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There were a lot of questions about whether he should be opening for Sunrisers, and the young left-hander responded to them in style

Hemant Brar09-Apr-2022″It was a pressure game for me as well as the team,” Abhishek Sharma said as he picked up the Player-of-the-Match award for his 50-ball 75 which helped Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets and record their first win of IPL 2022.Coming into this game, Sunrisers had two defeats in two outings and, Abhishek, opening the batting for the side, had scores of 9 and 13.Before Saturday, Abhishek had played 22 innings in the IPL but failed to reach the double-figures in 12 of them. His highest score – an unbeaten 46 – had come almost four years ago, in his debut game for what was then called Delhi Daredevils.Even though he opens for Punjab in domestic cricket, tongues had started wagging that he should be dropped down the order. After all, in Aiden Markram and Rahul Tripathi, Sunrisers have far more experienced and proven performers.But on a sluggish pitch, Abhishek led a 155-run chase taking chances right from the start. He had to, because Kane Williamson is the designated anchor for Sunrisers and is supposed to bat through.It wasn’t a fluent start though, but then not many could bat fluently on that pitch. Abhishek started with a couple of mistimed pulls off left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary before finally nailing one over midwicket for four.Maheesh Theekshana was supposed to keep things quiet, and take wickets, from the other end but Abhishek ruined Super Kings’ plans by taking him on. His first four off the mystery spinner came via a thick outside edge but shortly afterwards he lofted him inside-out over extra cover for four before slog-sweeping him over deep midwicket for six.Abhishek’s hitting ensured the scoreboard didn’t stagnate despite Williamson struggling for timing. Even when the field restrictions were lifted, he kept going for his shots. The most eye-catching of those were probably the two swatted sixes down the ground, one each off Choudhary and Chris Jordan.2:19

Cutting: For CSK, top four must score bulk of the runs, bat bulk of the overs

He added 89 for the first wicket with Williamson and then 56 in just 31 balls with Tripathi. By the time Super Kings dismissed him, the result was all but sealed.After the game, Tom Moody, Sunrisers’ head coach, said he was surprised about all the chatter going on around Abhishek’s batting position. During the in-match interview too, Moody was asked about the same.”We had only played two games up to today’s fixture,” Moody said at the post-match press conference. “And we had a long wait between those two games. Things can be over-thought during that time, questions can be asked of any player. The first game particularly, in Pune, was a very difficult pitch to bat on. Any player of any quality found that challenging in the powerplay overs.”We had recognised right at the beginning of the tournament, even at the auction, that Abhishek was going to be an important player for us at the top of the order. He has shown some great signs. He is an exciting young, talented player. And as we saw today, he delivered and it’s great for him early in the tournament that he has managed to get a significant score under his belt. And hopefully, this is the beginning of a few more big scores throughout the tournament.”Those encouraging signs were Abhishek not getting knocked over early. In Sunrisers’ first game, on a seaming Pune track, he stayed at the wicket till the ninth over and was the fourth batter out. This past Monday, he fell in the sixth over. That gave Moody and the rest of the team management the confidence to stick with Abhishek. They backed him to play his natural game and he repaid their faith.Abhishek belongs to the same Under-19 batch as Prithvi Shaw and Shubman Gill. Compared to them, and even Arshdeep Singh, another from that batch, he seems to have fallen behind, but those who have been following his career from his age-group days know he has been there and overcome that before.Back in 2015-16, many of his U-16 team-mates were being selected for U-19 matches while he seemed stuck at the lower level. That season, in the Vijay Merchant U-16 Trophy, Abhishek piled on 1200 runs at 109.09 and, with his left-arm spin, picked up 57 wickets at 10.56. After that there was no stopping him.Abhishek and Sunrisers will both hope that this knock leads to a similar turnaround in his IPL career.

The Yankees were riding high on Memorial Day, as the club held a seven-game lead in the American League East. Since that point, the Yankees have been decidedly mediocre, playing to a 39-40 record, falling in the standings to the second wild card spot in the American League, and at times, not passing the eye test as a playoff-caliber club while making puzzling mistakes on the base paths and in the field.

Of course, it's the New York market, so everything—good or bad—will be dissected ad nauseum under the microscope. And the prognosticators have largely determined that this Yankees team doesn't measure up as a World Series contender.

Just don't tell that to Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Chisholm, following the Yankees' 10-4 romp of the White Sox on Thursday, was asked if winning the division is still a target goal in the eyes of he and his teammates.

"We're never satisfied with second place or third place," Chisholm said. "We just lost the World Series last year—that's second place and we still wasn't satisfied so I don't think we're gonna be satisfied with coming in second or third in the division. That would be even more upsetting than losing the World Series.

"We're gonna go out and win that [the division] and then we're gonna go and win the World Series."

Bold words from Chisholm, but the confidence is admirable. In order to achieve the first of Chisholm's goals, the Yankees will need to do something they thus far haven't been able to do: beat the teams ahead of them in the division, the Blue Jays and Red Sox.

New York's upcoming schedule will give them an opportunity to do just that, as they'll take on Toronto and Boston in a particularly tough stretch of games to begin September.

Juventus' team bus was pelted with rocks before entering the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona for a crucial Napoli clash in the Serie A on Sunday. Luciano Spaletti returned to his former club after a gap of two years as he entered Napoli's home as a rival manager. The Bianconeri took adequate safety measures to avoid hostilities but their vehicle was still attacked right before the game.

• Spalletti returns to Napoli

  Spalletti managed Napoli for two seasons from 2021 to 2023 and in his final season, the Italian coach guided the club to their first Serie A title in over three decades in the 2022-23 campaign. Right after guiding the club to a title win in the summer of 2023, the 66-year-old parted ways with the club.

  After leaving Napoli, Spalletti managed the Italian national team for two years before returning to club this summer as he replaced Igor Tudor in October after Juventus's nightmare start to the 2025-26 campaign. The experienced coach returned to his old home for the first time in more than two years time on Sunday as the Bianconeri locked horns against the reigning Italian champions in a crucial Serie A clash. 

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  Spalletti adopted unusual policy to avoid hostility

  In his two years in Naples, Spalletti saw the local fans from close quarters and the manager very well knew how the Napoli fans would burst firecrackers near the visiting side's team hotel at night to spoil to opposition's sleep a day before the game.

  To avoid such hostility from the home fans, Spalletti did not travel to Naples until the matchday and stayed at a hotel, which is close to Napoli boss Antonio Conte's residence. However, despite taking such shrewd measures, Spalletti could not avoid confrontation with the local fans as the team bus was pelted with stones, according to DAZN Italia. The incident happened on the way to the Stadio Maradona and some of the windows of bus were smashed, although no members of the visiting squad were harmed. 

• Spalletti demands more effort from Juventus players

  Spalletti is still not satisfied with the performance of his players, even after guiding the club to their first Champions League win of this season against Bodo/Glimt. After the European clash, the coach had said: "It would have been a shame to let it go in the second half. We struggled in every sense of the word because the team doesn't take responsibility, lacks courage, and takes a bit of heat from what's being said. It'll be hard on them; here too, there were attitude issues that hung in the balance. We need to grow and take a mental step. We need to find solutions, because the team has a bit of horsepower in its engine. 

  "It was crucial to have the appearance of a team that plays openly, even if it struggles at times. They have great speed in tight spaces on this pitch, but in the first half we did our part, failing to capitalise on certain situations. It's an important victory that the players deserved. We dedicate it to ourselves and to those who came all the way here to see us."

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  Juventus succumb to yet another loss

  Juventus suffered their third loss of the new season in Serie A as Rasmus Hojlund's brace helped Napoli reclaim the top position in the Serie A table. The Manchester United outcast opened the scoring in the seventh minute of the match before Kenan Yildiz scored the equaliser around the hour mark. Hojlund, though, ultimately stole the limelight as he scored the winner in the 78th minute and secured all three points for Conte's men.

  The Italian champions will be back in action in midweek as they take on Jose Mourinho's Benfica in an important Champions League fixture away from home on Wednesday. 

The sale of tickets for the semi-finals of the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 will start from 6pm IST on October 11, the ICC has announced. Google Pay users have an exclusive two-day pre-sale window before the general sale goes live at 7pm IST on October 13.The release stated that tickets are available for the first semi-final on September 29 in Guwahati. The first semi-final will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo if Pakistan qualify. In that case, there will be a 100% refund for fans who had booked tickets in Guwahati. The chances of Pakistan’s qualification are slim with them losing each of their first three games, including one against Bangladesh.The tickets for the first semi-final are priced at INR 100 while those for the second semi-final at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai are priced at INR 150. The Navi Mumbai stadium has attracted big crowds for women’s games in the recent past.Tickets for the India vs Australia match in Visakhapatnam on October 12 and for the India vs England game on October 19 in Indore have already been sold out. Tickets for India vs New Zealand on October 23 and India vs Bangladesh on October 26 are close to being sold out as well.The tournament opener had seen 22,843 spectators, the highest for a league stage game for any ICC women’s competition. The previous record was an attendance of 15,935 in Dubai for the India vs Pakistan match at the Women’s T20 World Cup last year.

حلل شون دايتش، مدرب نادي نوتنيجهام فورست، وضع نادي ليفربول، وذلك قبل لقاء الريدز المقبل ضمن بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز على ملعب أنفيلد.

ليفربول سوف يواجه نظيره نوتينجهام فورست يوم السبت المقبل على ملعب أنفيلد، وذلك ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية عشر من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز في لقاء صعب على الطرفين.

ويسعى ليفربول إلى تحقيق الانتصار على نوتينجهام فورست من أجل استعادة التوازن، وذلك عقب الخسارة القاسية الأسبوع الماضي أمام مانشستر سيتي 3-0 على ملعب الاتحاد.

ويرى دايتش خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص باللقاء، أن ليفربول لديه لاعبين ذوي جودة عالية وسوف يعودون من جديد إلى الطريق الصحيح.

وقال في تصريحات نقلها موقع ”triballfootall” : “بشكل عام، جاء آرني سلوت وقدموا موسمًا رائعًا العام الماضي”.

أقرأ أيضًا .. جاتوزو: منتخب أيرلندا الشمالية لا يستسلم أبدًا.. و ليس لدي مشكلة مع لاعب ليفربول

وأضاف دايتش في حديثه عن ليفربول: “لقد أجروا تعديلات وأنفقوا أموالًا، ومن المنعش أن نظهر أن الأمر ليس بهذه البساطة وأن إنفاق المال هو ما يجدي نفعًا”.

وأوضح دايتش: ”لكن كونوا على ثقة، لا تظنوا أن لاعبي ليفربول سيئون فجأة، إنهم فريق جيد وقد مروا بفترة صعبة حيث بدوا غير مبالين. هزموا ريال مدريد والجميع كان متحمسًا، ثم خسروا أمام مانشستر سيتي فعاد الفريق إلى نفس الوضع ، وهذا أمر وارد الحدوث”.

كما أثنى دايتش على إليوت أندرسون ، نجم نوتينجهام فورست، والذي ارتبط بالانتقال إلى مانشستر يونايتد حيث أردف: ”إنه لاعب جيد ، لقد تحدثت معه عن أساسيات أدائه ولكن ليس بإسهاب، إنه يدير عمله بشكل صحيح بطبيعته”.

وواصل: “يجب الحذر من الإفراط في تدريب أي شخص، فنحن نسمح له باللعب ونقدم له بعض التوجيهات والنصائح”.

واختتم دايتش: “أنا أستمتع بما يقدمه وأستمتع بأدائه، يتمتع بميزة طفيفة في التدريب، إنه لاعب ممتاز وشخص جيد أيضًا”.

Liverpool have now reportedly sent scouts to track RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, who is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after young talents around European football.

The Reds will be relieved to have an international break. It’s been a disastrous month or so for Arne Slot’s side, who have lost five of their last six Premier League games and were just humbled by a superior Manchester City side. In the space of 11 games in a fresh campaign, the champions’ crown hasn’t just slipped, it has crumbled.

After FSG spent over £400m to break Liverpool’s transfer record twice in the summer, Slot simply must turn things around. The Dutchman will be given time to do that – Liverpool have never been a side to make rash decisions – but the pressure is certainly growing on the Dutchman.

The solutions could yet come courtesy of even more spending in the January transfer window. There’s been something missing from the current squad so far this season and as the Premier League becomes more physical, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes could adjust their strategy.

Liverpool’s struggles have already sparked several rumours ahead of the winter window, too. The likes of Antoine Semenyo and Wilfried Singo have been among those mentioned as potential reinforcements, but it remains to be seen whether the Reds splash the cash once again.

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Semenyo would certainly add another attacking spark to a frontline full of talented players who are currently struggling to find form. The addition of someone who needs no introduction to Anfield goals could go a long way towards solving Slot’s problems. Meanwhile, Edwards and Hughes also have one eye on the future and those who will make an impact in years to come.

Liverpool send scouts to track Yan Diomande

As reported by Bild in Germany, Liverpool scouts have now been spotted watching Diomande at RB Leipzig. The 19-year-old winger has impressed in the Bundesliga this season, scoring three goals and assisting another three in 10 league games, and has attracted the interest of PSG as well as those at Anfield as a result.

The teenager is not short on confidence or ambition, having compared himself to Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior when speaking to reporters about his current role models to Transfermarkt.

It’s not just the left-winger, himself, who believes in his ability though. Talent scout Jacek Kulig praised Diomande for the “brilliant” spell of form that he’s enjoyed in recent months to attract the likes of Liverpool and PSG.

FSG enter race to sign "world-class" £79m star for Liverpool

Southampton are thought to be looking at appointing Tony Mowbray as their new manager on a short-term deal after a twist emerged on a return for Russell Martin.

Southampton manager latest

The Saints are on the search for another permanent manager after what has been a torrid 12 months at St Mary’s. Will Still is the latest full-time boss to have tried and failed on the south coast, with Southampton winning just two of their opening 13 Championship games.

A number of managers have been linked with the Saints vacancy, including former manager Russell Martin, who was thought to be the top target and was open to talks.

Other names mooted to be of interest include former Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick, ex-Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers and Stoke City’s Mark Robins.

Taking to X on Tuesday, Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas revealed that Johannes Spors’ search for a new Southampton manager has seen him look in Germany, with returns for Ralph Hasenhuttl or Russell Martin unlikely.

With the Saints taking their time, it has even been claimed that a new interim manager could be appointed.

Southampton eye Mowbray on short-term deal

According to reliable reporter Alan Nixon, relayed by Football League World, Southampton are looking at a move for Mowbray on a short-term basis.

It is claimed that Mowbray could be brought in if things don’t improve under interim head coach Tonda Eckert. Within the report, it is also stated that there is some opposition within Southampton to a Martin return, backing up Thomas’ claim of a move for the ex-Saints looking unlikely.

Mowbray, a Championship winner during his time at West Brom and plays a 4-2-3-1 system, has been out of work since April after a brief second stint at The Hawthorns.

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The 61-year-old, when in charge of Sunderland, embarrassed Martin’s Southampton side, winning 5-0 at the Stadium of Light in 2023.

Mowbray has plenty of experience in the second tier, so could therefore be a safe pair of hands if Southampton’s manager search is going to continue into and even after the international break.

Approaching 500 games as a manager in the second tier, Mowbray’s name could be one to keep an eye on at St Mary’s.

Southampton now eyeing Mark Robins after using latest data-driven recruitment model

Jason Roy, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan play key roles to set up then secure seven-run win over Glamorgan

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay03-Jun-2025Surrey 149 for 8 (Roy 69, Douthwaite 3-23) beat Glamorgan 142 (Curran 3-18, Jordan 3-31) by seven runsSurrey picked up their first win of the Vitality Blast with a disciplined bowling display that sealed a seven-run win over Glamorgan in Cardiff.Sam Curran impressed with the ball, taking 3 for 18 to secure his first win as Surrey captain. Earlier, Jason Roy scored a second consecutive half-century to lift Surrey to a competitive 149 for 8 before the experienced, international-filled bowling contingent took charge.Glamorgan’s bowlers had done a decent job to restrict Surrey, with Dan Douthwaite’s 3 for 23 the highlight. A 58-partnership from Kiran Carlson and Will Smale set the hosts on their way in the chase, before key wickets through the middle overs left them 142 all out off the final delivery.Surrey’s win gives both sides four points (one win, one loss) after two matches at this early stage in the South Group.For the second time in this T20 campaign, Surrey were put into bat by their toss-winning hosts. Ollie Pope showed his creativity early, scooping Timm van der Gugten for a six in the first over, disregarding the deep-third fielder in the process.Dom Sibley took a while to get going, with just two from his first 11 balls before finding a boundary to kickstart his eventual 26 from 27 balls. Glamorgan’s regular bowling changes led to a 23-ball boundaryless spell after the Powerplay until Roy pushed up a gear, hitting Andy Gorvin for a destructive straight six. It was a feat that Sam Curran and Laurie Evans couldn’t replicate, both falling caught at long-off in the same, eventful over.After Roy brought up 50 in 37 balls, Tom Curran, Ollie Sykes and Jordan struggled to make headway on a seemingly slow pitch which rewarded bowlers who hit the pitch from back-of-a-length. However, after Roy’s dismissal, Smith found a key six in the penultimate over.In reply, Glamorgan’s wicketless powerplay set them up for a strong platform in a manageable chase. Although the openers rode their luck with a few outside edges racing to the boundary and landing fortunately, the 50 partnership came up in the seventh over with some strong running and a notable Smale ramp for six off after a failed earlier attempt.However, the introduction of Jordan and Sam Curran changed the tempo of their chase. Ben Kellaway struck two boundaries including a reverse-sweep in his seven-ball stay, and with Colin Ingram unable to get going, tied down by the impressive Curran, Glamorgan slumped through a spell of three wickets for 11 runs in three overs.With momentum against them, the hosts were left needing 55 from six overs, before a Douthwaite blow sailed over the biggest boundary on the ground off the final ball of the 15th over.The task, hoewever, was too much to ask with a series of Sam Curran slower balls contributing to three late wickets in his four-over allocation.

Tottenham Hotspur are finding their feet in the Premier League this season and there is a swell of internal belief surrounding one of their most promising stars.

Tottenham's resilience leaves Frank delighted

Over the years, external narratives involving Spurs have questioned their mentality to grind out results when the pressure is on, but Thomas Frank appears to be in a position to reverse that trend.

Speaking after Tottenham’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Leeds United last weekend, the Danish boss made it clear that his side have the dig needed to secure momentous victories even in testing circumstances.

He stated: “I think if you want to build any successful team you need mentality and character and cohesion and togetherness. No matter if you play like Inter or Barcelona or whatever style of play, you need that willingness to do everything to win, and I think we are building that more and more in the team.”

Of course, stiffer tests are to come and Frank’s men will need to show they have the mettle to claim a regular stream of points. Regardless, one loss in seven Premier League fixtures is a marked improvement on last term.

Ambition inside the building will lead that charge, and Spurs’ reported move for Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a sign that they aren’t willing to settle for just being part of the chasing pack.

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Putting that aside, Frank will need to focus on the talent he has at his disposal for now, even if the January window offers an opportunity to add new faces to his collective.

Listening to that advice, the Spurs manager now believes he has a player that can rival some of the world’s best in his position over the coming years.

Frank makes exciting Archie Gray prediction

Profiling his role, Frank believes Archie Gray could one day be as good as Declan Rice or Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, and has urged the former Leeds United man to take his game to the next level under his stewardship.

He stated: “I see him as a midfielder who can play six or eight. That is his position and these days midfielders need to be more complete.

Five similar players to Archie Gray (FBRef)

Marin Pongracic

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Clinton Mata

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Christian Mawissa

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Jean-Clair Todibo

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Ismael Doukoure

Strasbourg

“You need to be a little bit of a six, a little bit of eight and 10 and two of the best in the world right now are probably Rodri and Declan Rice. They can do a little bit of everything. I see Archie, and they are big names to compare him to, but I see he has got the same potential.”

Making 51 appearances for a club of Tottenham’s standing at 19 years of age is a commendable achievement, though it remains to be seen if the England Under-21 international can one day rival two of the Premier League’s most established midfielders.

Manchester United are reportedly preparing to make sweeping changes to the Old Trafford pitch layout following the heartbreaking death of former Arsenal academy player Billy Vigar, who tragically passed away after suffering a fatal head injury during a non-league match. The 21-year-old forward, who came through Arsenal’s youth system before moving into non-league football, died last month after colliding with a concrete wall during a match for Chichester City at Wingate & Finchley FC’s Maurice Rebak Stadium.

Man Utd consider major pitch redesign

The horrific incident has prompted immediate discussions within Premier League circles about stadium perimeter safety. According to United will reassess the entire perimeter setup at Old Trafford, including the gap between the playing surface and advertising hoardings. The pitch was upgraded back in the 1990s and currently features a raised playing surface bordered by a shallow ditch and a brick retaining wall that separates the turf from a rubber-surfaced walkway used by staff and photographers. Following the recent tragedy, concerns have been raised over the proximity of hard surfaces and advertising boards to the field of play, especially in high-speed collisions where players are sent tumbling out of bounds.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportUnited’s response: ‘Player safety is paramount’

During a recent United fans’ forum, one supporter directly questioned club officials about whether the club would “invest in transparent, soft materials” to cover or cushion the advertising boards. In response to the growing safety concerns, a club spokesperson issued a strong statement underlining United’s commitment to protecting players at all levels. The official said, "The health and welfare of all players is of paramount importance. We will look into this risk and take appropriate action.”

Now, it remains to be seen when talks between stadium engineers and safety consultants will take place about how to reduce impact risks, including potentially replacing brick barriers with padded materials or extending buffer zones between the pitch and hoardings. It marks one of the first major safety reviews of Old Trafford’s playing environment in decades.

Tragedy that shook the game

Vigar suffered what was described as a “significant brain injury” in September. He was rushed to the hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries days later. It is believed that Vigar collided with a concrete wall running close to the pitch, a structure that has since been demolished by the host club following the fatal incident. The Football Association has announced it will conduct an urgent safety review into barriers and structures surrounding playing areas at lower-league and non-league stadiums across the country.

Tributes poured in and Arsenal posted a message that read: "Everyone at Arsenal is devastated by the shocking news that former academy graduate Billy Vigar has passed away. All our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this time. Rest in peace, Billy."

Meanwhile, Derby County wrote: "All at Derby County are deeply saddened by the passing of Billy Vigar. Billy spent the second half of the 2022/23 season with the Academy on loan from Arsenal, making several appearances for the Under-21s. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."

The Professional Footballers' Association said: "Everyone at the PFA is shocked to learn of the tragic passing of Billy Vigar. This is devastating news, and our immediate thoughts are with Billy’s family, friends and teammates. The PFA will be offering all the support and services we have available to them at this time."

The FA added on X: "We are devastated to hear that Billy Vigar has passed away. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, loved ones, and everyone at Chichester City FC at this incredibly difficult time."

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GettyPainful parallels at Old Trafford

United’s decision to act comes not only in light of Vigar’s death but also after several high-profile near misses at Old Trafford itself. In 2019, during a heated Champions League clash between United and Paris Saint-Germain, former Red Devil Angel Di María was violently bundled off the pitch by Ashley Young, crashing shoulder-first into the advertising hoardings. The Argentine winger received treatment on the sidelines but was fortunate to escape serious injury. And that wasn’t an isolated case. Over the years, numerous players have found themselves hurtling into Old Trafford’s rigid pitch-side structures after losing balance or being shoved off the ball at full speed. With United now expected to lead Premier League clubs in implementing new safety designs, the move could signal the start of a broader transformation in how stadiums across England are built and maintained. The tragedy of Vigar has cast a harsh light on an issue too long overlooked, but it may yet bring lasting change that saves lives.