Doohan cuts holiday short for Scotland
Free agent goalkeeper Ross Doohan, 27, cut short his holiday to join up with the Scotland squad for Monday's friendly with Liechtenstein. (Scotsman - subscription required), externalLiechtenstein head coach Konrad Funfstuck wishes he "had those kind of problems" as he laughed off Scotland's goalkeeping crisis. (Sun), externalLewis Ferguson insists there will be no panic from Scotland as they take on Liechtenstein in Vaduz three days on from losing at home to Iceland. (Herald - subscription required), externalRead Monday's Scottish gossip
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Times
34 minutes ago
- Times
Tired players face 100-minute games as Fifa ignores Club World Cup fears
Fifa has ignored pressure from players and unions and will use stoppage-time rules at the Club World Cup that are likely to make some games last more than 100 minutes. Pierluigi Collina, the Fifa referees' chief, said officials have been told to compensate for any time lost to injuries, goal celebrations, penalties or red cards. The same rules were in place at the 2022 World Cup, when England's game against Iran lasted 117 minutes. Collina also revealed that assistant referees have been told to be 'braver' in raising their flag for obvious offsides — and that a new semi-automated offside system will alert them when a player is ten centimetres or more offside. Players unions are already concerned about the demands on individuals of a big new summer tournament and Uefa took a more relaxed approach for Euro 2024. Former Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne has been among those who criticised the longer matches. Collina said that match officials had been told to encourage games to restart quicker, which should reduce stoppage time, but that the strict approach would still be applied. 'This is the Laws of the Game, that there are losses of time that should be compensated at the end of the match,' Collina said. 'They are simply compensating for time when the ball was off. The objective is to make the game more enjoyable and entertaining. There is nothing entertaining with the ball not being on the field of play. So, certainly, the time loss will be compensated. 'By being proactive to restart play quicker at throw-ins, goal kicks, corners and free kicks, the time added would be reduced, probably.' The 2022 World Cup had an average stoppage time of a little more than 11min 30sec, more than double the previous tournament in Russia in 2018. Premier League matches were nearly two minutes shorter last season than the previous year after instructions to referees to be less strict on stoppage time, which was down from 11min 35sec to 9min 53sec for matches played between August and February. Collina also revealed that match officials should raise their flag if a player is 10cm or more offside rather than leave it to the VAR. It follows the Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi being injured when play was allowed to continue despite Anthony Elanga being clearly offside in the build-up. Awoniyi collided with the goalpost as he tried to reach Elanga's cross and had surgery on a serious abdominal rupture. At the Club World Cup, a new semi-automated offside system will send a message to the assistant referee when a player is 10cm offside or more so they can raise their flag immediately. 'We have encouraged our referees to be a bit braver with offside,' Collina said. The Club World Cup will also see referees wear body cameras for the first time as part of a trial. The footage will be available to broadcasters to use for goal replays and will also be available to VARs if required.
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
‘Threats and blackmail don't work' – Sporting chief hits back at Man Utd target Gyokeres and reveals fee he won't accept
SPORTING'S president has furiously hit back at Manchester United target Victor Gyokeres saying: "Threats and blackmail don't work." The Sweden striker is considering going on strike to force through a dream move to United or Arsenal. 3 Gyokeres, 27, is furious with Sporting for going back on their word over a transfer promise to him and plans not to play for the club again. He believes he had a gentleman's agreement to leave the Portuguese giants for £50million with a further £8million in add-ons but that claim has been rubbished by president Frederico Varandas. And the Sporting chief insists he will not be bullied into letting the ex-Coventry forward move to the Prem on the cheap this summer. Varandas said: ' Sporting will not accept blackmail and insults – you should know me better by now. 'One thing is certain, we will not accept £50m plus £8m. As of now, Sporting has not received any bids for Gyokeres. "He is a fantastic professional, to this day he has had zero offers. He has a three-year contract with Sporting.' Responding to claims they have changed their stance, Varandas gave his version of the meetings they had last summer. He says the only guarantee he gave to the forward was that he would not ask for the full £85m of his release clause. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS He said: "It was agreed that Sporting would not demand the release clause at the end of the season, especially because he was going to be 27. "We knew about Viktor's dream of going to a club where he could fight for the Champions League and we have common sense. "We guaranteed that we would not demand £85m. Sporting has common sense, it keeps its word. "The president of Sporting said that the club would not demand the clause and that we would adjust the value to Viktor's performance. 'But he was one of the best players ever to step on the pitch in Portugal with 63 goals and ten assists. Now I see the agent is releasing information to the press.' United boss Ruben Amorim has made Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo his top priority after signing Matheus Cunha earlier in the window. 3 But he worked with Gyokeres at Sporting and could yet firm up the interest if the Red Devils can shift some of their existing forwards this summer. United legend Rio Ferdinand is not convinced by the striker and said: "I don't think he's the guy. I've not watched him loads but I've watched him probably three times really, really closely. "And three times I've gone, 'He ain't getting that opportunity in the Prem'. "When I see him physically matched, what else is there? Is there enough - after he's physically matched - to get him a goal?' Arsenal remain in the frame for him too with new director of football Andrea Berta a big fan from his days at Atletico Madrid. The Gunners are working on a deal for RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko but are currently unwilling to meet the German club's asking price. Should that move reach a stalemate, they could go back for Gyokeres if they felt he gave better value for money and could make more of an instant impact. However Sporting are not willing to let their prized asset go without a fight.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Andy Murray calls out tennis chiefs over Coco Gauff treatment after French Open champion made shock revelation about the tournament
Andy Murray has called out tennis chiefs over treatment surrounding Coco Gauff on the back of her French Open victory. The 21-year-old American sensation conquered Roland-Garros for the very first time after coming from behind to defeat the top-ranked Sabalenka 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. This marked the second Grand Slam of Gauff's career, having also claimed the 2023 US Open title. The world No 2 became the first American to win the French Open since Serena Williams in 2015. Now, she will look to back-up her success at Wimbledon later this month, going into the tournament as third favourite for victory, behind Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. In the fall-out of the French Open, though, Gauff took to social media the show off her trophy - but it wasn't as fans may expect. She revealed the actual trophy the winners get to take home, and it's not quite the one supporters see when the trophy is lifted. She took to TikTok to reveal that the actual trophy they get to take home is a lot smaller 'This is the trophy that you guys see,' Gauff said in the post. 'The one that we take pictures with, do press with and all that. 'But, actually, we don't get to take this home. This stays with the tournament.' Picking up the smaller trophy, she continued: 'This is the one we take home. It's like a mini replica of the trophy. It's… really small.' 'That's how small it is. But, you know, it's the memories that matter the most.' Murray, meanwhile, took to social media to give his opinion, and called out the authorities. 'Surely the tennis majors can do a better job with the replica trophies!?' he wrote. 'They are tiny.' Women's tennis players, meanwhile, will now received protected rankings during periods where they undergo fertility treatment, according to a new announcement. The WTA, the sport's governing body broke new ground in March when they announced that they would be ensuring that their players would be eligible to receive maternity pay and 'comprehensive benefits' thanks to a new initiative between the organisation and their partner the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF).
