GM football fans. It’s Thursday, May. 15 - Two damning reports question Fifa’s human rights policies, English football’s regualtor takes a step closer, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

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KEY FIXTURES

League One Play-offs, Semi-final, Leg 2: Charlton vs. Wycombe, Agg 0-0, 20:00 / 15:00. Charlton have only lost three of their last 23 league fixtures, while they also boast a 15-game unbeaten run at home. Wycombe were fifth in the regular season, but goals have been hard to come by in recent weeks as they have failed to score in five of their last nine matches, including three of their last four. The winner of this two-legged contest will face Leyton Orient in the playoff final at Wembley Stadium on May 25.

TV Channels: UK (Sky Sports) / US (Paramount+)

Results…

• Coppa Italia Final: AC Milan 0-1 Bologna (Report)

• League One Play-offs: Stockport County 1-1 Leyton Orient (Agg 3-3, Leyton Orient win 4-1 on pens)

• La Liga: Real Madrid 2-1 Mallorca (Report) (Table)

• Scottish Premiership, Top Six: Rangers 3-1 Dundee Utd | St. Mirren 2-2 Hibernian | Aberdeen 1-5 Celtic (Table)

TOP TALKING POINTS

Damning Fifa Reports

Two new reports have accused Fifa of being “utterly negligent” in its responsibility to migrant workers building the stadiums for the 2034 World Cup, set to be hosted in Saudi Arabia. The research is based on investigations into the recent deaths of 48 migrant workers.

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) report outlines instances of workers dying due to accidents and heat exhaustion, with the families of these men left with no information about what happened. FairSquare’s report focuses on the lack of data collected by the Saudi authorities regarding their migrant worker population.

Fifa also told HRW that it plans to establish a workers’ welfare system dedicated to mandatory standards for World Cup-related construction. The human rights group have said that no further details were provided on how the welfare system would work.

When Fifa ratified Saudi Arabia’s unopposed bid to host the tournament, it praised "significant steps" taken by the Gulf state to reform its labour laws since 2018. However, the human rights groups have accused the governing body of failing to learn the lessons from migrant worker deaths in the lead-up to the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

Awoniyi in Coma

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed in an induced coma after undergoing “urgent” surgery on an abdominal injury. The Nigerian international collided with the goal frame during the 2-2 draw against Leicester—see here. There is no suggestion that the 27-year-old’s condition is life-threatening.

The incident has reignited debate around the ‘late flag’ offside rule (read more), which came into force in 2020. In this case, Anthony Elanga, who provided the assist, was clearly in an offside position but wasn't flagged to bring play to a stop. Critics say the law exposes players to injury—though Aywoniyi’s is the most severe incident, there are several other examples.

After the match, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis received criticism for confronting manager Nuno Espirito Santo on the pitch (see here). However, a statement from the club claims Marinakis’ frustrations were with the medical team’s handling of Awoniyi’s injury, not his team’s performance.

Regulator Moves Forward

David Kogan has cleared a significant hurdle to become the head of the UK government’s new Independent Football Regulator (IFR) after being endorsed by a select committee of MPs. The IFR will have oversight of the top five divisions of English football.

Kogan was recommended for the role by the government’s culture secretary, having spent more than two decades negotiating TV rights deals on behalf of the Premier League, EFL, and Women’s Super League. One source said, “David will have enemies in football,” and described him as “very combative,” while another called him “a really good person and an extremely well-qualified candidate.”

The Conservative Party has criticised Kogan’s potential appointment. The 67-year-old has written two books on the Labour Party, recently stood down as chair of the independent news website LabourList, and has donated to the party nine times.

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> Real Madrid scored in the 95th minute against Mallorca to win 2-1, denying Barcelona early La Liga celebrations (More) | Real have asked Liverpool to release Trent Alexander-Arnold for free early before the Club World Cup (More)

> Ajax, who led the Eredivisie table by nine points with five matches remaining, are now second to PSV with one match left after conceding a last-minute goal to draw to Groningen on Wednesday (More); Watch PSV fans react to the late goal (Watch) | Fortuna Sittard are ineligible for European competitions next season for failing to file their Uefa license before April 8—they sit ninth in the Eredivisie table, a position that would earn them a Conference League play-off spot (More)

> The EFL have confirmed that Reading Football Club is under the new ownership (More) | Everton will allow fans to drink alcohol in the stands for the first time since 1985 in Goodison Park’s last Premier League fixture (More)

> Galatasaray won the Turkish Cup final 3-0 against Trabzonspor (More)

> Sampdoria have been relegated to the third tier of Italian football for the first time in their history (More)

Americas

> The United States men’s national team will play friendlies against South Korea on Sept. 6 at Harrison, New Jersey, and Japan three days later at Columbus, Ohio (More)

> Alex Morgan has become a minority stakeholder in her former NWSL club, the San Diego Wave (More) | Angel City defender Savy King, 20, has had successful heart surgery following her collapse during a match against the Utah Royals (More)

> The Liga MX Clausura 2025 season is down to its last four teams, with Tigres and Toluca kicking off the semifinals on Wednesday (local time); result determined shortly after publication (See Result)

Editor’s Note: We have a question for readers who follow the USL. What do you think are the best and most reliable sources for USL news? Reply to this email with suggestions. Thanks!

Rest of the World

> Fifa is targeting $1bn in revenue from the 2027 Women’s World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand (More)

> Juan Mata remains keen on extending his time in the men’s A-League and has hinted he is open to investing in an Australian club (More)

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Yesterday’s Poll: Do you think women’s football teams should be branded independently or remain linked to their men’s teams?

🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ 👊 Independent... (47%)

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🔗 Linked... (49%)

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other... (4%)

Your punditry takes:

• 👊 C.P: “If women get their own league, they should get their own teams. Give them the space to make their own legacy without forcing them to ride on the coattails of the men’s teams.”

• 🔗 C.T: “I played in the women’s top league in England and loved wearing the same shirt as the men. I played with Millwall and Arsenal.”

• 🔗 J.M: “I think staying linked is better. I am an Arsenal fan and follow the women's team almost to the same extent as the men's team because they are part of the same club. If there were no Arsenal women's team and there was just "North London FC Women" or something, then I would not have started supporting them. The men's teams have significantly larger followings in general, so it definitely helps the women's teams to be linked in terms of discoverability.”

• ✍️ M.G: “I don't think it has to be one or the other. Having the teams linked can organically bring fans of the men's teams into the women's game. But also having independent women's teams can also bring fans to cheer on something different. ”

EXTRA TIME

Real Madrid’s advanced free-kick training tech.

Aguero’s son looks sharp in front of goal.

Nike drop new women’s national team kits.

The man who saved Wembley Stadium.

Football’s unusual player-of-the-match awards.

The $5m women’s tournament, explained.

GAME FACE ON

Question: 12 Englishmen have made a league appearance under Thomas Tuchel during the German’s managerial career. How many can you name?

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

League One Play-offs, SF

• Charlton vs Wycombe (Agg 0-0) (20:00)

La Liga

• Osasuna vs Atletico Madrid (18:00)

• Rayo Vallecano vs Real Betis (18:00)

• Espanyol vs Barcelona (20:30)

• Getafe vs Athletic Club (20:30)

*All time in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.

Answer

Mason Mount, Reece James, Harry Kane, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah, Eric Dier, Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley, Tammy Abraham, and Conor Gallagher.

Want more? Try our daily football Wordle – guess the name of a current or former player in six tries. Play it here.