Mourinho’s suspension and fine reduced after a successful Fenerbahçe appeal.
Fenerbahçe manager, José Mourinho’s four-match suspension has been halved by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) after the club’s appeal. Mourinho was initially banned and fined for criticizing referees following a 0-0 draw against Galatasaray. His fine was reduced from 1.6 million Turkish lira ($43,964) to 558,500. The TFF cited “derogatory and offensive” remarks that allegedly incited disorder and violated sports ethics. Mourinho had accused Turkish football of chaos, prompting disciplinary action. Monday’s match was officiated by Slovenian Slavko Vinčić after both clubs requested a foreign referee. Fenerbahçe defended Mourinho, arguing his words were misinterpreted. The Portuguese coach has faced previous sanctions for similar remarks. Additionally, he has filed a Lawsuit against Galatasaray over allegations of racist comments. Mourinho will return for Fenerbahçe’s Super Lig clash against Samsunspor on March 16. His team currently sits second in the league, trailing Galatasaray by six points.
BREAKING: Jose Mourinho has had his four-match suspension halved and his fine reduced from ₺1.6m (£35,000) to ₺558,000 (£12,200) following a successful appeal by Fenerbahce. pic.twitter.com/4tGPEXEXmb
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 1, 2025
Nico O’Reilly’s brace helps Man City overcome Plymouth FA Cup scare.
Manchester City overcame another FA Cup scare, defeating second-tier Plymouth Argyle 3-1 to secure a quarterfinal spot. Plymouth stunned the Etihad when Maksym Talovierov’s towering header from a corner put them ahead. However, teenager Nico O’Reilly equalized just before halftime, nodding in Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick. City dominated the second half but struggled to break through, with Rico Lewis, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Bernardo Silva all missing chances. Eventually, O’Reilly headed in again from a corner in the 76th minute to give City the lead before De Bruyne sealed the win in stoppage time. Plymouth, second-bottom in the Championship, had impressed with wins over Brentford and Liverpool. Since replacing Wayne Rooney with Miron Muslić, they’ve shown resilience. Despite their spirited effort, City’s quality prevailed, reaching their eighth FA Cup quarterfinal in nine seasons. De Bruyne’s late goal marked his 29th FA Cup goal involvement, the most since his debut in 2016.
Man City advance to next round! 🏆✨ pic.twitter.com/g9n3smDJSx
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 1, 2025
IFAB introduces stricter rule to curb goalkeeper time-wasting.
Football’s rule-makers, IFAB, have approved a significant rule change for the 2025/26 season, aimed at discouraging goalkeepers from time-wasting. Previously, keepers exceeding the six-second limit while holding the ball risked a yellow card or an indirect free-kick. However, referees rarely enforced this rule. Under the new regulation, goalkeepers will be permitted to hold the ball for up to eight seconds. If they exceed this limit, the opposition will be awarded a corner instead of a free-kick. IFAB believes this milder penalty will encourage stricter enforcement by referees. The decision was made at IFAB’s 139th AGM in Belfast, with trials showing a significant reduction in time-wasting. Arsenal and other teams have been scrutinized for delaying play, increasing concerns over excessive ball retention. IFAB, comprising football associations from the UK and FIFA, ensures global consistency in football laws, with this latest rule set to reshape how teams approach restarts.
🚨 OFFICIAL: IFAB approves new rule from next season for goalkeepers.
If the goalkeeper holds the ball for more than 8 seconds, the referee will award a corner kick to the opposing team. pic.twitter.com/4193QmFDQN
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 1, 2025
Billing’s late goal secures Napoli a draw against Inter as title race intensifies.
Napoli substitute Philip Billing salvaged a crucial 1-1 draw against Serie A leaders Inter Milan, keeping the title race tight. Federico Dimarco put Inter ahead in the 22nd minute with a stunning free-kick, momentarily silencing the packed Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. However, Billing came off the bench to score an 87th-minute equalizer, ensuring Napoli earned a well-deserved point. Inter now sits on 58 points, just one ahead of Napoli, while Atalanta trail by two after a goalless draw with Venezia. The first half was open and competitive, with Inter taking the lead before the break. However, the second half saw momentum shift as injuries to Dimarco and Hakan Çalhanoğlu disrupted Inter’s rhythm. Napoli pressed aggressively, forcing the visitors into a defensive stance. Though Inter came close to securing victory, Billing’s late strike denied them, keeping the title race finely balanced as the season progresses.
FT: NAPOLI 1 – INTER 1
WHO WILL WIN THE SERIE A? pic.twitter.com/QKDHc2qtW1
— The Screenshot Lad (@thescreenlad) March 1, 2025
Isco scores the winner for Betis against former club, Real Madrid.
Real Madrid suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss at Real Betis on Saturday, missing the chance to go top of La Liga. Former Madrid midfielder Isco sealed the win with a second-half penalty, leaving Los Blancos trailing Barcelona, who could extend their lead with a win over Real Sociedad. Madrid started brightly, taking the lead through Brahim Díaz after Kylian Mbappé set up Ferland Mendy for a simple assist. However, their advantage was short-lived, as USMNT international Johnny Cardoso headed in from a corner, with Thibaut Courtois unable to keep it out. After halftime, Antonio Rüdiger conceded a reckless penalty, which Isco confidently converted. Madrid struggled in attack, with Vinícius Jr. and Mbappé largely ineffective, the latter being substituted after 75 minutes. Betis defended resolutely, controlling possession and frustrating Madrid. While Los Blancos remain title contenders, this defeat was a major setback in their race for the top spot.
Who’s been your Man of the Match? ✨ pic.twitter.com/AdZpjqxTOi
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 1, 2025