The Football Association (FA) has fined Frank Lampard £30,000 after the Everton manager was charged with improper conduct.

Everton, who secured Premier League survival with a dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace on May 19, lost 2-0 to their Merseyside rivals Liverpool at Anfield on April 24.

However, Lampard was left infuriated when referee Stuart Attwell failed to give a penalty after Joel Matip bundled into Anthony Gordon early in the second half when the game was goalless. 

He said during a post-match news conference: "If that was [Mohamed] Salah at the other end, he gets a penalty. You don't get them here. That's the reality of football sometimes." 

The FA asked Lampard for an explanation of his comments and subsequently issued a charge of improper conduct by attacking the integrity of the referees.

Lampard responded to that claim but denied the charge, and for that he has now been fined.

A tweet from the FA Spokesperson account read: "An independent regulatory commission has fined Frank Lampard £30,000 after finding a charge against him for breaching FA Rule E3 in relation to media comments proven during a personal hearing.

"The Everton FC manager made the comments after their Premier League game against Liverpool FC on Sunday 24 April 2022, and he denied that they constitute improper conduct as they imply bias and/or attack the integrity of the match referee – or referees generally – and/or bringing the game into disrepute contrary to FA Rule E3.1."

Andy O'Boyle has returned to Manchester United as deputy football director.

O'Boyle will leave his role as head of elite performance at the Premier League in a move that the Red Devils say will "further strengthening leadership across the club's football department."

He is to provide support for football director John Murtough in driving the club's football strategy across the first team, academy and women's team.

O'Boyle will be a familiar face at the Premier League club in a new era under manager Erik ten Hag, having spent 16 years as a coach in the United academy working with the likes of Marcus Rashford.

"We are delighted to welcome Andy back to Manchester United to take up this important role in the club's leadership," said Murtough.

"Andy has experience across all technical areas of football, from fitness and sports science to scouting and recruitment.

"This will make him a valuable addition to my team at Carrington as we continue to strengthen leadership and strategic planning across all our football activities."

United confirmed on Sunday that former interim manager Ralf Rangnick would not be taking up the consultancy role initially planned for him.

Rangnick has been appointed as Austria's head coach. He took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November last year but only managed to guide United to sixth place and their lowest ever Premier League points total of 58.

Shaka Hislop is willing to be patient with Newcastle United's rebuild and believes fans are too, knowing the club will "be there to stay" once they reach the top of the Premier League table.

Newcastle have been struggling in the bottom half of the top flight for many years, but supporters' optimism was renewed by a lucrative takeover last year.

A consortium backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund bought Newcastle from Mike Ashley, in theory making the club the richest in world football.

No team spent more than Newcastle in the January transfer window, as an outlay of around £90million brought in the likes of Kieran Trippier and Bruno Guimaraes and inspired a surge up the table.

Bottom at the start of December, a sensational run under Eddie Howe took Newcastle up to a comfortable 11th by the season's end.

Further spending is anticipated ahead of the 2022-23 campaign, when Newcastle will be expected to have loftier ambitions, although former goalkeeper Hislop suggests success will not be immediate.

"A lot of the thinking is that this ownership isn't going to come and spend that kind of money straight off the bat," he told Stats Perform.

"Many thought they would like PSG are doing, or for argument's sake [Manchester] City may have done, [but] it's going to be a slow, gradual and deliberate process in bringing back some of those glory days.

"The signings have to make sense, they have to make fiscal sense, while the ownership are going to focus on building out the infrastructure so that once Newcastle are back and competing at the top end of the table, it's just sustained effort, it is not just fuelled by big spending and transfer windows, but they're going to build out the infrastructure.

"Now, building out infrastructure is going to take years, but I think the fanbase is understanding of that. They are okay with that. That's what they want.

"They are happy to take their time to get back to competing for Premier League honours. As long as it's a sustained effort, I think that's tying into everybody's feeling around the club and one that just comes together so well.

"So, the short answer is it's going to take time, but there's no doubt in my mind that they will be competing for honours before long. We'll see how long, but once they do, they'll be there to stay."

Hislop's thoughts were informed by a visit to Newcastle's training ground to chat to former Portsmouth team-mate Howe and members of backroom staff who remain at the club from his time on Tyneside in the 1990s.

Following those conversations, the 53-year-old – who was awarded the freedom of Newcastle for his work with Show Racism the Red Card – suggested "rekindling" an atmosphere that is "like nothing else" was more important than any promises of investment.

"The way that they felt the club was going under Mike Ashley, to them, it felt like it's lost its way, it lost its direction and sense of significance around the city, around the north-east in general," Hislop explained.

"And they felt that that had been renewed under the new ownership.

"Nobody at the club, nobody at the city is talking about the wealth of the new owners and any big spending there is to come.

"Everybody's just focused on rekindling that atmosphere that we saw and loved during the 90s and having some of that football back into the place, having a sense of optimism, because it felt that that had been taken away and neglected over the last few years."

Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob has nothing but a burning desire to win against the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.

Lacob used to have a minority stake in the Celtics and was part of the ownership when Boston won the most recent of their 17 NBA championships back in 2008.

He bought the Warriors in 2010, and under his ownership the team have won three titles, in 2015, 2017 and 2018.

But a victory this time around would mean even more to Lacob.

"Boston was very important, and those guys were very helpful. They're friends to this day. Not too close friends, though," Lacob told reporters.

"I want to kill them right now, I'm going to be honest. I'm very competitive about this, and I'm sure they are, too.

"It's going to be a battle on the court and a little bit of a battle on the ownership level, too. We want to kill each other and we want to win, both teams. And they should."

Lacob looks back fondly on his time co-owning the Celtics, however, even if he is set on getting the better of Boston in the Finals.

He added: "It was very important. I think to run any business in life, actually, I think it doesn't even need to be a business, you just kind of need some experience, right?

"You need to be able to do some pattern matching. You need to see what works and what doesn't work.

"In this case, it's the same kind of thing. Boston was an experience for me, as a limited partner, to get to see how an NBA team ran, upfront, in person, and real.

"I got to know people like Danny Ainge, and Doc Rivers was the coach. I've got a ring from 2008, by the way, from the championship.

"Five years, I think it was; it was a tremendous experience with the basketball side and the business side. I learned some things I liked to do the way they did it and things that maybe would be different."

Iga Swiatek revealed she sang a Dua Lipa song to take her mind off a difficult first set in her French Open victory against Zheng Qinwen.

World number one Swiatek extended her astonishing winning run to 32 matches by beating Zheng in the fourth round at Roland Garros, with only Venus Williams (35) and Serena Williams (34) now having enjoyed longer streaks this century – although the Pole remains a long way short of Martina Navratilova's outrageous all-time record of 74.

But Swiatek was made to work for this victory, dropping a set for the first time in more than a month as Zheng took the opener 7-6 (7-5).

Swiatek ultimately considered this a positive, though, responding with her 16th 6-0 set of the year in the second en route to winning 6-7 (5-7) 6-0 6-2.

"For sure, for me, I'm taking a lot of confidence in my comeback in the second set," she said afterwards. "So I think it's important that I had this kind of match, which is kind of like a cold shower.

"It reminded me how to find these solutions after losing a first set. Yeah, I feel when I'm going to take some positives from it. I think it's going to give me a lot before the next matches."

Yet what were Swiatek's solutions?

"It wasn't easy to find solutions and to find other tactics and to do something differently, because I wasn't sure what I was doing wrong," she explained.

"In the first set, I get many technical [things] that I wanted to change, like staying lower in my legs and sometimes not pushing the ball but swinging it like I was doing, like I would do normally.

"She was playing really fast balls, and it wasn't easy to loosen up, because I felt a little bit tense.

"So, in the second set, I just wanted to focus more and not really talk to the box maybe that much.

"And honestly, I speeded up a little bit my forehand. Maybe that was the solution. But I felt like my mind is a little bit more clear.

"I was sometimes just singing songs, and I realised in the first set, when I was really focusing on that technical stuff, it didn't really work, because I got more and more tense when I couldn't do that and couldn't really prepare to the shot the best way.

"I was singing in my mind, basically. That's not the first time. I'm always singing something, but I changed the song. It was Dua Lipa, so kind of a guilty pleasure."

Aaron Donald was ready to retire before experiencing the feeling of winning a Super Bowl, to which he is now "addicted", but that does not mean he will definitely be returning to the Los Angeles Rams.

Prior to Super Bowl LVI, it was suggested Donald could retire if he finally got his hands on a championship ring.

And the three-time Defensive Player of the Year played a vital role in the Rams' 23-20 win.

Donald's 2022 status has therefore been the subject of some speculation, with his victory parade suggestion the Rams could "run it back" not followed by progress in terms of a new contract.

It appears a lucrative deal is now vital to getting Donald to return, although he suggests quitting after his eighth season – the 2021 campaign – was always a possibility, regardless of the result of the title game.

"It ain't about the money, but it is a business at the end of the day," Donald told Brandon Marshall on his I Am Athlete podcast. "That's what you've got to see.

"For me, it's about winning. I don't want to play football if I can't win, anyway, so I feel like if I got a real opportunity to win another Super Bowl, then it makes sense to play.

"But again, it's still a business. We've got to handle the business side of things, and if that wasn't to get handled then, you know, it is what it is type of situation. I'll be fine regardless.

"Me talking about retirement, that was happening way before we won a Super Bowl. I've been saying since I got into the league that I was going to play eight years and be done. That's just what I've been saying.

"It just came out and then everybody thinks that, 'oh, he said if he wins a Super Bowl, he's going to retire'.

"Nah, I've got team-mates, coaches, my family who know about this. I said I'm going to play eight years, and I'm going to probably be done playing football.

"But winning a Super Bowl, you get kind of a little addicted to it. I ain't going to lie. I want to feel that again. That experience is like none other.

"If I was to play, it's just to win another Super Bowl, but at the end of the day, it's still a business and it's got to make sense to me and my family."

Despite skipping voluntary organised team activities, Donald added he "probably" will be back for 2022.

But he said: "I don't need to play football to be fine. I'm fine.

"I was blessed to play this game, to make the money I made. The accomplishments I made in eight years, it's like I'm complete. If I can win another one, that's great. But if not, I'm at peace."

Andy Murray has revealed he almost teamed up with Emma Raducanu at Wimbledon last year and "would love to" play doubles with the US Open champion at the All England Club in the future.

Murray and Raducanu are the only two British grand slam champions of the past 45 years.

Former world number one Murray has three major titles, including two at Wimbledon, while teenager Raducanu claimed her breakthrough success at Flushing Meadows in 2021.

A Wimbledon mixed doubles team would therefore prove hugely popular, and Murray says it was actually a possibility last year before Raducanu enjoyed a breakout campaign in her home slam.

Just a month into her WTA Tour career, the Canadian-born star reached the fourth round at Wimbledon.

"Actually, last year we were maybe going to do it, but we both ended up doing well in singles," Murray explained, as quoted by The Telegraph.

"I would love to play alongside Emma at some stage. Whether that is something that works this year or not, I don't know.

"I am sure both of our focuses will be on having good runs in the singles, but I would love to do that."

Murray won a silver medal alongside Laura Robson in the mixed doubles at the London 2012 Olympics at the peak of his powers, while he teamed up with Serena Williams for a run to the Wimbledon third round while recovering from a career-threatening hip injury in 2019.

Richarlison has hinted he is ready to leave Everton, saying the club and manager Frank Lampard "know what I want".

The Brazil forward played a vital role in Everton avoiding relegation from the Premier League this season.

Richarlison scored 10 goals in 30 league appearances, including six from April onwards as the Toffees survived by four points.

However, the 25-year-old has long been linked with a move away from Goodison Park and would appear to be one of the club's most saleable assets.

Everton are reportedly likely to have to cash in on one of their prized players, given financial restrictions that saw them spend only £1.7million in the transfer window prior to the 2021-22 season.

Strike partner Dominic Calvert-Lewin has also attracted interest, but Richarlison has suggested he could be on his way when the transfer window opens.

"When we talk about changing clubs, it's a little bit complicated, due to the history I have there at Everton," he told reporters while away with Brazil, who he will be hoping to feature for at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

"The fans like me a lot. And when there are these talks about changing clubs, I feel that I don't have anything to say.

"But I made myself clear to the board, I have talked with Lampard as well. He knows what I want.

"So no matter what happens, it won't disturb me at the national team, it won't be a problem at the World Cup. I am totally focused on football so, no matter where I am, I will be playing with joy."

Asked by a reporter if it seemed like he wished to stay at Everton, Richarlison smiled before replying: "We will see, let's wait until June.

"I am focused here on the national team now and let's wait this month, then talk with my staff and Everton's board to see what they will decide."

Previously the subject of approaches from Barcelona and Manchester United, Richarlison has been linked with Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Tottenham of late.

The New York Rangers triumphed 6-2 away from home in Game 7 against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday, securing their spot in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It is the second consecutive series that the Rangers have had to come from behind in – coming back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-3, before falling behind 3-2 against the Hurricanes and winning back-to-back games with their season on the line.

For a Game 7, it was relatively painless for New York, with first-period strikes to Adam Fox and Chris Kreider, before a Ryan Strome goal made it 3-0 Rangers at the end of the second period as goaltender Igor Shesterkin proved impenetrable early.

With the Hurricanes desperate for an early one in the third term, Kreider stuck the dagger in with his second goal to make it 4-0. Carolina finally got their first goal eight minutes into the last period through Vincent Trocheck, but any dream of a comeback was extinguished less than a minute later by Filip Chytil's reply.

Kreider, after scoring twice, was quick to pass the spotlight to who he felt was the match-winner, and highlighted how his Rangers refuse to lie down.

"Obviously, our goaltender [Shesterkin] was once again our best player," he said.

"I've kind of referred to us as cockroaches. We just didn't go away. 

"That's always been ingrained in the culture of every good team I've been on here. We just don't go away, regardless of the score and regardless of where the game is."

Also praising Shesterkin, Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said: "He made some key saves at key times – he made that 2-0 lead in the first period stand up."

Shesterkin himself said the early lead took the pressure off, and looked forward to his match-up against compatriot Andrei Vasilevskiy in net for the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

"We scored two quick goals and it helped me so much,' he said. "I just tried to [do] my job – stop the puck.

"[Vasilevskiy] is the best goalie in the world right now. I think it'll be a good battle."

Speaking to ESPN while still on the ice, Fox touched on the toughness of his side after now moving to 5-0 in elimination games this postseason.

"I think we're a resilient group," he said. "We're a young group, we have a lot of faith in each other in there, and when our backs are against the wall it seems like it brings out the best in us.

"These past two games have been a full-team effort, it took everyone to contribute, and I couldn't be prouder of the team.

"Maybe we're a little naive in there – we're just coming to play. We've got a young group, but guys who have been through it, too. 

"We don't want our season to end, and I think we just go in with that mentality, and its worked for us the past two [Game 7s]."

When asked about the impending matchup against the Lightning, Fox said he will not lose much sleep over his side's rest disadvantage.

"I'm not sure to be honest – obviously [the Lightning] getting a little rest is good for their guys, but we're in hockey mode," he said. "We're in playoff mode, and we want to keep the momentum rolling.

"It could be good for us, but obviously a good test as well."

Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon did not shy away from the reality facing his side in the Western Conference Finals – calling Edmonton Oilers poster boy Connor McDavid "the best".

To advance through to the Western Conference Finals, the Avalanche swept the Nashville Predators in the first round, and then handled the strong challenge of the St. Louis Blues to win the series 4-2.

For the Oilers, they were forced to go seven games against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, before making it look easier against the Calgary Flames, winning their second-round series 4-1.

MacKinnon is a star in his own right, seventh in the league in points per game (1.35), and the best player on the Western Conference's best team – but when asked about his side's plan to deal with reigning MVP McDavid, he said it would take more than one man.

"I'm not really thinking about [McDavid] a whole lot, but obviously I see that stuff," he said.

"I think he's the best, I've said it. I think he's been the best for a little bit now, and it's going to take a full team effort to stop him."

McDavid led the league in total points (123) and points per game (1.54), and has been named to the NHL First All-Star Team in four of his six seasons.

When he was asked about his side's plan to deal with MacKinnon, he opted to not mention his opposing star by name.

"They're a good team over there," he said. "I've learned that over the last couple of years. 

"This year is no different. They've got some real good players, and they're really good all around."

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was willing to dive a little deeper into what he thinks of the two stars.

"There's a lot of similarities between MacKinnon and McDavid," he said. "But at the same time, they're very different playing styles. 

"McDavid's very good off the rush, and very fast, and he's got the quick steps right at the beginning. 

"They're both such electric players, and McDavid's been the driving force for them as well as their other top guys.

"He'll be a good test, but we're all excited."

The man in charge of keeping McDavid off the scoresheet – Avalanche goaltender Darcy Kuemper – said he was also looking forward to testing himself against the best.

"It's a fun challenge for sure," he said. "[McDavid] is an electric, dynamic player. 

"He's creating every time he's on ice. Like [Makar] said, there's similarities between their games, but at the same time, they're different players. It's a fun challenge. 

"You want to face the best players in the world, and we're looking forward to it."

The St. Louis Cardinals received strong performances from two rookies as they defeated the San Diego Padres 6-3 on Monday.

After the Padres took an early 1-0 lead, rookie second-baseman Nolan Gorman hit his second career home run with a 403-foot, two-run shot to right-field.

Tommy Edman was the player who trotted the bases along with Gorman for his home run, and he added another run himself with an RBI single in the fifth inning to make it 3-1.

Austin Nola pegged one back for the Padres with a base hit in the sixth frame, before the red-hot Paul Goldschmidt gave the Cardinals some breathing room with a two-run home run, crushing one 414 feet over the left-field wall to extend the lead to 5-2. It also extended Goldschmidt's hitting streak to 21 consecutive games.

Future Hall-of-Famer and 39-year-old Cardinals legend Yadier Molina capped off a fun night for the home faithful with an RBI double to center-field in the seventh inning.

Packy Naughton gave the Cardinals a decent start on the mound, striking out four batters and allowing one run in his two-and-a-third innings, before rookie Andre Pallante came in and earned his first career win, pitching three-and-a-third frames for one earned run and five strikeouts.

Both the Padres and the Cardinals remain three-and-a-half games off the leaders in their respective divisions.

Valdez pitches complete game for Astros

Houston Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez needed no help on the mound, pitching nine complete innings in his side's 5-1 win against the Oakland Athletics.

Valdez gave up just two hits and three walks, striking out seven, and was able to finish the job in 114 pitches.

With the bat, star Jose Altuve collected two hits, including a 394-foot, two-run homer in the fifth inning, while teammate Yordan Alvarez also had two hits, and both were massive.

Alvarez's first home run travelled 469 feet to center field, and his second was a 444-foot bomb to right-center – but he was not even close to Tuesday's biggest blast.

Sanchez crushes year's longest home run

The Miami Marlins lost 7-1 away against the Colorado Rockies, but the visiting side's one run was a memorable one, coming from the longest home run of the season.

With both sides still scoreless in the second inning, Marlins center-fielder Jesus Sanchez hooked a monstrous 496-foot solo home run deep over the right-field wall and over the third deck.

It was one of only four hits given up by Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner, who finished with seven complete innings for one run and six strikeouts.

No Rockies hit home runs in the game, but both Connor Joe and Garrett Hampson hit triples.

Manchester City are looking to add a "couple" more signings after already securing the signatures of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has confirmed.

Having wrapped up their fourth Premier League title in six years with a dramatic final-day win over Aston Villa earlier this month, City are set to benefit from the acquisition of Norwegian star Haaland, who scored 86 goals in 89 appearances during a two-year spell at Borussia Dortmund.

Pep Guardiola's men also announced the signing of young River Plate forward Alvarez back in January, as City look to restructure their forward line one year on from the departure of club legend Sergio Aguero.

Having already made headlines with their transfer business, in particular the signing of Haaland – a player El Mubarak called "the best number nine in the world" on Monday –Guardiola's men are set to be strengthened by more new arrivals. 

"I can confirm that there will be more players coming in," El Mubarak told the club's website. "We are looking to strengthen the team in the areas that we need strengthening. 

"As you know, every season some players leave, and then we have to continuously refresh the team.

"Again, we will always look at improving and strengthening. I think we've made two very important additions already [Haaland and Alvarez], but I anticipate we'll be doing a couple more.

"We'll try to go as fast as we can, but you know how the market goes. It's not always entirely in our control."

City scored 99 goals as they stormed to a successful defence of their Premier League title despite often not fielding a recognised forward after missing out on the signing of Tottenham's Harry Kane last year.

Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne top-scored for Guardiola's men in their league campaign, finding the net 15 times, with Raheem Sterling (13), Riyad Mahrez (11), and Phil Foden (nine), all outscoring nominal centre-forward Gabriel Jesus (eight).

El Mubarak says Guardiola's extraordinary tactical nous means City can afford to be patient in the transfer market, remaining successful on the pitch while biding their time until the perfect targets become available.

"With Pep and with this team, it's not just about filling a position," he added. "We have reached a level of quality, a standard in which we cannot and will not compromise on quality.

"If we find the right player for that particular position, we will get that player and if not, Pep has shown us he will find solutions within the quality of the group we have, and within the quality of the academy.

"We're in a different position to the one we were in many years ago. We have so much talent available within the squad and the academy that when we need something, it's very specific and it's very deliberate.

"If we're able to bring that particular player, great, and if not, it doesn't mean anybody can fill it. We are in a different paradigm from that perspective."

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jeff Gladney has died after being involved in a car accident in the early hours of Monday morning.

The Dallas County Sheriff's Office announced that at 2:28am, first-responders attended a scene where two cars collided.

One other person died in the crash. The second victim has not been identified as the incident remains under investigation.

The Cardinals confirmed Gladney's death in a brief statement.

"We are devastated to learn of Jeff Gladney's passing. Our hearts go out to his family, friends and all who are mourning this tremendous loss," the statement read.

Gladney, 25, was a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings after a glittering college career at TCU, where he became close friends with Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jalen Reagor.

Responding to the news, Reagor tweeted out: "Lost my brother, my best friend, my right hand man… ain't too much more I can take man damn! R.I.P Jeff Gladney, brother watch over me please."

J.J. Watt was one of several of Gladney's Cardinals teammates to also pay their respects, saying: "Horrifying news to hear this morning. Just tragic. Rest in peace Jeff."

Gladney's former team, the Vikings, also offered their condolences.

"We are saddened by the tragic death of former Viking Jeff Gladney," the franchise said. "Our hearts go out to his family and friends, as well as the Arizona Cardinals organisation and Jeff’s current and former teammates and coaches who are mourning his life lost much too soon."