WTF

Anthony Martial has denied refusing to be in Manchester United's squad for Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa after interim manager Ralf Rangnick said the Frenchman did not want to be involved.

The 26-year-old forward has started only two league games this season and has not featured since a 3-2 win over Arsenal on Dec. 2. Martial's representative has said he wants to secure a move in January to get more game time.

United are struggling for players due to injuries, COVID-19 and the Africa Cup of Nations but Martial played no part in the 2-2 draw with Villa.

A Spanish Cup clash between rivals Sevilla and Real Betis was abandoned on Saturday after Sevilla player Joan Jordan was struck in the head by an object thrown from the stands.

Video replays showed a pole-shaped object hitting Jordan on the head moments after Nabil Fekir had equalized for hosts Betis to draw the last 16 tie level at 1-1 at the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Arsenal's north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday has been postponed because their squad has been depleted by COVID-19 infections, injuries and players away at the Africa Cup of Nations, the Premier League said on Saturday.

Arsenal had asked the league on Friday to delay the derby - the 21st match to be called off this season.

Our match against Tottenham on Sunday, January 16 has been postponed. #TOTARS

LIMBE, Cameroon — Mali completed a 1-0 victory over Tunisia in a controversial Group F game at the Africa Cup of Nations that was ended prematurely by referee Janny Sikazwe, who later tried to play the final four minutes only for the north Africans to refuse.

Zambian Sikazwe, who officiated at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, initially blew for the final whistle on 85 minutes as he got his timekeeping all wrong.

But after playing on, he then repeated the error when he blew for fulltime once more before the clock had ticked over to the 90 minutes.

NYCFC may be the best team in Major League Soccer, but in the larger New York sports landscape, the club is often treated like an insignificant middle school chess club. How else can you explain the reigning MLS Cup champions playing their 2022 home opener 3,000 miles from home?

LONDON - Tottenham Hotspur's record signing Tanguy Ndombele was booed off the pitch by his own fans after being substituted in his team's unconvincing 3-1 FA Cup third round win against League One strugglers Morecambe on Sunday.

The midfielder, who has struggled to live up to his $73 million fee after signing from Lyon in 2019, was one of three Tottenham players to be hauled off by manager Antonio Conte in the 69th minute.

Adelaide United's Josh Cavallo on Sunday called out homophobic abuse that was directed at him during an A-League draw with Melbourne Victory, saying he had "no words" to describe his disappointment.

Cavallo became the first active A-League player to come out as gay in October, drawing support from fellow professionals across the world.