More on the action from last night: Athletic Bilbao are upset with their own supporters.
Athletic Bilbao have condemned the behaviour of some of their fans after flares were thrown during their 1-1 Europa League draw with Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.
Fans in the away stand lit several flares during the match, with some being thrown in the direction of the pitch as well as into sections of the stadium containing home supporters. After the draw, in which Aitor Paredes’s late equaliser cancelled out Artem Dovbyk’s opener, Athletic’s captain Oscar de Marcos and forward Iñaki Williams could be seen remonstrating with their fans.
The Turkish Football Federation have condemned an armed attack on former Turkey and Fenerbahce striker turned TV pundit Serhat Akin in Istanbul on Thursday.
Akin posted a message on social media saying he had been shot in the foot after he left a TV studio in the Beykoz district of the city following Fenerbahce’s 2-1 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League.
“We have learned with regret that former national team player Serhat Akin was injured in his foot as a result of an armed attack,” TFF said in a statement.
“We strongly condemn the heinous attack and wish Serhat Akin ... a speedy recovery.”
The 43-year-old, who played 16 times for his country between 2002 and 2006, was taken to hospital for treatment.
Akin’s social media post included a picture of his bloodied ankle and foot, accompanied by the message: “They shot my feet after the programme, our last word is Fenerbahce.”
Fenerbahce, the club where Akin started his career and spent five years before moving on to Belgian side Anderlecht, also condemned the attack. “We expect the perpetrators to be brought to justice as soon as possible,” the club said.
Tom Garry has the good news and the bad news.
The proportion of schools in England offering girls equal access to football in physical education has climbed considerably since 2020, but not quite as fast as the Football Association had hoped at secondary-school level.
The Women’s Champions League draw for the group stage takes place at noon (BST). Here are the pots for that as we sort things into four groups of four:
Morning. It’s bleak outside (where I am), but here’s to a bright weekend of FOOTBALL! LIVE! FOOTBALL!
Before we get there, feel free to drop me a line with your thoughts on last night’s action in Europe, with 10-man Tottenham beating Qarabag after a delayed start. Rangers found joy in Sweden and there was action in the Women’s Champions League, too, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Celtic all advancing to the group stage.
Looking ahead to what’s on offer in the Premier League, we begin on Saturday with Manchester City visiting St James’ Park. The hosts have had a strange season, not looking all that great on the pitch … but currently sit sixth. Will Haaland Haaland them and extend the misery? More on that fixture and the rest in our weekly offering of Ten Things: