Ibrahima Konaté
January 2026
Konaté returned earlier than planned after his father’s death to help an injury-hit squad, scored late in a 4-1 win, and was in tears after the goal. He trained twice after returning midweek, came into a depleted back line, scored in stoppage time, and described choosing to come back to support the team; Slot confirmed Konaté proactively asked to return because of defensive injuries.
Kenny Atkinson
January 2026
Atkinson was fined $50,000 for aggressively pursuing and berating an official and making inadvertent contact, leading to an ejection. The incident occurred with 10:59 left in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s 126-113 loss to Phoenix, when Atkinson received his second technical foul.
Paul George
January 2026
George received a 25-game suspension without pay for violating the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug Program. The NBA announced the penalty and stated the suspension starts immediately with the 76ers’ next game.
Jean-Clair Todibo
January 2026
A mass brawl erupted late after Chelsea’s comeback winner, ending with Todibo shown a straight red card for violent conduct. The flashpoint began when Traore shoved Cucurella near the touchline. In the melee, Todibo grabbed Pedro by the throat; VAR reviewed and dismissed him. Players including Palmer and Mavropanos were involved as tempers flared.
Liam Rosenior
January 2026
Chelsea came from 2-0 down to beat West Ham 3-2, with Rosenior saying he would have booed the first-half performance. West Ham led via Bowen and Summerville. Chelsea levelled through a Pedro header and Cucurella from close range, then Fernandez scored the winner. Rosenior credited the fans for the second half and said results (six wins from seven) are the only way to win them over.
Harry Kane, Bayern Munich
January 2026
Bayern drew 2-2 at Hamburg, with Kane and Bayern unhappy with officiating and multiple penalty appeals after a first-half spot-kick went against them. Kimmich tripped Remberg for a Hamburg penalty that Kane protested; Hamburg converted. Bayern responded with goals from Kane and Diaz, but conceded an equaliser from Vuskovic’s header. Post-match, Kane criticised the referee despite Bayern’s later appeals being waved away.
Bukayo Saka
January 2026
Saturday; injury in pre-match warm-up; next games vs Chelsea and Sunderland next week
What: Saka withdrew after a hip injury in the warm-up and was replaced in the XI by Madueke as Arsenal won 4-0 at Elland Road. Arsenal scored through Zubimendi, a Darlow own goal from a Madueke corner, then added goals from Gyokeres and Jesus. The win ended a three-game winless league run and restored a seven-point lead over Manchester City and Aston Villa, though both have a game in hand.
Nikola Jokić
January 2026
Jokić returned from a hyperextended left knee on a minutes restriction and produced an immediate impact in a Nuggets win over the Clippers. After missing 16 games, he posted 31 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes as Denver won 122-109, indicating a controlled ramp-up while restoring Denver’s primary engine.
Antony
January 2026
Antony scored and assisted in a 2-1 win over Feyenoord as Betis finished fourth in the league phase and reached the last 16, with his European output highlighted against elite peers. He opened scoring with a curled strike and later crossed for Ezzalzouli; Opta stat cited says Antony has 14 European goal involvements for Betis (eight goals, six assists), level with Kane in the same span and three behind Mbappe.
Michael Carrick
January 2026
Carrick says Fernandes’ future is on the agenda but is more likely to be addressed in the summer amid renewed links away from United. Fernandes has spoken publicly about feeling unsettled and about previously having options to leave for more money, with recurring Saudi Pro League links as his contract ticks down; Carrick publicly praised him while indicating timing and club direction will matter.
