Infantino pays tribute to Big Jack

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hailed the ‘loyalty and human qualities’ of the late Jack Charlton. Infantino has written to FAI President Gerry McAnaney to offer sympathies from the global football community towards the former Republic of Ireland manager. Of Charlton, who died last Friday aged 85, Infantino said: A legendary figure for England and Leeds United. ‘Loved and adored in the Republic of Ireland, a kind and genuine person, he will forever stay in our memories.’ There have been more than 16,500 online messages for Charlton on the FAI’s Book of Condolence. Meanwhile, the FAI board meets today after the football side of the directorship called for a meeting with Minister for Sport Catherine Martin over the Memorandum of Understanding signed in January between the State and Bank of Ireland. Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry has tabled a question for Minister Martin in the Dáil today about the ‘legal standing’ of the MoU under the FAI’s Constitution (Article 3.8) which states that grants/loans in excess of €1.27m have to be agreed by the Council in advance. Elsewhere, Irish international defender Louise Quinn is set for a move to Fiorentina.

THE takeover of Newcastle United has taken a further twist after Saudi Arabia permanently banned beIN Sports from broadcasting in the country. Qatar-based beIN are the Premier League’s rights holders in the Middle East and this means there will be no legal means of watching top-flight football in Saudi. Sources indicated at the start of the week that an announcement on the €400m Saudi-led takeover was close, and the expectation remains that it will be approved, in part because of UK government involvement behind the scenes. However, beIN sources who believed the deal was about to be signed off are now stunned by Saudi’s latest move, which does not tally with their previous methods of tackling broadcast piracy. BeIN called it ‘nonsensical’ and claimed the ruling had been arrived at following ‘sham’ legal proceedings. Sources say the timing of the announcement came as a surprise but they are hopeful it will not derail the takeover. Meanwhile, Steve Bruce fears Matty Longstaff ’s contract stand-off has affected the young player. The 20-year-old could leave when his deal expires this month. ‘He has got a big decision to make,’ he said. ‘We’ve made a fabulous offer. It has been going on too long — and it might have affected the boy.’