Fifa

IF you have the ear of one of football’s most powerful men, you can make things happen.And David Dein’s relationship with Arsene Wenger could lead to the biggest change the game has EVER seen.Former Arsenal chief David Dein wants match time to be reducedCredit: GettyDein’s friend Arsene Wenger is likely to consider the proposalCredit: GettyFormer Arsenal vice-chairman Dein is convinced the end of football being a 90-minute game is the way forward.Dein and Wenger were Gunners colleagues for more than a decade and have been friends for nearly 30 years.So when Dein asks Wenger, Fifa’s head of global football development and a key member of law-making body the International FA Board, to consider making football a 60-minute game, it will be taken seriously.Dein’s argument is a simple one.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLIt is unfair to expect referees to also allocate the precise amount of additional time to make up for delays, time-wasting and ‘dark arts’.Dein said: “I’ve asked all the refs in the Premier League, when the fourth official puts up the board for two, three or, four minutes, is that accurate to the last ten seconds?“The answer is ‘No, no chance’.“We should be able to know how long a game of football lasts — so my campaign is very simple.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“The average length of time a ball is in play in the Premier League and most western European games is around about 55 to 57 minutes.“I would like to see a real-time two halves of 30 minutes, where the ball is in play for 30 minutes each half.How Chelsea can shock Liverpool in ultimate ‘game of chicken’ with high-risk ‘tension-ball’ tactic“Let’s have a clock where we can all see how much time is left.”Dein says analysis of the second half of England’s Euro 2024 final loss to Spain makes his points.In total, the three goal celebrations, substitutions and stoppages after fouls meant more than nine minutes of playing time were lost, in addition to time for throw-ins and goal-kicks. But French referee Francois Letexier added just FOUR minutes after the 90.Dein added: “A goal celebration is normally two minutes, a VAR check could be two minutes, injuries could be a minute or two, plus subs. Over a game, that’s at least ten minutes.“That is ALWAYS more than the time that is actually added on.“So I’d like to see time stopping when there is time being lost.“The fans will get value for money, they would get an extra ten minutes of football.”Dein is one of the game’s movers and shakers and is on first-name terms with Fifa and Uefa figures.That allowed him to lobby Wenger and Ifab to give his idea a go.Dein continued: “I’ve spoken to Howard Webb and Anthony Taylor, who said they were in favour.READ MORE SUN STORIES“The next thing is for Ifab to agree to trial it.“That could be anywhere but I’ve already talked to the Dutch league.”Changes to the Premier League for 2024/25NOTHING stays the same forever.And that includes the Premier League, which is making a number of tweaks this season.Team news will now be released 75 MINUTES before kick-off, 15 minutes earlier than had been the case before.Things could get crowded on the touchline, with the number of substitutes permitted to warm-up boosted from three players per team to FIVE.There’s also a change to how added time is calculated when a team scores a goal, an update to the ‘multiball’ system and the introduction of semi-automated offsides – but not straight away.Go here to read about all the changes to the Premier League for 2024/25. More

FIFA has launched its battle to ensure the transfer system remains – by asking the rest of football how the rulebook needs to be reworked.But world chiefs have conceded that clubs may NOT be able to ask for a fee for every player who wants to leave them.Fifa are desperate to ensure the current transfer system remains in placeCredit: GettyLassana Diarra’s landmark victory threatens to disrupt the marketCredit: GettyFormer Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra’s victory over the world body at the European Court of Justice saw a major threat to the current system.Diarra’s lawyer, Jean-Louis Dupont declared the only possible outcome will be the end of clubs being able to demand fees for players.The ECJ ruled that current regulations, which mean clubs can sue players for breaking contracts and prevent them being able to move to a rival in another country, “impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club”.It added: “Those rules impose considerable legal risks, unforeseeable and potentially very high financial risks as well as major sporting risks on those players and clubs wishing to employ them which, taken together, are such as to impede international transfers of those players.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLDupont, who was also the successful lawyer behind the Jean-Marc Bosman case that upended European football in the 1990s, argued the decision would inevitably lead to US-style collective bargaining agreements between players and clubs and “trades” – swap deals – rather than transfer fees being paid.FIFA had initially reacted to the verdict by insisting that only a minor tweak of “two paragraphs of two articles” of the regulations needed to be amended.But now Zurich legal bosses have announced Fifa will “open a global dialogue on the transfer system, involving key stakeholders” to redraft the rules.Fifa legal boss Emilio Garcia Silvero insisted that the ruling “confirms the sanctity of contracts”.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHowever, asked if the ECJ decision does “mean the end of transfers or transfer fees” his reply hinted at a recognition that some players will be able to move for nothing.Silvero said: “The Diarra decision does not question that employment contracts between players and clubs must be respected. Top 10 highest-paid Premier League stars“Consequently, if players wish to be released from a contract, there will be financial consequences. “If a club wishes to engage a player under a valid contract, this will often still mean that the transfer fee needs to be paid.”Using the word “often” rather than “always” was a significant change of position.Last week’s general assembly of the powerful European Club Association was dominated by behind the scenes discussions of the potentially “terrible” impact of the ruling, with serious fears the business models of clubs in “selling” countries like Portugal, France, Holland, Belgium and in Scandinavia could be destroyed.One prominent figure suggested every case where a player walks out of a current deal might see clubs having to sue for compensation in their local courts, creating a “law of the jungle” situation.Silvero confirmed that clubs, leagues and player unions will now be asked to comment on new proposals.He said: “The Diarra decision confirms it remains Fifa’s responsibility to establish, protect and enforce a robust regulatory system for international football, in particular to safeguard the regulations and integrity of a sports competition. “This includes rules related to the composition of teams, such as transfers, registration periods, contractual stability and many other important topics. READ MORE SUN STORIES“Fifa will now initiate a global dialogue with key stakeholders. “Together with them, Fifa will determine what conclusions must be drawn from the Diarra decision, and which changes are most appropriate and suitable.”Transfer fees scrapped Q&A: How landmark ruling could mean NFL-style trades and stars suing for millionsFORMER Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra has won his landmark case at the European Court of Justice.SunSport’s Martin Lipton explains what it was all about – and what it might mean for the future of football…What was the case about?Diarra argued Fifa’s transfer rules were illegal after the world body backed Lokomotiv Moscow’s claim that he had broken his contract by refusing to train with them.Is that it?No. Belgian club Charleroi wanted to sign Diarra but were told they would have to pay the money he was fined by Moscow, while Fifa refused to issue an International Transfer Certificate unless they coughed up.Okay, so what does the ruling mean?Theoretically players will have the right to break their contracts and switch clubs without a fee changing hands – just like any employee in any other industry.Hang on – does that mean the END of transfer fees?Potentially, yes. Although players would have to want to move.We would basically end up with a US-style “collective bargaining” model where players would be free to move within transfer windows without impunity.Clubs might be able to “trade” players – swap deals – but with no extra cash changing hands.Is everybody agreed about this?Absolutely not. Fifa claimed the ruling “only puts in question two paragraphs of two articles” of its transfer regulations.Yet the Judges said the current rules were “prohibited” under EU law and “anti-competitive” as they “limit the freedom of action” of players to change employer.Read SunSport’s full Q&A with football on the brink of the biggest shake-up in 30 years… More

SERIE A star Marco Curto has been hit with a TEN-MATCH BAN for racially abusing Wolves ace Hwang Hee-chan.Fifa have found Curto guilty after he allegedly made a vile “Jackie Chan” comment towards the Premier League winger in a pre-season friendly.Italian footballer Marco Curto has been handed a ten-match ban from FifaCredit: GettyIt comes after Curto allegedly made a vile racist remark to Prem star Hwang Hee-chanCredit: GettyThe controversy erupted during a closed-doors friendly in Marbella which Wolves won 1-0.The clash was marred by an incident after 68 minutes when Hwang alleged he had been racially abused by an opponent.His furious team-mate Daniel Podence was so incensed he lashed out at a Como defender and was sent-off by the referee.Como said one of their players made a reference surrounding Hwang’s name and that the complaint was “out of proportion”.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSBut now Fifa have upheld the formal complaint made by South Korea’s national football association.A spokesperson for the world governing body said: “Marco Curto was found responsible for discriminatory behaviour and sanctioned with a 10-match suspension.”Serving of half of those matches is suspended for a probation period of two years.”The player is ordered to render community services and undergo training and education with an organisation approved by Fifa.”Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThe South Korea player’s national football association contacted Fifa in July to express “serious concerns” about the incident.SunSport asked Como for comment after the game on July 16.Mateus Mane shows of his goal scoring skills playing for Wolves Academy Wolves are understood to welcome the decision and held talks with the FA over how best to move forward with taking it to the relevant bodies.Uefa insisted it cannot look into the incident because it did not take place during a competitive Uefa match.The Molineux club are expected to issue a formal statement later.Curto is currently on loan with Italian second tier side Cesena.A Como spokesperson said Curto had told club chief’s he had told a fellow defender “ignore (Hwang), he thinks he’s Jackie Chan”.Mirwan Suwarso previously said: “Having spoken to our player at length, we are confident this was in reference to the player’s name.”And to the constant references of ‘Channy’ made by his own team-mates on the pitch.READ MORE SUN STORIES”As far as our club is concerned our player did not say anything in a derogatory manner.”We are disappointed that the reaction of certain Wolves players has seen the incident blown out of proportion.” More