A footballer who raped a good Samaritan in her own home has been jailed for three years and nine months.

Niall Geany, 19, preyed upon the woman in the bedroom of the property in Edinburgh on March 3, 2024.

Geany – who most recently played for lower league outfit Spartans – had shared a taxi with his victim after a night out with friends.

Geany found himself “stranded” near the woman’s house and she invited him in to charge his mobile phone so he could arrange transport home.

The right-back, of Kirkliston, near Edinburgh, attempted sexual contact with her despite knowing she had a boyfriend.

A court was told the woman had “expressed no romance” towards him.

The woman repeatedly told Geany “no” as he continued the attack upon her.

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Geany later stated in his police interview that she told him to “stop.”

However, Geany proceeded to struggle with his victim and raped her, which later left her injured.

After the incident, witnesses reported that the woman was “visibly distressed” and there was a change in her demeanour.

Geany was found guilty after trial of rape to injury and was sentenced on Tuesday at the High Court in Glasgow.

When jailing Geany, Judge Alistair Watson said: “She allowed you in her home and she placed trust in you that night.

“You clearly committed the crime of rape.

“The victim impact statement details the massive impact your criminal conduct has had on her.

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“You have to understand the harm you have caused continues to affect her now and will continue physically and mentally.

“The degree of harm you caused is particularly high.

“I have to acknowledge the serious harm caused to your victim and the gravity of the forcible and violent rape committed in the face of her struggles and protests.

“I have to acknowledge the aggravation that this took place in her bedroom in a place she should feel safe and be safe.”

The judge stated that he had regard to Geany’s “high intelligence”, and “low risk of re-offending”.

Judge Watson went on to say that he believes Geany can be “rehabilitated and go on to lead a pro-social life”.

He said: “Standing your youth in particular, I am exceptionally going to impose a shorter period of custody for a crime of this nature.”

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The sentencing was told that Geany will initially serve his sentence in a young offenders’ institute before he is transferred to prison.

When the sentencing was announced, a man in the public gallery shouted: “Yes.”

The judge also put Geany on the sex offenders register and granted a non-harassment order, which prohibits his contact with the victim for an indefinite period.

Richard Souter, defending, earlier told the sentencing that his client was “exceptional” in academic sporting terms.

The lawyer stated: “This is the type of offence that will have caused harm and I acknowledge that.

“Clearly the court will be considering custody.”

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Chelsea sensation Estevao Willian has been told how to become a Ballon d’Or contender like Lamine Yamal after his game-changing display against Liverpool.

The 17-year-old Brazilian, affectionately dubbed “Messinho” in his homeland, has taken to English football like a natural, blending flair, courage and creativity in a way few foreign youngsters ever manage.

Signed for €34 million (£30m) from Palmeiras plus a hefty €23m (£20m) in add-ons, Estevao is already looking like a bargain for the Blues.

In a thrilling showdown with Premier League champions Liverpool on Saturday, Estevao announced himself on the biggest stage, striking a 95th-minute winner that sent Stamford Bridge into absolute pandemonium. It was a moment of magic that etched his name into Chelsea folklore and proved that the hype around “Messinho” is no exaggeration.

Yamal, the Barcelona wonderkid who finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting, has set the benchmark for the next generation. But Estevao’s rise in London has sparked talk that he could soon rival, or even surpass, the Spanish prodigy.

Djibril Cisse: ‘He changed the game’
Former Liverpool and France striker Djibril Cisse is among those to have been blown away by Estevao’s early impact at Chelsea. Speaking to Poker Strategy, Cisse claimed the Brazilian is one of the most gifted youngsters in the world, but warned that raw talent alone won’t win him a Ballon d’Or.

“It is really good to see Estavao playing so well in the Premier League at the moment at such a young age,” he said. “He has put in some really strong performances this season. I thought he changed the game against Liverpool.

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“There are a lot of talented young players at the moment like him and Lamine Yamal, but their careers will depend a lot on how they grow up. Yamal was second in the Ballon d’Or, but to win big awards like that you need more than talent. Estevao will need to be mentally strong and consistent at the top level with more big moments, but the goal against Liverpool will certainly help him a lot.”

Estevao’s future locked in until 2033
Chelsea wasted no time in securing their golden boy for the long term. Estevao’s contract runs until 2033, ensuring that the west London club can fully reap the rewards of his potential for the next decade.

The next Ballon d’Or battle?
Football’s next great rivalry might already be taking shape: Estevao vs Yamal. Both forwards appear destined to carry the torch of their generation, and both could be in the Ballon d’Or conversation for years to come. For now, though, the boy they call “Messinho” has London at his feet, and if Cisse’s words ring true, the road to football immortality has already begun at Stamford Bridge.

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Manchester City were made to work for their three points at the Gtech Community Stadium, but once again it was Erling Haaland who provided the decisive moment.

The Norwegian forward continued his remarkable goal-scoring streak to edge a narrow victory over Brentford, sealing a landmark occasion for his manager in the process.

Haaland demonstrated both strength and precision as he outmuscled Sepp van den Berg to reach Josko Gvardiol’s looping cross.

Having wrestled free, he composed himself and slotted past Caoimhin Kelleher with characteristic certainty. It was his third goal of the week and his 18th in 11 appearances for club and country this season.

His output remains unmatched in Europe, and it is his consistency in pressurised situations that continues to separate him. When Manchester City need authority, Haaland provides it.

Guardiola Reaches Historic Premier League Landmark
The strike secured a victory that marked Pep Guardiola’s 250th Premier League win as Manchester City manager. He is only the 16th coach to reach that tally with a single club and has done so in just 349 games. That is 74 matches quicker than any manager before him.

Such efficiency underlines the dominance City have enjoyed during his reign. Yet this win was earned in less glamorous fashion. Brentford forced City into long periods of discipline, testing their resilience more than their creativity.

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Victory moves Manchester City into fifth place ahead of the international window. With Erling Haaland ruthless, Guardiola relentless and standards unchanged, they remain within striking distance of the summit. Brentford battled admirably, but against City, control is seldom enough without conviction in front of goal.

Barcelona suffered their first defeat of the La Liga season, with Sevilla claiming a memorable victory at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.

Ronald Araujo was one of two players substituted following the midweek loss to Paris Saint-Germain, and he was involved in the incident that led to Sevilla’s opening goal. Araujo was deemed to have fouled Isaac Romero inside the penalty area, a decision that was upheld after a VAR review.

As a result, Alexis Sanchez stepped up to take the penalty and successfully scored against his former club.

After that moment, Sevilla had a number of chances to score again, with most of them falling to Isaac Romero. He squandered two big ones, but it was third time lucky as he made it 2-0 to the home side on 37 minutes. Ruben Vargas played him in from the left, and there was no mistake made on this occasion.

Barcelona needed to get back into this one as soon as possible, and crucially, they struck before half time. Pedri delivered a wonderful cross into the path of Marcus Rashford, who volleyed home for his first La Liga goal.

Barcelona had the wind in their sails in the second half, and they had a glorious opportunity to equalise on 76 minutes when Alejandro Balde was fouled inside the penalty area by Adnan Januzaj. However, the effort was sent wide by Robert Lewandowski, much to the joy of the home support.

In the 90th minute, Sevilla sealed the victory as Jose Angel Carmona fired across Wojciech Szczesny and into the far corner, and it would get even better for Los Nervionenses deep into stoppage time as Akor Adams struck to make it 4-1.

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It’s now back-to-back defeats for Barcelona, following their Champions League loss at home to PSG. Hansi Flick will need the upcoming international break to regroup, as his side have fallen away in these last two matches. They stay in second with that result, while Sevilla rise to the lofty heights on 4th.

Motherwell pushed Celtic close but ultimately fell to a slim defeat as Daizen Maeda earned the champions all three points.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulous struck twice to first level Kelechi Iheanacho’s first-half penalty by sweeping in a crisp shot, before putting the Lanarkshire side ahead from the spot, 10 minutes into the second half.

However, that lead lasted only until sub Benjamin Nygren levelled in 69 minutes, and Maeda struck three minutes into stoppage time.

Iheanacho gave Celtic the lead from the spot in 27 minutes for what looked like a harsh handball decision against Regan Charles-Cook.

However that was cancelled out five minutes from the break as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos slid in a Tawanda Maswanhise cross a the right post.

The Australian was off the mark again in 55 minutes, putting Motherwell ahead from the penalty spot.

However, sub Benjamin Nygren levelled for Celtic in 69 minutes, and Maeda bagged the winner late on.

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Celtic predictably dominated the first half, but without creating too much for Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward to do, and their fans seemed restless.

Motherwell very much gave it a go against the champions and had a few inroads, before they deservedly drew level.

The second half was much more even, but a mazy run by Maswanhise was illegally halted and Motherwell took a sensational lead from the spot.

But Nygren spared the champions’ blushes with a rifled effort.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers made four changes from the side that lost 2-0 here against Sporting Braga in the Europa League on Thursday. In came Anthony Ralston, Marcelo Saracchi, Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan for Colby Donovan, Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren and Paulo Bernardo.

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou made two changes to the side that beat Aberdeen 2-0 last weekend. Stephen Welsh sits this one out under the terms of his loan from Celtic, and he was replaced by fit-again captain Paul McGinn, while Johnny Koutroumbis came in for Stephen O’Donnell.

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Amanda Anisimova continued her impressive year by defeating Linda Noskova to win the China Open, thereby claiming her second WTA 1,000 title.

Anisimova, who was the runner-up at both Wimbledon and the US Open, triumphed in a fluctuating match, winning 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 against the Czech player. This was the same opponent she defeated on her way to the final at Wimbledon.

Noskova, appearing in her first WTA 1,000 final, struggled in the opening set, managing to win only 12 points in a 23-minute period, ultimately suffering a ‘bagel’ — losing a set without winning a single game.

However, with a more aggressive approach, Noskova broke her American opponent in the first game of the second set.

The world number 27 recovered from back-to-back double faults in the next game to consolidate her break and took the second set to level the match.

Anisimova, who hit 17 unforced errors in the second set after just four in the first, improved in the decider and broke Noskova in the sixth game before going on to claim victory.

“It’s been an incredible few weeks,” said world number four Anisimova, adding that Sunday’s victory “has been really special” and she “was excited for a lot more”.

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