Sports

VIDEO: Felipe Melo, Walker Involved In Heated Scuffle During Club World Cup Final

Published

2 years ago

December 23, 2023

Fluminese midfielder Felipe Melo was involved in a heated scuffle with England’s right-back Kyle Walker during Friday’s Club World Cup final at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Manchester City won their fifth trophy of the year with a convincing 4-0 win over Brazil’s Fluminese, with goals from Julian Alvarez, Phil Foden, and Nino scoring an own goal.

Midfielder Jack Grealish was also involved in the scuffle and appeared to have started the fight.

A clip from the game appeared to show Melo, 40, running to approach Walker, who was walking ahead of a number of his City teammates following the full-time whistle.

Speaking after the game, Felipe Melo claimed that Jack Grealish was disrespectful to his teammate and Fluminese as an institution, and he ‘would never allow that.’

He said, “When the game ended, Grealish went after Martinelli. He chose a little guy. He has no balls to face a big one.

“Grealish was passing close to Martinelli, and I saw them talking, forehead to forehead, so I went after him. I pushed him. Walker pushed me, too. I went to defend a teammate. I defended my institution. I will do this forever. No one will disrespect my institution or its athletes. No one will come and humiliate my friends or my club.

“I didn’t want a mess. Grealish was disrespectful towards the Fluminense institution, and I will never let that happen.

“He was shouting ‘ole’ at the end of the game. This is something that the fans can do; not a player or an athlete on the field cannot be disrespectful.

“I went to defend Martinelli, who was being cornered by this athlete. And I would do it again. I am a warrior. Nobody can ever crow with a rooster.”

Some Fluminense stars, including Martinelli, gave a similar version of events, but Grealish dismissed the argument on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The 28-year-old said, “Not once did I say ‘ole’.”

Grealish started joking and saying hello to the Fluminense players after the 4th goal
After that, Felipe Melo went after the English player. Pushed Grealish himself and Walker pic.twitter.com/BapeiLuqy4
— New Sheriff⚓ (@NewsheriffUtd) December 23, 2023

Related Topics:Felipe Melo Video Walker World Cup Final

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Sports

CRASH: Anthony Joshua Opens Up On Friends’ Death

Published

9 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

Former world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, has said the death of his two friends posed a tough time for him.

Recall that a car conveying the boxer earlier this month, rammed into a stationary truck along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The accident claimed that lives of his personal trainer, Kevin Latif Ayodele, and his strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami.

In a post on his verified Facebook page on Thursday, the former heavyweight champion said it was tough for him.

Joshua acknowledged that the incident was “even tougher” for the parents of the deceased.

He wrote, “Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are.

“I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men.

“100% it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents. I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”

Sports

NPFL: Kano Pillars Sack Two Players

Published

9 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

Kano Pillars have announced the departure of the duo of Umar Sani Yakasai Samuel Tiza.

Yakasai and Tiza’s contracts were terminated by the Kano-based club.

The Sai Masu Gida confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday.

“Kano Pillars FC wishes to announce that, following a mutual understanding, the club have amicably parted ways with striker Samuel Tiza and midfielder Umar Sani Yakasai,” Kano Pillars wrote in a statement confirming the players departure.

“Both players will now continue their careers elsewhere ahead of the second stanza of the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League season.”

Kano Pillars is expected to make up for their departure with the signing of new players.

Sports

AFCON: It’s Not Possible – NSC On Super Eagles Players Requesting Cash Payment

Published

9 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Editor

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Shehu Dikko, has insisted that it is not possible to pay the Super Eagles of Nigeria their match bonus in cash.

Dikko stated this while clarifying the situation about Super Eagles match bonuses following reports of players threatening to boycott training and refusing to travel to Marrakech for Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, quarter-final clash against Algeria on Saturday.

He spoke on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

“Clearly, the players requested whether they could get some of these in cash, and they were told it’s not possible,” Dikko said.

“These bonuses are not paid in cash; they have to be paid through the bank, which is the normal procedure.

“The only ones they agreed to pay in cash are the daily allowances.”

The Super Eagles progressed to the last-8 after humiliating Mozambique 4-0 in the AFCON Round of 16.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Finance, Doris Nkiruka-Anite, had earlier disclosed that the Super Eagles players will start receiving their bonus money alerts today or tomorrow before the Algeria clash.