GM football fans. It’s Monday, Feb. 10 - Club World Cup tickets slashed, Man City’s new legal case, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
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RESULTS
FA Cup, Fourth Round: Plymouth Argyle 1-0 Liverpool FC. This is the first time Liverpool were knocked out of the competition by a lower-league opponent while leading the table since January 1984 against Brighton (Full Match Report). Aston Villa 2-1 Tottenham Hotspur. This is the first time since 1992 that Villa have progressed in an FA Cup tie against Tottenham. Southampton FC 0-1 Burnley FC. Burnley have kept 10 clean sheets in their last 11 games, conceding just 12 goals in 34 game in all competitions this season. See the full list of FA Cup Fourth Round results here.
More results…
La Liga: Alaves 0-1 Getafe | Valencia 2-0 Leganes | Sociedad 2-1 Espanyol | Sevilla 1-4 Barcelona (League Table)
Bundesliga: Holstein 2-2 Bochum | Leipzig 2-0 St Pauli (League Table)
Serie A: Venezia 0-1 Roma | Cagliari 2-1 Parma | Lazio 5-1 Monza | Lecce 0-0 Bologna | Napoli 1-1 Udinese (League Table)
Women’s FA Cup: Rugby Borough 0-2 Liverpool | Palace 2-0 Newcastle | Arsenal 2-0 London City | Man City 3-1 Leicester | Portsmouth 0-2 Sunderland | Chelsea 4-1 Everton (Round-Up)
TOP TALKING POINTS
FIFA Ticket Slash
Ticket prices for the revamped Club World Cup, hosted in the United States this year, have been significantly reduced. Fifa insists it’s not a price drop but instead a new, affordable ticket category. However, some reports attribute it to a lack of interest in the tournament.
One outlet reports that the introduction of a new ‘value tier’ has dropped the price of the cheapest seats at the knockout stage by as much as $385. The cheapest tickets for the final–which were $892—are now being offered for $300. Supporters who have already bought tickets can exchange them for those in the new band.
The month-long tournament, which begins June 14, is facing a wave of legal challenges from players’ unions due to the tournament's expansion and its impact on player welfare. Additionally, while Fifa was trying to secure $4bn in broadcasting revenue, it settled on a free-to-view deal worth $1bn with streaming platform DAZN.
See the teams and logistics of the tournament here.
City’s New Legal Case
Manchester City have launched another legal challenge against the Premier League’s associated party transaction (APT) rules. APT rules stop clubs profiting from commercial deals with companies linked to their owners.
In June last year, an independent panel deemed some elements of the APT rules unlawful. The majority of Premier League clubs—16 out of 20—voted in favour of making amendments. However, the eight-time champions believe the amendments face the same legal issues as the previous iterations and that shareholder loans, now included as part of APT rules, should be scrutinised retrospectively. This would put many clubs at risk of breaching the league’s financial rules.
The Premier League spent more than £45m on legal bills last season due to various disputes over its financial regulations. Any costs related to legal action are paid from the league’s central fund, reducing the amount distributed to clubs.
Madrid’s Referee Tirade
Real Madrid TV launched into another referee tirade after their 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid. The complaint centred on the penalty kick awarded to Atletico in the 35th minute, scored as a Panenka by Julian Alvarez (see here). See the tackle that led to the penalty here.
Real’s official TV channel labelled the penalty “a joke” and that “if it were up to us, we would’ve walked off the field and stopped competing in this filthy Negreira [reference to scandal] league.” A day before the Madrid derby, La Liga president Javier Tebas accused Real Madrid of “losing their minds” after the club complained to the Spanish league’s referees.
Los Blancos have now dropped four points in their last two La Liga matches, meaning that Atletico are just one point behind them in the league. Barcelona’s 1-4 win over Sevilla on Sunday means they sit just two points behind the league leaders.
POLL
Will you be watching the Club World Cup?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Premier League clubs are considering reducing the winter transfer window to two weeks and closing the summer transfer window before the new season begins (More) | Enzo Maresca says Chelsea “don’t miss” the now-AC Milan loanee Joao Felix despite the squad’s injuries (More)
> Antony has won the Man of the Match award for the second match in a row for Real Betis (More)
> Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 3-0 on Friday with two goals from Harry Kane for their seventh league win in succession to move eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga; Second place Bayer Leverkusen drew 0-0 to Wolfsburg (Round-Up)
> Second-tier Queen's Park produced one of the biggest upsets in Scottish Cup history as they beat Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox to advance to the quarter-finals (More)
Americas
> Facundo Colidio netted twice to give River Plate a 2-0 win over Independiente in the Apertura tournament of the Argentine Primera Division (More)
> Inter Miami FC recorded another win in its The Americas Preseason Tour with a 5-0 win over Club Olimpia (More)
> Sergio Ramos, 39, officially joins Liga MX side Monterrey on a one-year contract. He will wear the number 93 shirt in celebration of the injury-time goal he scored in the Champions League final in 2014 (More)
Rest of the World
> Roberto Firmino, 33, was left out of Al Ahli’s squad for the Saudi Pro League and will now only be able to play in the Asian Champions League; clubs are approaching to sign the Brazilian (More) | Two goals from Jhon Duran on his Al Nassr debut and another from Cristiano Ronaldo helped the side to a 3-0 win over Al Feiha (More)
> FIFA suspends the Congolese Football Association and the Pakistan Football Federation (More)
> Noah Botic scored his eighth goal of the season as Western United moved into third in the A-League after playing out a 2-2 draw with Macarthur Bulls (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Friday’s Poll: Aside from political gestures, do you think goal celebrations can cross the line?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 😬 Yes... (61%)
🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ 🎉 Nope... (37%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other... (2%)
Your punditry takes:
😬 J.P: “I also don't like celebrations with shooting gestures. A number of players do this. Football is watched by kids, and even though kids are exposed to shooting via other media, it is not nice to see a player shooting to the camera on TV.”
🎉 J.A: “Let them play! It’s entertaining for the viewer. Aside from the entertainment factor, what then constitutes an “inappropriate” goal celebration? This rule becomes subjective and would give too much power to the referee.”
✍️ E.W: “Yes, players should celebrate freely—just no weapons or violent gestures. Imitating others isn’t the same. Football is entertainment, and celebrations are part of the performance. Banning them is ridiculous. If it takes extra time, add ET. Don’t punish joy. No to the celebration police—let us be entertained!”
EXTRA TIME
Football Manager 2025 release has been cancelled.
Marcelo is honoured by Real Madrid following his retirement announcement.
The WSL record-breaker who deserves more recognition.
Leyton Orient score a halfway-line goal against Man City. (via X)
The best Champions League Penenka penalties…
… and Semenyo’s unique penalty run-up. (via X)
Is there any point to season-long loans?
Jamie Carragher and son acquire Maltese citizenship.
How to find the best size and fit for football boots. (video)
A season ticket from the 1947-48 season.
GAME FACE ON
Question: Can you name Major League Soccer’s all-time top goalscorer?
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
FA Cup, Fourth Round
Doncaster vs Crystal Palace (19:45)
La Liga
Mallorca vs Osasuna (20:00)
Serie A
Inter Milan vs Fiorentina (19:45)
Scottish Cup, Fifth Round
St Mirren vs Hearts (19:45)
*All time in UK. ET -5. CST -6. PST -8. MST -7. CET +1.
Answer
Chris Wondolowski with 169 goals. Player profile here.
I once noticed Salah and Totti juggling with the ball naked in the shower. You can understand the love for football they have.
