Rafa Benitez, manager of yer actual Keith Telly Topping's beloved (though, tragically, still unsellable) Newcastle United will reportedly 'contact the Football Association to seek an explanation as to why he has been treated differently to Pep Guardiola.' Benitez was - disgracefully - fined sixty grand by the FA for breaking their rules which prevent a manager talking about a referee before a game in October. Responding to comments made by Wilfried Zaha the previous weekend, before Newcastle travelled to Selhurst Park to play Crystal Palace, Benitez merely said that he 'had confidence' in referee Andre Marriner. And, that cost him mucho wonga. The FA ruled the comments 'amounted to improper conduct and/or bringing the game into disrepute.' Which they didn't or anything even remotely like it. However, when Guardiola said that referee Anthony Taylor 'did not want to make mistakes' ahead of Sheikh Yer Man City's derby with The Scum last month, he was merely warned by the FA. Because, obviously, Sheikh Yer Man City can do and say whatever the Hell they like and no one in British, European or World football is going to do a damn thing to stop them. Because they're rich, obviously. 'He is going to try to do the best job like we try as managers and football players,' Guardiola added.
Privately, the Torygraph claims, Benitez 'is seething about the apparent double standards,' but 'suspects his complaint will be ignored, even though he believes it is a case of one rule for managers at some clubs, and another for those at the top.' The Torygraph claims that the FA felt Guardiola's comments about Taylor were 'neutral' - whatever the Hell that means - and, as it was his first indiscretion, felt a warning 'was appropriate.' Benitez had been fined before for the same breach of the rules and his comments about Marriner also included the sentence: 'He has a lot of experience, even if his record with our players is not that great in terms of red cards. 'That was deemed to be trying to influence the referee's decision-making, even though Benitez argued = with some justification - that Zaha had done exactly the same thing when he said it would take him getting his 'leg broken' for an opponent to be shown a red card after a game against Huddersfield Town. Meanwhile, the Sun has claimed an 'exclusive' in a story that Benitez 'is a shock target for mega rich Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande.' They go on to claim that 'pals' of Benitez (tabloiese for 'acquaintances' only with less syllables so that the brain-dribbling morons who read the Sun can understand the word) 'have revealed he has been contacted by middle men from China as they plan for their next campaign.' Evergrande have recently lost their title under Italian Fabio Cannavaro and are ready to change coach, with Benitez claimed to be their first choice. 'The deal could be worth up to ten million pound-a-year, with compensation to Newcastle not thought to be a problem. Benitez is discussing the issue with his family and friends.' Interestingly, this story appeared on the same day as the Sunday Mirra published what they claimed as an 'exclusive', stating 'Rafa Benitez insists he is not thinking of managing any other club next season.' So, dear blog reader, either the Sun are talking risible crap, or the Mirra are. Place your money here and, remember, when the fun stops, stop.
Several Championship clubs are reported to be 'gravely concerned' by the EFL board's announcement it has approved a new domestic broadcasting rights deal. Club officials met on Tuesday to discuss the five hundred and ninety five million quid five-year agreement that has been signed with Sky Sports. They claim that the deal has been done without them being fully consulted. 'Nineteen clubs from the league wrote to the EFL asking them not to sign the deal and to engage in meaningful discussions,' said a statement from 'several unnamed clubs,' which added that they felt they had been ignored. 'Championship clubs are gravely concerned that the EFL board has announced it has approved a new long-term domestic broadcasting rights deal,' it said. 'Our issues are not with Sky, who we respect and value, but with the way in which the proposed agreement has been negotiated and explained to clubs. We remain convinced that any solution to the broadcasting of EFL competitions can only be on the basis of protecting attendances and securing the financial position of all our seventy two clubs. There is a calm determination within Championship clubs to ensure the matter is not left here.' The deal, which runs from the start of next season until May 2024, represents a thirty five per cent increase on the previous contract. Before the clubs' statement, EFL interim chair Debbie Jevans had said she would ;review' how the league discusses future deals. 'Concluding these negotiations has indeed been challenging, as is the case when managing a diverse group of stakeholders, and the board took on board the comments and frustrations voiced by a number of clubs and has committed to reviewing the way the league engages with its clubs to ensure that we move forward in a collaborative way in the future,' she said. BBC Sport claims to understand that Derby County, Dirty Leeds and Aston Villains are among the clubs opposed to the new contract. 'The deal we have entered into with Sky, after fully testing the current market through our external advisers, allows our clubs the benefit of financial security which was an absolute priority for us throughout this process,' said EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey. 'It is a partnership that, as well as having the necessary financial benefits, provides the EFL with the platform to maximise reach and exposure for its competitions, alongside providing further opportunities for clubs to monetise some of those games not broadcast on television.'
Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan was consoled by Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws defender Virgil Van Dijk after the Netherlands' two-two draw with Germany on Monday. It is understood that the thirty eigh-year-old official had discovered his mother had died during the build-up to the match. Van Dijk embraced the emotional Hategan at the final whistle. 'That man broke down, stood with tears in his eyes because he had just lost his mother,' Van Dijk said. 'I wished him strength and said he had refereed well. It's a small thing, but I hope it helped him.' Hategan recently took charge of Barcelona's Champions League victory over Inter Milan. He also refereed the second leg of The Scum's Europa League semi-final win over Celta Vigo in 2017. Van Dijk's intervention came just minutes after his injury-time equaliser ensured the Dutch reached the semi-finals of the Nations League. Goals from Timo Werner and Leroy Sane had put already relegated Germany ahead. But the Dutch implemented a tactical switch - which manager Ronald Koeman was originally unaware of - with Quincy Promes' eighty fifth-minute goal initiating their revival. The Dutch boss passed on handwritten directions, penned by his back-up team, to full-back Kenny Tete, which prompted Van Dijk to press forward. 'I got a note from [assistants] Dwight Lodeweges and Kees van Wonderen,' Koeman said. 'When we were two-nil down they asked me if we should change things around and I said "yes." Next thing I knew I had the note. So I gave it to Kenny. And, in the end it's fantastic that the equaliser came from the guy who was told on the note to push up front.'
Financial fair play needs to be more 'robust' and the rules are 'weak' in certain areas, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has told BBC Sport. FFP 'break-even' rules require clubs to balance spending with their revenue. German news magazine Der Spiegel has claimed Sheikh Yer Man City and Paris St-Germain overvalued sponsorship deals to help meet the rules. UEFA claimed that it would reopen FFP inquiries 'on a case-by-case basis' if there was evidence of 'abuse.' One or two people even believed them. City have claimed they would not comment on Der Spiegel's claims, apart from to describe them as an 'organised and clear' attempt to damage their reputation. PSG said it 'has always acted in full compliance with the laws and regulations enacted by sports institutions' and it 'denies the allegations.' Ceferin said: 'I don't want to speak about Man City or PSG but for any club the rules have to be strong and clear. We will act by the book, by the regulations. We know that we have to modernise. We know we have to check the rules and regulations all the time. We know that the situation in the football market is changing all the time. So that's also part of our thinking for the future - do we have to do something about the regulations to be more robust? Yes.' Asked if UEFA could use sporting sanctions against clubs that break FFP rules, such as barring them from the Champions League, Ceferin added: 'There are many things we are talking about - also sporting sanctions and everything else. It's the start of the debate. It's a bit premature to speak about it but we acknowledge the rules might be weak in certain points. Also laws in certain countries are changing all the time [and] adopting to modern times.' In its reporting based on leaked documents, Der Spiegel also said the clubs negotiated with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who was then general secretary of UEFA, to agree reduced punishments on FFP breaches. UEFA found City had breached FFP rules in 2014 and the two parties 'reached a settlement,' with City paying a forty nine million knicker fine - thirty two million of which was suspended - while their Champions League squad was reduced for 2014-15. 'Our independent bodies will check it,' said Ceferin. 'I know they will. But we also know we have to keep our credibility. Nobody cares if it happened four years ago when the leadership was different - it is about the organisation.'
Ten-man Blunderland came from two goals down to extend their unbeaten run to thirteen games with a two-two draw at Walsall - despite Max Power's third red card of the season. Power was sent off for a reckless challenge on Liam Kinsella after twenty two minutes but Aiden McGeady and Lynden Gooch rescued a point after Josh Gordon and Josh Ginnelly had put Walsall in control. Guy Incognito and Joey Jo-Jo Junior Shabadoo managed to stay on the pitch despite Power's dismissal.
An attack on the Boca Juniors team bus by River Plate supporters has led to kick-off in the final of the Copa Libertadores being delayed. According to reports in Argentina, Boca players suffered cuts from the glass from broken windows and were also affected by the tear gas used by police. The incident occurred as the team made its way to River Plate's Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires. Three years ago, a Copa Libertadores game between River and Boca Juniors was abandoned at half-time after Boca fans attacked the River players with pepper spray in the tunnel. Boca were kicked out of the competition, while River were given a bye into the quarter-finals.
Mick McCarthy will be unveiled as Republic of Ireland boss on Sunday but he will be replaced by Stephen Kenny after the Euro 2020 finals. McCarthy has signed a two-year deal while Dundalk manager Kenny will take charge of the Republic's under twenty one side before moving up to the senior post. It was expected that McCarthy would succeed Martin O'Neill and start a second spell as Republic boss. Thus proving how desperate Ireland are at the moment, given McCarthy's woeful record in club management. The fifty nine-year-old, who stood down as boss of Ipswich Town in April, led the Republic to the last sixteen of the 2002 World Cup. He famously had a pre-tournament row with Roy Keane at a training camp in Saipan, which resulted in the Irish skipper leaving the squad in a geet stroppy huff. McCarthy quit later that year after the Republic made a poor start to the qualifying campaign for Euro 2004. Since then he has been in charge of Blunderland, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich. And is regarded by fans of all three as a talentless clown.
A group of MPs have been reprimanded for playing football in the chamber of the House of Commons. Hannah Bardell posted a video on social media of herself playing 'keepy-uppy' in the parliament after the sitting was adjourned on Tuesday evening. The SNP MP also posed for photographs in the Commons with other MPs including the former sports minister Tracey Crouch. Speaker John Bercow said that the 'historic chamber should not be used for this type of activity.' However, he said that several members involved had apologised and that there were 'no hard feelings.' Bardell and Crouch, a Conservative MP, had been due to play for the UK Women's Parliamentary Football Club on Tuesday, but the match was cancelled amid concerns that it would clash with votes in the Commons. The MPs later took photographs in the chamber wearing their football tops, with Bardell filmed playing keepy-uppy between the green benches. In a statement to the Commons on Wednesday, Bercow said: 'It has been brought to my attention that some football skills were displayed in the chamber yesterday evening after the House rose. I am informed that the doorkeepers on duty told the members concerned that the chamber was not the place for this activity, however, those doorkeepers were advised that permission had been given. Let me assure the House that that permission certainly did not come from me.' Bercow said that he had received 'gracious, indeed fulsome' letters of apology from Crouch and Labour MPs Stephanie Peacock and Louise Haigh. Another Labour MP, Alison McGovern, was also pictured wearing her football top in the chamber. He added: 'I think I can speak for us all when I say that our historic chamber should not be used for this type of activity and I gently remind colleagues if they are seeking to use the chamber outside of sitting hours beyond for the purpose of simply showing it to guests, frankly they should write to me asking for their request to be considered. I have said what I have said, there are no hard feelings and I consider the matter to be closed.'
