World Cup 2018: Cossack kids, Swan Lake and the Selecao in Rostov-on-Don

Wembley will become the UK’s first dementia friendly national stadium in a bid to keep sports fans affected by the condition “at the heart of the action”.

The Football Association and official charity partner Alzheimer’s Society have collaborated to improve the match-day experience for people living with dementia, who can find sporting venues disorientating and overwhelming.

Football’s governing body has also backed Alzheimer’s Society’s new Dementia Friendly Sports Clubs and Venues guide, while both the Premier League and the Racecourse Association have pledged their commitment to becoming dementia friendly.

Alzheimer’s Society chief executive officer Kate Lee said: “We want to see all sports showing their commitment to giving fans with dementi…

Market: Kaoru Mitoma to score anytime

Odds: 7/5 @

Looking to extend on their remarkable Premier League flurry, Brighton will welcome Bournemouth to the Amex on Saturday lunchtime.

Starting with the hosts, extending on their FA Cup adventure last weekend after snatching a last-gasp 2-1 victory at home against Liverpool, Brighton are in the midst of what has been a famous campaign at the Amex. Only continuing to shine since appointing new boss Roberto De Zerbi, the Seagulls now have their sights firmly set on securing a maiden European finish. With the mood in their camp at a red-hot high, the one-time Sassuolo boss will be smelling the chance for his side to lay down another marker here. In the midst of a five-match unbeaten run across all formats, Brighton have …

Argentina qualified for the Copa America quarter-finals after ending their drought against Paraguay with a 1-0 victory.

Not since the 2015 Copa had Argentina tasted a win over Paraguay – a run of four consecutive matches – but La Albiceleste snapped that winless streak thanks to Papu Gomez on Monday.

Gomez scored the winner in the 10th minute, scooping an effort over onrushing Paraguay goalkeeper Antony Silva, for his second goal from just his sixth international appearance.

As Lionel Messi equalled the record for most Argentina appearances, Lionel Scaloni s men extended their winning streak to 16 games in Brasilia.

Angel Di Maria and Sergio Aguero were named in the starting XI for the first time during this year s Copa, and the veteran Argentina pair…

Verdict: Aston Villa win btts

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Aston Villa travel to Luton hoping to consolidate their 4th place with a Kenilworth Road win. The hosts are engaged in a relegation battle and every single point might be decisive at the end of the season. The Hatters will count on the support of 10,000 fans who never fail to deliver.

Luton

Luton achieved a historic promotion to the Premier League last summer, but the harsh reality settled in quickly. After 26 rounds, the Hatters are in a relegation spot, four points from safety. Luton s survival hopes took another hit when Everton won the deduction points appeal.

A 6-2 midweek home defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup was not the best result before welcoming Aston Villa. Although Rob Edwa…

Clubs must face sanctions if they fail to comply with diversity reporting requirements and workforce targets, Kick It Out’s chief executive has said.

Data released by the Football Association on Wednesday showed the 53 clubs signed up to the Football Leadership Diversity Code (FLDC) collectively failed to meet any of the eight hiring targets set last season.

The FA board has now approved the creation of a new rule which will make clubs publicly declare their workforce diversity data on age, sex, gender, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation twice a year from 2024-25.

We have today published the third annual report on the Football Leadership Diversity Code, committing to mandatory diversity reporting.

Read the full 2022/23 report

— The …

Value betting is a strategy where you calculate the actual probability or likelihood of an event occurring. Next, you compare the probability with the odds a bookmaker gives to determine if the odds are higher and more profitable. This will help you determine whether the odds are in your favor.

A great example of a rare case of a value bet that bookmakers underestimated is the Euro 2016 Final. France was listed as the favorite to win the final against Portugal. France had odds of +105, Portugal +350, and the draw had odds of +220.

Daman Chick, a punter from the United Kingdom and an avid football fan, wagered £5 on Portugal to win. He correctly predicted the goalscorer and the minute of the goal. Betting a small amount on Portugal to win at +350 odds, as well as the add…

Jarell Quansah is relishing playing alongside Virgil van Dijk in Liverpool’s defence in a breakthrough season he admits has “exceeded all expectations”.

Twenty-one-year-old Reds academy product Quansah, who was on loan at Bristol Rovers last season, came off the bench to make his Liverpool first-team debut in August.

He has played a further 24 times for the Merseysiders in all competitions, and started each of the last four games, including the 1-1 Premier League draw with Manchester City and 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final loss at Manchester United, partnering Van Dijk at centre-back in both matches.

Quansah – also a League Cup winner in the past few weeks – has been referred to as “Virgil 2.0” by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, and the England Under-21 inte…

Mike Dean has admitted he failed to correct a mistake in a Chelsea-Tottenham match last season to prevent his friend Anthony Taylor receiving extra “grief”.

Former Premier League referee Dean was on VAR duty at Stamford Bridge in August 2022 when Chelsea wanted Spurs defender Cristian Romero sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella to the floor by his hair.

Dean says he made a “really bad call” in not sending Taylor to review his decision.

Harry Kane equalised for Spurs from the following stoppage-time corner and the game finished 2-2.

Both managers – Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel and Tottenham’s Antonio Conte – received red cards from Taylor following an angry exchange at the end of the match.

“I missed the stupid hair pull at Chelsea vers…

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have announced a significant investment into the company by the firm co-owned by LeBron James, RedBird Capital Partners.

The investment, which sees James become part of FSG s ownership group along with his business partners Maverick Carter and Paul Wachter, will help Liverpool address an estimated £120million loss in revenues during the coronavirus pandemic.

FSG said in a statement that the deal, which is part of an ongoing alliance between FSG and RedBird, would help the group pursue growth opportunities, while underlining a focus on winning .

Over the years, Fenway Sports Group has been able to attract a dedicated group of executives and partnerships seeking to compete for titles in the most challenging and rewarding…

Prediction: Both teams to score and Manchester City to Win

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Manchester City will look to once again cut the gap to league leaders Liverpool to five pointa as they face Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Both sides were in European action in mid-week and will be aiming to continue their positive respective forms in their domestic campaigns.

Manchester City

Despite the gap between Liverpool and Pep Guardiola s troops at this early stage in the season, the Citizens are still playing some sumptuous football. So far this season, they have only lost one game in all competitions, that being the 3-2 reverse at the hands of Norwich City in mid-September. Since then, the reigning champions have bounced back in empha…