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      Who is Wilton Sampaio and what matches has the World Cup VAR official refereed before?

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      FIFA have picked 13 referees from around the world to take charge of the video replays in Russia.VAR will be used at the World Cup this summer for the first time in history in a bid to make the game as fair as possible.
      Wilton Sampaio has been a listed referee for Fiifa since 2013Credit: Aizar Raldes
      Who is Wilton Sampaio?
      Sampaio was born in 1981 in Teresina de Goias, Brazil.
      The 36-year-old will be a video assistant referee at the World Cup this summer.
      He was elected as one of the best referees in the 2012 Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A champions.
      Sampaio is known in Brazil for handing out yellow cards at every possible occasion.
      The Brazilian impressed the Fifa officials during his VAR trainingCredit: Reuters
      After officiating three Copa Libertadores matches last season, the Brazilian produced 14 yellow cards and one red card.
      And he handed out 12 yellow cards after two Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A matches.Has he refereed at a World Cup competition?
      The competition in Russia will be Brazilian’s first ever job at a World Cup.
      He has refereed international matches at U17 and U15 level.

      Has he used VAR before?
      Video assistant referees are not used in the Brazilian leagues, but he was selected by Fifa after he excelled in the VAR seminars.
      Speaking to Globo, he said: “The feeling is very joyful.
      “It is a dream come true, to be able to work in a World Cup, my first in the professional category.
      “I tried my best to prepare to be among the selected , in the theoretical and practical parts.
      “The goal now is keep improving until the trip to Russia.”
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      Fans from around the world have arrived in Russia ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup More

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      World Cup 2022 – England vs USA: Stream FREE, TV channel, kick-off time for big clash in Qatar

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      ENGLAND meet familiar World Cup enemies USA in the group stages of the 2022 Qatar showpiece. The Three Lions head into the game in stunning form after thrashing Iran 6-2 in their opener in Doha
      Bukayo Saka’s double inspired England to a 6-2 win over IranCredit: Getty
      Christian Pulisic was excellent for USA during their World Cup qualifiersCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      But now they’ll have to switch their focus on USA – a nation who held them to a draw in 2010.
      However, USA failed to qualify for the last World Cup, while England reached the semi-finals, where they were knocked out by Croatia in extra-time.
      Gregg Berhalter’s side will be desperate to make an impact similar to the one they made in both 2010 and 2014, where they reached the knockout stages.
      But England are hoping to win it all, so Southgate’s men will need to be laser-focused against a hungry USA side.

      When is England vs USA?

      England’s big clash with USA will get underway from 7pm UK time on Friday, November 25.
      The game will be played at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar.
      The stadium can hold up to 60,000 fans and was opened last year, specifically for the World Cup.

      What TV channel is it on and can it be live streamed?

      England vs USA will be shown live on ITV1 in the UK.
      You can live stream the action from the ITV Hub, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      The game is FREE to watch, so long as you have a TV licence.

      Most read in Football
      Who is in England’s 26-man squad?
      Gareth Southgate has finally announced his 26-man squad for England ahead of the World Cup.

      Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal), Nick Pope (Newcastle)
      Defenders: Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Kyle Walker (Man City), Benjamin White (Arsenal), Harry Maguire (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Conor Coady (Everton, on loan from Wolves), Luke Shaw (Man Utd)
      Midfielders: Declan Rice (West Ham), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Kalvin Phillips (Man City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Mason Mount (Chelsea)
      Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Callum Wilson (Newcastle), Marcus Rashford (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Phil Foden (Man City), Jack Grealish (Man City), James Maddison (Leicester City) More

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      Are football players forced to be substituted if they suffer a head injury and what is the rule on concussions?

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      FOOTBALLERS often suffer injuries due to the physical nature of the sport – however these injuries range in severity.The game has evolved a long way even in the last 20 years and there are now strict rules that referee’s must follow if a player sustains a head injury.
      The Premier League was the first competition in the world to introduce additional substitutes for concussionsCredit: Emma Simpson / FPA / LDY Agency
      Are football players forced to be substituted if they suffer a head injury?
      Football players will be immediately substituted if they suffer a head injury.
      The head of the PFA’s Brain Health department, Dr White remarked: “Often players will want to continue playing but, with the adrenaline pumping, they may be unaware of the extent of their injury. Possibly there is a delay in the onset of symptoms”.
      “The risk of a player continuing when suffering a brain injury and the consequences of a second hit are severe”, he continued.
      What is the rule on concussions?
      Concussion is a relatively common injury in football and if it is not treated correctly, it can result in lifelong consequences.
      In 2021 the Premier League became the first competition in the world to introduce concussion substitutes.
      This means that teams get two additional substitutions for any players that are removed due to a suspected concussion and these do not count towards their usual substitution allowance.
      During the game, if someone is suspected to have a concussion, they must come off the pitch immediately.
      A player should leave if there are any “immediate symptoms of concussion” or later, any “clear symptoms”.
      If the player is removed from the pitch due a suspected concussion, they should be monitored until they are deemed able to leave the venue.
      And now all players must undergo a pre-season neurological assessment as part of their annual medical check-up, to make sure any head injuries aren’t causing lasting damage.
      Does the game have to be stopped if a player suffers a head injury in football?
      The referee has to stop the game immediately if any player suffers a head injury.
      In the official treatment for injury guidelines produced by the FA for referees, it states: “Play is stopped if, in their opinion, a player is seriously injured or receives a head injury”.
      It also reads: “Any player bleeding from a wound must leave the field of play”. More

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      Why is Ryan Giggs not Wales manager at the 2022 World Cup?

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      WALES will be looking to go on a brilliant run at the World Cup but will be doing so WITHOUT Ryan Giggs in the dugout. Giggs was Wales boss since 2018 and managed to steer them through the Euro qualifiers and into Euro 2020 before Rob Page took charge.
      Ryan Giggs won’t be managing Wales this summer at Euro 2020Credit: AFP
      Why isn’t Ryan Giggs managing Wales at the World Cup?
      Giggs was readying his squad for their long-awaited Euros campaign back in 2020 before being arrested in April.
      Giggs, 47, was charged with coercive control and actual bodily harm in relation to his ex-girlfriend, while he was also charged with assault by beating relating to a second woman.
      “We have authorised Greater Manchester Police to charge Ryan Giggs with engaging in behaviour which was controlling or coercive and assault occasioning actual bodily harm,” the Crown Prosecution Service announced.
      Most read in Football
      As a result, the Welsh FA announced Page would be taking Giggs place as manager for the Euros.
      The head coach was then named the manager of the national team on a permanent basis as the controversy surrounding Giggs continued.
      Who are Wales playing at the World Cup?
      Robert Page will take charge of WalesCredit: PA
      Wales are in Group B for this the World Cup, the same as England.
      They face the USMNT in the opening game before going up against Iran and then finishing the group against England. More

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      Who is Milad Mohammadi, and what was the Iran footballer’s shocking last-minute throw in?

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      WHAT was he thinking?1-0 down against Spain in extra-time in their crucial World Cup, Iran full-back Milad Mohammadi tried a more unorthodox throw in, costing his team a valuable 30 seconds in the dying stages of the game. But who is he, and what exactly did he do?
      Mohammadi kissed the ball before he tried the bizarre move
      What did Milad Mohammadi do?
      90 mins, three mins and 30 seconds into 94 mins of extra-time, Mohammadi kissed the ball then took a step back.

      He then looked up and pointed his finger into the sky in tribute or prayer and SOMERSAULTED with the ball in his hands.
      Mohammadi was about to throw the ball in in one sweeping, acrobatic movement but at the 11th hour he changed his mind.

      Because he had stopped his movement and did not release the ball he was allowed to try again and this time he instead took a more conservative approach, throwing the ball back to a team-mate.
      30 whole seconds of extra-time wasted on that throw in and Spain went on to secure their 1-0 win.

      The Iran substitute managed to land his somersault..but then decided completing the throw like that
      Who is Milad Mohammadi?
      Milad Mohammadi is a 24-year-old full-back who plays in the Persian Gulf Pro League for Sepahan.
      He has been capped 20 times for Iran.
      Mohammadi featured for his country at youth level before moving up to the senior ranks. More

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      Who is Robert Page? Wales boss who is taking charge at World Cup 2022

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      ROBERT PAGE is the Wales head coach successor to Ryan Giggs who was relieved from his duties in 2020.The Manchester United legend was charged with three offences in relation to alleged assaults on two women.
      Robert Page is Wales’ managerCredit: AFP
      And Robert Page who started off as caretaker manager, is now set to guide Wales through their first World Cup campaign since 1958.
      Who is Robert Page?
      Page first took charge of Wales on a caretaker basis during their international break last November.
      Manager Ryan Giggs was arrested on suspicion of assault and stepped away to leave Page in charge of Wales’ games.
      Page has some managerial experience, having been at the helm at both Port Vale and Northampton Town.
      The 46-year-old was also in charge of Wales’ Under-21 side for a period of time.
      Most read in Football
      As a player, Page made 41 appearances for Wales, with the majority of his club career spent at Watford in the 1990s, where he made 215 apps.
      Page then went on to play for Sheffield United, Cardiff and Coventry before closing out his career with Huddersfield and Chesterfield.
      But now, Page will get the biggest assignment of his career as he takes on the Wales job for this summer’s 2020 European Championships. More

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      Who is Gareth Bale’s wife Emma Rhys-Jones and how many children do they have?

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      EMMA RHYS-JONES is the wife of Welsh football ace Gareth Bale.And she’ll no doubt be in Qatar cheering on her husband as he tries to secure World Cup glory with Wales.
      The pair were photographed on e-scooters in Madrid with two of their kidsCredit: Getty
      Here’s everything you need to know about her and when the couple tied the knot…Who is Emma Rhys-Jones?
      Emma Rhys-Jones has been with Gareth Bale for over a decade.
      She grew up in Llanishen, a district in north Cardiff a couple of miles from Bale’s family home.
      The couple began dating in the early 2000s while attending Whitchurch High School.
      They got engaged in July 2016 and Gareth announced the news on social media posting: “She said yes!! This is a birthday weekend I won’t forget for a long time…”
      The pair got married in 2019 – a year after Gareth scored a stunning goal in the Champions League final.
      Gareth Bale with daughter Alba, fiancée Emma Rhys-Jones and baby AxelCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Who is Emma’s husband Gareth Bale?
      Gareth is a professional footballer who plays for LAFC in the United States and Wales.
      He was born on July 16, 1989, in Cardiff.
      He started his football career at Southampton before moving to Tottenham.
      He signed a six year deal with Spanish club Real Madrid in 2013 where he went on to win some of football’s biggest trophies including the Champions League five times.

      Emma and Bale celebrate with daughter Nava after Real Madrid’s Champions League triumph against Atletico Madrid in 2016Credit: EPA
      When was Emma Rhys-Jones’ and Gareth Bale’s wedding?
      Emma and Gareth got married in June 2019 in Mallorca.
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      How many children do Emma Rhys-Jones and Gareth Bale have?
      Gareth and Emma have four children – two daughters and two sons.
      Their first child Alba Violet was born at the University Hospital of Wales on October 21, 2012.
      Their second daughter, Nava Valentina arrived on March 22, 2016.
      The couple’s son Axel was born on May 8, 2018, before their fourth child Xander was born on July 7, 2021. More

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      Who is England vs Iran referee Raphael Claus? Brazilian referee at the 2022 World Cup

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      THE Qatar World Cup is here and Raphael Claus has been confirmed as the referee for England vs Iran in the opening round of group games.The South American will join 38 other officials in the middle east as the best teams in the world battle it out for World Cup glory.
      Raphael Claus has been appointed as a referee at this year’s World CupCredit: Reuters
      Here is all the information you need on the man in the middle.
      Who is Raphael Claus?
      Raphael Claus was born in 1979 in Santa Barbara.
      He is one of two Brazilian referees officiating at the tournament, with Wilton Sampaio also making the trip.

      Clauss currently represents the Brazilian Serie A league, refereeing over 40 games in the last 12 months.
      However, he also has experience of blowing his whistle in international tournaments.
      In June 2019, Clauss was selected to referee the Under-20 World Cup, taking charge of the semi-final between Ukraine and Italy.
      The 43-year-old has since been involved in several Copa America matches, officiating in the third placed-final between Colombia and Peru.
      Raphael Claus refereed Lionel Messi and Argentina in the last yearCredit: Getty
      Most read in Football
      More recently, Clauss has overseen plenty of South American World Cup Qualifying matches, most notably watching both Colombia and Chile miss out.
      He has refereed Argentina three times in the last 12 months, producing 19 yellow cards in that time.

      World Cup 2022Everything you need to know about the World Cup More