Sports
Leeds boss Daniel Farke accuses Man City’s Donnarumma of ‘faking injury’
Daniel Farke suggested Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma went down with a “fake injury” that allowed Pep Guardiola to give his players a team talk before they rallied to snatch a 3-2 Premier League win over Leeds.
After City bossed the first half at the Etihad Stadium, leading through Phil Foden‘s goal just 59 seconds in before Josko Gvardiol doubled the advantage, momentum shifted entirely in the second half as half-time substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin got Leeds back into it with their first goal.
The score was still 2-1 to City when Donnarumma called for the physios, with Guardiola immediately gathering his players around him as he sought to adjust to a change of shape from the visitors.
His team talk did not stop Leeds drawing level after Gvardiol conceded a penalty from which Lukas Nmecha scored the rebound from a Donnarumma save, but City eventually prevailed as Foden struck again in stoppage time.
Even though his side went on to equalise, Farke felt there was a shift in the game after Donnarumma received attention.
“It is within the rules,” the German said. “It is smart. If I like it, if it is in the sense of fair play, if it should be like this, I keep it to myself and I leave it to the authorities to find solutions for it. It is within the rules.
“I asked the fourth official at this point if you want to do something and he said: ‘No, our hands are tied, we can’t do anything.’
“If we don’t educate our players in football, what to do in terms of fair play, sportsmanship, if you just try to bend the rules to your advantage and you can do a fake injury in order to do an additional team talk, it is nothing I personally like but if it is within the rules I can’t complain about it.”
Guardiola’s team talk did not immediately solve City’s problems but after Nmecha’s equaliser City cranked up the pressure late on with Foden eventually finding the breakthrough.
Guardiola said he had believed Donnarumma’s injury was genuine, instructing James Trafford to warm up in case he was required.
“I didn’t speak with Gigio [Donnarumma],” he said. “When it happened I looked back to the dugout and said ‘James, warm up’. I don’t know. Next press conference you can ask me and I will ask Gigio.”
– Phil Foden winner helps Man City edge Leeds in Premier League
– Man City’s Erling Haaland made to wait for 100th Premier League goal
– Why Kompany is well placed to succeed Guardiola at Man City
City had come into the game off back-to-back defeats against Newcastle and Bayer Leverkusen, and conceding a two-goal lead to draw against a relegation-threatened side would have been another huge blow to their title credentials.
“It was a relief,” Guardiola said of Foden’s winner. “The game was not perfect in the first half but it should be over with the chances we had, we didn’t concede and after that they damaged us with the system like Leverkusen has done with a 5-3-2.
“Then we conceded the first goal and the way we have to move is completely different.
“Football is emotions. We conceded the second and after we made a step up. We reacted really well. We had to put the ball quickly in the box. With the full-backs, wingers, it doesn’t matter and in the end it’s the quality of Phil. When he arrives in these positions he can shoot or pass it in.”
Sports
Dolphins’ Darren Waller says he was kicked out of exit meeting with coach Mike McDaniel before firing
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Mike McDaniel last week, and Darren Waller almost found himself right in the thick of it.
“I was at the scene of the crime, bro. I think I was the last person to see him before he got fired,” the Dolphins tight end said in a recent appearance on Johnny Manziel’s podcast.
Waller said he was in his exit interview with McDaniel discussing possibilities for the 2026 season before owner Stephen Ross “kicked the door open” roughly 10 minutes into their discussion.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller (83) catches the ball in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Bob Donnan/Imagn Images)
“He comes in and, like, joins the conversation,” Waller said. “We’re just all talking, reflecting on the year, and Stephen Ross was like, ‘Love to have you back next year.’ Then the conversation kind of just hits a lull.”
Waller said Ross was then giving him a specific look, which Manziel understood.
“It’s time for you to get the hell out,” Manziel said laughing.
“I looked at Mike, and he said we’d finish the conversation later … I go out of the meeting, get a massage, check my phone and see he was fired. I’m like, ‘This s— is cold.’”
Ross cited a need for “comprehensive change” after the team missed the playoffs for a second straight year with a 7-10 finish this season.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel runs to the locker room after the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
FOX SUPER 6 CONTEST: CHRIS ‘THE BEAR’ FALLICA’S NFL DIVISIONAL ROUND PREDICTIONS
The Dolphins made back-to-back playoff appearances in McDaniel’s first two seasons as head coach but were eliminated both times in the first round. The following season, they were eliminated after suffering an unexpected loss to the New York Jets in the team’s season finale.
McDaniel’s final season in Miami was tumultuous, highlighted by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa‘s struggles and his eventual benching in the final three games of the season.
As one of his last major moves as head coach, McDaniel said this week that the Dolphins would hold a quarterback competition for the 2026 season, a decision Tagovailoa seemed to welcome this week when he confirmed he was open to a “fresh start” somewhere else.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel address reporters. (HAL HABIB / The Palm Beach Post / USA TODAY NETWORK)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
In addition to replacing their head coach and finding a reliable candidate for the quarterback position, the Dolphins will be looking for longtime general manager Chris Grier’s replacement after he was fired mid-season.
Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The New York Mets have reportedly made a big addition to their lineup.
The Mets and Bo Bichette are in agreement on a three-year, $126 million contract on Friday, according to multiple reports. After falling short in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, who reportedly signed a whopping four-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Mets pivoted to Bichette.
The deal includes opt-outs after both the first and second seasons of the contract, according to multiple reports.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Bo Bichette (11) runs after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during Game 7 of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. The game was played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Nov. 1, 2025. (John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images)
Bichette, 27, had a good season for the Toronto Blue Jays last season, hitting .311 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI in 135 games. He sustained a knee injury in September during a collision at home plate and missed the remainder of the regular season, the ALDS and ALCS.
He returned in the World Series and was a big contributor to the Blue Jays, who were just two outs away from winning it all. In seven World Series games, Bichette hit .348 with one home run and six RBI.
However, during the World Series, he moved off his normal position of shortstop and manned second base, because of his limited mobility with the injury. Bichette graded out poorly as a defensive shortstop regardless, and it does not appear that the Mets signed him to play shortstop, as they have Francisco Lindor there currently, who is a good defender.
DODGERS SIGN STAR OUTFIELDER KYLE TUCKER TO $240M CONTRACT: REPORTS
Bo Bichette (11) of the Toronto Blue Jays hits a two-RBI single in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium. The game was played in Los Angeles, California, on Oct. 28, 2025. (Harry How/Getty Images)
The Mets acquired Marcus Semien to play second base from the Texas Rangers earlier in the offseason, and he won a Gold Glove last season. With Semien and Lindor seemingly locked into second base and shortstop, respectively, it appears the Mets signed Bichette to play third base.
Bichette has never played third base in his professional career. If the Mets do indeed try Bichette at third base, it would mean their corner infielders could be making their professional debuts at their respective positions.
The Mets signed Jorge Polanco earlier this offseason to be their first baseman, despite him having never played there in his big-league career.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Toronto Blue Jays’ Bo Bichette watches his three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the third inning of Game 7 of baseball’s World Series. The game was played in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Nov. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Regardless of how the Mets align their infield, Bichette is a major boost to the top of their lineup. In seven seasons, Bichette is a career .294 hitter with 111 home runs and 437 RBI, along with 60 stolen bases.
The top of the Mets lineup will look very different next season with the additions of Bichette and Semien, along with mainstays Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil all having departed in free agency or via trade.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced that the 11th season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will kick off on Thursday, March 26, featuring eight teams following the inclusion of two new franchises.
The date was decided during the meeting of PSL Governing Council convened at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on Friday evening to finalise preparations for the upcoming season, according to a press release issued by the cricket board.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi chaired the meeting, which was attended by representatives of all eight PSL franchises, along with PCB and PSL officials.
The council welcomed the new team owners of Sialkot and Hyderabad to the PSL family and congratulated the board and league officials on the successful conclusion of the new teams auction.
The two new PSL franchises were acquired by FKS Group and OZ Developers for a whopping Rs1.75 billion and Rs1.85 billion, respectively.
Detailed discussions during the meeting covered the schedule of PSL 11, player retentions, the adoption of the player auction or a hybrid format called ‘drauction’, and the option of opening direct signings.
It was confirmed that PSL 11 will kick off on Thursday, 26 March, ushering in a new era for the league.
The meeting concluded with the formation of a working group set to convene on Saturday to deliberate further on remaining agenda items. The governing council will reconvene immediately as required to finalise decisions.
The PSL, which began in 2016 with five teams and expanded to six in 2018, further grown with the addition of two new franchises in its 11th edition.
PSL 2026 matches will be hosted in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, and, for the first time, Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, marking the venue’s debut as a PSL host city.
Dolphins’ Darren Waller says he was kicked out of exit meeting with coach Mike McDaniel before firing
Iran protest movement subsides after waves of unrest
Mets agree to deal with All-Star Bo Bichette after missing out on Kyle Tucker: reports
-
Entertainment1 week agoWhy did Nick Reiner’s lawyer Alan Jackson withdraw from case?
-
Sports6 days agoClock is ticking for Frank at Spurs, with dwindling evidence he deserves extra time
-
Business1 week agoTrump moves to ban home purchases by institutional investors
-
Tech4 days agoNew Proposed Legislation Would Let Self-Driving Cars Operate in New York State
-
Sports1 week agoPGA of America CEO steps down after one year to take care of mother and mother-in-law
-
Sports7 days ago
Commanders go young, promote David Blough to be offensive coordinator
-
Fashion6 days agoSouth India cotton yarn gains but market unease over US tariff fears
-
Fashion6 days agoChina’s central bank conducts $157-bn outright reverse repo operation