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      Horror as ex-Premier League star and Uefa Cup hero Jeremy Goss is seriously hurt in ‘explosion’ car crash

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      NORWICH City legend Jeremy Goss has suffered serious injuries in a horror car crash.The former Premier League star – who also played internationally for Wales – feels “lucky to be alive” after a car smashed into him while he was driving in Norfolk.
      Jeremy Goss has revealed he is recovering from a horror car crash
      Goss famously helped Norwich City beat Bayern Munich 2-1 at the Olympic StadiumCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      The 58-year-old told the Eastern Daily Press: “I was in the left-hand lane, glanced in my rearview mirror and saw this blue car heading straight towards me – going well over the speed limit.
      “I spontaneously gripped the steering wheel as tight as I could – so much that I later found out I cracked a bone on my wedding ring finger – and dropped my chin into my chest expecting the worst.
      “The car collided into the back of me like an explosion – the sound was frightening.”
      Goss revealed he was then hit a second time before his car stopped 100m down the road.
      Terrified that his car might burst into flames, Goss said he fought through intense pain to open his door.
      He then collapsed on a grass verge nearby before emergency services arrived at the scene.
      “I feel lucky to be alive honestly,” he said.
      The smash on January 31 left him bed-bound for a week.
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      Goss said he is now able to walk on his own but is using painkillers after suffering injuries to his ribs, kidneys, lower back and hip.
      Goss is best-known for helping Norwich City beat German giants Bayern Munich 2-1 in the Uefa Cup in 1993 – a game in which he scored a stunning volley.
      He opened up about his life after football to SunSport in 2019.
      After a stint playing in Scotland for Hearts, followed by non-league football at King’s Lynn, he returned to the Norfolk club that’s close to his heart to work on his coaching badges in 1999.
      However, at around the same time, his wife Margaret gave birth to their twin sons Jacob and Joseph three months premature.
      Two hours after they were born, their weight plummeted to 2 pounds and their lives were in the balance.
      Goss told SunSport: “I look back with dread, really.
      “My sons were born three months premature. We were living in my in-laws’ house and at that time I had no job and no house.
      “My wife and I were taking care of very sick new-born twins. It was like, ‘Welcome to life outside of football.'”
      In 2010, Goss took on full-time work at the Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind (NNAB), when an ambassadorial role at Norwich City came to an end.
      “I was very fortunate enough to meet people from the NNAB and I went in there as a charity fundraiser, which very soon became a job as head of fundraising,” he said.
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      “My role was to build up a department to take the charity forward in terms of income generation, and I’d been in that role for eight years until Easter. Now I find myself back in that position when I’m unemployed.”
      Drawing on his background and legendary status in East Anglia, Goss helped the NNAB generate generous donations, including sponsored bungee jumps.
      Goss playing during a Manchester United v Norwich City gameCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Goss became a hero overnight after his stunning volley against the Bavarian giants
      He also went on a 1,300 mile bike trip for the NNAB riding to all the stadiums Norwich visited during their 1993 Uefa Cup run More

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      Uefa set for major rule change amid fears both Man Utd and City will NOT be able to play in Europe

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      MANCHESTER rivals United and City will both be allowed to play in Europe next season – as Uefa is rewriting its multi-club ownership rules.Current Uefa regulations state that no individual or entity “may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a Uefa competition”.
      Uefa is set to change its rules on multi-club ownershipCredit: Reuters
      Pep Guardiola’s side are the figurehead of the City Football Group, which includes shock La Liga contenders Girona.
      Newly confirmed United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his Ineos group also own Nice, who are second in France’s Ligue Un.
      Current rules are based on defending the “integrity” of competitions, so that clubs under common ownership cannot manipulate results to the benefit of one or the other.
      But Uefa general secretary Theodore Theodoridis confirmed Europe’s top brass are actively discussing a rules revamp for next season that would give both City and United the green light come what may – and access to £100m-plus in potential prize money.
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      Theodoridis said: “It’s a difficult issue and there are continuous discussions, with club representatives and with European Club Association representatives as well.
      “We have to decide what we must do moving down the line because there is a change in our competitions.
      “There are some clarifications to be done on the rules because now there will be no feeding between the competitions, where clubs can drop down from the Champions League to the Europa League, for example.
      “Right now, because of the feeding system, there is an even bigger issue.
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      “So we are trying to look at that and at the same time to speak to the clubs.
      “Soon we will be coming up with the changes and you will be informed – because we have to adapt to the post-24 format as well.”
      Under the current regulations, United would have to finish higher in the Prem than Nice did in France to be allowed to play in the Champions League, with the French side then not being allowed in any competition.
      If they finished lower in the Prem, United could only play in Europe if they qualified directly for a specific competition – by their final league position or winning the FA Cup.
      Man Utd legends Patrice Evra and Park Ji-sung reunite… but at the ground of Premier League rivals
      Even if Girona stay second in Spain – they are five points ahead of third-placed Barcelona – City would be sure of taking part in the competition next season by retaining the trophy or winning the Prem for a record fourth year running.
      But the proposed changes – expected to be confirmed at the next meeting of Uefa’s ruling executive committee in Dublin in May – give United a potential £100m carrot for creeping into the top four.
      And that would even be available for a fifth place finish if English teams progress deep in Europe to take one of the two extra Champions League slots in the expanded 36-team competition for the best performing nations each season. More

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      England face nightmare SIX-HOUR coach trip for crunch Euro 2024 clash after new rule bans them from catching flight

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      ENGLAND’S stars are facing a potential SIX-HOUR round coach trip for the European Championship group clash with Denmark.And the gruelling journey is all down to Uefa’s sustainability rules.
      Gareth Southgate’s England are doing their part to help Uefa make Euro 2024 greenCredit: PA
      The Three Lions face a potential six-hour round trip to their second group gameCredit: Getty
      European football’s governing body are spending £25m on several sustainability measures after vowing to make the tournament in Germany the greenest ever.
      One of those measures is asking qualified nations to avoid travelling to matches via air wherever possible.
      The Daily Mail have stated that Uefa’s guidance is believed to have stated “that it is reasonable to expect sides to make journeys of around three hours by road or rail in order to cut emissions”.
      However, it was also reported that this has not been mandated.
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      Now the same publication is claiming that after talks with England boss Gareth Southgate, the Football Association have decided that they will follow Uefa’s directive.
      The Three Lions’ second game in Group C is in Frankfurt, which is 180 miles from their Golfrestort Weimarer Land training camp near Leipzig, against Denmark.
      England’s two other group games, against Serbia and Slovenia, will be staged in Gelsenkirchen and Cologne, which are both over four hours away from their base.
      Therefore, coach travel “has been deemed impractical” for those journeys but is being planned for the Denmark showdown.
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      The FA declined to comment.
      Such a long trip by road has become somewhat of a rare occurrence, much to the dismay of environmental campaigners.
      Euro 2024 draw live coverage hit with ‘sex noises’ as Gary Lineker prankster strikes again
      Players have become more used to travelling to games in flights in just a matter of minutes, with Arsenal flying to Norwich and Manchester United jetting to Leicester both being heavily criticised over recent years.
      The nearest airport to England’s base is 30 miles away at Erfurt-Weimar.
      Finalised travel plans must be submitted to Uefa by England and the other qualified nations by February 24.
      The Olympic Stadium in Berlin is the only other stadium within driving distance of England’s tournament HQ.
      But even that is further than Uefa’s three-hour guidelines. More

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      Fifa president Gianni Infantino sets deadline to rid football of racism after shocking rise in vile incidents

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      FIFA president Gianni Infantino has given football THREE MONTHS to find a way of booting racism out of the game.The world football boss used an address to the Uefa Congress in Paris to call for a defining moment in the battle over racial discrimination.
      Fifa chief Gianni Infantino has set a deadline for football to give racism the bootCredit: AP
      Birmingham City star Juninho Bacuna claimed he had been racially abused by a West Brom fanCredit: Rex
      And Infantino has set May 17 at the Fifa Congress in Bangkok as his D-Day for football associations across the globe to get their act together.
      He has demanded point deductions for teams whose games are abandoned due to racist incidents, as well as criminal charges for those who commit racism.
      It follows abuse suffered by Coventry’s Kasey Palmer at Sheffield Wednesday while Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr has regularly been racially taunted.
      AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan walked off the pitch after being targeted by Udinese fans in January and Brentford striker Ivan Toney was the subject of “vile harassment” online this week.
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      A man has also been arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Birmingham midfielder Juninho Bacuna in their 1-0 defeat at West Brom last weekend.
      Infantino said: “In the last few months we have witnessed a lot of racist incidents. This is not acceptable any more.
      “We have to stop this and do whatever we can to stop it. Racism is a crime. It is something terrible and we have to eradicate it.”
      Fifa has a three-stage protocol, so a referee can stop a match when racist behaviour is heard from the stands.
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      A second incident sees a game suspended and a third means abandonment.
      Infantino says combating racism is his “top priority” and wants “joined up, global action” insisting “concrete” measures were now necessary, with the FA ready to step up and take more action.
      Watch Brazilian sides SIT for first 30 seconds of match in support of Vinicius Jr following racism storm
      He added: “The consequences have to be a forfeit against the team responsible for the abandonment.
      “We have to start criminal charges against those who act in a racist way and ban them from stadiums. But that is not enough.
      “In the next three months we must work together, before the Fifa Congress in Bangkok on May 17, to come together with a strong, united resolution for the fight against racism.
      “Let’s stop racism. Let’s stop it now.”
      Meanwhile, a fan who racially abused Forest Green’s Jordan Garrick has been jailed for nine months.
      Ryan Ferguson, 24, of Liverpool pleaded guilty to racially aggravated harassment, failing to  comply with a football banning order and resisting a police constable at Rovers’ League One clash with Fleetwood in April last year.
      Brentford’s Ivan Toney was the subject of ‘vile harassment’ online this weekCredit: PA
      Coventry’s Kasey Palmer suffered racist abuse at Sheffield WednesdayCredit: Rex More

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      Bizarre Uefa rule that meant England couldn’t draw Kazakhstan in the Nations League as fans say ‘we’ve been robbed’

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      ENGLAND have been “robbed” of drawing Kazakhstan in their Uefa Nations League group, due to a little-known rule.England had already been drawn with Finland and Ireland in group 2, with Kazakhstan the next name to come out of the hat.
      Kazakhstan were the next team out of the hat for Group TwoCredit: UEFA
      But they were drawn in Group Three insteadCredit: UEFA
      But a rule that limits the distance Kazakhstan have to travel in Uefa competitions means they could not be put in a group with England and Ireland.
      Prior to the draw, it was agreed that Kazakhstan could only be drawn in a group with only one of England, Ireland and Wales.
      England were given Greece instead as the third team in B2.
      That saw Kazakhstan put into Group three instead, alongside Austria, Norway and Slovenia.
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      Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) spoke of how they’d been robbed of the opportunity to travel to Kazakhstan.
      One fan wrote: “We’ve been robbed of getting Kazakhstan away. I’m in hysterics.”
      Another fan wrote: “Kazakhstan… The one that got away.”
      A third wrote: “3 new country ticks but its not the Kazakhstan draw I wanted..”
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      While a fourth travelling England fan said: “Sadly no Kazakhstan away for us.”
      As replacements go, Greece isn’t a bad replacement, however.
      How does Gareth Southgate solve Phil Foden dilemma, with Jack Grealish possibly missing out on Euro 2024
      Fans will be travelling to Athens, where the team play in the Olympic Stadium.
      England have played Kazakhstan twice before in their history after being drawn in the same qualification group as them for the 2010 World Cup.
      England won the fixture at Wembley 5-1 in 2008 before thrashing them 4-0 in the away tie. More

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      Aleksander Ceferin announces shock decision to quit as Uefa president less than an hour after winning vote to stay on

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      UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin stunned European football when he announced he will QUIT his role in 2027 – less than an hour after winning a vote to stay on for an extra FOUR years.In a bizarre turn of events, the Slovenian told a press conference of his intention BEFORE informing Uefa’s 55 member associations.
      Aleksander Ceferin will step down from his role as UEFA president in 2027Credit: Getty
      And it came after the FA was left isolated as the ONLY association to vote against giving Ceferin the right to stay in the role until 2031.
      Wembley chief executive Mark Bullingham objected to the change in Uefa’s ruling Statutes which mean that Ceferin’s initial three year term after replacing Fifa-bound Gianni Infantino in 2016 will no longer count as having been served.
      Yet shortly afterwards, Ceferin made a testy appearance in which he savaged former Croatia superstar Zvonimir Boban – who quit his Uefa role in protest at the proposed changes last month – and made his surprise announcement.
      Ceferin said: “Honestly speaking, I’m tired of Covid, I’m tired of two wars and this nonsense project of the so-called Super League.
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      “I’m also tired of self-proclaimed moral authorities who are moral just until it comes to their personal interests.
      “So I decided – let’s say around six months ago – that I’m not planning to run in 2027 anymore.
      “After some time, every organisation needs fresh blood.
      “But it is  mainly because I have been away from my family for seven years now, and I will be away from them for three more until 2027. My family knew it first.”
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      Ceferin added that he had told a select group of key advisors of his decision and swore them to secrecy.
      That included Boban, who he labelled a “clown” and was a “test” of their loyalty.
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      Ceferin added: “I intentionally didn’t want to disclose my thoughts for two reasons.
      “Firstly, I wanted to see the real face of some people and I saw it; I saw good and bad parts.
      “But I didn’t want to influence the Congress.
      “I wanted them to decide not knowing what I’m telling you today because that’s an honest decision.
      “It was actually amusing to watch all this hysteria around and at the same time getting all the messages of support from my federations.”
      Turning to Boban, whom he did not name, Ceferin spat: “Now just two sentences about the self proclaimed moral authority.
      “This person does not deserve a comment from my side but people who know him and we will make their own opinions.
      “And for his pathetic cry about morality. He was one of the rare persons that knew that I was not going to run in 2027.
      “The moment that he got the information that I would disclose it after Congress he went out with his narcissistic letter.
      “He could not wait because after my disclosure his whining would not make sense any more. Now think, whose personal aspirations are in question? And think, whose morality is in question?”
      Ceferin then left after just three questions, with general secretary Theodor Theodoridis revealing he was heading back to the Uefa hotel across the city to inform the national association chiefs during their lunch break.
      Ceferin’s unexpected move means the FA’s “principled” stance was not actually necessary.
      Despite that, Wembely chiefs insisted they would still have votted the same way even if they had been aware of Ceferin’s real intentions.
      An FA spokeswoman said: “It was always about the principle and didn’t only apply to Aleksander Ceferin.
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      “We were supportive of the statute changes proposed by UEFA, with the exception of the proposed new wording on term limits.
      “We have recently implemented governance changes of our own and think it’s important that we are consistent in our approach.” More

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      When is Uefa Nations League 2024/25? Draw, schedule, TV channel, kick-off times for international tournament

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      ENGLAND have yet to win a Uefa Nations League tournament, and they won’t be able to do it this time around either. The Three Lions were unceremoniously dumped out at the group stage last time out after a 4-0 thrashing at home to Hungary.
      Gareth Southgate will want to see more from his side should he remain manager beyond Euro 2024Credit: Getty
      England ended their campaign with a 3-3 draw against Germany.
      Gareth Southgate’s side have yet to reach further than the semi-final stage, which they reached in the 2019, losing 3-1 to Holland.
      Now they’ll be hoping they can advance from League B, where they could come up against Erling Haaland’s Norway.
      When is the draw?

      The Uefa Nations League draw takes place on Thursday February 8 2024.
      The draw will be held in Paris, France.
      It will get underway from 5pm UK time.

      Who could England play?
      England are in League B, and will be drawn against three other teams from each Pot.

      Pot 1: Austria, Czechia, England, Wales
      Pot 2: Finland, Ukraine, Iceland, Norway
      Pot 3: Slovenia, Republic of Ireland, Albania, Montenegro
      Pot 4: Georgia, Greece, Türkiye, Kazakhstan

      When is the Uefa Nations League?

      Matchday 1: 5-7 September 2024
      Matchday 2: 8-10 September 2024
      Matchday 3: 10-12 October 2024
      Matchday 4: 13-15 October 2024
      Matchday 5: 14-16 November 2024
      Matchday 6: 17-19 November 2024

      Knockout round play-off draw: November 2024
      Knockout round play-offs: 20-25 March 2025
      League A quarter-finals: 20-25 March 2025
      Final tournament: 4-8 June 2025

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      What channel is the UEFA Nations League?

      England games at the Uefa Nations League will be shown live on Channel 4 in the UK.
      You can live stream the action for FREE from the All 4 app, which is available for download onto your mobile or tablet device.
      The rest of the games are available to watch on Viaplay in the UK. More

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      Arsenal and Liverpool only two of Prem’s Big Six NOT to reject new Super League plot as football descends into war again

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      FOOTBALL was thrust into an all-out Super League scrap last night.Judges decided Uefa CANNOT punish any breakaway rebels.
      Stan Kroenke’s Arsenal are yet to come out against the reformed Super LeagueCredit: PA
      John W Henry’s Liverpool were part of the original ‘Dirty Dozen’ and have also stayed silentCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      The shock ruling opened up a second attempt to form a new competition.
      Last night Arsenal and Liverpool were the only Big Six outfits yet to reject a second version of the scheme, which is loathed by fans.
      And the Government warned they will try to ban clubs from joining it under new laws.
      Nearly three years after the initial plot collapsed in 48 hours, European Court of Justice yesterday ruled that Uefa “abused a dominant position” when it threatened sanctions against the breakaway clubs.
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      Judges in the Luxembourg court insisted it was not ruling on the merits of the Super League concept but only Uefa’s attempt to “unlawfully” block its development.
      The shock decision opened the door to a second attempt to form a new competition — led by Real Madrid and Barcelona.
      Within hours, Super League’s PR firm A22 unveiled a new 64-team competition split into three tiers and effectively ring-fencing Europe’s elite teams at the top of the pile.
      It was met for anger and derision from fans — but is sure to tempt owners of European giants.
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      A22 boss Bernd Reichart hailed: “Under our plan, clubs that almost never play each other would compete regularly on the European stage.
      “It will guarantee fantastic, exciting matches through the entire year, not just part of the year.
      “We are now talking about an open, accessible, meritocratic league system in Europe side by side with domestic leagues, late mid-week leaving the national leagues untouched.
      “If we convince clubs and convince their fans, why wouldn’t fans not join?”
      We will not try to stop them. They can create whatever they want. I hope they start their fantastic competition as soon as possible, with two clubs. Football is not for sale.Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin
      Fifa, Uefa, the Premier League and the influential European Club Association all joined the furious backlash, insisting that protecting the current system was essential for the good of the game.
      Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin conceded he had lost the sanctions threat and could not ban rebel players from playing in the Euros or World Cup.
      But he mocked: “I watched the so-called presentation and didn’t know whether to be shocked or amused.
      “It’s close to Christmas, they saw a box under the tree and started to celebrate, but then when they opened the box they realised there was not much inside.
      “We will not try to stop them. They can create whatever they want. I hope they start their fantastic competition as soon as possible, with two clubs. Football is not for sale.”
      ‘European Zombie League’
      Fifa president Gianni Infantino appeared to agree with Ceferin but added: “With the greatest respect for the European Court of Justice, today’s judgement does not change anything, really.”
      Manchester United, one of the Big Six to initially sign up to the £3bn scheme in 2021, came out in support of the status quo, joined by Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
      United said: “Our position has not changed. We remain fully committed to participation in Uefa competitions, and to positive cooperation with Uefa, the Premier League, and fellow clubs through the ECA on the continued development of the European game.”
      It took some five hours for Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham to follow suit with similar statements.
      Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid were among those to rule themselves out of A22’s plan.
      But none of Arsenal, Liverpool or Newcastle made ANY comment.
      Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Barcelona were crowing at the victory and Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentis — omitted from the original ‘Dirty Dozen’ rebels — signalled he was ready to sign up to any new plan.
      Arsenal fans protested against the initial plot three years agoCredit: Alamy
      The original breakaway plot was stopped by furious fans across the continentCredit: Getty
      Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said: “European club football is not and will never be a monopoly again.
      “The Europe of freedoms has triumphed again and football and its fans have also triumphed.”
      That feeling of “triumph” was not shared by the fans. The Football Supporters Federation blasted the “European Zombie League” and added: “There is no place for an ill-conceived breakaway.
      “Supporters, players and clubs have already made clear they don’t want a stitched-up competition.”
      In its response the Prem pointed out the judgement “does not endorse the so-called Super League” and promised to “continue to reject any such concept”.
      The Government added its new Independent Regulator would have the power to block any English clubs from joining the rebels.
      Read more on The Sun
      It said: “The attempt to create a breakaway competition was a defining moment in English football and was universally condemned by fans, clubs and the Government.
      “We will shortly be bringing forward legislation that will stop clubs from joining any similar breakaway competitions in the future.” More