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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

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      Man Utd takeover breakthrough as Uefa ‘will NOT block Qatari investors’ bid’ despite owning PSG

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      MANCHESTER UNITED have had a breakthrough in ownership talks after it was reported Uefa will NOT block investors from Qatar buying the club. Despite interest from tiny Middle East nation, there were fears any ownership bid would be blocked due to Qatar Sports Investment already being owners of French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
      Uefa have ruled they will not block a Man Utd takeover bid from QatarCredit: Getty
      This is despite Qatar Sports Investments already owning PSGCredit: AFP

      This is due to Uefa having a rule which forbids a party from owning multiple clubs in the same competition.
      With United and PSG often clashing in Europe, Uefa may have deemed any takeover bid illegal due to the two sides being in the same tournament.
      However, according to the Daily Mail, any bid from Qatar will come from a separate entity to QSI
      This satisfies Uefa chiefs enough for them to not block any prospective takeover of the club, which was put up for sale by the Glazer family last November.
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      Raine Group are overseeing the sale process for the Red Devils, and have set a February 17 deadline for any prospective buyers to place bids.
      The Glazers are aiming to get up to £6billion for the club, but a more realistic range of just over £4bn has been estimated.
      Sir Jim Ratcliffe was the first to announce his intention to buy Man Utd but he could be priced out of a deal despite recruiting Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan.
      The owner of INEOS and French club Nice – whose French stadium was the venue for an amateur porn film – is said to be “determined” to strike a deal however.
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      The Mail’s report adds as well as the separation of two entities, the closeness of PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin could also be a determining factor.
      Ceferin was in attendance at the Parc des Princes as PSG suffered a 1-0 defeat against Bayern Munich. More

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      Why Arsenal clash with Man City is on at same time as Champions League despite Premier League rules banning it

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      THE Premier League fixture between Arsenal and Manchester City will be played at the same time as Champions League ties despite rules banning it. The top of the table clash is all set for Wednesday 15, at the same time Club Brugge face Benfica and Borussia Dortmund welcome Chelsea.
      Man City will play Arsenal at the same time Chelsea play in the Champions LeagueCredit: AP
      Rules prohibit top division domestic matches occurring at the same time as European matches to not give fans across the world a headache with what to watch.
      However, the biggest game of the season has been allowed to happen this Wednesday due to Uefa doing a huge favour in return after the Premier League helped them.
      City’s trip to Arsenal was originally scheduled for the weekend after Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8 and it was therefore postponed.
      The Gunners’ fixture in the Europa League with PSV Eindhoven was also cancelled as a result.
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      The City match was hastily put in the calendar for October 19 but this handed Uefa a major scheduling nightmare.
      It gave the governing body no time to finish the Europa League group stages before the World Cup pause as there was no other available midweek remaining.
      The Prem gave way and further delayed the highly anticipated match until after the tournament in Qatar to accommodate PSV’s trip to the Emirates Stadium, which ended in a 1-0 win to the Gunners.
      This favour has clearly been appreciated by those in charge of the Champions League as there has been zero pushback from them regarding the setting of the game for this Wednesday.
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      Uefa normally frown upon league’s trying to get matches played while their elite competition takes place.
      Arsenal against City kicks-off at 7:30pm and the European clashes begin half an hour later.
      Despite much interest in the Round of 16 matches, many eyes will be on Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta’s sides.
      A win for the current champions would take them above their closest challengers on goal difference, with just three points separating them. More

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      Fifa set to trial new offside rule with semi-automatic system deemed ‘too accurate’

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      FIFA are reportedly set to trial a new offside rule after the semi-automatic system they introduced was deemed “too accurate”.The system, which uses 10 cameras to track 29 body points of each player, was brought in by the governing body for the World Cup.
      Fifa chief Gianni Infantino brought in the semi-automatic offside system for the World CupCredit: Reuters
      It has allegedly been deemed ‘too accurate’ with a new one set to be trialledCredit: Getty
      The semi-automatic offside technology was initially meant to be rolled out for the opening fixture of the tournament in Qatar.
      But Uefa stole a march on Fifa as it was deployed in the Super Cup fixture between Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt.
      However, now it seems that the accuracy of the semi-automatic offsides were restricting attacking play.
      And now they are considering changing the rule so if any part of the body you can score with is level with the defender you are not offside.
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      A trial will have to be held first before any change goes through, with Gianluca DiMarzio claiming that Italian U18 matches could be used to try it out.
      He wrote: “Fifa is thinking of a new modification that would go against the canons of semi-automatic offside.
      “In fact, the latter has such a high degree of accuracy that it limits the teams’ offensive play.
      “It is therefore decided to consider an attacker in play who has at least one part of the body good for scoring in a regular position , bringing the concept of ‘light’ out into the open.
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      “Another reason for this hypothetical change could also be the fact that players are often penalised for a part of the body that does not even benefit them.”
      He added: “Before definitively inserting this new rule, however, it must be tested at lower levels.
      “For this reason, Fifa has chosen, among others, the Italian U18 championship to verify the feasibility and collect significant data.”
      No official announcement has yet been made by Fifa regarding the potential rule change or trial. More

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      Uefa set to change transfer rules after Chelsea’s January transfer spree sparks concern among rival clubs

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      CHELSEA’S January transfer policy is set to see a change in Uefa rules – to stop clubs manipulating Financial Fair Play regulations.The Stamford Bridge club’s eye-popping £400million spending spree has included handing out unconventional contracts of six, seven and even EIGHT years to signings including Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Mykhailo Mudryk.
      Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has splashed the cash since his arrival in West LondonCredit: Getty
      Mykhailo Mudryk is the latest big-money arrival, joining for an eye-watering £88million from UkraineCredit: Getty
      That means transfer payments for players can be spread over the length of the extended contracts in the Blues’ accounts – a process known as amortisation – meaning just a fraction counts towards the Blues’ FFP allowance each season.
      But rival clubs have complained at the loop-hole being exploited.
      And now Uefa chiefs are ready to bring in new regulations which will see all future fees calculated over a maximum of five years.
      Fifa, which has oversight over all international deals, states that contracts should last for a “maximum” of five years unless a longer deal is “consistent with national laws”.
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      Premc lubs have that allowance under UK law and Chelsea are among the clubs to have taken advantage.
      It does mean that players signed on the longer deals are a “cost” for clubs throughout the contract, meaning they cannot be booked at a full sales price – the normal accounting practice – if they are sold after five seasons. 
      Uefa, though, is prepared to step in with a new rule from this summer which will cap amortisation over the five year period that applies in most countries.
      While there is no threat to the status or calculations over the deals Chelsea have undertaken this season, a similar spending spree in future campaigns would see the FFP cost rise.
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      That would be in parallel with the new Uefa “cost control” requirements that will see spending pegged to revenues from this year.
      In the initial season, clubs will be permitted to spend 90 per cent of income on net transfers and wages, dropping to a new maximum of 70 per cent over three years.
      One prominent Uefa source said: “If other clubs start doing the same with eight-year contracts it will be a mess so we need to protect them.
      “This is simply shifting a problem to the future. 
      “Either a club can get stuck with a player on a high salary that they cannot sell, or if they sell him after three or four years they will not realise much profit because a lot of his transfer fee has not been amortised.” More

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      UK and Ireland joint bid for Euro 2028 ‘could be scuppered’ as ex-FA chief says it will be ‘miracle’ if stadium is ready

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      THE UK and Ireland’s joint bid for Euro 2028 is in crisis mode due to Casement Park needing “a miracle” to be ready in time.The venue, located in Belfast, is threatening to drag the joint UK/Ireland Euro 2028 bid down, with Uefa unconvinced about redevelopment plans for the site.
      Casement Park’s redevelopment has thrown the joint UK/Ireland bid into chaosCredit: Sportsfile
      It is currently closed and in a state of dereliction, with redevelopment plans pending now for several yearsCredit: Pacemaker Press
      This stumbling block could prove fatal to the host 2028 bidCredit: PA
      Work on a proposed 34,578-seater arena for the home of Antrim GAA is due to start next year, but securing the funds for its redevelopment has proved to be a challenge.
      Uefa have raised concerns that temporary stands could be required at Casement Park for the Euro 2028 tournament, describing it as a significant stumbling block.
      Casement Park is the only stadium from Northern Ireland included in a list of 14 venues across the UK and Ireland.
      But ex-Irish FA president and former Fifa vice president Jim Boyce says it will be a tough task for it to be ready to host games at Euro 2028.
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      Boyce told The Irish Sun: “While Northern Ireland are joining in the bid to host Euro 2028 with England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, the chances of Casement Park being ready are slim. There is little chance.
      “The government in Northern Ireland are not even meeting at the minute, the money hasn’t been released, there hasn’t been a brick laid at Casement Park.
      “My honest opinion is that it would take a miracle for Casement Park to be available for European Championship matches to be played in 2028.”
      Boyce fears there will no matches in Northern Ireland if the bid to host the tournament is successful, instead believing Belfast will have to settle for warm-up games.
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      Boyce added: “It is not realistic (that Casement Park will be built by Euro 2028).
      “I hope the bid is successful, I’m all for the bid taking place.
      “But I think all Northern Ireland can hope for is some preparation games being played in Northern Ireland.”
      Boyce previously backed plans for a new £300million international sports stadium at the former Maze Prison site, but the scheme failed amid political fallout.
      Jim Boyce, former IFA president and FIFA Vice-President, doubts Casement Park will see any Euro 2028 matchesCredit: Getty – Contributor
      MISSED OPPORTUNITY
      Boyce insists not building a showpiece stadium for football, rugby and GAA at the site to hold 40,000 or 50,000 spectators was “a very big missed opportunity.”
      He said: “When I was President of the Irish Football Association I always felt that Northern Ireland should have had a stadium big enough to host events like European Championships.
      “There was a possibility that could have been the Maze Stadium.
      “I was told by the Government at the time that if you wanted a stadium that held 40,000 or 50,000 people it had to be at the Maze Stadium and nowhere else.
      “But politics played a large part in Northern Ireland at that time and it fell through.
      “Now we are in a situation that we don’t have a stadium in Northern Ireland to host an event such as we are talking about.
      “I think the Maze Stadium was a very big missed opportunity.”
      Windsor Park – the home of football in Northern Ireland – was not selected for the bid as its capacity is just 18,500, well under the Uefa’s minimum requirement for European Championships games.
      The 14 stadiums on the list would be whittled down to ten for the 24-team tournament.
      UEFA QUESTIONS
      Uefa has sent a lengthy list of questions to the UK and Irish bid after the submission of their preliminary dossier last month.
      Euro footie chiefs are also growing frustrated over delays in agreeing guarantees around policing, airports, tax exemptions and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
      The issue with Tottenham’s stadium is in relation to naming rights.
      Uefa’s rules insist on a “clean”, unbranded venue and insiders at European football’s governing body say an agreement has yet to be reached with the club.
      But all is good with the Aviva Stadium which will be known as the Dublin Stadium for the competition.
      Uefa have made it clear that the issues with the 2028 bid need to be resolved quickly, with the final dossier due to be submitted in April.
      On the issues with the UK/Ireland push, a bid spokesman said: “Following the submission of the UK and Ireland preliminary bid to Uefa in November, we are working through the next phase of the process, including fully responding to Uefa’s follow-up questions.”
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      However, the bid – due to take place in September – faces competition from Turkey in the Uefa vote.
      It is understood Turkey has signed off all of its guarantees already, while Uefa had far fewer issues with the Euro 2024 hosts, Germany, than the UK and Irish bid.
      There are no issues with the Aviva Stadium, which will be known as the Dublin stadium for Euro 2028 if the bid is sucessfulCredit: Sportsfile – Subscription More