Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai says he has "cleared" the situation with team-mates Curtis Jones and Kostas Tsimikas after a video emerged last week showing the trio seemingly arguing over the captain's armband.
The incident came after the 1-0 pre-season win against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York.
Following the full-time whistle Jones, Szoboszlai and later Tsimikas argued with each other as the team walked across the pitch to applaud supporters.
During the match Szoboszlai gave the captain's armband to Tsimikas rather than Jones when he was subbed off, and during the argument the Greece left-back was filmed throwing it to the floor.
In the 4-2 defeat by Leeds on Sunday, Szoboszlai gave the armband to Jones.

#szoboszlai #armband #Liverpool #curtis

Kim Min-jae's return to the pitch in front of his home fans was one of the highlights of Bayern Munich's 2-1 preseason victory over Jeju SK, but many supporters wondered why the South Korean defender's outing lasted just 30 minutes (and no, it had noting to do with that wild rainbow flick by Matheus Aiás).
After the match, Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany explained that the substitution was always part of the plan and had nothing to do with Kim's performance. Speaking to a Korean journalists, Kompany talked about Kim's early exit and his role on the squad.
"Minjae is an important player for us. It was workload management, because he will play 60 minutes against Aston Villa on Friday. He can't play more during this phase. It was nice that he started and wore the captain's armband here in Korea. But we couldn't take risks. That was the plan," said Kompany (as captured by iMiaSanMia).
The comments underline just how highly Kompany views Kim ahead of the new season. Rather than pushing the defender beyond his planned workload, Bayern Munich is carefully managing his fitness as he builds toward full match sharpness.
Kompany also highlighted the significance of Kim captaining Bayern Munich in his home country. Wearing the armband in front of a passionate Korean crowd was a special moment for both the player and the supporters who came to see one of their nation's biggest football stars represent the German champions.

#plan

La Liga giants Real Madrid have late this week closed a deal for a fresh addition to the club's defensive ranks at academy level. This comes after Los Blancos reached an agreement with Valencia to bring in youngster Hugo Giner.
Giner, for his part, is a 17-year-old defender, who chiefly operates at left-back. The teen has long been considered one of the standout up-and-coming talents in Valencia's famed youth system, hailed for his abilities on both sides of the ball.
Such gifts have seen Giner already establish himself as a Spanish youth international, boasting the captain's armband at club level, too.
Safe to say, then, that all of a Los Che persuasion will no doubt be disappointed to learn of the latest developments surrounding their young stopper's future.
As per a report from COPE:

#liga #real #hugo #spanish

Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones were seemingly involved in an on-pitch argument on Thursday, potentially relating to Liverpool's captain's armband.
During Liverpool's 1-0 win over Wrexham in a pre-season friendly, which played out at Yankee Stadium in New York, Szoboszlai was replaced after providing the **** ist for Rio Ngumoha's goal.
Szoboszlai removed the captain's armband as he exited the pitch, handing it to Kostas Tsimikas, who had come on at half time, and the pair were involved in a heated conversation with Jones after the final whistle.
Dominik Szoboszlai (second-right) and Curtis Jones (right) pictured in April (Getty)
While it is unclear what exactly caused the confrontation, many fans have speculated that Jones was frustrated at Szoboszlai's decision to make Tsimikas captain, based on the young Scouser's gestures.

#involved #pitch #right

Lawrence Shankland says being named Rangers captain has exceeded the dream he had of playing for his boyhood team.
The 30-year-old striker only joined the club two months ago from Hearts, where he also wore the armband and scored 88 goals in 171 games.
The Scotland forward succeeds previous long-serving captain James Tavernier, who led the Ibrox side to a Europa League final and won the Scottish Premiership, Scottish Cup and League Cup during his 11 years in Govan.
The news comes two days before Derek McInnes' side starts their league campaign at Dundee United on Friday (20:00 BST).
"As a lifelong supporter, it was a dream to be here in the first place, but to get the opportunity to captain the club is a huge honour," Shankland said.

#dream #lawrence

Tottenham Hotspur continued their unbeaten pre-season with a penalty shootout victory over Sydney FC after a 1-1 draw in Australia, where Mathys Tel produced the game's standout moment with a spectacular first-half free-kick.
The French forward opened the scoring in the 29th minute, curling a superb effort into the top-right corner from 25 yards to cap an impressive opening-half display. Sydney hit back after the interval through Takahiro Sekine, but Martin Dúbravka's save in the shootout proved decisive before Dane Scarlett converted the winning penalty to seal a 4-2 victory.
Tel's display came amid continued links between Tottenham and Manchester City winger Savinho. Having completed his permanent £30 million move from Bayern Munich earlier this summer, the 20-year-old continued his encouraging start to life as a Spurs player with another eye-catching performance on the left flank.
Roberto De Zerbi rotated his squad throughout the contest, handing Lucas Bergvall his first pre-season minutes after the midfielder returned to action amid uncertainty over his future. The Swede started in midfield before making way at half-time for club-record signing Sandro Tonali, who made his latest pre-season appearance.
Andy Robertson also featured for the first time in Tottenham colours after coming on during the second half. The Scotland captain was handed the armband for his 25-minute cameo, created two chances, forced a save with a low effort and calmly converted his penalty in the shootout.

#victory

[Getty Images]
Everton are on the hunt for a new club captain for the first time in seven years following Seamus Coleman's departure.
The 37-year-old, who was handed the armband following Phil Jagielka's exit in August 2019, led the Toffees out over 140 times during his captaincy.
Having signed the full-back for £60,000 in January 2009, during his first spell as Everton boss, David Moyes described Coleman as the "glue that has held an awful lot together" and "the one who stepped up to galvanise the team".
Idrissa Gana Gueye's recent decision to leave the club after seven seasons, across two separate spells, has dealt a further blow to the club's player leadership group, with Moyes pointing to the defensive midfielder's "crucial leadership qualities".

#everton #leadership #getty

Liverpool's first pre-season outing of the summer was already going to carry curiosity, because a new head coach always brings questions, fresh ideas and a sense of reset. Yet Saturday's meeting with Sunderland now carries something far more important. As reported by BBC Sport, both clubs will honour Kevin Keegan with black armbands and a minute's applause before kick-off.
That feels fitting. Keegan belonged to an era when footballers seemed larger than life, full of energy, swagger and personality, and he left a mark on every club lucky enough to call him their own. He died this week at the age of 75, months after it was announced that he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. For many supporters, particularly those of a certain vintage, the news landed with real force.
At Liverpool, Keegan was central to one of the club's great periods of growth. Nearly 750 club appearances came across his wider career, but the six years on Merseyside remain a huge part of why he is remembered with such affection. Three league ****** les, the European Cup, two UEFA Cups and the FA Cup tell their own story. So do the Ballon d'Or wins in 1978 and 1979, achieved while he was with Hamburg, proof that his standing stretched well beyond English football.
He was a footballer who played with urgency and emotion, and those are qualities supporters always respond to. Trophies matter, of course, but connection matters too. Keegan had both.
This match also opens the Andoni Iraola chapter. After the collapse of last season and the end of Arne Slot's reign in May, Liverpool head into 2026-27 needing clarity and momentum. Iraola's first game arrives with notable absentees after Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate departed at the end of last term.

#keegan #head #always #club

Eintracht Frankfurt omitted four first-team players from their training camp in Grassau. The club announced that Ellyes Skhiri has been released for transfer talks with another club. Although they didn’t specify the name of the club, the central midfielder has been heavily linked with a return to Köln in recent weeks.
The 31-year-old had a dismal World Cup campaign with Tunisia after getting the captain’s armband ahead of the tournament. Skhiri played four seasons at the heart of Köln's midfield before joining Eintracht Frankfurt as a free agent in 2023. His current contract at Frankfurt will also expire at the end of the upcoming season.
Frankfurt also left strikers Michy Batshuayi, Noel Futkeu and Jessic Ngankam from their squad joining pre-season training. Batshuayi has only played 10 games in all competitions during the 2025/26 season. Frankfurt exercised their option to re-sign the 2. Bundesliga top-scorer Futkeu from Greuther Fürth, while the ex-Hertha striker Ngankam spent the second half of last season at Wolfsberger AC in Austria.
Meanwhile, Junior Dina Ebimbe and Niels Nkounkou are part of the team traveling to Bavaria. The former was close to joining Schalke 04, but Adi Hütter is reportedly in favor of keeping him at the club. Nonetheless, the newly-promoted side still fancy their chances of completing the transfer as Frankfurt want him to extend his contract.

#futkeu #four

KANSAS CITY, MO — Argentina is sporting black armbands in its World Cup quarterfinal match against Switzerland, mourning the loss of a player with an outsized impact on the sport of soccer.
The Argentine Football ****** ociation requested FIFA for permission to wear the armbands as a gesture of mourning for Antonio Rattin, who died at age 89 after a suspected stroke, according to his family.
That permission was granted, with players able to put the black band around the white sleeves of their primary jersey in Saturday night's final eight matchup.
Rattin's largest legacy is a visual symbol of the sport of soccer far more present than an armband.
A Boca Juniors legend who represented only the Buenos Aires club during a 14-year professional career, Rattin inadvertently altered the course of soccer history with his actions in a 1966 World Cup match.

USA's Christian Pulisic, Canada's Alphonso Davies learn same lesson the hard way at 2026 FIFA World Cup originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Christian Pulisic and Alphonso Davies were supposed to be the saviors. They were supposed to be the guys to lead the United States and Canada into their respective next, and potentially most glorious, eras.
Pulisic was dubbed Captain America early on, and even though he didn't wear the captain's armband at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he was clearly the talisman for the USMNT's hopes. Davies was the captain for Canada at this tournament after standing out for Bayern Munich.
In the end, both leave at the Round of 16, along with co-host Mexico.
Morocco thrashed Canada 3-0, and the U.S. lost to Belgium 4-1.

France's super attack is receiving all the attention at the World Cup, proving to be a nightmare for defenders on the biggest stage.
Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola are all enjoying prolific campaigns. However, it is Les Bleus' often overlooked midfield that forms the foundation for the side to take control.
Manchester United are understood to be keen on signing their most reliable midfielder.
Aurelien Tchouameni, who often takes on the armband when Kylian Mbappe is not on the pitch, has quietly become France's leader at the back.
Tchouameni consistently receives the ball from defenders before finding his more adventurous teammates. The 6'2″ star is a dominant presence in the middle of the park and is excellent at defending in transition.

New Delhi: Hardik Pandya has become one of the most sought-after players since the all-rounder decided to leave Mumbai Indians (MI) after the five-time champions' disastrous campaign in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL).

The race to sign the 32-year-old has intensified, and TimesofIndia.com can confirm that seven franchises have expressed interest in acquiring the all-rounder. Only Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have remained spectators.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) entered the race late but have now set up an exciting contest with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while Rajasthan Royals (RR) are also in the fray. Pandya is a perfect fit for CSK, especially in the post-MS Dhoni era, but there is no guarantee that he will wear the captaincy armband. Meanwhile, KKR are looking for a captain, and RR, too, are ready to offer both leadership and a long-term role. It will be interesting to see how MI positions itself, given the strong interest in their captain.

The communication channels are currently active between MI, CSK and KKR. While the three parties have not confirmed anything yet, various options are being explored. Who will CSK let go? Will it be an all-cash deal? Do KKR have a tangible **** et to trade? Or will it be a roadblock like the one in KL Rahul's case last year?

CSK have remained patient observers as the buzz around Pandya's movement has grown stronger. The five-time champions are timing their entry exactly the way they did during the blockbuster trade involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran last season. Currently, CSK are in a very strong position to sign Pandya, but late hiccups cannot be ruled out as player trades remain a tricky business in the IPL ecosystem. The role of an influential figure in the CSK set-up could hold the key to the trade's direction.

The most important aspect is player consent, and it will be interesting to see whether Pandya is keen to move to a franchise without the captaincy armband. Two highly respected former international captains have also expressed interest, one offered the captaincy, but the initial discussions did not materialise into anything meaningful. A fresh round of talks cannot be ruled out in the North, especially if conversations continue to gather pace in the South.

Pandya might not be the only high-profile Indian cricketer involved in a trade this season. It has been learnt that MI will have to finalise the all-rounder's move before addressing the future of one of his teammates. MI and the interested franchises are likely to factor that into their negotiations for Pandya. While this may not have a direct impact, it could influence the franchise's approach to the two possible transactions.
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If MI agree to an all-cash deal for Pandya, will they do the same for his India and MI teammate? How will the other franchises position themselves? There are no immediate answers, but clarity is expected to emerge soon. One trade

Real Madrid may have a captaincy debate to resolve this summer. It looked like Federico Valverde was the chosen one to be Los Blancos’ captain going forward.
However, it has now emerged that Vinicius Jr is also desperate to wear the armband and that Florentino Perez is not convinced by the Uruguayan’s captaincy credentials.
Speaking on Radioestadio Noche, Alberto Pereiro said, “I have the feeling that there’s a pending conversation about the captaincies at Madrid.”
“Florentino is not at all convinced about Valverde’s captaincy.”
This is quite surprising because Valverde has long been viewed as one of the future captains of the Spanish giants.

World Cup-winning French manager Didier Deschamps missed his team's Group I finale against Norway on Friday at Boston Stadium to attend the funeral of his mother, who died earlier this week.
The French national side, led by Deschamps' longtime ******* istant Guy Stephan against Norway, had its FIFA request to wear black armbands in honor of its manager's mother rejected. A moment of silence took place before Friday's World Cup clash in Boston, but not for Deschamps' mother. Instead, the tribute honored the over 900 victims of the devastating earthquake in Venezuela this week.
Deschamps received news of his mother Ginette's death on Tuesday and departed the team's camp for France. French supporters let out a loud cheer when the manager was read alongside the starting lineup.
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Somerset all-rounder Craig Overton said he could "not have asked for much more" in terms of his form in the County Championship this season.
Overton scored his third century of the campaign in the draw with Warwickshire to help Somerset move within five points of championship leaders Nottinghamshire.
The 32-year-old was wearing the captain's armband in Taunton in the absence of the injured Lewis Gregory.
"It's been a good start this year, hopefully can continue that form. I feel like the T20s haven't quite gone to plan yet but in the Championship I couldn't have asked for anything more," Overton told BBC Radio Somerset.
"Hopefully that continues come the back end of the comp."

Spain are almost guaranteed a place in the World Cup Round of 32 after thrashing Saudi Arabia 4-0 in Atlanta
After an underwhelming opening Group H draw with Cape Verde, La Roja needed a statement win to restore confidence - and they got it.
Rodri, wearing the captain’s armband, gave a commanding display as Spain put the Saudis under pressure from the word go.
And it took just 10 minutes to make that pressure pay, as Mikel Oyarzabal ‘s cross was turned in by Lamine Yamal at the far post.
The Spanish then effectively ended the contest with two goals in three minutes on 21 and 24 minutes, with Mikel Oyarzabal the scorer on each occasion and former City favourite Aymeric Laporte providing an ******* ist for one of the goals.

England boss Thomas Tuchel believes fit again star Jude Bellingham heads into the World Cup in his “sweet spot”.
The relationship between the Real Madrid midfielder and his national team manager has been under the spotlight since the German coach admitted last June that his mother found some of his on-field antics “repulsive”.
Tuchel apologised for that remark before overlooking him for October’s camp and facing questions about recalled Bellingham’s reaction to being substituted in November’s final World Cup qualifier in Albania.
An injury ruled the 22-year-old out of the March friendlies, yet he spent that time with England doing rehabilitation on a frustrating hamstring issue that may end up boosting their quest for World Cup glory.
Tuchel handed Bellingham the captain’s armband for the second half of Saturday’s scrappy 1-0 warm-up friendly against New Zealand in Tampa and said: “You can see Jude has for sure the decisiveness and bite.