Sports

European Football Chiefs, FIFPRO Slam FIFA Over Schedule

Published

1 month ago

October 17, 2024

European football chiefs and the global players’ union, FIFPRO, united on Monday to criticise FIFA over the global football calendar as they filed an antitrust complaint against the global football governing body.

FIFPRO and the European Leagues, which represents 37 domestic leagues, jointly filed the complaint at the European Commission in Brussels in which they argue global football’s governing body FIFA is abusing its right as both tournament organiser and regulator.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas said Monday has been “one of the most important days in football” and compared the case to that against the failed European Super League, while Premier League boss Richard Masters said in a statement that football has reached a “tipping point.”

LaLiga is not a member of the European Leagues but it is a part of Monday’s complaint.

FIFA declined to comment at this stage when approached by ESPN.

FIFPRO, the worldwide representative organisation for professional footballers, said it has tried to negotiate the issue with FIFA but said the governing body has “consistently refused” to consult them. It has also described FIFA’s intention to host its expanded Club World Cup competition in the United States this summer as a step too far.

However, a source told ESPN this summer’s competition is unlikely to be impacted given the short amount of time before it takes place.

“Today is one of the most important days in football,” Tebas said.

“For me, there’s been two historical days in football. One in 2019 when we stopped a reform of the Super League and today we’ve given a very important step in what we believe is the path of changing the governance of football institutions and we’re not going to let this opportunity get away.”

Player workload been a hot topic in football over recent seasons, with players and coaches repeatedly urging organisers to condense the schedule and allow players more rest. Last month, Manchester City midfielder Rodri said players are “close” to going on strike over the issue.

“It is getting to a tipping point,” Masters said in a statement.

“The feedback we have from players is that there is too much football being played and there is constant expansion. The Premier League hasn’t changed shape. What has changed over the last few decades is the march of international and regional football competitions.”

Serie A chief executive Luigi De Siervo said: “Serie A, like almost all other European Leagues, in the last 20 years hasn’t increased the number of games.

“On the contrary FIFA and UEFA, cycle after cycle, have increased constantly the size of their competitions for both clubs and national teams and we have now reached a saturation point in the calendar.”

FIFA argues that its most recent calendar, set through to 2030, was approved by its council which “included FIFPRO and league bodies.”

It said in July, when the antitrust complaint was first announced: “FIFA’s calendar is the only instrument ensuring that international football can continue to survive, co-exist, and prosper alongside domestic and continental club football.”

A source told ESPN that FIFA believes the Club World Cup will have a minimal impact on the football calendar or on player welfare, given it will be held once every four years, featuring a maximum of seven games.

A recent analysis published by Opta shows that, while City played the most games last season (59), the majority of teams in Europe played fewer than 50 matches, with five Premier League sides playing 42 games last season — just four more than the league season.

Another recent paper by CIES Football Observatory found there is only a minor difference in the number of games players play per season compared to previous decades.

However, FIFPRO said their research shows 72% of players are in support of reducing the calendar and ensuring a mandate rest period, as well as data that says 17% of players made over 55 appearances last season and 30% had a sequence of six “back-to-back” matches.

FIFPRO and the European Leagues argue that FIFA is abusing its status as a governing body and tournament organiser, saying the body favours its own competitions rather than looking out for player welfare.

“Enough is enough, we can’t take it anymore,” Mathieu Moreuil, Premier League director of international football relations and EU affairs, said.

“We have now an international match calendar which is beyond saturation… We’ve tried to engage with FIFA on that for years now without any positive response. So enough is enough.”

The antitrust complaint is not the only case against FIFA regarding the international match calendar. Domestic players unions in England, France and Italy took legal action against the governing body at the Brussels Court of Commerce in June and they are attempting to have the case tried at the European Court of Justice.

That case centres on employment law and players’ rights to holiday. One of their aims is to have a mandated rest period — between three to four weeks per year — for players to recuperate.

European governing body UEFA has also increased its schedule, notably with the new Champions League and Europa League formats, but has not been targeted in the complaint to regulators.

Moreuil said that was because FIFA was responsible for the international calendar and relations were different with UEFA thanks to dialogue.

Sports

Boxing world split as 58-yr-old Tyson goes back to ring 19yrs after retirement

Published

4 days ago

November 14, 2024

Austin Ojomah

Nearly 40 years after his professional debut, and 19 years after retiring, 58-year-old Mike Tyson will return to the ring on Friday in a Netflix-backed bout that has stirred widespread condemnation in the boxing world.

Tyson, who dominated the heavyweight division in the late 1980s, will lace up the gloves once more to face YouTuber Jake Paul, 27, in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.

The bout, set for eight two-minute rounds, was initially scheduled for July but was postponed in May when Tyson required medical treatment after vomiting blood on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles due to a bleeding ulcer.

The incident has fuelled criticism of Friday’s fight, with many condemning it as a macabre spectacle that poses undue risk for Tyson, who last appeared in a professional ring in 2005, ending in a technical knockout loss after quitting on his stool against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.

‘It Shouldn’t Be Happening’

“Mike Tyson retired from boxing 20 years ago and was already worn out,” British promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.

“If anyone thinks Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no concern for him, or you’re being reckless. This shouldn’t be happening.” Punch

Sports

Premier League official Coote suspended

Published

6 days ago

November 12, 2024

Austin Ojomah

Premier League official David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect by PGMOL

A video, which remains unverified, appearing to show Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp was widely circulated on social media on Monday.

• David Coote first refereed a game in the Premier League in April 2018
• Coote was born in Nottinghamshire and previously officiated in the Football League.
• Coote is registered as a Notts County fan with PGMOL
• He refereed the Carabao Cup final between Manchester United and Newcastle in 2023

A PGMOL statement read: “David Coote has been suspended with immediate effect pending a full investigation.

“PGMOL will be making no further comment until that process is complete.”
Coote was the referee for Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday night.

According to Sky Sports, Liverpool have declined to comment.
Head of referees Howard Webb will be appearing on Match Officials: Mic’d Up on Tuesday night on Sky Sportskeeda
A video being shared appears to refer to the Premier League match between Liverpool – who were already crowned champions – and Burnley, which Coote refereed, in July 2020.
The game finished 1-1 after Jay Rodriguez’s strike cancelled out Andy Robertson’s opener, ending Liverpool’s 24-match winning run at Anfield.

At full-time, Klopp appeared to argue with Coote and his officials on the pitch, and after the match, the former Reds boss said the referee failed to give fouls for challenges made on Liverpool’s players.

“David Coote appears to be speaking directly to a camera phone and appears to go on to make a number of derogatory comments about Liverpool Football Club and their former manager Jurgen Klopp.

“We don’t know if this video is genuine or not at this stage, and neither do PGMOL.

“We need to point out that there is no indication at all as to how old this video is, but it is clearly not recent. In the video, Coote talks about lockdown and being socially distant. He shows the guy interviewing him a picture on his phone where he is wearing a mask. He talks about Klopp and James Milner, who hasn’t played for Liverpool for more than 18 months.

“Coote is an elite Premier League referee. He is part of the elite group of match officials, where he has been since 2018. He had eight years as an EFL referee before that. He is one of the most experienced and highly-thought-of referees in this country, and with that position comes an awful lot of responsibility, in terms of impartiality in particular.

“So any suggestion that Coote or any other elite match official might have bias against a particular Premier League club, or bad feeling towards them or their manager, is a very serious allegation.

“But while I think we need to stress there is history between Klopp and Coote, the latter hasn’t had the chance to explain himself, either to us or indeed the PGMOL, who are his employers.
“This has moved very quickly. It’s a huge story and potentially one that is very damaging, not just for Coote but the PGMOL as well.”

Sports

Man Utd confirms Van Nistelrooy’s exit as Amorim arrives in UK

Published

6 days ago

November 12, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Manchester United have confirmed the departure of club legend, Ruud van Nistelrooy as assistant manager at the club.

Van Nistelrooy was appointed on an interim basis as head coach after Erik ten Hag was sacked by the Premier League club last month but Rubem Amorim signed as the new head coach from Sporting Lisbon will be coming with his own assistants hence no need of Van Nistelrooy who led the team to 3 wins and one draw as interim manager..

Van Nistelrooy oversaw four games as interim boss, in which United went unbeaten. He took charge of wins over Leicester in the Carabao Cup and Premier League as well as a UEFA Europa League victory against PAOK and a league draw with Chelsea.

Coaches Rene Hake, Jelle ten Rouwelaar and Pieter Morel have also left United.

The Red Devils released a statement on Monday, November 11 following the arrival of Ruben Amorim in the UK on Monday.

It read: “Manchester United can confirm that Ruud van Nistelrooy has left the club. Ruud rejoined in the summer and has taken charge of the team for the past four matches as interim head coach.

“Ruud is, and always will be, a Manchester United legend,” a club statement read. “We are grateful for his contribution and the way in which he has approached his role throughout his time with the club. He will always be very welcome at Old Trafford.

“Rene Hake, Jelle ten Rouwelaar and Pieter Morel have also departed and we wish them all well for the future.
“We will confirm the full men’s first team coaching composition in due course.”