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      Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira could be offered immediate return to Premier League after Crystal Palace sacking

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      ARSENAL legend Patrick Vieira could soon be offered a route back into Premier League management, according to reports. The Frenchman was sacked earlier this month at Crystal Palace after a 12-game winless run saw the Eagles sucked into the relegation battle.
      Patrick Vieira both replaced and then was replaced by Roy Hodgson in the Palace hot seatCredit: Getty
      The dismissal was seen as a surprise by some after Palace enjoyed an impressive opening season under Vieira where they finished 12th.
      But struggles going forward left the goal-shy side struggling for points after a strong start.
      However Vieira’s stock remains high and Leeds might be the 46-year-old’s next destination, according to TalkSPORT.
      They report that Vieira was on the Yorkshire club’s shortlist when they gave Jesse Marsch the boot in February.
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      The American’s eventual replacement, Javi Gracia, is only contracted until the end of the season so Leeds could have a decision to make after their campaign.
      And their ability to attract Vieira could depend on if they survive the relegation dog fight.
      Vieira is believed to be keen to return to the dugout as soon as possible and reportedly judged his sacking to be “harsh”.
      But there is no guarantee of Leeds moving on from Gracia, especially given his encouraging start to life at Elland Road.
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      The Spaniard has won two and drawn one of his four league games in charge so far with the only defeat coming away at Chelsea.
      Leeds and Crystal Palace are joined in the relegation battle by Southampton, Bournemouth, West Ham, Leicester, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Wolves, all of whom are separated by just four points ahead of the Premier League’s return. More

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      How Premier League’s new ownership rule will affect Man Utd bidders following concerns over Qatar’s Sheikh Jassim

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      THE Prem’s clampdown on rogue owners has been dismissed as “toothless” by angry human rights groups who have demanded action against Newcastle’s Saudi overlords.Club chiefs voted in favour of new rules that will see a Government banned list used to determine who can own clubs.
      Sheikh Jassim is looking to become the next owner of Man UnitedCredit: AFP
      Further measures that would have seen the automatic expulsion of Roman Abramovich when he was sanctioned by the Government last year were approved by the 20 club chiefs.
      But the Saudi ownership of Newcastle or Qatari Sheikh Jassim’s potential takeover of Manchester United, are not affected.
      And the new rules, which also include an extension of the criminal ownership “disqualifying” offences to include “violence, corruption, fraud, tax evasion and hate crimes” were slammed by human rights organisations.
      Jeed Basyouni, of Middle East group Reprieve, stormed: “Where was this resolve to keep the world’s worst human rights abusers out of the Premier League when Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund took over Newcastle United? 
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      “Since that takeover in October 2021, the Saudi regime has executed more than 160 people, including scores of people whose only crime was to demand fundamental freedoms. 
      “If that isn’t counted as a disqualifying human rights abuse, then this new rule has no teeth and is just for show.” 
      Basyouni pointed to the ongoing court case in the USA between the PGA Tour and Saudi-owned LIV Golf.
      Saudi’s Public Investment Fund and Toon chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan are arguing their status as an “instrument” and minister of the Gulf state government mean they should not be forced to give evidence.
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      He added: “According to court documents, the chairman of the club is ‘a sitting minister of the Saudi government’. It is hard to see how he can continue as chairman under the new rules.”
      Amnesty International said: “It’s a step in the right direction that human rights and hate crimes are now being considered.
      “But it will make little difference unless powerful individuals linked to serious human rights violations overseas are definitively barred from taking control of Premier League clubs and using them for state sportswashing.”
      Prem clubs “unanimously” agreed they will use the Government’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations, a list of rogue individuals including Afghani warlords, the Taliban and Vladimir Putin.
      Amnesty’s Peter Frankental added: “Merely checking whether people are on an existing UK sanctions list is a very low bar.
      “The sanctions list reflects the Government’s foreign policy priorities rather than any objective assessment of human rights issues.
      “We proposed a detailed new human rights-compliant test that would prohibit football ownership where individuals were complicit in acts of torture, slavery, human trafficking and war crimes.
      “The acid test of whether this new rule is fit for purpose is whether it would involve serious efforts to assess the involvement of prospective buyers in human rights abuses.
      “English football still risks becoming the sportswashing toy of authoritarian figures around the world.
      Newcastle’s owners have come under fire from human rights groups since acquiring the club in 2021Credit: Getty
      “The Premier League needs to adopt an active screening process and not just outsource its due diligence to others.”
      Among other new elements to the owners’ and directors’ test, approved “with immediate effect”, League chiefs agreed to publish the names of any individuals on a new banned list, updated every season.
      The Prem Board will have the power to prevent any new directors or owners being appointed if they are under investigation for a “disqualifying event”. 
      And potential owners will also face an obligation to meet a published list of “Acquisition Materials” that must be provided to the League as part of the due diligence process.

      Any individual with a 25 per cent stake in one club will be forbidden to hold more than 9.9 per cent of another Prem outfit, with the threshold for what is deemed “control” of a club reduced from the current 30 per cent.
      Club chief executives will also have to comply, while League chiefs can also  boot out directors involved in insolvency actions or banned from bodies including the Charity Commission. More

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      I wanted to be a legend at Man Utd but I was too affected by Van Gaal… I’m mad at myself

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      MORGAN SCHNEIDERLIN has revealed his regret over his Manchester United career as he admitted he was “too affected” by former manager Louis van Gaal.The midfielder now plays his football in Australia for Western Sydney Wanderers on loan from Nice.
      Morgan Schneiderlin (right), sat alongside Henrikh Mkhitaryan (left) and Marcos Rojo, admitted all was not right at UnitedCredit: Getty
      He had long been tipped for a brilliant career after impressing during a promising seven-year stay at Southampton where he enjoyed his “happiest years”.
      But a dream move to Manchester United would fall apart within 18 months and his career has not fully recovered since.
      Now 32, Schneiderlin has opened up on where it went wrong.
      He told the Mail: “I know this time at Manchester United affected me for the longest period in my career.
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      “I was so frustrated I couldn’t give what I wanted. I had a period after at Everton when I didn’t lose the fire, but I lost a little bit inside me, I am not going to hide that. I should have managed it better.
      “You work so hard to be at the top, top level. A lot of people were telling me I would be one of the top players in the world. I had the gut feeling that I had everything to be a top player in the world. Not being able to reach that level will stay with me forever.”
      The Frenchman said he partially blamed Van Gaal, who was his boss during his first season at Old Trafford before he was replaced by Jose Mourinho.
      Schneiderlin added: “I was too affected by what [manager] Louis van Gaal was asking from me. I lost me as a player. It was not me on the field.
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      “It was not just the manager’s fault, it was my fault, too. My role was not the one I had at Southampton. I felt restricted in my game. I felt they wanted to change things in me. I was not thinking as me, I was thinking about what pleased the coach.
      “When you reach that point, every pass you make, everything you do, you don’t play free. Something stopped me from being who I was. I wanted so much to do well and it is one of the most frustrating things ever.”
      Schneiderlin’s arrival in Manchester came in the first few post-Sir Alex Ferguson years as the football giant struggled to find their footing after their legendary manager’s departure.
      The midfielder would then move to Everton in 2017 where he did briefly recover form under Ronald Koeman before eventually moving to Nice in 2020. More

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      Fuming Chelsea ‘looking to sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Inter Milan’ in ‘anti-Barcelona’ transfer

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      CHELSEA are reportedly plotting to offload Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Inter Milan and in doing so blocking a return to Barcelona. The striker is out of favour at Stamford Bridge after his summer transfer unravelled within months of his arrival.
      Aubameyang has three goals in 18 appearances in all competitions this season for ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Reports in recent days have indicated that the 33-year-old is keen on moving back to Barcelona after his brief but successful spell at the Nou Camp last year.
      But Fichajes report that Chelsea have “anger” towards Aubameyang for flirting with Barcelona and are unhappy over the “disaster” that the signing has become.
      The outlet adds that Inter Milan are interested in the star but he is holding out while the option of Barca remains possible.
      The Catalan club are reported to still be keen on him after his stunning mid-season impact last year when he scored 11 goals in 17 league games.
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      The former Gabon international was in Spain before the international break as he joined former teammates to openly celebrate Barcelona’s crucial El Clasico win over Real Madrid earlier this month.
      It was the latest sign of the breakdown in relationship between the player and the club.
      Aubameyang’s Blues career had initially shown promise as he scored a blinding goal away at Crystal Palace and netted in both Champions League group stage games against AC Milan.
      But the forward fell rapidly from the pecking order despite goalscoring being a consistent issue for Graham Potter’s side.
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      Aubameyang could now be a part of the group of first-team stars that Chelsea look to get rid of this summer.
      Worrying financial results has made clear the club need to balance the books after this season’s astonishing transfer spree. More

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      Brand new Premier League show SCRAPPED as negotiations break down after months of talks

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      PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have scrapped plans for a top-flight version of “Drive to Survive” – after failing to reach an agreement with Netflix.Discussions with the streaming giant have been going on for months around a Prem-backed documentary service, with the company offering £5m per year for a three-season deal.
      A Drive To Survive-style Netflix show was set to be agreed for the Premier LeagueCredit: Reuters
      But that was nowhere near enough for top-flight clubs, especially as it would have seen dressing room access to all 20 clubs.
      The Netflix show’s behind-the-scenes footage would have been similar to Drive To Survive for F1, tennis’ Break Point and Full Swing, the golf equivalent.
      Box To Box Films, who oversaw Drive To Survive as well as the Steven Gerrard Make Us Dream documentary and boxing’s The Kings show, would have produced the football docuseries.
      Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Leeds and Sunderland have all had Netflix or Amazon camera crews following them in recent years and the new access has proven a big hit with fans.
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      With the Prem’s two main broadcasters Sky Sports and BT Sport also unhappy about an outside organisation muscling in on their territory, club chiefs canned the idea at today’s Premier League shareholder meeting.
      In a four-hour meeting, club bosses agreed the principle of a ban on shirt-front gambling sponsorship, to come into effect for the 2026-27 seasons.
      That is likely to be confirmed in the coming weeks, although sleeve advertising from gambling companies will continue.
      A clampdown on rogue owners was also agreed – including a formal human rights test for the first time.
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      Clubs will also vote on upgrades to VAR technology for next season, likely to bring the introduction of limb-tracking cameras as used by Uefa and Fifa, at the annual meeting in June.
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      Premier League referees will come into line with International FA Board demands to stop time-wasting, with extra added time expected to add an additional two or three minutes to matches next term.
      But there has been no softening of the opposition to ending the Saturday 3pm TV “blackout”, despite streamer DAZN suggesting it would push for a reversal to allow it to screen all 1,656 EFL games if it wins the next rights deal.
      There are, however, signs that an agreement over a new funding arrangement for the EFL, which is demanding 25 per cent of the Prem’s broadcast income, is in sight.
      Clubs were told that both sides have moved from their initial positions in discussions, although there will be a variation in the terms of parachute payments to relegated clubs, rather than the ending of the cash hand-out demanded by the EFL.
      Amazon cameras followed Arsenal for the 2021-22 seasonCredit: Amazon Prime
      Netflix have a host of sports documentaries alreadyCredit: AFP More

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      Man Utd debt rises by £60m to staggering £535.7m despite club making profit as Glazers push for £6bn takeover deal

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      MANCHESTER UNITED’S debt has risen by a staggering £60million as the Glazers push to sell the club.The club have released its financial reports for the second quarter in the period that ended on the final day of last year.
      Man Utd’s US debt has risen by £60mCredit: Getty
      And it is not all positive as US debt has increased by £60m to an eye-watering £535.7m.
      The Mail report that Man Utd chiefs are not panicked by this and that the jump in amount has been caused by a shift in the exchange rate between the pound and the dollar.
      The figures published show that the club has overall made a £6.3m profit across the period despite a 10 per cent decrease in turnover.
      The lesser amount has been caused by the World Cup break where Man Utd were not in action and by the club having gained less money as they’re competing in the Europa League and not the Champions League.
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      However, there has been a 22 per cent rise in commercial revenue caused by sponsorship, sale of tickets and hospitality.
      The Glazers have also not pocketed a dividend payment after they were slammed for taking home £11m in June.
      United’s cash reserves are at £30m and they still have £100m available from a £300m loan.
      Reports suggest that £200m will be paid back to even out the credit facility by the end of the season and that the next quarter could be a low point financially.
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      The Glazers are looking to potentially sell the club for £6billion.
      Talks are ongoing with leading candidates Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
      It remains unclear whether the Glazers will sell, with some reports suggesting there is a split amongst the family over whether to cash in on Man Utd or not. More

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      Premier League owners will be DISQUALIFIED for human rights abuses as clubs agree to toughen up rules

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      PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have agreed a clampdown on rogue owners – including a formal human rights test for the first time.Measures that would have seen the automatic expulsion of Roman Abramovich when he was placed on the Government sanctions list last year were formally approved by the 20 club chiefs at their latest “shareholder” meeting.
      The Premier League announced new rules have been approved following a Shareholders’ meeting on ThursdayCredit: Alamy
      The new rules, to start immediately, will also see the Government’s Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations used as an “objective” test on potential owners.
      That would have NO impact on the Saudi ownership of Newcastle or Qatari Sheikh Jassim’s potential takeover of Manchester United, although all current owners and directors would be assessed on an annual basis.
      But in a significant move, club bosses did agree to extend the list of criminal offences which will result in disqualification.
      And League leaders have agreed to publish the names of any individuals on a new banned list, updated every season.
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      A Prem spokesman said: “This will include offences involving violence, corruption, fraud, tax evasion and hate crimes.”
      In further moves, the League’s ruling Board will now have the power to prevent any new directors or owners from being appointed if they are under investigation for a “disqualifying event”. 
      Potential owners will also face an obligation to meet a published list of “Acquisition Materials” that must be provided to the League as part of the due diligence process. 
      The clampdown was part of a series of alterations to the current owners and directors test, ahead of the arrival of the Government’s proposed Independent Football Regulator.
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      Those measures, agreed “unanimously” by club bosses, will also see any individual with a 25 per cent stake in one club forbidden to hold more than 9.9 per cent of another Prem outfit, reducing the threshold for what is deemed “control” of a club from the current 30 per cent.
      It also sees club chief executives brought under the remit of the test, along with all senior club officials who sign critical regulatory documents.
      League chiefs will also have broader powers to take action against directors involved in insolvency actions.
      Anyone banned by the Charity Commission, FCA, Prudential Conduct Authority, HMRC and Gambling Commission will now also face the boot from Prem club roles. More

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      Under-fire Chelsea boss Graham Potter is fourth-best paid manager in the world ahead of Ancelotti as top 12 are revealed

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      CHELSEA manager Graham Potter is the fourth-best paid manager in the world, ahead of Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti. The under-fire Blues boss even earns more than his predecessor Thomas Tuchel in his new job in charge of Bayern Munich.
      Graham Potter is the fourth-best paid manager in the worldCredit: Getty
      Carlo Ancelotti does not make the top five earnersCredit: Reuters
      The figures from French outlet L’Equipe reveal that three of the top four gaffers on the highest salaries work in the Premier League.
      Potter reportedly pockets a whopping £11,917,404 per year.
      By crunching the numbers, it works out that he takes home £993,117 every month, which equates to £229,180-a-week.
      Potter has had a difficult start to life as Chelsea manager with his team sitting in tenth place in the league.
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      In his 30 games in charge of the club, they have won 12, drawn eight and lost ten.
      Only Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp are on more than Potter.

      Simeone tops the list, taking home an eye-watering £29.8million-a-year.
      Guardiola comes in second on £19.7m and Klopp is third, earning £15.7m.
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      After Potter in fourth is Juventus boss Max Allegri on £11.3m per year.
      Tuchel completes the top six after recently signing a lucrative deal at Bayern where he will supposedly take home £10.5m every 12 months.
      Surprisingly, Champions League winner Carlo Ancelotti is seventh with his wage of £9.6m.
      In eighth and ninth you find Simone Inzaghi of Inter Milan and Roma’s Jose Mourinho.
      Completing the list of world football’s highest paid managers are three shock names.
      Xabi Alonso makes the cut despite his role at German outfit Bayer Leverkusen being his first senior job in management.
      Staying in the Bundesliga, Wolfsburg’s Niko Kovac comes in eleventh place.
      Just making the cut is Barcelona boss Xavi. He earns £3.4m every year and is not higher due to him supposedly accepting a wage cut to help the club balance the books as they battle ongoing financial troubles.
      Diego Simeone is the best paid coach in football at Atletico MadridCredit: Getty More