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Armenia captain ‘lost his head’ – Republic of Ireland’s Azaz on red card

By in News, Sports News
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Lauren McCann

BBC Sport NI journalist

Finn Azaz said Armenia captain Tigran Barseghyan “lost his head” when he headbutted the Republic of Ireland midfielder in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier in Dublin.

In the game’s major flashpoint, Barseghyan was dismissed seven minutes into the second half after thrusting his head into Azaz’s face as the players clashed on the sideline.

With a numerical advantage, the Republic of Ireland eventually broke the deadlock on 70 minutes through Evan Ferguson’s header, which earned them a vital first win in World Cup qualifying.

Southampton’s Azaz pointed to the red card as the turning point for the hosts, who also fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Hungary last month after their opponents had Roland Sallai sent off.

“It was a heated game, there is a lot of emotion, it was a physical game and these moments can happen,” Azaz told BBC Sport NI.

“He has lost his head and the consequences were they went down to 10 men. It was a headbutt, I felt the contact.”

‘We can do something special against Portugal’

The nervy win in Dublin moves the Republic of Ireland up to third in Group F, a point behind Hungary, who boosted their chances of securing a play-off place with a dramatic late draw against Portugal.

The group is delicately poised with two games remaining. If Hungary beat Armenia in their next game, the Republic of Ireland must earn at least a point to take the battle for second place into their trip to Budapest on 16 November.

The Republic of Ireland’s chances have twice been hit by late goals during this window, having conceded a 91st-minute Ruben Neves goal in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Portugal in Lisbon.

However, Azaz hopes the Irish players can build on that performance and Tuesday’s crucial win in their quest to upset Cristiano Ronaldo and co in Dublin on 13 November.

“We know it’s going to be tough, but we’ll take confidence from last week and this game and we’ll be confident we can do something special,” Azaz added.

“It’s going to be a big occasion, we saw the last game we can compete and they’re top players, but we have to be able to compete and no doubt we’ll be right up for it.”

Armenia boss Yegishe Melikyan said Barseghyan apologised to his team-mates after the game.

“Of course, the red card changed the game. It was a mistake,” said Melikyan.

“He took responsibility. He said sorry to the whole dressing room. But, if a player makes a mistake, it is also my mistake and for that I apologise.

Related topics

  • Republic of Ireland Men’s Football Team
  • Northern Ireland Sport
  • Football
  • Irish Football

How will Donald Trump enforce his plan for Gaza?

By in News, World News

The US President has urged leaders in the Middle East to move past conflict.

United States President Donald Trump says his Gaza ceasefire deal will bring peace to the Middle East.

Some 20 world leaders, including Trump, signed the agreement at a special summit in Egypt on Monday.

The deal outlines the steps both Hamas and Israel must take to maintain the ceasefire and end the war in Gaza.

But it does not quite address the bigger question of what will happen in the Palestinian territory beyond the next few months.

What about Israel’s larger occupation? And the establishment of a viable Palestinian state?

How will Trump’s plan address these important issues?

Presenter: Nick Clark

Guests:

Ori Goldberg – political commentator

Phyllis Bennis – fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies

Syria’s al-Sharaa to meet Russia’s Putin in Moscow on Wednesday

By in News, World News

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa will visit Russia on Wednesday to meet with President Vladimir Putin, Syria’s state news agency reports, as part of a broader diplomatic push to bolster the Damascus transitional government’s international legitimacy.

It will be al-Sharaa’s first official visit to Moscow, a longtime ally of the former Bashar al-Assad regime that al-Sharaa’s forces ousted in December.

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During the visit, al-Sharaa and Putin will discuss “regional and international developments” and “ways to strengthen cooperation”, Syria’s SANA news agency reported on Tuesday, citing the presidential media directorate. Al-Sharaa will also meet with members of the Syrian community living in Russia, the report said.

The Reuters news agency cited a Syrian official as saying that al-Sharaa will hold talks on the continued presence of Russia’s naval base in Tartous and its air base in Khmeimim. The source added that al-Sharaa also plans to formally request that Moscow hand over al-Assad, who has been living in exile with his family in Moscow since fleeing Syria in December.

Al-Sharaa, who once headed the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda under the name Abu Mohammed al-Julani, commanded rebel forces that seized Damascus and installed a new government late last year, ending al-Assad’s decades-long rule.

Since then, Russia has sought to build ties with Syria’s new leadership, including offering Damascus diplomatic support over Israeli strikes on Syrian territory.

SANA reported that Putin called al-Sharaa in February, expressing support for Syria’s “unity, sovereignty and stability”. In July, Putin and his minister of foreign affairs, Sergey Lavrov, met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in Moscow.

The Syrian president’s visit to Moscow follows his September trip to New York, where he addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), declaring that Syria was “reclaiming its rightful place among the nations of the world” and urging for an end to sanctions.

England Rout Latvia To Qualify For World Cup

By in News, sport-news

Harry Kane scored twice as England secured qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a 5-0 thrashing of Latvia on Tuesday.

Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in Riga before Kane took his tally for club and country this season to 21 goals in 13 games.

A Maksims Tonisevs own-goal and Eberechi Eze’s strike rounded off the scoring as the Three Lions guaranteed top spot in Group K of UEFA qualifying with two games to spare.

Thomas Tuchel has completed his first task with ease as his side became the first European nation to qualify.

England have won all six of their qualifiers since the German took charge, scoring 18 goals without conceding.

“It comes rarely that you qualify for a World Cup, so the mood is very, very good,” said Tuchel. “In the dressing room, it’s all smiles, music. It’s a moment to enjoy because it’s a special moment.”

After a slow start to Tuchel’s reign with unconvincing victories over Albania and Andorra, plus a friendly defeat to Senegal in June, England have clicked into gear over the past two international breaks.

“Of course we expect us to win against Latvia, but the way we won first of all gives us a lot of satisfaction,” added Tuchel.

“We did it six out of six wins, six clean sheets. We are there and to have this feeling is a very unique feeling.”

Players including England’s defender #02 Ezri Konsa and Latvia’s defender #02 Daniels Balodis vie for the ball in the box during the 2026 World Cup qualifying group K football match between Latvia and England at the Daugava Stadium in Riga, Latvia on October 14, 2025, (Photo by Gints Ivuskans / AFP)

Tuchel’s decision to leave out fit-again Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden from his squad this month was questioned.

But the former Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss has been rewarded for implementing continuity with his selection.

Gordon is one of those to benefit from a run of games on the left of a front three.

The Newcastle winger opened the floodgates when he cut inside to curl into the far corner for just his second England goal on 26 minutes.

‘Building Momentum’

Kane had uncharacteristically missed a glorious early chance when he steered a Gordon cross wide.

The Bayern Munich striker soon found his range with two goals in four minutes at the end of the first half to take his international tally to 76 in 110 caps.

Despite losing his balance, Kane steered a shot into the far corner off his weaker left foot to double England’s lead.

Kane then accepted the gift of a soft penalty award for holding of his shirt by Latvia captain Antonijs Cernomordijs.

“I spoke before about building momentum, no matter who we play,” said Kane.

“We hold on to that. Hold on to winning games, to clean sheets, to pressing high, scoring goals and we’ve done all of that.”

England were able to coast through the second period despite five substitutions disrupting the visitors’s attacking flow.

England forward #15 Morgan Rogers (C) controls the ball in front of Latvia’s goalkeeper #01 Krisjanis Zviedris (L) during the 2026 World Cup qualifying group K football match between Latvia and England at the Daugava Stadium in Riga, Latvia on October 14, 2025, (Photo by Gints Ivuskans / AFP)

The fourth goal was a self-inflicted blow by Latvia as the ball looped into his own net off Tonisevs after goalkeeper Krisjanis Zviedris failed to connect with Djed Spence’s cross.

Eze was one of those introduced after the break and the Arsenal playmaker rounded off the scoring with a fine run and finish on 86 minutes.

England have not failed to qualify for a World Cup since it was last in the USA back in 1994.

The hard work for Tuchel now starts in trying to deliver his adopted nation’s first major trophy since 1966.

Hard decisions lie ahead with Bellingham, Foden, Jack Grealish, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Cole Palmer among those not even in the travelling squad to Riga.

Police Foil Kidnap Attempt, Recover Weapons In Forest Operation

By in News, Nigeria News

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have foiled a planned kidnapping and armed attack at Byazhin Forest, Abuja.

The police disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday by the FCT Police Command, Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh.

The force said the operation, conducted on October 10, led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a magazine, and thirty rounds of live ammunition.

The operation followed credible intelligence from the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) of the Force Headquarters.

The intelligence revealed that a notorious bandit leader, identified as Idrisa, also known as “Mai Duna,” planned coordinated attacks on villages around Byazhin Forest.

Acting swiftly, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit deployed tactical teams and mounted an ambush along the identified routes of the suspects, the force said.

READ ALSO: Lagos Re-Arraigns Evans For Alleged Murder Of Two Policemen

According to the police, at about 1:00 a.m. on October 11, operatives sighted two groups of heavily armed bandits advancing towards the area, and they engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle that lasted about twenty minutes.

The police said, despite strong resistance, they overpowered the criminals, forcing them to retreat into the forest with gunshot wounds, adding that reinforcement teams from nearby Police and Military formations immediately joined the operation.

According to the force, the joint effort secured the area and blocked all possible escape routes. A thorough search of the scene led to the recovery of one AK-47 rifle with a defaced serial number, one magazine, and thirty live 7.6mm rounds.

The Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Ajao Adewale, commended the officers for their bravery and professionalism during the operation. He noted that their prompt response prevented a major security breach within the Federal Capital Territory.