Ronaldo charged by FA for clash with Everton fan

Cristiano Ronaldo was charged with “improper and/or violent” conduct by the English Football Association yesterday for an incident dating back five months. Footage showed Ronaldo appearing to knock a fan’s mobile phone to the ground after United’s 1-0 defeat at Everton on April 9, for which the Portuguese was cautioned by Merseyside Police.
“Cristiano Ronaldo has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 for an incident that took place after Manchester United FC’s Premier League match against Everton on Saturday 9 April 2022,” said a FA spokesperson. “It is alleged that the forward’s conduct after the final whistle was improper and/or violent.”
After the incident, which occurred when Ronaldo was making his way towards the tunnel, the 37-year-old issued a social-media apology for his “outburst” and invited the supporter to watch a game at Old Trafford “as a sign of fair play and sportsmanship”.
If found guilty of the charge, Ronaldo could face a ban from upcoming Premier League matches. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has only started in the league once this season under Erik ten Hag after failing to force a move away from Old Trafford during the transfer window.

Kaka set to make marathon debut in Berlin
Former World Cup-winning footballer Kaka will make his debut at the Berlin Marathon tomorrow, saying he was “just as excited as I used to be before football matches.” Kaka, who played for Real Madrid and AC Milan before retiring in 2017, said his father’s struggle with Covid-19 had inspired him to run the marathon.
“He was 45 days in hospital” Kaka said at the Berlin marathon press conference yesterday. “Fortunately, he is with us today.” Kaka’s father and brother will take part in the “family experience” of the marathon. “He’s not going to run, he’s just walking, but we wanted him in this experience with us - it’s more of a family experience.”
Kaka said marathons were particularly special as sporting events because amateurs can take part side-by-side with professionals. “I’m very excited... Of course, it’s completely different than those guys (pointing to the professionals), this is something that is really good in marathons.
“As an amateur athlete, I can run and be in the same field as the professionals. This is something really special in marathons - afterwards I can say that the best one in the marathon ran this time, and at the same time I was running with him.”
Kaka said he was hoping for a time under four hours. “I want to run around 3 hours 40 minutes - if I feel good maybe I can do more,” added the 2002 World Cup winner.

Bochum name Letsch as new manager
VfL Bochum have named Thomas Letsch as their new manager, the Bundesliga side announced. Letsch, who arrives from Dutch first-division side Vitesse Arnhem, signed a contract at Bochum which runs until 2024. Letsch coached Vitesse for 101 games, after stints at Austria Vienna (37 matches) and a short spell at Erzgebirge Aue, who are now in Germany’s third division.
Letsch also worked for Red Bull Salzburg for a five-year period, eventually leaving the club when they preferred current Leipzig manager Marco Rose over him for the vacant head coaching position.
Letsch will meet Rose in his first game in charge when Bochum travel to play RB Leipzig on October 1.
Letsch is known for his attacking style of play and has worked with several future stars, including Liverpool’s Naby Keita, Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano and Leipzig’s Konrad Laimer.  
Letsch had a successful stint in Arnhem, taking the side to sixth and fourth-placed finishes and the 2021 Cup final, which they lost in injury time to Ajax.
Bochum sacked former mentor Thomas Reis after the side lost its opening six matches. Caretaker coach Heiko Butscher led Bochum to their first point of the season, drawing at home with Cologne, however the side still sit dead last on the table.