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      Fifa confirms plans to use ‘robo linesmen’ at World Cup 2022 to make instant offside calls

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      FIFA has confirmed it wants ‘robo linesmen’ to call offsides at next year’s World Cup finals.
      And world chiefs are keen to roll out Arsene Wenger’s new ‘daylight’ offside idea in a bid to guarantee more goals.

      Fifa wants ‘robo linesmen’ to call offsides at next year’s World Cup finalsCredit: PA:Empics Sport

      Fifa president Gianni Infantino revealed he is ploughing full steam ahead with ‘semi automatic offsides’.
      That sees the use of artificial intelligence ‘skeletal technology’ to give assistant referees instant signals of an attacker transgressing.
      Infantino said: “We tested it at two games in the Club World Cup in January and the tests were very positive. 
      “VAR can take too long on occasions, although it brings justice, but with this technology we will get instant decisions.”

      Fifa refs’ chief, former Italian whistler Pierluigi Collina, confirmed the instantaneous decisions will still require VAR to check if a player adjudged offside off the ball interfered with play.
      Collina, though, added: “We are running trials as fast as possible with the objective to implement this in the 2022 World Cup.
      “It is clear that it reduces the time needed to decide on an offside situation, even though it detects even more marginal offsides than VAR can at present.”
      But a bigger change will be the adoption of the Wenger proposal, revealed by SunSport last year.

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      Under the change envisaged by the former Arsenal boss, a player will be deemed onside if any goalscoring part of his body overlaps the last defender.
      Infantino said: “Our aim is always to see if we can make football more attractive without changing the nature of the game.
      “Arsene made a presentation to us and told us that, based on the statistics in the Premier League, this would halve the number of offsides in a game, because the marginal decisions would not be offside any more.
      “This will have for us to look at the impact but we want to make football even more attacking and passionate.”

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      Fifa trying to persuade South American chiefs to play World Cup qualifiers in Europe so Prem clubs can release players

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      FIFA is trying to persuade South American chiefs to switch some of this month’s World Cup qualifiers to EUROPE – so that Premier League clubs can release their players.
      Liverpool chief Jurgen Klopp has confirmed he will block stars from travelling to their international fixtures.

      Klopp had threatened to ban some of his players – including his strong Brazilian contingent – from going on international duty owing to quarantine rulesCredit: Getty – Pool

      Big names such as Alisson, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita are all due to be banned.
      Klopp will not allow his players to go away as they face ten days on strict hotel quarantine on their return from countries on the UK Government ‘red list’.
      Portugal, all of South America and much of Africa is on the list.
      Manchester City are expected to take the same stance with Ederson, Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero.

      Manchester United will also be able to keep Edinson Cavani and Alex Telles at Old Trafford rather than jet back home, with Portugal ace Bruno Fernandes set to be blocked.
      Fifa confirmed last month it would not be enforcing normal international player release regulations where Covid restrictions including quarantine would apply.
      Furious South American chiefs have mooted postponing this month’s fixtures, which include the huge clash between Brazil and Argentina and Uruguay’s scheduled visit to Argentina.
      But the South American qualification tournament is already four matches behind schedule as a direct result of the pandemic.

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      Man City are another side believed to be considering pulling some players off international dutyCredit: Reuters

      This summer will also welcome the delayed 2020 Copa America.
      Fifa have suggested a way round the issue would be to instead play the games involving the bigger nations in Europe, where the majority of players are based.
      With all games due to be played behind closed doors in any event, world chiefs have argued traditional home advantage has already disappeared.
      However, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador all benefit from the high altitude of their capital cities.
      Switching the games to Budapest, Bucharest and Athens, as Uefa have already done for Champions League and Europa League games this season, would allow European-based players to join up with their squad-mates.
      Such a move would no longer allow Premier League bosses to block their players from taking part
      Despite the proposed move, players involved would have to quarantine at home apart from training sessions and matches after their returns.
      So far, South American bosses have been resistant to the idea.
      But the pressure from Fifa calling for a U-turn is growing and could force them to back down to ensure they can put out their strongest sides.

      Jurgen Klopp reveals Liverpool will ban their stars going on international duty if they have to quarantine after More

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      Fifa planted ‘the law of the jungle’ trees they now wish to bulldoze with new regulations for agents

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      FIFA describe the current power of football agents as “the law of the jungle” with “conflicts of interests rife and exorbitant ‘commissions’ being earned left and right”.
      Bearing in mind football agents earned £470million in fees in 2019 — four times more than in 2015 — it’s not hard to see how they have come to this conclusion.

      Daniel Kinahan is entering the world of football as an agent

      The irony is that it was Fifa who planted the trees that they now wish to bulldoze to the ground, with what look like suitable new regulations for agents.
      This includes caps on fees, more transparency, a licensing system, avoiding conflicts of interest and maintaining high professional standards, all of which should benefit everyone involved in the game.
      But hold on there…
      The rewards of being an agent are so remunerative that others are emerging from the darkness wanting a piece of the action — and I wonder if any kind of reforms will hold them back.

      Alleged drugs chieftain Daniel Kinahan is expanding his sporting management operation MTK Global from boxing into football.
      Kinahan’s record persuaded Irish police in the High Court to name the 43-year-old as a drugs lord and crime boss in his native Dublin.
      “I’ve no criminal record anywhere in the world,” he pleads. But then neither does Vladimir Putin.
      World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury vouched what a nice chap Kinahan is — and no doubt he is very good to his mother.

      Kinahan has previously worked with Tyson FuryCredit: Reuters
      But that is a long, long way from a recommendation that he should glide unchallenged into football.
      The British Boxing Board of Control don’t like his alleged links with crime but say they can do nothing about it.
      They don’t explain why not — after all, they are the governing body for boxing. And what’s the point of having ‘Control’ in your title if you have none?
      So, of all the reforms proposed by Fifa, “maintaining high professional standards” will be the most difficult to translate into an actual regulation. But it is perhaps the most important.
      Representing football players and their careers should only be done by people who protect the integrity of football, prevent abuses and who genuinely have their players’ best interests at heart.
      And as administrators of the game, we need to ensure Fifa award licenses to agents who can and will do this.
      I understand and respect the fact players need to get as much from a short career as they possibly can.
      They are professionals who hold all the hopes and fortunes of our football clubs in their hands, and they deserve every penny they get.
      So I do worry about the influence and characters of the people who want to get the closest to them.
      If this Irishman’s plans do not put a rocket up the underpants of Fifa-dom, it should.

      And where are the PFA in all this? Are they not concerned about having characters like this representing the players? Are they not lobbying to prevent such types getting licenses to represent their union members?
      On the subject of the PFA, it’s hard to understand what role they play in football any more.
      They represent some of the most influential people on the planet (step forward Marcus Rashford) and their union members are keeping the whole country from going off their rockers during lockdown by continuing to play football.
      The PFA should have prestige, power, influence and a mandate for good. They should be driving the discussion on diversity and inclusion in the country by using the power of football to drive positive social change. Their values should represent the high ones set by the players themselves.
      They should be leading on every issue that affects the players, from education, financial planning, social media abuse, dementia, mental health and . . . who can and should represent them.
      When, oh when, is their reform going to happen?

      Eddie Hearn says he was ‘a little surprised’ by the uproar over Daniel Kinahan being praised by Tyson Fury More

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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.
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      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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      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.”

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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].”

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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