Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been banned for one game and fined £20,000 “in relation to his behaviour after he was shown a second yellow card” in the FA Cup tie against Everton last month. The Spaniard was sent off following a clash with Gareth Barry, but denied biting the Everton midfielder.
Aston Villa’s Gabby Agbonlahor has been pictured appearing to hold a shisha pipe while he soaks up the sun in Dubai. Agbonlahor used the international break to take a holiday, jetting off to Dubai with teammate Micah Richards , while his side languish bottom of the Premier League table lurching from one setback to another. While in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday Agbonlahor was snapped appearing to hold a shisa pipe in a crowded Dubai street. Hours later he was at the People by Crystal nightclub, partying the night away with Richards and Crystal Palace pair Dwight Gayle and Frazier Campbell. These pictures are another blow to Aston Villa , who are suffering a nightmare season. Aston Villa tweeted this morning saying “An internal investigation is currently underway. While this is being conducted, Gabby Agbonlahor will not feature.” This could mean trouble for Gabby. Remember Jack Grealish’s case?
Barcelona and Argentina star Lionel Messi has caused a stir in Egypt after offering his boots for a charity auction. Messi, 28, donated his boots for an auction in an interview with TV channel MBC Masr broadcast last week. But the gesture has been blasted in Egypt, where shoes can be used as a symbol of disrespect or insult. Member of Parliament and TV presenter Said Hasasin responded furiously, labelling the move “humiliating”. “Whose shoes do you want to sell, Messi? How much do you think it will get? You don’t know that the nail of a baby Egyptian is worth more than your shoes? Keep your shoes to yourself,” he said on Al-Asimah TV.
Former Super Eagles captain, Austin Jay Jay Okocha has come out of retirement to sign a lucrative deal worth $50m a year making him the richest paid Nigerian footballer despite his age. According to a local media report in China, Okocha closed the deal following a trial where he impressed the officials with is mercurial skills in the middle of the pack.
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