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DeutschPaul Scholes aims sarcastic dig at “special” Michael Carrick after loss to Newcastle
Paul Scholes appeared to mock his former teammate Michael Carrick, just minutes after he was handed his first defeat as Manchester United caretaker boss by Newcastle.
Unbeaten streak ends
United suffered a 2-1 loss to Newcastle at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening, ending Carrick’s eight-game unbeaten run since he was named Ruben Amorim’s temporary replacement in December last year.
The Red Devils headed into the meeting with confidence, but they were rocked in first-half stoppage time when the hosts were awarded a penalty after Bruno Fernandes was judged to have fouled Anthony Gordon inside the danger area.
Gordon stepped up to take the spot kick and made no mistake despite Senne Lammens diving the right way.
But United didn’t trail for too long. Fernandes made amends, supplying the assist for Casemiro, moments before the two teams went down the tunnel for half-time.
Jacob Ramsey’s second booking handed United a golden opportunity on a plate, but Carrick’s men inexplicably failed to take it. What followed was a tepid display, completely devoid of the pace and intensity required to break down the opposition.
United were made to pay when William Osula scored a 90th-minute winner to secure the three points for the Magpies. United remain in third place in the table, but they certainly missed a chance to put some distance between them and their top-four rivals.
Scholes’ jab
Almost immediately after the final whistle, Scholes made it very clear how he felt about the loss in Tyneside.
He took to Instagram story and wrote, “Michael has definitely got something special about him… Cos Utd have been CRAP last 4 games… Night! Tonali (with a heart emoji).”
His Tonali reference goes back to when Scholes claimed that the Italian is a much better midfielder than Arsenal’s Declan Rice.
Given Scholes’s long-held and vocal stance that Carrick should not be appointed as United’s permanent manager, it was perhaps predictable that he seemed to take some satisfaction in witnessing his first defeat. The pair played 160 games together for United between 2006 and 2013.
Scholes and Carrick won eight major trophies together including five Premier League titles and one Champions League title.
Featured image George Wood via Getty Images
The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
AC Milan Vs Inter Milan – Turkey Megastar To Return To Starting Lineup For The First Time After Eight Serie A Games
Inter Milan playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu is reportedly in line for his first Serie A start since early January as the Nerazzurri take on AC Milan on Sunday.
According to Tuttosport via FCInterNews, the Turkish midfielder will regain his place in the middle of the park at the expense of Piotr Zielinski.
Hakan Calhanoglu suffered a nasty calf injury during Inter’s 2-2 home draw against defending champions Napoli at the beginning of the calendar year.
Therefore, he has not started any of Inter’s last eight league matches, though he made a cameo appearance in a dramatic Derby d’Italia win over Juventus.
Furthermore, he returned to the scoresheet last weekend, converting a penalty in a 2-0 victory over Genoa.
Hakan Calhanoglu to Start in AC Milan vs Inter Milan Clash
MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 06: Hakan Calhanoglu of FC Internazionale celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Como 1907 at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on December 06, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Manager Cristian Chivu brought the 32-year-old back to the starting XI in Tuesday’s scoreless Coppa Italia draw at Como.
Moreover, the 45-year-old is ready to hand the former AC Milan man his first league start in two months this weekend.
On the other hand, Zielinski, who has excelled in this role during Calhanoglu’s absence, will move further up the pitch.
Indeed, instead of operating as a deep-lying playmaker, the Polish ace will take Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s place on the left side of midfield.
Fact Check: Will Sanju Samson miss T20 World Cup semi-final vs England over a possible ban?
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The moment came at the end of a tense chase when Samson sealed India’s victory with a boundary. As the ball raced away, the right-handed batter removed his helmet and dropped it onto the ground before falling to his knees and offering a prayer. The emotional celebration quickly went viral, with some observers suggesting the act might fall under the International Cricket Council’s Code of Conduct related to equipment abuse.
Sanju Samson's possible ban: What do the ICC rules say?
A closer look at the rules suggests that the fears of a suspension are largely misplaced. Under Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct, players can be penalised for “abuse of cricket equipment,” which includes actions such as throwing or striking items like helmets, bats, or stumps in frustration. The rule also covers deliberate damage to advertising boards, boundary fences, or dressing room fixtures.
Even if Samson’s act were to be reviewed under this provision, it would most likely fall under a Level 1 offence — the lowest category of disciplinary breaches. Level 1 incidents typically attract fines or demerit points rather than suspensions.
Former international umpire Anil Chaudhary also dismissed the speculation, explaining that Samson’s gesture appeared to be an emotional celebration rather than an act of anger or protest. According to him, such moments are common in high-pressure matches and are rarely treated as serious offences.
Recent examples support this interpretation. Scotland’s George Munsey received only one demerit point earlier in the tournament after throwing his helmet in frustration following his dismissal.
As things stand, there has been no official charge or complaint against Samson from match officials. India are scheduled to face England in the semi-final at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5, and the wicketkeeper-batter remains fully eligible to play.