Carles Puyol has apologised for making a clumsy joke in response to a tweet from Iker Casillas account on Sunday, after it appeared the former goalkeeper had come out as gay.

A post attributed to Real Madrid and Spain great Casillas read: I hope you respect me: I m gay.

Although the message was widely shared on social media, suspicions over its validity or seriousness emerged when Puyol replied to say it was time for the duo to tell our story , followed by kissing and love-heart emojis.

Spanish media reports subsequently suggested Casillas original message was an ironic response to rumours concerning a potential relationship with actress Alejandra Onieva.

Casillas has since claimed his account was hacked and apologised for offence caused, and former Barc…

Substitutes Loic Remy and Yoann Gourcuff struck late goals to give France a 2-0 win at home to Romania on Saturday that sent them top of their Euro 2012 qualifying group.

Marseille forward Remy rapped a low shot into the bottom-left corner in the 83rd minute, at the end of a game the hosts had dominated, before Gourcuff swept home a cutback from debutant Dimitri Payet in injury time.

A match lasts 90 or even 95 minutes, so there s no point just analysing the first 75, said France coach Laurent Blanc.

The team kept working and kept faith in victory. I congratulate my players; those who played from the start and those who came on.

It was France s first win at the Stade de France since October 2009 and allowed Blanc s side to open up a one-point lead ove…

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil believes playing in the Premier League stands as the toughest challenge of his football career.

A World Cup winner in 2014 with Germany, Ozil joined Arsenal from Real Madrid the previous year and insists nothing could have prepared him for the physicality of England s top flight, along with some underhand tactics from opponents.

But the 28-year-old, whose form for Arsenal has come in for criticism over recent months as speculation continues over a possible bumper contract renewal, quickly learned complaining was not an option.

In an extract from his autobiography Gunning For Glory: My Life published by the Daily Mail, Ozil said: The Premier League is the toughest challenge I ve experienced in football. If you can t take it here, witho…

Market: Belgium win and over 2.5 goals

Odds: 

With a real opportunity to make yet another statement in this years UEFA Nations League, Belgium will welcome Iceland to the Stade Roi Baudouin on Thursday.

Starting with Roberto Martinez s side, with many believing this will be the last chance for Belgium s golden generation to win a piece of silverware, the former Everton boss will be desperate to enter Euro 2020 with a squad filled with confidence. Winning both of their opening matches in this years tournament, the Red Devils are yet to be beaten on home soil in the past 30 months. Also beating Iceland 3-0 in the reverse fixture back in September, one man to watch will be Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku has five in his last four matches on international d…

What the papers say

Liverpool have expressed their faith in Colombian winger Luis Diaz after telling Spanish giants Barcelona that the 27-year-old is not for sale and is a part of their long-term plans, the Daily Mirror reports. Diaz has scored six goals and created three more in 27 games in the Premier League for the club this season.

The Mirror says Manchester United have set a price tag of £43million on striker Mason Greenwood with an unnamed Saudi Pro League interested in the 22-year-old’s signature. The forward has spent the season in La Liga at Spanish club Getafe on loan where he has scored six goals and assisted five more in 23 matches.

The Daily Mail reports Chelsea could be looking to offload several stars this summer including Raheem Sterling, Romelu Lukak…

Leicester close on Rod Fanni

that Premier League newcomers Leicester City are on the verge of signing French defender Rod Fanni from Marseille.

Despite having another year on his deal at Stade Velodrome, the former France international is not in the first team plans of new boss Marcelo Bielsa.

He is, therefore, widely tipped to leave the club this summer, and the latest reports suggest Fanni is set to join Leicester City.

The two clubs seem to have agreed on a transfer fee as the 32-year-old is expected to undergo a medical on Monday before signing for the Foxes.

Rod Fanni joined Marseille from Rennes in January 2011 and has since featured in 103 Ligue 1 matches for OM.

The right-sided defender is also capable of playing as a centre-back…

Chelsea will not pay £65m to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge, according to the Express.

The 23 year old has been linked with a return to London club in recent months after excelling with Everton since signing for them, initially on loan in the summer of 2013.

In total he has racked up one hundred and twenty-seven appearances in all competitions for the Merseyside club, scoring sixty-one goals.

Prior to his move to the Toffees, he had a season with West Bromwich Albion while he only managed to play fifteen times for Chelsea, failing to score.

He is set to star at this summer’s European Championships for Belgium, where he will be looking to add to his tally of twelve goals in forty-three games.

Belgium are currently fifth favour…

Wayne Rooney was arrested on public intoxication and swearing charges in the United States last month.

The former England and Manchester United captain, who now plays for DC United in Major League Soccer, was arrested by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority in Virginia on December 16.

Records from Loudoun General District Court indicated Rooney settled a $25 fine and a further $91 in costs on January 4, with an adjudicatory hearing waived.

A spokesman for Loudoun County Sheriff s Office said: He was booked into the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on December 16, 2018, on a charge of public intoxication stemming from an arrest by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police.

He was later released on a personal recognizance bond…

France captain Hugo Lloris believes the outcome of the Euro 2020 last-16 clash with Switzerland will hinge on the match-day attitude of Les Bleus.

The title favourites have yet to truly hit their stride, narrowly beating Germany but drawing with Portugal and Hungary in the group stage.

They topped Group F but left room for improvement, and will look to show in Monday s clash with the Swiss in Bucharest that their pedigree has not been overstated.

Lloris said in a news conference on Sunday: We ve turned the page from the group stage which demanded a lot of effort. We re entering a new competition.

In the approach we take, it s completely different. We know that we can t make an error. There will be adversity. We will have a great team playing against us w…

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has admitted that he is worried about the strength of Italy in Euro 2012, after drawing them on Friday.

The teams join Croatia and the Republic of Ireland in Group C of the European Championships, but the defending champions will take on the Italians in their opening clash in Poland, in what is a rematch of their quarter-final at Euro 2008 which Spain won on penalties.

Speaking on Friday following the draw, however, Del Bosque recognized that his charges would have to be at their very best to down Italy, who beat his outfit 2-1 in August s friendly between the two nations.

Italy have only just beaten us and they are strong opponents, the coach told Cuatro Television, adding that he was otherwise pleased with the outcome of the dr…