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      Man Utd and Liverpool face grilling over their role in breakaway European Super League plans

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      BOTH Liverpool and Manchester United face a virtual grilling on Thursday over alleged involvement in plans for a breakaway European Super League.
      LaLiga chief Javier Tebas’ claims that United owner Joel Glazer and Anfield’s John Henry have been colluding with Real Madrid, AC Milan and Fifa boss Gianni Infantino have struck a chord with Prem rivals.

      Spanish top-flight supremo Javier Tebas claimed Man Utd and Liverpool plotted with Fifa President Gianni Infantino over a new league

      Glazer is not expected to attend today’s virtual meeting of the 20 shareholder clubs, leaving United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward in the line of fire.
      Woodward has maintained he is working with Uefa to help formulate the future shape of European football.
      The United boss is part of a committee, which has been convened by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin to design the new model.
      Prem clubs, especially those outside the Big Six who risk being locked out of the breakaway closed-shop elite, accuse the North-West giants of playing both sides.

      Plans for a formal launch of the Super League concept, worth an initial £3.5billion between the 15 “founder clubs”, have been put on hold amid issues over the structure of the proposed competition.
      But the divisive issue, along with big questions for League chief Richard Masters over the pace of a “Strategic Review” into the Prem’s future, will dominate the meeting.
      FRENCH FARCE
      FRENCH football is facing a financial crisis after Ligue 1 chiefs failed to find a big enough bidder for TV rights.
      Ligue 1 attracted bids from Amazon, Discovery and DAZN for live rights to 80 per cent of games after original bid winner Mediapro was stripped of them in December.

      Mediapro had promised £717million a year — but the deal was scrapped as the money did not appear.
      But all new bids were rejected as they failed to meet the bottom line, leaving clubs looking at a financial black hole.
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      SAILING’S greatest test of mind and body is looking for sponsors to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
      A vibrant video showcasing the Ocean Globe Race, launched as the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973 and then sponsored by Volvo, has been produced ahead of the 2023 event.
      The global reach of the race, which has outlawed modern digital aids, ensures huge exposure for those companies involved.

      Simon Jordan says the Glazers are at fault for the problems at Man Utd More

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      European Super League explained: How many matches would be played, which clubs involved and what about Champions League?

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      MORE details on the proposed European Super League have emerged days after Fifa attempted to kill off the plans.
      A numbers of Premier League clubs were touted for the controversial proposals, which were dealt a huge blow on January 20 by global football chiefs.

      Real Madrid club president Florentino Perez had publicly backed the plans

      Fans will be keen to know what is being laid out, how it would work and the impact any breakaway would have.
      SunSport explains the plans, as they stand – and the hurdles that have to be overcome:
      WHAT IS THE PLAN?
      An 18-team, self-elected and ring-fenced European Premier League, with matches to be played midweek and an end of season play-off to determine the winners, with a provisional kick-off from the start of the 2022-23 season.

      WHO WOULD PLAY?
      That is less than clear but the expectation is that we are only talking about the “Big Five” leagues.
      England will have the largest contingent, with Liverpool and United joined by three from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Spurs.
      Spain would supply Real Madrid, Atletico and Barcelona, plus one other team – probably Sevilla.

      Italy want four places – Juventus, Inter, AC Milan plus one. Bayern Munich, Dortmund and one other German club would be invited with France represented by PSG and, presumably, either Lyon or Marseilles.

      Here are the proposed teams
      AND THE FORMAT?
      It is envisaged that the teams will play each other home and away in a midweek league, with the top four – or eight – involved in the end of season play-offs.
      BUT THEY WILL STILL PLAY THEIR DOMESTIC LEAGUES?
      That’s the plan. At least, for now.
      HOW DOES IT ALL FIT, THOUGH?
      That is the big question.
      The Premier League’s 38-game season is already squeezed into a 34-week window and there would now be an EXTRA 34 games for each of the five selected Prem teams to fit in.
      Reducing the Prem to 18 clubs, as envisaged in Project Big Picture – an element backed by all the Big Six – would create some wriggle room, as would scrapping the League Cup.
      But Prem sides are mandated to play in the FA Cup.

      IS THERE ANY OTHER ROOM FOR GAMES?
      Other than an early start and a late finish, no.
      Until 2024-25, when the new international match calendar – still being worked on by Fifa – comes into operation.
      One plan that gained support was for three four-game international windows – in November, March and June – each year, opening up the entire autumn part of the season for extra club matches.
      HOW MUCH WOULD CLUBS BE PAID?
      A huge £3.1billion fund was being formulated by the competition’s organisers, which was to be split between the 15 founder clubs.
      The payment, ranging from £89m to £310m, was reportedly described as an ‘infrastructure grant’ to spend on stadiums, training facilities and account for lost pandemic revenue.

      The Glazers own Man Utd, one of the teams touted as potential members
      WHAT WOULD THIS MEAN FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?
      Curtains – which is why Uefa will fight tooth and nail to kill the plot stone dead.
      If Europe’s biggest 18 clubs go it alone, the Champions League – let alone the Europa League – will plummet in commercial value, devastating European football’s economic model.
      WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT ON THE PREM?
      Not so much in the immediate term – but significant in the longer term.
      The “top four” race will be rendered redundant if there is a closed shop Super League, which will have an impact on future TV rights sales, although there will still be the appeal of the Big Six playing their domestic matches.
      But the financial disparity between the elite and the rest will become a gaping chasm that will make the Prem utterly uncompetitive – unless the big boys prioritise the new European Premier League and play shadow sides at home, which, of course, will make the Prem even less appealing to the broadcasters.

      WILL IT REALLY GO AHEAD?
      After recent developments, the plans do look in jeopardy.
      Fifa and the six intercontinental federations released a strongly-worded statement on 20 January banning players and clubs in a Super League from their competitions.
      The statement read: “In light of recent media speculation about the creation of a closed European ‘Super League’ by some European clubs.
      “Fifa and the six confederations once again would like to reiterate and strongly emphasise that such a competition would not be recognised by either Fifa or the respective confederation.
      “Any club or player involved in such a competition would as a consequence not be allowed to participate in any competition organised by Fifa or their respective confederation.”
      Uefa are expected to confirm the details of the new-look Champions League to take effect from the 2024-25 season in the next few months. More

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      Man Utd warned of Prem and Champions League exile if they join European Super League and players BANNED from World Cup

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      GLOBAL football chiefs have slammed the door shut on plans for a breakaway European Super League.
      Liverpool and Manchester United were claimed to be part of the cabal seeking to set up their own competition, allegedly with the support of Fifa.

      FIFA boss Gianni Infantino sounded a warning to anyone who joins a breakaway leagueCredit: Reuters

      Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has been the ringleader of the plotters, regularly talking up the concept.
      But the Euro giants have now been warned they will find themselves banned from domestic leagues if they joined any breakaway.
      And players will be banned from taking part in the World Cup, European Championship or South America’s Copa America if their clubs are among the rebels.
      Uefa are expected to confirm the details of the new-look Champions League to take effect from the 2024-25 season in the next few months.

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      That is a response to the threats from the continent’s biggest clubs about setting up their own money-spinning competition.
      And a clear and aggressive warning shot, issued by Fifa President Gianni Infantino, Uefa counterpart Aleksander Ceferin and the heads of the other Confederations, potential mutineer clubs were told they and their players would become pariahs if the plans became reality.
      The statement said: “In light of recent media speculation about the creation of a closed European ‘Super League’ by some European clubs, FIFA and the six confederations once again would like to reiterate and strongly emphasise that such a competition would not be recognised by either FIFA or the respective confederation.

      “Any club or player involved in such a competition would as a consequence not be allowed to participate in any competition organised by FIFA or their respective confederation.”

      Liverpool and Man Utd were claimed to be part of the plans for a breakawayCredit: Getty Images
      The same would apply to domestic leagues, including the Prem, which fall under the remit of the FA and therefore Uefa.
      Some lawyers have argued that Fifa does not have the right to restrict clubs or leagues from organising their own competitions.
      But Fifa are also recognised as the sole worldwide governing body for the game, with the Confederations and national associations operating under Zurich’s control.
      The joint statement added: “As per the FIFA and confederations statutes, all competitions should be organised or recognised by the relevant body at their respective level, by FIFA at the global level and by the confederations at the continental level.
      “In this respect, the confederations recognise the FIFA Club World Cup, in its current and new format, as the only worldwide club competition while FIFA recognises the club competitions organised by the confederations as the only club continental competitions.
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      “The universal principles of sporting merit, solidarity, promotion and relegation, and subsidiarity are the foundation of the football pyramid that ensures football’s global success and are, as such, enshrined in the FIFA and confederation statutes.
      “Football has a long and successful history thanks to these principles. Participation in global and continental competitions should always be won on the pitch.”
      And in a clear and deliberate pincer movement, the European Leagues umbrella group, representing the domestic competitions, dismissed the idea of “a closed European Super League for a limited number of clubs similar to those franchise models operating in North America”.

      Chief executive Lars Christer Olsson said: “The European sports model is based on sporting merit, promotion and relegation with qualification to international club competitions via domestic league competitions.
      “We are determined to protect the existing model and how football is organised in Europe and the way the industry works for professional football.
      “All Football Associations and Professional Leagues in Europe are recognising and following FIFA and Confederation statutes, and this will guide us in our actions to stop this initiative.
      “If the initiative is put in motion, we will coordinate our measures with UEFA, FIFA and the Confederations.”

      Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts to Man Utd returning to the top of the Prem after beating Fulham 2-1 More

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      Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter, 84, rushed to hospital and is in serious but stable condition

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      FORMER FIFA president Sepp Blatter is in hospital in a ‘serious but stable’ condition.
      Reports in Switzerland claim the 84-year-old was rushed to hospital on Thursday.

      Sepp Blatter is in hospital in a serious conditionCredit: AFP or licensors

      According to Blick, Blatter is not believed to be in a life-threatening condition.
      His daughter Corrina confirmed he is getting better every day as she asked for privacy.
      She told Blick: “My father is in the hospital and is getting better every day. He needs time and rest.
      “On behalf of my family, I ask for privacy.”

      He was also hospitalised in November 2015 and July 2016 with health issues.
      Blatter became the eighth president of FIFA after he secured the role in 1998.
      But he resigned from his post as president in 2015 amid a corruption scandal.
      He was found to have made a “disloyal” £1.6million payment to Michel Platini.

      Sepp Blatter was invited to the World Cup in 2018 by Vladimir PutinCredit: AFP or licensors

      The Swiss chief is now serving a six-year ban from football over ethics violations.
      But he has always denied any wrongdoing.
      Blatter started legal proceedings against FIFA in 2019 over his watch collection that he left in his office.
      And the disgraced former president also accused the governing body of ‘moral damage’.
      He launched an attack on Fifa chiefs during an explosive interview with the BBC.
      He said: “These are my watches, give me my watches.
      “It’s important for me. I worked in the watch industry and I made my collection.
      “Forty-one years they were [at Fifa], I could have taken them home, a long time ago.
      “Why are they fighting for these watches?
      “There is no respect, there is no respect by the president [Gianni Infantino].”

      Michel Platini arrested in France over ‘corrupt bid’ for 2022 World Cup in Qatar More

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      Robert Lewandowski shows off his incredible 2020 trophy haul while lying in bed after Bayern Munich’s historic year

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      ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI is deservedly in the mood to relax – as he showed off his incredible 2020 trophy haul lying in bed.
      The Bayern Munich star, 32, enjoyed a stellar 12 months and took to social media this New Year’s Eve to demonstrate just how successful it was.

      The Bayern Munich star was in top form all year, scoring 45 goals in 41 official appearancesCredit: AFP or licensors

      Posing topless and propped up under his duvet, the Polish striker joked: “Woke up like this – version upgraded,” with silverware surrounding him after posting a similar photo with the Champions League trophy.
      Next to him on the pillow is the famous big ears, sealed in August with a 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain.
      The large gold trophy beside his left shoulder is the DFB-Pokal – the German Cup – which Lewandowski helped seal with two goals in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.
      Bayern’s other team trophies won in 2020 were the Bundesliga, the plate at the bottom of the picture, the German Supercup and the Uefa Super Cup, on the large silver trophies on the left and right respectively.

      His stunning tally of 55 goals in 47 matches in the 2019-20 season – including 34 in 31 Bundesliga matches and 15 in ten in the Champions League – saw Lewandowski pick up his fair share of individual accolades, too.
      Domestically, he was crowned Bundesliga Player of the Year (trophy next to Uefa Super Cup with brown base and golden ball) and Bundesliga top scorer (cannon trophy) as well as winning a host of German awards.
      The golden ball in the glass box is the trophy the ex-Borussia Dortmund man was presented with earlier in December for winning Tuttosport’s Golden Player Award.
      The similar trophy on the left is Lewandowski’s Globe Soccer Award picked up in Dubai after Christmas.

      Lewandowski was unsurprisingly named Uefa’s Forward of the Year, scoring the most goals in last season’s Champions League on Bayern’s way to lifting the trophy.
      That trophy is the small silver Champions League ball above his Bundesliga Player of the Year gong.
      Then come the biggest individual awards.
      Sticking with Uefa, the celebrating headless player trophy was given to their Men’s Player of the Year 2019-20.
      And last but by no means least is arguably The Best of the lot.
      Lewandowski has his right hand on Fifa’s The Best Men’s Player 2020 award as he saw off the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to officially be the No1 male footballer on the planet for this year.

      The only trophy missing for Lewandowski was the Ballon d’Or.
      He was favourite to win the prestigious honour from France Football before the organisers scrapped this year’s award due to Covid-19.
      Including various media gongs, golden boots, personal accolades and team trophies, Lewandowski’s remarkable haul stands at more than 25 different awards in 2020.
      To round it off, a return of 45 goals in 40 official matches across all competitions in the calendar year places him top of the pile in world football (top three tiers) – four ahead of Ronaldo and ten more than third-placed Romelu Lukaku.
      Not a bad 12 months for the striker who almost joined Blackburn Rovers in 2010 before the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud prevented a deal going through.

      Lewandowski was the top scorer in Bayern’s successful run in the Champions League last seasonCredit: Reuters

      Fifa president Gianni Infantino points to The Best male footballer on the planet in 2020Credit: Getty – Pool

      One of the final awards of the year for Lewandowski was the Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year gongCredit: AFP

      The only major award he did not get his hands on was the real Ballon d’Or as the vote was scrapped for 2020Credit: Instagram

      Robert Lewandowski 2020 Awards & Records

      Bundesliga winner 2019-20
      DFB-Pokal winner 2019-20
      DFL-Supercup winner 2019-20
      Champions League winner 2019-20
      Uefa Super Cup winner 2020
      The Best Fifa Men’s Player 2020
      Uefa Men’s Player of the Year 2019-20
      Champions League Forward of the Season 2019-20
      World Soccer Player of the Year 2020
      Globe Soccer Best Player of the Year 2020
      Tuttosport Golden Player 2020
      FourFourTwo Player of the Year 2020
      Footballer of the Year in Germany 2020
      VDV Bundesliga Player of the Season 2019-20
      Bundesliga Player of the Season 2019-20
      Bundesliga top scorer 2019-20
      DFB-Pokal top scorer 2019-20
      Champions League top scorer 2019-20
      Champions League top assist provider 2019-20
      Champions League Squad of the Season 2019-20
      ESM Team of the Year 2019–20
      IFFHS Men’s World Team 2020
      Bundesliga Team of the Season 2019-20
      VDV Team of the Season 2019-20
      Kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season 2019-20
      Bayern Munich Player of the Season 2019-20
      Bundesliga Player of the Month October 2020
      Goal 50 2019–20
      FIFA FIFPro World11 2020

      Bayern Munich star Robert Lewandowski delighted with FIFA award after outstanding year More

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      PSG vs Istanbul Basaksehir official set to quit football after becoming embroiled in race row

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      RACE ROW Romanian ref Sebastian Coltescu looks set to dodge a 10-game ban – by quitting football.
      Disgraced Coltescu and the rest of his colleagues were replaced by officials from Holland and Poland when the abandoned match between PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir restarted for the remaining 76 minutes in the Parc des Princes.

      Pierre Webo was fuming at the actions of Sebastian ColtescuCredit: Icon Sport – Getty

      The players from both sides, who had refused to play on after Coltescu’s touchline comments to Istanbul coach Pierre Webo, warmed up wearing “No to Racism” T-shirts.
      They then gathered round the centre-circle before the match recommenced with a free-kick for the Turkish champions.
      Uefa, who announced ‘an ethics and disciplinary inspector’ had been appointed to head the urgent investigation, were relieved to get the match completed without any other incidents.
      But it seems that any sanction European chiefs might want to impose of Coltescu will be rendered moot as he had already announced Tuesday’s game was due to be his last before retiring.

      Uefa rules confirm Coltescu would be liable to be hit with the same 10-match ban as a player for racism.
      But the fourth official had already been removed from the FIFA referee’s list for future appointments as he had signalled his intention to quit after a final Champions League match
      Coltescu told Romanian reporters he had done nothing wrong, insisting: “I just try to be good.
      “I’m not going to read any news these next few days. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not racist. At least, that’s what I hope.”

      Demba Ba was fuming with what he had the fourth official sayCredit: AFP or licensors

      PSG stars Kylian Mbappe and Neymar wore the ‘Say No To Racism’ shirts for the re-arranged gameCredit: AFP or licensors

      Uefa’s probe will be a matter of urgency.
      But Euro chiefs have also been informed of reports in the Romanian media that Coltescu has previously attempted to take his own life after sustained criticism of his performances in domestic football and recognises it has a duty of care towards him.
      Meanwhile, Uefa may have to investigate racism TOWARDS Coltescu from one of the Istanbul party after video surfaced of an unidentified member of the Basaksehir staff shouting: “In my country, Romanians are gypsies.” More

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      Agent Eric Hall represented shiftier side of football, greed was not only good, it was his business before his death

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      SHOWBIZ grasped football by the throat when Eric Hall became an agent. And the wallet, of course.
      He represented the shiftier side of our game. Proud of his roots in the East End, he was the little man’s Lew Grade who, in between puffing on a gigantic cigar, told whoppers and managed to add a few noughts to transfer fees.

      Legendary football agent Eric Hall died last month aged 73Credit: Rex Features

      For him, greed was not only good, it was his business. He had no real interest in the game. As he used to boast . . . “I ain’t interested in the clubs, I want all I can get for my players.”
      For himself, too.
      Hall died last month, aged 73. Tributes poured in from the usual suspects, ‘Razor’ Ruddock, Dennis Wise, Terry Venables. They all loved a “laff” with the little monster. To be honest, I did occasionally myself.
      In showbiz his punk attitudes — he was a mate of the Sex Pistols — went down well. He could usually guarantee big publicity. Football was an open goal for his type, though.

      His discovery was that it was rich at the top level and highly competitive, too. His was the copybook for the super-agents who have followed.
      Somehow it is appropriate that at almost the same time he died, Fifa are finally putting forward proposals to control agents.
      With hindsight, Eric was dealing in high stakes while today’s middlemen have been setting their own ever since Fifa ignominiously surrendered in trying to cut them down to size five years ago.
      The figures are breathtaking. Fifa estimate that just under half a billion pounds was spent on agents’ fees, a rise on the previous year of 19.3 per cent.

      The percentage of answers have been round up or down from their decimal points

      And notoriously, Mino Raiola is reported as having taken away £25million when he represented Juventus, the selling club, Manchester United, the buyers, and Paul Pogba, the player, in 2016.
      Raiola laughed all the way to the bank when he used about £9m of the Pogba haul to buy Al Capone’s house in Florida. But he may not be laughing for long as triple representation (acting for player, buyer and seller) will no longer be allowed if new rules are passed.
      Fifa have been smarting for years. They have had to sit and watch as agents have ripped away their control of the game.
      Now they are prepared to tackle their tormentors and resume as the regulating authority of the game.

      Modern super agent Mino Raiola reeled in millions through client Paul PogbaCredit: Getty – Contributor

      Raiola represented Pogba, United and Juventus but new rules could prevent a repeatCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Fifa is far, far from perfect. It has crippled itself through corruption in the executive committee that voted for Russia and Qatar as World Cup venues.
      Still, they are all we have and if their latest proposals are the basis of new regulations then the boardrooms of every big club will stand and applaud.
      Fifa aim to cap the amount agents can earn and also make them pass ‘character tests’ and be subject to a code of conduct which will include the fact that they will ‘always adhere to the truth’.
      Well, that might be the hardest rule of all to enforce!

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      Huge offside overhaul backed by Fifa which would mean player onside if any part of body overlaps with last defender

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      FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has thrown his weight behind Arsene Wenger’s planned reform of the offside laws.
      SunSport revealed earlier this year how former Arsenal manager Wenger, now head of Fifa’s global development department, wants a radical change to stop ‘marginal offsides’.

      Fifa boss Gianni Infantino is ready to adopt Arsene Wenger’s offside changesCredit: PA:Press Association

      Under the Wenger plan, set to be on the table at the annual business meeting of the law-making body Ifab on December 16, an attacking player will be onside if any part of his body overlaps the last defender.
      Infantino said: “The offside rule has evolved over the last 100 years.
      “Arsene and our head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, are debating if they can make it better and foster offensive football.
      “The question is whether we should give more advantage to the attacking player, which is always how the rule has evolved.

      “That would mean no more ‘marginal offsides’, as we are seeing with VAR, because the player would really have to be in front of the defender.
      “I know that attackers and midfielders are very favourable to this, while goalkeepers and defenders have more worries.
      “Ifab will be dealing with this later this month.” 
      Controversial decisions – such as the one to rule out Patrick Bamford’s effort against Crystal Palace after he pointed where he wanted the ball – may no longer be scrubbed off.

      Patrick Bamford’s goal against Crystal Palace was ruled out for offside by VARCredit: supplied by Pixel8000

      The Leeds forward’s strike was ruled out last month in another VAR ‘armpit offside’ and pundit Robbie Savage branded it the worst call ‘in the history of football’.
      In October, Ifab said it was ready to green-light concussion substitute trials in January.
      And the issue has returned to the spotlight after Raul Jimenez and David Luiz’s horror clash left the Mexican needing surgery on a fractured skull.

      Arsene Wenger says competition is real and that he’s realised he was a monster More