Phantom Blog

A woman who accused Conor McGregor of raping her has prevailed in her civil lawsuit, with the jury determining that McGregor attacked Nikita Hand at a hotel in Dublin in December 2018. As a result, McGregor has been instructed to pay Hand over €248,000 (£206,000) in compensation. Outside the courtroom on Friday, Hand shared that her experience serves as "a reminder that regardless of how scared you might feel to speak out, you do have a voice." McGregor later posted on social media, stating that he intended to challenge the ruling and thanked his global supporters, adding that he was now focusing on his future with his family. The jury at the High Court in Dublin deliberated for a day before concluding that McGregor had assaulted Hand. Hand had also filed charges against another man, James Lawrence, accusing him of sexual assault at the Beacon Hotel. However, the jury found Lawrence not guilty. Hand expressed feeling "overwhelmed and touched" by the support she rece...

Gary Neville criticized Marcus Rashford for choosing to spend the first part of the international break on holiday in the United States, where he was seen at a basketball game in Portland. Rashford and Casemiro were both in the U.S., while other players not selected for their national teams met the new Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim, at Carrington. Rashford, who has only scored four goals this season, upset some fans by being seen at Madison Square Garden in New York instead of training. Neville, along with others, felt that Rashford and Casemiro made a poor decision to travel so far during the week the new head coach arrived. On the "Stick to Football" podcast, Neville emphasized the importance of professionalism and being prepared for training sessions. He questioned the choice of venue for their break, considering factors like flight duration and time difference, which could lead to jet lag and stiffness. Neville pointed out that while Casemiro, who is 30 and has ...

Lionel Messi achieved his 58th assist in international football, tying the record held by former United States star Landon Donovan. Messi matched another record for Argentina by providing a decisive assist to Lautaro Martinez in the FIFA World Cup South America qualifier against Peru. This assist, his 58th in international football, ties him with Landon Donovan, a legend of the United States men's national team. Messi delivered a cross from the left, which Inter Milan's Martinez volleyed past Pedro Gallese. Despite an unconvincing performance from both Argentina and Messi, they remain at the top of the CONMEBOL standings, making their qualification for the 2026 tournament almost certain. Argentina leads the South American qualifiers with 25 points from 12 matches, five points ahead of Uruguay. Ecuador and Colombia follow with 19 points each. Neymar, Messi's former teammate and close friend, is just behind with 57 assists for Brazil. Cristiano Ronaldo, with 45 assists, lags ...