Brighton &amp; Hove Albion drew 0-0 with Fulham in the Premier League on Wednesday, in a frustrating game for the south coast side, who missed the chance to pull clear of the London club in the relegation zone.

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The draw left Brighton 17th in the table on 18 points, five clear of Fulham, who have a game in hand, in 18th place.

Both sides had chances in the first half. Fulham right-back Ola Aina blasted a shot just over the bar from outside the box in the fifth minute, and Brighton's Leandro Trossard went close twice in quick succession at the other end.

Brighton repeatedly sliced through Fulham's midfield but were unable to get a man on the end of any of their resulting crosses.

Fulham's Ivan Cavaleiro dashed forward on the break after a misfired pass by Brighton's Adam Webster, only to shoot wide of the post, and the Seagulls' Pascal Gross fired a free-kick just wide of the post as the half drew to a close.

After the break, Fulham's defenders struggled to pass the ball out from the back, but Brighton's front line were unable to convert any of the numerous chances they created.

Fulham had keeper Alphonse Areola to thank for countless saves that kept them in the game, while captain Lewis Dunk was the hero for Brighton, clearing a Ruben Loftus-Cheek shot off his goal-line in stoppage time to hold onto a point.

"It's obviously frustrating that we haven't won at our ground," Dunk told BT Sport.

"We've got to go back and look at it and make sure we start putting the ball in the back of the net," he added.

Brighton manager Graham Potter was similarly frustrated with the result.

"We're creating the chances - that's not easy in this league. But we have to keep believing we can score. Our performances have been good, but the challenge is to turn those chances into points," he said.

Brighton & Hove Albion drew 0-0 with Fulham in the Premier League on Wednesday, in a frustrating game for the south coast side, who missed the chance to pull clear of the London club in the relegation zone.

Brighton & Hove Albion drew 0-0 with Fulham in the Premier League on Wednesday, in a frustrating game for the south coast side, who missed the chance to pull clear of the London club in the relegation zone. ALSO READ: Liverpool must be a team nobody wants to play, says Klopp The draw left Brighton 17th in the table on 18 points, five clear of Fulham, who have a game in hand, in 18th place. Both sides had chances in the first half. Fulham right-back Ola Aina blasted a shot just over the bar from outside the box in the fifth minute, and Brighton's Leandro Trossard went close twice in quick succession at the other end. Brighton repeatedly sliced through Fulham's midfield but were unable to get a man on the end of any of their resulting crosses. Fulham's Ivan Cavaleiro dashed forward on the break after a misfired pass by Brighton's Adam Webster, only to shoot wide of the post, and the Seagulls' Pascal Gross fired a free-kick just wide of the post as the half drew to a close. After the break, Fulham's defenders struggled to pass the ball out from the back, but Brighton's front line were unable to convert any of the numerous chances they created. Fulham had keeper Alphonse Areola to thank for countless saves that kept them in the game, while captain Lewis Dunk was the hero for Brighton, clearing a Ruben Loftus-Cheek shot off his goal-line in stoppage time to hold onto a point. "It's obviously frustrating that we haven't won at our ground," Dunk told BT Sport. "We've got to go back and look at it and make sure we start putting the ball in the back of the net," he added. Brighton manager Graham Potter was similarly frustrated with the result. "We're creating the chances - that's not easy in this league. But we have to keep believing we can score. Our performances have been good, but the challenge is to turn those chances into points," he said.

Brighton frustrated in goalless draw with Fulham

The acting head of African soccer, Constant Omari Selemani, has been disqualified from standing in March’s Confederation of African Football elections, effectively ending his tenure on the FIFA Council and as a vice president of CAF.

The FIFA review committee said on Wednesday Selemani had failed the eligibility test for a position on the FIFA Council "because of an ongoing formal investigation by the FIFA ethics committee”.

Selemani and CAF could not immediately be reached for comment.

Selemani had been seeking re-election to the FIFA Council when CAF holds its elections on March 12 in Rabat, Morocco.

FIFA Council members are automatically also members of CAFs executive committee and in mid-2019, Selemani was named CAF’s first vice president by then president Ahmad Ahmad.

Wednesday's decision follows just months after Ahmad was banned.

Ahmad was banned for five years by FIFA in November after being accused of abusing office, mishandling of funds and trading gifts. He has denied any wrongdoing.

There are no details of the ethics committee investigation into Selemani, who was appointed acting head of African football when Ahmad’s ban was announced and will continue until March’s elections.

Ahmad has also been ruled out of March’s elections, where four candidates are seeking the presidency -- Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast, Mauritania football association president Ahmed Yahya, Senegal FA president Augustin Senghor and South African billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe.

Five African seats on the FIFA Council will also be determined by the voting of the CAF member countries at the election.

The acting head of African soccer, Constant Omari Selemani, has been disqualified from standing in March’s Confederation of African Football elections, effectively ending his tenure on the FIFA Council and as a vice president of CAF.

The acting head of African soccer, Constant Omari Selemani, has been disqualified from standing in March’s Confederation of African Football elections, effectively ending his tenure on the FIFA Council and as a vice president of CAF. The FIFA review committee said on Wednesday Selemani had failed the eligibility test for a position on the FIFA Council "because of an ongoing formal investigation by the FIFA ethics committee”. Selemani and CAF could not immediately be reached for comment. Selemani had been seeking re-election to the FIFA Council when CAF holds its elections on March 12 in Rabat, Morocco. FIFA Council members are automatically also members of CAFs executive committee and in mid-2019, Selemani was named CAF’s first vice president by then president Ahmad Ahmad. Wednesday's decision follows just months after Ahmad was banned. Ahmad was banned for five years by FIFA in November after being accused of abusing office, mishandling of funds and trading gifts. He has denied any wrongdoing. There are no details of the ethics committee investigation into Selemani, who was appointed acting head of African football when Ahmad’s ban was announced and will continue until March’s elections. Ahmad has also been ruled out of March’s elections, where four candidates are seeking the presidency -- Jacques Anouma of the Ivory Coast, Mauritania football association president Ahmed Yahya, Senegal FA president Augustin Senghor and South African billionaire businessman Patrice Motsepe. Five African seats on the FIFA Council will also be determined by the voting of the CAF member countries at the election.

Acting CAF president Selemani disqualified from FIFA elections

Chinonso managed 111 football touches in 60 seconds while a second ball balanced on his head, earning him a place in the 2021 edition of the Guinness World Records.

Guinness world record holder 12-year-old Nigerian boy reveals how Messi, Ronaldo inspires him

After playing over 750 games for Barcelona, Lionel Messi received his first red card while playing for the Spanish giants. The Argentine received the red in the final moments of the Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Athletic Club in the finals of Spanish Super Cup.

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During the extra-time, Messi played a pass and took a swing at Asier Villalibre as the Athletic forward ran across his path.

Referee Gil Manzano missed the incident at first but upon a VAR review, he showed Messi a straight red card for violent conduct.&nbsp;

This was the first-ever Red Card in Messi's 753rd appearance for the Catalan giants.&nbsp;

Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann's dream season continued as he scored a brace against the Athletic Club, however, his contribution was not enough as Iniaki Williams struck before Messi saw red in the 121st minute.

Messi could now face at least a four-game ban for his actions, depending on a review from the Spanish FA. This means the Argentine could be absent during his side's &nbsp;Copa del Rey clash against Cornella on Thursday, and La Liga matches against Elche, Athletic Club and Real Betis.

After playing over 750 games for Barcelona, Lionel Messi received his first red card while playing for the Spanish giants. The Argentine received the red in the final moments of the Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Athletic Club in the finals of Spanish Super Cup.

After playing over 750 games for Barcelona, Lionel Messi received his first red card while playing for the Spanish giants. The Argentine received the red in the final moments of the Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Athletic Club in the finals of Spanish Super Cup. ALSO READ: Form goes out the window against Liverpool, says Man Utd's Solskjaer During the extra-time, Messi played a pass and took a swing at Asier Villalibre as the Athletic forward ran across his path. Referee Gil Manzano missed the incident at first but upon a VAR review, he showed Messi a straight red card for violent conduct. This was the first-ever Red Card in Messi's 753rd appearance for the Catalan giants. Barcelona's Antoine Griezmann's dream season continued as he scored a brace against the Athletic Club, however, his contribution was not enough as Iniaki Williams struck before Messi saw red in the 121st minute. Messi could now face at least a four-game ban for his actions, depending on a review from the Spanish FA. This means the Argentine could be absent during his side's Copa del Rey clash against Cornella on Thursday, and La Liga matches against Elche, Athletic Club and Real Betis.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi receives first red card in club career

From Messi to Ramos: Football stars who run out of contracts in 2021

Sheffield's Declan Thompson made his debut in professional football on Saturday&nbsp;after the youngster was told that he may never walk again due to Perthes disease, which is a rare childhood condition that affects the hips.&nbsp;

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Due to the disease, Declan was forced to spend the early part of his life on a wheelchair. However, he refused to give up on his dream to become a professional football player and was signed by the Owls last year and made his debut on Saturday.&nbsp;

Thompson's dad, who is an assistant manager of Stocksbridge Park Steels, broke down in tears watching his son debut after a long struggle. The video that emerged on Twitter showed Thompson's father, Lee Thompson celebrating and hen breaking down in tears as Declan walked on the pitch.&nbsp;

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This is beautiful ❤️ 
 
After being diagnosed with Perthes Disease at a young age, Declan Thompson spent years in a wheelchair and was told he may never walk again. 
 
This weekend he made his full senior debut for <a href="https://twitter.com/swfc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@swfc</a> in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EmiratesFACup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EmiratesFACup</a>, and his family couldn't be prouder! <a href="https://t.co/JHb19FdtKd">pic.twitter.com/JHb19FdtKd</a>
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmiratesFACup/status/1349363589052833794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"It was quite emotional to watch the video of my family watching me on the TV coming on," Thompson told swfc.co.uk.&nbsp;

"Just knowing I’ve made them that proud and you could see how much it meant."&nbsp;

"My grandad was the same, he’s not very well right now but I could see how happy I’ve made him. It’s what makes the FA Cup and this game so special."

Declan Thompson is now an ambassador for Steps, a national charity working for those whose lives are affected by childhood lower limb conditions.&nbsp;

"I was told I wouldn’t play football when I was younger," he continued. "Now I want to be there for other young kids and help push them on and achieve what they set out to. Never say no, it’s not the end."

"I’m an ambassador for Steps and they are a fantastic organisation, a fantastic charity who help so many kids, I’m always in contact with them and looking forward to working with them more in the future."

Sheffield's Declan Thompson made his debut in professional football on Saturday after the youngster was told that he may never walk again due to Perthes disease, which is a rare childhood condition that affects the hips.

Sheffield's Declan Thompson made his debut in professional football on Saturday after the youngster was told that he may never walk again due to Perthes disease, which is a rare childhood condition that affects the hips. ALSO READ: Team Great Britain 'confident' that Tokyo Olympics will take place Due to the disease, Declan was forced to spend the early part of his life on a wheelchair. However, he refused to give up on his dream to become a professional football player and was signed by the Owls last year and made his debut on Saturday. Thompson's dad, who is an assistant manager of Stocksbridge Park Steels, broke down in tears watching his son debut after a long struggle. The video that emerged on Twitter showed Thompson's father, Lee Thompson celebrating and hen breaking down in tears as Declan walked on the pitch. This is beautiful ❤️ After being diagnosed with Perthes Disease at a young age, Declan Thompson spent years in a wheelchair and was told he may never walk again. This weekend he made his full senior debut for @swfc in the #EmiratesFACup, and his family couldn't be prouder! pic.twitter.com/JHb19FdtKd — Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 13, 2021 × "It was quite emotional to watch the video of my family watching me on the TV coming on," Thompson told swfc.co.uk. "Just knowing I’ve made them that proud and you could see how much it meant." "My grandad was the same, he’s not very well right now but I could see how happy I’ve made him. It’s what makes the FA Cup and this game so special." Declan Thompson is now an ambassador for Steps, a national charity working for those whose lives are affected by childhood lower limb conditions. "I was told I wouldn’t play football when I was younger," he continued. "Now I want to be there for other young kids and help push them on and achieve what they set out to. Never say no, it’s not the end." "I’m an ambassador for Steps and they are a fantastic organisation, a fantastic charity who help so many kids, I’m always in contact with them and looking forward to working with them more in the future."

WATCH: Declan Thompson's father breaks down as he makes his Sheffield debut

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo, recently, surpassed Pele's long time record of most official goals ever scored. However, the Brazil legend changed his bio on Instagram to dispute the record.&nbsp;

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According to Pele, the continues to be the ‘leading goal-scorer of all time.’ Ronaldo kicked off 2021 with a bang by scoring a brace in Juventus’ 4-1 victory over Udinese. In doing so, he overtook Pele’s incredible goal scoring record of 757 goals.&nbsp;

Ronaldo, who currently has 758 goals to his name, is just a goal shy from Josef Bican. It seemed only a matter of time before the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star moved up in the charts, particularly after surpassing 40 goals (yet again) for a calendar year in 2020.

The official figures remain disputed due to the updating Pele's bio. According to the 80-year-old, he has scored 1,283 times in goals in 1363 games. These goals include friendly matches and his time while playing in the army.&nbsp;

The former Manchester United forward's super-agent, Jorge Mendes, has always been vocal about Ronaldo's on-field achievement and had predicted that the Portuguese would go onto shatter Pele's record to cement his name even more in football history.

The 54-year-old Portuguese football agent told Sky Sports: "His numbers don't lie and light up the overwhelming way Cristiano Ronaldo shatters records, which elevate him to the category of the best player in the history of football, with a big difference compared to the second [best] for all he achieved with the different clubs he represented, whether in England, Spain or now in Italy and also with the Portuguese national team."

Mendes added: "Cristiano has reached the remarkable milestone of 700 goals, but I have no doubt that he'll surpass Pele as the best scorer in football history, and he'll do it with Juventus."

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo, recently, surpassed Pele's long time record of most official goals ever scored. However, the Brazil legend changed his bio on Instagram to dispute the record.

Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo, recently, surpassed Pele's long time record of most official goals ever scored. However, the Brazil legend changed his bio on Instagram to dispute the record. ALSO READ: Ronaldo double lifts Juve as 10-man Milan stay top ahead of Inter According to Pele, the continues to be the ‘leading goal-scorer of all time.’ Ronaldo kicked off 2021 with a bang by scoring a brace in Juventus’ 4-1 victory over Udinese. In doing so, he overtook Pele’s incredible goal scoring record of 757 goals. Ronaldo, who currently has 758 goals to his name, is just a goal shy from Josef Bican. It seemed only a matter of time before the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star moved up in the charts, particularly after surpassing 40 goals (yet again) for a calendar year in 2020. The official figures remain disputed due to the updating Pele's bio. According to the 80-year-old, he has scored 1,283 times in goals in 1363 games. These goals include friendly matches and his time while playing in the army. The former Manchester United forward's super-agent, Jorge Mendes, has always been vocal about Ronaldo's on-field achievement and had predicted that the Portuguese would go onto shatter Pele's record to cement his name even more in football history. The 54-year-old Portuguese football agent told Sky Sports: "His numbers don't lie and light up the overwhelming way Cristiano Ronaldo shatters records, which elevate him to the category of the best player in the history of football, with a big difference compared to the second [best] for all he achieved with the different clubs he represented, whether in England, Spain or now in Italy and also with the Portuguese national team." Mendes added: "Cristiano has reached the remarkable milestone of 700 goals, but I have no doubt that he'll surpass Pele as the best scorer in football history, and he'll do it with Juventus."

Brazil legend Pele updates his Instagram bio after Cristiano Ronaldo breaks his record

With a ball made from rags and surging adrenaline, the young Jorge Bergoglio and his friends pulled off "miracles" playing football in the street, Pope Francis recalled on Saturday.

Now 84, the Argentine pope remembered "the joy, the happiness on everyone's faces," after the 1946 victory of his Buenos Aires team, San Lorenzo, in a 31-page interview about sport published Saturday in Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The first pope from Latin America called Diego Maradona a "poet" on the field, as he weighed in on the joys of sport.

Expounding on themes of hard work, sacrifice and camaraderie, Francis shared memories of the makeshift footballs that sufficed to exhilarate him and his boyhood friends.

"Leather cost too much and we were poor, rubber wasn't used so much yet, but for us all we needed was a ball of rags to amuse ourselves and to create miracles, almost, playing in the little square near home," Pope Francis said.

Acknowledging he was "not among the best" of the footballers, Bergoglio played goalkeeper, which he characterised as a good school for learning how to respond to "dangers that could arrive from anywhere".

The pontiff — described by the paper as "a pope of the people in the most noble sense of the term" — touched on the need for teamwork and working towards a shared goal.

"Either you play together, or you risk crashing. That's how small groups, capable of staying united, succeed in taking down bigger teams incapable of working together," he said.

The interview, which took place in early December at the Vatican, also saw the pope condemn doping in sport and stress the need to nurture talent through hard work.

"It's not only a cheat, a shortcut that revokes dignity, but it's also wanting to steal from God that spark which, through his mysterious ways, he gave to some in a special and greater form," he said.

With a ball made from rags and surging adrenaline, the young Jorge Bergoglio and his friends pulled off "miracles" playing football in the street, Pope Francis recalled on Saturday.

With a ball made from rags and surging adrenaline, the young Jorge Bergoglio and his friends pulled off "miracles" playing football in the street, Pope Francis recalled on Saturday. Now 84, the Argentine pope remembered "the joy, the happiness on everyone's faces," after the 1946 victory of his Buenos Aires team, San Lorenzo, in a 31-page interview about sport published Saturday in Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport. The first pope from Latin America called Diego Maradona a "poet" on the field, as he weighed in on the joys of sport. Expounding on themes of hard work, sacrifice and camaraderie, Francis shared memories of the makeshift footballs that sufficed to exhilarate him and his boyhood friends. "Leather cost too much and we were poor, rubber wasn't used so much yet, but for us all we needed was a ball of rags to amuse ourselves and to create miracles, almost, playing in the little square near home," Pope Francis said. Acknowledging he was "not among the best" of the footballers, Bergoglio played goalkeeper, which he characterised as a good school for learning how to respond to "dangers that could arrive from anywhere". The pontiff — described by the paper as "a pope of the people in the most noble sense of the term" — touched on the need for teamwork and working towards a shared goal. "Either you play together, or you risk crashing. That's how small groups, capable of staying united, succeed in taking down bigger teams incapable of working together," he said. The interview, which took place in early December at the Vatican, also saw the pope condemn doping in sport and stress the need to nurture talent through hard work. "It's not only a cheat, a shortcut that revokes dignity, but it's also wanting to steal from God that spark which, through his mysterious ways, he gave to some in a special and greater form," he said.

Pope recalls meeting Maradona, says ‘he was a poet on field’

Manchester City's first team squad will return to training on Wednesday after a COVID-19 outbreak forced them to close their facilities and postpone Monday's match at Everton, the Premier League club said.

City reported numerous positive cases in their squad on Monday -- days after striker Gabriel Jesus and defender Kyle Walker tested positive -- forcing the league to postpone their match at Goodison Park.

"The full COVID-19 bubble underwent testing yesterday, and results have so far revealed no new positive cases," City said in a statement&nbsp;

"The first team training buildings have undergone a deep clean over the past 48 hours, and the majority of these facilities will remain closed, with only essential operations around training resuming."

City's next game is at Chelsea on Sunday and the club said the bubble will undergo further testing this week with the results dictating their next steps.

Earlier on Wednesday, Fulham's league match at Tottenham Hotspur that was scheduled to kick off at 1800 GMT was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the West London club.

Manchester City's first team squad will return to training on Wednesday after a COVID-19 outbreak forced them to close their facilities and postpone Monday's match at Everton, the Premier League club said.

Manchester City's first team squad will return to training on Wednesday after a COVID-19 outbreak forced them to close their facilities and postpone Monday's match at Everton, the Premier League club said. City reported numerous positive cases in their squad on Monday -- days after striker Gabriel Jesus and defender Kyle Walker tested positive -- forcing the league to postpone their match at Goodison Park. "The full COVID-19 bubble underwent testing yesterday, and results have so far revealed no new positive cases," City said in a statement "The first team training buildings have undergone a deep clean over the past 48 hours, and the majority of these facilities will remain closed, with only essential operations around training resuming." City's next game is at Chelsea on Sunday and the club said the bubble will undergo further testing this week with the results dictating their next steps. Earlier on Wednesday, Fulham's league match at Tottenham Hotspur that was scheduled to kick off at 1800 GMT was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak at the West London club.

Man City return to training after COVID-19 outbreak at club

A fifth-minute penalty from Patrick Bamford was enough to give Leeds United a 1-0 win over Burnley at Elland Road in the Premier League on Sunday, but Sean Dyche`s side were left furious after an Ashley Barnes effort was ruled out. 
 
Bamford, who spent a spell on loan at Burnley earlier in his career, drilled home the early spot-kick after referee Robert Jones ruled that Burnley keeper Nick Pope had brought down the Leeds forward. 
 
Burnley were flabbergasted, however, when Barnes hooked the ball into the net after Leeds keeper Illan Meslier had failed to reach a high ball into the box, only for the goal to be ruled out. 
 
Jones ruled that Burnley defender Ben Mee had fouled Meslier before the ball fell to Barnes, although replays suggested it had been the keeper who fouled Mee when he charged out to try to reach a high cross and rammed his knee into Mee`s back. 
 
The Clarets dominated after the break but Meslier, who struggled with crosses throughout the game, did well to keep out near post drives from Barnes. 
 
But while Leeds looked well below their best, lacking their usual high-energy approach, Burnley wasn`t able to turn their possession or Meslier`s difficulties in the air into enough clear cut chances. 
 
Burnley manager Sean Dyche entered the field after the final whistle to show his feelings to the referee and not surprisingly felt his team had suffered an injustice. 
 
Dyche was unhappy with both the penalty decision and the disallowed goal. 
 
"I can`t see the penalty for Leeds myself - Nick Pope gets a clear foot on it. Football is in an odd place. The one at the other end where we had a goal disallowed, it`s not a foul, it can`t be a foul. Ben Mee has his eyes on the ball," he said. 
 
"It should be a penalty for us - you can`t run and knee someone in the back. I`m very aggrieved by that, those moments are important," he said. 
 
Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa declined to comment on the incident but conceded his team had struggled. 
 
"It was very difficult. Burnley could have drawn the game in the second half, they were two different halves. In the first we were able to impose our game, in the second, especially in the last part, it was difficult for us to neutralise their strengths," he said. 
 
Leeds move up to 11th place on 20 points, while Burnley are 16th on 13 points.

A fifth-minute penalty from Patrick Bamford was enough to give Leeds United a 1-0 win over Burnley at Elland Road in the Premier League on Sunday, but Sean Dyche`s side were left furious after an Ashley Barnes effort was ruled out.

A fifth-minute penalty from Patrick Bamford was enough to give Leeds United a 1-0 win over Burnley at Elland Road in the Premier League on Sunday, but Sean Dyche`s side were left furious after an Ashley Barnes effort was ruled out. Bamford, who spent a spell on loan at Burnley earlier in his career, drilled home the early spot-kick after referee Robert Jones ruled that Burnley keeper Nick Pope had brought down the Leeds forward. Burnley were flabbergasted, however, when Barnes hooked the ball into the net after Leeds keeper Illan Meslier had failed to reach a high ball into the box, only for the goal to be ruled out. Jones ruled that Burnley defender Ben Mee had fouled Meslier before the ball fell to Barnes, although replays suggested it had been the keeper who fouled Mee when he charged out to try to reach a high cross and rammed his knee into Mee`s back. The Clarets dominated after the break but Meslier, who struggled with crosses throughout the game, did well to keep out near post drives from Barnes. But while Leeds looked well below their best, lacking their usual high-energy approach, Burnley wasn`t able to turn their possession or Meslier`s difficulties in the air into enough clear cut chances. Burnley manager Sean Dyche entered the field after the final whistle to show his feelings to the referee and not surprisingly felt his team had suffered an injustice. Dyche was unhappy with both the penalty decision and the disallowed goal. "I can`t see the penalty for Leeds myself - Nick Pope gets a clear foot on it. Football is in an odd place. The one at the other end where we had a goal disallowed, it`s not a foul, it can`t be a foul. Ben Mee has his eyes on the ball," he said. "It should be a penalty for us - you can`t run and knee someone in the back. I`m very aggrieved by that, those moments are important," he said. Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa declined to comment on the incident but conceded his team had struggled. "It was very difficult. Burnley could have drawn the game in the second half, they were two different halves. In the first we were able to impose our game, in the second, especially in the last part, it was difficult for us to neutralise their strengths," he said. Leeds move up to 11th place on 20 points, while Burnley are 16th on 13 points.

Early Bamford penalty gives Leeds win over Burnley

Inter Milan's chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed that midfielder Christian Eriksen has been added to the transfer list and will leave the Italian giants in the upcoming January transfer season.&nbsp;

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The 29-year-old joined Milan in January after a seven-year spell with Spurs. Wanting to prove himself, the Denmark player has struggled to get off the ground. He just played 38 times for Inter in all competition.&nbsp;

In the current season, the star has failed to find the back of the net in 12 matches and has just one assist to his name for Antonio Conte's team.&nbsp;

Marotta told Sky Sport: "Yes, I can confirm that Christian Eriksen is on the transfer list. He's going to leave in January.

"He's not functional to our plans and he had difficulty here at Inter. I think it's right that Christian goes away to find more space."

Eriksen's transfer will put all the big clubs on alert.&nbsp;

Inter Milan's chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed that midfielder Christian Eriksen has been added to the transfer list and will leave the Italian giants in the upcoming January transfer season.

Inter Milan's chief executive Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed that midfielder Christian Eriksen has been added to the transfer list and will leave the Italian giants in the upcoming January transfer season. ALSO READ: Argentina star Diego Maradona's autopsy shows no drink or illegal drugs The 29-year-old joined Milan in January after a seven-year spell with Spurs. Wanting to prove himself, the Denmark player has struggled to get off the ground. He just played 38 times for Inter in all competition. In the current season, the star has failed to find the back of the net in 12 matches and has just one assist to his name for Antonio Conte's team. Marotta told Sky Sport: "Yes, I can confirm that Christian Eriksen is on the transfer list. He's going to leave in January. "He's not functional to our plans and he had difficulty here at Inter. I think it's right that Christian goes away to find more space." Eriksen's transfer will put all the big clubs on alert.

Christian Eriksen set to leave Inter Milan in January: Chief Executive

English Football Association (FA) on Wednesday suspended Atletico Madrid and England's defender Kieran Trippier for 10 weeks and fined £70,000 following a breach of betting rules.&nbsp;

The 30-year-old denied seven alleged breaches of FA Rule E8, which were said to occur in July 2019, and requested a personal hearing.

An FA statement read: "An independent regulatory commission was appointed to hear the case, with four of the alleged breaches found proven and three dismissed during a subsequent personal hearing.

"The independent regulatory commission's written reasons for its decisions and the associated sanction will be published in due course."

According to the Association, it had occurred in July 2019, around the time Trippier joined Atletico from Tottenham. However, they did not clarify what the breach entailed.&nbsp;

Due to the ban, Trippier will miss Atletico's Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie against Chelsea in Madrid on February 23.&nbsp;

English Football Association (FA) on Wednesday suspended Atletico Madrid and England's defender Kieran Trippier for 10 weeks and fined £70,000 following a breach of betting rules.

English Football Association (FA) on Wednesday suspended Atletico Madrid and England's defender Kieran Trippier for 10 weeks and fined £70,000 following a breach of betting rules. The 30-year-old denied seven alleged breaches of FA Rule E8, which were said to occur in July 2019, and requested a personal hearing. An FA statement read: "An independent regulatory commission was appointed to hear the case, with four of the alleged breaches found proven and three dismissed during a subsequent personal hearing. "The independent regulatory commission's written reasons for its decisions and the associated sanction will be published in due course." According to the Association, it had occurred in July 2019, around the time Trippier joined Atletico from Tottenham. However, they did not clarify what the breach entailed. Due to the ban, Trippier will miss Atletico's Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie against Chelsea in Madrid on February 23.

Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier suspended for 10 weeks over breach of betting rules: FA

You can hear the optimism in midfielder Pedro Obiang`s voice as he considers the task his team face on Sunday -- trying to end AC Milan’s 24-match unbeaten run in Serie A. 
 
"At Sassuolo we love a challenge. If we beat them, we’ll show the world we’re growing up,” he told Reuters. 
 
Not long ago, the suggestion of Sassuolo humbling one of Europe`s most illustrious clubs would have been laughable. 
 
Not anymore. 
 
Since promotion to Serie A in 2013, Sassuolo, representing a town of just 40,000 inhabitants in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, have enjoyed punching above their weight. 
 
They qualified for the Europa League in 2016 and since the arrival of coach Roberto De Zerbi in 2018 have earned a reputation as one of the most attractive teams in Italy, if not Europe. 
 
De Zerbi is widely considered the next big thing in Italian coaching and counts Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola among his admirers. 
 
He led Sassuolo to eighth place last season and a strong start to 2020/21 has raised hopes of a return to European competition. Sassuolo are currently sixth, one point outside the Champions League spots and just five behind leaders Milan. 
 
 
 
SAME ZONE 
 
“We’ve played some important games, but from the perspective of a squad that is normally mid-table,” says Obiang. 
 
“Now we’re looking face-to-face with Milan, because we’re in the same zone. Now we’re different. 
 
“That’s the view De Zerbi is trying to give to us. Don’t think about the small teams, start to think big. When you play the big teams, you have to be like that. 
 
“I don’t know if it’ll be the Champions League, but we want to get to Europe,” added the 28-year-old. 
 
“Since De Zerbi started, every year we’re improving. If we get to Europe this year, we’ll show the world that football isn’t just about numbers.” 
 
Spain-born Equatorial Guinea international Obiang left West Ham United for Sassuolo in 2019 after four years in England and initially expected to return to his former club Sampdoria. 
 
But when the move fell through, a conversation with De Zerbi convinced him of the Sassuolo project. 
 
“He explained to me what he wanted, and it’s the squad we’ve got now,” says Obiang. 
 
“He had a clear idea. Of course, he told me it’s not easy, because at the end of the day we’re Sassuolo. 
 
“Normally when you talk about Sassuolo, nobody cares about us, but we can change that. 
 
"When he told me about that challenge, I thought it was true, so why not?” 
 
 
 
SASSUOLO SWAGGER 
 
De Zerbi has succeeded in making Sassuolo play with the swagger of a more established club. 
 
His team have the fourth-highest average possession in Serie A this season, and aim to break opponents down through passing and pressing rather than route one methods. 
 
Obiang believes Sassuolo’s approach under De Zerbi, as well as the coach’s previous work at Benevento, has changed perspectives in Italy of what smaller clubs can achieve. 
 
“I used to study any player in my position to try and not let them play,” he explained. “Now, for the first time in my career, others have to study me and how I play. 
 
"It’s making me feel like being at a top club despite being at Sassuolo. Every team we play has respect for us. 
 
“For me, De Zerbi has changed the mentality in Italy. At Benevento, he played nice football, from the back, with the ball. He’s doing the same at Sassuolo. Now everyone thinks it’s possible.” 
 
Obiang believes De Zerbi’s attention to detail is to thank for a run of form that has seen Sassuolo lose just five of 25 league games since returning from lockdown and a three-month suspension of football in June. 
 
“Every day (during lockdown) he called us, sent videos,” Obiang said. “He told us before we started training again how we would play in the games to come. 
 
"He started to talk to me about Lazio, a game in two months’ time. I was thinking ‘Why?’ and he told me: ‘Because we have to be ready. If we prepare today, it’ll be easy when we’re playing games every three days’. And he was right."

You can hear the optimism in midfielder Pedro Obiang`s voice as he considers the task his team face on Sunday -- trying to end AC Milan’s 24-match unbeaten run in Serie A.

You can hear the optimism in midfielder Pedro Obiang`s voice as he considers the task his team face on Sunday -- trying to end AC Milan’s 24-match unbeaten run in Serie A. "At Sassuolo we love a challenge. If we beat them, we’ll show the world we’re growing up,” he told Reuters. Not long ago, the suggestion of Sassuolo humbling one of Europe`s most illustrious clubs would have been laughable. Not anymore. Since promotion to Serie A in 2013, Sassuolo, representing a town of just 40,000 inhabitants in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, have enjoyed punching above their weight. They qualified for the Europa League in 2016 and since the arrival of coach Roberto De Zerbi in 2018 have earned a reputation as one of the most attractive teams in Italy, if not Europe. De Zerbi is widely considered the next big thing in Italian coaching and counts Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola among his admirers. He led Sassuolo to eighth place last season and a strong start to 2020/21 has raised hopes of a return to European competition. Sassuolo are currently sixth, one point outside the Champions League spots and just five behind leaders Milan. SAME ZONE “We’ve played some important games, but from the perspective of a squad that is normally mid-table,” says Obiang. “Now we’re looking face-to-face with Milan, because we’re in the same zone. Now we’re different. “That’s the view De Zerbi is trying to give to us. Don’t think about the small teams, start to think big. When you play the big teams, you have to be like that. “I don’t know if it’ll be the Champions League, but we want to get to Europe,” added the 28-year-old. “Since De Zerbi started, every year we’re improving. If we get to Europe this year, we’ll show the world that football isn’t just about numbers.” Spain-born Equatorial Guinea international Obiang left West Ham United for Sassuolo in 2019 after four years in England and initially expected to return to his former club Sampdoria. But when the move fell through, a conversation with De Zerbi convinced him of the Sassuolo project. “He explained to me what he wanted, and it’s the squad we’ve got now,” says Obiang. “He had a clear idea. Of course, he told me it’s not easy, because at the end of the day we’re Sassuolo. “Normally when you talk about Sassuolo, nobody cares about us, but we can change that. "When he told me about that challenge, I thought it was true, so why not?” SASSUOLO SWAGGER De Zerbi has succeeded in making Sassuolo play with the swagger of a more established club. His team have the fourth-highest average possession in Serie A this season, and aim to break opponents down through passing and pressing rather than route one methods. Obiang believes Sassuolo’s approach under De Zerbi, as well as the coach’s previous work at Benevento, has changed perspectives in Italy of what smaller clubs can achieve. “I used to study any player in my position to try and not let them play,” he explained. “Now, for the first time in my career, others have to study me and how I play. "It’s making me feel like being at a top club despite being at Sassuolo. Every team we play has respect for us. “For me, De Zerbi has changed the mentality in Italy. At Benevento, he played nice football, from the back, with the ball. He’s doing the same at Sassuolo. Now everyone thinks it’s possible.” Obiang believes De Zerbi’s attention to detail is to thank for a run of form that has seen Sassuolo lose just five of 25 league games since returning from lockdown and a three-month suspension of football in June. “Every day (during lockdown) he called us, sent videos,” Obiang said. “He told us before we started training again how we would play in the games to come. "He started to talk to me about Lazio, a game in two months’ time. I was thinking ‘Why?’ and he told me: ‘Because we have to be ready. If we prepare today, it’ll be easy when we’re playing games every three days’. And he was right."

Midfielder Obiang says De Zerbi's Sassuolo thinking big

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has said that he needs for time to return to full fitness as he is struggling to shake off the knee injury that has sidelined him for a majority of the season.&nbsp;

The Argentine is City's all-time goalscorer and has played a vital role for clubs win in the Premier League, however, he made just six appearances in all competitions this season after missing the start of the campaign following knee surgery.

"It's difficult," Aguero told British media. "Sometimes my knee is good, sometimes a little bit bad. I'm doing everything to help the physio and medical staff to improve.

"I need a little bit of time but I came back in the week, and I hope to be at my best. Now I need time, but it's a long season."

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are ninth this season with&nbsp;8 points less than league leaders Liverpool, but Aguero is confident his side will be able to mount a title challenge.

"We always believe that we can challenge for the title. In the Premier League, you win two games and then you're near the top. We need to be calm, play the same way, because City always fights for the titles. Always," he said.

(Inputs in Reuters)

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has said that he needs for time to return to full fitness as he is struggling to shake off the knee injury that has sidelined him for a majority of the season.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has said that he needs for time to return to full fitness as he is struggling to shake off the knee injury that has sidelined him for a majority of the season. The Argentine is City's all-time goalscorer and has played a vital role for clubs win in the Premier League, however, he made just six appearances in all competitions this season after missing the start of the campaign following knee surgery. "It's difficult," Aguero told British media. "Sometimes my knee is good, sometimes a little bit bad. I'm doing everything to help the physio and medical staff to improve. "I need a little bit of time but I came back in the week, and I hope to be at my best. Now I need time, but it's a long season." Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are ninth this season with 8 points less than league leaders Liverpool, but Aguero is confident his side will be able to mount a title challenge. "We always believe that we can challenge for the title. In the Premier League, you win two games and then you're near the top. We need to be calm, play the same way, because City always fights for the titles. Always," he said. (Inputs in Reuters)

'It's difficult': Manchester City's Aguero calls for patience amid injury woes

RB Leipzig on Thursday announced the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai, who has put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year contract.

"Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai joins RB Leipzig. The 20-year-old joins from Austrian champions FC Red Bull Salzburg and signs a four-and-a-half-year contract until June 2025," the club said in a statement.

The technical midfielder, who also knows how to find the back of the net, is a versatile player, but operates most commonly in the centre of midfield or on the left-hand side. In addition to his vision and passing ability, the Hungary international is a great striker of the ball. Szoboszlai made his debut for the Hungary national team in March 2019 and has gone on to record 12 international caps (three goals) for his country.

In the current season, the midfielder has made 20 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight goals and registering ten assists. The club said that the player will be available for their home game against Borussia Dortmund on January 9, 2021.&nbsp;

RB Leipzig on Thursday announced the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai, who has put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year contract. "Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai joins RB Leipzig.

RB Leipzig on Thursday announced the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai, who has put pen to paper on a four-and-a-half-year contract. "Midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai joins RB Leipzig. The 20-year-old joins from Austrian champions FC Red Bull Salzburg and signs a four-and-a-half-year contract until June 2025," the club said in a statement. The technical midfielder, who also knows how to find the back of the net, is a versatile player, but operates most commonly in the centre of midfield or on the left-hand side. In addition to his vision and passing ability, the Hungary international is a great striker of the ball. Szoboszlai made his debut for the Hungary national team in March 2019 and has gone on to record 12 international caps (three goals) for his country. In the current season, the midfielder has made 20 appearances in all competitions, scoring eight goals and registering ten assists. The club said that the player will be available for their home game against Borussia Dortmund on January 9, 2021.

RB Leipzig announce signing of Dominik Szoboszlai

The&nbsp;Premier&nbsp;League&nbsp;said Thursday that it had agreed to permit permanent concussion substitutes from next month after football's lawmakers authorised extensive trials using them.

However in a meeting on Thursday club bosses in England's top flight voted for a third time against increasing the number of allowed substitutes from three to five despite the International Football Association Board (IFAB) also extending that rule on Wednesday.

IFAB said the trials using concussion substitutes could begin in January, and the&nbsp;Premier&nbsp;League&nbsp;bosses decided they would be looking at a maximum of two per side per match.&nbsp;

"With player welfare the&nbsp;Premier&nbsp;League's priority, clubs agreed in principle to introduce additional permanent concussion substitutions following approval of the trial by the International Football Association Board yesterday," the&nbsp;Premier&nbsp;League&nbsp;said.

"The&nbsp;Premier&nbsp;League&nbsp;will look to implement protocols which will allow a maximum of two concussion substitutes to be used per team, with the opposition side able to use the equivalent number.

"The additional concussion substitutions may be made regardless of the number of substitutions a team has made already."

Concussion has become an increasingly hot issue in the sport -- rugby union has used head injury replacements for a while -- with increasing concern over the amount of former footballers who develop dementia later in life.

Although&nbsp;Premier&nbsp;League&nbsp;clubs once again repudiated moves to allow five substitutes they did agree to allow nine players on the bench as opposed to the present seven.

The measure will come into effect from this weekend's round of games beginning on Saturday.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had been especially vociferous in his wanting five substitutes due to a lengthening injury list and concerns over the hectic fixture schedule.

Others such as Sheffield United's Chris Wilder argued against it believing that it would only favour those teams with big squads.

The Premier League said Thursday that it had agreed to permit permanent concussion substitutes from next month after football's lawmakers authorised extensive trials using them.

The Premier League said Thursday that it had agreed to permit permanent concussion substitutes from next month after football's lawmakers authorised extensive trials using them. However in a meeting on Thursday club bosses in England's top flight voted for a third time against increasing the number of allowed substitutes from three to five despite the International Football Association Board (IFAB) also extending that rule on Wednesday. IFAB said the trials using concussion substitutes could begin in January, and the Premier League bosses decided they would be looking at a maximum of two per side per match. "With player welfare the Premier League's priority, clubs agreed in principle to introduce additional permanent concussion substitutions following approval of the trial by the International Football Association Board yesterday," the Premier League said. "The Premier League will look to implement protocols which will allow a maximum of two concussion substitutes to be used per team, with the opposition side able to use the equivalent number. "The additional concussion substitutions may be made regardless of the number of substitutions a team has made already." Concussion has become an increasingly hot issue in the sport -- rugby union has used head injury replacements for a while -- with increasing concern over the amount of former footballers who develop dementia later in life. Although Premier League clubs once again repudiated moves to allow five substitutes they did agree to allow nine players on the bench as opposed to the present seven. The measure will come into effect from this weekend's round of games beginning on Saturday. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had been especially vociferous in his wanting five substitutes due to a lengthening injury list and concerns over the hectic fixture schedule. Others such as Sheffield United's Chris Wilder argued against it believing that it would only favour those teams with big squads.

Premier League agrees to concussion substitutes

Players walked out of the football pitch during a Champions League game on Tuesday after a referee allegedly made a racist remark about a coach.

Gravitas: Football players walk out of a match in Paris

Frank Lampard, who succeeded Maurizio Sarri as the Chelsea boss, is keen on extending his stay in Stamford Bridge.&nbsp;

The 42-year-old manager has just 18 months left on the contract after taking over the reins in July 2019.&nbsp;

Last year, Chelsea finished at the fourth spot sealing a Champions League berth this season. However, the Blues manager is now eyeing Premier League title after spending nearly 220 million pounds in this year's transfer season.&nbsp;

"In terms of my contract, it seems to have flown by, the time I've been here," Lampard told a news conference.

"I knew there were a lot of circumstances at the beginning that were going to make last year transitional and maybe slightly difficult.

"Now I feel like I would love to be part of the long-term plan here. The signings we made in the summer, other than probably Thiago Silva, particularly, were signings for now and the future."

After beating Leeds on Saturday, Chelsea extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 15.&nbsp;

Yet Lampard feels his players need more time to challenge on both domestic and European fronts.

"At the minute, I think we're working towards something and people are getting very excited and mentioning us being in a title race this year," he said.

"I always saw it as a longer plan than that and it might take until next year for us to really challenge, because of the signings, because of the bedding-in process."

(Inputs from Reuters)

Frank Lampard, who succeeded Maurizio Sarri as the Chelsea boss, is keen on extending his stay in Stamford Bridge. The 42-year-old manager has just 18 months left on the contract after taking over the reins in July 2019.

Frank Lampard, who succeeded Maurizio Sarri as the Chelsea boss, is keen on extending his stay in Stamford Bridge. The 42-year-old manager has just 18 months left on the contract after taking over the reins in July 2019. Last year, Chelsea finished at the fourth spot sealing a Champions League berth this season. However, the Blues manager is now eyeing Premier League title after spending nearly 220 million pounds in this year's transfer season. "In terms of my contract, it seems to have flown by, the time I've been here," Lampard told a news conference. "I knew there were a lot of circumstances at the beginning that were going to make last year transitional and maybe slightly difficult. "Now I feel like I would love to be part of the long-term plan here. The signings we made in the summer, other than probably Thiago Silva, particularly, were signings for now and the future." After beating Leeds on Saturday, Chelsea extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 15. Yet Lampard feels his players need more time to challenge on both domestic and European fronts. "At the minute, I think we're working towards something and people are getting very excited and mentioning us being in a title race this year," he said. "I always saw it as a longer plan than that and it might take until next year for us to really challenge, because of the signings, because of the bedding-in process." (Inputs from Reuters)

Chelsea boss Frank Lampard keen on extending his stay at Stamford Bridge

Barcelona star Lionel Messi was fined 600 euros ($720) for taking his jersey off to pay his tribute to former Argentine legend Diego Maradona who passed away last week due to heart attack, as per Spain's football federation said on Wednesday. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messis-newells-old-boys-shirt-tribute-to-diego-maradona-wins-hearts-346521">Lionel Messi's Newell's Old Boys shirt tribute to Diego Maradona wins hearts</a>

Lionel Messi was fined for his actions by the federation after the Argentine scored in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Osasuna in La Liga on Sunday.&nbsp;

Messi struck a Golazo from outside of the box to score the fourth goal for Barcelona. After which he took off his jersey to reveal a Newell’s Old Boys jersey Messi spent his formative years at Newell’s Old Boys, a team Maradona represented towards the end of his career.

Messi looked emotional during the minute’s applause for Maradona, who passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday.

Interestingly, this was his first open play goal this season as Messi took off his Barcelona jersey to reveal the same of Newell’s Old Boys with No. 10 on the back in tribute to Maradona. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner pointed to the sky while displaying the Newell’s kit as a show of emotion for Maradona. As per the rules, Messi was shown a yellow card for taking off his Barcelona jersey.

"We lost Maradona, a global idol, we all miss him," Coutinho said. "We didn't know what Messi had prepared to honour Maradona," added Griezmann. "It was a beautiful surprise."

Newell's responded through their English Twitter account, saying: "It's all about number 10. The best player in the world and his tribute to #D10S."

However, the Barcelona star also received a yellow card for doing so because taking off your jersey is a violation according to the FIFA rule book.&nbsp;

Barcelona star Lionel Messi was fined 600 euros ($720) for taking his jersey off to pay his tribute to former Argentine legend Diego Maradona who passed away last week due to heart attack, as per Spain's football federation said on Wednesday.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi was fined 600 euros ($720) for taking his jersey off to pay his tribute to former Argentine legend Diego Maradona who passed away last week due to heart attack, as per Spain's football federation said on Wednesday. Also read: Lionel Messi's Newell's Old Boys shirt tribute to Diego Maradona wins hearts Lionel Messi was fined for his actions by the federation after the Argentine scored in Barcelona's 4-0 win over Osasuna in La Liga on Sunday. Messi struck a Golazo from outside of the box to score the fourth goal for Barcelona. After which he took off his jersey to reveal a Newell’s Old Boys jersey Messi spent his formative years at Newell’s Old Boys, a team Maradona represented towards the end of his career. Messi looked emotional during the minute’s applause for Maradona, who passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest on Wednesday. Interestingly, this was his first open play goal this season as Messi took off his Barcelona jersey to reveal the same of Newell’s Old Boys with No. 10 on the back in tribute to Maradona. The six-time Ballon d’Or winner pointed to the sky while displaying the Newell’s kit as a show of emotion for Maradona. As per the rules, Messi was shown a yellow card for taking off his Barcelona jersey. "We lost Maradona, a global idol, we all miss him," Coutinho said. "We didn't know what Messi had prepared to honour Maradona," added Griezmann. "It was a beautiful surprise." Newell's responded through their English Twitter account, saying: "It's all about number 10. The best player in the world and his tribute to #D10S." However, the Barcelona star also received a yellow card for doing so because taking off your jersey is a violation according to the FIFA rule book.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi fined 600 euros for paying tribute to Maradona

Lionel Messi might have an edge over Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of winning the Ballon d'Or but the Portuguese star has won one prestigious award that Barcelona's captain and Argentine stalwart has never won in his prolific career.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ronaldo-scores-750th-goal-in-first-champions-league-with-female-referee-347128" hreflang="en">Ronaldo scores 750th goal in first Champions League with female referee</a>

On Wednesday, Juventus star won the 2020 Golden Foot award - a laurel that several greats of the beautiful game have failed to win. Lionel Messi has never won this award.&nbsp;

The Golden Foot award was introduced in 2003 and is a laurel that several greats of the beautiful game have failed to win. Players are crowned winners of this esteemed award based on their achievements in world football. As many as 10 players are shortlisted for the famous trophy and the winner is announced through an online vote from a panel of journalists. &nbsp;&nbsp;

IN PICS|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/postponements-and-resumption-a-turbulent-year-of-2020-for-sports-world-346992" hreflang="en">Postponements and resumption: A turbulent year of 2020 for sports world</a>

The winner of the Golden Foot gets to mark his footprints on The Champions Promenade in Monaco. In 2003, Italian star Roberto Baggio was the first player to win this award. CR7 is the latest entry to the list.&nbsp;

Juventus star defeated Messi, Neymar, Robert Lewandowski, Sergio Aguero, Sergio Ramos, Mohamed Salah, Gerard Pique, Giorgio Chiellini, and Arturo Vidal to win the race for the Golden Foot 2020 award. Ronaldo has had a good spell with Juventus. Despite being absent recently due to injuries and COVID-19, Ronaldo won the Serie A Most Valuable Player award and the Serie A Footballer of the Year trophy.&nbsp;

Lionel Messi might have an edge over Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of winning the Ballon d'Or but the Portuguese star has won one prestigious award that Barcelona's captain and Argentine stalwart has never won in his prolific career.

Lionel Messi might have an edge over Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of winning the Ballon d'Or but the Portuguese star has won one prestigious award that Barcelona's captain and Argentine stalwart has never won in his prolific career. Also read: Ronaldo scores 750th goal in first Champions League with female referee On Wednesday, Juventus star won the 2020 Golden Foot award - a laurel that several greats of the beautiful game have failed to win. Lionel Messi has never won this award. The Golden Foot award was introduced in 2003 and is a laurel that several greats of the beautiful game have failed to win. Players are crowned winners of this esteemed award based on their achievements in world football. As many as 10 players are shortlisted for the famous trophy and the winner is announced through an online vote from a panel of journalists. IN PICS| Postponements and resumption: A turbulent year of 2020 for sports world The winner of the Golden Foot gets to mark his footprints on The Champions Promenade in Monaco. In 2003, Italian star Roberto Baggio was the first player to win this award. CR7 is the latest entry to the list. Juventus star defeated Messi, Neymar, Robert Lewandowski, Sergio Aguero, Sergio Ramos, Mohamed Salah, Gerard Pique, Giorgio Chiellini, and Arturo Vidal to win the race for the Golden Foot 2020 award. Ronaldo has had a good spell with Juventus. Despite being absent recently due to injuries and COVID-19, Ronaldo won the Serie A Most Valuable Player award and the Serie A Footballer of the Year trophy.

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo beat Barcelona legend Lionel Messi to win this award! Check out

Sweden's prosecutor on Wednesday said that they had charged a player over match-fixing in country's top football league.

The Prosecution Authority has not named the player. However, they revealed that he committed the crime while he played for IF Elfsborg, a club in Sweden's top league Allsvenskan.

The case is based on a game that was played in May 2019 when the player was handed a yellow card.

"Shortly after the game, the player was given a loan for a large sum of money from people who had placed a bet on him receiving a warning in that game," prosecutor Staffan Edlund said in a statement.

The player is no more a part of the club and was charged with taking a bribe and two other people were charged with paying a bribe, and both were charged with breaking Sweden's gambling law.

The Prosecution Authority also said it was charging a player in one of the country's lower leagues over taking bribes for six games that the player's team had lost.

Sweden's prosecutor on Wednesday said that they had charged a player over match-fixing in country's top football league. The Prosecution Authority has not named the player.

Sweden's prosecutor on Wednesday said that they had charged a player over match-fixing in country's top football league. The Prosecution Authority has not named the player. However, they revealed that he committed the crime while he played for IF Elfsborg, a club in Sweden's top league Allsvenskan. The case is based on a game that was played in May 2019 when the player was handed a yellow card. "Shortly after the game, the player was given a loan for a large sum of money from people who had placed a bet on him receiving a warning in that game," prosecutor Staffan Edlund said in a statement. The player is no more a part of the club and was charged with taking a bribe and two other people were charged with paying a bribe, and both were charged with breaking Sweden's gambling law. The Prosecution Authority also said it was charging a player in one of the country's lower leagues over taking bribes for six games that the player's team had lost.

Swedish prosecutors charge player with match fixing

The French Football Federation (FFF) incurred a massive loss of $28.6 million since summers due to coronavirus pandemic. Federations' director-general Florence Hardouin told AFP on Friday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/in-grief-filled-farewell-diego-maradona-laid-to-rest-in-bella-vista-cemetery-345901" hreflang="en">In grief-filled farewell, Diego Maradona laid to rest in Bella Vista cemetery</a>

According to Hardouin, the federation was hopeful to compensate some losses if spectators are allowed back into matches early next year.

“Since July 1, we’ve lost about 24 million euros. I don’t think that will worsen further due to Covid because there is hope that stadiums can fill up again in March,” she said.

Hardouin also warned of a need to juggle “the other uncertainty” surrounding the deepening conflict between the Football Professional League (LFP) and Spanish broadcasters Mediapro over the payment of television rights.

Mediapro in 2018, got 80 percent of the TV rights for the French top-flight, Ligue 1, in a deal costing 780 million euros per year between 2020-2024.&nbsp;

After settling its first instalment, the group have refused to pay the 172 million euros owed in October, demanding the price be lowered due to the pandemic.&nbsp;

(Inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

The French Football Federation (FFF) incurred a massive loss of $28.6 million since summers due to coronavirus pandemic. Federations' director-general Florence Hardouin told AFP on Friday.

The French Football Federation (FFF) incurred a massive loss of $28.6 million since summers due to coronavirus pandemic. Federations' director-general Florence Hardouin told AFP on Friday. Also read: In grief-filled farewell, Diego Maradona laid to rest in Bella Vista cemetery According to Hardouin, the federation was hopeful to compensate some losses if spectators are allowed back into matches early next year. “Since July 1, we’ve lost about 24 million euros. I don’t think that will worsen further due to Covid because there is hope that stadiums can fill up again in March,” she said. Hardouin also warned of a need to juggle “the other uncertainty” surrounding the deepening conflict between the Football Professional League (LFP) and Spanish broadcasters Mediapro over the payment of television rights. Mediapro in 2018, got 80 percent of the TV rights for the French top-flight, Ligue 1, in a deal costing 780 million euros per year between 2020-2024. After settling its first instalment, the group have refused to pay the 172 million euros owed in October, demanding the price be lowered due to the pandemic. (Inputs from AFP)

France's football federation incurs heavy loss due to coronavirus pandemic

Chelsea striker Timo Werner scored twice on his return to Leipzig Saturday as Germany went top of their Nations League group with a convincing 3-1 win over Ukraine.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uefa-decides-to-cancel-norways-match-against-romania-343324" hreflang="en">UEFA decides to cancel Norway's match against Romania</a>

Having joined the Premier League side last July after four years with RB Leipzig, Werner played a starring role behind closed doors at the Red Bull Arena.

"I had four good years here and it was fun to come back here and win," Werner told ZDF.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nations-league-france-beat-portugal-1-0-to-book-finals-spot-343313" hreflang="en">Nations League: France beat Portugal 1-0 to book finals spot</a>

"We had a few players missing," he added with Toni Kroos suspended and Joshua Kimmich sidelined by a knee injury, "which made it hard to find our ryhthm".

"But we have enough time to improve before the Euros" he added in reference to Germany's opening Euro 2020 match against world champions France in Munich in seven months' time.

The win leaves Germany undefeated in their last 12 games and top of their Nations League group, a point ahead of second-placed Spain with the sides due to meet in Sevilla on Tuesday. &nbsp;

"We had plenty of tempo in the first-half, controlled the game after the break, even if we gave away too much possession at times," said Germany head coach Joachim Loew.

"All in all, we have to be happy with the win."

Ukraine took an early lead when Roman Yaremchuk caught the German defence napping.

The hosts roared back with three unanswered goals by Leroy Sane and Werner, who scored either side of half-time, to seal a deserved win.&nbsp;

The game was only confirmed hours before kick-off after five of the Ukraine squad were quarantined after testing positive for Covid-19 on Friday.

However, further tests on Saturday revealed no new cases of the coronavirus.

German captain Manuel Neuer made his 95th appearance, equalling Sepp Maier's record for a Germany goalkeeper, yet the Bayern Munich star was beaten after just 12 minutes.

Ukraine forward Oleksandr Zubkov went to ground in the area, but managed to pull the ball back to Yaremchuk who fired his side ahead.

Ukraine had already beaten Spain and Switzerland and there were a few nervous faces among the Germans, who have now kept just one clean sheet in seven games so far in 2020.

However, the lead was shortlived.

Leon Goretzka sparked a counter-attack and released Sane, who cut back inside and smashed his shot around Ukraine goalkeeper and captain Andriy Pyatov on 23 minutes.

Goretzka created Germany's second goal when he lifted his pass just out of range of Pyatov's out-stretched arms.

Werner was waiting to head home from less than a metre to put the hosts ahead on 33 minutes.

"It was easy for me to score the goal, but his work in build up was really good," Werner said of Goretzka's superb work in the build up.

Germany lived dangerously just after the break when a shot by Manchester City midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko took a deflection and clipped the post with Neuer beaten.&nbsp;

Werner doubled his tally after Ilkay Gundogan started the move which saw Matthias Ginter fire in a cross which the Chelsea star fired home on 64 minutes.

The 24-year-old now has 15 goals in 34 appearances for Germany.

However, there was no chance of a hat-trick as he made way for Julian Brandt for the final 15 minutes.&nbsp;

Chelsea striker Timo Werner scored twice on his return to Leipzig Saturday as Germany went top of their Nations League group with a convincing 3-1 win over Ukraine.

Chelsea striker Timo Werner scored twice on his return to Leipzig Saturday as Germany went top of their Nations League group with a convincing 3-1 win over Ukraine. Also read: UEFA decides to cancel Norway's match against Romania Having joined the Premier League side last July after four years with RB Leipzig, Werner played a starring role behind closed doors at the Red Bull Arena. "I had four good years here and it was fun to come back here and win," Werner told ZDF. Also read: Nations League: France beat Portugal 1-0 to book finals spot "We had a few players missing," he added with Toni Kroos suspended and Joshua Kimmich sidelined by a knee injury, "which made it hard to find our ryhthm". "But we have enough time to improve before the Euros" he added in reference to Germany's opening Euro 2020 match against world champions France in Munich in seven months' time. The win leaves Germany undefeated in their last 12 games and top of their Nations League group, a point ahead of second-placed Spain with the sides due to meet in Sevilla on Tuesday. "We had plenty of tempo in the first-half, controlled the game after the break, even if we gave away too much possession at times," said Germany head coach Joachim Loew. "All in all, we have to be happy with the win." Ukraine took an early lead when Roman Yaremchuk caught the German defence napping. The hosts roared back with three unanswered goals by Leroy Sane and Werner, who scored either side of half-time, to seal a deserved win. The game was only confirmed hours before kick-off after five of the Ukraine squad were quarantined after testing positive for Covid-19 on Friday. However, further tests on Saturday revealed no new cases of the coronavirus. German captain Manuel Neuer made his 95th appearance, equalling Sepp Maier's record for a Germany goalkeeper, yet the Bayern Munich star was beaten after just 12 minutes. Ukraine forward Oleksandr Zubkov went to ground in the area, but managed to pull the ball back to Yaremchuk who fired his side ahead. Ukraine had already beaten Spain and Switzerland and there were a few nervous faces among the Germans, who have now kept just one clean sheet in seven games so far in 2020. However, the lead was shortlived. Leon Goretzka sparked a counter-attack and released Sane, who cut back inside and smashed his shot around Ukraine goalkeeper and captain Andriy Pyatov on 23 minutes. Goretzka created Germany's second goal when he lifted his pass just out of range of Pyatov's out-stretched arms. Werner was waiting to head home from less than a metre to put the hosts ahead on 33 minutes. "It was easy for me to score the goal, but his work in build up was really good," Werner said of Goretzka's superb work in the build up. Germany lived dangerously just after the break when a shot by Manchester City midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko took a deflection and clipped the post with Neuer beaten. Werner doubled his tally after Ilkay Gundogan started the move which saw Matthias Ginter fire in a cross which the Chelsea star fired home on 64 minutes. The 24-year-old now has 15 goals in 34 appearances for Germany. However, there was no chance of a hat-trick as he made way for Julian Brandt for the final 15 minutes.

Timo Werner fires Germany top of Nations League group

UEFA has decided to cancel Norway's Nations League match against Romania after the Norwegian squad failed to travel to Bucharest as a COVID-19 case was found in the squad.

UEFA has decided to cancel Norway's Nations League match against Romania after the Norwegian squad failed to travel to Bucharest as a COVID-19 case was found in the squad. Also read: Nations League: France beat Portugal 1-0 to book finals spot Norway risks a forfeit (3-0 loss) by not fulfilling the match scheduled on Sunday in Romania and there are no available dates in the international calendar to conduct the game. According to UEFA, the case has been sent to its disciplinary committee for a decision. The forfeit will cost Norway as the team is currently level with Austria at the top of their group in second-tier League B. Norway will face Austria due to meet in Vienna on Tuesday in the final round. The group winner gets two rewards: Promotion to the top tier of the next Nations League and a potential place in World Cup qualifying playoffs scheduled in March 2022 to advance to the tournament in Qatar later that year. (Inputs from PTI)

UEFA decides to cancel Norway's match against Romania

Germany head coach Joachim Loew has told his stars to knuckle down and take control of their Nations League group, starting against Ukraine on Saturday, after three draws and just one win in their mediocre campaign so far.

The three-time European champions host Ukraine in Leipzig on Saturday, then face Spain in Seville on Tuesday.

Victories in both of their final two Nations League games would see Germany win the group.

"We must definitely use both games, and our matches in March, to find our game and establish ourselves," said Loew, with one eye on next June's Euro 2020 finals.

Germany squeezed past a determined Ukraine side with a 2-1 win in Kiev last month.

Both Germany and Ukraine are level on six points, one behind group leaders Spain, who face bottom side Switzerland in Basel on Saturday.

Loew is wary of a dogged Ukrainian side coached by former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, who have already beaten Spain and Switzerland in the group.

"We will have to overcome a lot of resistance and have extremely good solutions ready if we want to hold our own against Ukraine," Loew said on Friday.

Germany are unbeaten in their last 11 games, but the statistic masks defensive problems, exposed by last month's 3-3 draws against both Switzerland and in a friendly with Turkey.

In their Nations League games so far, Germany surrendered the lead three times to draw with Spain and twice against the Swiss.&nbsp;

Bayern Munich wingers Serge Gnarby and Leroy Sane are set to play either side of Chelsea striker Timo Werner.

Manuel Neuer captains the side and will equal Sepp Maier's Germany record of 95 appearances for a goalkeeper.

With Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos suspended, Leon Goretzka is set to partner Ilkay Gundogan in the defensive midfield.

Burly Bayern defender Niklas Suele is also set to play despite training on Tuesday for the first time since testing positive for the coronavirus ten days ago.

"He made a good impression in training and you can assume that he will play," Loew added.

Despite this season's congested fixture list due to the coronavirus pandemic, Loew says he sees the value of the Nations League and is demanding two final performances.

"The competition has a certain importance and if we beat Ukraine, we would be in a good position" before the final match against Spain, added Loew.&nbsp;

Germany head coach Joachim Loew has told his stars to knuckle down and take control of their Nations League group, starting against Ukraine on Saturday, after three draws and just one win in their mediocre campaign so far.

Germany head coach Joachim Loew has told his stars to knuckle down and take control of their Nations League group, starting against Ukraine on Saturday, after three draws and just one win in their mediocre campaign so far. The three-time European champions host Ukraine in Leipzig on Saturday, then face Spain in Seville on Tuesday. Victories in both of their final two Nations League games would see Germany win the group. "We must definitely use both games, and our matches in March, to find our game and establish ourselves," said Loew, with one eye on next June's Euro 2020 finals. Germany squeezed past a determined Ukraine side with a 2-1 win in Kiev last month. Both Germany and Ukraine are level on six points, one behind group leaders Spain, who face bottom side Switzerland in Basel on Saturday. Loew is wary of a dogged Ukrainian side coached by former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, who have already beaten Spain and Switzerland in the group. "We will have to overcome a lot of resistance and have extremely good solutions ready if we want to hold our own against Ukraine," Loew said on Friday. Germany are unbeaten in their last 11 games, but the statistic masks defensive problems, exposed by last month's 3-3 draws against both Switzerland and in a friendly with Turkey. In their Nations League games so far, Germany surrendered the lead three times to draw with Spain and twice against the Swiss. Bayern Munich wingers Serge Gnarby and Leroy Sane are set to play either side of Chelsea striker Timo Werner. Manuel Neuer captains the side and will equal Sepp Maier's Germany record of 95 appearances for a goalkeeper. With Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos suspended, Leon Goretzka is set to partner Ilkay Gundogan in the defensive midfield. Burly Bayern defender Niklas Suele is also set to play despite training on Tuesday for the first time since testing positive for the coronavirus ten days ago. "He made a good impression in training and you can assume that he will play," Loew added. Despite this season's congested fixture list due to the coronavirus pandemic, Loew says he sees the value of the Nations League and is demanding two final performances. "The competition has a certain importance and if we beat Ukraine, we would be in a good position" before the final match against Spain, added Loew.

Loew tells Germany stars to knuckle down to win Nations League group

If you are a European football fan then the names of Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola, Jonathan Barnett must be familiar. They are the biggest and some of the most influential managers in the world of football. Switch back to Indian football, which is still trying to spread its wings with another much-awaited season of Indian Super League. Many of the Indian football fans will reckon there is not much work or scope for a football agent in India. Wrong, with the footballing landscape ballooning in India and professionalism creeping in with each passing day, the scenario is drastically changing.&nbsp;

Indian footballers are steadily becoming household names. Earlier, in the mainstream, it was limited to the likes of Sunil Chhetri. However, things have changed exponentially grown not only for other top footballers but also for youngsters. Thanks to these agents, who toil hard not only to bring the best footballing deal on the table for their clients but also to provide them with the best possible deals in a bid to make them grow in the professional world.&nbsp;

Wilbur Lasrado, Player Relation Manager with Inventive Sports UK, is one of the names who is making the lives of footballers better. In an interaction with WION, Wilbur provides insights into the world of football business, his journey so far in the footballing industry, managing footballers, the impact of the Indian Super League and much more.&nbsp;

“It all clicked whilst networking with the right people at the right time and soon after completing Bachelor in Management Studies and towards the end of 2017, I was introduced to Baljit Rihal - CEO of Inventive Sports, an established agent from London,” recalls Wilbur during the interaction with WION.&nbsp;

“Earlier, Baljit was only into International Players and having an Indian background himself he felt there was a lot more he wanted to do and contribute towards Indian Football and that’s where I was to add value and help take that on. Then we were fortunate enough to have Shakeel Abdulla from Kerala join us and the journey has been remarkable,” one of the known names in Indian football, Wilbur, adds.

<img alt="Wilbur Lasrado" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0b57b063-cb91-43b5-b251-20c5faac3b96" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/ef9a10e0-c694-499f-bc47-9ae0d90b89b7.jpg" />

So does it help if you have played football in your career?

“Obviously, I have been friends with many of these top pros, and having played the game myself I knew what it would take me to fit in these players’ shoes. I realized many of these individuals face unique challenges as they try to move further in their careers. One thing which caught my eye was that there were football agents who worked only for the benefit of certain players and at times we're not able to cross the line for them. So, when the opportunity arrived, I gave it a thought as I felt I could do something differently,” Wilbur says.

But like every other profession, the football world highlights the ups and downs of life. Luckily, Wilbur got in touch with one of the top names in Indian football – Steven Dias – and life was never the same for him.&nbsp;

<img alt="Wilbur Lasrado" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="91f7fe0b-976f-4160-99c8-74ab5d251dc3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/fff936e8-dd3e-4b61-bce9-0ca76acc9f09.jpg" />

“The journey all began with a small step in the right direction. when I first decided to get into Football Agency, Steven Dias was the first person I spoke to. Steven as many knows&nbsp;is a legend of Indian Football. I shared a very good relationship with Steven and obviously, his reputation and experience within the industry were why I wanted to seek his opinion. All he said was Wilbur ‘this is a big and difficult industry to survive in, it is a very good thing, I know you are passionate about the game and you will do well.’” Wilbur narrates.

“I have always admired Steven both as a person and player and been a big fan of him right from the latter half of his playing days i.e. his time post his stint with Delhi Dynamos. He is a very honest, humble, respectful person, a true example not just as a professional but as a great human both on and off the pitch. His advice was simple - Make sure you work for the player, you are honest- because this job involves a lot of trust, stay humble, and above all respect the player at all times and don’t forget to keep grounded- you will go a long way!

“Obviously, it was never easy to start and I was prepared to face challenges, I was not someone to give up if something did not go right. I was extremely determined and hungry to be in the business, and there was no turning back and hence the rest is history,” he adds.

So how does one get into a football agency? Does it require formal education or training?

“Firstly, you do not need a formal education to become a football agent, but there are a few steps you can take to give yourself before you want to make a mark. First and foremost, you must be a good communicator. It is a very important pre-requisite in this job as you are going to act as a mediator between the player and the club.&nbsp;

“Secondly, you need to be thick-skinned and courageous. There will be a lot of challenges and one should be ready to face and overcome it. One needs to study the market and get some legal and business knowledge and know what is happening between the four walls of the industry. Make sure you network as much as possible. Understand the business. Read as much as you can, be outgoing, and open to feedback, learning, and implementation. Above all be honest’ to the highest capacity because if either of the party isn’t honest it can end up being a very dirty business,” Wilbur explains.

The Nivia balls have become synonymous with Indian Super League’s action. But hardly a few know about the hard work to get Nivia into India’s top-flight league. Sahal Abdul Samad, India’s most exciting talent and one of the household names in Indian football, is another example of agents making the lives of footballers better off the pitch. Wilbur is closely linked to these two examples.&nbsp;

<img alt="Nivia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9699dd6e-3b7c-4e78-8ae1-f96c9b1814d1" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/253f6942-9a2c-4288-9331-8c4c1d0ba78e%20%281%29.jpg" />

“If I have to pick two, one would be, being involved- behind the success of Nivia- the leading Indian Sports manufacturing brand signing a multi-year agreement with Football Sports Development Ltd to be the official ball partner of the Hero Indian Super League with a multi-crore deal starting from season 2018/19. It was something no one ever talked about, but I am glad that we were a part of the success of the development of Indian football. It was one of our biggest achievements in the industry so far.&nbsp;

“The second would one would be being involved behind the success of Sahal signing with global sportswear giant Puma as its new global ambassador who would join PUMA's roster of Indian players like Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and others alongside global players like Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suárez and Sergio Aguero. A deal which would also see him join the likes of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Kareena Kapoor as a Puma Global Ambassador,” Wilbur beams with pride.

<img alt="Sahal Abdul Samad" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="712e7ce6-71aa-482e-95ca-68f727e1f5ce" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/78848d50-c36b-483e-9351-cd824e1ec168.jpg" />

But is being a football agent a realistic profession in India and within Indian football? And how does one approach it?

“The scope is not difficult for a person to become an Agent in India, earlier there were exams but now the All India Football Federation has a standard registration process. One might not need a formal education to become a football agent. However, one needs to first understand what a football agent does and be able to go beyond the line for the player wherever possible.

“There are agents who just do deals and disappear and there are agents who really look after their clients with everything. That is why I separate these two categories of agents. Either you are just a deal broker who leaves the player to one side and only appears when there is a contract renewal or deal to be done or you do what we do, be there for them in every phase of their career, even when the going isn’t easy,” Wilbur says while adding “the primary responsibility of agents is to find their players a club and negotiate the contracts but to be honest there is a lot beyond negotiating a contract.”

<img alt="Wilbur Lasrado" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="756d2281-0119-49dd-90ef-38858f3c2ca6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/d4a21aa2-9f5b-45eb-8f8d-0b8456407589%20%281%29.jpg" />

And how has professionalism crept in the Indian footballing setup? Has the introduction of the Indian Super League helped the cause?

“Firstly, it is very important to have strong foundations and vision. One needs to be able to take ownership of the job in hand. One fine example is Bengaluru FC- The club, the players, the staff, the management, the media team, the operations team, the fans, etc. all go hand in hand! No Indian football club, it could be argued, has been run better on a consistent basis since BFC's inception in 2013 which is the reasons why they are the most successful teams in Indian Football,” Wilbur says.

“The ISL has made Indian football more professional and enterprising, both on and off the pitch in every segment to be honest. Thanks to ISL, business is increasing for us agents. I would easily say- ISL has given Sahal and several other players, a huge platform and opportunity to become the player and well-known figure he is today,” he adds.

<img alt="Sahal Abdul Samad" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5aa9a724-b264-44e3-a426-e6948c0cdc13" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/8d8a6ab2-c399-4ad6-8526-6cb3711e8cb0.jpg" />

Before concluding, Wilbur gives insights on how an agent deals with critical contract negotiations. The key is to keep your calm and remain positive.

“Firstly, it is about understanding the club’s requirements. We approach the clubs and ask what they are looking for, upon understanding the same we then put forward suitable profiles. Once we attract interest from the club, we then discuss further and take the next steps” Wilbur states.

“It is also crucial that you have a good knowledge of the football market, including what the average transfer fees and wages are, as well as what bonuses different players take home. You need to understand how to position a player, what salary they can command, as well as the needs of clubs, and how to identify whether your client is right for them.

“For instance, does a club have obvious skills or strategic shortcomings? If so, do you have a client that could patch a hole in their team? You cannot give up if a deal does not go through. You will not get all YES, every now and then. There will be a couple of NO” and you got to deal with it. Every agent stumbles sometimes and faces rejection but that is not the end, one needs to keep moving and should be prepared for it,” he signs off. 
&nbsp;

If you are a European football fan then the names of Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola, Jonathan Barnett must be familiar. They are the biggest and some of the most influential managers in the world of football.

If you are a European football fan then the names of Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola, Jonathan Barnett must be familiar. They are the biggest and some of the most influential managers in the world of football. Switch back to Indian football, which is still trying to spread its wings with another much-awaited season of Indian Super League. Many of the Indian football fans will reckon there is not much work or scope for a football agent in India. Wrong, with the footballing landscape ballooning in India and professionalism creeping in with each passing day, the scenario is drastically changing. Indian footballers are steadily becoming household names. Earlier, in the mainstream, it was limited to the likes of Sunil Chhetri. However, things have changed exponentially grown not only for other top footballers but also for youngsters. Thanks to these agents, who toil hard not only to bring the best footballing deal on the table for their clients but also to provide them with the best possible deals in a bid to make them grow in the professional world. Wilbur Lasrado, Player Relation Manager with Inventive Sports UK, is one of the names who is making the lives of footballers better. In an interaction with WION, Wilbur provides insights into the world of football business, his journey so far in the footballing industry, managing footballers, the impact of the Indian Super League and much more. “It all clicked whilst networking with the right people at the right time and soon after completing Bachelor in Management Studies and towards the end of 2017, I was introduced to Baljit Rihal - CEO of Inventive Sports, an established agent from London,” recalls Wilbur during the interaction with WION. “Earlier, Baljit was only into International Players and having an Indian background himself he felt there was a lot more he wanted to do and contribute towards Indian Football and that’s where I was to add value and help take that on. Then we were fortunate enough to have Shakeel Abdulla from Kerala join us and the journey has been remarkable,” one of the known names in Indian football, Wilbur, adds. So does it help if you have played football in your career? “Obviously, I have been friends with many of these top pros, and having played the game myself I knew what it would take me to fit in these players’ shoes. I realized many of these individuals face unique challenges as they try to move further in their careers. One thing which caught my eye was that there were football agents who worked only for the benefit of certain players and at times we're not able to cross the line for them. So, when the opportunity arrived, I gave it a thought as I felt I could do something differently,” Wilbur says. But like every other profession, the football world highlights the ups and downs of life. Luckily, Wilbur got in touch with one of the top names in Indian football – Steven Dias – and life was never the same for him. “The journey all began with a small step in the right direction. when I first decided to get into Football Agency, Steven Dias was the first person I spoke to. Steven as many knows is a legend of Indian Football. I shared a very good relationship with Steven and obviously, his reputation and experience within the industry were why I wanted to seek his opinion. All he said was Wilbur ‘this is a big and difficult industry to survive in, it is a very good thing, I know you are passionate about the game and you will do well.’” Wilbur narrates. “I have always admired Steven both as a person and player and been a big fan of him right from the latter half of his playing days i.e. his time post his stint with Delhi Dynamos. He is a very honest, humble, respectful person, a true example not just as a professional but as a great human both on and off the pitch. His advice was simple - Make sure you work for the player, you are honest- because this job involves a lot of trust, stay humble, and above all respect the player at all times and don’t forget to keep grounded- you will go a long way! “Obviously, it was never easy to start and I was prepared to face challenges, I was not someone to give up if something did not go right. I was extremely determined and hungry to be in the business, and there was no turning back and hence the rest is history,” he adds. So how does one get into a football agency? Does it require formal education or training? “Firstly, you do not need a formal education to become a football agent, but there are a few steps you can take to give yourself before you want to make a mark. First and foremost, you must be a good communicator. It is a very important pre-requisite in this job as you are going to act as a mediator between the player and the club. “Secondly, you need to be thick-skinned and courageous. There will be a lot of challenges and one should be ready to face and overcome it. One needs to study the market and get some legal and business knowledge and know what is happening between the four walls of the industry. Make sure you network as much as possible. Understand the business. Read as much as you can, be outgoing, and open to feedback, learning, and implementation. Above all be honest’ to the highest capacity because if either of the party isn’t honest it can end up being a very dirty business,” Wilbur explains. The Nivia balls have become synonymous with Indian Super League’s action. But hardly a few know about the hard work to get Nivia into India’s top-flight league. Sahal Abdul Samad, India’s most exciting talent and one of the household names in Indian football, is another example of agents making the lives of footballers better off the pitch. Wilbur is closely linked to these two examples. “If I have to pick two, one would be, being involved- behind the success of Nivia- the leading Indian Sports manufacturing brand signing a multi-year agreement with Football Sports Development Ltd to be the official ball partner of the Hero Indian Super League with a multi-crore deal starting from season 2018/19. It was something no one ever talked about, but I am glad that we were a part of the success of the development of Indian football. It was one of our biggest achievements in the industry so far. “The second would one would be being involved behind the success of Sahal signing with global sportswear giant Puma as its new global ambassador who would join PUMA's roster of Indian players like Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and others alongside global players like Antoine Griezmann, Luis Suárez and Sergio Aguero. A deal which would also see him join the likes of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Kareena Kapoor as a Puma Global Ambassador,” Wilbur beams with pride. But is being a football agent a realistic profession in India and within Indian football? And how does one approach it? “The scope is not difficult for a person to become an Agent in India, earlier there were exams but now the All India Football Federation has a standard registration process. One might not need a formal education to become a football agent. However, one needs to first understand what a football agent does and be able to go beyond the line for the player wherever possible. “There are agents who just do deals and disappear and there are agents who really look after their clients with everything. That is why I separate these two categories of agents. Either you are just a deal broker who leaves the player to one side and only appears when there is a contract renewal or deal to be done or you do what we do, be there for them in every phase of their career, even when the going isn’t easy,” Wilbur says while adding “the primary responsibility of agents is to find their players a club and negotiate the contracts but to be honest there is a lot beyond negotiating a contract.” And how has professionalism crept in the Indian footballing setup? Has the introduction of the Indian Super League helped the cause? “Firstly, it is very important to have strong foundations and vision. One needs to be able to take ownership of the job in hand. One fine example is Bengaluru FC- The club, the players, the staff, the management, the media team, the operations team, the fans, etc. all go hand in hand! No Indian football club, it could be argued, has been run better on a consistent basis since BFC's inception in 2013 which is the reasons why they are the most successful teams in Indian Football,” Wilbur says. “The ISL has made Indian football more professional and enterprising, both on and off the pitch in every segment to be honest. Thanks to ISL, business is increasing for us agents. I would easily say- ISL has given Sahal and several other players, a huge platform and opportunity to become the player and well-known figure he is today,” he adds. Before concluding, Wilbur gives insights on how an agent deals with critical contract negotiations. The key is to keep your calm and remain positive. “Firstly, it is about understanding the club’s requirements. We approach the clubs and ask what they are looking for, upon understanding the same we then put forward suitable profiles. Once we attract interest from the club, we then discuss further and take the next steps” Wilbur states. “It is also crucial that you have a good knowledge of the football market, including what the average transfer fees and wages are, as well as what bonuses different players take home. You need to understand how to position a player, what salary they can command, as well as the needs of clubs, and how to identify whether your client is right for them. “For instance, does a club have obvious skills or strategic shortcomings? If so, do you have a client that could patch a hole in their team? You cannot give up if a deal does not go through. You will not get all YES, every now and then. There will be a couple of NO” and you got to deal with it. Every agent stumbles sometimes and faces rejection but that is not the end, one needs to keep moving and should be prepared for it,” he signs off.

Making a Football Agent - Wilbur Lasrado

Gareth Southgate has backed midfielders Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, and defender Michael Keane to have successful England careers after switching their allegiance from Ireland.

West Ham United's Rice was capped three times by Ireland, while Aston Villa's Grealish and Everton's Keane both played for Ireland's youth teams before committing their future to England.

The trio will now prepare to face Ireland for the first time since their switch after being named in England's squad for the upcoming friendly.

"...I think the three boys we have with us, they look as if they can have good international careers and we're just focusing on that part of it, really," Southgate told British media.

"We've got a lot of these situations. We played Wales last month and they had a couple of players who were with us as youngsters: Tyler Roberts and Ethan Ampadu. We didn't want to lose them.

"I think everybody is facing these challenges with dual nationality players. We've always got to get the balance right of not capping them too early and just to stop them going somewhere else."

England face Ireland on Nov. 12 before playing Nations League A Group 2 games against Belgium on November&nbsp;15 and Iceland on November&nbsp;18.

&nbsp;

Gareth Southgate has backed midfielders Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, and defender Michael Keane to have successful England careers after switching their allegiance from Ireland.

Gareth Southgate has backed midfielders Declan Rice and Jack Grealish, and defender Michael Keane to have successful England careers after switching their allegiance from Ireland. West Ham United's Rice was capped three times by Ireland, while Aston Villa's Grealish and Everton's Keane both played for Ireland's youth teams before committing their future to England. The trio will now prepare to face Ireland for the first time since their switch after being named in England's squad for the upcoming friendly. "...I think the three boys we have with us, they look as if they can have good international careers and we're just focusing on that part of it, really," Southgate told British media. "We've got a lot of these situations. We played Wales last month and they had a couple of players who were with us as youngsters: Tyler Roberts and Ethan Ampadu. We didn't want to lose them. "I think everybody is facing these challenges with dual nationality players. We've always got to get the balance right of not capping them too early and just to stop them going somewhere else." England face Ireland on Nov. 12 before playing Nations League A Group 2 games against Belgium on November 15 and Iceland on November 18.

Southgate backs England trio to shine after switch from Ireland

The latest edition of I-League will kick off on January 9, 2021, in Kolkata. Eleven teams will be contesting in this tournament to win the coveted trophy.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/barcelonas-presidential-candidate-asks-lionel-messi-to-take-pay-cut-due-to-club-debts-341423" hreflang="en">Barcelona's presidential candidate asks Lionel Messi to take pay cut due to club debts</a>

The players will enter the bio-secure bubble 14 days ahead of their first match according to the schedule, which will be announced shortly.&nbsp;

Due to COVID-19 pandemic situation, last year's I-League was halted abruptly. However, the league resumed again via I-League Qualifier 2020 that was played in October.&nbsp;

The qualifiers were organised well, as the government of the West Bengal and the Indian Football Association (IFA) joined hands with the All India Football Federation.&nbsp;

"We can't thank Government of West Bengal and IFA enough for their unconditional support to hosting the Hero I-League Qualifier this year. Without their support, we couldn't even think of hosting the tournament smoothly," AIFF quoted Sunando Dhar, CEO, Leagues as saying.

"Hero I-League Qualifier was a stage rehearsal for the next edition of Hero I-League as it'll be a longer and more challenging tournament from every single aspect. We'll work with them hand in hand to make it a grand success and we're confident to pull it off successfully," he added.

The league will witness 11 teams competing with each other in the first leg. The first leg will be followed by before they are divided into two different groups.

The team with maximum points (cumulative points collected from all 15 matches) will be the winner of Hero I-League 2020-21.

The latest edition of I-League will kick off on January 9, 2021, in Kolkata. Eleven teams will be contesting in this tournament to win the coveted trophy. Also read: Barcelona's presidential candidate asks Lionel Messi to take pay cut due to club debts The players will enter the bio-secure bubble 14 days ahead of their first match according to the schedule, which will be announced shortly.

The latest edition of I-League will kick off on January 9, 2021, in Kolkata. Eleven teams will be contesting in this tournament to win the coveted trophy. Also read: Barcelona's presidential candidate asks Lionel Messi to take pay cut due to club debts The players will enter the bio-secure bubble 14 days ahead of their first match according to the schedule, which will be announced shortly. Due to COVID-19 pandemic situation, last year's I-League was halted abruptly. However, the league resumed again via I-League Qualifier 2020 that was played in October. The qualifiers were organised well, as the government of the West Bengal and the Indian Football Association (IFA) joined hands with the All India Football Federation. "We can't thank Government of West Bengal and IFA enough for their unconditional support to hosting the Hero I-League Qualifier this year. Without their support, we couldn't even think of hosting the tournament smoothly," AIFF quoted Sunando Dhar, CEO, Leagues as saying. "Hero I-League Qualifier was a stage rehearsal for the next edition of Hero I-League as it'll be a longer and more challenging tournament from every single aspect. We'll work with them hand in hand to make it a grand success and we're confident to pull it off successfully," he added. The league will witness 11 teams competing with each other in the first leg. The first leg will be followed by before they are divided into two different groups. The team with maximum points (cumulative points collected from all 15 matches) will be the winner of Hero I-League 2020-21.

I-League 2021 set to kick-off in Kolkata on January

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell urged people, who are suffering from mental health issues, to speak out about their problems and seek the support they need.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chelseas-lampard-hails-defensive-improvement-but-says-no-time-to-relax-341237" hreflang="en">Chelsea's Lampard hails defensive improvement but says no time to relax</a>

Chilwell has been a recent signing for the Blues, he came from Leicester on a five-year contract. The player himself has been a victim of low confidence last season and said that he wanted to inspire others facing similar issues to open up.&nbsp;

“I didn't talk to anyone and just kept it to myself for a few months,” the England defender told BBC.&nbsp;

“Last season I struggled with confidence and the fact that I've spoken about it might help others to talk to people about their problems.

“Mental health is massive at the moment... There's someone at the club who talks to the players. I just thought... I should just go and have a chat with him and see what it's about, and it helped me a lot,” he added.

“If you are struggling and you feel like you're by yourself then talk to someone, whether that's a friend, a family member or something confidential like on a helpline, then just do it,” he said.

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell urged people, who are suffering from mental health issues, to speak out about their problems and seek the support they need. Also read: Chelsea's Lampard hails defensive improvement but says no time to relax Chilwell has been a recent signing for the Blues, he came from Leicester on a five-year contract.

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell urged people, who are suffering from mental health issues, to speak out about their problems and seek the support they need. Also read: Chelsea's Lampard hails defensive improvement but says no time to relax Chilwell has been a recent signing for the Blues, he came from Leicester on a five-year contract. The player himself has been a victim of low confidence last season and said that he wanted to inspire others facing similar issues to open up. “I didn't talk to anyone and just kept it to myself for a few months,” the England defender told BBC. “Last season I struggled with confidence and the fact that I've spoken about it might help others to talk to people about their problems. “Mental health is massive at the moment... There's someone at the club who talks to the players. I just thought... I should just go and have a chat with him and see what it's about, and it helped me a lot,” he added. “If you are struggling and you feel like you're by yourself then talk to someone, whether that's a friend, a family member or something confidential like on a helpline, then just do it,” he said.

Chelsea's Ben Chilwell urges people with mental health issues to speak up

Bayern Munich have withdrawn their offer of a new five-year contract for Austria defender David Alaba after his representative rejected their latest proposal, club President Herbert Hainer has said.

The current deal for 28-year-old Alaba, who has been at Bayern since 2008, runs out in 2021. Contract talks have dragged on for months, reportedly over the player's annual salary.

"We submitted to David and his advisor some time ago what we think was a very good offer," Hainer told broadcaster BR late on Sunday.

"During the last meeting we had said we wanted clarity by the end of October. We did not hear anything until yesterday and we contacted his advisor.

"The answer was that the offer was still unsatisfactory and we should think about it again. We then decided to take the offer completely off the table."

Alaba, who has won two Champions League trophies with the club as well as nine league titles and six German Cups, said he heard about Bayern's decision from the media.

"I heard it like everyone else on the news," Alaba told a press conference ahead of their game at Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday.

"I cannot say how it will continue from this point. I am glad to be playing for Bayern, and to be a part of the team. But what the future will look like after yesterday evening I just cannot say, as no one has talked to me officially."

Alaba was upset that the club never shot down the reported salary figures mentioned in German media, saying he had wished Bayern had done it so that his image with fans was not damaged.

"I can completely understand the fans. I wish internal stuff would stay internal. The numbers out there do not correspond to reality and I am a bit disappointed and sad that the club never officially came out to say they are wrong."

Asked about a possible move to the English Premier League, Alaba said: "I have not made any thoughts about my future because Bayern was always the first point of contact. I had no contact with other clubs for that reason."

Bayern Munich have withdrawn their offer of a new five-year contract for Austria defender David Alaba after his representative rejected their latest proposal, club President Herbert Hainer has said.

Bayern Munich have withdrawn their offer of a new five-year contract for Austria defender David Alaba after his representative rejected their latest proposal, club President Herbert Hainer has said. The current deal for 28-year-old Alaba, who has been at Bayern since 2008, runs out in 2021. Contract talks have dragged on for months, reportedly over the player's annual salary. "We submitted to David and his advisor some time ago what we think was a very good offer," Hainer told broadcaster BR late on Sunday. "During the last meeting we had said we wanted clarity by the end of October. We did not hear anything until yesterday and we contacted his advisor. "The answer was that the offer was still unsatisfactory and we should think about it again. We then decided to take the offer completely off the table." Alaba, who has won two Champions League trophies with the club as well as nine league titles and six German Cups, said he heard about Bayern's decision from the media. "I heard it like everyone else on the news," Alaba told a press conference ahead of their game at Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday. "I cannot say how it will continue from this point. I am glad to be playing for Bayern, and to be a part of the team. But what the future will look like after yesterday evening I just cannot say, as no one has talked to me officially." Alaba was upset that the club never shot down the reported salary figures mentioned in German media, saying he had wished Bayern had done it so that his image with fans was not damaged. "I can completely understand the fans. I wish internal stuff would stay internal. The numbers out there do not correspond to reality and I am a bit disappointed and sad that the club never officially came out to say they are wrong." Asked about a possible move to the English Premier League, Alaba said: "I have not made any thoughts about my future because Bayern was always the first point of contact. I had no contact with other clubs for that reason."

Bayern Munich withdraw contract offer for Alaba

Bayern Munich defender Niklas Suele has tested positive for COVID-19 and gone into home isolation, the club said on the eve of their Champions League match at Salzburg.

The 25-year-old Germany centre back is the second Bayern player to be pulled out of action after Serge Gnabry's false positive test in October. Gnabry has since returned.

"I will think about the lineup for Salzburg after the final training this evening," coach Hansi Flick told a news conference. "Niklas will not be available. It is not nice and it is one option less for us.

"There have been many cases in pro leagues and now it hit us. We have to accept it... and hope that it remains with that one positive test."

Suele had missed much of last season due to cruciate ligament injury and only returned to action in the summer.

Flick said the players and staff were now tested on a daily basis.

Bayern, who won five titles in 2020 including the Champions League and the domestic league and Cup double, travel to title rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday.

They are top of the Bundesliga following their 2-1 win at Cologne on Saturday.

Bayern Munich defender Niklas Suele has tested positive for COVID-19 and gone into home isolation, the club said on the eve of their Champions League match at Salzburg.

Bayern Munich defender Niklas Suele has tested positive for COVID-19 and gone into home isolation, the club said on the eve of their Champions League match at Salzburg. The 25-year-old Germany centre back is the second Bayern player to be pulled out of action after Serge Gnabry's false positive test in October. Gnabry has since returned. "I will think about the lineup for Salzburg after the final training this evening," coach Hansi Flick told a news conference. "Niklas will not be available. It is not nice and it is one option less for us. "There have been many cases in pro leagues and now it hit us. We have to accept it... and hope that it remains with that one positive test." Suele had missed much of last season due to cruciate ligament injury and only returned to action in the summer. Flick said the players and staff were now tested on a daily basis. Bayern, who won five titles in 2020 including the Champions League and the domestic league and Cup double, travel to title rivals Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. They are top of the Bundesliga following their 2-1 win at Cologne on Saturday.

Bayern Munich defender Niklas Suele tests positive for COVID-19

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