Barca rush in for Carl
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have voted to return to the traditional transfer window closing date of August 31.
The decision, taken at a three-hour shareholders’ meeting in London yesterday, was said to be “almost unanimous”.
For the past two summers the window has closed on the eve of the new Premier League season, out of sync with the rest of Europe.
The decision to revert to the previous closing date came after another summer of frustration in which English clubs saw their deadline end but the rest of Europe stay open for business, allowing raids on the Premier League.
Arsenal and Liverpool were two clubs that had originally supported the change to shut the window before the season started.
But they have now changed their minds and supported the switch back to the original closing date.
The biggest public critic was former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, who said the English window shutting earlier destabilised his dressing room and unsettled Danish international Christian Eriksen, who has now joined Inter Milan.
Premier League chiefs also voted for League-wide bans for fans found guilty of discriminatory, abusive and violent acts.
They also agreed a new £2billion six-year TV deal for Scandinavian countries which kicks in from 2022.
FROM BACK PAGE rave reviews while on loan at non-league Worthing, with Barca sending scouts to watch him twice.
Rushworth was called up in November for England’s U-19 Euro qualifiers.
It capped a whirlwind rise for the keeper after joining Brighton from his local non-league club Halifax.
Rushworth has also played for the Seagulls’ U-18s and U-23s.
FROM BACK PAGE season when fans went on the rampage during a home game with Burnley as they tried to attack the directors’ box.
Gold said: “I know exactly what Ed (right) has experienced. I experienced it four or five times. The Burnley game was a terrible one. My 10-year-old granddaughter said, ‘Grandpa, what do they mean? You’re not a liar, are you grandpa?’ I mean, what do you say to a 10-year-old? It was dreadful.
“The league will come together to protect the likes of Ed – he mustn’t be worried for his family – and punish the perpetrators. It can’t be tolerated.”