UEFA says FIFA competition plans ‘unacceptable’
BERN,SWITZERLAND:EUROPEAN football clubs, leagues and governing body UEFA has reiterated its opposition to FIFA’S plans for two new competitions, labelling them “unacceptable” in current form.
Following a meeting, UEFA’S Professional Football Strategy Council (PFSC) said it was “adamant” that new competitions must be discussed only as part of talks on the international match calendar from 2024 onwards.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has proposed creation of a new 24-team Club World Cup, held every four years, and a global version of UEFA’S Nations League. He wants the tournaments to start in 2021.
LEEDS ESCAPE PENALTY BUT FINED £200,000
LONDON: Leeds United have escaped a points penalty in their quest to be promoted to the Premier League after it was announced they had been fined £200,000 ($259,000, €229,000) and reprimanded for spying on their opponents.
Leeds faced an investigation by the English Football League after veteran manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted sending someone to spy on Derby at their training ground ahead of a match last month. EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey, announcing the punishments against Leeds said: “The sanctions imposed highlight how actions such as this cannot be condoned and act as a clear deterrent should any club seek to undertake poor conduct in the future.”
ORLANDO SIGNS NANI ON THREE-YEAR DEAL
Miami:portuguese winger Nani, a four-time Premier League champion and 2008 UEFA Champions League winner with Manchester United, has signed a three-year contract with Orlando City of Major League Soccer.
The 32-year-old, who helped Portugal win the 2016 European crown, joined the Florida side on a free transfer from Sporting Lisbon. Nani had nine goals in 58 appearances with Sporting as a teen star before joining compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo in 2007 at Old Trafford, where he would remain through 2014 with 41 goals in 230 appearances for the Red Devils across all competitions.
SPANISH FEDERATION TO REVAMP SUPERCUP
MADRID:THE Spanish Supercup is to be revamped into a four-team competition and staged abroad, the Spanish Federation (RFEF) announced on Tuesday.
RFEF president Luis Rubiales said the new competition would comprise the winner and secondplaced teams in La Liga and the finalists in the Copa del Rey.