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    Man City and Chelsea stars to be asked about BOYCOTTING Club World Cup with players facing ‘tipping point’

    MANCHESTER City and Chelsea stars will be asked if they want to BOYCOTT next summer’s Club World Cup unless Fifa strike a deal with players’ leaders.Less than 24 hours after world chiefs unveiled the new brand logo for the 32-team tournament due to be held in the USA next summer, the international players’ union Fifpro published statistics showing how top stars are ALREADY overplayed.Fifa’s Club World Cup will take place next summer in the USACredit: GettyBut Manchester City and Chelsea will potentially be given the opportunity to boycott the tournamentCredit: RexPFA supremo Maheta Molango will see if the clubs are serious about not playing in the tournamentCredit: PASunSport revealed the potential strike threat, which would be backed by the PFA, earlier this year, despite both Chelsea and City in line for huge shares of a potential £600m prize pot.And with legal action against Fifa having already been launched with the European courts, PFA boss Maheta Molango suggested he may have to go to the Stamford Bridge and Etihad dressing rooms to see if the players are serious about following through.Molango said: “This is not an attack on Fifa or the Club World Cup but we have reached a tipping point.“This will be the defining season for football. The calendar doesn’t make any sense.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS“We have been warning for a long time but this season we will have a very telling example of what is happening.“Our legal case questions if there were potential breaches of the right to enjoy a holiday and if Fifa is abusing a dominant position.“The players are conscious, across the pyramid, about the calendar.”When people try to portray this as just about the elite players it’s just not true. It is massive and goes beyond that.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSWhat will happen to Man City?MAN CITY are favourites to win the Premier League title yet again – but there is one elephant in the room that threatens to put the skids under the Etihad giants.Sunsport’s MARTIN LIPTON discusses what the next few months could hold with Head of Sport SHAUN CUSTIS….Custis: So the big question – will there be a resolution this season?Lipton: Yes…. probably! We know the case will start to be dealt with in October or November.It will take at least a month to go through the evidence. So I suspect around March, April time, we will get a result. But that’s where it starts to get tricky.Custis: Why is that?Lipton: If the result is in City’s favour, that’s the end of the matter. They will be cleared. They will have no punishment to face.But if City are found guilty, these will be the heaviest penalties ever imposed by the Premier League.I suspect if they are found guilty, they will be expelled from the league or given a massive points deduction and a huge fine so that they’re not in the Premier League next season.Check out the full discussion on Man City’s future.“But if Fifa are not prepared to talk, we will go back to the players and say to them ‘we have done our bit; we are going to fight as hard as we can but ultimately this may require more from you’.Former West Ham and Newcastle defender David Terrier, vice-president of the French players’ union, added: “We brought the case to find out what the players want us to do. This is our work.Scott Carson’s glittering trophy cabinet“After that we will come back to them and say, ‘We’ve tried to fight and put on the table a solution for bargaining – but nobody wants to answer us.’“So then the possibility we have is to decide together that we won’t play – do you agree with that or not?“We are not the players. We support them, fight for them and explain the situation to them.”That is the last solution and not the one we want, but we do want to protect football.”The benefit of players having increased rest is no more clear and evident than with City hitman Erling Haaland, who has already hit two hat-tricks and scored seven goals so far this season.And Molango believes City’s striker, along with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, have done more for the future of every player than any lawyer in a suit could.As he helped launch the international players’ union FifPro’s latest “Player Workload Monitoring Report”, Molango was clear in his thinking.Haaland’s brilliant start to the new campaign, along with the blistering form of Liverpool’s Egyptian king, is down to him not being as burned out as many of the Prem’s other biggest names.The subdued force who ended last season as a mere mortal has returned as football’s version of RoboCop, an ice-cold penalty box killer.Molango has not a shadow of a doubt as to why – his pre-season trips around Prem dressing rooms making it abundantly clear.The PFA boss said: “What I found astonishing this summer was the difference in terms of the feedback from the people who had a proper holiday and those who did not.We have reached a tipping pointMaheta Molango, CEO of the PFA“The body language and the words they chose in talking to us was so different.“In England, we have a very clear example, with Haaland.“It’s very nice to go to a dressing room and hear someone say to you, ‘I was missing being back.”I was missing being able to train again. And I’m pumped up, I’m motivated. I’m here’. And that was in the preseason.“Now you see the result. He is back to being the machine that we saw when he first joined us in England.“It’s probably something very similar to Mo Salah. He had a proper rest and you can see it’s the best version of Mo.“That’s what the fans want to see and what we as a union want to see as well.“But the people who have not had that rest, you can see they look shattered. They look tired before even starting the season, which for us is very worrying.”The “workload” on top players is the key finding of FifPro’s document.A survey of 1500 players across Europe, mainly in the leading divisions, found more than half are already playing 50-plus games in a season.Julian Alvarez, who left Manchester City for Atletico Madrid in the summer’s biggest transfer, played in a staggering 75 games for club and country last term, with Phil Foden featuring 72 times, as did Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunes, while club-mate Cody Gakpo, Aston Villa’s John McGinn and Arsenal’s Kai Havertz walked onto the pitch at least 70 times each.And that was before this season’s expansion of the Champions League, potentially adding four more games, the Club World Cup that is due to feature up to seven games for City and Chelsea next summer and the 48-team 2026 World Cup.FifPro previously pointed out that Jude Bellingham has played twice as many senior minutes as David Beckham had at the same age, while Spurs defender Cristian Romero travelled 105,000 miles – two and a half times round the earth – even though Tottenham were not in Europe.Fifa are in FifPro’s sights, the Club World Cup seen as a competition too far – especially as the union accuses world chiefs of “refusing” to even discuss the issue.Legal action that has been launched in the European Court of Justice could end in the likes of Foden, Bellingham and Harry Kane being asked if they are prepared to take strike action rather than fly out to the USA next June.Erling Haaland has benefitted immensely from having the summer offCredit: GETTYAs has Liverpool forward Mohamed SalahCredit: REXFormer Arsenal and Liverpool performance coach Darren Burgess explained: “Young players are still growing into their mid-20s.“We know that putting them through this stress is placing them at increased risks but the levels of games have so startlingly increased over the past 20 years that we don’t know what this might do to our young stars.“That’s the scariest part – that there are no safeguards. The science tells us that they are still growing and putting them under more load generally leads to injury.”Molango, though, believes there is a wider problem that MUST be addressed.He added: “The domestic calendar hasn’t changed over the last 20 years. It is not the issue because it is the bread and butter for players.“A big proportion of their money comes from domestic TV contracts and it is important to protect the domestic pyramid.”That’s something they strongly feel about. We need to protect the players from themselves.”They love playing, they are committed to playing and they don’t want to lose their starting spot.“But the fans are paying 100 per cent prices and not seeing 100 per cent of the show.“We think there should be a maximum number of games, between 50 and 60 per season, which can vary depending on your age.“But players must not play more than five or six games back to back and they must be allowed a minimum three weeks of complete rest in the summer.“In the past, when we talked about this, it was us saying how it ‘feels’.READ MORE SUN STORIES“But this is science talking, a report from people – players and coaches – who have first-hand experience.“Players are at the ‘red limit’. If we want to protect the show, we must protect the players.” More

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    Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham head up list of six stars who could be forced to SNUB England duty as shock request made

    ENGLAND stars face being forced to pick between club or country in the escalating row over Fifa’s controversial new £600million tournament.SunSport revealed last week the growing anger from global league bosses and player unions over next summer’s planned 32-team Club World Cup in the USA.Harry Kane may be forced to pick between England duty and playing in the Club World CupCredit: GettyIt comes with league chiefs wanting to bring it forward by two weeks to ensure a proper breakCredit: GettyAnd it is set to give the England manager a major headacheCredit: GettyNow top league chiefs want it brought forward two weeks in June to ensure a proper summer break — but that would clash with Fifa World Cup qualifiers.So England skipper Harry Kane and Three Lions team-mates Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Kyle Walker, John Stones and Jack Grealish would have to choose who to play for.PFA chief Maheta Molango says Premier League players are ready to “strike” if they are forced to take part in the revamped club competition against their will.While lawyers representing the World Leagues Association and international players’ union FifPro are drafting legal proceedings to stop the event taking place as planned from June 15 to July 13.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe leagues have now contacted Fifa to suggest playing the four-week tournament — set to feature Manchester City, Chelsea, Kane’s Bayern Munich and Bellingham’s Real Madrid — from June 1 to June 29.That would allow players a proper summer break ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. One leagues source insisted: “This is the only acceptable solution.Who is in the Club World Cup?There are 32 teams who will qualify for the tournament from around the world, 12 of which will come from Europe.
    Four are selected via the Uefa pathway of winning the Champions League, while the other eight are picked via the ranking pathway.
    Here are the European teams who have qualified:

    Chelsea
    Man City
    Real Madrid
    Bayern Munich
    Paris Saint-Germain
    Inter Milan
    Porto
    Benfica
    Borussia Dortmund
    Juventus
    Atletico Madrid
    RB Salzburg

    “Now it’s up to Fifa to make a decision. If they do what we ask it will be for the players to decide who they play for.“We have told Fifa they have already taken the first two weeks of June for international football, so that should be part of the window for the Club World Cup, not in addition to it.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“It is a fact that the 2025-26 season is going to be even more condensed than normal.“Because it has to end earlier, in mid-May, to allow players preparation time for the biggest and longest World Cup ever.”Inside England’s stunning five-star Euro 2024 base with robot waiters that will cost £800,000Prem chief executive Richard Masters is already making contingency plans. They could see City and Chelsea MISS the start of the 2025-26 season if they go deep into the tournament, which launched as an eight-team winter event in 2000.FifPro and the PFA say that stars need a minimum three-week break written into all pro deals.Asked if strike action was a possibility, PFA boss Molango said: “We have reached that point.“I have gone to dressing rooms and players have told me, ‘I’m not having it, we may as well strike’.”Arsenal’s ex-head of elite performance Darren Burgess warned: “With the Club World Cup and internationals, Chelsea and City could play 86 games next season.”PLAY DREAM TEAM EUROS NOW!The best fantasy football game for this summer’s tournament.
    PFA chief Maheta Molango has warned Prem clubs are ready to ‘strike’ over the new tournamentCredit: PA More

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    Fifa threatened with legal action unless it reschedules club football’s biggest tournament worth £600million

    FIFA has been threatened with legal action unless it reschedules next year’s Club World Cup.There are fears the expanded 32-team tournament — to be held in the USA —  poses a “significant injury risk” to players if it is staged in June and July 2025 as currently planned.Man City are the reigning Club World Cup holdersCredit: AFPChelsea and Manchester City are England’s representatives in the event, expected to be worth £600million between the competing clubs — which also include Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and  Inter Milan.But now the international players’ union FifPro and the World Leagues Association, led by Prem chief executive Richard Masters, are demanding Fifa U-turns on its new club flagship tournament — or face being SUED.Ahead of next week’s Fifa Congress in Bangkok, a joint letter to Zurich chiefs from the two bodies claims Fifa’s new match calendar is “beyond saturation”, is causing “economic harm” to domestic leagues and poses a “significant injury risk” to players.The letter said: “Fifa has  consistently made decisions that benefit its own commercial interests, while negatively affecting national leagues and players.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“Over a significant period, Fifa has ignored repeated attempts by leagues and unions to engage on this issue.“Should Fifa refuse to commit to resolving the issues, we shall be  compelled to advise our members on the options available to them to  proactively safeguard their interests.“These options include legal action against Fifa, on which we have now commissioned external expert advice.“The calendar is beyond saturation, to the point national leagues are unable to properly organise their competitions, resulting in economic harm.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS“Players are pushed beyond their limits, with significant injury risks and impacts on their fundamental rights.”Man City are the current holders of the Club World Cup.Fifa President Infantino hails Scottish football thrillerPep Guardiola’s side beat Fluminense 4-0 in Jeddah last December.A Julian Alvarez double sandwiched a Nino own goal and Phil Foden strike. More

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    Fifa close to agreeing major new broadcasting deal for Club World Cup – but fans might not be able to watch for free

    FIFA are close to agreeing a broadcast deal for the Club World Cup, according to reports.The expanded tournament is set to take place in the US in the summer of 2025.Apple TV+ are in talks to broadcast the Club World CupCredit: GettyThe Club World Cup traditionally pitted four clubs from around the globe against one another.But the new format will see 32 clubs participate including 12 from Europe, with Manchester City and Chelsea representing England.Fifa were believed to want around £3.2million for the broadcast package but the actual fee could be closer to £800,000, according to the New York Times.Apple TV+ are in talks about buying the rights and could make the tournament subscriber-only, which means fans might not be able to watch any games for free.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLSenior executives at Fifa have concerns about that fact, with normal World Cup games being made free-to-air in the UK.Apple TV+ show MLS games after agreeing a ten-year deal worth £2billion.They will also show Jake Paul’s boxing dust-up with Mike Tyson in July.There is plenty of money involved in the revamped tournament with each club set to bank at least £43m.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERThe winner will pocket an additional £80m, meaning there is plenty on the line for the likes of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.Four teams from England have won the competition previously – Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and City.Every Premier League club’s most famous and also most surprising fan More

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    Arsenal miss out on Club World Cup place to side who’ve only ever got out of their Champions League group once

    ARSENAL have missed out on a place at the Club World Cup after crashing out of the Champions League.Mikel Arteta’s men were confident of victory at Bayern Munich after a 2-2 draw in the first leg of their quarter-final tie.Arsenal have missed out on the Club World Cup after being KO’d from the Champions LeagueCredit: GettyThe expanded tournament takes place next year with Chelsea and Man City representing EnglandCredit: GettyBut the Gunners were blunted in Bavaria as Thomas Tuchel’s side dominated the game.And the Germans emerged victorious with a 1-0 win on the night thanks to a strike from Joshua Kimmich.Arsenal will now return to England to lick their wounds, having also suffered a huge title blow with defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.However, things are only getting worse for the Gunners and their fans.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThat’s because they will not be joining Chelsea and holders Manchester City – themselves KO’d from Europe by Real Madrid on Wednesday – at the Club World Cup.Next year’s expanded format will see 32 teams take part for the prestigious trophy.And Arsenal needed to go all the way by winning this season’s Champions League to take part.However, they have now been knocked out of both events as a result of their defeat in Munich.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERInstead, their spot will go to Austrian side RB Salzburg.They’ve never won a European trophy and have only ever made it out of the Champions League group stage once.7 times Arsenal vs Chelsea games EXPLODEDHowever, they are the highest-ranked side in Uefa’s coefficient table, as only two teams per domestic league are allowed to qualify.Italy are represented by Inter Milan and Juventus, while Germany have Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.Spain will see Real Madrid and Atletico take part, while Portugal boast both Benfica and Porto.Other countries represented next year include the USA, Mexico, Japan and Brazil.Teams playing in 2025 Club World CupAll the sides who have qualified:

    Chelsea (England)
    Man City (England)
    Real Madrid (Spain)
    Atletico Madrid (Spain)
    Bayern Munich (Germany)
    Borussia Dortmund (Germany)
    PSG (France)
    Inter Milan (Italy)
    Juventus (Italy)
    Porto (Portugal)
    Benfica (Portugal)
    RB Salzburg (Austria)
    Palmeiras (Brazil)
    Flamengo (Brazil)
    Fluminense (Brazil)
    Auckland City (New Zealand)
    Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)
    Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
    Al Ahly (Egypt)
    Wydad AC (Morocco)
    Monterrey (Mexico)
    Club León (Mexico)
    Seattle Sounders (USA) More

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    Atletico Madrid beat Barcelona to £43million windfall despite BOTH clubs going out of Champions League on same night

    BARCELONA have missed out on £43million following their Champions League exit.Paris Saint-Germain came from behind against ten-man Barca to knock them out in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, as the Catalans were left bemoaning Ronald Araujo’s controversial first-half red card.Barcelona were dumped out of the Champions League by PSGCredit: APThe result means Barcelona miss out on the 2025 Club World Cup.The tournament expands from four clubs to 32 next year with 12 teams from Europe qualifying.But a maximum of two teams are permitted from each country and with Champions League winners from 2021-24 getting a place, that means Real Madrid have already qualified.The second spot from Spain was being contested between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who also exited the Champions League on Tuesday after losing to Borussia Dortmund.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLBut Diego Simeone’s side will head to the Club World Cup as they have a high Uefa co-efficient ranking than Barca, with a score of 67 compared to 60.And with qualification comes a £43m windfall for all participating clubs, with the winner set to cash in on an additional £80m.Barcelona also miss out on £10.6m which they would have received for reaching the Champions League semi-final.That is bad news for the club who are still struggling financially and need to slash their wage bill by £57m.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSLaLiga announced the Blaugrana would be having their permitted salary limit cut down from £231m to 174m for the 2024/25 season.With the club’s real squad cost – the total of salaries and transfer amortisations – for this season officially budgeted at £421m, they are some way over budget and will need to make significant cuts.Footage of Ronaldinho’s son, 19, at Barcelona emerges and fans are baffled to spot his positionEngland’s two places will go to recent Champions League winners Chelsea and Manchester City.But Arsenal can still earn a spot if they win the competition this season.That’s because the two club per country cap is lifted if there are more than two winners from one league over the four-year qualifying cycle. More

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    ‘Make it make sense’, rant fans after realising Liverpool and Arsenal WON’T be at 2025 Club World Cup.. but Chelsea will

    CHELSEA and Manchester City have earned a spot at the 2025 Club World Cup.However, Premier League title-chasers Liverpool and Arsenal are yet to feature on the line-up.Chelsea will feature at the 2025 Club World CupCredit: GettyThe Blues won the competition in 2021Credit: GettyThe Club World Cup will be expanded to 32 teams for the first time in the competition’s history next year.Teams are selected from six confederations across the world including AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North and Central America and Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America), OFC (Oceania) and Uefa (Europe).The competition’s four previous winners have also been invited to take part.That means Chelsea, who were crowned champions in 2021, will feature.Read More in FootballThe Blues have struggled to compete in the Premier League over the last two years despite spending over £1billion on player transfers.They finished 12th in the table last season and currently sit 11th with 12 games left to play.As a result of last season’s poor results Chelsea also failed to qualify for Europe, leaving many fans baffled as to why they will be allowed to take part in the Club World Cup.One football fan took to X to write: “Liverpool & Arsenal not playing but Chelsea playing.. the 32 teams Club World Cup is outlandishly embarrassing. Chelsea isn’t even in Europe.Most read in FootballCHELTENHAM BETTING OFFERS – BEST FREE BET DEALS FOR THE FESTIVAL “How tf does it make sense?”Another questioned: “This is f***ing stupid, why is Chelsea playing?”Who could be Chelsea’s next manager after Pochettino?While a third wrote: “Snuck in Chelsea like we won’t notice 😂.”Man City have also qualified for the Club World Cup next year.Pep Guardiola’s side won the competition at the end of 2023 after clinching the Treble.Among the other clubs that have already qualified are Bayern Munich, PSG, Inter Milan, Auckland City, Palmeiras and Seattle Sounders.The Club World Cup will be expanded to 32 teams next yearCredit: AFP More

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    ‘What criteria did they use?’ – Fans baffled to discover Premier League flops already qualified for Fifa Club World Cup

    FANS have been left baffled after Chelsea were announced as qualifiers for the expanded 2025 Fifa Club World Cup.The tournament is set to undergo a big shake-up next year with 32 teams involved. Chelsea have qualified for the expanded 2025 Fifa Club World CupCredit: GettyAnd surprisingly, Chelsea will be one of them, joining the likes of Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG. One fan reacted to the news, saying: “Why are Chelsea there.”Another said: “Chelsea finished 10th but still going to the Club World Cup.”One added: “What is the criteria for qualification?”READ MORE IN football Another agreed: “How did Chelsea qualify? What qualification criteria did FIFA use?”Despite mass fan confusion, Fifa confirmed that Champions League winners from 2021-2024 qualify for the tournament. And Chelsea lifted the European cup under the guidance of Thomas Tuchel only three years ago. Winners of “each confederation’s premier club competition” also qualify, explaining Bayern Munich and PSG’s presence. Most read in Football2025 Fifa Club World Cup teams so far

    𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀
    Wydad Athletic Club (Morocco)Al Ahly SC (Egypt)
    𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀
    Al Hilal SFC (Saudi Arabia)Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan)
    𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄
    Chelsea (England)Real Madrid (Spain)Manchester City (England)Bayern Munich (Germany)PSG (France)Inter Milan (Italy)Porto (Portugal)Benfica (Portugal)
    𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇/𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀
    CF Monterrey (Mexico)Seattle Sounders FC (United States)Club Leon (Mexico)
    𝐎𝐂𝐄𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐀
    Auckland City FC (New Zealand)
    𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀
    SE Palmeiras (Brazil)CR Flamengo (Brazil)Fluminense FC (Brazil)

    CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSMore info will be announced throughout 2024 — including the trophy, host cities, and the draw.But for now, the first 19 sides have been announced, with a further 13 to be added.Astrid Wett boycotting Chelsea matches after she is ‘spat at’ despite ‘being one of club’s biggest fans’ The new 32-team tournament format will take place every four years with an extended international break merging the current September and October slots to facilitate the changes.City – last season’s Champions League winners – are the current holders. More