World Football

In this episode of World Football, we bring together two sports not usually associated with each other – football and snooker.That’s because four-time world snooker champion Mark Selby’s career has been strongly linked to his hometown football club Leicester City.He became world champion for the second time on the night of Leicester’s iconic Premier League title win in 2016As he prepares to try to add another world title to his collection at the World Championship in Sheffield, England he’s been telling John Bennett about his footballing passion.Photo: Mark Selby with a Leicester City football club flag after lifting the trophy after beating Ding Junhui to win the World Snooker Championship final at the Crucible Theatre on May 02, 2016 in Sheffield, England. (Credit: Getty Images)

The last time five-time winners Barcelona won the men’s Champions League was 2015, but, after a 10-year wait, is the 2024-25 season their best chance to be crowned kings of Europe again?Ernest Macia from Radio Catalunya joins World Football’s Mike Williams and George Addo to assess where Barcelona are now, if they have what it takes to win the Champions League this season and the influence of their manager Hansi Flick. Image: Raphinha of FC Barcelona (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates Pau Cubarsi, Fermin Lopez and Jules Kounde during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between FC Barcelona and Borussia Dortmund at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on April 09, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Family members and former team-mates including his son Tyrese Campbell, Wayne Rooney and Andy Cole open up about the life and death of ex-Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell.Darren Fletcher narrates the story of Campbell's life, loss and legacy, told by those who knew him best.(Images via Getty Images and the Campbell family)

It's set to be a huge week in European club football with the second legs of the Champions League quarter-finals taking place as the road to Munich in May takes shape.While Barcelona have a commanding 4-0 advantage in their tie against Borussia Dortmund, their big Spanish rivals Real Madrid go into the second leg at home to Arsenal 3-0 down, with the holders facing a huge battle to remain in the competition.They also trail Barcelona in the La Liga title race, only increasing the pressure on legendary manager Carlo Ancelotti.The Italian is one of the most decorated coaches in European football, and no one has won more Champions League titles as a manager, including in 2024 with Madrid.Spanish football journalist Juan Castro has been telling World Football’s Delyth Lloyd about the scrutiny Ancelotti is under. Photo: Carlo Ancelotti, manager of Real Madrid, during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Quarter Final First Leg match between Arsenal FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Arsenal Stadium on April 08, 2025 in London, England. (Credit: Danehouse/Getty Images)

Manchester United head into a season defining game against Lyon with a number of question marks, including who will start in goal.The Europa League quarter-final tie is evenly poised at 2-2 with United needing to progress in order to keep alive their chances of a trophy and European football next season following an underwhelming campaign.All eyes will be on who manager Ruben Amorim opts to start in goal at Old Trafford with regular first choice keeper Andre Onana omitted from the squad for Sunday's 4-1 defeat at Newcastle.The Cameroon international has made a number of high profile errors this season, including in the first leg against Lyon in France.Turkey’s Altay Bayindir was brought in to make his first league start since joining United in September 2023, and has mainly been back up to Onana during his time at the club.Former Cameroon defender Sebastien Bassong has been giving his view on the situation to World Football’s Delyth Lloyd and George Addo.Photo: A dejected Andre Onana of Manchester Utd after the 2-0 loss during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Manchester United FC at Molineux on December 26, 2024 in Wolverhampton, England. (Credit: CameraSport via Getty Images

Former Ukranian international Yevgeny Levchenko has been auctioning off a number of shirts he's collected throughout his career to aid the ongoing war relief funds in the country.Featuring names like Wayne Rooney, Arjen Robben, Erling Haaland, Luis Suárez, and Sergio Ramos, the auction saw global football fans rally around Levchenko's cause, raising over US$30,000 (£23,000) in the process.World Football's Mani Djazmi explains more.Photo: A selection of shirts previously owned by former Ukranian international Yevgeny Levchenko which were auctioned off to raise money. (Credit: Match Worn Shirt)

Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year contract with Liverpool.His previous deal was scheduled to run out in the summer and there had been doubts he would stay with the Reds following comments from the 32-year-old during the season as well as speculation linking him with a move to Saudi Arabia.The man known as' the Egyptian King' will now remain in the North West of England until 2027 and have the chance to add to his 243 goals and 109 assists for Liverpool in 394 appearances.So how has the news gone down across the football world? Arabic football expert Mohamed Qoutb and football reporter, John Bennett, tell us how the news has been receive in Salah's native Egypt.Plus, what's the view of former players & managers? Former Glasgow Rangers and Nottingham Forest boss, Mark Warburton, and former DR Congo captain and Match of the Day Africa: Top 10 host Gabriel Zakuani give us the lowdown.Photo - Mohamed Salah of Liverpool signs a new contract extension at Anfield on April 11, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Credit: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Olympique Lyonnais has won 6 of the last 9 Champions League titles and for years dominated women’s football in Europe. Only Barcelona have recently been able to compete.Lyon's success is the vision of club president Jean-Michel Aulas who wanted to create an iconic team, with the best players, but in the case of Aulas he also promised to ensure both male and female players were treated equally. This included the first mixed football training academy.In Olympique Lyonnais: The Champions League trailblazers we find out the story of how the French club raised the standard of women’s football, going behind the scenes with striker and Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg, Chelsea and England defender Lucy Bronze and France and Lyon captain Wendie Renard who have all witnessed huge success and then change with Europe’s elite catching up. Now South Korean born businesswoman Michele Kang has taken over the the French giants, with big ambitions for the club.Photo: Players of Olympique Lyonnais celebrate after winning during the UEFA Women's Champions League final match between FC Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais at Juventus Stadium on May 21, 2022 in Turin, Italy. (Credit: Ciancaphoto Studio/Getty Images)

Chelsea and Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson had a difficult start to life in English football but he's performing well this season and after an injury lay-off he's recently been described in the UK media as "indispensable" to Enzo Maresca's team.So as he returns to full fitness just in time for Chelsea's crucial end of season run-in, World Football's John Bennett, football journalist Rahman Osman and BBC Sport's senior football news reporter Nizaar Kinsella discuss his journey from the Gambia to the Premier League and whether he is now - along with Cole Palmer - the most crucial player in the Chelsea side? Plus, will be he be first choice next season or will Chelsea bring in a new number 9 to replace him?Photo: Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea FC celebrates scoring a goal with Enzo Fernandez during the Premier League match between Leicester City FC and Chelsea FC at The King Power Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Leicester, England. (Credit: Getty Images)

Players will be punished if they stand on the ball during football matches in Brazil, but what led to this controversial law change?The decision by the Brazil Football Federation (CBF) came after Corinthians forward Memphis Depay performed the move in a game against Palmeiras which sparked a mass brawl between both teams.The CBF has announced that players should be shown a yellow card if they stand on the ball with both feet and the opposing team awarded an indirect free-kick.South American football expert Tim Vickery and BBC football reporter John Bennett joins World Football’s Ed Harry to discuss the law change and the reaction in Brazil.Image: Kevin de Bruyne of Manchester City standing on a ball prior tothe UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Manchester City and F.C. Copenhagen at Etihad Stadium on March 6, 2024 in Manchester, England.(Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)