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      Legia Warsaw unveil X-rated tifo after Uefa shut down ultras section of stadium as shocked fans say ‘take a bow, lads’

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      LEGIA WARSAW fans unveiled an X-rated tifo ahead of their Europa Conference League clash with Molde.The Polish side have had plenty of run-ins with Uefa this season.
      Legia Warsaw’s Zyleta stand usually populated by ultras featured a message to Uefa
      Legia advanced from a group that also included Premier League outfit Aston Villa.
      During the group phase, Dutch police claimed that Legia fans attacked cops ahead of a clash with AZ Alkmaar, even knocking one unconscious.
      The following month, 30 supporters were arrested after trouble with police ahead of Legia’s 2-1 defeat at Villa Park.
      Following the incident against AZ Alkmaar, Legia were fined by Uefa.
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      European football’s governing body also banned supporters over the age of 14 from sitting in their Zyleta end, the stand frequented by the club’s ultras, for tonight’s clash with Molde.
      Ahead of the game, a banner could be seen reading “This time you won, Uefa” across the Zyleta stand.
      But as kick-off fast approached, a huge tifo was revealed in the main stand, featuring an X-rated message.
      Amid a green, white and red background depicting the club’s colours, a Lego man could be seen wearing sunglasses.
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      Beneath the Lego man was the message: “Surprise, Motherf***ers!”
      Legia fans have already been banned from the club’s next five European away games.
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      And the club could find themselves in further hot water for their fans’ latest tifo.
      Legia won’t have any more European games this season regardless, having been knocked out by Molde.
      The Ekstraklasa side went into tonight’s second leg trailing the Norwegians 3-2 from last week’s first match.
      They were eliminated without much of a fight, with Fredrik Gulbrandsen giving the visitors the lead inside the first two minutes.
      Eirik Hestad made it 2-0 on the night on 20 minutes, before Gulbrandsen added his second in the 67th to round off Molde’s 6-2 aggregate win.
      Legia’s main stand unveiled a huge X-rated dig at Uefa ahead of kick-off
      The message was revealed as players lined up ahead of the gameCredit: Reuters
      Deflated Legia players clap their fans after their defeatCredit: Reuters More

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      Why Man Utd and Tottenham fans need to cheer on Arsenal in crunch Champions League clash with Porto

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      MANCHESTER United and Spurs fans will find themselves in a horrible position on Wednesday evening – wanting ARSENAL to WIN.Uefa’s expansion of the Champions League next season means there will be an extra automatic place from the domestic leagues of the two best-performing countries across the three European competitions.
      Man Utd and Tottenham fans should be hoping Arsenal continue to win in the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
      The Gunners face Porto in the last 16 on Wednesday nightCredit: PA
      England stood in third, narrowly behind second-placed Germany, at the end of the group phase in December.
      But because all six survivors – after Manchester United and Newcastle bit the dust by finishing bottom – won their groups, only Manchester City and Arsenal are in action across the first fortnight of the knock-out rounds.
      Uefa’s coefficient ranking sees all the match and bonus points acquired by a country’s clubs divided by the number of teams involved at the start of the season – with England and Spain both having the maximum possible eight.
      It meant that City’s win over Copenhagen and a potential Arsenal win at Porto can earn England a maximum 0.5 ranking points.
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      By contrast, Germany with five teams in action, could have earned 2.142pts, France (five clubs) 3.167pts, Spain (six clubs) 1.5pts and Italy (five teams) 2.286pts.
      Big hauls by the rival nations could have dropped England out of the top four.
      Instead, only Italy managed two wins, with victories for Lazio and Milan and a draw for Roma cashed in last week.
      Both of Germany’s Champions League sides lost and Frankfurt and Freiburg were held to draws in the other competitions.
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      Real Madrid’s win in Leipzig was Spain’s only victory – as Sociedad lost at PSG and Betis were upset by Zagreb, while only PSG won out of France’s quintet of clubs in action.
      The Prem will then have all six remaining sides in action over two weeks next month, with City already virtually home and hosed and Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Villa confident of progression.
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      A full house of Prem club wins would be worth a total of 2.75 ranking points including bonuses, likely to move England back to the summit of the table.
      It means the true state of the race for the extra spots will become far clearer by March 14.
      But in the meantime, the further Arsenal go, the better it is for Spurs and United.
      Man City’s win over Copenhagen is also helping the English teamsCredit: Getty More

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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.
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      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.
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      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.
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      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.
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      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