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      Sheffield Wednesday hit with 12-point deduction next season over FFP breaches as Charlton consider legal action

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      SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY have been hit with a 12-point deduction next season following Financial Fair Play breaches.
      Charlton Athletic, who were relegated from the Championship on the final day of the season, later revealed they are considering legal action over the decision

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      Sheffield Wednesday have been hit with a 12-point deduction next season following Financial Fair Play breaches
      Wednesday will kick off the 2020-21 Championship season on minus-12 points following a lengthy investigation by the English Football League.
      The verdict was reached by an independent disciplinary commission, not the EFL.
      Wednesday, who finished 16th, would have been relegated to League One had the points deduction been applied to this season.
      A statement from Charlton read: “We fail to understand why the deduction will take place next season rather than the current season, which seems to be irrational, and are writing to the EFL to get an explanation of the justification.”

      The EFL charged Wednesday in November for breaching Profitability & Sustainability rules relating to the £60million sale of their Hillsborough stadium.
      According to The Telegraph, the punishment related to “how and when” it was sold.
      Question marks were asked following the sale’s subsequent inclusion in the 2017-2018 accounts when it was sold a year later.
      Wednesday denied the charge and hit back by issuing a counter-claim against the EFL for allegedly “acting unlawfully”.

      They went in front of a three-person panel last month and the damning verdict was finally reached on Friday evening.
      An EFL statement read: “An independent Disciplinary Commission, appointed under EFL Regulations, has ruled that Sheffield Wednesday will receive a 12 point deduction for breaching the League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules for the three season reporting period ending with Season 2017-18.  
      “The sporting sanction will take effect in season 2020-21.
      “The club was charged in November 2019 and referred to an independent Disciplinary Commission, which conducted a full hearing at the end of June 2020, before finding the Club guilty based on the fact that the Club should not have included profits from the sale of Hillsborough Stadium in the Club’s financial statements for the period ending July 2018.

      “The club was found not guilty of a further charge of breaching its duty of utmost good faith to the EFL by deliberately concealing information from the League in respect of filings made in respect of the Profitability and Sustainability Rules.”
      Wednesday have 14 days to appeal against the punishment.
      It is believed the Championship side will look to appeal their penalty. More

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      Do away goals count in EFL play-offs, and are extra time and penalties played if ties finish level?

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      THE away goals rule has become the most common way to decide a two-legged football tie.
      It was introduced by Uefa in 1965 and has been a feature of tournaments ever since, but is the rule used in the EFL play-offs?

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      How important are away goals in the EFL playoffs?Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Do away goals count in the EFL play-offs?
      Away goals do not count double in the EFL play-offs.
      The Football League did use the rule but chose to abolish it in 1999.
      This decision was made after an initiative by then-Ipswich Town chairman David Sheepshanks.
      Sheepshanks’ Tractor Boys lost via the rule in 1997 and 1999 despite finishing higher than their opponents in the league on both occasions.

      What is the away goals rule?
      The away goals rule is the most commonly used way of deciding football matches played over two legs.
      If the scores are level after 90 minutes at home and 90 minutes away then, rather than go to penalties, the team that scored most goals in the away game goes through.
      The idea is to reward away teams who choose to play attacking football.
      Do away goals really count double?
      That expression is supposed to be the law, but it’s really more of a figure of speech.

      It simply means that away goals are the first decider for a tied two-leg match.
      If anything, it is like an extra half a goal for the team that scored more away from home.
      Which competitions use the away goals rule?
      The Champions League and the Europa League, as well as all South American competitions, use the away goals rule to decide ties that are level after two legs.
      The League Cup did use away goals after extra time in the semi-finals but has now abolished the rule, with teams playing penalties after 90 minutes, as Chelsea did when they beat Spurs.
      Is the away goals rule popular?
      The rule has survived for 51 years by generally being seen as the fairest way to decide a two-leg match.
      But it has prominent critics such as Sir Alex Ferguson and Sepp Blatter, who say it was designed for a different age.
      They believe the rule was only appropriate for the longer away trips of decades ago, where games would be played on dreadful pitches and playing at home was a key advantage.
      The Uefa version of the rule is also believed, by some, to be unfair because the team that plays away second can get 30 minutes more to score an away goal than the home team if the tie goes to extra-time.
      Occasionally, there is even the bizarre scenario of two matches at the same stadium being decided on away goals, for example when AC Milan knocked Inter out of the Champions League in 2003.
      The first leg at the San Siro, when AC Milan were technically at home, finished 0-0.
      And the second leg finished 1-1 at the same venue, which meant AC qualified. More

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      Matija Sarkic confirms Aston Villa exit.. and goalkeeper could join bitter rivals Wolves on a free transfer

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      MATIJA SARKIC is heading for Aston Villa’s exit amid rumours he could be a target for Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.
      The Villa goalkeeper has been linked with a move away from the relegation survivors with his contract due to expire this month. 

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      Matija Sarkic is leaving Aston Villa but may not be moving farCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
      And on Saturday the stopper confirmed his exit via social media. 
      On Twitter the  Montenegro international wrote: “What a journey! It’s been a great 5 years at @AVFCOfficial . Full of good memories and experiences.
      “Thank you to all my team mates, everyone at the club and all the villains!” 
      Wolves, who’ve been battling for Europa League spot are believed to be considering a move for the 23-year-old.

      And the Grimsby-born goalie has also attracted interest from Sunderland according to reports.
      Sarkic, who kept six clean sheets in 14 appearances during a loan spell at Livingstone, signed for Villa from Anderlecht in 2015
      And the Montenegro ace’s departure comes as the Villans beat the drop into the Championship in dramatic fashion on Sunday. 

      Club skipper Jack Grealish rifled in a powerful shot to put his team ahead in the 84th minute.

      However the Hammers struck back almost immediately with an 85th minute equaliser from Andriy Yarmolenko. 
      The 1-1 finish was enough to see Villa end the season out of the danger zone by a point. More

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      West Ham vs Aston Villa LIVE: Stream FREE, kick off time, TV channel, team news for final day Premier League clash

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      WEST HAM host Aston Villa as Dean Smith’s side look to book their place in the Premier League for next season.
      After two wins in their last three, Villa are in the drivers seat to survive and will finish outside the bottom three if they better Watford’s result against Arsenal.
      Follow ALL of the latest updates below…

      Load more entries… More

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      Leeds face Ben White bid heartbreak – but Brighton star could go elsewhere

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      LEEDS face potential heartbreak in their chase for Ben White – but the Brighton defender could still land a big move elsewhere.
      The Championship title-winners are desperate to land the £20million-rated defender who has been outstanding in his spell on loan at Elland Road this season.

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      Ben White made 46 appearances for Championship title winners Leeds this season. The defender, who’s on loan from Brighton, has attracted interest from Manchester United, Liverpool, Wolves and Leicester CityCredit: PA:Press Association
      But Brighton are unwilling to sell to a ‘rival’ club who could be near them in the Premier League table next season.
      Seagulls boss Graham Potter wants White, 22, who played every minute of Leeds’ successful League season, to be a key starter at the Amex next term.
      But Brighton, who are strapped for cash, are still likely to listen to offers from clubs at the very top end of the League if the teams are willing to pay over the odds.
      Liverpool, Manchester United, Wolves and Leicester have all shown an interest. 

      He’s done brilliantly at Leeds and helped them get promotion – that’s fantastic for them, fantastic for him – but he’s our player
      Graham Potter

      Yet Leeds’ fans and all the players are still hoping White – who has two years left on his current deal – will return to Elland Road on a permanent deal.
      But Brighton boss Graham Potter said: “He’s our player, he’s got a long contract with us.
      “I have known Ben for a while, I have been aware of him, wanted to try and sign him when we were at Swansea.

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      White (second from left) has netted once and provided two assists during his successful loan spell at Leeds this termCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      “I know about his qualities. He’s a fantastic player.

      He’s done brilliantly at Leeds and helped them get promotion – that’s fantastic for them, fantastic for him – but he’s our player and we’re looking forward to working with him
      “He complements us really well. He’s got attributes that are really, really useful and he’s going to be a top player.”

      White scored just once this season and that was a stunning volley in Wednesday’s 4-0 hammering of Charlton.
      White joined Brighton in 2016 after being released by Southampton.
      He has played just twice for the club- in the EFL Cup – and has also been sent out on loan to Newport and Peterborough.

      How Leeds could line up next season, with Ibrahimovic and Cavani in attack plus Quarta and Bravo in defence More

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      West Ham vs Aston Villa FREE: Live stream, kick-off time, TV channel and team news for final day Premier League clash

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      WEST HAM host Aston Villa as Dean Smith’s side look to book their place in the Premier League for next season.
      After two wins in their last three, Villa are in the drivers seat to survive and will finish outside the bottom three if they better Watford’s result against Arsenal.

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      Villa have fought their way into a position where they are favourites to stay upCredit: Kevin Quigley-The Daily Mail
      What time is kick-off?
      Sunday 26th July at 4pm BST .
      The match is one of 10 Premier League games to be taking place on Sunday afternoon.
      What TV channel and live stream is West Ham vs Aston Villa on?
      West Ham vs Aston Villa will be broadcast live on BT Sport 1.
      BT Sport 2 will be showing Newcastle vs Liverpool.
      Subscribers will also be able to watch the game on BT Sport’s website and app.
      How can I watch West Ham vs Aston Villa for FREE?
      EE phone customers can get a FREE three-month BT Sport mobile trial by texting SPORT to 150.

      The trial can then be cancelled at any time.

      What are the final day Premier League fixtures?
      All kick-offs 4pm BST:
      Arsenal vs Watford – Sky Sports Premier League
      Burnley vs Brighton – Sky Sports Arena
      Chelsea vs Wolves – Sky Sports Football
      Crystal Palace vs Spurs – Sky Sports Action
      Everton vs Bournemouth – Sky Sports Golf
      Leicester vs Man Utd  – Sky Sports Main Event
      Man City vs Norwich – Sky Sports Pick/Sky One
      Newcastle vs Liverpool – BT Sport 2
      Southampton vs Sheffield United – Sky Sports Mix
      West Ham vs Aston Villa – BT Sport 1
      Latest odds
      West Ham  to win – 5/6
      Draw – 5/2
      Aston Villa to win – 10/3
      Both teams to score – 3/4
      Over 2.5 goals – 17/20
      *All odds from Ladbrokes correct at time of publication More

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      Wigan’s administrators want a new buyer to pay the crisis club’s wages next week

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      WIGAN’S administrators want a new buyer to pay the crisis club’s wages NEXT WEEK.
      The hard-up outfit face a financial headache as they try to sell players in a hurry to sort out their bills.

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      Latics boss Paul Cook faces a new blow to his plans as interested buyers would need to fork out immediately for wagesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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      Wigan’s crisis is deepening but they are appealing against a 12-point deductionCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But this new demand has shocked potential bidders who will have to fork out around £1million in salaries immediately.
      Paul Cook’s squad are due their August pay cheques in full and the administrators want a buyer to sign up for this as they struggle to raise the funds by player sales.
      Most will have cuts in their deals after relegation while some will have left to reduce the amount from its previous £1.6m level.
      But it is an instant extra demand when any buyer is already under huge pressure to exchange contracts by Friday.

      If the Wigan players cannot be paid within a fortnight then they can ALL give notice to leave for nothing, putting the club on the brink of meltdown.
      This has put off some prospective buyers who are already anxious about the overall price of taking on a League One club.
      The administrators want around £7-8m from the new owner who will also have to show funds for two years to the EFL.

      Ironically that number has dropped since relegation, with around £20m needed to hold in reserve.
      The admin process has been difficult so far.
      I can reveal that the first preferred bidder dropped out within hours of being offered the Latics.
      A second was due to sign on Thursday by noon AND hand over a £100,000 deposit.

      The time frame is made worse by the fact Wigan are appealing against the 12-point for going into administration that sent them down.
      That hearing is also on Friday, with a decision due soon after and hopefully before the EFL confirm promotion and relegation at a meeting a week later.
      In a further twist, if Wigan are successful then the new buyer would then have to pay MORE wages as the players would still be on Championship terms.

      David Marshall shows his goalkeeping skills as he joins in training at Wigan More

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      Sheffield United and Swansea battle to secure Liverpool whizkid Rhian Brewster in loan transfer

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      YOUNG Liverpool star Rhian Brewster is wanted on loan by Sheffield United in a three-way fight.
      The forward has been sensational for Swansea — his six goals since the restart have fired them into the Championship play-offs.

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      Rhian Brewster is wanted on loan by Sheffield UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Swans are hoping Brewster, 20, could yet take them back to the Premier League — in which case they would ask for him to return for next season.
      But Blades manager Chris Wilder wants to take him to Bramall Lane to add fresh legs and threat to his forward line.
      United would have to convince Liverpool that Brewster will play often enough to justify the move.

      However, the biggest threat to the loan switch is that Jurgen Klopp may opt to keep the England Under-21 ace and use him as cover for his attack.

      Liverpool are yet to decide what to do with rising star Brewster next season but the youngster seems sure to be playing in the top flight.
      Wilder has a chance of landing his man although Swansea missing out on promotion would be a bonus for his cause in the coming weeks.

      Meanwhile, Sheffield United’s French forward Lys Mousset on his way to create a vacancy for Brewster.
      And Blades keeper Jake Eastwood could move on loan by Bolton.

      Wilder is looking for a new No 1 and may try his luck with an offer for Bournemouth’s Aaron Ramsdale if he cannot get Dean Henderson back from Manchester United on loan.

      Premier League 2020-21 season to start on September 12 but fixtures will be released just three weeks before kick-off More