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      Mystery as ‘Liverpool’ is omitted from Community Shield announcement but Chelsea and Arsenal are named

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      MYSTERY surrounds the absence of Liverpool’s name on the official release announcing the Community Shield will be played on August 29.
      The FA confirmed SunSport’s story from Tuesday that the 2020-21 curtain-raiser will be staged at Wembley.

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      Liverpool were left off the FA’s official Community Shield announcement, while Arsenal and Chelsea were namedCredit: AP:Associated Press
      The intention is to use the game as a test event to allow fans back into stadiums.
      The statement only made reference to “the winners of the Premier League” – omitting the name of Jurgen Klopp’s side – but naming both FA Cup finalists Chelsea and Arsenal.
      The release read: “We can now confirm that either Arsenal or Chelsea will return to Wembley for the FA Community Shield supported by McDonald’s next month.
      “The traditional curtain-raiser of the new season will take place at Wembley Stadium connected by EE on Saturday 29 August, with the Premier League champions taking on one of the two London clubs who are competing in the Heads Up FA Cup Final this weekend.

      “Kick-off time, broadcast details and more details will be announced in due course.”
      SunSport understands an initial draft press release was drawn up yesterday containing Liverpool.
      But for some reason it was requested the club be removed from the final version.
      That change delayed the announcement from being made as FA officials sought to get sign-off from all parties involved.

      Why Liverpool, as confirmed and indisputable Premier League champions, are not named remains unclear.
      There has been some concern raised over whether staging the Community Shield gives the clubs involved enough of a break between the end of last season and the beginning of the next campaign.
      It is understood the Premier League clubs have reached a consensus that each side would have a minimum gap of 30 days between competitive matches.

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      FA Cup finalists Arsenal and Chelsea were both named, while Liverpool were notCredit: EPA

      That informal agreement means there is a chance the new league campaign will see a staggered start.
      Teams involved in the latter stages of the 2019-20 Champions League and Europa League could kick-off as much as three weeks late next season.
      The FA have been contacted for comment.

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      Port Vale striker Tom Pope hit with SIX-game ban and £3500 fine by FA for anti-Semitic Twitter post

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      PORT VALE striker Tom Pope has been hit with a SIX-game ban and a £3,500 fine for an anti-Semitic Twitter post.
      The FA dished out the punishment after Pope, 34, made comments in the early hours of January 5 following his goal in the 4-1 FA Cup defeat at Manchester City.

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      Tom Pope has been banned for SIX games after an anti-Semitic Twitter post
      In a series of posts, he promoted anti-Semitic myths about the Rothschild family “owning the banking system”.
      The Board of Deputies of British Jews condemned Pope for subscribing to “the notorious antisemitic conspiracy theory” and urged the FA “to send a clear message that the promotion of antisemitism will not be tolerated at any level of the game”.
      FA disciplinary beaks began a probe within 24 hours, demanding information from the striker.
      And an FA statement today read: “Tom Pope has been suspended for six matches, fined £3,500 and must complete a face-to-face education course for an “Aggravated Breach” of FA Rule E3 in relation to a social media post on 5 January 2020.

      “The Port Vale FC player denied that comments he made were abusive and/or insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute, contrary to FA Rule E3(1), and constituted an “Aggravated Breach”, which is defined in Rule E3(2), as they included, whether express or implied, reference to race and/or religion and/or ethnic origin.
      “An independent Regulatory Commission subsequently found the charge to be proven during a personal hearing.
      “Written reasons for both a preliminary application ruling and the decision and sanction are available below.”
      While a ban for social media comments is not automatic in normal situations, Pope is facing the sanction as was his FOURTH offence in less than 12 months.

      In June 2019, he was fined £2,000 and warned for Twitter comments about Mansfield chief executive Carolyn Radford.
      Five months later, he was banned for one game for posts about the allegations of historic sexual abuse at Crewe following a win over the Railwaymen.
      And in January, Pope was handed another one-game ban for a post in which he compared a fan to the character Sloth from the 80s film “The Goonies”.

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      FA hoping to give go-ahead for grassroots football to restart NEXT WEEKEND after four-month delay due to coronavirus

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      THE Football Association are hoping to give the clearance for grassroots football to be played as early as NEXT weekend.
      FA bosses are signing off on their proposals submitted to the government for all 11-a-side matches to return.

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      Grassroots could return as early as NEXT weekendCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      No grassroots action has been played since March because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
      And SunSport understands they want the first games to be played on the weekend of July 25-26.
      That would provide a huge boost to hundreds of thousands of amateur players across England.
      The Department for Culture, Media and Sport have indicated they are happy with the plans put in place by the FA to safeguard against the spread of the virus.

      A formal announcement is yet to be made as final details are worked on.
      And it could be the FA wait until next week to go public in order to prevent some breaking the current restrictions banning full-scale games.
      But it is believed the last weekend of this month is the date they are working towards for the matches to be played should all go well.

      Participants would still have to respect strict guidelines to reduce the risk of any contamination.

      That will likely involve players being unable to share cramped dressing rooms or shower after matches.
      Individual leagues would then have to work with the FA and clubs to ensure all regulations are being met before giving the go-ahead for the competitive season to begin.

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      English amateur football to be given green light to restart competitive matches and training in Wednesday announcement

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      THE amateur game in England will learn the all-clear has been given to return to competitive football again on Wednesday.
      Grassroots leagues across the country have been forced to wait until the government cleared the FA’s return to play planning having eased Covid-19 restrictions last week.

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      Amateur football is set to be allowed to return, with an announcement on WednesdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      That proposal has now been submitted.
      SunSport understands the FA is working towards announcing when and how leagues in England, including children, will be able to resume on Wednesday.
      There is a belief the FA are working towards clearing competitive leagues to resume at the start of September.
      Clubs of all levels will be able to begin training and friendly match action before then.

      But there will still be strict guidelines in place to account for the threat of coronavirus transmission, which could see mass use of changing rooms barred.
      Social distancing measures will have to be in place, as they still are in the professional game.
      It is therefore likely players will have to shower at home after matches.
      The FA have now changed their guidance to clubs and coaches on their website to include the fact their submission has gone in to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

      It said: “We have now submitted a comprehensive action plan and related guidance for Government approval as outlined in DCMS’s publication.
      “Once approved, we will publish new guidance for the grassroots football community.
      “We will confirm timings as soon as we are able.”

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      Dele Alli to miss Tottenham vs Man Utd after being banned by FA for social media post appearing to mock Asian man

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      DELE ALLI will miss Tottenham’s clash with Manchester United after being hit with a one–match ban by the FA for a social media post appearing to mock an Asian man. A three-man independent panel has upheld the misconduct charge against the 24-year-old midfielder meaning he will have to sit out the big match against United […] More

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      FA left us to deal with racism hell on our own, says Haringey Borough boss six months after walk-off

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      HARINGEY boss Tom Loizou was a reluctant trailblazer. In October 2019, he became the first manager in English football to lead his players off the pitch during a competitive game because of racism from the stands. Haringey made history by walking off after complaining keeper Valery Pajetat faced racist abuse from some Yeovil fansCredit: Pinnacle […] More