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      Referee ‘banned’ from officiating Liverpool games for an entire year to make return in Wolves clash on Saturday

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      A REFEREE who was effectively banned from officiating Liverpool games for an entire year will return for their match at Wolves on Saturday.Arne Slot’s men have made a flying start to the season, winning four of their five matches and conceding just one goal.Liverpool will be reunited with a familiar face against Wolves on SaturdayCredit: AlamySpirits are high following Jurgen Klopp’s departure.And Anfield fans are quietly hopeful of putting in a strong title challenge should Liverpool’s form continue.The league’s second-place team visit basement boys Wolves this weekend.Gary O’Neil’s men are yet to win a game and have taken just one point while shipping 24 goals.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHowever, Liverpool are set for an awkward reunion with a referee who hasn’t laid eyes on them in 12 months.Darren England will take charge of Saturday’s clash at Molineux.And it will see him officiate a Liverpool match for the first time since last October’s infamous VAR error in the Reds’ 2-1 defeat to Tottenham.Referee’s body PGMOL admitted there had been a “significant” human error after Luis Diaz had a goal ruled out for offside when he was clearly onside.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSEngland was on VAR duty and had been tasked with drawing up the lines.But he accidentally gave a “check complete” to back up the original decision after forgetting what it was.Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Bold £84m Bid for NantesDarren England will be the fourth official after last season’s VAR blunderCredit: AlamyHe wrongly disallowed Luis Diaz’s goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat at SpursCredit: GettyReplays showed Diaz was clearly onside after England drew up the VAR linesAnd by the time England realised his error, the game had already continued — meaning the match could not be brought back for Diaz’s goal to stand.It took seven months from that game before England was given another VAR role, despite him being back on referee duties just weeks after the incident.And he will now take part in a Liverpool match for the first time in a year after being named as the fourth official against Wolves.Anthony Taylor will be the referee for the game.While Michael Salisbury is in charge of VAR in a move which is sure to put Liverpool fans at ease.After England’s mistake last year, ref chiefs issued a grovelling apology to the Reds.A statement said: “PGMOL acknowledge a significant human error occurred during the first half of Tottenham Hotspur Liverpool.”The goal by Luis Diaz was disallowed for offside by the on-field team of match officials.”This was a clear and obvious factual error and should have resulted in the goal being awarded through VAR intervention, however, the VAR failed to intervene.READ MORE SUN STORIES”PGMOL will conduct a full review into the circumstances which led to the error.”PGMOL will immediately be contacting Liverpool at the conclusion of the fixture to acknowledge the error.” More

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      Premier League admit state of the art new technology may not be ready until NEXT YEAR after series of concerns

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      PREM chiefs have admitted the new state of the art offside technology system may now not be ready until after CHRISTMAS.Club bosses voted to approve the use of Semi Automated Offside Technology – with special computer-aided tracking to pinpoint the exact position of players – at their summer meeting, with a promise that it would be ready by the end of the November international break.The new system is being extensively trialledSemi-automated offside technology was used at the 2022 World CupCredit: FIFAThe new system is designed to end the issues caused by PGMOL operators at Stockley Park drawing the offside “lines”.Last week, Leicester manager Steve Cooper accused Stockley Park of an “an awful human error” after a VAR intervention saw an offside call against Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta overturned.Cooper claimed the lines had been drawn from the wrong TV frame – emphatically denied by PGMOL in a meeting with the club.Mateta was ruled onside because of the agreed 5cm “tolerance” zone for close decisions and it is likely that, with no such margin of error when SAOT is used, the on-field ruling would have been confirmed.READ MORE TOP STORIESBut at their first “shareholders” meeting of the season yesterday, the 20 clubs were told by Prem chief football officer Tony Scholes that they should “manage their expectations” over when the new technology would be ready.The Prem opted against using long-term tech partners HawkEye in favour of US-based Genius Sports but that has meant extensive trials being required.In his presentation to the clubs, which also saw Scholes make a strong defence of referees and their decisions this season and question the behaviour of players and managers, he said League bosses were willing to wait until they had proof the system was foolproof before recommending its introduction.At this stage, despite lengthy trials, there are still some concerns that need to be addressed and it was suggested that deploying the technology might have to be delayed until the “winter”, potentially after the turn of the year.Most read in FootballThe Prem only want the system to come in when it’s foolproofFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSScholes, though, did push home the message that PGMOL HAS upped its game so far this season.Despite a series of moans from clubs, Scholes confirmed that only one incorrect Key Match Incident decision which was subject to VAR oversight had been awarded – Bournemouth’s wrongly chalked off “winner” against Newcastle.Gary Lineker makes bold prediction on Match of the Day that his ‘good idea’ to fix VAR will eventually come inBut he did point out that “participant behaviour” – including dissent from players and managers – was an issue that has not helped the situation.New time-keeping rules have reduced the average amount of added time per match by around 100 seconds while the average VAR check is now down from 44 seconds to 25 seconds. More

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      Watford denied shock Carabao Cup equaliser against Man City as goal chalked off despite ‘Haaland doing it every week’

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      FANS were left fuming after Watford were controversially denied an equaliser against Manchester City.The Hornets got off to a disaster start in their third round Carabao Cup tie away at the Premier League champions as Jeremy Doku scored after just five minutes.Kwadwo Baah eased Kaden Braithwaite aside before scoring but a foul was givenCredit: PAFans claimed Erling Haaland gets away with the same move all the timeCredit: ReutersBut Watford thought they had hit back immediately after Kwadwo Baah found the back of the net from a tight angle.The striker bundled his way into the box and barged 16-year-old debutant Kaden Braithwaite to the floor before finishing into the corner.But the goal was chalked off by referee David Webb for a foul to leave fans raging.One supporter said: “That’s incredibly harsh. Erling Haaland does this every week.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnother added: “Doesn’t Haaland do this on a regular during matches and gets praised for showing ‘good strength’?More reacted: “I just don’t see a foul here. I’ve watched it four times in a row. Gutted for the lad, what a moment it would have been for him.”Even Specsavers chimed in and commented: “Here looking for customers.”The disallowed goal acted as a wake up call for City and they eventually extended their lead via a Matheus Nunes strike.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSA goal from Tom Ince set up a nervy finish – but Pep Guardiola’s side held on to win 2-1.Watford, who are managed by ex-Manchester United star Tom Cleverly, currently sit eighth in the Championship.’It’s like throwing a punch’ | Why Haaland could be banned for launching ball at Gabriel’s headWe thought games like this had been lostSunSport’s NEIL CUSTIS hails chaotic Man City vs Arsenal clash as a return to the Premier League of yesteryear.FOR two teams who have done so much to take the game forward this really was a tremendous throwback.We thought these games had been lost.Real feisty encounters between two rivals fighting for the top honours.How we used to love it when Manchester United came up against Arsenal when Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were in charge.When Roy Keane, watching on as a TV pundit here, used to clash with Patrick Vieira before a ball had been kicked.The Manchester derbies used to have it as well.In fact that were clashes everywhere throughout the league.Since then the emphasis on the beauty of the game, the tactical side, the ball playing centre-back, the false nine, the inverted full-backs have all come to the fore.But English football still loves something like this.Compare this to the two matches between this pair last season not least the really STALEmate here.Then along comes a blood and thunder classic.A match to set the tone for what we all hope will be a real title tussle to the end but with that added edge.While these two managers maybe good friends who knows we may even get the niggly comments in pre-match press conferences about each others teams.We knew we were in for something a bit different as straight from the kick-off Kai Havertz charged into Rodri and left him flawed.The first players’ melee ensued.Foreign coaches often scratch their heads as to why English crowds love stuff like this.Love a thumping tackle, or a bit of a barney.How that as much as any sweeping move gets them to the edge of their seats and there was plenty of that here.Jurrien Timber was employed on the right to combat the pace of Jeremy Doku.SO Doku just charged into him and floored him.Rodri was clearly seen as one of City’s key men so at a corner Thoams Party followed up Havertz’s early example and caught him behind the knee, and the player hobbled out of the action.Gabriel and Erling Haaland was a classic battle between a big centre-forward and an Arsenal centre-back who performs like greats of old like Tony Adams and Martin Keown.A player for whom a thumping tackle warrants the same high fives or celebrations as something defining at the other end of the pitch.Haaland did brilliantly to pull away William Saliba and slip behind Gabriel for his goal.Gabriel will have been fuming having kept the big Norwegian so quiet last season.He barely gave him another sniff of goal, barring a second-half header saved, as he stuck to him, the pair often pushing and shoving one another as Haaland became frustrated with his shadow.Leandro Trossard did not get his second yellow and therefore the only red for the actual barge on Bernardo as everyone first thought but for kicking the ball away after that.Both technical areas were a flurry of arm waving and shouting from the two managers.The staff on the two benches started having a go at each other and Guardiola had to intervene.In the press box one of Arsenal’s technical staff was losing it.As Arsenal players went down with cramp and played for time the boos went up.The fourth official was getting in the ear.Michael Oliver was being told he was not fit to referee by a large section of the home support.When Arsenal fans were spotted in the posh seats having been in the expensive tunnel club City fans shouted and pointed to try and get them ejected.Right at the end after City’s dramatic equaliser and the game restarted Haaland barged into Partey and every player on the pitch got involved even the two goalkeepers.At the final whistle the ref was harrangued.On the touchline Guardiola and Arteta hugged. More

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      New footage shows exactly why Myles Lewis-Skelly, 17, picked up yellow card half-an-hour BEFORE making Arsenal debut

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      SHOCK new footage has revealed the “dark arts” that led to Myles Lewis-Skelly being booked before making his debut.The 17-year-old was given a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver as he warmed-up on the sidelines during Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.Myles Lewis-Skelly was booked after running along the goal line and seemingly communicating with David RayaCredit: GettyRaya the dropped to the floor injured and received treatmentCredit: APMikel Arteta used the break in play to deliver a team talkCredit: PAWith the Gunners leading 2-1 after 65 minutes, Lewis-Skelly left the dugout for a jog alongside other substitutes.The ball then goes out of play for an Arsenal goal-kick as David Raya takes his time with the restart.He eventually places the ball back on the pitch and then falls to the ground, claiming an injury.But shock footage obtained by The Mail shows Lewis-Skelly walk away from the sidelines and trot down along the goal line.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe appears to communicate with Raya, who then drops to the floor hurt.As the goalkeeper receives treatment, Mikel Arteta delivered a team talk to his players.Meanwhile, Lewis-Skelly went into the referee’s book, seemingly over his chat with Raya.The PGMOL confirmed he was carded for “showing a lack of respect for the game” under gamesmanship rules.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSIncredibly, the booking for Lewis-Skelly came 30 minutes BEFORE entering the pitch for his debut.On Raya hitting the deck, Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “There is no doubt that is a tactic.”Roy Keane tells Mikel Arteta ‘show a bit of class’ after Arsenal manager’s comments as he weighs in on red card decision Arsenal’s “dark arts” left Man City raging, with tensions boiling over at full-time.Erling Haaland threw a ball at Gabriel’s head after John Stones’ late equaliser and he then told Arteta to “stay humble” as the players shook hands.He also appeared to exchange words with Lewis-Skelly.City players voiced their displeasure at Arsenal’s tactics after the final whistle, with Bernardo Silva saying: “There was only one team that came to play football.”The other came to play to the limits of what was possible to do and allowed by the referee, unfortunately.”I’m glad we always enter the pitch to try to win every match.”Stones added: “They get the keeper on the floor so they can get some information on to the pitch. We had to control our emotions during those tough times.”I wouldn’t say they have mastered it but they have done it for a few years now so we knew to expect that.READ MORE SUN STORIES”You can call it clever or dirty, whichever way you want to put it, but they break up the game which upsets the rhythm.So far this season, Arsenal have wasted the most time on average when the game stops for corners, free-kicks, goal kicks, kick-offs, penalties, drop balls and throw-ins.Arsenal ratings vs Man CityTEN-MAN Arsenal came desperately close to beating Man City.Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s men, John Stones popped up in the 98th minute to score an equaliser with the match ending 2-2.Here’s how the players rated…DAVID RAYA – 9Well beaten for Haaland’s opener but continued his impressive start to the season with some super second half stops – notably from Haaland and Gvardiol. RICARDO CALAFIORI – 8A full debut the Italian won’t forget. Didn’t get close enough to Savinho for the opening goal but made amends with his stunning long range curler to level it.GABRIEL – 9Planted one header over but made no mistake with his second one just before the break to score for the second straight weekend.WILLIAM SALIBA – 8Clattered by Haaland early on and lost the Norwegian for City’s goal – but dusted himself down and led the rearguard action for the visitors superbly.JURRIEN TIMBER – 8Asked to play an unfamiliar role on the right but did a great job for his boss keeping the livewire Doku quiet – and did fine when Pep changed it around too.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7Caused Walker plenty of problems in the first half. Played the ball back for Calafiori to score and teed up another great chance for Trossard.DECLAN RICE – 7Helped Arsenal work their way back into the game after early onslaught – and protected the back four so well when City were camped on the edge of the box.THOMAS PARTEY – 7Quick thinking from free-kick led to equaliser – also involved in the collision with Rodri that changed the course of the game.BUKAYO SAKA – 6Always a threat with his corners – not least when Arsenal got their second. Subbed at the break to make way for an extra defender.LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4Steered good chance over. Booked for pulling back Savinho then a second yellow for barge on Silva and then delaying the restart. Stupid from the Belgian.  KAI HAVERTZ – 7Early collision with Rodri and caused a few problems in the first half but then had to focus on helping his 10 man team out defensively.SUBSWHITE – 7(For Saka 46) – Thrown on to shore up the defence at the break – and did exactly that.KIWIOR – 6(For Calafiori 74 )– Gave the Italian a rest for the final few minutes and kept it tight.JESUS – 6(For Martinelli 87) – Some good pressing against his old team in the closing minutesLEWIS SKELLY – 6(For Timber 90) – Good experience for the youngster but was bizarrely booked before even coming on for his debut.Click here to read more on Arsenal. More

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      Premier League ref Anthony Taylor in firing line AGAIN after Uefa bosses admit he made monumental error during Euro 2024

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      PREM ref Anthony Taylor has been hit by another blow – after Uefa bosses said he wrongly denied Germany a penalty during Euro 2024.Taylor was relegated to fourth official duties last weekend after booking a record 14 players in Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Bournemouth.Uefa have confirmed that Anthony Taylor made a monumental mistake at Euro 2024Credit: PAHe did not award a penalty for a handball by Marc CucurellaCredit: ReutersThe Wythenshawe whistler is due to be back in the middle this weekend after being appointed to take charge of Liverpool’s visit to Wolves on Saturday.But a report by Uefa’s referees’ committee, leaked in Spain, castigated Taylor for not awarding Germany a spot kick during extra-time of their last eight defeat by the subsequent champions.And that led to former Germany midfielder Toni Kroos lambasting Taylor for his decision and mockingly asking: “Can I now say that I am a European champion?”Taylor played on after Jamal Musiala’s shot was blocked by the arm of Chelsea defender Marc Cucarella, with his decision not to award a spot kick backed by VAR Stuart Attwell.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLArsenal summer recruit Mikel Merino scored the winning goal for Spain soon afterwards, with the incident leading to Cucarella being jeered mercilessly by German fans in both the semi-final win over France and the Final against England.But the official report of the Uefa body makes clear that Taylor got it wrong.It said: “Following the latest UEFA guidelines, hand-to-ball contact that stops a shot on goal should be punished more strictly, and in most cases a penalty kick should be awarded, unless the defender’s arm is very close to the body or on the body.“In this case, the defender stops the shot on goal with his arm, which is not very close to the body, making itself bigger, so a penalty kick should have been awarded.”Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSTaylor, one of Uefa’s most senior refs,  was surprisingly not appointed to any matches when the new-look expanded Champions League kicked off last week.And the report sparked a backlash from Germany, led by Kroos – who was playing what became the final match of his career.Football analyst bizarrely blames ref Anthony Taylor for ‘hindering Man Utd’s play’ in humiliating loss to LiverpoolToni Kroos led the backlash against the decisionCredit: GettyHe said: “It took them three months to realise that there was a handball, something that almost everyone could see in a second.“That reassures me a lot.”Can I say that I am now European champion because it has been officially confirmed? I don’t think so.”After the game, Cucurella admitted that the ball hit his arm but Taylor “immediately” told him it was not a foul.He said: “The ball hit my hand, but the referee immediately said no, no, no, and that made me feel better.”If the refereeing experts say it’s not a handball, then it’s not a handball”Taylor was also criticised for his role during Nottingham Forest’s defeat to Everton last season.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe official denied the East Midlands outfit of three penalty decision.He was also involved as the fourth official as three red cards were handed out in Forest’s 2-2 draw against Brighton on Sunday.Official stanceBy Mark HalseyWHEN Morgan Gibbs-White went to ground on Joao Pedro already on a yellow card, I thought he could be in big  trouble.Rob Jones clearly signalled for a throw in to Brighton and then made a gesture that Gibbs-White had clearly won the ball.Therefore, fourth official Anthony Taylor should simply not have got involved.Taylor has refereed that second-half incident. Had he not made the signal for a throw and that he won the ball, then Taylor could have helped Jones.And that incident sparked the managers and saw things boil over on the touchline.Ultimately, the officials caused Fabian Hurzeler and Nuno Espirito Santo to be sent off for their reactions to the decision. More

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      New referee verdict on Trossard red card explains why incidents involving Arsenal ace and Doku were completely different

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      FORMER Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has explained why Leandro Trossard was sent off and Jeremy Doku went unpunished in Manchester City’s thrilling draw with Arsenal.Mikel Arteta’s men played all of the second half with ten men after Trossard received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away following a foul on Bernardo Silva.Leandro Trossard was sent off for a second yellow card after kicking the ball awayIt is the second red card Arsenal have received this season after Declan Rice was dismissed in similar circumstancesCredit: GettyJeremy Doku went unpunished for kicking the ball away in the first halfCredit: Sky SportsFormer Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher has explained both decisionsCredit: Action Images – ReutersGunners boss Arteta was visibly distraught about the decision on the touchline but restrained his comments after the game to avoid “big trouble”.It comes after Declan Rice was also dismissed for kicking the ball away against Brighton earlier this season.He said: “I’ve seen it and it’s that obvious so I’ll leave it to you guys.”I was already in big trouble trying to solve what happened on the pitch. It’s not my problem to solve what happens off the pitch.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLHe was also furious because Man City winger Doku had avoided a caution in the first half when he appeared to kick the ball away before an Arsenal free-kick.Arteta added: “That’s what I’m saying. It’s that obvious [the Doku incident] that it’s not necessary to comment on it.”It’s the second time. I’m expecting 100 Premier League games to be 10 against 11 or nine vs 10 this season. Let’s see.”However, Gallagher, who refereed in the Premier League for 15 years from 1992 to 2007, does not feel the two incidents were the same.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSWe thought games like this had been lostSunSport’s NEIL CUSTIS hails chaotic Man City vs Arsenal clash as a return to the Premier League of yesteryear.FOR two teams who have done so much to take the game forward this really was a tremendous throwback.We thought these games had been lost.Real feisty encounters between two rivals fighting for the top honours.How we used to love it when Manchester United came up against Arsenal when Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger were in charge.When Roy Keane, watching on as a TV pundit here, used to clash with Patrick Vieira before a ball had been kicked.The Manchester derbies used to have it as well.In fact that were clashes everywhere throughout the league.Since then the emphasis on the beauty of the game, the tactical side, the ball playing centre-back, the false nine, the inverted full-backs have all come to the fore.But English football still loves something like this.Compare this to the two matches between this pair last season not least the really STALEmate here.Then along comes a blood and thunder classic.A match to set the tone for what we all hope will be a real title tussle to the end but with that added edge.While these two managers maybe good friends who knows we may even get the niggly comments in pre-match press conferences about each others teams.We knew we were in for something a bit different as straight from the kick-off Kai Havertz charged into Rodri and left him flawed.The first players’ melee ensued.Foreign coaches often scratch their heads as to why English crowds love stuff like this.Love a thumping tackle, or a bit of a barney.How that as much as any sweeping move gets them to the edge of their seats and there was plenty of that here.Jurrien Timber was employed on the right to combat the pace of Jeremy Doku.SO Doku just charged into him and floored him.Rodri was clearly seen as one of City’s key men so at a corner Thoams Party followed up Havertz’s early example and caught him behind the knee, and the player hobbled out of the action.Gabriel and Erling Haaland was a classic battle between a big centre-forward and an Arsenal centre-back who performs like greats of old like Tony Adams and Martin Keown.A player for whom a thumping tackle warrants the same high fives or celebrations as something defining at the other end of the pitch.Haaland did brilliantly to pull away William Saliba and slip behind Gabriel for his goal.Gabriel will have been fuming having kept the big Norwegian so quiet last season.He barely gave him another sniff of goal, barring a second-half header saved, as he stuck to him, the pair often pushing and shoving one another as Haaland became frustrated with his shadow.Leandro Trossard did not get his second yellow and therefore the only red for the actual barge on Bernardo as everyone first thought but for kicking the ball away after that.Both technical areas were a flurry of arm waving and shouting from the two managers.The staff on the two benches started having a go at each other and Guardiola had to intervene.In the press box one of Arsenal’s technical staff was losing it.As Arsenal players went down with cramp and played for time the boos went up.The fourth official was getting in the ear.Michael Oliver was being told he was not fit to referee by a large section of the home support.When Arsenal fans were spotted in the posh seats having been in the expensive tunnel club City fans shouted and pointed to try and get them ejected.Right at the end after City’s dramatic equaliser and the game restarted Haaland barged into Partey and every player on the pitch got involved even the two goalkeepers.At the final whistle the ref was harrangued.On the touchline Guardiola and Arteta hugged.Speaking on Sky Sports’ Ref Watch about whether Arsenal could have complaints about Trossard’s red card, he said: “Well no because it is a foul no doubt about that.”And what you would say is would the player have kicked the ball like that if there was no foul and the ball is in play? The answer is no, certainly not, because he is not going to pass to Martinelli like that.’Stay humble,’ Erling Haaland tells Arteta who gives him brutal death stare before Gabriel Jesus confronts Man City ace “I feel for him because he has gone to pull out but it is too late, the damage is already done.”We have already seen it earlier in the season, referees are very hard on it this season. He should know not to do it. The referees have been hard and fast on it.”There is no doubt you could show me one or two that have got away [with it] but by and large the referees have been very, very strong on it.”And what I would say is if one player gets away with it then it’s not justification for another player saying ‘I am being punished’.”Gallagher then detailed the reason Man City’s Doku escaped a yellow card, insisting it was different to when Brighton’s Joao Pedro avoided a caution for kicking the ball away against Arsenal.He said: “I feel for them with Joao Pedro because I think that was one that got away from them.”This one, if you look, I don’t think this is kicking the ball away and delaying the restart.”The free-kick is in the wrong place, you see Michael Oliver looking at him and saying you have got to move it back. Doku actually looks at the referee doesn’t he.READ MORE SUN STORIES”If you look, watch Doku here, the ball comes to him, he looks at the ref and then turns back to the Arsenal player to take the free-kick.”I don’t think that is delaying the restart, it’s passing the ball back. I think there is a massive difference.”Arsenal ratings vs Man CityTEN-MAN Arsenal came desperately close to beating Man City.Unfortunately for Mikel Arteta’s men, John Stones popped up in the 98th minute to score an equaliser with the match ending 2-2.Here’s how the players rated…DAVID RAYA – 9Well beaten for Haaland’s opener but continued his impressive start to the season with some super second half stops – notably from Haaland and Gvardiol. RICARDO CALAFIORI – 8A full debut the Italian won’t forget. Didn’t get close enough to Savinho for the opening goal but made amends with his stunning long range curler to level it.GABRIEL – 9Planted one header over but made no mistake with his second one just before the break to score for the second straight weekend.WILLIAM SALIBA – 8Clattered by Haaland early on and lost the Norwegian for City’s goal – but dusted himself down and led the rearguard action for the visitors superbly.JURRIEN TIMBER – 8Asked to play an unfamiliar role on the right but did a great job for his boss keeping the livewire Doku quiet – and did fine when Pep changed it around too.GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7Caused Walker plenty of problems in the first half. Played the ball back for Calafiori to score and teed up another great chance for Trossard.DECLAN RICE – 7Helped Arsenal work their way back into the game after early onslaught – and protected the back four so well when City were camped on the edge of the box.THOMAS PARTEY – 7Quick thinking from free-kick led to equaliser – also involved in the collision with Rodri that changed the course of the game.BUKAYO SAKA – 6Always a threat with his corners – not least when Arsenal got their second. Subbed at the break to make way for an extra defender.LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4Steered good chance over. Booked for pulling back Savinho then a second yellow for barge on Silva and then delaying the restart. Stupid from the Belgian.  KAI HAVERTZ – 7Early collision with Rodri and caused a few problems in the first half but then had to focus on helping his 10 man team out defensively.SUBSWHITE – 7(For Saka 46) – Thrown on to shore up the defence at the break – and did exactly that.KIWIOR – 6(For Calafiori 74 )– Gave the Italian a rest for the final few minutes and kept it tight.JESUS – 6(For Martinelli 87) – Some good pressing against his old team in the closing minutesLEWIS SKELLY – 6(For Timber 90) – Good experience for the youngster but was bizarrely booked before even coming on for his debut.Click here to read more on Arsenal. More

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      I bribed a referee ahead of huge European clash – then he gave a penalty against us after five minutes

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      FORMER Valencia president Paco Roig has claimed he bribed a referee ahead of a Uefa Cup game – only for the plan to backfire. Roig was the majority shareholder and president of the La Liga club from 1994 to 1997.Valencia’s former president has opened up in a tell-all interviewCredit: Getty Images – GettyPaco Roig was in charge of the La Liga side from 1994 to 1997Credit: RexThe Spanish businessman’s tenure with Valencia was marked by controversy and scandal.Sports corruption in Spain was not classified as a crime until 2010.Roig has opened up on his three-year reign in a tell-all interview with outlet Relevo. When asked about the purchase of matches in the mid-1990s, he admitted: “There was that everywhere.”READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSRoig claims he was approached by an agent as Valencia prepared to take on Bayern Munich in the 1996-97 UEFA Cup. Bayern were the defending champions, with the Spanish side drawing them in the first round.He explained: “This [agent] comes and says to me, ‘Paco, the referee you got is a son of a b*tch…”But I’m close friends with him, and it’s fixed, you have to give me three million [pesetas]. (about £70,000 now)Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”I told him, well, OK, I’ll give [you the money] at the end. And he said no, that it had to be before.”Roig alleges he gave the agent the cash before the contest, which was held on September 10, 1996, at the Mestalla. ‘It’s like throwing a punch’ | Why Haaland could be banned for launching ball at Gabriel’s headHe continued: “I gave him the three million. “The referee came out and five minutes later they called a penalty against Valencia.”Jurgen Klinsmann would miss the penalty for Bayern, as Valencia eventually ran out 3-0 winners. But Roig added: “With that buying thing, it’s a real mess.”The Spanish side saw off Slavia Prague and Besiktas in the next round.However, their European adventure was cut short by Schalke in the quarter-finals.Current La Liga president Javier Tebas attended a fans forum in Madrid on Monday.He opened up on match-fixing and declared the issue a thing of the past in Spain.READ MORE SUN STORIESTebas said: “I think there is no more match-fixing. We work hard to monitor betting. “There is none in our categories. Sometimes we detect it in other sports and we report it.” More

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      Major change to handball rule with more penalties than ever before set to be awarded – but Premier League exempt

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      UEFA is set to tweak the handball rule – after admitting its referees made a huge mistake at Euro 2024.The Uefa Referees Committee claims hosts Germany should have been awarded a penalty during their quarter-final loss to Spain.Germany were incensed after not being given a penalty at Euro 2024Credit: GettyThe ball struck Marc Cucurella on the arm and was on target, but Anthony Taylor turned down German’s appealsCredit: APGermany were left incensed after Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella appeared to handle in the area during extra time on July 5.Anthony Taylor, the on-field referee, and VAR Stuart Atwell, decided not to award a spot-kick after a lengthy review. Eventual champions Spain would go on to win the game in the 119th minute, leaving Cucurella to be booed for the remainder of the tournament. Following the incident, Uefa’s Referees Committee has recommended a change to its handball guidelines. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSIt wants to “strictly punish” instances where a player’s hand blocks a shot on target.According to Spanish publication Revelo, the report reads: “Following the latest UEFA guidelines, hand-to-ball contact that stops a shot on goal should be punished more strictly.”And in most cases a penalty kick should be awarded, unless the defender’s arm is very close to the body or on the body.”Referencing the Cucurella incident, it continues: “In this case, the defender stops the shot on goal with his arm, which is not very close to the body, making himself bigger, so a penalty kick should have been awarded.”Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThe committee concluded that although a penalty should have been given, Cucurella should not have been booked. Changes to the Uefa guidelines are likely to see more penalties awarded for handball. Watch Cucurella stand on table and sing about ‘drinking Estrella and making Haaland tremble’ during Spain celebrations The tweaks will not however impact the Premier League, a separate governing body. German coach Julian Nagelsmann was inconsolable following ref Taylor’s decision.But he called for the handball rule to be reviewed in light of the incident.Nagelsmann said: “They applied the rule and it was not a penalty. I do not feel cheated. “For me, the question is about making it more practical, more logical, in terms of how this [handball] rule is assessed. “I say this for football [overall], not just today. “You look at the hand. If it is at 3 o’clock, if it is a bit higher or a bit lower. READ MORE SUN STORIES”But there are people with bigger muscles than me, different movements.”Is it going into the clouds or is it going in the goal? In one case it is a penalty, in the other, it is not. If it is going into the stands, then it is no penalty.” More