| IN OTHER NEWS Lookman ends Leverkusen run: There was an unlikely answer to the question of who would score the first hat trick in a men's European club final since 1975. Ademola Lookman scored all three goals in Atalanta's 3-0 beating of Bayer Leverkusen to win the Europa League title, reports AP. This was Bundesliga champions Leverkusen’s first loss of the season in all competitions and after 51 games and 360 days. It was manager Xabi Alonso’s first loss in his first full season as manager.  Atalanta with the Europa League tropy (Source: HT) Delhi champions: Delhi won the first Swami Vivekananda under-20 men's national championship, beating Karnataka 4-3 on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, reports PTI. The match was played at the Ramakrishna Mission Ashrama Ground. After 40 days of non-stop action involving 32 teams, Delhi came out on top after a memorable final, where they came from behind three times to take the game to penalties. 6th sub at Copa: Coaches at next month’s Copa America will be able to make a sixth and extra substitution in cases of suspected head trauma or concussion, reports AP. South American soccer's governing body CONMEBOL announced the decision on Tuesday, making it valid for all its competitions once the Copa America starts in the USA on June 20. CONMEBOL issued a statement saying coaches will need to notify the referee or the fourth official of the concussion replacement through a pink substitution pass. A similar method was implemented in Major League Soccer in 2021 as part of a FIFA pilot programme. The player who leaves the pitch under those conditions will have to go to the locker rooms or a hospital for assessment. Hayes names squad: Coach Emma Hayes has selected her first roster for the USA ahead of a pair of friendlies as she prepares to lead the women's national team at the Paris Olympics. Hayes, named U.S. coach last November, finished her final season as coach of Chelsea on Saturday, winning the team's fifth straight Women's Super League Title with a 6-0 rout of Manchester United.  Chelsea won their five straight WSL title under Emma Hayes (Source: Getty Images) Kerala Blasters name coach: Mikael Stahre, 48, has been named Kerala Blasters' new coach replacing Ivan Vukomanovic who left by mutual consent at the end of last season, the club has announced. The Swede, who has coached in Sweden, Greece, China, USA and Thailand, will join on a two-year contract, the club has said. Sylvinho Albanian: Albania coach Sylvinho, a Brazilian, and his assistants have been sworn in as Albanian citizens ahead of the European Championship, says AP. Albania had announced in December that Sylvinho was granted citizenship in a show of appreciation for having led the tiny Western Balkan country to the Euros. It's just the second time Albania have qualified. Sylvinho's close Argentinian assistant Pablo Zabaleta and two Italians — Luca Laurenti and Gianluca Stesina — were sworn in at a ceremony in the city of Ljubljana, 80 kilometres southwest of the capital Tirana, the Interior Ministry said. Allegri fired: Juventus have fired coach Massimiliano Allegri for his ugly outburst at referees in the Italian Cup final, says AP. Allegri lost his cool in stoppage time when he grew angry at a decision, ripped off his jacket and earned a red card for sarcastically applauding the referee. Juventus beat Atalanta 1-0. “The firing follows certain behaviors (sic) during and after the Italian Cup final that the club deemed incompatible with the values of Juventus, and the behavior that those who represent it should have,” the statement said. Ranieri to step down: Claudio Ranieri will leave his job as Cagliari coach by mutual agreement, the Serie A club has said, as local media reported that the 72-year-old was set to retire from football, reports Reuters. The announcement came after Cagliari guaranteed themselves another season in the Italian top flight following their away win at Sassuolo on Sunday. Rashford omitted: Forward Marcus Rashford was the most high-profile omission as England manager Gareth Southgate named his provisional Euro 2024 squad while there was also no place for experienced midfielder Jordan Henderson, says Reuters. Several uncapped players – Liverpool duo Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah, Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton – did make the provisional list of 33. Southgate will cut his squad to 26 by the June 7 deadline. Messi “napkin” sold: The napkin on which Barcelona promised to sign Lionel Messi when he was a 13-year-old has been sold for £762,400 ($969,000), auction house Bonhams has said, reports Reuters. The napkin was signed in December, 2000 by Barca's former sporting director Carles Rexach and transfer advisor Josep Minguella along with Argentine agent Horacio Gaggioli over lunch at a tennis club.  The infamous Messi “napkin” (Source: X) Former West Germany player dead: Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, who played for West Germany at four World Cups including the 1966 final, has died, says AFP. He was 85. A left-sided defender, Schnellinger played 17 games for West Germany at the World Cups in 1958, 1962, 1966 and 1970, and made a total of 47 international appearances. De Zerbi leaves: Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi left the Premier League club by mutual consent after their final game of the season against Manchester United on Sunday, says AFP. De Zerbi took charge at the Amex Stadium in September 2022 and led Brighton to their highest ever top-flight finish when they came sixth in 2022-23. “We have mutually agreed to end Roberto's contract at a time that suits both parties allowing us the earliest opportunity to plan for next season, and Roberto plenty of time to consider his next move and his future,” Brighton chairman Tony Bloom said on Saturday. Putellas’ new deal: Barcelona women's captain Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner, has extended her contract with the club by two years with an option for a third, says AFP. The 30-year-old World Cup winning midfielder, the team's most successful player with 189 goals in 424 matches, has committed until June 30, 2026 with an option for a third season. | 
