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      FA setting up plans to stop fans booing England stars taking knee at Euro 2020 after incidents since supporters return

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      THE FA are setting up plans to stop fans booing players taking a knee at Euro 2020, according to reports.Following the return of supporters to stadium this month, there have been a spate of incidents of some booing players taking the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
      The FA will set up a plan to prevent fans from booing England stars taking a knee at Euro 2020Credit: AFP
      Ahead of Euro 2020, the FA is thinking up ways to help prevent these protests, according to The Telegraph.
      One idea in the works is to release a film educating fans as to the reason why England players will take a knee during the delayed tournament.
      Euro 2020 will see the Three Lions play in front of fans for the first time since footballers began the symbolic gesture.
      And the number of matches where those taking the knee have been booed – including the final day of the Premier League season – has worried the FA.
      Aston Villa’s final-day win over Chelsea saw a small number of fans boo players taking the knee, leaving England star Tyrone Mings fuming.
      In an angry post on Twitter, Mings wrote: “To anyone that booed us taking the knee, have a look at yourself and ask if you truly support equality and equal opportunity for the black players on the pitch.
      “It’s tiring. Educate yourself.”
      Some have reservations over footballers taking a knee due to the politics of Black Lives Matter, rather than anything involving race.
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      As reported by The Telegraph, the decision of the Three Lions to observe the gesture before their games this summer divided opinion on the England Supporters Travel Club’s official Facebook page.
      One member wrote: “I’m all for a stand against racism.
      “But I won’t support anybody or anything that shares its symbolism with a Marxist communist ideology.
      “If you want to take a stand against racism then maybe stand arm in arm.”
      But another disagreed, adding: “What is it about a quiet, short, respectful gesture designed to keep the anti-racism message alive and well that so triggers some people?
      “For the life of me I can’t understand. Unless they don’t like the message of course.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Gareth Southgate announces England provisional squad for Euro 2020 More

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      FA confirm 2,000 extra Championship play-off final tickets in huge boost to Swansea and Brentford fans

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      THE FA have confirmed that an extra 2,000 tickets have been made available for the Championship play-off final on Saturday.Brentford and Swansea City will do battle at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.
      Wembley will have 12,000 fans for the Championship play-off final between Brentford and Swansea City on SaturdayCredit: Reuters
      In accordance with government guidelines, the match’s original attendance was due to be capped at 10,000, with each club receiving an allocation of 4,000.
      But, after extensive lobbying by the EFL, an extra 2,000 fans will be admitted into the 90,000-seater ground – taking the overall attendance to 12,000.
      This is because event organisers have agreed to take part in a new pilot, as the NHS app is trialled.
      The extra 2,000 tickets have been assigned equally to the clubs involved.
      And supporters with these tickets will have to download the new NHS app – not to be mixed up with the existing NHS COVID-19 app.
      Upon entry, those with these tickets will be asked to show proof of a verified NHS app, which aims to demonstrate their Covid status.
      An EFL spokesperson said: “Having moved our Play-Off schedule to align with the Government’s move to Step 3 protocols and enable fans to attend, we look forward to welcoming supporters back to Wembley at the eagerly anticipated Sky Bet EFL Play-Off Finals, after a season behind closed doors.
      “While the small increase in the Championship Final is welcome, we would of course have preferred to admit fans in much greater numbers, but like other public events are subject to the Government’s Step 3 guidance.
      Swansea fans were back at the Liberty for their semi-final win over BarnsleyCredit: Rex
      Brentford fans cheered their side to victory over BournemouthCredit: Rex
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      “Unfortunately, the Play-Offs were not selected to operate as a pilot event as part of the Government’s Events Research Programme – despite a request from the EFL on behalf of the Clubs involved and their supporters – which meant that achieving significantly greater capacities at all three Finals was not possible.
      “The EFL shares the disappointment of the Clubs and their supporters that many fans will be absent but we will continue to liaise with the Government in the coming weeks as we pursue our aspiration of a return to full stadia for the start of next season.”
      Of the total 12,000 in attendance, each club will have 5,000 supporters each, with the remaining 2,000 seats being dished out to sponsors and Club Wembley members.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Sol Campbell OUT of running for England Under-21 job to replace Aidy Boothroyd with FA going in different direction

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      SOL CAMPBELL is out of the running for the England Under-21 job.The former defender, who won 73 caps for the Three Lions in his playing career, is understood to have had an interview to succeed Aidy Boothroyd.
      Sol Campbell is out of the running for the vacant role as England Under-21s bossCredit: PA:Press Association
      But the FA have decided to go in a different direction and ex-Southend and Macclesfield boss Campbell, 46, is no longer under consideration.
      England can take their time over the appointment.
      The Young Lions do not play a fixture until their Euro qualifier at home to Kosovo in September.
      Justin Cochrane, the current head coach of England’s U17s side, remains the favourite for the role.
      While Lee Carsley, who bosses the Three Lions Under-20s team, is also a contender along with Nicky Butt.
      Boothroyd, 50, is vacating the position this summer when his contract expires after presiding over two successive Euro exits at the group stage.
      His youngsters finished bottom of Group D in Slovenia and Hungary last month.
      The former Watford chief took charge of the Young Lions five years ago when Gareth Southgate was promoted to the senior side, winning 31 of his 48 games.
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      Boothroyd started his managerial career at Watford in 2005 before spells at Colchester, Coventry and Northampton.
      He joined the England youth set-up in 2014 but is now looking to get back into club football.
      Boothroyd quit his post after the Young Lions’ failure at the European ChampionshipsCredit: GettyWIN £50,000 with Dream Team EurosDream Team Euros is HERE!

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      Laura Woods slates England U21 boss Aidy Boothroyd for poor performances More

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      FA bosses hope fans smash attendance records at Women’s 2022 Euros in England

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      FOOTBALL chiefs want fans to break the European record for the highest crowd numbers at the opening and closing games of a women’s Euros tournament. The targets were revealed as part of FA and UEFA plans to flog more than 700,000 tickets for Women 2022 Euros games taking place in England. 
      Wembley is set to host the final of the 2022 Women’s EurosCredit: Getty
      Football bosses hope to sell more than 700,000 tickets to Women’s 2022 Euros games in EnglandCredit: Reuters
      It is hoped spectators will pack out Old Trafford for the tournament’s opener surpassing a milestone of 41,301 set in 2013. 
      Authorities also aim to smash the European attendance number for a final at the contest’s finale at Wembley. 
      They hope to see spectator numbers for that clash surpass the figure of the 80,203 who watched the USA defeat Japan in the women’s football final of the London 2012 Olympic games. 
      Tickets for next year’s Women’s Euros will be priced from £5 to £50 with over half a million available for £25 or less.
      However, the FA say England group stage matches and quarter-finals and semis fixtures will be priced differently but were tight-lipped as to what the pricing for these games will be. 
      Chris Bryant, the FA’s tournament delivery head said: “This is all about setting out our ticket ambitions for the tournament. 
      “We want to deliver a record breaking showcase that unites football and communities to amplify the women’s game.
      “Our ambition really is centred around for stadia, fantastic atmospheres. And we really need a ticketing strategy that embodies that”
      Fixtures for the Women’s 2022 Euros games are due to take place in 10 venues in nine host cities in England. 
      Games will be held in Brighton, London, Milton Keynes, Rotherham, Sheffield, Southampton, Trafford and Wigan and Leigh.
      Tournament organisers hope the sport’s followers will flock to buy tickets for games involving 16 teams including host nation England.  
       Fans are being invited to pre-register for tickets on Uefa’s web site July 13.
      Northern Ireland are among 16 nations taking part in the tournamentCredit: PA

      Officials say there are plans to use the Euros to create a legacy project to encourage 120,000 girls to take up football in the tournament’s host cities.  
      And the FA hopes the to produce 350 newly-trained coaches and 350 new referees through the scheme.  
      FA women’s football director Baroness Sue Campbell said: “It has been a challenging year in so many ways, with mental and physical wellbeing hugely affected by the Covid pandemic. 
      “The tournament and the city legacy programmes are a real opportunity to positively change the impact restrictions have had on our activity levels and to bring us together through football.
      The FA hopes to encourage more than 80,000 fans to attend the final of the Women’s 2022 EurosCredit: Getty
      “The long-term legacy ambitions will unlock the game for more women and girls across host cities and beyond with equal access for all girls to play football in school and clubs. 
      “Our vision will ensure an inclusive, safe and welcoming environments for every woman and girl to play competitive or recreational grassroots football – irrespective of ability, age or ambition.”
      With Covid having hit fan presence at football stadiums with up to 10,000 currently allowed into grounds, the FA says it will have a contingency plan place if the pandemic causes attendance problems next year. 
      Bryant added: “We’ve already got an ambitious ticketing target and we want to make sure that we give ourselves every opportunity to hit those milestones if we can,
      “We need to be able to work back from the in the event that the pandemic is still around and it does require us to adapt. 
      “We are considering all the contingency plans that are available to us.”
      Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Tickets for Women’s Euros will be priced from £5 to £50 with up to half a million available for £25 or lessCredit: Alamy Live News
      Lionesses in training More

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      Leicester stars Wesley Fofana and Hamza Choudhury will NOT face FA action after holding Palestinian flag at FA Cup final

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      LEICESTER stars Wesley Fofana and Hamza Choudhury will NOT face any FA action for their Wembley flag-waving.The two Foxes brandished a Palestinian flag during their FA Cup Final celebrations on Saturday.
      Hamza Choudhury and Wesley Fofana carried the Palestine flag at Wembley
      The FA will take no action as the flag is internationally recognisedCredit: Getty
      Fofana and Choudhury were praised by pro-Palestinian groups for their “gesture of solidarity” during the ongoing violence and rocket launches from and against Israel.
      An official complaint about their behaviour was made to both Leicester and the FA by Action Against Discrimination, who insisted: “Sport and in this case football must never be used as a platform for either politics or racism.”
      But the FA, which has supported players “taking a knee” for more than a year, does not believe it should act in any way.
      Wembley’s position remains that the FA does not investigate the general use of internationally-recognised national flags on the field of play or in the stadium.
      The moment came after Leicester claimed their first-ever FA Cup crown on Saturday.
      A Youri Tielemans wondergoal fired the Foxes past Chelsea, who had a late leveller ruled out after VAR picked up a tight offside infringement.
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      However, there were unsavoury scenes after the match as Leicester’s Daniel Amartey was subjected to hideous racist abuse online.
      The player, a substitute throughout the final, had been filmed jokingly throwing Chelsea’s official pennant over his shoulder in the celebrations.
      The cup finalists meet again on Tuesday night in a Premier League clash as the race for a place in next season’s Champions League continues.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
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      Leicester stars dedicate FA Cup win to late owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s son in touching gesture More

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      Football Association release roadmap to women’s FA Cup final in celebration of competition’s 50th anniversary

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      THE Football Association have revealed the dates for the remaining women’s FA Cup ties until the final in celebration of the competition’s 50th anniversary. Following the tournament’s untimely pause due to Covid, it must now carry on into next season.
      The FA have released the women’s FA Cup dates until the final which will be played next season
      The FA have joined forces with mobile networking company EE to present the final which will be played on Sunday December 5, 2021 at Wembley.
      The decision to choose this day is a poignant one as it marks the exact date a 100 years ago when the FA banned women’s football.
      Kelly Simmons, Director of Women’s Professional Game said using the date was a “fitting” tribute to all the female trailblazers who have played the sport.
      She said: “To mark the competition’s 50th anniversary, we felt it was fitting to schedule the 2021 Vitality Women’s FA Cup Final on 5 December, a date for many which represents the game’s lowest ebb.
      “We want to use the Cup Final day, always one of the most special in the calendar, as a platform to celebrate the game’s historic trailblazers.
      “Watching our best players at one of the best stadiums in the world, will hopefully continue to inspire a new generation to fall in love with women’s football.”
      The competition restarted at the end of March and has reached the fifth round stage which fixtures will be played from May 16 to May 20.
      The quarter-finals will take place on Wednesday 29 September , and the semi’s a month later on Sunday 31 October.
      The FA decided to play the final on the exact same date that the footballing authority banned women’s football a 100 years agoCredit: Getty

      The FA seem to planning a celebration after the final game which could see fans in attendance.
      Their press release said: “More details of the celebrations to be held and ticket details will be released in due course.”
      This decision is in line with the men’s game who the FA have allowed to have fans at the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals.
      The Carabao Cup final between Tottenham and Man City last month had 8,000 fans in attendance.
      And this amount will be extended to 21,000 for the FA Cup final between Chelsea and Leicester City.
      The FA have said fans will be allowed to attend the final just like the men’s gameCredit: Getty
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      Premier League and FA join forces as they unveil plans to crush any future plots to launch breakaway Super League

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      THE Premier League and FA have vowed to crush the Super League plotters if they attempt another breakaway.In a move to reassure fans the threat has been killed off for good, the FA launched an inquiry by demanding full and frank answers from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and the two Manchester giants.
      Football fans were outraged after plans to join the European Super League were revealedCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      And the Premier League promised it will change its rulebook to dismiss any possibility of the rebels coming back for a second attempt.
      A Prem statement read: “The Premier League has prepared a series of measures to enshrine the core principles of the professional game an open pyramid, progression through sporting merit and the highest standards of sporting integrity.
      “These measures are designed to stop the threat of breakaway leagues in future.”
      The Big Six are facing disrepute charges for their parts in the attempted coup.
      FA top brass are understood to feel heavy fines are more likely, rather than punishments that would hit the fans such as points deductions.
      A Wembley spokesperson said: “We have been discussing legislation with Government that would allow us to prevent any similar threat in the future so we can protect the English football pyramid.”
      The crisis brought English football’s ruling parties together — and the involvement of the Government and its threatened “legislative bombshell” helped torpedo the breakaway plans in the space of 48 hours.
      And the Prem clarified the specific steps it intends to take and force on to the rulebook at this summer’s AGM, to come into immediate effect.
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      It pledged to bring in new rules to “protect open competition” and an owners’ charter that must be signed by all club bosses “committing them to the core principles of the League” — or they will face “significant sanctions”.
      A statement read: “The Premier League, supported by The FA, is taking the following actions to protect our game, our clubs and their fans from further disruption and uncertainty:
      “Additional rules and regulation to ensure the principles of the Premier League and open competition are protected.
      “A new Owners’ Charter that all club owners will be required to sign up to, committing them to the core principles of the Premier League.
      “Breaches of these rules and the Charter will be subject to significant sanctions.
      “We are enlisting the support of Government to bring in appropriate legislation to protect football’s open pyramid, principles of sporting merit and the integrity of the football community.
      “And we will work with the fan groups, Government, Uefa, The FA, EFL, PFA and LMA to defend the integrity and future prospects of English Football.”
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      Every English football club to take part in social media boycott today in protest at online hate

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      EVERY English football club will join a social media boycott today in protest at online hate.The FA, Premier League, EFL and the women’s game will turn off Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for four days. 
      Thierry Henry has led the charge for big tech reforms over online abuseCredit: PA
      They are calling on social media firms to stem the “relentless” flow of abuse.
      In an act of unity, The Sun will stop posting on our Twitter accounts from 3pm today until 11.59pm on Monday.
      France’s Thierry Henry, who has led the charge for big tech reform, was “thrilled” by the show of strength.
      He said: “It is a powerful statement.”
      Writing in today’s Sun, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden warns social media giants to act or face the consequences.
      Under his Online Safety Bill, companies could be shut down if they fail to remove abuse. 
      He writes: “Under the legislation, if social media companies fail to keep their promises to users – if they don’t quickly remove racist abuse, for example – they will face severe sanctions.
      “For the very worst failures, they could have their sites blocked.
      “They could also face huge fines of up to ten percent of annual global turnover.
      “For a company like Facebook or YouTube, that could be billions.”
      The Arsenal legend said of the online boycott: ‘It is a powerful statement’Credit: AFP

      He continues: “English football coming off social media is a powerful statement.
      “Everything that tries to destroy the beauty and the happiness of our game — we should fight it.
      “This is my happiest moment. Football stands for something. Not only money.”
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