General Football 23/24

[Yozza]

Nothing dodgy about this deal at all then.... watch him take up a high level position somewhere for the Saudi's

Gary Hoffman: Premier League chairman set to step down over Newcastle takeover

Gary Hoffman is set to step down as chairman of the Premier League following a backlash from clubs relating to Newcastle United's takeover by a Saudi Arabian-based consortium.

Clubs complained to the Premier League in October after it cleared the deal, with frustration over how the buyers passed the owners' and directors' test.

There are numerous human rights issues linked to Saudi Arabia.

Amnesty International has since called for the ownership test to be changed.

The 61-year-old, who has been the Premier League's chairman for 18 months, has taken the brunt of the blame from clubs over the green light being given to the takeover by the Public Investment Fund.

Although Premier League officials felt there was no option other than to allow the deal to go through 18 months after it was first halted, clubs were unhappy at being told about it so late that they could not mobilise an attempt to stop it.

Clubs have already started the process of stopping commercial deals associated with the ownership in an effort to reduce the amount of money Newcastle can spend, for fear it will distort the league.

It is understood Hoffman is yet to take a final decision but an announcement of his departure is expected in the coming days.

He took over as Premier League chairman in April 2020 after Claudia Arney served as acting chair following Richard Scudamore's departure in 2018.

Soon after his appointment, Hoffman received criticism for his knowledge of talks about the failed European Super League project and the Newcastle situation has exacerbated concerns.

His likely departure comes at a delicate time for the Premier League, with clubs waiting for the findings of MP Tracey Crouch's fan-led review, in addition to continuing negotiations over key overseas television rights deals, the United States one being poised to go to second bids this week.

[spud_gun]

I hope Rodgers get the United job

[SB]

I don’t. I’m not sure I could stomach an ex manager in charge of the scum

[Bloodraven]

I don’t. I’m not sure I could stomach an ex manager in charge of the scum

How do we feel about Rafa?

[Scratch]

How do we feel about Rafa?

Will be cheering him on today, for sure!

[SB]

How do we feel about Rafa?

Meh he’s not really at a rival though is he? They’re a league below us but I still have respect for Rafa in all honesty as he’s a humble man & has enormous respect for our Club. I don’t really feel Brendan was one of us tbh

[Norbs]

A year on from Jiminez's skull injury, Football Focus has a really loving piece on it. Nuno was obviously really affected by it

[Exiled_red]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59448376

Belenenses' Portuguese top-flight match against Benfica was abandoned early in the second half because the home side had only six players on the pitch - having been forced to start the game with nine men, including a goalkeeper as an outfield player.

A Covid outbreak had left Belenenses with 17 players unavailable and their nine men were already 7-0 down at half-time.

And, after a delayed break, the team third from bottom emerged with just seven players due to injuries before a further injury immediately after the restart left them with only six - resulting in an immediate abandonment.

A dark chapter for Portuguese football - Rui Costa
Benfica president Rui Costa said his side were "forced" to play, adding the two bodies who could have postponed the game, the league and the Directorate-General for Health, did not do so.

"I regret what happened today, a dark chapter for Portuguese football and for the country itself," he said.

Manchester City's Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva wrote on Twitter earlier in the match: "What is this? Am I the only one who doesn't understand why the game hasn't been postponed?"

Sporting Lisbon, third in the table behind Benfica, released a statement saying: "Portuguese football as a whole is seriously harmed today.

"What is happening has serious implications for the credibility of this championship and the institutions that regulate it."

They added: "What made this situation possible must deserve a deep reflection by all those who defend the sporting truth and must deserve national attention at the highest level.

"It is already receiving international attention and marking yet another dark episode in Portuguese football."

Today football lost its heart - Belenenses
Belenenses, who had to field goalkeeper Joao Monteiro in defence, got off to the worst possible start, scoring an own goal within the first minute.

Such was their dominance with the two-man advantage, Benfica averaged 85% possession.

The own goal from Brazilian defender Eduardo Kau plus two goals from Haris Seferovic, one from Julian Weigl and a Darwin Nunez hat-trick had ended any semblance of a contest by the break.

During half-time, Belenenses lost Diogo Calila and Antonio Montez to injury, reducing them to seven players.

The match was called off a minute into the second period as Monteiro dropped to the floor, forcing the referee to abandon the game because the minimum number of players - seven - were not on the field.

The Belenenses players released a joint statement before match that read: "Football only has heart if it is competitive. Football only has heart if it is really sporting.

"Football only has heart when it is an example of public health. Today, football lost its heart."

Seems crazy that this game wasn't allowed to be postponed before kick off given the circumstances

[Yozza]

Interesting - could take all the 'armpit lines' out of the equation.... or f*** things up even more!

Semi-automated offsides trialled at Fifa Arab Cup and could be used at 2022 World Cup

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59461288

The use of technology to help officials make more accurate offside decisions will be tested at the Fifa Arab Cup, which starts on Tuesday.

"Semi-automated offsides" work using between 10 and 12 cameras which collect up to 29 data points for every player 50 times per second.

If it spots a potential offside an alert is sent to the video assistant referee (VAR), who has the final call.

The technology could be used at the 2022 Fifa World Cup.

"VAR has had a very positive impact in football and the number of major mistakes is reduced, but there are areas where it can be improved - and offside is one of them," said Pierluigi Collina, Fifa's chief refereeing officer.

"We are aware the process to check offsides can take longer [than other decisions], especially when it is very tight. We are also aware that the positioning of the lines may not be 100% accurate.

"For this reason Fifa is developing a technology which could offer faster and more accurate answers. This is known as semi-automated offside.

"For offside the decision is taken after analysing the position of players, but also their involvement in play. Technology can draw a line but the assessment remains in the referee's hands. This remains crucial."

Since the introduction of VAR in Europe's major leagues, offside decisions have been among the most controversial, with some goals being ruled out by the smallest of margins. Roberto Firmino's strike for Liverpool against Aston Villa in 2019, for example, was ruled out because his armpit was offside.

Planned trials of the new technology during 2020 were disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, but tests have taken place in England, Spain and Germany.

The Arab Cup, which features 16 teams and is staged across six stadiums in Qatar, is the most significant trial for the technology yet.

"It is based on limb-tracking technology," said Fifa's football technology and innovation director Johannes Holzmuller.

"Software is processing this data and, in case of an offside offence, an automated alert is sent to the video operations room. That's the reason we call it 'semi-automated' - at the end it is still the VAR who has to validate and confirm the proposed offside. Then the VAR informs the referee on the pitch about the decision.

"There are two focus points. The first focus is on the kick point - the moment the ball is played - and the second is which body part is closest to the goalline, the defender or the attacker. We hope with technology that we can be faster and more accurate."

[Exiled_red]

I mean the officials are supposed to have the final say but I think it will inevitably have teething problems, at least it's in international tournaments rather than something we give a **** about

[Rich]

Why do they feel the need to piss around with it again?!

I think VAR has been hugely positive so far this season, we can probably count on one hand the number of times its cocked up. So far improved from last season and now gives a good balance in helping the officials get to the correct call.

The only thing needed isn't a technology upgrade it is about training up some better referees

[Norbs]

England women currently 16-0 up

Anyone else think that them continuing to score is a bit disrespectful? We could've had a hatful more against United, but Klopp is classier than that

[Norbs]

Just peeked at the score again, it's now 18

19

[Norbs]

20-0 and the ref they're playing added time ffs

[ChesterDave]

4 in 5 minutes from the 80 minute mark. Completely pointless spectacle.