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      More than 300 players join Zlatan Ibrahimovic in fight against FIFA 21 and EA Sports over name and image rights

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      MINO RAIOLA revealed at least 300 players have joined Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the fight against EA Sports’ use of player name and image rights in FIFA 21.
      The super agent insists he will not give up the battle with EA Sports, world football governing body Fifa and the players’ union Fifpro.

      Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Mino Raiola are working out how to take on Fifa, Fifpro and EA Sports over image rights used in FIFA 21Credit: Instagram @iamzlatanibrahimovic

      Ibrahimovic took to social media on Monday calling for an investigation into FIFA 21, alleging EA Sports used the AC Milan striker’s name and face without permission in their video game.
      Spurs star Gareth Bale followed up Zlatan’s tweet with his support to find out who allowed the developers to use his rights.
      And Raiola claimed this is ‘the beginning of something new’ with hundreds of players also demanding answers from the sport.
      He told The Telegraph: “It won’t just be Zlatan or Gareth Bale. We have around 300 requests from players.

      “We will go until the end, if necessary, against Fifa and Fifpro and everybody who sells rights they don’t have.
      “This is one of the biggest disgraces involving Fifa who want to weaken the players to become slaves.
      “But I will not allow that. Zlatan is not a marionette, Zlatan is not someone you can tell to do something he doesn’t want to do.
      “The nice thing about this is that it is being brought by players. He is committed to the cause.

      Gamers can use the AC Milan striker in the latest edition of the game

      The powerful agent has already received 300 requests from players trying to get to the bottom of the issueCredit: Getty – Contributor
      “The question is very simple: Fifa and Fifpro are profiting from the rights that EA Sports happily buy from them but they buy rights that they don’t have.
      “The individual image rights of the player are not with Fifa, Fifpro or AC Milan. They belong to the player himself.
      “If EA Sports wants to continue the business like they do we will bring them to court but not only that we will bring to court everyone who is selling the rights that they don’t have. So if that is Fifpro, that’s Fifpro. If that is Fifa, that’s Fifa.”
      Ibrahimovic opened the debate with his tweet which explained he is not a member of the union Fifpro and therefore questioned who had given EA Sports permission to his likeness.
      He said: “Who gave FIFA EA Sport permission to use my name and face? @FIFPro?
      “I’m not aware to be a member of Fifpro and if I am I was put there without any real knowledge through some weird manoeuvre.
      “And for sure I never allowed @FIFAcom or Fifpro to make money using me.
      “Somebody is making profit on my name and face without any agreement all these years. Time to investigate.”

      Somebody is making profit on my name and face without any agreement all these years.Time to investigate
      — Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) November 23, 2020

      Gareth Bale weighed in on the debate, adding: “Interesting… what is @FIFPro? #TimeToInvestigate.”
      EA Sports told SunSport they are allowed to use the pair’s details due to deals they have in place with AC Milan and the Premier League.
      A statement read: “We are aware of discussions around licensing of players in EA Sports FIFA. The current situation being played out on social media is an attempt to draw FIFA 21 into a dispute between a number of 3rd parties and has little to do with EA Sports.
      “To be very clear, we have contractual rights to include the likeness of all players currently in our game. As already stated, we acquire these licenses directly from leagues, teams, and individual players.
      “In addition, we work with Fifpro to ensure we can include as many players as we can to create the most authentic game.
      “In these instances, our rights to player likenesses are granted through our club agreement with AC Milan and our long-standing exclusive partnership with the Premier League, which includes all players for Tottenham Hotspur.”

      Zlatan Ibrahimovic calls for investigation into FIFA 21 as EA Sports ‘use his name and face without permission’ More

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      Brazil heroine Marta pays heartfelt tribute to inspirational ‘God of the ball’ Diego Maradona as she shares pic of pair

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      BRAZIL icon Marta has joined footballing greats in paying tribute to Diego Maradona. 
      The Orlando Pride striker, 34,  shared an emotional post on Instagram describing the Argentina hero as one of the ‘Gods’ of the game. 

      Brazil icons Marta and Pele are among the football heroes who paid tribute to Diego Maradona Credit: Reuters

      Maradona, who is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest ever players, passed away, aged 60, after suffering a cardiac arrest.
      On Instagram Marta, who is a six-time Fifa World Player of the Year, posted a picture of herself sat next to the Argentinian icon. 
      In her message the Brazilian football heroine wrote: “We lost one of the Gods of the ball, a historical legend who inspired all of us professionals with his magic and love.”
      Maradona took the world of football by storm with his goalscoring feats for Argentina and for Napoli, with whom he won two Serie A titles.  

      The death of the striker, famous for his Hand of God and for leading his national team to World Cup glory,  has led to an outpouring of grief in his home country and in Naples. 
      And members of Napoli’s women’s team including Federico Di Criscio and Eleanora Goldoni took to social media to share their thoughts on Maradona’s passing. 

      Football fans in Naples have been mourning the passing of Maradona Credit: AP:Associated Press
      In part of her Instagram post Goldoni, 24, said: “You changed Argentina, you changed Naples, you embellished football. 
      “As a fan, as a Napoli footballer of, as a lover of football and of this city, thank you for what you did!”

      Today schools in Naples are closed in honour of the former Serie A player whose image adorns a mural in the city’s San Giovanni a Teduccio quarter. 

      Thousands of fans took to the streets of Naples and Argentina’s capital Buenos Aires where Maradona became a hero with Boca Juniors. 
      And three days of national mourning have commenced in Argentina in honour of the player.
      It has been reported that Napoli will go ahead with plans to rename their San Paolo stadium after one of their most famous stars.   

      Diego Maradona fans all around the world pay their respects to a football icon More

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      How Arsenal could line-up with Christian Eriksen feeding misfiring attack alongside Dominik Szoboszlai

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      ARSENAL have been heavily linked with Christian Eriksen and Dominik Szoboszlai as Mikel Arteta tries to sort his misfiring attack.
      And the Spaniard would have to drop some big names to fit the midfield aces into his starting XI.

      How Arsenal could lineup with Christian Eriksen and Dominik Szoboszlai

      The Gunners have reportedly been offered the chance to sign former Tottenham fan favourite Eriksen for just £12million.
      Arsenal are also said to be hopeful of signing Szoboszlai, 20, from RB Salzburg by paying his £22.5million release clause in three instalments.
      Szoboszlai, 20, is a left sided midfielder who would slot in perfectly on that side of Arteta’s midfield three played behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang up front.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      And Eriksen is well known for his performances in a No 10 role for Spurs so would play in that role next to Willian on the right side.
      This would see Nicolas Pepe – who is rapidly falling out of favour after his red card at Leeds – dropped.
      And the reshuffle would also make it hard for Bukayo Saka to play in the 4-2-3-1.
      But the England international would likely get his chance at left wing-back behind Szoboszlai if Arteta reverted to the 5-2-3 he has also used this season.

      Ex-Tottenham star Eriksen only left north London in January but has fallen out of favour at Inter Milan under Antonio Conte.

      Mikel Arteta would have to drop some big names to accommodate them in the starting XI

      Christian Eriksen has been heavily linked with a move to ArsenalCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      RB Salzburg star Dominik Szoboszlai is also on the Gunners’ radarCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      And sensational reports claim that the Emirates could be a new home for the 28-year-old Dane.
      ESPN report that Eriksen’s availability has been made aware to Premier League clubs, and one of them is Arsenal.
      The Gunners have been told Eriksen will consider moving to the red side of north London despite seven years in Spurs white.
      Inter Milan have previously admitted they will not stand in Eriksen’s way if the £17m signing wants to leave in January.
      He signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at the Serie A club but is yet to register a goal or assist in seven outings this season.
      Meanwhile, Arteta likes Szoboszlai and would be interested in capturing the Hungarian’s signature in January.

      But according to the Mirror, the Gunners will have to pay his £22.5m release clause in three separate payments, in order to afford the deal.
      Chiefs believe that this way, they can beat off competition from the likes of RB Leipzig, Real Madrid and AC Milan for the RB Salzburg ace.
      Earlier this month, Inter chief Beppe Marotta, 63, told DAZN: “Christian is acting like a professional but in January we’ll decide about his future.
      “There are no advanced talks with any club at the moment, we’ll see in the next few weeks.
      “Conte has answered exhaustively about him. We must not detain a player if he asks to be transferred.”

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      How Cristiano Ronaldo is closing in on Pele’s all-time goal record in competitive matches… and where does Messi sit?

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO edged closer to becoming the highest goalscorer of all time last night. His long range, left-footed strike in the first-half of Juventus’ 2-1 Champions League win against Ferencvaros put the Portuguese mega-star on 749 OFFICIAL total goals. Pele is arguably the best footballer ever to play the game and he sits on 767 […] More

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      Zlatan Ibrahimovic demands investigation into FIFA 21 after EA Sports ‘use his name and face without permission’

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      ZLATAN IBRAHMOVIC has called for an investigation into FIFA 21, alleging that EA Sports ‘used his name and face without permission’.
      The AC Milan superstar, 39, took to Twitter tonight to question why his likeness is being used in the popular video game.

      Who gave FIFA EA Sport permission to use my name and face? @FIFPro? I’m not aware to be a member of Fifpro and if I am I was put there without any real knowledge through some weird manouver.And for sure I never allowed @FIFAcom or Fifpro to make money using me
      — Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) November 23, 2020

      Ibra and the rest of his AC Milan teammates are playable characters on FIFA 21

      FIFA games are released each year, with the latest instalment coming out on October 5.
      But the Swede is more concerned with knowing how his name and face worked their way into EA Sports’ systems.
      Ibrahimovic tweeted: “Who gave FIFA EA Sport permission to use my name and face? @FIFPro?
      “I’m not aware to be a member of Fifpro and if I am I was put there without any real knowledge through some weird manoeuvre.

      “And for sure I never allowed @FIFAcom or Fifpro to make money using me.
      “Somebody is making profit on my name and face without any agreement all these years.
      “Time to investigate.”

      Zlatan Ibrahimovic has questioned how EA Sports are allowed to use his likeness on FIFA 21Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Gareth Bale weighed in on the debate, adding: “Interesting… what is @FIFPro? #TimeToInvestigate.”
      Fifpro, the global players union, included Ibrahimovic in their World XI in 2013 and he collected his award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony the following year.
      While Bale has his own FIFA Esports team.
      AC Milan agreed an exclusive multi-year partnership with EA Sports this year, beginning with FIFA 21, giving the franchise access to players, kits, training grounds and the San Siro stadium.
      Ibrahimovic’s tweets come just days after he gifted AC Milan team-mates a new PlayStation 5 video games console.

      Somebody is making profit on my name and face without any agreement all these years.Time to investigate
      — Zlatan Ibrahimović (@Ibra_official) November 23, 2020

      Ibra then inspired them to a 3-1 win against Napoli on Sunday, scoring two goals including a fabulous long-range header.
      Agent Mino Raiola says Ibrahimovic can play at the highest level until he’s 50 years old – and even then will need to be taken away on a stretcher.
      However, Ibrahimovic dashed hopes of a return to the international stage by admitting a teasing Instagram post earlier this month was just a wind-up.

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      Chris Smalling suffers knee injury days after food poisoning in tough start to new career at Roma after Man Utd transfer

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      CHRIS SMALLING’S return to Roma has taken another hit after he suffered a knee injury in training.
      Ex-Manchester United star Smalling, 30, made his move to Roma permanent over the summer after spending last season there on loan.

      Chris Smalling has suffered another set back at new club RomaCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      He impressed with 37 appearances for the capital club, who decided to hand him a long-term contract as a reward.
      However, Smalling has played just two Serie A games this term after picking up a knee problem in October.
      He was then struck down with severe food poisoning last week, forcing him to miss the 3-0 win over Parma on Sunday.
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      Smalling returned to training on Monday ahead of Thursday’s Europa League visit to Cluj.
      But he again felt discomfort in his knee and is now an injury doubt.
      Smalling made 323 appearances for United between 2010 and 2019, winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and one Europa League.
      But he claims he did not expect to be cut out of the squad so brutally by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following Harry Maguire’s £80million arrival from Leicester last year.

      Smalling told the Telegraph: “I guess that was maybe the lowest point at United.

      Man Utd’s biggest transfers ever, both in and out, including Ronaldo

      “That was the shock I didn’t expect, how it was handled. 
      “If I was told earlier that summer – and I don’t want to have a dig at Ole – I would have made other plans.
      “In an ideal situation I would have known early in the summer and made plans and it almost got to the stage where I had a day left.”

      Wayne Rooney reveals he was keen to swap Manchester United for Barcelona in 2010 More

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      Man Utd joined by Borussia Dortmund in Christian Eriksen transfer race with Inter Milan keen to offload flop in January

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      BORUSSIA DORTMUND have reportedly joined the race for Inter Milan flop Christian Eriksen.
      Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb claim the Bundesliga giants launched a loan move for the former Spurs star in October.

      Borussia Dortmund are interested in a move for Christian EriksenCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Eriksen ultimately stayed at Inter but the report adds that Dortmund could return for the Denmark international in January.
      The 28-year-old has also been linked with a return to England after falling out favour under Antonio Conte.
      SunSport previously reported that Manchester United were interested in a potential swap deal involving Brazilian midfielder Fred.
      The Red Devils were linked with Eriksen during his time at Tottenham but already have Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Donny van de Beek, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard as attacking midfielders.

      Paris Saint-Germain could also be the Dane’s next step with Leandro Paredes the midfielder Inter want in exchange.
      Eriksen has played just 301 minutes of football under Conte so far this season and is yet to register a goal or an assist.
      And Inter have since put clubs on red alert by admitting they will not stand in the playmaker’s way if he wants to go in January.
      Ahead of the Nerazzurri’s 4-2 win against Torino on Sunday, club chief Beppe Marotta stated Eriksen can leave the San Siro if he wants next year.

      Marotta, 63, told DAZN: “Christian is acting like a professional but in January we’ll decide about his future. 
      “There are no advanced talks with any club at the moment, we’ll see in the next few weeks.
      “Conte has answered exhaustively about him. We must not detain a player if he asks to be transferred.” More