Key events
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Gambling commission warns clubs over unlicensed websites
The Gambling Commission has written to Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle, Wolves and Burnley warning of the risks of promoting unlicensed gambling websites after regulatory action by the commission prompted the gambling operator that controls sponsors of those clubs to leave the British market.
TGP Europe surrendered its licence after it was told it needed to pay a £3.3m penalty and make significant improvements if it wanted to continue trading in Britain. The commission said the fine was for “failing to carry out sufficient checks on business partners and breaching anti-money laundering rules”.
A statement from the commission said: “The letter warns that club officers may be liable to prosecution and, if convicted, face a fine, imprisonment or both if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain.”
John Pierce, the commission’s head of enforcement, said: “We have already been in contact with several football clubs today to highlight the impact of the withdrawal from the market by TGP and make clear that we will be carrying out checks – without further notice – to ensure these sites remain blocked. We will also conduct ongoing spot checks as necessary to ensure they are not accessible to consumers in Great Britain by any means. Should any of these sites be available to GB consumers, we will take appropriate action.
“It is essential that football clubs play their part in protecting fans and GB consumers who may be exposed to advertising of these sites through their sponsorship arrangements from harm or exploitation. All licensed operators with similar arrangements to TGP should take notice of the action taken in this case.”
Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner will also speak at around 1.30pm before tomorrow’s FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley. Midfield general Adam Wharton is nursing an ankle injury which will be making fans sweat.
(I saw Wharton in action against Forest at Selhurst Park last week and he was outstanding. His passing and reading of the game seems to be improving all the time …)
Nuno of Forest, in fact, will be speaking at around 1.30pm.
Ewan Murray
This Scottish football season involved a debate surrounding the possibility of reconstruction. Would 10, 14 or 16 be the ideal number of Premiership sides, as opposed to the present dozen? There was, however, a tartan elephant in the room. Scotland has been operating a one, one-and-a-half or two-team league for far longer than is healthy. There is no indication that can change. Distress signals should have been raised long ago.
Union Saint Gilloise are within touching distance of a first Belgian league title in 90 years with club officials attributing their remarkable turnaround to a shrewd recruitment process backed by strong analytics.
A home win over Antwerp on Saturday, coupled with a defeat for their closest challengers Club Brugge at Anderlecht on Sunday, would get Union across the line.
Should that scenario fail to play out, they will have another chance on May 25, the final day.
Formed in 1897, Union won 11 league titles between 1904 and their last in 1935 but declined in the early 1960s after being relegated, ending up in the fourth tier two decades later.
But a revival sparked by investment from Tony Bloom, the owner of English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion, saw Union move up to the second division and then win promotion to the top flight in 2021 after a 48-year absence.
They finished runners-up in their first season back and came within minutes of the title before having it snatched away in the 2022-23 campaign.
They were second again last year, a point behind Club Brugge, but now have their destiny in their hands.
“We have done well in these playoffs so far, but we are staying calm. The atmosphere is the same as at the start of the playoffs,” said the coach Sebastien Pocognoli.
The 37-year-old former West Bromwich Albion and Brighton defender has been at the helm since the start of the season and credited with keeping Union competitive despite the club selling players.
While such turnover rarely fosters continuity, Union have stayed competitive thanks to data-driven signings.
“We want undervalued, underrated hungry players,” said Chris O’Loughlin, the club’s sporting director. “We don’t have the budgets to go and spend some of the money that’s being spent by some of our colleagues in Belgium.
“By looking for these undervalued, underrated, hungry players we also have the scope to look far and wide, because we have some fantastic data. The analytics is a big, strong part of our recruitment process,” he added.
Among their early purchases is the English defender Christian Burgess, who joined from Portsmouth, and Kevin Mac Allister, elder brother of Liverpool’s Alexis.
This week the players have been cloistered away to avoid pressure, with the club’s chief executive officer Philippe Bormans saying they have learned from past disappointments.
“We have all experienced it – including the disappointment – and have taken steps as a club. We know exactly where we stand and what can still happen,” Bormans said. “That experience is important not to look ahead too much and to focus on the next match.” (Reuters)
The lunchtime Premier League press conference rush is about to commence. It seems like Nuno Espírito Santo of Nottingham Forest is about to speak before Sunday’s trip to West Ham.
Over in Italy, there is something called a “title race.”
Napoli dropped points at home against Genoa last Sunday, while Inter won at Torino, meaning there’s a solitary point in it before the final two rounds. Inter v Lazio and Parma v Napoli (and all nine games) kick off at 18.45 local time on Sunday. Vai!
Serie A fixtures: Saturday 17 May
Genoa v Atalanta (1845)
Sunday 18 May (all 18.45 CET/19.45 BST)
Cagliari v Venezia
Fiorentina v Bologna
Hellas Verona v Como
Internazionale v Lazio
Juventus v Udinese
Lecce v Torino
Monza v Empoli
Parma v Napoli
Roma v Milan
(Should Napoli and Inter finish level there will be a one-off playoff match for the Scudetto, which would be fun for neutrals, and anxiety-inducing for fans.)
Your correspondent was on Chelsea duty yesterday. Enzo Maresca said that while tactics remain important, it’s up to his players to take responsibility, and show desire, to achieve the club’s aims in the next couple of weeks. Interesting, because past managers carrying the can for poor form at Chelsea feels like a recurring theme …
Watkins is asked about his comment last month about being ‘fuming’ at being left on the bench by Unai Emery for the Champions League encounters against Paris Saint-Germain last month.
“It wasn’t in a disrespectful way … for me, I’m a footballer at the end of the day. That’s my job. If I’m not playing football I’m not happy. You want to be playing every game. There is no animosity between me and the boss. I have every faith in him and what he decides.”
The Aston Villa goal-poacher Ollie Watkins has been having a chat with Sky Sports News: “Unbelievable season for us … falling short in the FA Cup, but being in contention for the Champions League – I think the fans will be happy with that.”
Who would be his pick for Villa’s player of the season? “Morgan Rogers has made the step up, and he’s made it look easy really … I can’t speak highly enough of him. So powerful, hard-working, skilful. He’s got the lot.”
And what has been Villa’s secret this season? “The way we train, the manager is so demanding … that brings the best out of players. Everyone is on the same wavelength. It’s been really positive this season.”
Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Leicester manager, has just been asked about Jamie Vardy’s achievements in the final weeks of his long stay at the Foxes. What sets him apart?
“For me I always, when you see the amount of time a player is performed at the highest level – for me it’s the biggest achievement,” says the Dutchman. “When you are capable of playing 13 seasons at this level – coming up to 500 games, 200 goals, it’s says something on your mindset, you standards, how you live your life around football, preparing yourself day in day out to perform.
“Also the trophies he won … it’s the total package of one of the greatest.”
Has Vardy expressed any interest in being a manager himself – perhaps even at Leicester? “I think in the conversations we had, this wasn’t a topic.” [No – he can’t have my job. Ed.] “I recognise when I was still playing, at an older age, you are focused on performance. I recognise that in Jamie. He’s not thinking about the furure in football … he wants to continue playing, he’s committed to perform and to playing.”
Hello Stuart, hello everyone. Thank you. What is occurring?
More Vardy, Goodison and FA Cup final to be found in today’s 10 things …
Time for me to hand the blogging baton to Luke McLaughlin. Have a good weekend!
League Two playoffs: It’s semi-final second leg time tonight and tomorrow.
Walsall have a 2-0 lead to protect against Chesterfield tonight (8pm BST) before AFC Wimbledon take on Notts County (Saturday 12.30pm) with just a 1-0 cushion.
The Saddlers were just one point behind Bradford in the last automatic promotion place, and defender David Okagbue is keeping feet on the ground despite their cushion. He told the Walsall website …
No one here is getting ahead of themselves. We all know the game’s not over and there’s a lot left to do in 90 minutes. We’re looking forward to it, we know we need to start well.
With the advantage we have, they’re going to have to try and get the first goal and we know what to expect.
We just need to be ready, stay strong together and be connected all over the pitch and sometimes you’re going to have to deal with a lot of pressure like we did towards the end of the game and hopefully we do that and the fans get behind us, us kick on, get the first goal and get more from there.”
Winners of the two semi-finals will face off on Monday 26 May for a chance to join Doncaster, Port Vale and Bradford in League One next season.
More Newcastle: Howe has injury doubts regarding Sven Botman – “he got a bang on his knee” – in a further blow to a defence already missing Lewis Hall, Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett. “We’re not sure about Sven’s availability for the weekend but we’ll give him a chance to be fit,” Howe said.
He added that long-term absentee Jamaal Lascelles – an unused substitute last weekend after a year out following knee surgery – is now ready to feature. Joelinton is likely to miss the final two games with knee knack, but Joe Willock – recovering from a knee issue of his own – is seen as having a “slight chance” of featuring on Sunday.
Newcastle: Eddie Howe is a bit miffed that his side’s attempts to pip Arsenal to second spot in the league are having to take place against a backdrop where several of his stars are being linked with moves. The rumour mill has been whirring all season with talk that Alexander Isak is going to end up more or less anywhere but St James’ Park next season, with Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimarães also subjects of frequent chatter.
Newcastle can effectively seal a Champions League victory with victory at Arsenal – mooted as a potential destination for all three of the aforementioned – on Sunday. Howe said his piece on all the transfer nattering …
It is a frustration because I don’t see why our players are getting linked here, there and everywhere with other clubs. I’d like to think the players are happy here.
I’d like to think again that they’re seeing us grow and develop into a team that hopefully can compete at the top end of the division. We have no divine right to do that, but I think we’re going in the right direction, so yes, it’s a source of frustration. But I don’t let it absorb me, really.”
He also opened up on his hopes that the club will be in a position to spend this summer …
Regular success, consistent success, all these things help you in the journey that you’re on to show to everybody that that’s where the club’s ambition is. There’s no doubt that’s what the club’s ambition is. The ability financially to compete the last few years has been hampered by PSR. But those issues aren’t there for the coming window, so I don’t see any reason why we can’t strengthen, not weaken ourselves.”
Leicester: not quite a club fixture of Goodison Park vintage, but Jamie Vardy has been kicking around at Leicester for 13 years.
It’s an all-relegated affair at the King Power Stadium on Sunday as the Foxes host Ipswich, and the club have announced that the match will be Vardy’s final outing – the striker will sit out the last-day visit to Bournemouth.
The 38-year-old, who will be looking for a new employer over the summer, will be particularly hungry to make his mark – he’s on 199 Leicester goals, has nine goals this season … and Sunday and will be his 500th appearance for his club.
The club have promised “special souvenir flags” on each seat – The Day Of The 30,000 Jamie Vardys? Former teammates, including members of the 2016 league-winning squad, will also be on hand to wave him away.
Quiz quiz quiz quiz quiz: plenty of FA Cup fare – plus Beach Soccer World Cup! – in here to test you (I got 11/15) …
Barcelona: ICYMI, a lively couple of days in La Liga ended with Barça sealing the league title against 10-man Espanyol last night.
Raphinha lauded 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, scorer of the stunning opener in a 2-0 win, after the match …
We didn’t have many clear chances but we have a kid in there who sometimes pulls something out of the golden feet he has and he gave us peace of mind to stay in the game more calmly.
In January some people were saying we would fight to be third. We have confidence in ourselves. That’s the key. We trust in the work and in what we know we can do.”
On Thursday Real Madrid had prolonged the race for the title with an ultra-dramatic, last-attack turnaround victory at home to Mallorca. Seriously, we had someone with a finger hovering over a button ready to launch a “Barça confirmed as league winners after Real Madrid fail to beat Mallorca” story.
Celtic’s Maeda wins Scottish Premiership player of the season
Scottish Premiership: Celtic forward Daizen Maeda has been recognised as the league’s player of the season. His 33 goals from 49 games in all competitions – including 16 in the league – propelled the club to a double that could yet become a treble. The Hoops face Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final next Saturday. Maeda, who also has 12 assists, has already won Celtic’s own player of the year award and PFA Scotland’s player of the year.
Before then, it’s Trophy Day at Celtic Park tomorrow (12.30pm KO), as the side celebrate another Premiership title as they host St Mirren.
Deep breaths, Everton fans … it’s going to be an emotional one. With what looked like being a precarious season long-since righted, fans will be able to pour everything into a goodbye to Goodison Park. As aforementioned, the creaky old stadium will remain – news that caught the Blue half of Liverpool unawares – but will have its capacity reduced as it prepares to become home to the women’s side.
Tom Jenkins has produced a stunning photo essay that captures a lot of what made the “Grand Old Lady” so special, and why fans of the men’s side are going to be in bits on Sunday. Whatever your affiliation, it’s well worth your time …
It’s also the second-to-last round of Fantasy Premier League matches. Here’s Paul MacInnes – currently third in Guardian Sport’s in-house league (caps doffed to league-leading subeditor Ronnie Ruff, 2,461pts and 19,361th overall, and our chief sports reporter Sean Ingle, who’s in second).
Only two weeks to go. That’s the mantra. Two more weeks to endure the familiar trauma of logging on to the fantasy football app, picking a team, celebrating the wise decisions that have led you to create an unbeatable unit, watching the weekend’s football disabuse you of this notion, then repeating the whole thing again.
It’s supposed to be a game, but Fantasy Premier League (FPL) is more like a lifestyle. Or a second job. Or even exactly like being a professional footballer: the focus, determination and relentless commitment should really be rewarded with a weekly salary, preferably in the five figures. But no, instead we have to make do with a brief appearance of a green arrow next to our team name or, more likely, a red one.
(Full transparency btw: I’m currently 16th of 26 because I can’t stop effing tinkering.)
Because of the FA Cup final, it’s a stretched round of Premier League fixtures.
Tonight, Villa host fourth-bottom Spurs, 45 mins before Chelsea host fifth-bottom Manchester United. Probably for the best that the “all-important” 40-point mark wasn’t needed this season, as Tottenham and United have just 38 and 39 from their 36 matches.
Saturday is kept clear to ensure all eyes are on Wembley, before Everton make a noon farewell to Goodison … but it’s only a goodbye for the men’s team, as was revealed this week. Then Forest will hope to try and get back into the Champions League reckoning at West Ham … and can Newcastle get past Arsenal into second spot?
Premier League fixtures
Friday
Aston Villa v Tottenham (7.30pm, all times BST)
Chelsea v Manchester United (8.15pm)
Sunday
Everton v Southampton (12noon)
West Ham v Nottingham Forest (2.15pm)
Brentford v Fulham (3pm)
Leicester v Ipswich (3pm)
Arsenal v Newcastle (4.30pm)
Monday
Brighton v Liverpool (8pm)
Tuesday
Crystal Palace v Wolves (8pm)
Manchester City v Bournemouth (8pm)
Palace have it all to do at Wembley tomorrow. Recent form has been spotty, including a 5-2 defeat by tomorrow’s opposition, City, but they’ll arrive at Wembley buoyed by last weekend’s 2-0 win at Spurs.
Ed Aarons has been talking to Palace names from finals past – Geoff Thomas, Alan Smith and Papa Souaré.
“Please don’t ask me about our appearance on Sky to sing our version of Glad All Over,” Thomas, captain in the dramatic two-game 1990 final, told him. “I remember John Salako and Gary O’Reilly giving it some! It was quite embarrassing having to sing in front of a live TV audience …”
Lots, lots more here to gee up the Palace faithful …
Chelsea are chasing a domestic clean sweep in the women’s game. Sunday’s Women’s FA Cup final arrives with Catarina Macario in form and having recaptured elusive fitness following her injury-ravaged start to life at the club.
It hasn’t been the smoothest time or transition back into playing. Having been out for so long, other things come, different little niggles, and it’s hard to pick up form in general, especially in the middle of a season, like this year. Thankfully I feel like I’ve finally been able to be on the pitch consistently since January or so, which has been a big achievement.”
Plenty more with Suzanne Wrack here …
Infantino prioritised ‘private interests’ on Trump’s tour, Uefa says
First up, those bizarre events in Paraguay. Delegates including European members of the Fifa Council – and Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin – walked out after Gianni Infantino had arrived hours late for the governing body’s annual congress. The Fifa president had been accompanying Donald Trump on a tour of Gulf states and despite making numerous apologies after his eventual arrival, members opted to leave at the scheduled time.
A particularly strong statement from Uefa said: “To have the timetable changed at the last minute for what appears to be simply to accommodate private political interests, does the game no service and appears to put its interests second.
“We are all in post to serve football; from the streets to the podium, and Uefa members of the Fifa council felt the need on this occasion to make a point that the game comes first and to leave as originally scheduled.”
Preamble
It’s all kicking off. Tomorrow, FA Cup fever at Wembley where Crystal Palace hope to make it third time lucky – having been denied in their two previous final appearances by Manchester United, will they have better luck against Manchester City?
Pep Guardiola’s side were last year’s losing finalists and may have a bit of a bear-with-thorn-in-paw air given their disappointing campaigns in the league and Europe.
The Women’s FA Cup follows on Sunday, where United aim to keep their mitts on the trophy they won last season … but come up against Sonia Bompastor’s unbeaten WSL champions Chelsea. The Blues got the edge in both league meetings this season.
Before then, expect fallout from astonishing events at yesterday’s Fifa congress in Paraguay, where Gianni Infantino watched several delegates turn on their heels in protest after the governing body president turned up hours late, having been hobnobbing with Donald Trump in the Middle East.
The weekend starts tonight, with plenty to play for in the Premier League and League Two playoff action. Then comes the last men’s match at Goodison and Jamie Vardy’s Foxes farewell. Lots of buildup and news to come.
