Holly Percival, Luke Bosher and more
March 4, 2022 at 7:37 AM EST
March 4, 2022 at 7:37 AM EST
NEWS: FIFA urged to reopen transfer window for players in Ukraine and Russia
The Polish FA have asked FIFA to reopen the transfer window for players in the Ukrainian Premier League, as well as foreign players in Russia, The Athletic understands.
The Ukrainian Premier League was suspended on February 24, the day Russia launched their invasion.
It is intended that players would leave the league on loan for as long as the competition is suspended, and that their contracts would not be terminated.
Initial loans could be made until the end of the season, with the future of the affected players to be reassessed in the summer.
The Athletic understands that FIFA is holding a meeting with the European Club Association (ECA) today, where the topic will be discussed.
Full story here.
(Photo: Pavel Pavlov/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
March 4, 2022 at 7:20 AM EST
ICYMI: Clyde in process of terminating loan agreement for David Goodwillie
Clyde have announced they are in the process of terminating the loan agreement for David Goodwillie.
A club statement on Thursday night read: “The club are tonight in the process of terminating the loan agreement with Raith Rovers for David Goodwillie.”
The news comes after Clyde Ladies players quit the club en-masse after rapist Goodwillie rejoined the men’s team this week.
His initial transfer from Clyde to Raith Rovers in January prompted widespread condemnation.
The 32-year-old former Scotland international was ruled to be a rapist and ordered to pay damages in a civil case in 2017.
It was the first civil rape case of its kind in Scotland.
Full story here.
Jacob Whitehead
March 4, 2022 at 7:18 AM EST
NEWS: Tuchel admits ‘uncertainty’ at Chelsea after Abramovich put club up for sale but he wants to stay
Thomas Tuchel has admitted there is “uncertainty” at Chelsea following Roman Abramovich’s announcement he plans to sell the Premier League club, but has said he wants to remain at Stamford Bridge.
Abramovich said in a statement on Wednesday that he had made the “incredibly difficult decision” to sell the Premier League club.
He had previously given “stewardship and care” of Chelsea to its foundation trustees following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Tuchel said on Friday that the uncertainty over Chelsea’s ownership had led to a range of reactions at the club — with some feeling “scared, some excited and some sad” — but made clear his intention to remain as head coach.
Full story here.
(Photo: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
March 4, 2022 at 6:13 AM EST
ICYMI: FA Cup draw
Everton overcame Boreham Wood last night, in the battle of my local club versus the club I support.
But just before the match, the quarter-final draw was finalised (though it will always be known as the sixth round to me).
The ties are:
Crystal Palace vs Everton
Nottingham Forest or Huddersfield vs Liverpool
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
Southampton vs Manchester City
More here.
(Photo: Emma Simpson/Everton FC via Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
March 4, 2022 at 5:46 AM EST
NEWS: Nottingham Forest report loss of £34.4m in latest results
Nottingham Forest remain confident of falling within profit and sustainability limits, despite the latest set of accounts revealing an operating loss of £34.4 million for the financial year 2021.
Significantly, those losses were reduced to £15.5 million when interest, profit on the sale of players and a historic loan write off were taken into account.
The club played an entire season of football behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a major impact.
That was the main factor behind their losses rising from £31.9 million in the previous financial year.
More here.
(Photo: Cameron Smith/Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
March 4, 2022 at 5:27 AM EST
NEWS: Allan Saint-Maximin to train with Newcastle today ahead of Brighton match
Newcastle United will make a “late call” on Allan Saint-Maximin’s fitness ahead of tomorrow’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Frenchman has missed Newcastle’s last two matches with a calf problem and was in Monaco this week, working with a specialist in an attempt to speed up his recovery.
Saint-Maximin is now back on Tyneside but has not trained with the team yet, although he will take part in today’s session, when Eddie Howe, the head coach, will then decide whether the 24-year-old is fit enough to be involved at St James’ Park tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Howe has revealed that the club are set to sit down with Fabian Schar’s representatives about potentially extending the centre-back’s contract.
Full story here.
(Photo: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
March 4, 2022 at 4:32 AM EST
What could happen to Chelsea if Roman Abramovich was sanctioned before he sells the club?
Clearly, there are issues far more significant ongoing in Ukraine at present. But what would happen to Chelsea if the UK government did place Abramovich on the sanctions list before he could smooth their sale?
Attempting to answer that question comes with plenty of caveats. This is uncharted territory. Sanctions tend to be brought against entities connected to big industrial companies or banks. In this case they would be brought against the owner of an elite-level football club. There are so many hypotheticals involved.
The Athletic investigates.
Jacob Whitehead
GO FURTHER
What could happen to Chelsea if Roman Abramovich was sanctioned before he sells the club?
March 4, 2022 at 4:10 AM EST
ICYMI: Ukraine ask FIFA to postpone World Cup play-off against Scotland
Scotland were due to host Ukraine at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on March 24, with the winner due to face either Wales or Austria on March 29 for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, the game is now in doubt as football has been suspended in Ukraine due to the current invasion by Russia.
A FIFA spokesperson said of Ukraine’s request: “FIFA can confirm it has received a request from the Ukrainian Association of Football today to postpone their matches scheduled for March.
“FIFA remains in regular contact with UEFA and the Scottish Football Association to find an appropriate solution. FIFA expresses its deepest solidarity to everybody affected by what is happening in Ukraine. A further update will be provided in due course.”
(Photo: Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Jacob Whitehead
March 4, 2022 at 3:48 AM EST
Good morning!
Welcome to today’s football news.
There are 16 Premier League press conferences, Chelsea are possibly getting sold, and plenty of FA Cup reaction.
Stay here throughout the day for updates.
Jacob Whitehead
March 3, 2022 at 4:55 PM EST
Join us tomorrow
Thanks for following our live news blog.
Join us again tomorrow for all the latest news from the football world.
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 3, 2022 at 4:13 PM EST
Ukraine ask FIFA to postpone World Cup play-off against Scotland
Ukraine have asked FIFA to postpone their upcoming World Cup qualifying play-off semi-final against Scotland due to Russia’s invasion on their country.
Scotland were due to host Ukraine at Glasgow’s Hampden Park on March 24, with the winner due to face either Wales or Austria on March 29 for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
However, the game is now in doubt as football has been suspended in Ukraine due to the current invasion by Russia.
Click here to read the full story.
(Photo: Isabella Bonotto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 3, 2022 at 3:44 PM EST
Middlesbrough to host Chelsea in FA Cup quarter-finals
Championship side Middlesbrough will host Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Chris Wilder’s men, who have eliminated Manchester United and Tottenham in previous rounds, were handed a home tie by former Riverside manager Gareth Southgate.
The England boss gave another of his former sides a home fixture with Crystal Palace facing the winners of Thursday night’s encounter between Everton and fifth-tier Boreham Wood.
Recent League Cup winners Liverpool will travel to either Nottingham Forest or Huddersfield Town. The Championship duo face off at the City Ground on Monday night.
Southampton will entertain Premier League leaders Manchester City with the eventual last eight aiming to progress to the semi-finals at Wembley.
The FA Cup quarter-finals will take place on the weekend of Friday, March 18 to Monday, March 21.
The draw in full:
Crystal Palace v Everton or Boreham Wood
Nottingham Forest or Huddersfield v Liverpool
Middlesbrough v Chelsea
Southampton v Manchester City
(Photo: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 3, 2022 at 3:28 PM EST
‘The European Super League was not a failure’ — Andrea Agnelli
Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli insists the attempt to launch a European Super League in April 2021 was not a failure despite the widespread criticism.
Agnelli was part of the European Super League leadership group alongside Real Madrid chairman Florentino Perez, Manchester United co-chairman Joel Glazer, Liverpool owner John W Henry and Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke.
The formation of the 12-club European Super League led to widespread condemnation which eventually saw Premier League sides Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur all withdraw from the competition.
Click here to read the full story.
(Photo: Daniele Badolato – Juventus FC/Juventus FC via Getty Images)
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 3, 2022 at 2:21 PM EST
Alisher Usmanov hit by UK government sanctions over Russia’s Ukraine invasion
Alisher Usmanov, who had commercial ties to Everton, has had his assets frozen as part of sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Usmanov had already been hit with sanctions by the European Union.
UK foreign secretary Liz Truss announced on Thursday that Usmanov would be sanctioned, along with former Russian deputy prime minister Igor Shuvalov.
Click here to read the full story.
(Photo: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 3, 2022 at 1:56 PM EST
Russia to appeal against football ban imposed by FIFA and UEFA
The Russian Football Union (RFU) has said it will appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decisions by governing bodies FIFA and UEFA to bar Russian teams from international competitions over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
On Monday, Russian football clubs and national teams were suspended from all competitions “until further notice” by FIFA and UEFA.
The union said on Thursday that it will file one lawsuit against the two governing bodies to demand that Russia’s men’s and women’s national teams be allowed to compete — including at Euro 2022 in England this summer and the World Cup in Qatar.
Click here to read the full story.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 3, 2022 at 1:09 PM EST
‘It is not fair for Abramovich to have a football club taken away’ – Staveley
Newcastle United co-owner Amanda Staveley has said that it is not “particularly fair” that Roman Abramovich may have to sell Chelsea amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Staveley claimed there is “absolutely not” any prospect of Saudi Arabia committing acts that could see the country hit with similar sanctions to those imposed on Russia.
Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners firm led a Saudi Arabian-backed takeover of Newcastle for £305 million in October 2021.
Click here to read the full story.
(Photo: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 3, 2022 at 12:44 PM EST
Quantuma says Derby has funds to last until end of the season
Derby County’s administrators Quantuma have told the EFL that the club has sufficient cash to last until the end of the 2021-22 season.
The EFL still says, however, there remain “a number of challenges” for Quantuma to overcome in order to name a preferred bidder to buy Derby.
On Wednesday, the EFL said the “very future” of Derby was under threat and it was “deeply concerned” by the lack of communication regarding Quantuma’s proof of funds and preferred bidder.
Click here to read the full story.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Anthony Hay·
EPL Staff Editor
March 3, 2022 at 12:06 PM EST
Koeman: Laporta wanted to get rid of me because I wasn’t appointed by him
It seems like an age since Ronald Koeman was head coach of Barcelona.
And the former Everton manager hasn’t held back on his exit, speaking to Dutch outlet AD.
“I was not Laporta’s coach,” Koeman said. “I had that feeling from the first moment, after the elections, there was no click.
“That necessary support from above was lacking. The important thing was not the money for me.
“I really wanted to succeed as a manager at Barcelona, to do everything I could, but I realized that Laporta wanted to get rid of me because I wasn’t appointed by him.”
(Photo: Getty Images)
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
March 3, 2022 at 11:38 AM EST
Record number of suspicious games flagged for match-fixing
Last year saw over 900 sports matches flagged as suspicious, generating around €165 million in profit for possible match-fixers, with football the worst offending sport worldwide according to a new report.
“As the market has developed, the threat of match-fixing has evolved,” said Andreas Krannich, Managing Director, Sportradar Integrity Services. “Now, would-be corruptors take an increasingly direct approach to match-fixing and betting corruption, with athletes messaged directly via social media platforms.”
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
March 3, 2022 at 10:59 AM EST
Biennial World Cup not happening, says Ceferin
“A biennial World Cup is a no go for everyone in football,” Ceferin told the Financial Times Football Business Summit. “I am glad FIFA has realised that as well.
“I had a discussion with FIFA’s president about it yesterday. We cannot say football on other continents cannot be developed, but we should be aligned and it should not hurt European and South American Federations.
“We have discussions but as far as I am concerned, a biennial World Cup is off the table. I am sure we will come to a solution with FIFA soon.”
(Photo: Getty Images)
Luke Bosher·
Junior Editor, News
