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      Premier League decide AGAINST using World Cup-style technology – but huge changes to VAR are confirmed

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      PREMIER LEAGUE chiefs have decided against using World Cup-style offside technology next season.But extra VAR cameras WILL be brought in at every top flight ground – in a bid to stop two of the blunders that took place last term.
      Extra cameras will be used by VAR next season as the PGMOL seeks to prevent any “blind spots”Credit: Getty
      Fifa’s Semi-Automated Offside Technology used limb-tracking cameras to pinpoint the exact position of every player on the pitch, plus a chip in the ball to determine if it was played by a defender or attacker.
      The cameras were then deployed to provide a computer-generated 3D animation that was shown on stadium big screens and by broadcasters.
      Fifa’s system was a big success, as was Uefa’s use of SAOT – although European chiefs opted to use the version that did not include the chip in ball technology.
      It was expected that the Prem would seek to adopt the system for next season, which is the path that is being taken by La Liga in Spain.
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      But instead the option to bring in SAOT for next term is NOT on the agenda for next week’s Annual Meeting of the 20 top flight clubs in Hampshire.
      Instead, an extra four offside cameras will be used at every game, with Prem bosses and PGMOL agreeing this should prevent a recurrence of two controversial incidents last term, both involving Liverpool.
      Arsenal’s early opener in the 3-2 win over the Merseysiders was allowed because the cameras did not pick up the position of Bukayo Saka when the ball was played forward to him wide on the Gunners’ right.
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      Subsequent footage, not available at the time, suggested the England star had come back from an offside position but with no evidence to overturn the initial offside decision, the goal stood.
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      Liverpool, though, were the beneficiaries of the other incident, in their FA Cup tie at home to Wolves.
      Julen Lopetegui’s team thought they had scored a late winner through Toto Gomes.
      But the goal was ruled out by a late flag determining that Matheus Nunes retreated from an offside position after taking the initial corner.
      Once again, other images, not available to the VAR crew at Stockley Park, suggested the decision should have been overturned but with Nunes in the “blind spot” of the VAR cameras the goal did not count.
      ITV were using the “standard” five calibration cameras and 17 in total for the FA Cup tie, three cameras fewer than typically used in a Prem game.
      But the addition of four extra cameras, which is expected to go through on the nod when the club chiefs meet, is felt sufficient to ensure no repeats.
      League bosses believe they can wait to introduce any version of SAOT and that the evolution of technology will be so rapid in the coming weeks that introducing the system now would be premature as it would soon be rendered out of date. More

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      World Cup winner’s stunning ex-wife poses topless for Playboy and reveals she always found one of his rivals ‘sexy’

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      MATS HUMMELS’ stunning ex-wife has revealed all after appearing as the cover star for German Playboy.Cathy Hummels appeared bare-breasted in the photos as she discussed moving on from the World Cup-winning centre-back.
      Hummels’ ex-wife appeared on the front cover of German PlayboyCredit: PLAYBOY Germany
      The couple divorced in DecemberCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Hummels’ posed nude as part of the photoshootCredit: Ana Dias for PLAYBOY Germany July 2023
      Cathy posed alongside her sister Vanessa FischerCredit: Ana Dias for PLAYBOY Germany July 2023
      Cathy and the former German international divorced last December, and she described the photos as an opportunity for a new start.
      She told Playboy, via Bild: “I’ve never really embraced my body. I’m 35 years old and only now can I say: I like myself. I would have liked to have had this body feeling earlier.”
      She also dropped the bombshell that she always found fellow World Cup winner and former Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas attractive.
      When Playboy asked her what her dream man would look like after moving on from Hummels she said: “I really couldn’t even say what my dream man looks like. It just has to catch me. The only thing that matters to me on the outside. He should be big.”
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      When she was asked whether this includes Hollywood actors Liam and Chris Hemsworth she expanded on the question to bring in the former Spain and Real Madrid goalkeeper.
      She said: “I would take both. And I always found goalkeeper Iker Casillas very sexy.”
      The presenter and entrepreneur said a large part of her motivation to do the photos was to stand against body shaming.
      She said: “I am primarily against body shaming and I advocate for people to accept their bodies and feel comfortable in them.
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      “Nobody has to conform to a standard. Neither do I.”
      She also opened up about her past health struggles which saw her undergo breast enlargement surgery, saying: “When I was 21, it was discovered that I had many intolerances and that my thyroid was broken.
      “I was then put on medication and had to detoxify. For six months I was only allowed to eat selected foods and had to weigh everything so that my metabolism worked again.”
      She revealed that the treatment saw her drop to just 43 kilos before adding: “My breasts were completely gone. I no longer felt womanly. Because I used to have a nice B cup.
      “I never did it (posed nude) publicly because I was ashamed of it. I’m more relaxed now. At that time I also had a different image of beauty.”
      She concluded the interview by saying: “I do what I feel like doing. I stand by myself and I am grateful that I am healthy after the tough years that I have been through.”
      Cathy Hummels poses in a black bikini on her InstagramCredit: Insatgram
      The German TV presenter is keen to embrace the body positivity movementCredit: Insatgram
      She regularly shares snaps from her holidays on social mediaCredit: Insatgram More

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      The Ange Postecoglou interview that left him ‘unemployable’ 16 years before landing Tottenham manager job

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      NEW Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou reckons he was once “unemployable” after an astonishing interview.The Aussie has left Celtic for his biggest job ever – 16 years after a TV row.
      Ange Postecoglou feared for his coaching future after a fiery TV exchangeCredit: PA
      Pundit Craig Foster called for Postecoglou to quit as Socceroos’ youth coach after they failed to qualify for the Under-20 World Cup in 2007.
      Foster demanded better answers in a fiery exchange on Australian show The World Game and accused the Athens-born coach of ducking blame.
      Postecoglou hit back by insisting: “Of course I’m not going to resign” and said of the presenter “You’re enjoying it”.
      But he was soon ousted from his Socceroos’ job.
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      And he has since blasted the on-air criticism he received in the interview as “not necessary” – revealing he struggled to find “even an assistant coach’s role” due to the TV exchange.
      However, he eventually found a job back in Greece with Panachaiki in 2008.
      Postecoglou then managed Down Under with Brunswick Juventus, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory, taking charge of the Australian senior national side from 2013-2017.
      That included guiding the hosts to their first ever Asian Cup triumph in 2015, beating South Korea in the final.
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      Then came three years with Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos, followed by great success at Celtic for the past two seasons, leading to his Spurs appointment in Tuesday.
      But Postecoglou, 57, has admitted how costly he feared his 2007 confrontation could have been.
      He told the Shim, Spider and so much Moore podcast: “I just didn’t feel it was necessary, didn’t feel it was productive. 
      “I knew that interview wasn’t going to go well because we just failed to qualify for both the World Cups… my reasoning for doing it was trying to explain to people what was coming. 
      “I didn’t think it was necessary, the accountability already stood with me, but what it did do, it did make me unemployable. I couldn’t even get an assistant coaching role.”
      He added: “It was the reason I went to Greece for a year because I wasn’t going to let Australian football stop me from my ambitions as a coach. 
      “It was disheartening because I just felt everything I had done with South Melbourne as a manager had been forgotten.
      “As all things with life we take our knocks and move on, and it’s safe to say it didn’t hold me back for too long.”  More

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      World Cup winner looks unrecognisable with bizarre new haircut as he’s compared to flamboyant team-mate

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      A World Cup-winning star looks unrecognisable following an end-of season a dye-job.And fans were quick to draw comparisons between the player and one of his club team-mates.
      A World Cup winner looks unrecognisableCredit: INSTAGRAM/ ATLETICODEMADRID
      Antoine Griezmann showed off a similar look this seasonCredit: Getty
      The Argentine was seen in Atletico training showcasing his signature buzzcut, albeit this time dyed bright blue and accompanied by a black heart on the side of his head.
      The trim was a nod to French forward Antoine Griezmann who sported a similar bright green number earlier this year.
      Griezmann rocked a pink heart rather than a black one.
      The player in question is Rodrigo de Paul – a key man in Lionel Scaloni’s men’s triumph.
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      Unfortunately for De Paul, he was unable to showcase the new look in Atletico’s final game of the season against Villareal.
      The midfielder did not make the Atletico squad after picking up an injury.
      The two sides played out a dramatic 2-2 draw with Villareal bagging a last minute equaliser through Jorge Pascual.
      Atletico secured Champions League football, finishing third in LaLiga.
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      The draw saw Atleti finish one point behind city rivals Real Madrid.
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      Atletico needed to better Madrid’s result to finish second in the LaLiga table but couldn’t squeeze past Villareal despite Real drawing 1-1 with Athletic Club.
      Despite not being able to help his team in the final game of the season, it has been a fine personal season for De Paul.
      During the World Cup, he earned the nickname Messi’s ‘bodyguard’ for snapping into tackles with any opponent that fouled or dispossessed the Argentine captain.
      De Paul played all seven of Argentina’s World Cup games as La Albiceleste secured their first World Cup victory since 1986. More

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      Newcastle fans desperate to sign Szoboszlai after spotting his ‘incredible s***housery’ following Cup triumph

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      NEWCASTLE fans have urged their Saudi owners to do everything in their power to sign RB Leipzig ace Dominik Szoboszlai after some hilarious “s***housery” in the German Cup Final.Szoboszlai helped Leipzig win the Cup on Saturday as Marco Rose’s side beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
      RB Leipzig ace Dominik Szoboszlai has been linked with a move to NewcastleCredit: Getty
      An Eintracht Frankfurt fan addressed Szoboszlai with a rude gesture
      But Szoboszlai silenced him by simply showing him his winners’ medal
      Newcastle fans now want the club to sign Szoboszlai after his hilarious “s***housery”
      The playmaker sealed the win five minutes before full-time thanks to an assist by Christopher Nkunku, who opened the scoring earlier.
      Following the full-time whistle, the Hungary international picked up his winners’ medal and approached the touchline.
      That is where an Eintracht fan addressed the 22-year-old with a rude gesture.
      But Szoboszlai kept his composure and simply retorted by showing his gold medal to the rowdy fan while grinning from ear to ear.
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      This comes amid transfer rumours linking the Hungarian with a move to Newcastle, who may have to splash a club record £60million for his signature this summer.
      However, a section of the fans have decided that will be money well spent for the ex-Red Bull Salzburg star after watching him silence that fan.
      Some are even desperate to see him play alongside another Newcastle hardman in Jacob Murphy.
      One fan tweeted: “Bring this incredible s***house to my already s***house football club right now.”
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      Another commented: “Dynamic duo [with Murphy] incoming.”
      A third said: “Szoboszlai and Jacob Murphy together would be Mayhem.”
      This fan stated: “Him and Jacob Murphy on the same pitch is my dream.”
      And that one wrote: “He will do for me , love it.” More

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      Who is Marcus Rashford’s fiancée Lucia Loi and how long has she been dating Man Utd ace?

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      MARCUS RASHFORD has been one of the best players in the Premier League this season.And the Manchester United is hitting expected heights off the field having put together a romantic engagement proposal to long-term partner Lucia Loi.
      Rashford wished his fiancee happy birthday during his stint with England at the World CupCredit: Instagram @marcusrashford
      Marcus Rashord proposed to long-term partner Lucia Loi in LA
      Who is Marcus Rashford’s fiancée Lucia Loi?
      Lucia Loi is a business graduate having studied at the University of Manchester.
      The stunning brunette was spotted in the stands during the England vs Colombia match at the 2018 World Cup, as she showed her support for Manchester United star Rashford.
      She says in her work bio that she loves “fitness, art and cooking” and “enjoys travelling”.
      Loi’s following on Instagram has drastically increased since dating the England international – she currently has 101k followers.
      How long have they been dating?
      The pair initially kept their relationship away from the public eye but they can now be spotted together across both of their social media accounts.
      It is thought that the pair have been dating for nine years.
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      Lucia Loi – Marcus Rashford’s partner
      Marcus Rashford and Lucia Loi have reportedly been dating for almost four years
      Rashford and Loi have enjoyed multiple holidays together More

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      Iconic Wembley Stadium relic which saw World Cup lifted now lies forgotten in London park ahead of FA Cup final

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      IT is one of the last remaining relics from the old Wembley.While Abide With Me echoes under the arch ahead of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United on Saturday, just a mile away, the final concrete fragment of the famous Twin Towers sits peacefully in a London park.
      This flagpole base from the old Wembley Stadium lies without glamour in a parkCredit: Supplied
      This humble explanation is virtually all that’s there to point out the historic piece of concrete in Brent River ParkCredit: Supplied
      The Twin Towers of the old Wembley are famous throughout the worldCredit: Hulton Archive – Getty
      Standing 1.5 metres tall, weighing four tonnes and bearing an uncanny resemblance to the actual FA Cup, this is the base of theflagpole which adorned the top of the East Tower while the likes of Stanley Matthews, Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Kevin Keegan andPaul Gascoigne graced the hallowed turf.
      When the iconic stadium was demolished in 2003, this chunk of footballing history was presented to the local council and rehousedin Brent River Park, where it has lived ever since.
      Having gazed down on the ‘White Horse’ of 1923 now, a century on, it is the red bus and a housing estate that provides its backdrop.
      Despite the clamour to keep the much-loved Twin Towers, it was considered implausible.
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      And their remains, along with the rubble from the rest of the old stadium, lie buried under four large mounds at NorthalaFields in West London.
      But the flagpole base survived and rests just a stone’s throw from Stonebridge Park tube station, a short walk from the newWembley, with its dominant arch just visible through the trees.
      Not much else exists of the original home of football.
      The actual flagpoles, complete with crowns on top, were housed on Sir William McAlpine’s Fawley Hill estate, while the iconic stadium gates, which the team buses drove through, ended up being bought by a museum in Santiago, Chile.
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      Thjis plaque helps commemorate England’s 1966 World Cup gloryCredit: Alamy
      The flagpole part looks distinctive but nothing special, unless you know its past More

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      Underfire referee Anthony Taylor ‘was BLOCKED from working World Cup final after Argentina qualified’

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      ENGLISH referee Anthony Taylor was reportedly blocked from refereeing the World Cup final between Argentina and France. The showpiece event in Qatar staged the battle between Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe – with the Argies coming out on top.
      Anthony Taylor was reportedly blocked from refereeing the World Cup finalCredit: Getty
      And it was officiated by Pole Szymon Marciniak after Taylor was overlooked. 
      According to The Times, English refs were unable to be involved in any Argentina match due to ill-feeling around the Falkland Islands.
      So it eliminated Taylor’s chances of selection for the final between reigning champions France and Argentina. 
      It is believed Fifa’s appointment system say that ensuring neutrality is deemed as a top priority and means that English referees would not be put on matches involving Argentina and vice versa.
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      Despite no suggestion refs would be influenced, the aim is to avoid any situations where the teams involved could complain about bias.
      Animosity around the Falklands War was displayed again after Argentina’s semi-final win over Croatia.
      Players were heard singing a chant popular with their fans called Muchachos – which references the Falklands War and aims insults at England and Brazil.
      Nicolas Otamendi filmed shirtless Argentina players singing “Ingleses putos de Malvinas no me olvido”, which has a rough translation of “f***ing English in the Falklands, I don’t forget”.
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      The full chant goes: “Brazilian, what happened, the five-time champions screwed up.
      “Messi went to Rio and he left with the cup [in reference to their Copa America win on Brazilian soil]. We are the Argentine band and we will always cheer them on, because we have the dream of being the world champion.
      “I’m like that, I am Argentinian, f***ing English in the Falklands, I don’t forget. I’m like that, I encourage you, I follow Argentina everywhere.”
      Taylor was underfire this week from Jose Mourinho, after refereeing the Europa League final between Roma and Sevilla.
      The Portuguese was fuming with Taylor’s officiating and waited for him in the stadium car park before unleashing an x-rated rant.
      Argentina players sang an anti-English song in wild dressing room celebrations More