Submit your Article

Ryan Giggs has resigned as Wales manager "with immediate effect". 

The former Manchester United winger, 48, stepped away from his role in November 2020 after being arrested, BBC reported.

Giggs was later charged with using controlling behaviour and assaulting his ex-girlfriend, charges he has denied.

Robert Page took over as interim Wales boss in Giggs' absence, leading them to a first World Cup finals since 1958.

In a statement, Giggs said: "After much consideration, I am standing down from my position as manager of the Wales men's national team with immediate effect. 

"It has been an honour and a privilege to manage my country, but it is only right that the Wales FA, the coaching staff and the players prepare for the tournament with certainty, clarification and without speculation around the position of their head coach."

The Football Association of Wales released its own statement following Giggs' announcement, according to BBC.

"The FAW places on record its gratitude to Ryan Giggs for his tenure as manager of the Cymru men's national team and appreciates the decision he has taken, which is in the best interests of Welsh football," it read.

"The full focus of the FAW and the Cymru men's national team is on the Fifa World Cup in Qatar later this year."

Former Wales captain Page, 47, Giggs' assistant since August 2019, took charge of matches from November 2020, leading Wales to top spot in their Nations League group.

He continued to deputise for Giggs - who was appointed by Wales in January 2018 - in March 2021 as Wales kicked off their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.

That would culminate in a famous play-off final win over Ukraine in June 2022, booking a place at Qatar for Wales' first appearance at a World Cup finals in 64 years.

Wales will play England, the United States and Iran in Group B, with their opening game against the USA on 21 November.

Under Page's guidance, Wales also reached the last 16 of the Euro 2020 finals, which were delayed until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and he is now expected to become permanent Wales boss, BBC reported.

Giggs has pleaded not guilty to controlling and coercive behaviour against his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville between August 2017 and November 2020.

He has also pleaded not guilty to assaulting Ms Greville causing her actual bodily harm, and common assault of her younger sister, Emma Greville, at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on 1 November 2020.

The trial was originally scheduled to take place last January but was postponed until 8 August due to a lack of court space. The trial is set to last a minimum of five days.

Giggs added: "I do not want the country's preparations for the World Cup to be affected, destabilised or jeopardised in any way by the continued interest around this case.

"I am sad that we cannot continue this journey together because I believe that this extraordinary group will make the country proud at our first World Cup since 1958, according to BBC.

"It is my intention to resume my managerial career at a later date."

World governing body Fifa has teamed up with players' union Fifpro to try to identify people who target players with abusive social media posts, BBC reported.

A report tracked 400,000 social media posts during the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 and this year's Africa Cup of Nations.

The study found that over 50% of players received some kind of abuse.

The report found that black players who missed penalties were the most abused players in the Euro 2020 final.

BBC Sport understands that England's Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka, who both missed their spot-kicks in the shootout defeat by Italy, were the players who suffered the most abuse during the Euro 2020 final.

"Our duty is to protect football, and that starts with the players who bring so much joy and happiness to all of us by their exploits on the field of play," said Fifa president Gianni Infantino, according to BBC.

"Unfortunately, there is a trend developing where a percentage of posts on social media channels directed towards players, coaches, match officials and the teams themselves is not acceptable. This form of discrimination, like any form of discrimination, has no place in football."

The report found that most of the abuse during the two periods in question came from the players' home countries.

Homophobic (40%) and racist (38%) comments made up the majority of the abuse, according to the report, with most of it remaining online.

The report also states that 90% of accounts flagged as having published abusive comments have a "high probability" of identification.

In response, Fifa and Fifpro are to launch a dedicated 'in-tournament moderation service' that will scan recognised hate speech terms published to identified social media accounts. 

Once detected, the aim is to prevent the comment from being seen by the recipient and their followers. 

"Online abuse is a societal issue and as an industry we cannot accept that this new form of abuse and discrimination affects so many people including our players," said Fifpro president David Aganzo, BBC reported.

"This collaboration recognises football's responsibility to protect the players and other affected groups against the abuse they increasingly face in and around their workplace."

European football is in "danger" unless "state-owned" clubs such as Manchester City and Paris St-Germain can be controlled, the president of Spain's top league says, BBC reported.

La Liga has filed a complaint to Uefa about what it believes to be Financial Fair Play breaches by the two clubs.

It believes they are effectively run by wealthy countries and circumvent rules designed to keep spending sustainable.

Both clubs have vigorously denied the complaints.

Premier League winners Manchester City are majority-owned by Sheikh Mansour of the United Arab Emirates, while the Emir of Qatar owns French champions PSG. 

"We're doing it to defend the football eco-system in Europe," said La Liga president Javier Tebas.

"We think European football is in danger. [We have] not been able to design a system to control the state-owned clubs."

He has strongly criticised PSG over the new multi-million pound contract they gave star striker Kylian Mbappe, according to BBC.

Speaking at a European Leagues meeting in Amsterdam, he added: "We've made official complaints about PSG for financial doping. 

"Uefa have allowed losses because clubs reduced their turnover, but PSG increased their wage bill by an incredible amount during Covid.

"Their wages for 2021-22 were 600m euros. It is impossible. That is without including Mbappe. It is obvious they are not applying FFP [Financial Fair Play] rules. It is endangering the entire financial eco-system in Europe."

The complaint against PSG was made last week and the one against City in April, although La Liga says it reserves the right to extend these complaints.

In July 2020, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned a two-year Champions League ban imposed on City by Uefa for FFP breaches.

Tebas added: "At one point, Man City had 68% of their revenue from commercial income. Real Madrid was 54%. That is impossible. Man City as a brand is not worth that much. They were sanctioned but it was reversed. PSG is even more obvious. It is totally impossible. Contracts were inflated, BBC reported.

"The majority of people in football try to control their financial status. It is not a problem they are owned by the state. It is the financial side."

Nepal faced a 38-run defeat at the hands of the USA in ICC World Cup League-2.

The USA posted a 246-run target for Nepal in the match played at Moosa Cricket Stadium in Huston of the US. Nepal could muster 206 runs all out in 47.4 overs.

Nepal’s Aarif Sheikh scored the highest 63 runs including three fours while Sompal Kami gathered 47 runs, including a four from 72.

Sheikh and Kami made a partnership for 106 runs in the face-saving sixth wicket. Opener Kushal Bhurtel made 10, Ashif Sheikh 18, Dev Khanal 34 and Rohit Kumar Poudel 16 runs.

Saurav Netravalkar and Ali Khan of USA took three wickets each and Nothus Kaijing and Nisarga Patel one each to steer the USA team to victory.

Earlier, put on bat first after losing the toss, the USA mustered 245-7 in the 50-limited overs game.

Nepal’s bowlers Karan KC took three wickets, captain Sandeep Lamichhane two and Sompal Kami and Deepndra Singh Eiri one each.