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      Arsenal facing Mykhailo Mudryk issues with Fifa transfer ruling causing problems as £88m Shakhtar deal is thrashed out

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      SHAKHTAR DONETSK are unlikely to budge from their mega-money valuation of Mykhailo Mudryk after losing out on millions due to a Fifa transfer ruling.Arsenal are eager to sign the £88million Ukrainian winger, while Chelsea have also entered the hunt.
      Mykhailo Mudryk wants to join ArsenalCredit: Getty
      Mudryk, 22, is eager to join the Gunners and has even shared pictures to social media watching their recent matches.
      As pointed out by the Independent, however, Shakhtar are desperate to make the most out of their top asset.
      Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, Fifa ruled that foreign players based there could suspend their contracts and leave for nothing.
      This has seen Shakhtar’s Brazilian stars Tete, Maycon, Vinicius Tobias and Vitao leave for free – costing the Ukrainian club millions in potential transfer fees.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      They could all theoretically return, but with no end to the war imminent, the situation will likely continue to drag on.
      So Shakhtar will not be accepting any discounts for star man Mudryk – despite his desire to join Arsenal “as soon as possible”.

      They believe that he is worth £88m, in line with huge fees paid by Manchester United and Manchester City for what they deem to be similar talents in Antony and Jack Grealish.
      Arsenal have so far had two bids rejected for Mudryk, with the second worth £62m.
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      Brazilian stars including Tete have been allowed to suspend their Shakhtar contractsCredit: Getty
      Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin is furious about his side’s transfer situation and has blasted Fifa.
      He said: “We contacted the legal department at Fifa and said, ‘It’s very complicated, let’s work out the situation’. But they completely ignored our letter.
      “No answer at all… it’s ridiculous. Its negligence of the decision-making process.
      “They should consult all parties, especially the Ukrainian clubs. All the European organisations support Ukraine.
      “How is it possible to behave like this?”
      It’s claimed that Shakhtar want to sue Fifa for £43m for their ruling.
      Sergei Palkin is furious with FifaCredit: Alamy More

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      Fifa boss Gianni Infantino appears to take selfie next to Pele’s coffin as fans form 1km queue for Brazil icon’s funeral

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      GIANNI INFANTINO appeared to take a selfie while standing by Pele’s open casket.The Fifa president has been in Santos for the great Brazilian’s funeral.
      Gianni Infantino takes a selfie with LimaCredit: AP
      Infantino offered condolences to Pele’s widow Marcia AokiCredit: The Mega Agency
      Fans formed a queue of over 1km to pay their respects to the man labelled “The King”.
      Infantino, 52, was pictured offering condolences to Pele’s devastated widow Marcia Aoki.
      Shortly after doing so, he was snapped appearing to smile for a selfie by Pele’s coffin.
      Infantino was taking a picture alongside Pele’s former Santos team-mate Lima.
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      Pele, who died aged 82 last Thursday, was laid in an open casket in the middle of the pitch at Santos’ Vila Belmiro Stadium.
      In addition to Infantino, the chiefs of Brazil’s and South America’s football federations were present.
      Infantino also offered condolences to Pele’s son Edinho.
      Amid the period of mourning, the Fifa president revealed that he would be asking every country to make a special gesture for the late three-time World Cup winner.
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      Pele’s son Edinho receives condolences from InfantinoCredit: Getty
      He said: “We’re going to ask every country to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele.
      “We’re here with great sadness. Pele is eternal. He’s a global icon of football.
      “Future generations have to know and remember who Pele was.”
      Following the 24 hour mourning period, Pele’s funeral procession will pass through the streets of Sao Paulo later today – including past the house of his mum Celeste, 100.
      He will then be laid to rest in a private ceremony.
      The three-time World Cup winner passed away last ThursdayCredit: AFP More

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      Fifa will ask every country in world to name a stadium after Pele following death of Brazilian football legend

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      FIFA will ask every country IN THE WORLD to name a stadium after Pele. The legendary Brazilian passed away last week at the age of 82, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino has revealed one way he will be asking countries to pay their respects.
      Gianni Infantino has revealed plans for the world to pay homage to PeleCredit: Reuters
      The Brazil legend passed away last week at the age of 82Credit: AFP
      He told local reporters on Monday: “We are also going to ask every country in the world to name one of their football stadiums with the name of Pele.”
      The request comes as mourners line the streets outside of Santos’ football stadium in order to pay their respects.
      Part of Pele’s funeral is being held at the stadium.
      His coffin has been placed in the middle of the pitch and fans will be able to pay their respects for 24 hours before a procession through the streets of Santos to celebrate the icon.
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      Visitation started at 10am today and will finish on Tuesday at the same time.
      It will then be carried past the house of Pele’s 100-year-old bedbound mother, Celeste.
      From there he will be taken to the Memorial Necropole Ecumenica, where only family members will attend.
      It stands between skyscrapers and lush forests and, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is the tallest vertical cemetery in the world with 14 storeys and 14,000 vaults.
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      It also contains a tropical garden that includes a small rooftop cafe, a waterfall and a classic car museum.
      Nicknamed The King, Pele won three World Cups with Brazil between 1958 and 1970, the only player in football history to achieve the feat. More

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      New Club World Cup outranks European Super League for self-preening greed, Gianni Infantino must be stopped

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      FIFA’s idea to stage a 32-team Club World Cup in 2025 outranks even the European Super League in self-preening greed.Fed on the success of the football in Qatar, no doubt president Gianni Infantino thinks he has timed his announcement as perfectly as Kylian Mbappe’s sliding volley in the World Cup final.
      Fifa recently announced plans for a new Club World CupCredit: Getty
      He could not be more wrong.
      Already forces which swatted aside the Super League plan, which was to be a private competition between a dozen European clubs, are preparing to go to war again.
      Infantino believes he is a special man, from his white trainers to his expenses claim for a £8,795 mattress at home.
      He is well named.
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      The infantile pre-tournament rant that he felt a kinship with Qataris, gays, disabled, Africans, migrant workers and women all because he had ginger hair, made me wish Sepp Blatter was back in charge.
      Infantino got away with the most unlikely World Cup venue outside the Moon and no one challenged it.
      He has now constructed this new tournament, as unstable as a wooden house in a rotten tree and is so pleased with himself that he couldn’t wait for the World Cup to finish before he unveiled it.
      Foisted on our sport by a bunch of crooks, Qatar worked because of worldwide enthusiasm for a great competition.
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      It did not work for the hundreds of migrant workers who died building the stadiums.
      Cramming it into the middle of the European season wasn’t popular, either.
      But the fact that national associations were persuaded (bullied) into it were grounds enough for similar arrangements to be put forward for this Club World Cup.
      Full of conceit, Infantino struck at the opportune moment to introduce his tournament, which he says would be played every four years and, he must have estimated, would dwarf the Champions League’s appeal and income.
      There appeared to be no thought about player exhaustion or how the lucky 32 clubs would be chosen, only hints that 13 places would go to European clubs.
      We have no further details yet but let’s say England will be granted one entrant.
      How does that come about?
      Presumably, the Premier League champions from the preceding competition would be chosen — but there must be doubts otherwise a more complete outline surely would have been announced?
      The fact Fifa have not yet announced how they will jam 48 teams into the 2026 World Cup rather supports my view that it is hit and hope.
      Still, it is possible that clubs will be selected by invitation.
      If so, you can bet Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus would receive very favourable treatment regardless of where they finish in their domestic leagues.
      This renegade trio has not given up on a European Super League because they see it as a huge money-spinner.
      And that is, despite the do-good speeches from Infantino & Co, the true motive for a Club World Cup: The billions to be made from huge attendances, TV rights and sponsorship.
      Fifa may see themselves as the United Nations of football but their ambitions are undermined by weak-kneed acceptance of Qatar’s stances and by the way in which previous committee members were corrupted.
      Read More on The Sun
      Infantino now has a third term as president and plans to remain until 2031.
      His latest grab must be defeated. More

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      Fifa president Gianni Infantino ‘unfollows’ pal Salt Bae on Instagram after World Cup final pitch invasion

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      FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has unfollowed his pal Salt Bae in the wake of his shameful antics after the World Cup final.His snub came as the world governing body admitted the fame hungry chef should never have been allowed on the pitch to pester Lionel Messi.
      Fifa boss Gianni Infantino at Salt Bae’s restaurant in Doha last monthCredit: Saltbae Views
      Infantino and Salt Bae in the VIP box with Brazil legends Ronaldo, Cafu and Roberto CarlosCredit: Instagram
      Infantino has now unfollowed his friend on InstagramCredit: Instagram
      Fifa has admitted Salt Bae should not have been allowed to pester Argentina talisman Messi on the pitch
      The Turkish cook — real name Nusret Gökçe — has courted a years-long friendship with Fifa president Infantino.
      They have been pictured together several times, and the football chief has been gushing in his praise for the flamboyant Instagram star.
      During the World Cup, Infantino was filmed introducing Salt Bae to a series of VIPs including the King of Malaysia at a swanky official reception.
      The pair were also pictured together in a VIP box alongside Brazil legends Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cafu.
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      Infantino also visited Gökçe’s Nusr-Et steakhouse in Doha where he was filmed giving the chef a hug.
      And he said: “Football unites the world and Nusret unites the world as well.”
      Infantino was also filmed imitating Salt Bae’s salt sprinkle gimmick in a cringe-worthy video at his Dubai restaurant in 2020.
      He gushed: “He is number one. The meat here is incredible.
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      “Food is like football — it’s heart, it’s emotion, it’s love — all the ingredients we can find them here thanks to this man.”
      In another video in 2021 Infantino said: “Mr Nusret, number one. The best of the best. An unforgettable evening here in Dubai with Nusret. I’ll come back.
      “Legend, he’s a legend. Legend number one. Thank you very much.”
      Another snap shows Infantino grinning while holding up a Christmas jumper featuring Salt Bae in knitted form.
      And he was pictured in a Salt Bea branded apron and holding a slab of meat, apparently during a private cooking lesson.
      However the bromance seems to be over today after he unfollowed Salt Bae on Instagram.
      Infantino previously followed 303 accounts but now that is down to 302.
      And Salt Bae’s official account @nusr_et — with 49.9million followers — no longer comes up on his feed.
      It comes after Fifa last night finally responded to the embarrassing scenes on the pitch following Argentina’s nailbiting victory on Sunday night.
      Gökçe was seen grabbing Messi by the shoulder at least twice as the baffled megastar tried to shrug him off.
      The chef — wearing a Fifa security pass — also muscled in on Argentina’s celebrations, snatched the trophy from one winner’s baby, and bit players’ medals.
      As well as spoiling the celebrations and annoying the champions, Gökçe also broke Fifa’s strict rules by pawing and kissing the trophy.
      Only a select group are allowed to handle the £17million gold icon including former winners and heads of state.
      The chef faced a furious backlash from his own fans over his attention seeking antics at the World Cup final.
      And Fifa was forced into a humiliating admission last night as fury over his conduct grew worldwide.
      It said Gökçe should not have been on the pitch and it will discipline staff as part of an official probe.
      The governing body said: “Following a review, Fifa has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail Stadium on December 18.
      “The appropriate internal action will be taken.”
      Fifa sources reportedly deny that Gökçe was personally invited on the pitch by Infantino himself.
      Salt Bae has also now been barred from attending The US Open Cup, the equivalent of England’s FA Cup, following the disgraceful scenes in Qatar.
      Organisers tweeted: “Salt Bae is hereby banned from the 2023 US Open Cup final.”
      The US Open Cup is a knockout competition featuring teams from the MLS as well as other domestic tournaments.
      Salt Bae has brushed off criticism of his conduct – and instead continued trying to show his closeness to football icons.
      He reposted an old video of him hugging Messi when he visited his Dubai steakhouse in 2018.
      Read More on The Sun
      And another vid shows his shrine to the late Diego Maradona with one table “permanently reserved”.
      That was despite Maradona ridiculing Salt Bae to his face with a hilarious dig at his “sprinkle” gesture.
      Salt Bae and Gianni Infantino have been pals for yearsCredit: Instagram
      Infantino introduced Salt Bae to VIPs at a reception in Qatar last weekCredit: Instagram
      Infantino performs the ‘sprinkle’ at Salt Bae’s Dubai steak house in 2020Credit: Instagram
      Fifa has launched a probe into how Salt Bae gatecrashed Argentina’s World Cup celebrations
      He finally got a selfie with Lionel Messi but should not have been on the pitchCredit: instagram
      Salt Bae was pictured pawing the trophy in breach of Fifa’s strict rulesCredit: instagram More

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      Shameless Salt Bae posts bizarre videos flexing his thigh muscles in cringey workouts after Messi’s World Cup final snub

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      SHAMELESS Salt Bae has shared bizarre videos flexing his thigh muscles in the gym days after Lionel Messi snubbed him at the World Cup.The fame hungry chef posted it online as Fifa finally admitted he should never have been allowed on the pitch.
      Salt Bae shows off his rippling thigh muscles in a cringe Instagram storyCredit: Instagram
      He posed in tiny red shorts at the gym in DubaiCredit: Instagram
      Salt Bae’s workout comes days after Lionel Messi snubbed him at the World CupCredit: Instagram
      Fifa has admitted he should have been allowed to pester the Argentina talisman on the pitch
      The Turkish cook and Instagram star – real name Nusret Gökçe – has left Qatar and is now in Dubai, according to a series of Instagram stories posted overnight.
      Most show diners in his pricey steakhouse – but he is also seen crushing weights at the gym.
      Gökçe, 39, is seen wearing his trademark round sunglasses and tiny red shorts while showing off his rippling thighs.
      And the camera zooms in to show exactly how much weight he is lifting on each of the machines.
      MORE ON SALT BAE
      It comes after the chef faced a backlash from his own fans over his attention seeking antics at Sunday’s World Cup final.
      He was seen pestering Lionel Messi for a selfie in embarrassing scenes following Argentina’s nailbiting victory.
      Footage shows how he grabbed Messi by the shoulder at least twice as the baffled megastar tried to shrug him off.
      Gökçe – wearing a Fifa security pass – also muscled in on players’ celebrations and snatched the trophy from one winner’s baby.
      Most read in Football
      As well as spoiling the celebrations and annoying the winners, Gökçe also broke Fifa’s strict rules.
      It says only a select group are allowed to handle the £17million gold trophy including former winners and heads of state.
      Fifa was forced into a humiliating admission last night as fury over his conduct grew worldwide.
      It said Gökçe should not have been on the pitch and it will discipline staff as part of an official probe.
      The governing body said: “Following a review, Fifa has been establishing how individuals gained undue access to the pitch after the closing ceremony at Lusail Stadium on December 18.
      Salt Bae has also now been barred from attending The US Open Cup, the equivalent of England’s FA Cup, following the disgraceful scenes in Qatar.
      Organisers tweeted: “Salt Bae is hereby banned from the 2023 US Open Cup final.”
      The US Open Cup is a knockout competition featuring teams from the MLS as well as other domestic tournaments.
      Salt Bae has brushed off criticism of his conduct – and instead continued trying to show his closeness to football icons.
      He reposted an old video of him hugging Messi when he visited his Dubai steakhouse in 2018.
      Read More on The Sun
      And another vid shows his shrine to the late Diego Maradona with one table “permanently reserved”.
      That was despite Maradona ridiculing Salt Bae to his face with a hilarious dig at his “sprinkle” gesture.
      The chef has left Qatar and is now working at his steakhouse in DubaiCredit: Instagram
      Fifa has launched a probe into how Salt Bae gatecrashed the World Cup celebrations
      He finally got a selfie with Lionel Messi but should not have been on the pitchCredit: instagram
      Salt Bae was pictured pawing the trophy in breach of Fifa’s strict rulesCredit: instagram More

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      World Cup goal of the tournament revealed as Richarlison’s bicycle kick wins award while Mbappe and Neymar are snubbed

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      FIFA have announced that Richarlison has won the World Cup goal of the tournament.Tottenham’s Brazilian star, 25, enjoyed a stellar tournament for the Samba Boys as he found the net three times.
      Brazil’s Richarlison has won the World Cup goal of the tournamentCredit: AP

      The forward helped himself to a brace in the 2-0 victory over Serbia in his country’s opening group game.
      And he also got on the scoresheet in the 4-1 last-16 triumph over South Korea.
      But it was his outrageous overhead kick against the Serbs that has deen him pip his compatriot Neymar and France’s Kylian Mbappe to the crown of goal of the tournament.
      His moment of magic occurred after he had already reacted first from a Vinicius Jr shot to lash home the rebound just after the hour mark.
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      But 11 minutes later he doubled his tally for the evening in breathtaking fashion.
      Vinicius crossed into the penalty area and Richarlison did the rest, teeing himself up before acrobatically swivelling to lash an outrageous effort into the corner beyond Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
      That led to many supporters tipping him to win the Puskas Award.
      However, for now, he can take comfort in the fact that he has scooped this accolade despite him and Brazil ultimately going on to suffer penalty heartbreak against Croatia in the quarter-finals.
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      Neymar scored a brilliant goal in extra-time of that prior to Bruno Petkovic equalising to set up a penalty shoot-out.
      Many felt the Paris Saint-Germain’s wonderful effort would be a strong contender – but even more believed Mbappe’s volley against Argentina would be just as unstoppable as the forward’s strike.
      The Frenchman had just pulled a goal back from the spot before he instantly thundered home a volley to make it 2-2 and send the World Cup Final to extra-time.
      He would go on to make history by securing his hat-trick – but it would ultimately be Argentina that went on to win the shoot-out and be crowned world champions. More

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      Fifa delete TWO tweets after Cristiano Ronaldo fan uproar as they appear to label Messi goat and troll Portugal ace

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      FIFA have deleted TWO tweets following a huge backlash from Cristiano Ronaldo’s fervent fanbase.Ronaldo endured a disappointing tournament in Qatar, scoring just once from the penalty spot before being dropped to the bench.
      Cristiano Ronaldo endured an underwhelming World CupCredit: Getty
      His great rival Lionel Messi, meanwhile, scored seven goals and laid on three assists on the way to winning the tournament and the Golden Ball.
      The 35-year-old’s exploits effectively ended the GOAT debate for many fans, and Fifa’s official World Cup Twitter account tweeted a message to that effect.
      They wrote: “The GOAT debate is settled. The ultimate prize is now part of the collection.
      “On the day @Argentina won their third #FIFAWorldCup, Leo Messi is your @Budweiser Player of the Match.”
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      The tweet seemed to upset some Ronaldo fan accounts, and has still been gaining traction even since it has been deleted.
      One wrote: “A professional account of the biggest football organisation in the world.
      “It has always been Ronaldo vs the rigged system.”
      A second huffed: “Very unprofessional.”
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      This tweet was swiftly deleted
      Lionel Messi, 35, won the World Cup at the fifth attemptCredit: Rex
      And a third moaned: “It’s everyone against him.”
      Fifa deleted a further innocuous tweet.
      They posted a picture of Ronaldo smiling and raising his thumb, with the caption: “Thumbs up if you really enjoyed the #FIFAWorldCup.”
      Some fans took the tweet to be insulting to the 37-year-old, who had a miserable tournament.
      One wrote: “Fifa mocking Ronaldo. They have now deleted this tweet.”
      Another bizarrely claimed: “The favouritism displayed by Fifa in that now-deleted tweet further corroborates our assumption of a rigged system against Ronaldo all along.”
      Ronaldo’s tournament ended at the quarter-final stage, when Portugal lost 1-0 to Morocco.
      He was brought on in the 51st minute, but was unable to make an impact.
      After the match he left the field in tears, after seeming to realise that his World Cup dream had slipped away.
      Ronaldo fans felt that this tweet was disrespectful
      The former Manchester United star was upset after his side crashed outCredit: ITV More