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    Chelsea escape with warning as Uefa fine eight clubs including AC Milan, Juventus and PSG £149m for FFP breaches

    CHELSEA, Manchester City, West Ham and Leicester have been warned they face Uefa financial fair play punishments if they cannot get their books back in balance this season.The four Prem sides were among 19 European clubs that Uefa experts ruled had only met the requirements because of Covid 19 emergency measures or historical break-even results.
    Chelsea spent over £271million this summer on new signings including defender Wesley FofanaCredit: Getty
    Former Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined the Blues on deadline dayCredit: Getty
    Uefa allows clubs to record a loss of just £25m over a three year period, a significant contrast to Prem rules that allow clubs to lose £35m a season.
    And as it announced fines totalling £149m against eight European clubs, Uefa said the Prem sides will now face extra scrutiny.
    Uefa said: “The Club Financial Control Body reminded these clubs that as from financial year 2023 these exceptional Covid deductions and consideration of historical financial results will no longer be possible. 
    “These clubs were further asked for additional financial information and will be monitored closely in the upcoming period.”
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    The English quartet may not be terribly bothered though, as Uefa also confirmed that despite levying the fines against the errant eight, only £22.5m must be paid now – with the rest waived if the clubs comply with new financial regulations by the 2025-26 season.
    PSG and the Italian quartet of Juventus, Inter, Roma and Milan were joined by French duo Monaco and Marseille and Turkish side Besiktas on the Uefa naughty step.
    The French champions copped the biggest fine, of £56.2m, but with just £8.65m due immediately.
    Uefa said the punishments had been imposed after studying the accounts of the clubs from 2018 through to this summer, taking into account the effect of the pandemic.
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    Euro chiefs said: “These amounts will be withheld from any revenues these clubs earn from participating in UEFA club competitions or paid directly.
    “The clubs agreed to comply with the football earning rule during the 2025/26 season. 
    “They undertake to reach intermediate annual targets, and to the application of conditional financial and sporting measures should these targets not be met.” More

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    Uefa rule change will see players and managers facing bookings for waving imaginary cards at referees

    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE players and bosses face booking for waving “imaginary” cards as part of a Uefa clampdown on player misbehaviour this season.Uefa refs’ chief Roberto Rosetti has demanded officials deal out swift punishment for any incidents of “mobbing of referees, mass confrontation between players and dissent by players and coaches”.
    Waving imaginary cards will lead to players being booked in Uefa competitionCredit: PA:Empics Sport
    Managers will also face the same punishment in the Champions and Europa LeagueCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
    Players have been warned they WILL be booked for diving or exaggerating the impact of small fouls.
    But Uefa is also determined to try to stop players putting pressure on refs to book or dismiss opponents – especially when they are conning officials over what actually happened.
    And referees, including England’s World Cup-bound Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor, have been urged to “take firm sanctions” against players who try to con them into giving yellow or red cards to opponents.
    Rosetti said: “When a player tries to get another player punished, it’s unfair for football. 
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    “It represents unfair conduct by players against their colleagues – a bad example of disrespectful behaviour.”
    The instruction from Rosetti is part of Uefa’s determination to “protect football’s image”.
    Euro chiefs want punishment for players who “attempt deception through acts of simulation or by over-reacting to light-contact fouls”.
    Rosetti said: “We don’t want to see these things in the game.
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    “We are determined to protect the image of football, and we consider certain types of behaviour on the field and on the benches to be unacceptable.”
    Uefa is also introducing the new “semi-automated offside technology” – with special cameras tracking 29 body parts of all players and a sensor in the ball.
    That will come in from the start of the Champions League group stage on Tuesday. More

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    Premier League fans will be allowed to STAND during Champions League matches under new Uefa rules this season

    FANS of the Prem’s seven European clubs will be allowed to stand at Uefa games this season.Uefa’s ruling executive committee is understood to have agreed to a one season standing “trial” for English, German and French clubs.
    Chelsea will be amongst the clubs allowed safe standing in Champions League games this seasonCredit: Getty
    The Government confirmed last month that the successful “safe standing” trial at Spurs, Chelsea and Manchester United would be rolled out across the professional game for this season.
    That had only applied to domestic matches, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham expected to have to revert to all-seater arenas for their Champions League matches, with similar restrictions for United and Arsenal in the Europa League and West Ham in the Conference League.
    But the change of heart by Uefa chiefs will allow those fans who have standing tickets to continue to utilise those sections for Euro games.
    The Prem seven will also be allowed to offer standing tickets for visiting fans, with Uefa initially restricting the change to the three major nations where standing is currently permitted.
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    But it seems likely that a similar change will be introduced for international team matches as well if the trial is judged a success, potentially seeing some fans allowed to stand at the 2024 European Championships in Germany.
    Safe standing will be rolled out at eligible and willing Premier League and Championship clubs this season.
    Brentford, QPR and Wolves will introduce it soon, with Wembley Stadium also planning to offer it for domestic matches later in the campaign.
    Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “We are not reintroducing terraces and only clubs which meet strict safety criteria will be permitted.
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    “Thanks to a robust trial, thorough evidence and modern engineering, we are now ready to allow standing once again in our grounds.”
    Participating clubs will need enhanced use of CCTV, improved steward training and fans being strictly limited to “one person, one space”.
    They are also required to engage with fans as part of their application process. More

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    Russia fails to get football ban for Ukraine war overturned after launching legal cases against Fifa and Uefa

    RUSSIA has failed in its bid to get the country’s football ban overturned.The Football Union of Russia and four leading clubs launched legal cases against Fifa and Uefa over the bans imposed following the invasion of Ukraine.
    Uefa and Fifa have seen their bans imposed on Russia upheld by CAS following the Ukraine invasionCredit: PA
    Russia was booted out of the scheduled World Cup play-off with Poland.
    The nation was also banned from competing at this month’s Women’s European Championship.
    Uefa also ruled that clubs from the country could not take part in European competitions.
    That means Russian giants are banned from the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.
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    And now a series of pleas to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has failed, with judges backing the governing bodies.
    It means Zenit St Petersburg, Sochi, Dynamo Moscow and CSKA Moscow remain banned from the three major European competitions.
    CAS ruled: “In all of these cases, the panel determined that the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine created  unforeseen and unprecedented circumstances to which Fifa and Uefa had to respond.
    “Both parties acted within the scope of the discretion granted to them under their statutes and regulations.
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    “It is unfortunate that the current military operations in Ukraine had such an adverse effect on the Russian teams, clubs and players.
    “But these effects were offset by the need for the secure and orderly conduct of football events for the rest of the world.”
    In March, shock reports claimed Russia could look to switch from European to Asian football. More

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    Premier League giants looking for USA cash boost after Uefa’s Champions League payout fell well short

    TOP  Premier League clubs are looking to the USA for a cash boost after predictions of a big income rise from Uefa’s Champions League reboot fell short.Club chiefs had been told to expect a 40-50 per cent increase in the TV value of the 2024 change to a single league and extending the competition from the current 125 matches to 189.
    Jake Humphrey, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen were BT Sport’s team for Liverpool’s defeat vs Real Madrid but TV cash will rise less than hopedCredit: Getty
    But the English contract — the most lucrative, to be split between BT, Amazon and the BBC — only went up by 17.5 per cent, from £1.2billion over three seasons to £1.41bn.
    There was a larger jump in France but the lofty claims now look  unlikely to be fulfilled, with forecasts  of an overall maximum rise of about 30 per cent to £3.35bn per season.
    That is why Uefa and the clubs are pinning their hopes on  DOUBLING  the value of the US rights, currently owned in a joint deal by Paramount and Univision worth £122m per year.
    But Uefa and its agent, the Relevent Sports Group run by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, believe they can get a six-year deal worth up to £1.7bn over the line.
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    Talks have already begun with broadcasters including NBC, ESPN, Amazon, Fox, Warner Bros Discovery — who are merging with BT Sport in the UK — and Apple.
    Uefa expects to announce the winner early next season.
    It comes after Chelsea led the  Covid loss-makers with a deficit of £205.7m in 2020-21.
    Analysts Vysyble said the 20 Prem clubs had lost a combined £1.05bn in that season, with League chiefs  estimating the total Covid bill will be at least £2bn.
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    BRITISH pole vault champ Harry Coppell is the latest to suffer from the airport chaos — after his training poles were destroyed en route to the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
    Coppell posted a picture from the US with seven of his poles, all of which were  bent.
    BIGWIG CRAIG’S POISON SHOCK
    FORMER British Olympic chief Sir Craig Reedie says he was not worried about Russian hacking — until he discovered the link to the poisoning of dissident spy Sergei Skripal.
    Skripal survived an attempt by GRU officers to murder him with the nerve agent Novichok in Salisbury in 2016.
    Two years later, Reedie’s home in Scotland was visited by five officers of the National Crime Agency to run the rule over all his communications equipment following the “Fancy Bears” Russian-led hack of the World Anti-Doping Agency, which he ran at the time.
    Sir Craig revealed in his new autobiography “Delivering London’s Olympic Dream” that “one of the suspected hackers” was Ruslan Boshirov.
    Boshirov, whose real name is Anotoliy Chepiga, was later  unmasked as “the same GRU thug who was one of the men charged with the poisoning of the Skripals.” A lucky escape.
    THE demand to “keep politics out of  football” has raged in recent years.
    But, in Italy, there are some who now want to keep football out of politics —  after former Roma and Azzurri midfielder Damiano Tommasi, 48, became mayor of Verona.
    MOUTH WATCH
    ENGLAND’S rugby stars will be part of a  mouthguard project aimed at identifying and preventing concussive injuries in the sport.
    Eddie Jones’ Red Rose squad — as well as Premiership Rugby — have agreed to conduct the season-long programme using the mouthguards provided by Prevent  Biometrics.
    Chips in the safety equipment will   allow  scientists to monitor  the magnitude and  frequency of head impacts and to assess the consequences on the brains of players. More

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    BBC to show Champions League highlights for free in Match of the Day-style show after reaching agreement for 2024 season

    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE highlights will be shown for free on the BBC from 2024.Footy fans will be able to enjoy a Match of the Day-style show each Wednesday after a three-year deal was agreed with Uefa.
    The BBC will show Champions League highlights from the 2024/25 campaignCredit: Getty
    Starting from the 2024/25 season, the highlights package will be available on TV, iPlayer and online.
    The same campaign sees the Champions League expand from 32 to 36 teams.
    A new format will create one single group, with each side playing eight matches.
    The top eight will automatically reach the knockout stages, while positions 9-24 will play a two-legged showdown to fill the remaining positions.
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    The news comes with Amazon set to secure a joint deal with BT Sport to air live Champions League matches between 2024 and 2027.
    BBC Director of Sport Barbara Slater said:  “We are simply thrilled to have won these rights.
    “Our reach and ability to bring people together is unrivalled and we couldn’t be more delighted that Uefa has recognised the value in our ability to bring the Uefa Champions League to the widest possible audience across the UK.
    “This package of highlights and digital content will allow football fans to follow the Uefa Champions League, wherever and however they like.
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    “The Uefa Champions League is a wonderful addition to our portfolio of football output on the BBC and we can’t wait to get started in 2024.”
    Guy-Laurent Epstein, Uefa marketing director, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the BBC in the UK for 2024-2027, as it broadcasts Uefa Champions League Wednesday highlights for the very first time.
    “The BBC brand is synonymous with premium sport, and it will apply its extensive expertise in delivering wide-reaching Uefa Champions League coverage for fans in the market.”
    Real Madrid are the current Champions League holders after beating Liverpool 1-0 in May’s final.
    But the match was overshadowed by chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France in Paris.
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    Real are also the record holders in the competition, with an astonishing 14 wins.
    And such is their prowess in the Champions League, Real are sure to remain among the top contenders when the BBC begins broadcasting highlights. More

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    Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp told to stop moaning about fixture pile-ups by Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin

    ALEKSANDER CEFERIN has told Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola to stop moaning about the fixture schedule.Analysts believe Premier League stars could face a “perfect storm” that threatens to bring unprecedented injuries this coming season.
    Guardiola has been told to stop complaining about fixture congestionCredit: AFP
    Klopp has been very vocal about Liverpool’s packed scheduleCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
    Ceferin has called for managers to stop moaning about the number of gamesCredit: Reuters
    Liverpool boss Klopp and Man City chief Guardiola frequently fumed about how many games their sides were forced to play last term.
    But Uefa president Ceferin hit back, saying only underpaid “factory workers” have a right to complain about being overworked.
    The Slovenian, 54, said: “It’s always easy to attack Fifa and Uefa but the thing is simple.
    “If you play less, you get less money.
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    “Who should complain are the factory workers who get €1,000 (£861) per month.
    “Everyone wants more cup games but nobody gives up on anything.
    “Clubs wanted ten games in the Champions League group stage. They’ll have eight, it’s the right number.
    “Domestic leagues should have 18 clubs but the presidents do not agree.
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    “They should understand that two domestic cups are too many.”
    Uefa came under fire this month for shoehorning four Nations League games in immediately after the Prem season.
    There has also been a huge backlash over the new 2024-25 Champions League format that includes more matches.
    Klopp hit out at the Nations League in May, moaning: “It is one of the most ridiculous ideas in the world of football because now we finish a season where players have played more than 70 games.”
    And Guardiola hinted at players and managers going on strike to protect their welfare after only being given a three-week break.
    With Prem stars currently on their holidays before returning to pre-season, injury expert Ben Dinnery believes they should enjoy it while they can.

    As the new season is being broken up by the World Cup in Qatar, he fears next year could see football finally pay the price for the ever-increasing demands it places on players.
    Dinnery, founder of respected analysts premierinjuries.com, said: “When you factor in what’s happened with the pandemic, the European Championships, the Nations League games and a shortened pre-season with overseas tours, you’re at risk of creating a perfect storm.
    “The requirement this season is squeezing in another four rounds of domestic fixtures before the World Cup.
    “Matchdays five and six of the  European competitions have been shoehorned in too — that’s six more games.
    “There will be a point where it all comes crashing down. This could be it.”
    The Premier League starts a week earlier and finishes a week later to accommodate the five weeks needed for the World Cup.
    But even with clubs voting for five subs again next season, England stars like Harry Kane face playing up to 23 games before jetting out to Qatar in November — 16 Prem, six Champions League and one in the Carabao Cup.
    Dinnery added: “Those players are going to be playing in the red zone.
    “That increase in exposure from playing more games puts those players at risk of picking up injury,
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    “With all due respect, you have five substitutes but you will still use the nucleus of your better players, like Harry Kane.
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    Ex-Fifa chief Blatter’s court testimony stopped as 86-year-old has chest pains and ‘trouble breathing’ in fraud trial

    THE CORRUPTION trial of ex-Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini was sensationally stopped today due to the former suffering chest pains.Blatter, 86, and French football legend Platini, 68, appeared at the Swiss Federal Criminal Court to face corruption charges which led to their downfall from power.
    Sepp Blatter (centre) was accompanied by his daughter Corinne Blatter (left) on his first day of the corruption trial at Switzerland’s Federal Criminal CourtCredit: AFP
    The former Fifa president’s trial was ended early on day one due to chest painsCredit: EPA
    Michel Platini (centre) is surrounded by journalists as he leaves court after the first day of his trialCredit: EPA
    The duo are being tried over a £1.6million payment in 2011 to PlatiniCredit: AP
    The duo are being tried over a £1.6million payment in 2011 to Platini but both appeared to be in confident mood as they smiled for the cameras in Bellinzona upon arrival earlier.
    However, Blatter began to look frail as he made his way through the masses of reporters outside the court house.
    He has recently been suffering health issues and was in a coma following heart surgery 18 months ago, and he soon told judges that he was unable to address the court due to chest pains.
    He said: “The pain will come back and I am having difficulty breathing.”
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    Blatter had earlier left the court for a break, another concession given to him because of his age, while clutching onto his daughter, Corinne Blatter Andenmatten.
    Judges have allowed him to make his testimony on Thursday instead – a day later than planned. 
    Blatter and Platini’s lawyers had earlier failed to shift the trial to a local court or get Fifa’s civil claim against their former leader and Platini to reclaim the £1.6m.
    Platini’s lawyer Dominic Nellen had argued that federal prosecutions should be reserved for large, international cases, saying: “This case is being heard in the wrong stadium.”
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    However, Fifa were allowed to remain involved as judges dismissed the argument.
    The governing body’s lawyer Catherine Hohl-Chirazi said: “It is obvious that Fifa has been damaged. Two million francs was stolen.”
    Prosecutors from Switzerland have accused the pair of having, to the detriment of Fifa, illegally obtained the payment, plus social security contributions of 229,126 Swiss Francs, in favour of Platini.
    According to the court, Platini “submitted to Fifa in 2011 an allegedly fictitious invoice for a (alleged) debt still existing for his activity as an adviser for Fifa in the years 1998 to 2002.”
    The case meant that Blatter was forced to end his 17-year reign as Fifa president in 2015.
    And it also finished off any hopes that Platini, who was Uefa president until he was forced to quit in 2016, had of succeeding him.
    The trial is expected to last 11 days and the court will sit only until lunchtime each day because of Blatter’s health. More