Sports
Wrexham set sights on Premier League after tough Chelsea loss
WREXHAM, Wales — Phil Parkinson said Wrexham’s next target is to make games against Chelsea a regular occasion in the Premier League after the EFL Championship team exited the FA Cup with a 4-2 fifth-round defeat against the FIFA Club World Cup winners.
Despite twice taking the lead in a pulsating tie at Stok Cae Ras, Wrexham were ultimately beaten in extra time following a 90th-minute red card for midfielder George Dobson.
But after coming close to defeating Liam Rosenior’s team during 90 minutes, Parkinson said that Wrexham, which occupy a playoff spot in the Championship, now want to face the elite every week.
– Liam Rosenior admits Chelsea were ‘lucky’ to win Wrexham FA Cup tie
– Chelsea end Wrexham’s FA Cup run in extra time
– VAR review: Why was Wrexham’s Dobson sent off for his challenge on Garnacho?
“That has to be the aim, playing these teams,” Wrexham’s manager said. “That’s what you’re in football for, to have nights like this. We look forward to being involved in big games like this.
“It’s a huge gulf between the spending power in the Premier League and where we are in the Championship and where we’ve come from so quickly.
“It’s been a great cup run. Tonight was a great spectacle, and we were competitive against a very good side.
“We will take a lot of positives from it. We showed a lot of good aspects to our play and played some great football.
“We weren’t just trying to stop Chelsea — we believe we can play.”
Wrexham have already achieved a record three straight promotions since actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac took charge of the team in England’s fifth tier five years ago. But the prize of the Premier League elite is now closer than ever.
“It has been the aim since day one [to get into the Premier League], it really has, nothing has really changed about that,” Reynolds told ESPN postmatch.
“It is just so moving to see how galvanizing it is around here, how these supporters just feel about this football club and how infectious it is and just to see people all over the world adopt Wrexham as sometimes their second team, sometimes their only team, it is a really beautiful thing,” Reynolds said.
Dobson’s red card and an extra time Lewis Brunt goal which was ruled out for offside were both decided by VAR, giving Wrexham a bitter first experience of the video assistant referee system used in the Premier League.
“VAR is up for debate, I don’t know, I think the chant was f— VAR,” Mac told ESPN. “At the end of the day, the rules are the rules, and I feel like we put on a really great performance, and it was reflected not only on the pitch but in the stadium.”
And Parkinson said that those decisions made the game much tougher for his players.
“The lads have given a lot tonight and to play extra time with 10 men is really hard,” he said.
“I know the rule is that it’s got to be a clear and obvious mistake, and I think the referee has to back his judgement [on the foul].
“Of course, when he’s been called over to the screen, he should have been kept on a yellow card.
“Offside is marginal, and we can’t complain if that’s offside, but I really don’t agree with VAR sending the referee to the screen and then him changing his mind.
“He had a great view of it. But we’ll take the positives of the evening and regroup. Tonight it wasn’t quite to be, but we were close.”
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted approval for public attendance in all three playoff matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.
“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on his official X handle.
However, Naqvi cautioned that the permission “comes with an important condition from his side that fans are strongly encouraged to use public transport or minimise fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts”.
Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well.
However, this comes with an important condition from his side that fans are strongly encouraged to… pic.twitter.com/SXtyhrIBpF
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) April 27, 2026
“He also conveyed his best wishes to all four teams competing in the PSL playoffs. Looking forward to some exciting and entertaining cricket ahead,” he added.
- Approval follows earlier clearance for PSL final attendance.
- Franchise owners pushed for reversal of no-crowd policy.
- Online sale of tournament’s final tickets goes live today.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted approval for public attendance in all three playoff matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.
“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on his official X handle.
The development comes two days after the premier had already approved spectator presence for the tournament final following a request from franchise owners.
The federal government had earlier restricted crowd attendance for the ongoing eight-team tournament under austerity measures, aiming to conserve resources amid the regional fuel crisis linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict.
Under this arrangement, 40 matches were held without spectators, with the tournament now set to conclude with just four remaining fixtures, including a qualifier, two eliminators, and the final.
However, Naqvi cautioned that the permission “comes with an important condition from his side that fans are strongly encouraged to use public transport or minimise fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts”.
“He [PM Shehbaz] also conveyed his best wishes to all four teams competing in the PSL playoffs. Looking forward to some exciting and entertaining cricket ahead,” Naqvi added.
The decision to allow spectators came after several franchise owners publicly urged the government to reconsider the no-crowd policy, arguing the league felt incomplete without fans and that spectator presence was central to the tournament’s atmosphere and identity.
Some franchise representatives had appealed directly to the premier, as well as provincial chief ministers, to permit crowds during the ongoing edition.
Meanwhile, the online sale of the PSL 11 final tickets went live today, with physical sale slated to commence on Tuesday.
With fans now allowed for all the remaining four matches of the eight-team tournament, the PCB has yet to share the ticketing details.
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Xia Brookside certainly has made an impact on Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) over the last few weeks.
As Brookside climbs the ladder to get back into the TNA Knockouts World Championship, she appeared to make an enemy along the way. Brookside helped Arianna Grace retain the title over Lei Ying Lee at Rebellion when she put Grace’s foot on the rope to break up the pin attempt.
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Xia Brookside attends the “Freelance” screening at Regal Waterford Lakes in Orlando, Fla., on Oct. 24, 2023. (Jose Devillegas/Getty Images)
Brookside was far from finished with Lee. Last week, Lee wanted answers from Brookside. The English wrestler gave Lee a hug in the middle of the ring, but assaulted her. Their feud is heating up.
Outside of the ring, Brookside revealed on Sunday she was starting “a new chapter.” She posted a video of herself getting baptized.
“Something I’ve been considering for a very long time, after getting consistent in going to church weekly, reading daily and the incredible support from my man, it felt like the easiest decision I’ve ever made,” she wrote on X. “Thank you to everyone that came to support me.”
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Candice LeRae and Xia Brookside compete during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., on Sept. 2, 2025. (Matt Pendleton/WWE)
Brookside, whose real name is Xia-Louise Brooks, is the daughter of retired pro wrestling star Robbie Brookside. He currently works as a trainer and producer for WWE NXT.
She started her pro wrestling career in the United Kingdom and worked her way through the independent scene, eventually joining WWE in 2018. She was featured in WWE NXT UK before she joined Stardom in Japan and eventually TNA.
She’s held championships in International Pro Wrestling United Kingdom and Rise Wrestling during her career. She was also ranked No. 91 on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s list of top women’s wrestlers in 2019.
Mina Shirakawa enters the ring during the women’s pro-wrestling event Stardom at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Dec. 29, 2022. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
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Brookside is back to making an impact on TNA again and is sure to be in line for the knockouts title down the line.
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