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      UK looking to host first World Cup since 1966 as they target women’s 2031 tournament with Lionesses gunning for glory

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      FOOTBALL could be coming home in seven years’ time as UK sports bosses want to host the Fifa Women’s World Cup finals.Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses missed out on World Cup glory last year when they lost in the Sydney final to Spain.UK Sport are prepared to bid for the Women’s World CupCredit: GettyThe Lionesses missed out on becoming world champions last summerCredit: GettyNow UK Sport plan to set-up a feasibility study for a possible bid to host the senior football tournament in either 2031, 2035 or 2039.This could mean a potential head-to-head battle with Saudi Arabia after one of their top officials last October mentioned fronting a bid at the Leaders in Sport conference at Twickenham.If they were successful with the bid, this would represent the first senior World Cup to be staged in the UK since Alf Ramsey’s Boys of 1966 beat West Germany to lift the Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley.The men’s European Championships in 2028 will be held across England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland.Read More on FootballAnd the women’s Euros took place in the summer of 2021 – when the Lionesses were victorious.UK Sport have expressed their interest for the event as part of their Making Live Sport Matter initiative, which will target 70 events in 32 sports and 18 World Championships.The governing body believe it will have a huge economic impact across 20 locations for over 15 million fans, with a £5billion potential income.Other events they are keen to host include the men’s Rugby World Cup, the Athletics World Championships in 2029, the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup, the Cycling World Championships and the Grand Depart of the Tour de France.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSSimon Morton, Deputy CEO and Director of Events at UK Sport, said: “In the UK, millions of us choose to spend our free time watching and enjoying live sport with those that matter most to us, our friends, families and communities.“Live sport is a fundamental part of this country’s social fabric. No other country buys more tickets per head to major sporting events than we do in the UK.Mary Earps, Lauren Hemp and Millie Bright given gongs as sport & music stars celebrated in New Year’s Honours list“In the years ahead, we want to host a programme of live sport that resonates with the British public and makes a difference to millions of people’s lives.“That programme has to be more accessible to people and communities across the country ensuring sport reaches as many fans as possible.”Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said: “With the Champions League final at Wembley in June and the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 we’re building on our world leading reputation for hosting major sporting events.“We are working closely with UK Sport and partners to fulfil our shared ambition to deliver up to 70 major events across 30 different sports to the UK in the years ahead.”UK Sport claim that the Women’s World Cup, which began professionally in 1991, is the biggest sporting event yet to be held in the British Isles.The host nation for the 2027 tournament will be decided soon but bids have gone in from Brazil and joints ones by Belgium/Germany/Holland and Mexico/United States.UK Sport refuse to say if this would be a joint bid across the four Home Nations or solely in English stadiums but talks with the associations will start after May.There are no plans for bidding for a men’s World Cup any time before 2038 at the earliest.There are also no immediate plans to save the Commonwealth Games – which worryingly has no host for the 2026 and 2030 editions – because it is too financially bloated and “the challenge is value for money”, according to officials.The Lionesses will take the first steps to retaining their European Championship title next month when they kick off their qualifiers.However, they have been drawn in the Group of Death.England will face Sweden, France and the Republic of Ireland as they look to book a spot on the plane to Switzerland. More

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      Fifa announce brand new competition is set to start in days – but fans have probably never heard of it

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      FIFA have announced a brand-new international competition that is set to start in just days.The Fifa Series will see international teams from different federations take each other on during the next international break.Andorra will be one of the teams involved in the Fifa SeriesCredit: GettyWhat makes the matches different is that the teams would not usually face each other as they would be unlikely to qualify for a major tournament or face each other in qualifiers. The friendlies will also take part in one host nation with Fifa hoping that it will “allow more international football interaction, making a concrete contribution to global football development”.The event will be piloted later this month with 20 teams being placed into five different groups of four.Two groups will play in Saudi Arabia, while one will be each of Algeria, Azerbaijan and Sri Lanka.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThree teams from Uefa will be involved as Andorra takes on Algeria, Bolivia and South Africa.Whereas Azerbaijan will host Bulgaria, Mongolia and Tanzania.Fans will be keen to see how the international minnows match up against each other.It will also be interesting to see sides like Andorra play with more chances of picking up a win. Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSFifa president Gianni Infantino said: “The Fifa Series is a really positive step forward for national-team football at global level.”Our member associations have been telling us for a long time now of their desire to test themselves against their counterparts from all around the world.Fifa World Cup 2026 final stadium revealed as raging fans say it was ‘the worst possible option’”And now they can do so within the current Men’s International Match Calendar.”More meaningful matches will enable far more valuable footballing interaction for players, teams and fans, and will make a concrete contribution to the development of the game.”The first matches for the tournament kick off on March 21.In the opening round, fans will be able to see the likes of South Africa vs Andorra, Guinea vs Vanuatu and Cape Verde vs Guyana.Full line-up for Fifa SeriesHere is a look at the first set of groups for Fifa Series
      Fifa Series: Algeria

      Algeria (CAF)
      Andorra (UEFA)
      Bolivia (CONMEBOL)
      South Africa (CAF)

      Fifa Series: Azerbaijan

      Azerbaijan (UEFA)
      Bulgaria (UEFA)
      Mongolia (AFC)
      Tanzania (CAF)

      Fifa Series: Saudi Arabia A

      Cabo Verde (CAF)
      Cambodia (AFC)
      Equatorial Guinea (CAF)
      Guyana (Concacaf)

      Fifa Series: Saudi Arabia B 

      Bermuda (Concacaf)
      Brunei Darussalam (AFC)
      Guinea (CAF)
      Vanuatu (OFC)

      Fifa Series: Sri Lanka

      Bhutan (AFC)
      Central African Republic (CAF)
      Papua New Guinea (OFC)
      Sri Lanka (AFC) More

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      Premier League chiefs in talks over huge rule change ahead of crunch meeting with football lawmakers

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      THE Premier League are hoping to introduce a new substitution rule in the near future.England’s top flight has reportedly penned a letter to football’s lawmakers asking to trial temporary concussion substitutes.The Premier League are in talks to introduce temporary concussion substitutionsCredit: GettyThe rule would change the way players are assessed after a head injuryCredit: AlamyAccording to the Mail Online, the Premier League’s chief football officer Tony Scholes wrote to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to ask for their permission to start the trial.The Premier League are said to have prepared their own draft protocol to ensure a faster and smoother introduction should IFAB approve the trial.The proposed rule would see players leave the pitch for ten minutes to be thoroughly assessed for a concussion when suffering a head injury.If the player then passes the tests that are carried out they can return to the pitch to continue playing.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe introduction would be change from the current concussion substitution rules in place in the Prem.Teams are currently allowed two PERMANENT concussion substitutions that do not detract from their tactical changes if a player is deemed to have signs of a concussion.The proposal has been sent to IFAB ahead of the organisation’s annual general meeting which will take place in Scotland this weekend. The Premier League have reportedly pointed towards player welfare as a main factor for the proposed change and have collaborated with the PFA, FIFPro and the World Leagues Forum in their approach.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThere had already been widespread suggestion of new rules being trialled in English football with the highly-criticised blue card proposition that was leaked last month. However Fifa president Gianni infantino has already rubbished the idea of introducing blue cards to the top level of the sport.Sports reporter Melissa Reddy works up a sweat as she shows off her gym routineBlue MurderBy Martin Lipton

      IT’S a sin for football to allow cynical cheats to get away with it.
      So introducing ten-minute sin-bins would be a big step forward for the game.
      In truth, it does not matter what card the referee shows – blue, green or pink.
      What matters is that, if the trial – which will not include the Prem or EFL at this stage – is a success, then it could become part of top tier professional football by the end of the decade.
      The argument is simple: Nobody likes what Fifa refs’ chief Pierluigi Collina describes as “anti-football action”.
      That is a deliberate, cynical act to stop a potential break by fouling a rival with absolutely no attempt to play the ball.
      If teams who do that have to spend the last 10 minutes of a game a man short, they could pay a real price, rather than just picking up a yellow card and “taking one for the team”.
      Sin bins for dissent might be a tougher argument to progress, although it might just give refs some respect back.
      But having players sat by the side of the pitch, powerless as their man-short side concedes a last-gasp winner, might actually change the way players behave. And it will be a statement of intent.

      Speaking ahead of Saturday’s IFAB meeting, he said: “If you want a headline, it’s the red card to blue cards. No way.“There will not be any blue cards used at elite level. This is a topic that is non existent for us. Fifa is completely opposed to blue cards.”However the idea of sin-bins still still remains a very real possibility for the beautiful game with a global trial almost certain to be approved for dissent – starting at semi-professional level.Although it isn’t clear if the sin-bins will be used for cynical fouls as had been originally suggested.The idea is set to be debated in Saturday’s meeting with a number of big name Fifa representatives set to be in attendance including Infantino and Arsene Wenger.Another topic set to be up for discussion is a push for extended VAR coverage, led by iconic ex-referee Pierluigi Collina.The proposition would see VAR be able to intervene for corners, free-kicks and second yellow cards – although it is understood to be less likely to be backed.And there has been a revision of the idea that time-wasting by goalkeepers should be punished with the award of a corner.Many have deemed this to be too harsh of a punishment and are instead proposing that the other team would be given the ball for a throw-in level with the edge of the box.READ MORE SUN STORIESIFAB are also expected to endorse two new law changes from next season.All deliberate handball offences by defensive players in their own box will be punishable with dismissal from next term, while the ball must overhang the centre of the spot for penalty kicks.Sin-bins may be used for dissent going forwardCredit: GettyThere are talks over increasing the scope of VAR interventionCredit: ReutersThe ball may have to overhang the centre of the penalty spot for spot-kicks next seasonCredit: Getty More

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

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      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

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      Watch footballer score ‘Puskas contender’ as ball goes from one end to the other without touching the ground

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      FOOTBALL fans were left blown away as a player scored a goal worthy of 2024’s Puskas Award.The annual trophy is given to the star deemed to have netted the best strike in the past calendar year.
      A contender for this year’s Puskas Award has emergedCredit: reddit.com
      The ball did not touch the ground as it went from end to endCredit: reddit.com
      Fans hailed the strike as ‘outrageous’Credit: reddit.com
      Polish amputee Marcin Oleksy won the Puskas Award in 2022 for his stunning overhead kick.
      And Botafogo’s Guilherme Madruga scooped the last trophy despite being run close by Sporting Lisbon’s Pedro Goncalves.
      However, this year’s Puskas may have already been decided – despite Patrick Bamford’s inspired hit for Leeds at Peterborough.
      The mind-blowing strike, which went from one end of the pitch to the other without touching the ground, occurred in India during a clash between Real Kashmir and Churchill Brothers.
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      Kashmir ace Gnohere Krizo delivered an amazing hit into the back of Churchill’s net without the ball even touching the ground.
      A boot from his goalkeeper saw the ball headed around before it dropped to Krizo, who was standing between the halfway line and the opponent’s 18-yard box.
      With his back to goal, the attacker controlled the ball with one touch before using another to spin it over his head.
      Now facing goal, and with the ball still in the air, Krizo smashed a high volley towards goal.
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      And fans watched with disbelief as the shot dipped at the perfect moment to sail past Churchill’s keeper and into the back of the net.
      Krizo’s goal sent his teammates wild, with Kashimr going on to secure a 2-0 victory away from home.
      Watch the stunning overhead kick goal from amputee striker that won Puskas award at Fifa’s Best
      Supporters could not resist hailing the strike online either.
      One said: “Definitely one of the best goals I have seen in recent times.”
      One noted: “That’s outrageous.”
      Another added: “This should at least be nominated, beautiful from the preparation to the shot.”
      And one dismissed any talk about the poor state of the pitch, declaring “Ball went from one end to the other end without touching the ground once, wow.” More

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      Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2024: Schedule, results, start time, TV channel, stream as tournament kicks off in Dubai

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      THE Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup is upon us as sixteen of the best teams in the world come together to win the biggest prize in the sport. This year’s competition will take place in Dubai for the second time having previously taken place there in 2009.
      The Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup is taking place in DubaiCredit: Getty
      Russia are the current holders, having won the competition on home soil back in 2021 – defeating Japan 5-2 in the final.
      However, they won’t be defending their crown with all Russian teams barred from competing in Fifa competitions.
      There are some strong teams taking part in this year’s competition with European champions Italy strong favourites to win the competition.
      The Azzuri have recent Fifa Best Men’s Goalkeeper award winner Leandro Casapieri in their team.
      Brazil and Portugal are the current top ranked sides in the world.
      Spain, who are ranked fourth, only qualified for the tournament after Ukraine withdrew in protest at Belarus – a Russian ally – being allowed to compete.
      Italy are among the favourites to win the tournamentCredit: Getty
      What are the rules of the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup?
      The main rules of the sport is that there are five players on each team.
      Seven substitutes are allowed to be named on every matchday with an unlimited amount of substitutions allowed to take place.
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      A typical beach soccer match is 36 minutes long in total with games being split over three 12-minute periods.
      Three-minute breaks are then put in place for each period with the game clock paused if there is a stoppage in play because of an injury, foul or a goal scored.
      There is no offside rule in the sport, while players are not allowed to score directly from kick-offs.
      Players can decide whether to take throw-ins – or kick-ins – with either their hands or feet.
      When is the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup?
      The Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup will start on Thursday, February 15, with the final taking place on Sunday, February 25.
      All of the matches at the tournament will take place at the Dubai Design District Stadium.
      What TV channel is the Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup on and can it be live streamed?
      The tournament is NOT available on UK television with no channel picking up the rights.
      However, every game will be live streamed for FREE on the FIFA+ website, which is available in the UK.
      US viewers can watch the tournament on the FOX Sports network.
      Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup 2024 schedule
      Thursday, February 15

      United States 1-3 Italy
      United Arab Emirates 2-1 Egypt
      Tahiti 4-3 Argentina

      Spain 6-6 Iran (Iran won 3-1 on pens)

      Friday, February 16

      Colombia vs Japan
      Senegal vs Belarus
      Portugal vs Mexico
      Brazil vs Oman

      Saturday, February 17

      Italy vs Egypt
      United Arab Emirates vs United States
      Spain vs Tahiti
      Argentina vs Iran

      Sunday, February 18

      Japan vs Belarus
      Senegal vs Colombia
      Mexico vs Oman
      Brazil vs Portugal

      Monday, February 19

      Argentina vs Spain
      Iran vs Tahiti
      Egypt vs United States
      Italy vs United Arab Emirates

      Tuesday, February 20

      Belarus vs Colombia
      Japan vs Senegal
      Oman vs Portugal
      Mexico vs Brazil

      Thursday, February 22

      Quarter-finals

      Saturday, February 24

      Semi-finals

      Sunday, February 25

      Third place match More

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      Fifa chief Gianni Infantino would have been better with glove puppet Maradona than Kim Kardashian at World Cup reveal

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      FIFA drove a coach and horses through climate change anxiety with a three-nation schedule for the 2026 World Cup.For 39 days, aircraft carrying players and fans will cross and re-cross the USA, Canada and Mexico.

      Gianni Infantino and Fifa are preparing for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the USACredit: PA
      They will be blowing out vast amounts of pollution in the name of Gianni Infantino and the global game’s governing body.
      Big Chief White Shoes, the president himself, must see himself as some kind of showbiz impresario.
      Why otherwise would he invite Kim Kardashian — a 43-year-old influencer queen — to star at the announcement of the onerous schedule for June and July 2026?
      All those football kings in the wings and yet the chosen celebrity is a woman of little obvious talent and no connection to football — even if she was dressed in something resembling a tracksuit.
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      If Big Chief was looking for someone spectacular to tell us that a competition of 104 matches will begin in Mexico City’s Aztec Stadium, a glove puppet Maradona might have been a better choice.
      For all she said, about 20 words, it might just as well have been.
      But if the announcement itself was forgettable, the expansion to 48 teams in 12 divisions of four played in 16 stadiums was not.
      The top two teams in each league go through automatically while the best eight third-placed teams of the first round also go through to the knockout stage.
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      You might be asking yourself whether such labours are necessary.
      After all, the 2022 finals featured 32 teams which reduced tidily to two in the final.
      Huge football rule change set to be introduced with BLUE CARD and players dumped in 10-minute sin bin
      The brains trust led by Big Chief wanted more countries involved so that they could have more fun, more posh hotels and days in them, more food and drink, better beds, more sights to see, more chauffeured cars, the best seats and plenty of meetings to feel important at.
      That’s the life. Plus, the real biggies… more money and more power.
      No wonder the 37 Fifa Council members — elected by the 211 members worldwide — wanted a bigger tournament, confusing size with quality.
      Fifa operates a China-style voting system. When the bosses want change the hands will go up.
      A competition potentially as chaotic as a rodeo on donkeys was sold, maybe without a single vote against.
      The 2026 competition tentacles stretched backwards four years.
      The Cook Islands, a cluster of sandy islands in the Pacific, have already slipped out of it, while other small fry are plodding on their way, many in tournaments next month.
      Infantino also appeared alongside comedian Kevin Hart this weekCredit: Getty
      This sounds all very equal but so does Communism. For the tiddler teams, this is all footer fun.
      But, for Fifa, it is about constructing an empire, one that subjects Uefa, the Premier League and other European leagues to second or third-class status — and, as a consequence, makes shedloads of dollars.
      Big Chief may tell you that taking the World Cup to the US for the second time in 32 years is an ambitious move.
      So, he would say, is the confirmation of Saudi Arabia as hosts in 2034, 12 years after nearby Qatar. By coincidence two ultra-rich oil states.
      Australia was pushed out while the UK — the game’s founding nation — is a pariah without friends… or much oil.
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      Infantino and his chums are chasing power, using our wonderful game as some sort of sporting United Nations — with Big Chief on nodding terms with Vlad, Xi, Salman and the Kardashians.
      He is little different to his predecessor Sepp Blatter — but in trendy boots. More

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      Reason why sin bins for blue cards could be much LONGER than 10 minutes after backlash over controversial measures

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      SIN BINS for blue cards could last longer than ten minutes – thanks to stoppage time.Fifa is set to trial blue cards which will punish players by sending them to the bench for ten minutes.
      Players could be shown a blue card for dissent towards officialsCredit: PA
      But it is understood that any players sanctioned with a sin bin in the final 10 minutes of a half will not be allowed to return to the field of play until the conclusion of that period, even if there is an extensive amount of stoppage time.
      If implemented at the top level, blue cards will be the first major disciplinary change since the introduction of yellow and red cards back in 1970.
      There has been backlash to the proposed changes from fans and pundits, but lawmakers on the International FA Board will confirm the green light for global trials of two different sin bin schemes next month.
      But whether referees will carry blue cards and the precise details of how the idea will work is still to be agreed.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      The Ifab annual general meeting, attended by Fifa President Gianni Infantino, will approve allowing trials at professional level.
      One will see sin bins for excessive dissent towards officials.
      The other will mean 10 minutes in pitch-side sin bins for what are deemed as cynical “anti-football actions” when players prevent a counter-attack by stopping an opponent with no attempt to play the ball and dissent.
      Ifab, though, changed its mind about publishing the full details of the sin bin scheme as well as the proposed “cooling off periods” which will allow referees to halt a game and physically separate players if tempers spill over between them.
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      That is now not expected to happen before the March 2 gathering at Loch Lomond.
      It has been confirmed that no trials will take place at “elite” levels of the game, with the FA considering using the semi-pro level as guinea pigs.
      Paul Merson fears ‘the game will be killed’ as football prepares for huge rule change More