Category Other

FIFA temporarily suspends new agent rules

FIFA has temporarily suspended its new agent regulations (FFAR) worldwide until the European Court of Justice gives its decision following injunctions against implementing some of the new rules, world football’s governing body said on Saturday. Agents have been at loggerheads with FIFA after they lost an appeal in July to block new regulations that would cap their transfer commissions and introduce exams that agents must pass to secure a licence.…

LAFC signs WC-winning GK Lloris from Spurs

France’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has joined MLS club LAFC from Tottenham Hotspur, both clubs said Saturday. Lloris, 37, whose contract with Spurs was due to expire in June, has signed a one-year deal with an option to extend for 2025 and 2026 after an 11-year stay in London. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) ESPN reported this week that there was unlikely to be any transfer…

The VAR Review: Why West Ham’s goal stood, Liverpool offside, Odegaard handball

Video Assistant Referee causes controversy every week in the Premier League, but how are decisions made, and are they correct? After each weekend, we take a look at the major incidents to examine and explain the process in terms of VAR protocol and the Laws of the Game. – How VAR decisions have affected every Prem club in 2023-24 – VAR in the Premier League: Ultimate guide In this Christmas…

Transfer Talk: Real Madrid’s final play for Kylian Mbappé

The January transfer window opens soon throughout Europe, and there are moves in the works and plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals! Real Madrid are preparing to make a fresh approach to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé in January, according to The Athletic. Just days remain before the 25-year-old will enter the final…

Mbappé to snub Real Madrid for Barcelona? Why reports aren’t all they seem

Football fans in Spain were left stunned on Thursday by sports daily Mundo Deportivo’s sensational report that Real Madrid have pulled out of the race to sign long-term transfer target Kylian Mbappé, with the Paris Saint-Germain star now in line to join their bitter LaLiga rivals Barcelona in the summer instead. The story, under the headline “Radical turn: Mbappé gets closer to Barça,” will have been hard for Madrid supporters…

Bundesliga first-half review: Kane-Sane partnership, Leverkusen’s dominance, more

After removing the broadcast headset at full-time in last week’s thrilling Heidenheim-Freiburg contest to bring an end to 2023, I was tempted to immediately write this roundup column but wanted instead to take a few days to digest what we’ve all witnessed these past few months. Sometimes we can get carried away in the moment and a more sober analysis requires time. But as 2023 dwindles away, my verdict is…

Ratcliffe arrival ‘no impact’ on players – Ten Hag

Erik ten Hag called Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in Manchester United a “positive” turn of events for the club, but said it had no impact on the players on his team. Ratcliffe’s sporting guru, Sir Dave Brailsford, was in the stands at Old Trafford on Tuesday as United came back from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa 3-2. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) It was their first…

Sources: City close to signing 17yo Echeverri

Manchester City are closing in on the signing of midfielder Claudio Echeverri from River Plate, a source has told ESPN. City have held formal talks with the Argentine side and are nearing an agreement for the 17-year-old midfielder. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.) If a deal is reached, it’s likely that Echeverri would be loaned back to River Plate until at least the end of the Premier…

FIFA warns Brazil over court intervention in CBF

FIFA warned Brazil on Sunday it could suspend its national teams and clubs from international competitions if an intervention by its football federation (CBF) leads to the election of a new president in January. FIFA said in a letter to a Brazilian football executive that the CBF could face suspension if it does not heed its call to wait and instead holds a swift election to replace Ednaldo Rodrigues as…