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Tonali Set for Newcastle Return as Ban Ends – Howe Confirms

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Tonali Set for Newcastle Return as Ban Ends - Howe Confirms

Sandro Tonali is poised to make his return for Newcastle United after completing a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules, a development that manager Eddie Howe described as an “incredible release” for the 23-year-old midfielder.

Tonali, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan last summer in a £55 million move, was handed the ban by the Italian Football Federation in October for his involvement in betting activities while playing in Serie A. With his suspension set to expire on Tuesday, Tonali is now eligible to feature in Newcastle’s Carabao Cup clash against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.

“He will definitely be in the squad,” confirmed Howe. “He’s fit, he just hasn’t had the match [practice] – the most important thing is the game time. He has done everything else and has worked incredibly hard to be on top of his fitness.”

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Before his suspension, Tonali made 12 appearances for Newcastle, showcasing why he was the club’s second most expensive signing. Howe acknowledged that Tonali is likely to experience a mix of emotions on his return but emphasized the importance of allowing him to ease back into his role.

“I imagine a range of emotions, a lot of excitement,” Howe said. “When you have a long time out, you have a long time to analyze and reflect. Now it is just back to doing what he loves. It will be an incredible release for him.”

Howe also noted that Tonali will be under intense scrutiny upon his return, but expressed confidence that the player understands the situation and is ready to take small steps to reintegrate into the team.

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“He has to play to his strengths and not do anything too out of the ordinary,” Howe added.

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Leicester City Lose Appeal Against Points Deduction

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Leicester City Lose Appeal Against Points Deduction

Leicester City have lost their appeal against a six-point deduction for breaching financial rules, leaving the club facing an uphill battle to avoid relegation from the Championship.

The penalty, imposed in February by an independent commission, initially dropped the Foxes from 17th to 20th place. Since then, their form has deteriorated further, with the team now in the relegation zone and one point from safety with five matches remaining.

The case originated from charges brought by the Premier League in May 2025, relating to breaches of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) during the 2023–24 campaign. At the time, Leicester were competing in the Championship.

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Under PSR regulations, clubs are permitted to lose up to £105m over a three-year period, though this limit is reduced by £22m for each season spent outside the top flight. Following their relegation, the English Football League (EFL) took over the case and found Leicester guilty of exceeding the adjusted threshold.

The club argued that their financial assessment should cover a 36-month period rather than 37 months, citing delays in submitting their 2023–24 accounts. However, the commission ruled in favour of a 36-month calculation, determining that Leicester had overspent by £20.8m above the £83m limit.

Leicester described the original punishment as “disproportionate” when it was announced on 5 February and lodged an appeal shortly afterwards, just a day after appointing Gary Rowett as interim head coach until the end of the season.

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Since the deduction, results have declined sharply, with the team managing just one win in 12 matches across all competitions. The combination of poor form and the points penalty has left Leicester at risk of a second successive relegation.

In a statement, the club said: “With the matter now at an end and five games of the season remaining, everyone at the club is fully focused on the matches in front of us and on shaping the outcome of our season through our results on the pitch.

“We know this has been a challenging period, and we thank our supporters for the backing they continue to give the team. The responsibility now is to ensure these remaining games are approached with the focus and intent our current situation demands.”

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With little margin for error, Leicester must now rely on a strong finish to preserve their Championship status.

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Cyclist killed at Worlds not found for 82 minutes

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Cyclist killed at Worlds not found for 82 minutes

An investigation into the death of Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer has found she was not discovered for 82 minutes after crashing during the 2024 UCI Road World Championships in Zurich.

The 18-year-old died after leaving the road in wet conditions during the junior road race and crashing into a wooded area near her hometown. According to the Zurich Public Prosecutors’ Office, the accident occurred out of sight of race officials, spectators, and support vehicles.

Investigators said Furrer lay hidden in undergrowth and was not visible from the road, which contributed to the delay in locating her. Her disappearance was not immediately reported, and she was only found more than an hour later before being airlifted to hospital, where she died from a head injury.

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Despite the circumstances, prosecutors concluded there was “no evidence of criminal conduct or negligence” by organisers. The race had been overseen by a local committee alongside the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

At the time of the incident, neither GPS tracking nor race radios were permitted in the World Championships—unlike in events such as the Tour de France—a factor that may have delayed the response. Following the tragedy, the UCI introduced GPS tracking for the 2025 championships in Rwanda to monitor riders’ locations in real time.

Cyclists’ union representatives have argued that such safety measures should have been implemented earlier to prevent similar incidents.

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The findings come shortly after another serious crash involving British rider Tom Pidcock at the Volta a Catalunya, where he fell into a ravine unnoticed by organisers but was able to communicate with his team via radio.

In tribute, the UCI retired Furrer’s race number—84—from women’s junior road races, honouring her memory as calls continue for improved safety protocols in the sport.

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Ghana sack manager Addo Just 72 days before World Cup

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Ghana sack manager Addo Just 72 days before World Cup

Ghana Football Association has dismissed head coach Otto Addo with just 72 days remaining before the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Addo’s departure follows a poor run of results, including a 2-1 defeat to Germany in Stuttgart and a heavy 5-1 loss against Austria in Vienna. The Ghana national football team have now lost their last four matches.

Despite boasting attacking talent such as Antoine Semenyo and Mohammed Kudus, Ghana also failed to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations under Addo’s leadership.

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In a statement, the Ghana Football Association confirmed it had “parted ways” with Addo with immediate effect, adding that a new technical direction for the team would be announced soon.

Addo, 50, was born in Germany and spent his entire playing career there, earning 15 caps for Ghana. He had been in his second spell as head coach since March 2024.

The upcoming World Cup—set to be hosted across United States, Canada, and Mexico—will run from 11 June to 19 July.

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Ghana’s campaign is scheduled to begin against Panama on 18 June, followed by group matches against England and Croatia.

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