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Every Rules & refereeing story we publish, newest first.
UEFA says the record spending of English clubs is reshaping the transfer market across Europe. The governing body estimates the Premier League moved around €4.6 billion this summer, more than the next eight biggest leagues combined. Finance director Andrea Traverso believes the trend is concentrating talent and piling pressure on club finances.
varela·7 min read
Manchester United have drawn a further £90m from their revolving credit facility since 30 June, pushing overall debt to £1.15bn. The club also confirmed spending £191.7m on summer signings. The disclosure comes despite the deep cost-cutting programme led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Javi
·4 min read
The Football Supporters' Association has criticised the UK Football Policing Unit for bringing the Hillsborough disaster into the discussion about drinking in sight of the pitch. Fan representatives stress that the 1989 tragedy was not caused by alcohol, but by a catalogue of police and ambulance service failings.
Matt·6 min read
The Premier League wants to reach a funding agreement with the English Football League as soon as possible. Top-flight clubs approved a ten-year offer in July that would double solidarity payments to the 72 EFL clubs, but the EFL has not yet accepted it.
Javi·7 min read
The Premier League has reiterated its commitment to completing a New Deal with the EFL as quickly as possible, a move that would more than double solidarity payments for the 72 clubs across the three lower divisions. The ten-year offer has already been presented to EFL clubs, and the top flight wants the additional money to start flowing this season.
Natilla·5 min read
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has pushed back against mounting pressure to step down, saying he has never been more determined to do what is right for football. UEFA is demanding documents on a proposed private investment fund while the handling of the Folarin Balogun case also draws scrutiny.
Javi·4 min read
Margaret Thatcher's government banned alcohol from football grounds in England and Wales in 1985. The measure followed the violent Luton Town v Millwall FA Cup tie and the Heysel Stadium disaster, and it remains in force today. Andy Burnham has reopened the debate by claiming fans face discrimination because they cannot drink in the stands.
Natilla·6 min read
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has attacked the rule that stops fans drinking alcohol in the stands during men's football matches, describing it as 'discrimination'. The legislation has been in place since 1985 and Burnham says supporters should not be treated differently from other sports. Police chiefs have warned against any relaxation of the law.
Matt·6 min read
Spain's Supreme Court has upheld the four-year prison sentence handed to footballer Santi Mina for sexually abusing a woman in July 2017 in Mojácar, Almería. The Criminal Chamber rejected the player's appeal against the Andalusian High Court ruling, which had already confirmed the sentence imposed by the Almería Provincial Court.
Matt·5 min read
LaLiga released the footage from referee Ortiz Arias' personal camera during the Atlético-Real Madrid derby. The audio captures his exchanges with Mourinho, Kang-In Lee, Marc Pubill and Valverde, as well as the penalty appeal from Vinicius. The official stood by his decisions amid protests from both benches.
Javi·5 min read