That bastion of always truthful and accurate reportage, the Sun, has claimed that Mike Ashley 'has agreed' to sell this blogger's beloved (though, until now unsellable) Newcastle United for three hundred and fifty million knicker. To someone whom the Sun stated was 'the cousin of Sheikh Yer Man City's Arab owner, Sheikh Mansour.' Doubt has since been cast on any family relationship between the two men. Justin Allen's article claims that 'contracts have been signed and submitted to the Premier League' between Ashley and the Dubai-based billionaire Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan. He is described as 'a senior member of the Abu Dhabi royal family' and, last year, failed in a two billion smackers takeover of Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws. The Magpies have been subject of previous, but unsuccessful, takeover attempts from the likes of Amanda Staveley and Peter Kenyon. But, the Sun alleges - with, it should be noted, absolutely no supporting evidence - that Ashley 'has now decided to end his twelve years in control on Tyneside.' One of the Sheikh's first jobs, the Sun adds, will be to tie down manager Rafa Benitez to a new contract, with talks between Rafa The Gaffer and Ashley's people having dragged on far longer than was expected. Sheikh Khaled, the Sun claims, 'is ready to provide funds to bolster a limited squad that has done well to stay in the Premier League after years of under-investment under Ashley.' Ashley first put the club up for sale in 2008 after then manager Kevin Keegan walked out after a bust-up about transfers - which was the first of three occasions (that we know about) Ashley has tried to get rid of the club. The Newcastle owner allegedly missed the chance to potentially sell The Magpies to Sheikh Mansour after refusing to meet him in 2008 before he took over at Sheikh Yer Man City. 'It appears Ashley is not allowing lightning to strike twice now with his cousin's group,' the Sun suggest. Sheikh Khaled, aged sixty one, is president of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation but has always had a keen interest in football and, the Sun claims, 'loves the Premier League.' He is founder of the Bin Zayed Group - a leading group of businesses with diverse interests in the local and international markets. Newcastle fans are desperate for success having not won a major trophy since the Fairs Cup in 1969. Ashley has had a toxic relationship with the fans and angered them not just with his lack of funds for new signings but when renaming St James' Park, the Sports Direct Stadium, after his sportswear company. Both the Shields Gazette and the Daily Scum Mail - two other media outlets that this blogger would trust about as far as he can comfortably spit - also cover the story, citing alleged (though anonymous and, therefore, probably fictitious) alleged 'sources' allegedly 'close' to the Sheikh as allegedly confirming the deal has been 'concluded.' As for whether this story is true or not this blogger would like all dear blog readers to make a sentence from the following words: 'See it', 'believe it', when I' and 'I'll'. Indeed, it didn't take very long on Monday morning before both the Evening Chronicle and the Daily Torygraph were busy pouring cold water on the hot coals of rampant speculation. Although the idea of The Toon's matches against Sheikh Yer Man City at St James' and The Etihad next season becoming, effectively, 'the Abu Dhabi-derby' is, admittedly, an amusing conceit. Time will tell, dear blog reader. It usually does.
Plans to expand the 2022 World Cup to forty eight teams have been abandoned by FIFA. President Gianni Infantino said last year that the expansion from thirty two teams could be brought forward from 2026 to the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The change would have required Qatar to share hosting duties with other countries in the region. World football's governing body claimed that after 'a thorough and comprehensive consultation process' the change 'could not be made now.' FIFA also said that it explored the possibility of Qatar hosting a forty eight-team tournament on its own but has decided not to pursue those plans as there was 'not enough time for a detailed assessment of the potential logistical impact.' In a statement, Qatari World Cup organisers said: 'Qatar had always been open to the idea of an expanded tournament in 2022 had a viable operating model been found and had all parties concluded that an expanded forty eight-team edition was in the best interest of football and Qatar as the host nation. With just three-and-a-half years to go until kick-off, Qatar remains as committed as ever to ensuring the thirty two-team World Cup in 2022 is one of the best tournaments ever and one that makes the entire Arab world proud.' In November, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said adding sixteen teams to Qatar 2022 could create 'many problems' and described the idea as 'quite unrealistic.' Those close to the Qatar 2022 organisers say that this is 'a mutual decision' which 'realigns' them and FIFA and that they are now concentrating on delivering the best possible thirty two-team World Cup. But it will also have come as a major relief to the hosts, who no longer have to worry about sharing football's showpiece event. Perhaps with the Nobel Peace Prize in mind, Infantino had pushed for an expansion against Qatar's wishes, hoping it may help heal diplomatic tensions in the region by staging some games in other countries, but he has now had to admit defeat. With Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain all maintaining a blockade of neighbouring Qatar, such an audacious move was never realistically going to be straightforward. The crisis left only Kuwait and Oman as potential co-hosts, but a FIFA study concluded that neither would meet all logistical requirements. Infantino has previously collaborated with Saudi Arabia when proposing a revamped Club World Cup and many suspected this was linked to his suggestion that the country could be part of the solution for an expanded 2022 tournament. But, given the condemnation that followed the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the country's consulate in Istanbul last year, along with its role in Yemen's bloody civil war, such a step would have sparked a major backlash from human rights campaigners, as it would have done if the UAE had been awarded games. So, while some national football associations and Infantino will no doubt be disappointed at the news, many others will welcome it. Why does FIFA want to expand the World Cup, you may be wondering. Greed, basically. In January 2017, FIFA voted unanimously in favour of increasing the World Cup to forty eight teams for the 2026 event - which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In October 2018 Infantino said 'we have to see if it is possible' to bring the expansion forward to 2022. Infantino has been a strong advocate of the expansion and said the World Cup has to be 'more inclusive.' And, more profitable, obviously. 'We are in the Twenty First Century and we have to shape the World Cup of the Twenty First Century,' he said when announcing the change. 'It is the future. Football is more than just Europe and South America, football is global.' The expansion in 2026 will see an initial stage of sixteen groups of three teams precede a knockout stage for the remaining thirty two. The number of tournament matches will rise to eighty, from sixty four, but the eventual winners will still play only seven games. The tournament will be completed within thirty two days - a measure to appease powerful European clubs, who objected to reform because of a crowded international schedule.
Tranmere Rovers earned a spot in League One thanks to Connor Jennings' last-gasp extra-time layoff winner against ten-man Newport County at Wembley. Jennings headed home Jake Caprice's cross to break the resistance of a Newport side who battled with great spirit despite a numerical disadvantage. An even contest swung decisively in Tranmere's favour when County captain Mark O'Brien was sent off for a second bookable offence in the eighty ninth minute. It compounded Newport's misery as Michael Flynn's side felt they were denied a clear penalty just moments earlier when Emmanuel Monthe appeared to foul Newport forward Jamille Matt. Rovers' win was their second play-off final success in as many years.
Charlton Not Very Athletic scored with virtually the last kick of the game as they recovered from conceding an extraordinary early own goal to beat Blunderland in the League One play-off final at Wembley and, as a consequence, condemn The Mackem Filth to another season in the third tier of English fitba. Addicks defender Patrick Bauer had an initial header blocked from a cross, but was on hand to scramble home the rebound to take Charlton into the Championship after three years in League One. Early on, Charlton's centre-back Naby Sarr's powerful back-pass was completely missed by goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, who then watched helplessly as the ball roll into his net to give Blunderland the lead. But Lee Bowyer's side got a foothold in the game and levelled when Lyle Taylor put in a low cross for Ben Purrington to score at the back post. The game looked destined for extra time after a second half with no meaningful efforts on target, but a Charlton overload at the back post in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time gave Bauer two opportunities to score a dramatic winner. Defeat means that Blunderland, relegated in each of the past two seasons, are resigned to a second year in League One football at The Stadium Of Plight after a second Wembley final defeat in the space of but fifty six days.
A giant sausage was among items thrown into the disabled section at Old Trafford by West Hamsters United fans during the Premier League game on 13 April. The Scum have 'experienced problems' protecting supporters in that area of the ground, particularly against Paris St-Germain in February. Fans ripped the netting, designed to stop missiles entering the area, during their Champions League visit. Talks are currently ongoing in order to 'find a long-term solution to the problem.' The disabled section at Old Trafford is situated directly below the away fans' section in the South East corner of the stadium and at a recent fans' forum, a Manchester United Disabled Supporters Association representative highlighted the scale of the issue. They said: 'The West Ham game resulted in a number of missiles being thrown into the disabled section. These included plastic clubs filled with liquid, cigarette lighters and various items of food, including a giant sausage.' Also at the forum, The Scum revealed that, despite last season's disappointing sixth-place finish, they sold all fifty two thousand season tickets in record time and it is understood seventy five thousand people are on the club's season ticket waiting list.
Coventry City say they have a "'roundshare venue and agreement in place' for next season if they are unable to stay at The Ricoh Arena. A planned vote of English Football League clubs regarding Coventry's place in the league has now been cancelled. Coventry, owners Sisu and rugby union club Wasps - who own The Ricoh - are currently 'in talks' over The Sky Blues staying at the ground, which is Coventry's preferred option. But their ongoing legal case is causing problems with those negotiations. A groundshare agreement with Birmingham City has been widely reported but, when contacted by the BBC, Coventry 'would not confirm' that the deal could see them playing at St Andrew's next season because of 'a confidentiality agreement.' Earlier this month, League One City's owners whinged to the European Commission about the sale of the stadium to Wasps in 2014 - with Coventry later saying that the complaint is only against Coventry City Council and does not involve Wasps. However, that move prompted Wasps - who have asked Sisu to cease all legal proceedings surrounding the sale - to discontinue discussions with The Sky Blues over the continued use of the ground, stating 'the ball is back in the court' of Sisu. Although a rugby club using a tennis metaphor in relation to football some may regard as being a wee bit arch. Sisu claims The Ricoh was 'undervalued' by twenty eight million smackers and is asking the Commission to see if the deal breaks state-aid rules. Coventry said in a statement on Sunday: 'We understand the frustration that fans are feeling and have expressed to us, at not knowing where their club will be playing next season, not being able to plan for next season and supporting Mark Robins and the team and the time that this is taking.' The Sky Blues relocated from Highfield Road to The Ricoh Arena in 2005 but, following a dispute with the company that ran the stadium, spent the 2013-14 season groundsharing with Northampton Town before returning to The Ricoh in August 2014. EFL clubs were due to vote on Coventry's future on 29 May and they could, in theory, have been expelled from the league if they had been unable to agree a deal to stay at The Ricoh or found an alternative venue.
Gatesheed have been suspended from the National League and refused a licence for next season. The fifth-tier club have reportedly breached the league's rules on financial reporting and permitted loans, as well as defaulting on football creditors. At a disciplinary hearing The Heed were found very guilty of failing to obtain security of tenure over their ground. The club have also been fined three-and-a-half grand and docked nine points from this season meaning they drop from ninth to seventeenth. It is not yet clear how the league will be re-organised, although Gatesheed can appeal to the Football Association over the suspension. If the club appeal and are unsuccessful, they face the prospect of a drop of at least two divisions, with the sanction also applying to the National League North - the tier below. BBC Newcastle reports that a takeover of the club by supporters from owner Doctor Ranjan Varghese had been agreed this week, but is not yet complete. Varghese had said in March that he had agreed a deal to sell the club to former Rochdale chairman Chris Dunphy, but no further progress was made. In a season of turmoil off the field, Steve Watson resigned as manager in January to take over at York City, while his successor Ben Clark was sacked at the end of a campaign in which they finished ninth. They were also evicted from the International Stadium, which they lease from Gatesheed Council, although they were allowed to play out the season at their ground. The Heed currently have but one player left contracted, Scott Barrow, but he will leave when his deal expires next month. Players had seen their wages paid late and one member of staff claims that she was sacked by Doctor Varghese by text message. Fans group Gateshead Soul, who helped pay for food and transport for unpaid players, still hope they can rescue the club and run it on a fan-owned model.
Cove Rangers have become the SPFL's newest side and ended Berwick Rangers' sixty eight-year stay in Scotland's senior leagues by earning a League Two place. Leading four-nil following last week's first leg, Cove extended their aggregate advantage through Jamie Masson. Berwick's misery continued just on half-time as Ross Brown was dismissed for a foul on Mitch Megginson. And Jordon Brown and Paul McManus netted to give Highland League winners Cove a seven-nil aggregate win. Last year's beaten finalists become the first Highland League side to enter the Scottish Professional Football League since the new Pyramid and League Two play-offs were introduced in 2014. Berwick face relegation to the Lowland League, with their chairman in-waiting John Bell telling BBC Scotland before Saturday's second leg that the club were 'prepared for it but it's not a place we want to be.' Their relegation means that there will no longer be an English-based team in the Scottish Professional Football League next season.
Glasgow Celtic secured a historic treble of domestic trophies for the third consecutive season as Odsonne Edouard's two goals overcame Heart of Midlothian in the Scottish Cup final. Neil Lennon has now led Celtic to a league and cup double after succeeding Brendan Rodgers mid-season and has been offered the manager's job permanently. His side overcame the setback of Ryan Edwards' second-half strike. Edouard equalised from the penalty spot before coolly hitting the winner. The Edinburgh side fought hard for an equaliser of their own in the closing stages, but Celtic stood firm to establish a new mark of triumph in the history of Scottish football. The final whistle brought an emotional response from Lennon on the touchline for a victory that also means Aberdeen qualify for the Europa League instead of Hearts having come fourth in the Premiership. His claim to the manager's role was based on his experience of leading the club to success during a previous spell, of being able to urge and cajole players to deliver the best of themselves during the uncertainty that followed Rodgers' departure for Leicester - and this cup victory was built on the resilience of his players.
Fußball-Club Bayern München clinched their twelfth domestic double by beating RB Leipzig three-nil in the German Cup final. Bayern went ahead through Robert Lewandowski's header before Kingsley Coman's brilliant control and shot made it two-nil in the second half. Lewandowski then added a late third with a deft chip over Peter Gulacsi. Bayern were crowned Bundesliga champions for the seventh successive season last Saturday. Leipzig, who started the better of the sides, did have chances at Berlin's Olympiastadion but an inspired Manuel Neuer stood in their way. The German international goalkeeper, who was making his first appearance since 14 April, was alert to tip Yussuf Poulsen's header onto the bar in the opening moments and he made a fine stop to deny Emil Forsberg early in the second half, too. But there were other chances for Bayern as Gulacsi saved well to keep out a swerving effort from Mats Hummels while Arjen Robben, who was making his final Bayern appearance, blasted over from close range. There was also a farewell outing for Franck Ribery who, like Robben, will leave Bayern this summer. But Rafinha, who is also parting ways with Bayern, was forced to watch on from the substitutes bench. Success in the DFB Pokal means Niko Kovac has led Bayern to a domestic double in his first season at the helm, one year on from beating them in the final when the Croatian managed Eintracht Frankfurt.
Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo scored as a valiant Valencia beat La Liga champions Barcelona to win the Copa del Rey. Ernesto Valverde's men said in the build-up that a win would help ease some of the pain of the Champions League loss to Liverpool Alabama YeeHaws, but they were sub-par again, in the Seville heat. French forward Gameiro fired in a superb strike to give Valencia the lead before Rodrigo headed in the second. Lionel Messi's seventy-third minute strike gave Barca hope but they fell short. After the match, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu backed Valverde to continue at the Nou Camp. 'I've always said that Ernesto has a contract for the next season, he's the coach,' he said. 'I do not think this defeat is the coach's fault.' Valverde said: 'When a coach loses you want to go again, to fight to overcome the next challenge. I know losing for this club is hard.' Temperatures reached North of thirty degrees inside Real Betis' packed Estadio Benito Villamarin, but only one side wilted. There was a sign of things to come when, in the eighth minute, Barcelona defender Clement Lenglet was lucky to escape being punished for a woeful pass. His ball along his own area was picked up by Rodrigo, but fortunately for the Frenchman his centre-back partner Gerard Pique was on hand to clear the Spain international's shot off the line.
Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini blamed a 'scandal' as his side were denied their first trophy since 1963 by Lazio in the Coppa Italia final. Marten De Roon's shot hit the hands of defender Bastos but no VAR decision was given, before Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Joaquin Correa scored. 'Are we meant to only use VAR when it's handy? It was a penalty and a red card,' Gasperini whinged. 'This is a scandal! Tell me why it happened? Give me some justification.' The game was goalless when former Middlesbrough Smog Monsters midfielder De Roon's shot was deflected on to the post by the hands of Bastos - who had already been booked. Milinkovic-Savic came off the bench to head in the opener before Correa ran clear to wrap the game up in stoppage time. Lazio will now play in next season's Europa League. 'This is very serious,' Gasperini blubbed like a big girl. 'That was going into the goal, it was clearly deflected. This incident is absolutely worthy of a VAR review. It might not have been seen by the referee and, indeed, I didn't see it either, but the VAR? I want those officials in the booth to come here and explain to me what they saw. The only possible explanation is they had a blackout and couldn't see the screen. Either that or they just closed their eyes and looked the other way. Maybe we wouldn't have won anyway, but it's really ugly to see this. It's ugly. It shows no respect at all for the Atalanta supporters.' Third-placed Atalanta can still secure Champions League football for the first time if they win their last game - against Sassuolo, having recently drawn with The Shitty Hunchbacks to leapfrog both of the Milan clubs. But, their chance of silverware is gone for another year as Lazio edged an ill-tempered game littered with bookings. Seven-time winners Lazio last won the cup in 2013.
The New Saints have secured a position as one of the top sixteen seeds for next season's Champions League preliminary qualifying round draw. The Welsh League champions and double winners had their seeded position in next month's first qualifying round draw confirmed after Champions League finalists Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws and Stottingtot Hotshots finished the Premier League season inside the top four. Scott Ruscoe's Welsh double winners were top seeds for the first qualifying round during the season just ended out but lost to Macedonian outfit Shkendija. They will avoid the likes of Glasgow Celtic, Red Star Belgrade and BATE Borisov. The draw takes place on 18 June. Which, obviously, led to dancing in the streets of Total Network Solutions.
Gareth Bale's future as a Real Madrid player continues to be the subject of daily speculation. The Welshman has reportedly said that he is happy to stay, but the fans of Real have, reportedly, made their feelings on the matter pretty clear. This week Spanish newspaper AS conducted a vote where supporters could decide whether each player should stay or leave. The paper reports that almost five million fans took part and whilst Bale is by no means the only player they voted to show the door, the numbers are pretty damning: ninety one per cent said they want him - and his daft haircut - gone. Real Madrid have endured, by their standards, a disastrous season. They lost twelve league games and finished nineteen points behind champions Barcelona while their Champions League campaign was halted at the round of sixteen stage by Ajax Amsterdam. Bale appears to have borne the brunt of the fans' frustrations. In March he was jeered when he was substituted in the home defeat by Barca and in Real's final league match this season - a dismal defeat by Real Betis - he went straight down the tunnel without acknowledging the home support. Although the Madrid fans haven't resorted to their infamous show of disgust just yet - waving white handkerchiefs - this public poll is hardly going to make Bale's already frosty relationship with the Real faithful any better. But, according to Spanish radio station Radioestadio, Bale has told team-mates: 'I've got three years left on my contract. If they want me to go, they'll need to pay me fifteen million pounds per season. If not, I'll stay here. And if I have to play golf, I will.' He is not the only person in football to be told to leave by the supporters. Earlier this month Bale's former Wales boss Chris Coleman was, in rather more polite terms, told that his time was up with Hebei China Fortune. Coleman presided over a run of one win in nine games, prompting the fans to unfurl a banner which read: 'Hello Mister Coleman, please go home! You're fired!!!' In Chinese it added: 'Coleman, your mum wants you home for dinner.' The protest David Moyes was subjected to during his spell as The Scum's manager were also memorable. A banner with 'Wrong One - Moyes Out' printed in seven-foot high red lettering was flown above Old Trafford before United's home win over Aston Villains. Yet the response inside the stadium that day was, broadly, one of support. But these examples pale in comparison to what Arsene Wenger had to endure towards the end of his twenty two-year stint as The Arse's manager. As well as a weekly diatribe on the fans' YouTube channel AFTV and countless news stories on the subject, 'Wenger Out' signs and banners began popping up in the most unexpected places all over the world. A Jeremy Corbyn rally, a basketball match in Saudi Arabia, a protest for Lebanese engineers in Beirut, a Coldplay concert in Singapore, even WrestleMania in Florida were all used as platforms to promote the 'Wenger Out' message. If Bale is intent on seeing out the rest of his Real contract, with the majority of fans calling for his exit, protests could reach Wenger-level once more.
A French judge has charged the president of Paris Saint-Germain, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, with corruption over Qatari bids to host the world athletics championships. Judicial 'sources' quoted by AFP news agency said that the case focused on the championships held in 2017 and 2019. Khelaifi, who is also the owner of Qatari TV channel BeIn Sports, has been under investigation since March. Two payments totalling over two million quid, made in 2011, are under scrutiny. London won the bidding to host the championships in 2017, but Qatar is hosting this year's championships in September and October. It is alleged that the payments were made by Oryx Qatar Sports Investment to another firm run by the son of Lamine Diack, ex-president of the IAAF, the world athletics governing body. French prosecutors allege Khelaifi approved the payment, but his lawyers deny that he was either a director or a shareholder in 2011. They say he only had shares in the company between 2013 and 2016. Lamine Diack was charged with corruption in March in relation to the case, while an arrest warrant has been issued for his Senegal-based son, Papa Massata Diack. Lamine Diack was IAAF chief from 1999 to 2015. The French term 'mis en examen' - meaning 'charged' in English - does not automatically trigger a trial, but it means that prosecutors 'strongly suspect wrongdoing' and naughty nefarious malarkey afoot. In a statement Khelaifi's lawyers said that the allegations were 'inaccurate' and that he 'had not validated any payment of any kind whatsoever' in relation to the allegations. Another BeIn Sports executive, Yousef Al-Obaidly, is also under investigation in France over the awarding of the 2017 championships. He is a PSG board member. Obaidly, quoted by his lawyer, called the allegations 'utterly baseless and unsubstantiated' and said that he would contest them. In January, Khelaifi was elected to the executive committee of European football's governing body UEFA. They told the BBC UEFA is 'monitoring the situation.' In a statement, the IAAF said: 'We continue to be available to the French prosecutor to share any information that may assist the investigation. However, we have not seen the specific indictments referred to by the media. The dates published in the media appear to coincide with the bidding timetable for the 2017 IAAF World Championships which were awarded to London. The 2019 World Championships bid process began in February 2014 with a decision in November 2014. Our rights holder for the region was and still is, Abu Dhabi Media, who signed as a partner in January 2014.' A lawyer for Khelaifi denied any and all wrongdoing on the part of his client, saying that the Oryx payments were 'fully transparent. Nasser Al-Khelaifi was neither a shareholder, nor a director of Oryx in 2011. He did not intervene either directly or indirectly in the candidature of Doha,' he said. PSG won the French Ligue Un championship this season, but were knocked out of the Champions League by The Scum and lost the Coupe De France final to Rennes on penalties in April.
The artist behind a new statue of George Best has defended his depiction of the famous footballer, after it was criticised on social media. The main whinged was that it does not bear any resemblance to the Northern Ireland and The Scum striker. Many suggested it looks more like Pat Jennings, Best's former international teammate, who unveiled it. However, artist Tony Currie has claimed that it had the seal of approval from Best's family and that was what mattered. 'Everyone is entitled to their opinion,' he told the BBC. 'But anybody important to the statue, his family and his fans, they've all agreed that it's a good likeness and that's good enough for me.' The sculpture was unveiled at Belfast's Windsor Park on Wednesday. The whinging began not long afterwards. Currie said it had been his own idea to create a statue of one of Belfast's most famous sons. 'I thought, who is the best known figure in this wee country that hasn't had a statue put up of them? The first name that came into my head was Geordie Best. I tried to make a clay model of his head and showed it to friends and family and they all thought it was a good likeness,' he said. Currie then worked alongside a welder who welded a skeleton and built the clay on top. 'We were just doing it in our spare time and I funded it myself from the start,' he said. 'Towards the end we wanted to sound out if there was enough goodwill amongst the people of Belfast.' Currie put out a crowdfunding appeal and raised just over two grand. 'That helped a great deal buying the raw materials because bronze is expensive,' he said.
