Former South Yorkshire Police chief superintendent David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter over the deaths of 95 people in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Duckenfield was the match commander on April 15 1989, when Liverpool played Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final at the home of Sheffield Wednesday.

He was charged over the deaths of 95 of the 96 people who died in crushes at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium.

Tony Bland, who was the 96th supporter to lose his life, died more than a year and a day after the tragedy. UK law at the time of the disaster stipulated that charges could not be brought in that circumstance.

Following a retrial at Preston Crown Court, the jury returned its not guilty verdict on Thursd…

Arne Slot insists he is happy with his Liverpool squad ahead of their Premier League opener against Ipswich, despite missing out on midfielder Martin Zubimendi.

Slot takes charge of his first competitive game for the Reds at Portman Road on Saturday, but is in the dugout of the only side yet to sign a player this transfer window.

Liverpool had shown their interest in Real Sociedad s Zubimendi following his performances for Spain at Euro 2024, appearing poised to trigger his £51m release clause.

However, he rejected the move to Anfield, preferring to remain with La Real for the upcoming season after his impressive showings for club and country last year.

Zubimendi completed 1318 successful passes in La Liga last season, a total only bettered by Igor Zub…

Chelsea, Manchester City and United are all said to be keeping close tabs on PSV talent Mohammed Ihattaren.

The 16-year-old burst onto the scene after impressive spells at youth level for both club and country, while his impressive progress continued at PSV’s first team this season. Mohammed Ihattaren made his Eredivisie debut last month, while he grabbed an assist in last weekend’s 5-0 victory over Fortuna Sittard.

He is widely regarded as one of the most promising prospects in Europe and Premier League heavyweights are not alone in the chase for his signature. Barcelona and Inter Milan are also said to be interested.

Ihattaren in contracted to PSV until 2021 and Dutch giants could be tempted to sell him this summer for a hefty offer. He calls the Philips S…

VAR is likely to be used at the 2018 World Cup after it won official approval from the International Football Association Board.

The IFAB, football s rule-making body, gave unanimous backing to the technology at its annual general meeting in Zurich on Saturday.

It means there will almost certainly be video assistant referees used at this year s showpiece tournament in Russia, with a final decision expected to be made at the next FIFA Council meeting on March 16 in Bogota.

The International Football Association Board (The IFAB) unanimously approved the use of video assistant referees (VARs) at its 132nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) that took place at FIFA s headquarters in Zurich, read an IFAB statement.

This landmark meeting, chaired by FIFA presiden…

Luis Suarez is key to Barcelona s treble hopes this season, according to Siem de Jong, who hailed the competitiveness of his former Ajax team-mate.

Barca are on track to retain their LaLiga crown, while the Catalan giants are already through to a record sixth straight Copa del Rey final as they prepare to face Manchester United in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Uruguay international Suarez has scored 23 goals this season – 20 of those coming in LaLiga for Ernesto Valverde s side.

Former Ajax captain De Jong who is on loan at A-League side Sydney FC won the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup while playing alongside Suarez from 2007 until 2011 and heaped praise on the 32-year-old forward.

Can Ajax repeat their Madrid feat in T…

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is a phenomenon and an example to anyone due to his immense levels of professionalism, according to Tottenham coach Mauricio Pochettino.

Ronaldo will go up against Pochettino s Spurs on Wednesday at Wembley, as Real Madrid look to improve upon their 1-1 draw with the Premier League side at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It was Ronaldo who scored Madrid s goal when the two sides last met, and he will be eager to catch the eye as he returns to England, where he excelled for Manchester United between 2003 and 2009.

Since leaving United, Ronaldo has continued to go from strength to strength in Madrid and won The Best FIFA Men s Player for a second year running recently.

And Pochettino is adamant his talent and professionalism make h…

Rangers continued their impressive form in this season s Europa League, with a James Tavernier penalty and a Kemar Roofe stunner securing a 2-0 win away at Standard Liege. 

Having overcome Lincoln Red Imps, Willem II and Galatasaray in the qualifying rounds – and fresh off an Old Firm triumph over Celtic – Steven Gerrard s side battled their way to three points in difficult conditions at Stade Maurice Dufrasne. 

Tavernier scored the opening goal of the Group D contest in the 19th minute, Rangers captain converting from the spot for his ninth goal in 10 outings this season. 

The visitors relied on the crossbar to keep out a Jackson Muleka header before the break but were rarely troubled in a second half played out amid torrential rain, Roofe…

Premier League champions Liverpool welcomed table toppers Manchester United to Anfield on Sunday, for a game that saw plenty of tension rise long before the Red Devils even took the road to Liverpool. It was only to be expected; after all, these are the two most successful clubs in the history of English football, both domestically, with 19 and 20 league titles, respectively, and in Europe with six and three European Cups to boot. But this match was even more than that it was important from a practical point of view as well with only three points separating them in the table.

A disappointing affair

Talk of club greatness aside, this kind of a game was probably to be expected, given what we ve seen from these teams in their recent outings. United got the results they needed, an…

John Stones has explained his decision to go back to basics in a bid to rediscover his form for Manchester City.

Stones scored twice – his third brace for club and country – in City s 4-0 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The win, City s fifth in succession in the top flight, sent Pep Guardiola s team into second place above defending champions Liverpool, who could only draw with leaders Manchester United at Anfield.

Though Palace, shorn of the injured Wilfried Zaha, were hardly a threat, Stones and his centre-back partner Ruben Dias were rock solid as City gave boss Guardiola an early birthday present the day before he turns 50.

City are the first team to record five consecutive victories in the Premier League this season, while…

Robert Lewandowski became the first player to hit 21 goals in the first half of a Bundesliga campaign with his opener for Bayern Munich against Freiburg.

Gerd Muller previously held the record of 20 goals, with the Bayern great having achieved the feat in 1968-69.

Lewandowski matched that haul on January 8, scoring in a 3-2 defeat to Borussia Monchengladbach.

On Sunday, in Bayern s 16th league game of the 34-match campaign, the 32-year-old overtook Muller by slotting home at the culmination of a superb Bayern move in the seventh minute.

It also brought up Lewandowski s fifth goal in his last four games against Freiburg.

Prolific in attack, it is at the other end where Hansi Flick s Bayern side have struggled this season.

Heading into Su…