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      Champions League final ref Szymon Marciniak to KEEP role after apologising over far-right links following Uefa probe

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      SZYMON MARCINIAK will keep his role as Champions League final referee after Uefa probed alleged links with a far-right politician.The Polish whistler was originally appointed to officiate Manchester City’s clash with Inter Milan in Istanbul next week.
      Szymon Marciniak has been selected to referee next week’s Champions League finalCredit: Getty
      His participation was subsequently in doubt, however, following allegations that he appeared as a speaker at a far-right event in Poland.
      Polish anti-racism group Never Again claimed that Marciniak promoted and even participated in an event organised by Slawomir Mentzen.
      Mentzen, 36, is leader of Poland’s Confederation Party – which uses a vile slogan denouncing Jewish and gay people – in addition to standing against abortion, taxes and the EU.
      Uefa released a statement following the allegations against Marciniak.
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      It read: “Uefa is aware of the allegations surrounding Szymon Marciniak and is seeking urgent clarification.
      “Uefa and the whole football community abhor the ‘values’ that are promoted by the group in question and takes these allegations very seriously.
      “A further announcement will be made, after reviewing all the evidence.”
      Following their probe, Uefa elected to keep Marciniak on as Champions League final ref after receiving a lengthy apology and clarification.
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      Marciniak, 42, allegedly appeared as a keynote speaker at a far-right event
      European football’s governing body added that anti-discrimination groups asked for Marciniak to keep his role as Champions League final ref.
      The far-right event that Marciniak was allegedly involved in took place on May 29.
      At the event entitled “Everest” – Marciniak was listed as a keynote speaker.
      The referee has officiated eight Champions League matches this term, including Manchester City’s semi-final second leg mauling of Real Madrid.
      He also took charge of last year’s World Cup final in Qatar.
      The Pole took charge of Manchester City’s Champions League semi-final mauling of Real MadridCredit: Getty More

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      Fears over Champions League final fan safety with chiefs concerned over violence in the streets in Istanbul

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      UEFA chiefs have more than just their fingers crossed that the Champions League final in Istanbul will go off smoothly.Nyon bosses are due to outline their official future steps later this week.
      The Champions League final will be played in Istanbul on June 10Credit: AFP
      It comes in the aftermath of last season’s chaos in Paris.
      And Manchester City fans who booked flights in expectation of a semi-final win over Real Madrid could be walking into a precarious situation in Turkey for reasons outside of football.
      Hardline president Recep Erdogan is in a brutal re-election fight with rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu before a first round of voting on May 14.
      Unless either gets more than 50 per cent of the vote there will then be a decisive second round two weeks later.
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      That is less than a fortnight before the European football showpiece event in the Ataturk Stadium on June 10.
      And there are fears that a tight result at the polls could see people on the streets and potential violence.
      The prospect of travelling fans being caught in Turkey’s domestic strains is causing significant concerns among Uefa’s top brass.
      The European governing body is also having to deal with disappointed VIPs and sponsors.
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      The Ataturk only has 12 top-of-the-range “Sky Boxes” at the stadium.
      But ensuring the “ordinary” fan is safe is a bigger issue.
      The Ataturk Stadium will host the biggest club match in European footballCredit: Getty More

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      Uefa President launches surprise defence of the Premier League and calls it ‘remarkable model that should be followed’

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      UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has launched a huge DEFENCE of the Premier League.In his address to the UEFA Congress in Lisbon, the Slovenian said that rather than criticising the Prem, the whole of football should look to mirror the way it is run.
      UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin delivered a speech in LisbonCredit: AFP
      Ceferin, once again slamming the “so-called Super League” rebels, told the 55 European national associations: “Jealousy is never a good counsellor.
      “A few months ago, UEFA and its club competitions were being blamed for all the evils in football and the inequalities within the leagues. 
      “Today, it’s the English Premier League that seems to be under attack.
      “Since the British government, supporters and clubs said no to the Super League, the Premier League has been demonised and labelled a Super League in its own right that needs to be toppled.
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      “However, the Premier League’s success was not achieved by accident. 
      “By adopting an audacious approach based on a vision, a strategy and a lot of hard work, its leaders and clubs developed a remarkable model founded on sporting merit and a highly egalitarian distribution of wealth, one of the most egalitarian systems in the world. 
      “Rather than a model to be destroyed, this is a model that should be followed.” 
      The UEFA President added: “Let me reassure those who fear that English football will crush everything that stands in its way. 
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      “The figures do not lie: in the last 20 years, the Champions League has been won on five occasions by English clubs. 
      “Only twice in the last decade an English club has lifted the iconic trophy with the big ears.
      “This season clubs from 17 countries played in the knockout rounds of our competitions. Italy has the most representatives in the Champions League and Europa League quarter-finals, Belgium in the Conference League.
      “But it is true that jealousy sees everything except the truth.”
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      Ceferin praised the Premier League and insists it is an example to look up toCredit: Getty
      Ceferin’s anger against the Super League trio – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus – has not abated.
      He said: “I’m not going to go into the details of the ill-fated plan put forward by three club officials, two financiers and one spokesperson. 
      “Those who promote this project are now claiming that they want to save football. It’s a good job nobody has ever died of shame. 
      “The Super League has turned into a character in Little Red Riding Hood: a wolf disguised as a grandmother, ready to eat you up. 
      “But nobody’s fooled. Football is and will always stay the sport of the people.”
      Ceferin did, though, make what was effectively an apology for the chaos at last season’s Champions League Final in Paris – but without actually saying it directly.
      Ceferin blasted European Super League rebels Real Madrid, Barcelona and JuventusCredit: Getty
      He said: “We must never forget the mistakes of the past and we must remain humble at all times.
      “Nothing can ever be taken for granted.
      “Unfortunately, unlike goalkeepers, leaders can never keep a ‘clean sheet’. 
      “No leader can boast an unblemished record, however much they invest and however passionate, professional or experienced they are. 
      “There are always a few stains, a few mistakes that tarnish our reputation, errors they would love to erase. 
      “I am no different and UEFA is no different. The most important thing is to understand the mistake and change not to repeat them.”
      And Ceferin also pledged a crackdown on racism and other hate-speech or actions.
      He added: “We must never forget that football is an inclusive sport, open to everyone, in which everyone has a place. 
      “Unfortunately, some people have still not grasped this concept, which is why we’re going to have to rethink our approach. 
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      “We need to target offenders more effectively whenever a player is subjected to racist, homophobic or sexist insults during UEFA competitions. 
      “Maybe it is time to go with harsher measures, maybe it is time to put some people in court.” More

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      Uefa chief drops huge hint Barcelona WILL face Champions League ban as he calls ref-fixing scandal ‘extremely serious’

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      UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin hinted that Uefa is ready to ban Barcelona over the ref-fixing scandal.The Catalan giants are under criminal investigation following claims they paid the country’s referees’ chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira more than £6.5m over a 17-YEAR period.
      Aleksander Ceferin has hinted Uefa are ready to punish Barcelona
      Barcelona are flying high at the top of La Liga, but the investigation will be an unwelcome distraction
      Uefa last month launched an investigation that could lead to a one season Champions League ban.
      And while angry Barca chiefs have accused La Liga boss Javier Tebas of giving “false” evidence against them – and demanded his resignation – Slovenian Ceferin weighed in by making it clear he was ready to demand tough action.
      Ceferin, who will today be re-elected “by acclamation” to a second four-year term as the head of European football, said: “From what I have been told happened, the situation is extremely serious. 
      “So serious that in my estimation it is one of the most serious in football since I have been involved in it.
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      “We have an independent disciplinary committee. I cannot comment on what it might decide.
      “Naturally, for La Liga, the matter is out of date and cannot have competitive consequences.
      “But proceedings are going on at the level of the Spanish civil prosecutor’s office. 
      “And the same applies with Uefa action, because we have no time limit on alleged offences like this.”
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      Ceferin also appeared to further open the door to multi-club ownership of side in European competition – good news for the proposed Qatari owners of Manchester United.
      He added: “We don’t have a solution yet, but we have started talking about it.
      “There is interest from a large number of those investors who are already present in European football to take over another club.
      “I agree that if two such clubs compete in the same competition, they could in principle agree results.
      “But can you tell a coach to lose a game so that another club wins? I doubt it, even if it’s possible in theory. 
      “Football is extremely interesting for investors. 
      “We are now faced with a dilemma: to remain conservative and see these investors go elsewhere with their money or to allow the ownership of several clubs with safeguards. 
      “While we think football should remain as it is, we should not be too conservative. 
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      “Some rules come from the time when there were no such investors in football, or when the owners financed football from their business. 
      “Now they tell me that they finance their business from football. That’s a huge difference.” More

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      Major update to handball rule with Uefa to rip up laws as even PRESIDENT admits ‘I absolutely do not understand it’

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      THE handball rule is set to be ripped up again – after even Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said he “absolutely doesn’t understand it”.Debates about what is or is not an offence have plagued the season as players, managers and fans have shown their disbelief at decisions.
      This Tomas Soucek incident against Chelsea was not awarded as handballCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      Brentford defender Aaron Hickey conceded a penalty for this handball against Brighton at the weekend but escaped punishment for a later incidentCredit: Getty
      Last weekend, Brentford’s Aaron Hickey was penalised for one offence but escaped a potential second penalty, both in stoppage time, in the 3-3 draw at Brighton.
      Arsenal players have incurred two fines for protests about penalty claims against Oxford and Newcastle, while PGMOL chiefs admitted Chelsea SHOULD have been awarded a spot-kick in the last minutes of their draw at West Ham.
      And now Ceferin has revealed Uefa has demanded talks with Fifa and the Law-making International FA Board in an attempt to sort out the issues.
      Ceferin said: “I absolutely do not understand the Law as it stands – and something must be done.
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      “At the end of this month we will form a special group, which will be led by out Head of football, Zvonimir Boban.
      “We want to have all the greatest coaches and former football players, the biggest names in world football,  in it. 
      “What’s clear is that the current handball law is really obscure. No one understands it any more. 
      “So we really need a conversation here, finding solutions and clarifying some issues.
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      “The Laws say that a player should be penalised by making himself bigger – but what should they do? 
      “How can you make yourself smaller if you fall to the ground or if you jump in the air – the hands are where they are, you can’t always press them to the body.”
      Ceferin revealed he had pushed the issue with Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino.
      He added: “We all need to do something about this together. 
      “What we have now is very bad for football, which is supposed to be a game which is very understandable and clear to everyone.
      “When it comes to offsides, we can debate whether VAR should consider a tolerance area and not intervene at every millimetre.
      “But even as it is, things are clear and nobody can argue with you. 
      “Yet handball decisions are strange and it is difficult for the referees to make decisions. 
      “If someone boots the ball at you from two metres, what can you do? 
      “I saw a game when the ball hit the defender’s thigh, then his hand, and the referee awarded a penalty. 
      “How a player could prevent this is really beyond me. 
      “We are having a very serious conversation about this, and we are increasingly coming to the conclusion that – once again – no one currently understands the Law.
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      “So we have to find solutions and find a way using football intelligence or logic to make sure the referees don’t look for an alibi in VAR and then award every contact with the hand just to protect themselves. 
      “This is a big problem and we have to solve it wisely.” More

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      Gent wonderkid, 20, ‘does best Erling Haaland impression’ with 3-MINUTE hat-trick.. after scoring four in his last game

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      GENT secured their passage into the Europa Conference League quarter-finals thanks to a THREE-MINUTE hat-trick from Gift Orban. Orban, aged just 20, fired a record-breaking hat-trick into the net of Istanbul Basaksehir in the Conference League Last 16.
      Gift Orban netted the fastest hat-trick in Uefa club competitionCredit: EPA

      At just three minutes and 25 seconds, it is the fastest hat-trick ever scored in a Uefa club competition.
      Amazingly the young Nigerian forward had also scored four goals in his last game.
      Orban’s performance comes after Erling Haaland’s own record-breaking night when he scored FIVE goals against RB Leipzig in a 7-1 win for Manchester City.
      And fans could not help but draw comparisons between the two.
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      One user on Twitter said: “Gent striker Gift Orban does his best Haaland impersonation and scores three before halftime in Europe.”
      A second user remarked: “Gift Orban scoring a three-minute hat-trick in the #UECL – Erling Haaland eat your heart out. Bosh.”
      A third joked: “Everybody watching Haaland yesterday 👀. Gift Orban: ‘Hold my beer’.”
      While a fourth added: “Gift Orban the Nigerian Haaland.”
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      Despite only making his debut for Gent in February, Orban has already scored nine goals in eight games.
      Haaland has already become Man City’s all-time leading goalscorer in a single season with 39 goals in all competitions.
      Meanwhile, his quintet on Tuesday saw him become the youngest player in Champions League history to surpass 30 goals. More

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      Liverpool fans to have Champions League final tickets refunded by Uefa – costing them £3m – after chaos

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      NEARLY 20,000 Liverpool fans caught up in the Champions League Final chaos will have their ticket money refunded by Uefa.Uefa bosses have accepted “primary responsibility” for a “near-catastrophe” before the game at the Stade de France.
      Uefa have finally taken responsibility for the chaotic scenes for the finalCredit: AFP
      And in an unprecedented move, European football chiefs announced they will refund ticket money to the 19,618 Liverpool fans who bought tickets through the club’s official allocation.
      Thousands of Liverpool fans were kettled outside the ground after arriving on the Paris Metro system.
      The security measures meant many Liverpool fans were outside for hours and failed to get in for the start of the game.
      Riot police then used tear-gas, adding to the distress of fans, while some external gates were opened to allow mobs of locals to attack queueing supporters.
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      Initial attempts to blame Liverpool fans for using fake tickets were destroyed by the factual evidence with Uefa’s report pinning the blame on the European governing body and French and stadium authorities.
      The move, described as a “special refund scheme for fans who were most affected” by the shambolic and dangerous actions instigated by French police, will cost Uefa around £3m.
      Uefa explained: “Refunds will be available to all fans with tickets for gates A, B, C, X, Y and Z, where the most difficult circumstances were reported.
      “In addition, all fans who according to the access control data did not enter the stadium before 9pm (the originally scheduled kick-off time), or who were not able to enter the stadium at all, will be eligible for a refund.
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      “Finally, Uefa will offer refunds to all fans who purchased accessibility tickets along with those of their accompanying persons.”
      Liverpool have agreed to take charge of the reimbursement scheme with Uefa forwarding the total ticket value for the club to distribute according to the prices paid.
      A separate scheme will also allow some Real Madrid supporters – many of whom were caught up in the tear-gassing and then attacked by marauding gangs of local thugs – to reclaim their entry price.
      Uefa general secretary Theodore Theodoridis said: “We have taken into account a huge number of views expressed both publicly and privately and believe we have devised a scheme that is comprehensive and fair.
      “We value the input from the Liverpool FC supporter organisations Spirit of Shankly (SoS) and Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association (LDSA) as well as the open and transparent dialogue throughout this period.
      “We recognise the negative experiences of those supporters on the day and with this scheme we will refund fans who had bought tickets and who were the most affected by the difficulties in accessing the stadium.” More

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      Uefa urged to BLOCK Qatari takeover of Man Utd to ‘protect integrity of competition’ due to PSG ownership

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      UEFA have been urged to block the Qatari takeover bid for Manchester United. Ahead of tomorrow’s bid deadline, Qatar are interested in taking over the Red Devils.
      The Glazers have put Man Utd up for saleCredit: AFP
      But Uefa have been urged to block a bid from Qatar due to links with PSGCredit: AP
      Though any United takeover bid will come in from Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-ThaniCredit: Rex
      However, Uefa have been warned to block any bid from Qatar while Qatar Sports Investment remain owners of PSG.
      The call comes from human rights group FairSquare.
      As reported by The Athletic, the group have sent a letter to Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin, general secretary Theodore Theodoridis and Premier League chief Richard Masters.
      It reads: “A basic study of Qatar’s political and economic system amply demonstrates the impossibility of any Qatari consortium proving itself independent of state influence, and thus separate from the ownership of PSG.
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      “Freedom House’s World Freedom Index classifies Qatar as ‘not free’, and its most recent assessment is highly critical of Qatar’s record on the rule of law, corruption, and political participation: ‘Qatar’s hereditary emir holds all executive and legislative authority and ultimately controls the judiciary.'”
      Uefa rules stipulate that “no individual or legal entity may have control or influence over more than one club participating in a Uefa club competition”.
      Although Red Bull’s ownership of FC Salzburg and RB Leipzig was overlooked by Uefa after an ownership restructuring at Salzburg – with both playing in the Champions League.
      Earlier this week, it was reported Uefa would not block any Qatari offer for Man Utd due to them being satisfied about a bid coming from a separate entity.
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      The United bid will be launched by Qatar’s ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
      The Qatar Investment Authority is worth a staggering £370billion, and already owns French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain.
      United’s owners – The Glazers – are understood to want £6bn for the club.
      However, a more realistic outcome will see them pocket £4.1-£4.5bn.
      In their letter FairSquare added “UEFA’s Statutes are very clear on the critical importance of ensuring that no single party can exercise control or influence over more than one club, and this is all the more important when the owners are states.
      “State ownership of European football clubs jeopardises the integrity of the game, its proclaimed values and its sustainability.”
      Qatar’s interest is being rivalled by British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, while Twitter owner Elon Musk is also a shock party considering a bid. More