A Northern Irish fan died in the French city of Nice after scaling a sea-front railing and falling on his head on to a stone beach, officials said yesterday.
He was the first supporter to die during Euro 2016, which has been marred by off-pitch violence between fans since Friday’s opening.
Nice’s public prosecutor, Jean-Michel Pretre, said he had opened an investigation and it was not yet known what led to the 24-year-old’s death, which involved a fall of seven or eight metres (around 25 feet).
Talks over Milan sale extended to June 30
Talks between Silvio Berlusconi and a group of Chinese investors over the sale of a majority stake in Milan have been extended to at least the end of June because of the former prime minister’s planned heart surgery, a source close to the matter said yesterday.
The Berlusconi family’s Fininvest holding company, which owns Milan, started exclusive talks with the Chinese consortium at the beginning of May to try to inject new capital into a club which has failed to win a major competition in the past five years.
“The deadline for the negotiations has been postponed to at least June 30,” the source told Reuters.
John Arne Riise retires from football
Former Liverpool and Norway left-back John Arne Riise has decided to call time on his career, the player confirmed yesterday.
The 35-year-old Riise spent seven years at Liverpool, making more than 250 appearances and winning the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup during his spell on Merseyside.
Riise played for several clubs, including Fulham and Italian side Roma following his departure from Anfield, and last played for Norwegian outfit Aalesund, where he started his career in 1996.
Riise ends his career as the most-capped Norwegian player of all time, having made 110 appearances for his country.
Pjanic completes move to Juventus
Juventus have signed Miralem Pjanic from rivals Roma for fee of €32 million, the Serie A champions have announced.
The Bosnian midfielder, who can play in a deep holding role or further forward as a playmaker, asked to leave the Giallorossi last week after Juve declared their interest in his services.
And after passing a medical in Turin yesterday morning, Pjanic signed a five-year contract with the Bianconeri, who have won the Italian title five times in a row.
Pjanic, now 26, joined Roma from Lyon in 2011 and soon became a key player in the Giallorossi team, helping the capital club secure second-placed finishes in both 2014 and 2015.
Srna likely to return after father’s funeral
Captain Darijo Srna is expected to be available for Croatia’s second Group D match against the Czech Republic on Friday after travelling back home for his father’s funeral yesterday, assistant coach Ante Mise said.
“It all comes down to how he feels but knowing Darijo, I am convinced he will be back and available to face the Czechs on Friday,” Mise said.
“A Croatian FA delegation, including coach Ante Cacic, accompanied Srna to attend the funeral and they will be back this evening (yesterday), while Srna can return whenever he is ready.
“We had no time to talk about whether he will be back in time for the Czech game.”
The 34-year-old right-back learned shortly after Croatia’s 1-0 win over Turkey in their Group D opener in Paris on Sunday that his father had died during the game.
Stam named as new Reading manager
The former Manchester United and Netherlands defender Jaap Stam is the new manager of English Championship side Reading, the club confirmed yesterday.
The 43-year-old moves from Ajax, where he worked as a coach, to become Reading’s first non-British manager.
He succeeds Brian McDermott, who was sacked last month after the club finished 17th in England’s second tier.
“Reading are very ambitious, they want to go to the PL and hopefully we can get there with a good partnership,” Stam said.
Liverpool bid for Udinese’s Zielinski
Liverpool have made a £9.5 million bid for Udinese’s Piotr Zielinski as manager Jurgen Klopp looks to boost his midfield options.
The Reds have officially submitted their offer for the Poland international, who was an unused substitute in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Northern Ireland at Euro 2016.
The player is wanted by Napoli but it is believed Anfield is the player’s preferred destination and there were claims in the Italian media that Klopp has called Zielinski to outline his plans.