Sports
Sergio Aguero clashes with fan during pitch invasion after Manchester City are dumped out of FA Cup by Wigan
Sergio Aguero was attacked by a Wigan fan during a pitch invasion after Manchester City were sensationally dumped out of the FA Cup.
The Premier League leaders were stunned by the League One side in the fifth round.
The encounter came to life on the stroke of half-time after Fabian Delph was dismissed for a reckless challenge.
It saw Pep Guardiola clash with Paul Cook on the touchline before the spat continued down the tunnel.
Will Grigg then gave Wigan the lead after a Kyle Walker mistake and they held on until full-time.
The supporter threw a punch at Aguero and the City striker had to be restrained when he tried to retaliate.
Some Latics fans ran to taunt the City fans, who responded by ripping off parts of the advertising hoardings and throwing them onto the pitch.
The City supporters also threw missiles onto the pitch and both clubs could be in trouble with the FA over the crowd disturbances.
Pep Guardiola claimed he did not see Aguero being attacked and it is understood City will speak to Wigan to ask why they could not protect their players better.
“I was in the locker room,” said the City boss. “I did not see it.”
Aguero was initially restrained by Wigan defender Chey Dunckley and a member of the City backroom staff.
But clearly incensed by the incident, Aguero tried to get back at the supporter before being led off the pitch.
It wasn’t the only unsavoury incident at the final whistle as Manchester City fans also clashed with stewards.
Members of the travelling contingent ripped down signs in their anger, and launching them down onto the pitch.
Wigan chairman David Sharpe condemned the pitch invasion, saying: “It’s not nice to see. Football is emotional, that’s what it does to fans. But I don’t like to see this at the end of the game.
“It’s a massive result, but we have to stay classy in football. I didn’t like what I’ve seen here.”
A number of signs were torn down and thrown, while plastic bottles were also tossed from the stands.
Fans at the front of the stand also became embroiled in angry scenes with both police and match stewards.
Guardiola and Wigan boss Paul Cook angrily clashed three times over Fabian Delph’s sending off just before half-time and the pair had to be separated in the tunnel.
Guardiola was furious because he felt Cook helped persuade referee Anthony Taylor to dismiss Delph for his reckless lunge at Max Power when the official initially produced a yellow card.
Cook played down his involvement in Delph’s sending off, which rules him out of Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final.
“I wasn’t refereeing the game,” he said. “I can assure you of that. There were four people there with the fourth official.
“Others in the ground obviously deemed it to be a red card. The conversation about the game shouldn’t be about that. It’s a great night for Wigan Athletic and one we should enjoy.”
Guardiola was also reticent about his furious row with Cook and tried to play down their clash.
“It was a red card,” said the City boss. “The referee decided what he decided. I’m not here to judge. It could be a red card.
“If you want to ask me about football, ask me. Nothing happened in the tunnel. He was just stating his position, that’s all.
“They had one shot on target and we created lots, but football in the end is about the result and I congratulate Wigan.”
Will Grigg bagged the winner 11 minutes from time to earn Wigan a third quarter-final in six seasons at home to Southampton.
“When the draw was made, it was like we weren’t in it,” said Cook.
“I’m sure Southampton are as shocked as we are.”
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of German tactician Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men’s National Team, the Super Eagles.
This development was announced by the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, in the early hours of Tuesday, following the approval of the NFF Executive Committee based on a recommendation from its Technical and Development Sub-Committee. Labbadia’s appointment takes immediate effect.
Born on 8th February 1966 in Darmstadt, Germany, Labbadia enjoyed a distinguished playing career, earning two caps for the German national team. His club career included stints at prominent clubs such as Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Arminia Bielefeld, and Karlsruher SC. Notably, he won the Bundesliga title with Bayern Munich in 1994.
Labbadia’s coaching career has seen him manage top-tier clubs such as Hertha Berlin, VfB Stuttgart, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, and Bayer Leverkusen, among others. He holds a UEFA Pro License and is well-regarded for his tactical acumen.
With his appointment, Labbadia becomes the sixth German to lead the Super Eagles, following in the footsteps of Karl-Heinz Marotzke, Gottlieb Göller, Manfred Höner, Berti Vogts, and Gernot Rohr. Höner notably guided the Super Eagles to a runner-up finish at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Labbadia’s immediate task is to prepare the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying matches.
Nigeria will face Benin Republic on Saturday, 7th September in Uyo, and Rwanda on Tuesday, 10th September in Kigali. The team will also play four additional qualifying matches in October and November as they aim to secure a spot in the 2025 AFCON, scheduled to be held from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
The Super Eagles, placed in Group D, will face familiar foes Benin Republic, who recently defeated Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The draw for the AFCON qualifiers, held in Johannesburg, South Africa, last month, also sees Nigeria taking on Libya and Rwanda, both of whom are also part of the Super Eagles’ group for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers set to be hosted in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Labbadia’s appointment comes at a crucial time as the Super Eagles look to regain their dominance on the African continent and secure qualification for both the AFCON and the World Cup.
Finidi George has stepped into a new role as the technical manager for NPFL side, Rivers United, following his resignation as coach of the Super Eagles.
During his brief tenure with the Eagles, George’s 1-1 draw against South Africa in Uyo and a 2-1 loss to Benin Republic in Abidjan cast doubts on Nigeria’s World Cup qualification, prompting calls from fans for his dismissal.
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Nevertheless, Rivers United, the 2021-22 champions, expressed optimism in a statement on Wednesday via their official handle about having the former Eagles international manage their team.
“Finidi brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team, having had a distinguished playing career spanning over fifteen years,” the statement read.
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Dr. Okey Kpalukwu, General Manager of Rivers United FC, welcomed George, stating, “We are delighted to have Finidi George join our team. His appointment marks a new chapter in our club’s history, and we are committed to working together to achieve success.”
Expressing his gratitude to the club, an elated George remarked, “I am honored to have this opportunity, and I thank the Sports Commissioner, the General Manager, and the supporters for their confidence in me. I am committed to working hard and making the team win.”
Inter Milan were taken over by US fund Oaktree on Wednesday after the Serie A champions’ outgoing owners Suning missed a deadline to repay a debt worth hundred of millions of euros.
In a statement, Oaktree announced they had “assumed control” of Inter after the non-repayment of a “three-year loan to Inter Milan’s holding companies that matured on 21 May 2024 with a total balance due of approximately 395 million euros ($428 million)”.
Chinese conglomerate Suning have relinquished control of Inter to Oaktree three days after the team were officially crowned Italian champions for the 20th time.
Suning borrowed 275 million euros at over 12 percent interest three years ago to pay staff and players as the Covid-19 pandemic ravaged the finances of clubs across Europe, putting up their controlling stake in the club as collateral.
“Oaktree is dedicated to achieving the best outcome for the long-term prosperity of Inter Milan, with an initial focus on operational and financial stability for the Club and its stakeholders,” Oaktree continued.
Inter became a powerful force at home and abroad after Suning acquired the club in 2016, with seven trophies including two Serie A titles and two European finals.
Simone Inzaghi’s team cruised to this year’s championship, winning the Scudetto with five matches remaining by beating AC Milan in a thrilling local derby.
Oaktree, which manages $192 billion in assets, said they are “committed to working closely with Inter Milan’s current management team, partners, the league and governing bodies to ensure the Club is positioned for success on and off the pitch”.
Inter ended up in the hands of Oaktree in a manner similar to the way another US fund, Elliott Management, took control of their local rivals Milan in 2018.
Elliott became Milan’s owners when Chinese businessman Li Yonghong was unable to repay a loan he had taken out when he bought the club from the late Silvio Berlusconi’s Fininvest the previous year.
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