Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner and captain Marc Guehi were involved in a heated exchange at half-time during their stunning FA Cup exit to non-league Macclesfield Town.
The revelation comes from Macclesfield assistant manager Francis Jeffers, who witnessed the incident during the interval at the Leasing.com Stadium.
Jeffers claims the tension between the Eagles’ boss and his skipper boiled over as the Premier League side struggled against their seventh-tier opponents.
Dressing room unrest exposed
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the former Everton striker provided an insider’s view of the chaos engulfing the visitors.
The Silkmen’s coaching staff were in close proximity to the away dressing room when the confrontation allegedly took place.
“There was a big disagreement between the manager and the captain at half-time. It was loud and it was clear there was frustration there.”
Francis Jeffers, Macclesfield assistant manager
The south London club were trailing at the break, eventually succumbing to a humiliating 2-1 defeat against the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition.
Pressure mounts on Glasner
This reported bust-up adds another layer of scrutiny to Glasner’s tenure at Selhurst Park.
The Austrian tactician has been under increasing pressure following a difficult Premier League campaign.
Guehi, usually a figure of composure for both club and country, appeared visibly frustrated as the top-flight side failed to break down the Northern Premier League leaders.
Jeffers suggested the discord was symptomatic of a team lacking cohesion on a historic night for the Cheshire club.
A night to forget
The defeat marked one of the most significant upsets in the long history of the FA Cup.
While Macclesfield celebrated a famous victory, the inquest into Palace’s performance began immediately in the tunnel.
Neither the club nor the England defender has officially commented on the specific details of the half-time row.
Marcus Rashford has been ruled out of Barcelona’s crucial Copa del Rey semi-final clash with Atletico Madrid, prompting a wave of support that underlines his growing status in Catalonia.
Fresh injury blow
The Manchester United loanee was forced to watch from the sidelines on Thursday evening.
He sustained a knock during the 3-0 La Liga victory over Mallorca last weekend.
It serves as a significant disappointment for the England international, who had been enjoying a rich vein of form.
The 28-year-old has netted three times and registered one assist in his last six outings across all competitions.
Barcelona confirmed the absence via social media, triggering an immediate response from the fanbase.
Despite the frustration of losing a key attacker, the Camp Nou faithful rallied around the forward.
‘One of their own’
Reaction to the news highlights how quickly the versatile forward has settled into life in Spain.
One supporter posted on X: “Big miss. He was great the last game. Played through pain probably. Now missing Pedri, Raphinha and Rashford for the away leg.”
Another added: “That’s unlucky timing. He was just settling in.”
“Speedy recovery Marcus Rashford. Come back stronger,” wrote a third fan.
This level of backing suggests the loanee is already being treated as a permanent fixture by the supporters.
Transfer decision looms
Rashford has adapted smoothly to the demands of La Liga, registering 10 goals in 34 matches this season.
He is scheduled to return to Old Trafford when his season-long loan concludes in the summer.
However, the Spanish giants hold an option to purchase the attacker outright.
The warmth from the stands could play a pivotal role in shaping a permanent move during the upcoming transfer window.
It marks a stark contrast to the end of his time in Manchester.
International resurgence
This is not the first time the Wythenshawe-born star has flourished away from his parent club.
A successful loan spell at Aston Villa last season reignited his career.
That impact caught the eye of England head coach Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel handed the forward eight caps in 2025, a dramatic increase from a single appearance the previous year.
While Ruben Amorim’s exit from United has theoretically reopened the door for a return to Manchester, Rashford’s future appears increasingly tied to the continent.
Marc Casado and Ferran Torres have been told to leave by furious supporters after Barcelona suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final.
Hansi Flick’s side face a near-impossible task to reach the final following a disastrous first-leg collapse at the Wanda Metropolitano.
An early Eric Garcia own goal set the tone before Antoine Griezmann, Ademola Lookman, and Julian Alvarez ruthlessly exposed the visitors’ defensive frailties.
While few emerged with credit, the ire of the travelling support focused heavily on two specific homegrown talents.
Midfielder faces intense scrutiny
Marc Casado endured a torrid evening in the capital and was substituted after just 37 minutes of the contest.
The 22-year-old struggled to cope with the intensity of Diego Simeone’s side, leading to a wave of criticism across social media.
One exasperated supporter suggested the midfielder is “not built” for high-stakes encounters of this magnitude.
Another fan offered a scathing assessment, claiming the La Masia graduate “isn’t even good enough to start for Getafe” let alone the Catalan giants.
Forward line fails to fire
Ferran Torres also found himself in the firing line after an anonymous showing leading the attack.
The former Manchester City forward managed fewer than 20 touches, leaving the visitors without a focal point throughout the match.
Supporters were ruthless in their verdict, with calls for the club to offload the Spanish international in the upcoming transfer window.
“Ferran needs to be sold as well,” one fan stated, describing him as a “nothing player” following the routing.
Comparisons were even drawn to veteran Robert Lewandowski, with fans suggesting keeping Torres poses a greater risk to the club’s future success than retaining the 37-year-old.
A mountain to climb
The result leaves Barcelona requiring a miracle turnaround in the second leg to salvage their domestic cup ambitions.
Flick must now rally his demoralised squad as they attempt to recover from a night that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
The Gunners missed a chance to extend their lead at the summit after a frustrating evening against the Bees.
Arsenal’s Premier League title charge hit a stumbling block in a 1-1 draw at Brentford, with summer signing Eberechi Eze facing intense scrutiny after being hauled off at half-time.
Mikel Arteta’s side arrived at the Gtech Community Stadium looking to maintain a six-point cushion at the top of the table.
However, the visitors were forced to settle for a point after a spirited fightback from the hosts.
Noni Madueke had given the north Londoners the lead in the second half, rising highest to convert a cross from Piero Hincapie.
That advantage was short-lived as Lewis Keane-Potter equalised for the Bees, heading home following a dangerous long throw.
While the result serves as a dent to Arsenal’s championship aspirations, the post-match discourse has centred heavily on the ineffective display of their midfield playmaker.
‘Nowhere to be seen’
Eze, signed from Crystal Palace for a reported £68m, was expected to be the creative architect against a stubborn Brentford defence.
The England international failed to make an impact, registering just 17 touches during a disjointed first 45 minutes.
His distribution was equally concerning, completing only nine passes with just a single one finding a teammate inside the opposition box.
The 27-year-old looked stagnant in possession and struggled to cope with the physical intensity of the west London derby.
Arteta had seen enough by the interval, replacing the struggling midfielder with club captain Martin Odegaard.
The introduction of the Norwegian immediately improved the visitor’s fluidity, highlighting the stark contrast in performance levels.
Supporters vent frustration
The underwhelming cameo has drawn sharp criticism from the Arsenal faithful, many of whom are already questioning the long-term viability of the big-money recruit.
Fans took to social media to express their dismay, labelling the performance as ‘atrocious’ given the stakes of the title race.
“Eze off for Odegaard. Eze really can’t complain about his substitution. He was nowhere near the level required tonight.”
– Arsenal supporter on X
With every point crucial in the hunt for a first league title in over two decades, patience appears to be wearing thin.
If the former Palace man hopes to displace Odegaard in the starting XI permanently, he will need to offer far more than he showed on Thursday night.
Jude Bellingham is a major doubt for England’s upcoming matches against Uruguay and Japan amid fears his hamstring injury will now sideline him for up to eight weeks.
The 22-year-old Galactico initially damaged the muscle against Rayo Vallecano earlier this month, with initial prognosis suggesting a four-week absence.
However, fresh medical assessments from Madrid indicate a more severe issue requiring a recovery period stretching potentially to two months.
Tuchel admits concern over midfield ace
If these worst-case fears are realized, the former Birmingham City prodigy faces a significant struggle to prove his fitness for the Wembley double-header at the end of March.
England manager Thomas Tuchel addressed the situation at Thursday’s Nations League draw, acknowledging the difference in opinion regarding the rehabilitation timeline.
“The club is a bit more defensive on the outlook regarding the weeks of his recovery,” the German coach revealed.
“Jude is pushing, and as we know him, he is determined and super professional. He will try everything to be with us in March.”
Wembley return in doubt
Tuchel remains hopeful but realistic about the prospect of having the Los Blancos talisman available for selection.
“Of course we are in contact, that is a normal thing to do, and we wish him all the best,” he added.
“Whatever we can do for him, we will help and support him. It is a little race against time.”
When pressed on his personal gut feeling regarding the availability of the 46-cap international, Tuchel offered a candid assessment.
“Personally, I am optimistic, but I am not sure.”
World Cup plans in focus
Any prolonged absence would represent a significant tactical headache for the Three Lions boss just months before the World Cup.
While the Stourbridge-born playmaker’s status has faced speculation recently – with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers impressing in the number 10 role – he remains pivotal to long-term plans.
Tuchel still views the La Liga star as a cornerstone of his squad, with the final selection deadline for the summer tournament looming in May.
The 35-year-old forward is eyeing a return to domestic football following a life-threatening accident.
Michail Antonio has entered preliminary discussions with Championship side Charlton Athletic regarding a sensational return to English football following his recovery from a near-fatal car accident.
The Jamaica international has been a free agent since his release by West Ham United prior to the current campaign.
He has not featured in a competitive club fixture on British soil since suffering serious injuries in a widely reported vehicle collision in December 2024.
Addicks eye short-term deal
BBC Sport understands that negotiations between the player’s representatives and the south London club are currently at an exploratory stage.
No agreement has been finalised, but Charlton manager Nathan Jones reportedly believes the veteran striker could provide vital experience for the remainder of the season.
A move to The Valley would represent a significant milestone for the forward, whose career was placed in jeopardy by the crash in Essex.
The former Nottingham Forest man had previously engaged in transfer talks with Brentford and Leicester City, though neither move materialised.
Recovering from near-tragedy
The powerful striker sustained multiple leg fractures in the accident, describing himself as “close to dying” in the immediate aftermath.
Despite the severity of the trauma, the 35-year-old defied medical expectations to represent Jamaica at the Concacaf Gold Cup last June.
In an exclusive interview with BBC Sport in March 2025, Antonio detailed the grueling surgical reconstruction required to save his career.
“I shattered my femur bone in four different places,” Antonio revealed.
“I had one single keyhole surgery. They put a pole in my thigh with four bolts, so screws and bolts to knit it back together.”
The forward admitted that while specialists initially advised against weight-bearing for three months, his recovery timeline was aggressively accelerated.
He now hopes to prove his fitness and value in the Championship, with the Addicks considering a short-term contract offer.
Darwin Nunez has been removed from Al-Hilal’s Saudi Pro League squad following the high-profile arrival of Karim Benzema, leaving the striker ineligible for domestic fixtures.
The Uruguay international’s career has hit a new low in the Middle East just months after ending his association with Liverpool.
Despite a high-profile switch in the summer, the 26-year-old is now surplus to requirements for league action under manager Simone Inzaghi.
Benzema deal forces brutal cull
The dramatic exclusion comes as a direct consequence of Al-Hilal securing the services of Benzema from rivals Al-Ittihad.
With the former Real Madrid Ballon d’Or winner arriving as the new talisman, the league leaders were forced to reshuffle their foreign player quota.
According to reports, the ex-Anfield forward has been completely omitted from the registered list for the Saudi Pro League.
He will now be restricted solely to appearances in the Asian Champions League alongside fellow outcast Pablo Mari.
Transfer collapse and stats
It marks a sharp decline for a player who was once Jurgen Klopp’s marquee signing on Merseyside.
Hopes of a swift return to Europe were dashed in January after a proposed move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce failed to materialise.
The forward has managed a respectable return of seven goals and five assists in 23 appearances across all competitions this term.
However, that output was deemed insufficient to retain his spot ahead of the division’s second-highest earner.
Following in Firmino’s footsteps
Remarkably, the situation mirrors the fate of his predecessor at Liverpool, Roberto Firmino.
The Brazilian endured a similar unregistered status at Al-Ahli before eventually departing for Qatar.
While Al-Hilal continue their charge to reclaim the league title from Al-Ittihad, their summer signing faces a long spell on the sidelines of domestic football.
Ukrainian FA president Andriy Shevchenko has personally confronted Gianni Infantino to demand that Russia remains exiled from international football, rejecting the FIFA chief’s recent suggestion that the ban could be reassessed.
The former Chelsea and AC Milan striker tracked down the head of world football at the UEFA congress in Brussels on Friday.
It follows comments made by Infantino last week regarding a potential pathway back for Russian youth teams.
With the full-scale invasion approaching its fourth anniversary, the mere suggestion of reintegration has caused dismay across Ukraine.
A firm message delivered in Brussels
Shevchenko, who now leads his country’s football association, insisted the geopolitical situation offers no grounds for leniency.
The 2004 Ballon d’Or winner described the meeting as a direct attempt to hold the line against lifting sanctions.
“We sat down, he listened, and I conveyed my talking points,” Shevchenko said regarding the encounter.
He made it clear that “now is not the right time” to consider ending the suspension.
The 48-year-old emphasized that “the situation remains unchanged” regarding the ongoing conflict initiated in February 2022.
Controversial comments spark outrage
Tensions flared after Infantino told broadcasters earlier this week that the ban “has not achieved anything” other than creating frustration.
The Swiss-Italian administrator suggested that allowing Russian children to play football in Europe could help bridge divides.
“Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help,” Infantino claimed.
Those remarks were interpreted by Russian officials as a “good sign” for a potential return to the fold.
Government officials condemn ‘infantile’ stance
The backlash extends beyond the pitch, with Ukrainian government officials furiously condemning the FIFA president’s rhetoric.
Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi described the comments as both “irresponsible” and “infantile.”
Bidnyi argued that such proposals detach the sport from the harsh reality where children are being killed in the conflict.
Russia has been suspended from all FIFA and UEFA competitions since the invasion began, preventing participation in the World Cup and European Championships.