Category: Sports

Football Manager was cited as the driving factor behind the failings of a World Darts Championship star who was branded "lazy" by his wife.

Football Manager 27 is released on 10 November, having been available on early access for a limited period.

The new game promises to again capture the imagination of FM fanatics worldwide and keep them glued to their laptop. Plenty of sports people have admitted to being hooked on the football management game, with France pair Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele both regular players.

But another big FM fan is Kim Huybrechts, a Belgian darts player who got so into the game that his wife blamed it on his poor performance at the oche.

On December 23 2024, he was soundly beaten by Richard Veenstra in the second round of the World Darts Championship – failing to win a single leg in a 3-0 loss.

It was his 13th appearance in the big tournament at Alexandra Palace and he described the loss as "perhaps the biggest disappointment of my career".

But his other half Dana Verhaegen-Huybrechts, also a darts player, laid into him by calling him a "spoiled brat" whilst claiming he is addicted to playing Football Manager.

Speaking to Nieuwsblad Sport, Dana, fumed: "Kim is actually a spoiled brat. He's addicted to Football Manager while I do everything around the house.

"Kim has so much talent, but no character. Lazy is an understatement."

Her frustrations were made clear as she had no doubts about her husband's ability, claiming she believed "he can win against anyone if he is on form".

A former Premier League participant, Huybrechts has five PDC Pro Tour titles to his name and was beaten by Phil Taylor in the 2012 Players Championship Finals.

His best performance in the World Darts Championship saw him get to the quarter-finals, before being defeated by Andy Hamilton.

The 2013 World Cup of Darts finalist has struggled more recently, however, losing in the first round in consecutive years.

The staunch Royal Antwerp fan was once 12th in the PDC rankings when he was in his best period. Between 2013 and 2015, he won the Dutch Darts Masters and European Darts Grand Prix.

However, fast forward to the present day and he is just floating about the top 50 in 46th place.

Although he is not back among the big boys and will have go through extra hoops to be in the World Darts Championship, the 40-year-old has improved and won 100 out of his 151 matches in 2026.

He remains the top ranked Belgian player and back in May, he credited a change in management, working with former player Erik Clarys and the introduction of a dietitian and regular gym session as key factors in his quiet resurgence.

However, he hasn't quite been able to fly up the rankings and stated that the ranking system has made it difficult to get going again after the "downward spiral".

He told the Darts Draait Door Podcast: "Over the years they’ve made the system a bit impossible for people in a difficult phase of their career, but also for new players. The protection of the top players is part of that.”

Multiple retailers have Football Manager 27 available for pre-order for your XBox or PC.

At full price, the game costs £49.99, but there's currently 16 percent off on the Fanatical website. And you can snag an additional five percent off with our exclusive code SPORTBIBLE5, bringing the cost down to £39.89.

Anyone that pre-orders the game will be able to access the title after the five-day free preview ends on November 3, 2026 and before general release on November 9, 2026.

You can apply the code to checkout here.

Spanish police are investigating possible involuntary manslaughter after Tenerife player Jesus de Miguel tragically died following an on-field collision with Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono.

In the final minutes of Monday's game between Tenerife and Andorra, De Miguel was struck in the chest by Owono, who came rushing out of his area to clear a long ball.

Tenerife issued a statement confirming De Miguel had been admitted to the University Hospital of Nuestra Senora de Candelaria and was initially described as “stable despite the severity of his condition”.

However, his condition worsened and on Tuesday morning, Tenerife and the Asociacion de Futbolistas Espanoles (AFE) announced De Miguel's passing.

A statement from Tenerife read: "Racked with pain, with a lump in our throats and unable to believe that this is true, from CD Tenerife we communicate the tragic passing, this Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 8:00 a.m., of Jesús de Miguel Alameda.

"There are no words of comfort; there is absolutely nothing that can alleviate this feeling overflowing with sadness. We stand alongside his devastated family, alongside his loved ones, alongside all of tinerfeñismo that today weeps for this cruel outcome.

"The family of Jesús de Miguel thanks each and every one of the expressions of support received, and likewise requests, from the heart, the utmost respect for their privacy in these terrible moments."

Now, Spanish police and prosecutors have opened an investigation into possible involuntary manslaughter following the on-field collision that led to De Miguel's death.

Andorra goalkeeper Jesus Owono, who was involved in the on-field collision, has been 'deeply affected' by De Miguel's passing, according to Spanish publication AS.

The report claims Owono left the pitch to chants of "murderer, murderer" from fans inside the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez. He was also seen crying and praying in the dressing room after Monday's game was suspended.

Owono has since closed his Instagram account after it was flooded with abusive messages.

It is also claimed that Owono had intended to contact De Miguel and his family privately to apologise and offer his support before making a public statement, but the player's death has since changed the situation.

Those close to the goalkeeper told AS: "He is a caring, very kind person. He has no malice."