. At some point, Chippa United will have to let him go. We will have to wait and see what happens at the end of the season. However, it’s believed the interest from this French club is significant,” a source stated.

Scouts from the French club have been closely monitoring Nwabali, particularly during Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualifiers, where the Super Eagles secured four points from two matches.

They have been observing him during the recent games against Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Due to the inquiries about Nwabali, Chippa United is already considering signing another goalkeeper for next season. Whether he leaves or not, the club is preparing for a replacement when he ultimately departs,” the source declared.

Sports

FA Cup semi-final draw confirmed [Full fixtures]

Published

11 hours ago

March 31, 2025

Admin

The draw for the FA Cup semi-finals took place on Sunday following an exciting round of quarter-final fixtures.

Aston Villa secured their spot in the last four with a commanding 3-0 victory over Preston North End.

Marcus Rashford, making a statement with his first goals for Villa, netted twice to help Unai Emery’s men progress. They will now face Crystal Palace at Wembley.

Crystal Palace booked their place in the semi-finals on Saturday with a dominant 3-0 win over fellow Premier League side Fulham at Craven Cottage.

In another quarter-final clash, Nottingham Forest edged past Brighton on penalties after a goalless draw in 120 minutes.

For Manchester City, they came from behind to reach the semi-finals for a record seventh consecutive season with a 2-1 win over Bournemouth on Sunday,

English FA Cup semi-finals draw

Nottingham Forest v Manchester City

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

— Ties to be played at Wembley on the weekend of April 26-27

Sports

A Look At How Much Premier League Referees Earn

Published

2 days ago

March 29, 2025

Austin Ojomah

Being a referee in the Premier League is a tough job. They have to make quick decisions in fast-paced games, and when they make mistakes, they can get a lot of criticism from fans, players, and the media. Despite this pressure, referees are well-paid.

Premier League referees have a challenging job, but they are compensated well for their expertise and the important role they play in football. This professional approach helps maintain high standards in one of the world’s most popular sports leagues.

How Referees Got Professional
Back in 2001, an organization called the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) was set up to help referees get better at their jobs and make sure they were paid fairly. Before this, referees were part-time and didn’t earn as much.

Why Referees Are Important
Referees play a crucial role in soccer matches, ensuring the game is fair and the rules are followed. Their job is hard because they have to be very accurate with their decisions during the game.

How Much Referees Earn
Today, referees in the Premier League are well-paid, reflecting the high stakes and professional nature of the league. According to reports, the average salary for Premier League referees, including bonuses and match fees, ranges from £170,000 to £180,000 annually. This compensation structure is designed to reflect their expertise and the high-pressure environment in which they operate.

What PGMOL Does
PGMOL doesn’t just handle referee salaries. They also train referees and help them improve. They make sure that referees do a good job in matches and use technology like VAR (Video Assistant Referee) properly to make fair decisions.

Earnings Per Match
On top of their salaries, referees earn per-match fees. Reports suggest that referees get about £1,116 for each match they officiate. This fee contributes to their overall earnings and rewards them for their performance in individual games.

Salaries for Top Referees
The most experienced referees, who handle high-stakes matches and have more responsibilities, can earn significantly more. For example, top referees might make around £250,000 per year, recognizing their expertise and the critical role they play in the league.