Football Extras: United to investigate racist abuse aimed at Young

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Manchester United said on Wednesday they are investigating the racist abuse directed at defender Ashley Young on social media after the club's Champions League quarter-final exit in Barcelona.

England international Young was targeted on Twitter after the 33-year-old full back endured a disappointing night in United's 3-0 second-leg defeat by Barcelona on Tuesday.

"Manchester United utterly condemns racist social media comments posted around yesterday's Champions League fixture," the club said in a statement.

"We are working to identify individuals involved and we will take the strongest possible action we can against them.

"There is no place for racism within our game, or in society as a whole, and we are committed to working to make football free from all forms of discrimination."

British anti-discriminatory body Kick It Out has demanded Twitter to do more to tackle racism after a string of recent incidents on the online platform, including abuse aimed at ManchesterCity's Raheem Sterling and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.

"Yet another black player, this time Ashley Young, is targeted with racist abuse on social media after tonight's Champions League game," Kick It Out tweeted.

"Again, we're left asking Twitter the same question - when will you take serious action to tackle the rampant discrimination on your platform?"

PSG again made to wait to clinch title with Nantes defeat

Paris St Germain missed another opportunity to seal their eighth Ligue 1 title when their much-changed side were beaten 3-2 at strugglers Nantes on Wednesday.

Victory would have put PSG out of reach at the top of the standings with six games left, but Dani Alves's opener was cancelled out by Diego Carlos before Majeed Waris and an own goal by Alves gave the Canaries all three points at La Beaujoire.

PSG's Metehan Guclu reduced the arrears a minute from fulltime in his maiden Ligue 1 appearance.

It was an embarrassing performance from runaway leaders PSG, who have 81 points from 32 games and lead second-placed Lille by 17 points.

Thomas Tuchel's side, who have now picked up only one point from their last three Ligue 1 outings, will be crowned champions on Sunday if they beat Monaco at home.

PSG were without the injured Neymar, Edinson Cavani, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos and Thomas Meunier, a situation that led the German coach to complain about the lack of depth of his squad last weekend.

Marco Verratti and Juan Bernat were suspended while Kylian Mbappe and Angel Di Maria were rested ahead of Sunday's league game against Monaco and the April 27 French Cup final against Stade Rennes.

Their firepower was sorely missed as Eric Choupo-Moting barely threatened throughout, apart from when he hit the post in the second half.

Alves, however, opened the scoring after 19 minutes with a splendid long-range lob after collecting a cross from Leandro Paredes.

Yet Carlos headed home the equaliser four minutes later as PSG, who suffered a 5-1 humiliation at Lille last Sunday, looked shaky.

Waris put the hosts ahead a minute before the interval when he deflected a team mate's shot past Gianluigi Buffon.

Nantes doubled their advantage six minutes into the second half as Carlos's attempt form a corner deflected in off Alves.

Guclu, 20, celebrated his first top flight appearance by finding the net with a fine low shot from inside the box.

The result lifted Nantes up to 14th on 37 points, 12 above the relegation zone.

Former Watford owner Bassini agrees deal to buy Bolton Wanderers

Former Watford owner Laurence Bassini has agreed a deal to buy Bolton Wanderers subject to English Football League (EFL) approval, the English Championship (second-tier) club announced on Wednesday.

British media reported that Bassini paid a nominal amount to Ken Anderson to gain full control of the parent company Burnden Leisure Limited but the British businessman has vowed to pay all outstanding debts, including player and coaching staff wages.

"We are sure supporters will be very pleased to understand that as part of the transaction, all of the existing loans to the club will be settled in full and the associated charges removed, meaning the business will be debt free for the first time in many years," Bolton said in a statement.

Wanderers, whose players have gone on strike multiple times over unpaid wages this season, could be relegated to League One when they face Aston Villa on Friday as they sit 23rd in the Championship standings.

The club said that once the deal is ratified by the EFL, "all the long terms debts to British tax authorities (HM Revenue and Customs) and suppliers" will be settled.

"I am very pleased to hand over ownership of this great club to Laurence, I wish him and all of our supporters the very best for the future," Anderson said.

A founder member of the Football League in 1888, and four-times FA Cup winners, Bolton finished sixth in the Premier League in 2005 and qualified for European competition before being relegated in 2012.