A court in Rio de Janeiro ordered the dismissal Thursday of Brazilian football federation head Ednaldo Rodrigues, citing problems in his employment agreement.
Rodrigues had already been temporarily suspended in 2023 after a court found irregularities with his 2022 election, but was reinstated on orders of a Supreme Court judge after FIFA threatened sanctions against Brazilian football.
On Thursday, a judge ruled that an employment agreement between Rodrigues and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), was “null” and void.
FIFA and the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) had refused to accept Rodrigues’s 2023 ouster, warning the CBF it could be barred from international competitions if it allowed external interference in its affairs.
Rodrigues had been leading negotiations to sign Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti as coach, a bid that fell apart at the time.
READ ALSO: Yamal, Lopez Strike To Seal Barcelona La Liga Title Triumph At Espanyol
Ancelotti was finally appointed to the job just this week, replacing Zinedine Zidane.
In March, Rodrigues was unanimously reelected to his post until 2030.
But the Rio court said Thursday one of the signatories of Rodrigues’s 2025 contract had been mentally unfit to sign, meaning there had been “possible forgery.”
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win at local rivals Espanyol on Thursday, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table.
Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble.
Only the Champions League escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2023.
Barcelona players pose before the start of their Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, on May 15, 2025. (Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO / AFP)
Back then, celebrating Barca players were chased from the field by angry home supporters but this time Espanyol turned on the sprinklers to soak the jubilant visitors, who headed down the tunnel quickly.
READ ALSO: Haaland Eyes FA Cup To Save Face After Man City’s ‘Horrific’ Season
Yamal opened the scoring after 53 minutes of a tense derby clash with a brilliant curling effort, before Lopez added another in the 95th minute to secure victory.
“You don’t win a league every day and you have to enjoy it and value it as it should be valued,” midfield star Pedri told Movistar.
“I think (Espanyol) here, knowing that we were playing for the title, are a team that when they sit deep and try to hit you on the counter, can do that well.
“I’m happy because in the end we got the victory and won the league, and that’s what matters.”
Outside the stadium before the match several Espanyol fans were hit by a car which drove into a big crowd, although none were seriously injured and police said it appeared to be an accident.
Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder #16 Fermin Lopez celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the Spanish league football match between RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, on May 15, 2025. (Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO / AFP)
Barcelona were seconds away from sealing their title triumph on Wednesday but Real Madrid snatched a 95th-minute winner against Mallorca to delay the inevitable.
Flick’s side started slowly in Cornella, with Espanyol, 16th, looking dangerous on the counter-attack and keen to secure their top-flight survival.
Wojciech Szczesny made a fine save to deny Javi Puado who broke through on goal in Espanyol’s best chance of the opening period.
Barca dominated the ball but failed to create any clear opportunities themselves in the first half.
Yamal breaks through
The Catalan giants have often blown teams away this season, approaching a century of goals in La Liga, but with the title on the line and a hostile crowd against them, they needed something special to break through.
That came from 17-year-old wing wizard Yamal, who zipped inside off the right flank and unleashed a rocket into the top corner from outside the box, in a replica of his goal for Spain against France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
It was the teenager’s eighth La Liga strike of the season but with goals in both matches against rivals Real and also in the visit to face Atletico Madrid, he has a penchant for the big occasion.
Barca’s superb display in Sunday’s Clasico, in which they beat their rivals 4-3 in a thrilling battle, effectively won them the title.
They still had to get it over the line against their neighbours, though, and that became easier when Leandro Cabrera was sent off for an elbow into Yamal’s stomach.
Even though they had a player fewer, Espanyol pressured Barcelona heavily until Lopez drilled past Joan Garcia to end the hosts’ resistance.
Espanyol fans pelted Barcelona players with bottles as they celebrated the goal, but as the league’s youngest squad wrapped up a title that most believed was unlikely at best after Kylian Mbappe’s arrival at last year’s champions Real, they did not care.
Several Espanyol fans were hurt after a car drove into a crowd of people outside the RCDE Stadium on Thursday leaving at least 13 with minor injuries, ahead of a La Liga derby clash against Barcelona.
The Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional Catalan police, said the driver of the vehicle had been arrested and a spokesperson told AFP the incident appeared to be “accidental”.
“The situation is controlled and in no case does it pose a risk to people inside the sports venue,” said the Mossos on social media platform X.
READ ALSO: Court Orders Dismissal Of Brazil Football Federation President
The Catalan emergency medical services are on the scene after several Espanyol fans were hurt when a car drove into a crowd of people outside the RCDE Stadium, leaving at least 13 with minor injuries, ahead of a La Liga derby clash against Barcelona. (Photo by AFP)
After the match had begun an announcement was made inside the stadium saying the crash situation was “under control” and that there were “no serious injuries”.
The Catalan emergency medical services said on X that 13 people had sustained injuries, none of them serious.
Barcelona are hoping to clinch the La Liga title with a derby victory over Espanyol.
South Africa edged Flying Eagles of Nigeria 1-0 in a tense semi-final clash at the Suez Canal Stadium on Thursday to book a place in the final of the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
A well-taken header by Tylon Smith in the 66th minute proved decisive in a fiercely contested match between two of Africa’s traditional football powerhouses.
The result also ends Nigeria’s hopes of winning a record-extending eighth U-20 AFCON title.
The Flying Eagles were dominant for large spells in the second half, but were made to rue missed opportunities, particularly in the final moments when South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe produced a string of saves to deny Emmanuel Chukwu and Israel Ayuma.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Flying Eagles Beat Senegal, Soar Into U-20 AFCON Semi-Final
The match began cautiously, with both sides probing without creating clear-cut chances.
Nigeria’s Tahir Maigana and South Africa’s Kutlwano Letlhaku both had early efforts saved in a first half that ended goalless despite Nigeria’s superior attacking numbers.
The breakthrough came just after the hour mark. Neo Rapoo whipped in a corner from the right, and Smith rose highest to power home a header into the centre of the goal — his first of the tournament and arguably the most important yet for the Amajita.
Nigeria responded with urgency, making double substitutions in the 65th minute to inject pace and fresh energy into the attack.
Rickson Mendos and Bidemi Amole nearly made instant impacts, with both going close in a series of intense late assaults on the South African goal.
Ayuma had two excellent chances to level, including a diving header that was brilliantly saved by Lowe.
But South Africa’s resolute defending and composed midfield play saw them through, stretching their unbeaten run at the Suez Canal Stadium to four games.
The win sees South Africa reach their second U-20 AFCON final, their first since 1997 when they finished as runners-up.
Ruben Amorim believes the best preparation for Manchester United ahead of the Europa League final would be to shock Chelsea in Friday’s Premier League clash rather than resting his key players.
United sit 16th in the English top flight, just outside the relegation zone, after their worst ever Premier League season by some distance.
Amorim has won just six of his 25 league games since taking charge in November.
Manchester United’s Swedish defender #02 Victor Lindelof (L), Manchester United’s Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes (C) and Manchester United’s Danish midfielder #14 Christian Eriksen (R) react to their defeat on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on May 11, 2025. West Ham won the game 2-0. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
However, the Europa League offers the chance of salvation with a place in next season’s lucrative Champions League on offer for the winner as well as a major European trophy.
READ ALSO: Haaland Eyes FA Cup To Save Face After Man City’s ‘Horrific’ Season
“We cannot spend eight days, nine days without a game. That is a bad thing for the final,” said Amorim.
“The best way is to face the game like we should face the game — it is to win the game. We need to perform, we need to win points in the Premier League and that is the feeling.
Manchester United’s Portuguese head coach Ruben Amorim and players applaud fans after the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on May 11, 2025. West Ham won the game 2-0. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
“The players have to understand that if you play or don’t play against Chelsea, it means nothing to the final. That is important.
“I am just preparing the game of Chelsea. That is my focus and we want to win and to perform.”
Defenders Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro are all expected to miss the trip to London with their participation in the final in doubt.
Chelsea must win at Stamford Bridge to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification via a top-five finish in their own hands.
Erling Haaland said Manchester City must deliver in the FA Cup final on Saturday to salvage something from a “horrific” season that saw them deposed as English champions for the first time in five years.
City face Crystal Palace at Wembley aiming to avoid a first trophyless campaign since Pep Guardiola’s debut season in charge in 2016/17.
Guardiola’s men sit fourth in the Premier League, 18 points adrift of champions Liverpool, and in a battle just to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football next season in their final two league matches.
City were also dumped out of the Champions League before the last 16 for the first time in 12 years by Real Madrid in the play-off round.
“This season has been tough,” Haaland told the BBC. “It is not nice to lose so many games. It is boring and not fun. That’s why we need to finish well and get a trophy.
“It is a good habit to reach Wembley and always important to win trophies. We have the FA Cup final to play for and in a horrific season we still managed to do this.”
Haaland is set to start the final after making his comeback from a six-week injury layoff in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Southampton.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has missed most of the season with a serious knee injury, while City have been beset by fitness troubles for a series of key defenders.
But Haaland said that should offer no excuses to a club with the resources at City’s disposal.
“Of course, we have had injuries throughout the season. But we should not search for excuses,” added the Norwegian.
“Every single one of us hasn’t been good enough and we haven’t been at our best, so when you are not at your best you aren’t going to win games in this country because it’s so hard.”
