Key events
Leagues to be allowed one game abroad a season under new Fifa proposals
Domestic leagues would be limited to staging one game a season in foreign countries under Fifa proposals that significantly raise the bar for controversial “international matches” to be approved.
A new protocol, developed by a Fifa working group set up almost two years ago, would bring in clearer regulations to police the divisive issue and introduce strict limits.
In addition to each league being permitted to relocate one top-division game, it is understood host countries would be allowed to stage a maximum of five matches affiliated to another league each season.
La Liga and Serie A had scheduled league games for Miami and Perth respectively this season, sparking a political row involving Fifa and Uefa, but the fixtures – Villarreal v Barcelona and Milan v Como – were scrapped after objections raised by local authorities. La Liga’s American promoter, Relevant Sports, also got cold feet. The episodes caused considerable bad blood between many parties involved.
Under the new protocol any request to switch a competitive game to a foreign territory would be considered only if it has approval from all major stakeholders, and Fifa would have a right of veto.
Any request would have to be accepted by the national association of the clubs involved, their confederation, the Football Association of the country planning to host the game and its confederation, before being passed to Fifa.
Under this model, the domestic league would not be consulted in the event that the clubs pushed against its wishes for a game abroad. England’s FA would not sanction a switch against the Premier League’s wishes but such alignment is not necessarily the case in every country and could lead to tension.
Sources indicate Fifa may block requests if it has concerns over player welfare relating to workload and excessive travel.
Read more below in the exclusive by Nick Ames and Matt Hughes.
Roma: Claudio Ranieri has left his role as senior adviser at Roma. The former Leicester City manager became manager and senior adviser to the ownership last summer after he was replaced as head coach by Gian Piero Gasperini.
The club said in a statement:
AS Roma confirms the relationship with Claudio Ranieri has ended. The Club would like to thank Claudio for his significant contributions to Roma. He lead the team through a very challenging time and we will always be grateful for his efforts.
As we look to the future, our direction is clear. The Club is strong, with solid leadership and a defined vision. AS Roma will always come first. We have full confidence in the path ahead under Gian Piero Gasperini, with the shared objective of growing, improving, and delivering results worthy of our history.
Previous to his role as senior adviser at Roma, Ranieri turned down an opportunity to coach Italy’s national team after the sacking of Luciano Spalletti.
World Cup 2026: Civil liberties groups have advised players, fans and journalists could be exposed to “serious harm” at this summer’s World Cup due to the US government’s immigration crackdown.
A group of 120 organisations, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), issued a travel advisory on Thursday urging visitors to the States to “exercise caution”.
The advisory states that while the “rising authoritarianism” of president Donald Trump’s administration poses a serious risk to all, it states that those from immigrant communities, racial and ethnic minority groups, and LGBTQ+ individuals have been and continue to be disproportionately targeted and affected.
ACLU said potential human rights abuses could include racial profiling and discrimination by law enforcement, invasive social media screening and searches of electronic devices, the suppression of speech and protest, and the risk of cruel or inhuman treatment.
An ACLU statement said:
As the human rights climate in the US deteriorates, it is critical for Fifa to advocate for policy changes that align with international human rights and ensure that players, fans, and journalists can participate safely. Instead, Fifa has spent the last year closely aligning itself with the Trump administration by hosting its recent tournament draw at the Kennedy Centre, a place where President Trump received the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize.
It has been reported that Fifa is considering seeking a moratorium on raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials during the finals, but so far nothing has been confirmed.
ACLU’s statement added:
ICE continues to act with little accountability or regard for human dignity, and should be reined in both during and beyond the Fifa World Cup games.
A Fifa spokesperson said in response to the issuing of the travel advisory:
As per article 3 of the Fifa Statutes, Fifa is committed to respecting all internationally recognised human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights.
The development and publication of the FWC2026 Sustainability and Human Rights Strategy, the FWC2026 Human Rights Framework, and the recently updated FIFA Statement on Human Rights Defenders and Media Representatives as well as the establishment of an FWC2026 Human Rights Advisory Group comprised of independent experts and the wide advertisement of the FIFA Human Rights Grievance Mechanism, are all evidence of FIFA’s commitment to human rights across all key activities and actors connected to the tournament.
ICE has also been contacted for comment. PA
Did you have plans to go the World Cup this summer? Will you still be going? What affected your decision? Send me an email.
Liverpool: Arne Slot warned that “margins are small” in the Premier League as Liverpool aim to strengthen their push for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Slot’s side are fifth in the table after two straight league wins, five points clear of Brighton, who have played a game more. The top five teams in the Premier League gain automatic entry into next season’s Champions League.
Liverpool face a tough task on Saturday against Crystal Palace, whom they have failed to beat in three meetings so far this season.
Slot was asked at his pre-match press conference whether he was planning for next season after a disappointing title defence but was keen to shift the focus back on to the current campaign.
Of course there are conversations going on about next season but my complete focus is, and still should be, on this season, because margins are small.
One or two results can make a big difference, as we saw, because I think two weeks ago we weren’t five points clear of the number six, and two results later we are, so it can also go both ways.
So my full focus is on Palace, which is needed because, as you know, we’ve played them three times already this season and we’re unable to beat them once.
Liverpool lost to Oliver Glasner’s side on penalties in the season-opening Community Shield before defeats in the Premier League and the League Cup. They have picked up vital wins against Fulham and Everton this month but have also suffered demoralising defeats against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Manchester City in the FA Cup.
In the last eight games we picked up 16 points, and it doesn’t always feel like that, because in between we have to play PSG, Man City. But our recent league form is acceptable.
Thanks John and hello all! Some more Arne Slot lines are coming your way, with the Liverpool manager fully focused on the challenge of Crystal Palace.
And with that, I shall pass the reins to Yara El-Shaboury.
Eddie Howe’s press conference was long, as is usually the case. He’s talking here as if he will be in post next season, in which there is some doubt, and addressing Newcastle’s signings of Yoane Wissa and Nick Woltemade, neither of which have worked out so far.
“They’re both outstanding players. I don’t in any way doubt their individual qualities. They’ll both be better for this season’s experience next season.
“Any signing we make, regardless of age, having a season where they fully understand everything, get used to the environment, used to their team-mates, the location that they’re living in, it’s a big change for the players. Next season we’ll see that all the new signings that we integrated this season will be much better for the experience.
“And, of course, then the intense focus shifts on to someone else we may have signed in the summer.
Daniel Farke, the Leeds manager, has been talking ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea, and on the subject of Liam Rosenior’s departure from his team’s opponents. Calum McFarlane will take charge until the end of the season.
“I mind my own business and don’t take decisions for other clubs.
“First of all, you feel also for a colleague and a really good human being and a promising young manager like Liam. I’m pretty sure he will still have a big career in management and let’s not forget how young he is. He will also take this as a big experience and grow. You always feel for a manager and you don’t want a manager to lose his job, that’s for sure. But, on the other hand, we take it as it is.”
“When some top-class players are showing the basics and have no excuses, then it can be a really, really dangerous side. For that, I expect a Chelsea side who will be back to their best. I expect a side who will try to prove that it’s a fresh start, and right now the burden has been lifted and they want to show what they’re capable of.”
Manchester City news, via the Manchester Evening News’ Simon Bajkowski. “Manchester City freeze season ticket and matchday prices for the 2026/27 season. The club have also changed the unpopular ticket transfer system and will have a new category for some midweek games (£25 adult tickets).“
“After listening to feedback, from next season supporters will be able to send their ticket to Blues without memberships and while it has to be within a list of 18 friends and family this list can now be added to all through the season.”
A few other sets of fans would appreciate similar from their clubs.
There’s a huge game in the National League on Saturday, Rochdale v York. The highest of stakes. Here’s a guide to what else is going on beyond the 92. The answer is plenty.
Read Ben Fisher’s interview with Shea Charles, perhaps Southampton’s best hope of downing Manchester City on Saturday. And preventing another domestic treble. Charles is one of many City graduates making their way elsewhere.
When you first go up, as a City fan, I was a bit starstruck: ‘Woah!’ Suddenly I’m training with [Riyad] Mahrez. Fernandinho was there, someone I always tried to ask things. He helped me with little details – positioning, knowing when to drop at the right time. I tried to get bits of information from him. And Rodri as well. I ended up playing against Rodri in a friendly … it’s not fun to play against him, I’ll be honest.
Infantino ally to become DRC football chief?
Football’s governing body in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the DRC) has changed eligibility rules for its presidential elections, allowing a university friend of Gianni Infantino to stand.
Véron Mosengo-Omba, who was at university with the Fifa president in Switzerland, is a former general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), and confirmed his candidacy to be president of the DRC’s football federation, Fecofa, this week.
The election was due to take place on 11 April but has been postponed until next month, with the delay understood to have been because Mosengo-Omba – who surrendered his passport when he left the DRC to study in Europe aged 18 and is a Swiss citizen – only has a diplomatic Congolese passport.
Under-pressure Eddie Howe, as he is currently being termed, has been speaking ahead of Newcastle’s trip to Arsenal. There will be a couple of key absences.
Anthony Gordon, the centre of much speculation: “Anthony won’t make this game. He hasn’t trained this week. Again, not a serious injury but not in time for this game. Hopefully, the next one.”
Tino Livramento, a World Cup hopeful: “With Tino, he went for a scan initially. We don’t think it’s a bad injury. We will wait and see whether he will play again this season. He is due to have another scan at the weekend to determine the full extent of his time out.”
On Newcastle’s run, eight from 11 Premier League matches lost: “When you have had a difficult run it can seem like you’ve been in it a long period of time, probably with an international break, a big length of gap we had between games, it felt that way for us. We have to tap into games we performed really well in.
“We’re all feeling that pain at the moment, it has been a difficult period for us. I think we are very determined to try and put that right, we will try to win as many games as we can. Priding ourselves, historically, we lose a game, fighting to the end, giving everything to try and get a result.”
More Manchester United: Sebastian Coe, the chair of the Old Trafford Regeneration Task Force, has admitted that the timeline on the project is “slightly uncertain” but believes that the work to build Manchester United’s new stadium is “moving in the right direction”.
Speaking on The Sports Agents podcast, Lord Coe admits he was pleased to be brought into the Old Trafford regeneration project by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Andy Burnham. “Look, I love regeneration projects, and I was really pleased to be asked to get involved in that,” he says. “I do actually believe in good locally funded projects to make lives easier for local people. And I also saw from the London model that if you build it around sport, the multiplier impact of getting other stuff done is far quicker than it would have been.
“Land acquisition is always complicated. I know that from London. So, at this moment, it’s just putting the stuff together sequentially and incrementally and using a world class stadium to be a catalyst for so many other things, including inward investment. So, it’s about jobs, it’s about housing, it’s about educational aspiration. And I’ve seen sport so often used properly, changing local landscapes, and this is an exciting project.
“It’s slightly uncertain at the moment. The stadium is being scoped and being improperly scaled. But again, that is also dependent on the purchasing and the acquisition of various other parcels of land in that space. That’s all taking place at the moment, and I won’t maintain a running commentary on that. But we’re moving in the right direction.”
News from Manchester United: Matthijs de Ligt is back in training. He’s not played since November.
Why is Freddie Woodman likely to play for Liverpool against Crystal Palace? “No Giorgi [Mamardashvili] will definitely not be available tomorrow and not for the upcoming weeks. Ali [Alisson] is close to returning to play. Let’s see if tomorrow comes too early. That leaves Freddie [Woodman] as an option who is definitely fit.”
It was last season against Palace that Alisson suffered one of his many muscle injuries.
Here’s your quiz of the week, see if you can beat my 10/15.
Freddie Woodman’s dad, Andy, had to watch his Bromley team lose from the stands at Salford last night. A big home win for Gary Neville’s club, Paul Scholes was watching on, and automatic promotion might be on. Bromley have to wait and see if they win the League Two title. So much to play for in the EFL.
To on-field matters, where Arne Slot has been talking about Freddie Woodman, the third-choice keeper who has been thrown into action:
“There is a reason we have signed an experienced third goalkeeper. Usually you don’t need him that much, but there could be situations if one [goalkeeper] is injured and one gets suspended. That makes more sense than two goalkeepers being injured.
“Apart from him being a good goalkeeper, which he has shown. When he was young, he won the Euros with the under-17s and the under-20s he won the World Cup.”
Andy Hunter
There are more protests planned over the Liverpool ticket price rises this weekend and a van was parked outside the AXA Training Centre this morning for the press conference bearing the messages “caution: Anfield’s soul at risk” and “no to three years of price rises”.
Via the Spirit of Shankly website: “On Saturday we are asking every supporter to “Show FSG The Yellow Card” over the decision to make Liverpool FC the first club to lock in THREE YEARS of price rises.
“Not only is this a tone-deaf and worrying decision in terms of the price of tickets, it is also closing down the conversation with supporters, and ending yearly accountability and scrutiny through the Liverpool Supporters’ Board.
“We have already seen the withdrawal of flags and banners from The Kop and “Not A Pound In The Ground” – the successful drive to encourage supporters not to spend inside Anfield and instead support local businesses in the surrounding area.”
What’s at stake as the Premier League reaches its final straight? Both Wolves and Burnley are already relegated, of course. Here’s you handy guide.
We expect to hear from interim – for the second time – Chelsea head coach Calum McFarlane today. And there’s news of the first manager he stood in for back in January.
The regular weekend digest of what to expect here.
Wilson: BBC ‘crazy’ to can Football Focus
The former presenter Bob Wilson feels it is “crazy” the BBC has decided to take Football Focus off the air after more than half a century.
The Saturday lunchtime programme was first broadcast in 1974, with former Scotland and Arsenal goalkeeper Wilson the new show’s host. On Thursday, the BBC said in a press release “changing audience behaviours” had prompted it to act, bringing to an end the show’s run of 52 years when it finishes at the end of the season, with Football Interview set to move into the Saturday 12.45pm slot.
Wilson wrote in the Times: “I was absolutely shocked to hear that Football Focus will end this summer. It has run successfully for 52 years, so goodness me, why are they getting rid of it? I am really disappointed it has come to this. The BBC has said it will be replaced next season by an interview show about what makes footballers tick. That is crazy.”
Millwall receive apology over racism booklet
Millwall have received an apology from Westminster City Council for the “insensitive” use of the club’s official logo to “illustrate the historic problem of racism within football” in a children’s education booklet which was distributed in schools.
Images shared widely on social media from the booklet show the badge of the Championship club printed on the clothing of a member of a white supremacist hate group. On Thursday afternoon, Westminster City Council issued a statement confirming the booklet had been removed from circulation, with internal processes being reviewed.
A Westminster City Council spokesperson said:
We accept the use of this image was an insensitive way to illustrate the historic problem of racism within football. We have apologised to Millwall Football Club for the improper use of their logo and for any offence caused. The booklet has been removed from circulation, and we are reviewing processes to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
According to the club’s official supporters’ group, Millwall are still considering their legal position on the matter. PA Media
Preamble
Good morning, football. Another quiet week, then … what would we do without Chelsea? We’ll have the latest from the Stamford Bridge content machine, as we look forward ro two FA Cup semi-finals and another crucial round of Premier League fixtures. It’s also the penultimate weekend of the EFL, with so much to be decided.
FA Cup: Man City v Southampton, 5.15pm Saturday
FA Cup: Chelsea v Leeds, 3pm Sunday
Sunderland v Nottingham Forest, 8pm Friday
Arsenal v Newcastle, 5.30pm Saturday
Fulham v Aston Villa, 12.30pm Saturday
Liverpool v Crystal Palace, 3pm Saturday
West Ham v Everton, 3pm Saturday
Wolverhampton v Tottenham Hotspur, 3pm Saturday
Manchester United v Brentford, 8pm Monday
Join us for the day’s news, previews and reaction.
