Dungannon Swifts boss Rodney McAree: We're not in Europe just to make up the numbers… we'll give it everything we have
Twelve weeks after winning the Irish Cup, it is back to the serious business of competitive football — in the unfamiliar surroundings of Liechtenstein.
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Belfast Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
As it happened: Linfield and Larne progress in Conference League but 10-man Dungannon Swifts knocked out
It's a big night in the UEFA Conference League as all three of Dungannon Swifts, Larne and Linfield are in action aiming to secure their progression into the third qualifying round of the competition against continental opposition.
Rhyl Journal
4 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Alexander Isak training at former club Real Sociedad amid transfer speculation
The Sweden international, who is reported to have asked Newcastle executives to explore a move away from St James' Park, has been heavily linked with Liverpool. His former club Sociedad confirmed on Thursday he was 'working with his trainers' at the club's Zubieta facility. Newcastle have been approached for comment. The player did not travel with the rest of the Newcastle squad earlier this month for their pre-season tour of Asia amid speculation over his future, with the club saying at the time he was absent due to a minor thigh injury. The decision to train at his old club rather than his current one will heighten speculation that Isak sees his future away from Newcastle. No offer has been submitted by Liverpool as yet to Newcastle, who would almost certainly be looking for a British record transfer fee for the player. Should Newcastle price Isak out of a move or simply refuse to listen to offers, one option Isak and his representatives might consider would be to unilaterally terminate his contract with three years remaining. A European Court of Justice ruling in favour of former Chelsea midfielder Lassana Diarra last year means players can now terminate their deals 'without unnecessary fears', according to the lawyer who led Diarra's case. The ruling appears to have given players greater leeway to terminate a contract without just cause. The court found some of FIFA's transfer rules were contrary to European law because they restricted freedom of movement and were anti-competitive. Jean-Louis Dupont, who led Diarra's challenge and who was also at the centre of the landmark Bosman case which granted players free agency at the end of their contracts, believes last year's ruling lifts the threat of significant sanctions for players who choose to terminate their deals. Dupont, speaking in general rather than specifically about Isak's case, told the PA news agency: 'In its Diarra judgement, the court ruled that players have a right to termination without just cause and that it is for the ex-employer to establish the existence and the quantum of damages, knowing that losing the opportunity to transfer the player is NOT a damage. 'According to the court, such termination cannot entail disciplinary sanctions (when effected in between seasons). 'FIFA has, imperfectly, amended its rules to abide by the court ruling. But the bottom line is that players have the right to terminate without unnecessary fears.' Asked whether he thought players would now be free from the threat of sporting sanctions such as a ban for terminating their deals, Dupont added: 'Yes. If not, the right to terminate, as granted by the court, would just be theoretical. But, apparently, FIFA is still resisting on this point.' Following the ECJ ruling, FIFA opened a global dialogue on its transfer rules and issued amended, interim rules just before Christmas last year. The world players' union FIFPRO immediately pushed back on the amendments, saying they did not 'provide legal certainty' to players. FIFPRO issued guidance to players in May stating that following the ruling, a player's transfer fee or transfer value could no longer be used in the calculation of any compensation due to the club where the player had been contracted, and advised that the compensation paid should be 'limited to the residual value of the contract, with a possible further reduction or increase on the basis of the national law'. A presumption that a player's new club had induced the termination of contract was removed in the amended rules issued by FIFA last December. Now, a player's old club must prove the new club induced the player to break contract.
Scotsman
7 hours ago
- Scotsman
Hibs make history before Midtjylland - now it's about a seismic result at their fortress
Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... There won't be a spare seat in the house. Hibs v Midtjylland at Easter Road is one of the hottest tickets in town as the capital club bid to keep their Europa League adventure going. The sold-out signs are up. More than 18,500 home fans are expected on Thursday night for the second leg of this tie, which is finely poised at 1-1 following the first leg in Herning last week. Hibs believe this will set a new club record home attendance since the stadium was redeveloped in the 1990s and 2000s. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The hope will be that this enlarged green-and-white army can roar Hibs over the line against pretty decent Danish opposition. The draw at the MCH Arena was a merited scoreline for David Gray's men, who clearly caught the SuperLiga side off-guard with their disciplined defensive performance and pacey prowess in attack. Midtjylland were booed off the pitch by their own fans but responded on Monday night by skelping Sonderjyske 6-2, with star striker Franculino bagging a hat-trick. Hibs head coach David Gray takes training ahead of Thursday's match with Midtjylland. | SNS Group As Hibs head coach Gray is at pains to point out, the job is far from done. Midtjylland are experienced European campaigners. Two seasons ago they were in the Champions League and last year they made it to the knock-out phase of the Europa League before eventually succumbing to Real Sociedad. They've rubbed shoulders with some good teams. Hibs will hope that a raucous Easter Road can spook them. What the Danes have shown in their three competitive matches this season is that while they can score (ten goals), they also leave the door open with six concessions. Only 200 travelling fans are expected to make the journey to Scotland. Hibs' sense of excitement is heightened by the fact they have not lost competitively at Easter Road since November 9 last year, when St Mirren turned them over. There have been victories over Celtic, Hearts, Aberdeen and two draws with Rangers. Most visitors in 2025 have left empty-handed. For too long Easter Road has not been a fortress; it is now. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hibs want to top list with Midtjylland scalp 'I think any team that's going to be successful rely on a really strong home form,' said Gray in his pre-match press conference. "You just touched on some of the big teams we've managed to beat at Easter Road, and this would certainly be right at the very top of that list if we were able to go and do that, and progress in the tie. "You want your home form to be as good as it can be, and make it a difficult place to come with the atmosphere, and the fans will certainly do that on Thursday night, which will be great. They will be right behind the players right from the first second of the game, so I'm really looking forward to it myself.' Gray has played his part in some memorable Easter Road European nights as player, not least scoring in a 3-2 win over Asteras Tripolis in 2018 when the hosts were 2-0 down. The former right-back admitted to a tinge of envy to those involved on the pitch. David Gray celebrates scoring against Asteras Tripolis in 2018. | SNS Group "It's probably one of the games where I'll sit and go, 'Wish I was playing tonight',' he laughed, before adding, 'and then after five minutes it's, 'Thank God I'm not playing tonight' when you see the speed some people are running! Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "There's a real feel-good factor around the place at the minute, and it's a reward for how well we've done." Should Hibs lose - and Midtjylland remain favourites to make it through to a third-round tie with Norwegian side Fredrikstad - then they will remain in Europe. They would drop into the Conference League third qualifying round and most likely face Serbian side Partizan Belgrade, who lead Oleksandriya 2-0 from the first leg. But there is no doubting that Hibs want to be heading just south of Oslo next week rather than the Balkans. It is a nice quest to have given that they were bottom of the Premiership just last winter. Mood around Easter Road 'is so good' 'The mood around the club right now is so good and everyone's on a real high,' said defender Jack Iredale. 'We want to make sure we continue that and we wouldn't be able to get here without the fans supporting us. They stuck with us in real difficult times and now I feel like we're paying them back a little bit. They're going to play such a massive role tomorrow, so I can't wait for the atmosphere and playing under the lights.' Iredale only joined Hibs less than a year ago, yet the impressive Australian centre-half already has given Easter Road a moment to savour with a volleyed derby winner from outside the penalty box. "Oh, a volley from 30 yards?' he smiled when asked of a repeat. 'I'll see what I can do. I wouldn't hold your breath for that one.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Perhaps not, but Hibs do a have a decent shot in this tie. Owned by Anders Holch Povlsen, the richest man in Denmark, the pressure is on Midtjylland to prevail and should the Leithers make it through, it would be one of Scottish football's best achievements in Europe outside of the Old Firm in recent times. "These are the games, it's why you do it,' added Gray. 'You might never get the opportunity to do these things again. We need to make sure the players are ready, the game plan's in place, we know where we still need to improve from the first leg. We're under no illusions that the task is going to be huge, we know that. But go and enjoy it as well, you need to embrace it.
