Manchester United have vowed to introduce the living wage to all their full-time staff by July – a year earlier than many of their Premier League counterparts.
Two weeks ago, all 20 Premier League clubs bowed to public pressure in the wake of the record £5.136 billion TV deal and agreed to introduce the living wage to all their full-time workers by the start of the 2016-17 season.
The living wage is based on the amount an individual needs to earn to cover the basic costs of living. Rather than wait until the summer of 2016, United have decided to bring the new pay rates in a year earlier.
Spartak fan stable after fall from roof
A Spartak Moscow supporter broke both arms after falling from the roof of the stadium during a Premier League match at Arsenal Tula on Thursday.
The fan was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition, said the TASS news agency after the home side scored a 1-0 win.
About 30 Spartak supporters climbed on to the roof in the second half and watched the match until they were told the game would be stopped unless they came down.
Ibra gets four-game ban for rant
Paris St Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been banned for four Ligue 1 games for insulting match officials.
Sebastien Deneux, head of the French League’s (LFP) disciplinary committee, told reporters that the Swede was found guilty of “using insulting language” after a game last month.
Ibrahimovic launched his expletive-laden rant after PSG lost 3-2 at Bordeaux on March 15.
The ban starts on Tuesday, meaning he can take part in today’s League Cup final against Bastia at the Stade de France.
Kuyt to return to ‘home’ Feyenoord
Dirk Kuyt has revealed he will return to Feyenoord at the end of the season, the Dutch club where he made his name a decade ago.
The former Netherlands international has been playing in Turkey at Fenerbahce since 2012, having spent six successful seasons with Liverpool.
“I’m coming home after the summer and I can’t wait to play again in De Kuip,” Kuyt said.
“Feyenoord have always been a draw. We talked about a return when I left Liverpool but it didn’t happen.”
The 34-year-old moved to Liverpool in 2006 after 83 goals in 122 appearances for Feyenoord over three seasons.
He represented the Netherlands for a decade and can count a World Cup final in 2010 among his 104 caps.
He retired after helping his country to third place in the 2014 finals in Brazil.
Alves on brink of Barcelona exit
Dani Alves looks set to leave Barcelona this summer after his representative confirmed the Brazilian right-back had rejected the club’s final contract offer.
Alves has enjoyed seven successful years at Barcelona, winning four Spanish titles and the Champions League twice.
But the 31-year-old has been unable to agree a new deal with the Catalan club and will leave the Nou Camp this summer.
Dinorah Santana, the player’s agent and ex-wife, said: “The negotiations are over.
“It’s very hard that we get to April and Barcelona haven’t thought about renewing Dani’s contract. Dani is sad.”
Perth barred from A-League play-offs
Perth Glory have been barred from the A-League play-offs next month after breaching the competition’s salary cap rules, Football Federation Australia said.
Perth are currently second in the standings, equal on 44 points with table-topping Melbourne Victory, but will be pushed down to seventh, one place outside the play-offs, at the conclusion of the regular season at the end of April.
Perth now have seven days to appeal the decision. The club will also be fined A$269,000 for breaching the salary cap for the last three seasons.
Benatia out for up to four weeks
Bayern Munich central defender Medhi Benatia could miss both legs of their Champions League quarter-final against Porto due to a muscle injury.
The 27-year-old was taken off in the first half of their victory on penalties over Bayer Leverkusen in the German Cup last eight on Wednesday.
The Morocco international said on his Twitter account that a medical examination suggested he would be out for between “two and four weeks”.
There was no official comment on the injury from Bayern, who travel to Porto next week before the return leg in Munich later this month.
Benatia joins a long injury list at Bayern that includes Bastian Schweinsteiger, David Alaba, Javi Martinez and reserve keeper Tom Starke.
Franck Ribery, who has been out for weeks with an ankle injury, returned to training on Wednesday while Thiago Alcantara has only just returned to action after a year out injured.