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      Fifa opens disciplinary proceedings into Spanish FA president Rubiales after he grabbed women’s star and kissed her

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      FIFA have opened disciplinary proceedings over the conduct of Luis Rubiales after he grabbed and kissed a World Cup star.The Spanish FA president planted his lips on Jenni Hermoso after they beat England 1-0 in the final.
      Luis Rubiales is being investigated by FifaCredit: Rex
      Rubiales forced a kiss on Hermoso’s lips
      Rubiales was presenting the Spain team with their winners’ medals when the shocking incident occurred.
      The 46-year-old grabbed several members of the squad and hugged them tightly on their way to the podium.
      Footage showed him forcing a kiss Hermoso’s lips with the attacking midfielder revealing afterwards that she “did not enjoy” it in a clip addressing the situation on Instagram.
      The chief rewarded his winning players with a holiday to Ibiza and vowed to marry Hermoso on the island during a dressing room speech.
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      Rubiales has faced widespread criticism, including from Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez.
      Hermoso has also issued a statement with the players’ union calling for “measures to protect the players against actions we believe are unacceptable”.
      Rubiales was also caught on camera grabbing his genitals in the stands during the match.
      The former defender was positioned next to Queen Letizia and her 16-year-old daughter Sofia at the time.
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      There has been calls for Rubiales to resign.
      He initially seemed to defend his kiss with Hermoso and branded critics as “idiots”.
      Rubiales spoke on radio Marca and said: “When two people have a minor show of affection, we can’t listen to idiocy.
      “We are champions and that’s what I’ll take.”
      He later released an apology, saying: “I’ve no doubt made a mistake and I have to admit it.
      “At a moment of maximum excitement, without any bad intention or bad faith, what happened happened in a very spontaneous manner, I repeat without bad faith on either side.”
      Fifa confirmed they will look into his actions, saying: “The events may constitute violations of article 13 paragraphs 1 and 2 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
      “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will only provide further information on these disciplinary proceedings once it has issued a final decision on the matter.
      “FIFA reiterates its unwavering commitment to respecting the integrity of all individuals and strongly condemns any behaviour to the contrary.”
      Luis Rubiales has been widely criticisedCredit: Rex More

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      Fifa president Gianni Infantino blasted for ‘peak cringe’ and embarrassing fashion faux-pas at Women’s World Cup final

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      FIFA president Gianni Infantino was blasted for his “peak cringe” performance at the Women’s World Cup final.That’s after committing an embarrassing fashion faux-pas in Australia.
      Gianni Infantino was slammed for his outfit at the Women’s World Cup finalCredit: Getty
      The Fifa chief wore white trainers with a dark suitCredit: Getty
      Infantino watched from the stands as England suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain in Sydney.
      Olga Carmona scored the only goal of the game with a fine hit in the 29th minute.
      And it saw England’s dreams of winning back-to-back tournaments come to a shuddering end Down Under.
      The Lionesses were not best pleased with their opponents, with some fans accusing Spain of play-acting throughout the game.
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      But the most controversial moment of the tournament may have come AFTER the final ball was kicked.
      Fifa chief Infantino handed out medals to both England and Spain before presenting the latter with their World Cup trophy.
      However, he caught the eye for the wrong reasons after wearing bright white trainers with a dark suit.
      The combo left many supporters scratching their heads.
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      And Infantino was slammed for delivering “peak cringe” to the best women’s World Cup in memory.
      One fan said: “Infantino wearing trainers with a designer suit is peak cringe. Embarrassing.”
      Another declared: “There’s no excuse for a grown man wearing white trainers with a suit.
      “Infantino looks like a page boy at a wedding reception who’s been allowed to swap shoes after the photographer has finished up.”
      One noted: “What bothers me most about the outcome of today’s final is Infantino handing out the medals in a suit and white trainers!”
      Another added: “Only Infantino can make the black suit and white trainer combo look totally dorky.”

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      Is the Women’s World Cup trophy made of gold and how much is it worth?

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      THE 2023 Women’s World Cup is set to culminate in a face-off between Spain and England.The football squads will compete at Stadium Australia in Sydney on August 20, with the hopes of bringing home the coveted trophy for their team – and their country.
      Spain and England will compete for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup trophyCredit: Isabel Infantes/Shutterstock
      What is the Women’s World Cup trophy made of?
      According to FIFA, the Women’s World Cup trophy is made of sterling silver but is covered in 23 karat white and yellow gold.
      The trophy measures 47 centimetres and weighs 4.6 kilograms.
      The award’s design features a spiral with a football at the top.
      There is also a cone-shaped platform at the bottom of the trophy, where the names of past winners of the tournament are displayed.
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      FIFA states that the composition of the trophy symbolises “the athleticism, dynamism and elegance of women’s football”.
      The trophy was designed by William Sawaya for the 1999 Women’s World Cup, held in the USA.
      It was handcrafted in Milan, Italy.
      The current trophy is the second iteration of the Women’s World Cup prize.
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      The first trophy was only awarded at the first two Women’s World Cups in 1991 and 1995.
      It had to be replaced after it was stolen in 1997 from the Ullevaal stadium in Oslo following Norway’s 1995 win.
      How much is the trophy worth?
      According to reports, in 2015 the Women’s World Cup trophy had an estimated value of around £23,000 in 2015.
      The Men’s World Cup trophy, meanwhile, was valued at £227,000 in 2022.
      That trophy is made up of 6.175 kilograms of 18 karat gold.
      Which teams have won the most Women’s World Cup trophies?
      The United States is the team that has won the most Women’s World Cup tournaments.
      They have lifted the trophy four times, in 1991, 1999, 2015, and 2019.
      The US squad has also had the most top four finishes at the tournament, having made it to the semi-finals eight times.
      They also have made five appearances in a Women’s World Cup final, making them the team with the most final appearances.
      Germany have won the Women’s World Cup the second-most times.
      They have two victories to their name, having been crowned champions in 2003 and 2007.
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      The Lionesses have never secured World Cup glory but have reached the semi-finals twice, in 2015 and 2019
      Their 2023 opponents, Spain, will also be winning for the first time if victorious at the World Cup final. More

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      Gianni Infantino ‘at it again’ say fans as Fifa president gives cringe speech telling women ‘you have the power’

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      FIFA president Gianni Infantino has baffled fans with a bizarre speech ahead of the Women’s World Cup final.The 53-year-old, who holds the most powerful position in football, told female players that they have to “pick the right battles” in the fight for equal pay and treatment.
      Infantino gave a bizarre speech on Friday about women in footballCredit: Getty
      Those in the audience looked unimpressedCredit: Sky Sports
      The speech drew criticism from former Ballon d’Or winner HegerbergCredit: Getty
      Speaking in Sydney, he said: “I say to all the women, and you know I have four daughters, so I have a few at home, I say to all the women that you have the power to change.
      “Pick the right battles. Pick the right fights. You have the power to change.
      “You have the power to convince us men what we have to do and what we don’t have to do. You do it. Just do it.
      “With men, with Fifa, you will find open doors. Just push the doors. They are open.”
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      Infantino’s bizarre speech left many fans gobsmacked, with one person tweeting: “I regret to inform you that FIFA President Gianni Infantino is at it again.”
      Another added: “It’s easier to tweet when he’s not at it.”
      A third wrote: “As a man myself, people like him making comments like that make me cringe.
      “Many of us fellas are better than him, believe me. Women are better than him. Most people are better than him!”
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      A fourth person commented: “Decades of keeping women out and now he’s saying just push the doors open. No, you need to invite them in.”
      While a fifth simply said: “He really needs to just stop talking.”
      Infantino’s comments also drew criticism from Lyon striker and former Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg.
      The Norway international tweeted: “Working on a little presentation to convince men. Who’s in?”
      Infantino shocked fans with his unusual speech prior to the Men’s World Cup in November.
      He started an hour-long presentation by saying: “Today I feel Qatari. Today I feel Arab. Today I feel African. Today I feel gay. Today I feel disabled. Today I feel a migrant worker.
      “Of course I am not Qatari, Arab, gay or disabled.”
      England are set to face Spain in the Women’s World Cup final on Sunday.
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      The Lionesses are undefeated so far at this Women’s World Cup, having secured wins over Haiti, Denmark, China, Nigeria, Colombia and Australia.
      Meanwhile, Spain have won all-but one game on their way to the final. More

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      Fifa launches urgent investigation into Women’s World Cup coach over claims he ‘rubbed player’s breasts’

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      FIFA has launched an urgent investigation into a Women’s World Cup coach over claims he rubbed a player’s breasts. Bruce Mwape, the coach of Zambia, has been accused of rubbing his hands over the chest of one of his players just two days before the team won their first match.
      Zambia head coach Bruce Mwape is accused of sexual misconductCredit: Getty
      The squad took to the field against Costa Rica in New Zealand on Monday, coming out on top 3-1 and placing third in their group.
      An insider has now claimed several players saw Mwape rub his hands over the chest of a teammate on the Friday.
      The source close to the team told the Guardian: “It’s not appropriate for a coach to be touching a player’s breasts.”
      Fifa today confirmed it was investigating an “allegation of misconduct” involving the Zambian team.
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      The football giant said: “Fifa takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously and has a clear process in place for anyone in football who wants to report an incident.
      “We can confirm that a complaint has been received in relation to the Zambian women’s national team and this is currently being investigated. We cannot provide further details regarding an ongoing investigation for obvious confidentiality reasons.
      “Anyone who wishes to report allegations or information related to abuse in football can do so via Fifa’s confidential reporting platform, with all information that is submitted to Fifa handled in the strictest of confidence.
      “In addition, Fifa offers support and assistance to ensure the safety of those who report a safeguarding issue, including witnesses who come forward and give testimony in Fifa judicial cases.
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      “Where guilt is established, Fifa takes the strongest possible sanctions, including removing people from the game for life. Our track record demonstrates this.”
      Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and Mwape, who has been leading the team since 2018, did not respond to the Guardian’s requests for comment. More

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      Huge rule change to be introduced in English football this season after Fifa pressure on Premier League

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      THE PREMIER LEAGUE and EFL have launched a new approach to cut down on time-wasting and increase ball-in-play time.The new Championship campaign starting on August 4 will be the first run of match officials’ new approach to improving time-keeping.
      Officials will be more robust dealing with clear/deliberate actions taken to delay the game restartingCredit: Rex Features
      As seen in the 2022 World Cup and Womens World Cup currently taking place in Australia, games are likely to last for more than 100 minutes.
      One match official has told Sky Sports News it will now be a rarity if a top flight game lasts fewer than than 100 minutes.
      According to the Daily Mail the average ball-in-play time for the 22/23 PL season was 54 minutes 49 seconds – the lowest number since 2010.
      The EFL released a statement on their website on how they plan to enhance ball-in-play time.
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      It includes adding more time for injuries and goals, and a blitz on time-wasting tactics.
      The statement reads: “As the game collectively looks to enhance the amount of time the ball is in play in the forthcoming campaign, the exact time lost when certain game events occur will now be added. 
      “In previous seasons the policy was to add on a nominal period of time for certain game events. The events include:

      Goals and subsequent celebrations
      Substitutions
      Injuries and treatment time (if required)
      Penalties (from moment of offence to the whistle for the penalty kick)
      Red cards (from moment of offence to when the player leaves the field)

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      “Alongside a more accurate allowance for time lost during the game, the EFL will also adopt the multi-ball system, which has been proven to increase ball in-play time.”
      “Match officials will also be taking a more robust approach to dealing with clear/deliberate actions that are impactful in delaying the restart of play, with players cautioned if they are guilty of:

      Delaying the restart of play
      Failing to respect the required distance at free-kicks.”

      Some fans have taken to twitter to share their opinions on the new approach.
      One wrote: “This is good! The ‘park the bus tactics’ will suffer from this. Those teams spend most of the time on the floor.” More

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      Is Nouhaila Benzina the first footballer to wear a hijab at a World Cup?

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      NOUHAILA BENZINA made her World Cup debut at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.The football star made history at the competition during Morocco’s game against South Korea.
      Nouhaila Benzina of Morocco made history during the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023 match between Korea and MoroccoCredit: EPA/MATT TURNER
      Who is Nouhaila Benzina?
      Nouhaila Benzina is a Moroccan football player.
      She was born on May 11, 1998 in Kenitra.
      Benzina plays as a defender.
      Who has Nouhaila Benzina played for?
      Benzina has spent her professional career playing for Morocco’s ASFAR (Association’s Sports of Forces Armed Royal) team.
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      She has also represented Morocco at under-20 and senior levels.
      In 2023 Benzina was named as part of Morocco’s Fifa Women’s World Cup squad.
      The 2023 edition of the tournament marks the first time Morocco has taken part.
      They are also the first team from MENA, the group of countries situated in and around the Middle East and North Africa, to play in the tournament.
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      Benzina was an unused substitute in the team’s first game against Germany but was called up during their second clash, against South Korea.
      Is Nouhaila Benzina the first footballer to wear a hijab at a World Cup?
      In July 2023, Benzina became the first football player to play at a World Cup – or any senior women’s football tournament – wearing a hijab.
      She wore her hijab during Morocco’s July 30, 2023, match against South Korea at the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
      Morocco finished the game, which took place at Adelaide’s Hindmarsh Stadium, victorious with a 1-0 win.
      In the past, Fifa banned the wearing of hijabs during games due to health and safety reasons.
      The reasons included possible choking, with the ban forbidding “equipment that is dangerous to himself or another player”.
      That ban was lifted in 2014.
      The under-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan took place two years after the ban was lifted and marked the first time Muslim players wore headscarves during an international Fifa event.
      Benzina has not publicly addressed her history-making turn on the pitch but Morocco’s captain Ghizlane Chebbak has discussed her team being at their first ever World Cup.
      She told press: “We are honoured to be the first Arab country to take part in the Women’s World Cup and we feel that we have to shoulder a big responsibility to give a good image, to show the achievements the Moroccan team has made.”
      Ahead of Morocco’s match against South Korea, Benzina did reference the upcoming game on her social media.
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      On Instagram, she posted a screenshot of a tweet stating that Benzina is the only player – out of 736 – at the Women’s World Cup to wear a hijab.
      She captioned the screenshot with a black love heart. More

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      Man City, Man Utd and Chelsea pocketed millions for releasing World Cup stars – and even Boreham Wood got cash

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      MANCHESTER CITY earned more from Fifa than anyone else for releasing their players to star in the World Cup – but even National League Boreham Wood got a share of the cash.Fifa paid out £160million to 440 different clubs around the world for releasing their players for last year’s World Cup in Qatar.
      Clubs received a share of Fifa payouts for their players competing in the World Cup
      English clubs received a total of £29million in compensation, more than any other country, with City top of the table worldwide, earning £3.5million.
      While that payment will hardly be noticed in City’s huge accounts, the payments for clubs further down the pyramid can make a huge difference.
      Especially for the lowest ranked English club receiving cash, Boreham Wood.
      The non-league side didn’t have any current players in Qatar last winter, but Fifa rewards teams who played a role in the development of players during the qualification period for the World Cup.
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      Boreham Wood sold Wales international Sorba Thomas to Championship side Huddersfield Town in January 2021 and therefore benefited from the Fifa payments, earning £24,000.
      Huddersfield earned £118,000 for Thomas’ role at the World Cup, despite the 24-year-old only featuring late on in Wales’ 1-1 draw against the USA, coming on as an injury time replacement for Fulham winger Harry Wilson.
      The payments are calculated by how long each player spent at the World Cup, with clubs earning just over £9,000 for each day their man was participating in the Middle East.
      Announcing the figures, Fifa president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the total compensation figure of £160million will almost double to £304million for the 2026 and 2030 editions of the World Cup.
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      Infantino said: “The Fifa Club Benefits Programme recognises the contribution that clubs make to the success of the Fifa World Cup, and this far reaching initiative ensures that Fifa redistributes a portion of the revenues from the competition to the clubs.”
      After Manchester City, the top English earners were Manchester United, who pocketed £2.5million and Chelsea who earned £2.4m. More