THE INTENSIFIED REPORT

FIFA and UEFA said they are suspending all Russian national and club soccer teams from competition until further notice. The UEFA soccer league also said it's ending its partnership with Russian gas company Gazprom. "The decision is effective immediately and covers all existing agreements including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA national team competitions and UEFA EURO 2024," UEFA said.

Bruno Fernandes will wear the captain's armband when Manchester United take on Paris Saint-Germain in the opening encounter of the Champions league, following Harry Maguire being ruled out for the encounter. Maguire overcame a slight injury to play and score in the 4-1 over Newcastle United on Saturday night, but he has now been ruled out of the trip to France. Solskjaer, confirmed during a press conference in Paris on Monday, that the Portuguese will captain United in Maguire's absence.  "We hope Harry will be fit for the weekend game (for the Chelsea game) but we're not sure," Solskjaer told reporters in Paris. "The captain is sitting next to me. Bruno will captain the team tomorrow (Tuesday)." A surprised Bruno said, "I was not expecting this. I know the same time as you. Of course, for me, it's an honour i will be captain for my team-mates and being captain for Manchester United is important for me. United will be without Eric Ba

A cousin of Argentine football star Lionel Messi, has revealed that the multiple Balon d'Or award winner exhibited formidable soccer skills as a kid which saw him attract bully and even death threats from bigger kids. Maxi Biancucchi disclosed to Ole newspaper, that bigger kids who played against Messi weren't happy with the skills the Magician displays against them. Maxi said, "In the neighborhood he played with us, we were bigger than him, and they told us: 'Crazy, get him out because we are going to kill him. They wanted to hit him, but he put up with it."  Maxi also added, "when he was eight or nine, I would get up early on Saturdays to watch him play and he'd do impressive things. I could not believe it.". Messi, 32, is regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time, and has won a record six Balloon d'Or awards and six European Golden Shoes.