Manchester United’s football board, which includes Sir Alex Ferguson, have been asked to refrain from entering the players’ dressing room, according to reports.

On Tuesday, it emerged that United have terminated Ferguson’s £2.6 million-a-year ambassadorial role as part of their cost-cutting measures.

Former United striker Eric Cantona, one of Ferguson’s best-ever signings during his 26-year reign at Old Trafford, branded the club’s decision as ‘a lack of respect’ and ‘totally scandalous’.

MailOnline reports that in addition to Ferguson’s role being axed, the 82-year-old is among the senior figures who have been instructed to stay away from the players’ changing room on matchdays.

The report claims that Ferguson has not been banned but there is a ‘collective understanding’ over who visits the players’ inner sanctum.

Leading figures at United have always been welcomed inside the changing room, even after Ferguson’s retirement, including directors and former players.

Former United captain Michael Carrick revealed that Sir Bobby Charlton, who died last year, was a frequent visitor to the players’ dressing room and that his input was welcomed.

‘He comes into the changing room after every single game, his support in unwavering’ Carrick said in 2019.

‘Ever since I came to the club that’s something that stands out- the support you’ve got from real legends and icons. Not just from this club, but throughout football.

‘Sir Bobby has been a huge support for me personally, but for every single player. Whether it is a good result or bad result he comes and shakes your hand and tells you not to worry it’ll be better next week, or well done and more of the same next week, depending on the result.’

During Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign, Ferguson was invited into the dressing room on multiple occasions, including after United knocked Paris Saint-Germain out of the Champions League at the Parc des Princes in 2019.

It’s great to see the boss in there,’ Solskjaer said after his side’s win in the French capital.

‘It’s understood that Ferguson’s reaction to his contract being terminated by United was ‘amicable’.

United have also made it clear that the Scot is still welcome to attend games at Old Trafford.

Earlier on Tuesday, former United defender Rio Ferdinand wrote on X: ‘If Sir Alex can be taken out, then NO ONE IS SAFE at Manchester United – anyone can get it now. Ineos sending a message to ANYONE at the club?!?

Metro

Real Madrid airbrushed Kylian Mbappe out of photos promoting their latest clothing range as controversy around the forward grows.

The French star was conspicuously removed from a promotional image released by Real Madrid as part of the club’s “Artist Pack” collection, which is intended to showcase the club’s charitable foundation that supports sporting and social projects for underprivileged communities.

However, the omission would have likely gone unnoticed if it weren’t for a post by teammate Jude Bellingham. The 21-year-old shared an unedited version of the image on his Instagram, which featured Mbappe. The post was swiftly taken down by the English midfielder, but not before eagle-eyed fans noticed the alteration.

Reports from Sports Zone suggest the decision to exclude Mbappe stemmed from a clash between competing sponsorship deals. As a Nike ambassador, Mbappe was removed due to the campaign’s association with adidas, Real Madrid’s official kit sponsor. Despite Mbappe’s omission, Eduardo Camavinga, another Nike-sponsored player, was featured in the campaign, raising further questions about the rationale behind the decision.

Mbappe is expected to feature in Real Madrid’s upcoming fixture against Celta Vigo this Saturday after brushing off an injury scare that forced him to withdraw from France’s national team squad for the latest international break. However, if the forward fails to win the race against time, he might be reintegrated into the squad for the midweek Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund three days later.

-Goal.com

Spanish forward Nico Williams says fighting racism is his number one goal following multiple incidents of abuse against black players in the country.

The Atletic Bilbao star, who was in born in Spain to Ghanaian parents, is one of several players to have suffered racist abuse in LaLiga, a recurring problem with Real Madrid’s Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior in particular repeatedly harassed by opposing fans since arriving in the country in 2018.

Clubs and players alike have been outspoken about the issue with Vinicius Jr saying last month that Spain should be stripped of its 2030 World Cup hosting duties unless significant progress is made in addressing racism.

Williams, who played a starring role when Spain won Euro 2024, told El Mundo: “My brother (fellow player Inaki Williams) and I, as black people, have an important task in this life, which is the fight against racism. It’s my number one goal.

“As a public figure, in order to contribute to that fight, I cannot be sidetracked or become a freak and not have my feet on the ground.”

” You have to support your team without needing to insult anyone. I don’t understand that behaviour and they make football worse.

Last month a Mallorca fan was handed a 12-month suspended sentence by a Spanish court for racially insulting Vinícius and Villareal’s Samuel Chukwuese.

“I think that Spain is moving forward on the right path and we must continue like this,” Williams said. “There are always people who try to sell another image of immigrants, but they are a minority. I am very happy to see that progress is being made in this battle against racism. I am going to try to do everything in my power so that these people [immigrants] can have a better life.”