GM football fans. It’s Wednesday, Nov. 12 - The German FA wants compensation for players that switch national team allegiance, Andres Iniesta is being investigated for fraud, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURES
UEFA Women’s Champions League (Nov 12): Bayern Munich vs. Arsenal, 17:45 GMT / 12:45 ET. Bayern have won both previous home matches against Arsenal, and the Gunners have just one win in ten trips to Germany. Both sides have won one and lost one in this campaign. Barcelona vs. OHL, 17:45 GMT / 12:45 ET. Barcelona lead the league phase table with two victories and a +10 goal difference, though they did start this month with a rare domestic league loss. Manchester United vs. Paris Saint-Germain, 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET. United are flying high in the league phase with two 1-0 wins, while PSG are yet to pick up a point, losing to Wolfsburg and Real Madrid. See the Women’s Champions League league phase table here.
Results…
Women’s Champions League: Roma 0-1 Valerenga | Lyonnes 3-1 Wolfsburg | Real Madrid 1-1 Paris FC | St Polten 0-6 Chelsea
TOP TALKING POINTS
International Compensation Demands
The German football federation (DFB) wants compensation when players opt to represent other countries after representing Germany at youth levels. “It simply makes no sense to me why a player who has been coached primarily at his club for five years but also by the federation as a junior partner should be able to switch national associations for free,” said DFB managing director Andreas Rettig.
The federation is reviewing whether a ‘coaching compensation’ system could be introduced, arguing that the time and resources spent developing players “must be worthwhile for both sides, the player and the coach.” Fifa would need to approve and enforce any system of compensation payments.
Germany has recently seen several German-born players with dual nationality opt to represent other countries, including Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Can Uzun, who both chose Turkey.
Spain-Barca Feud
The Spanish national team says it is “surprised and concerned” to learn that Lamine Yamal underwent groin surgery, which it says it did not know about. The 18-year-old winger was selected for the World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey, but pulled out on Tuesday. See every European World Cup qualifying fixture here.
Yamal, who scored in Barcelona’s 4-2 La Liga win over Celta Vigo on Sunday, underwent surgery for pubalgia, a chronic groin injury. He will require seven to ten days of rest, ruling him out of Spain’s upcoming fixtures. The Spanish FA (RFEF) said it was only informed of the operation “on the day the national team’s official training camp began.”
Relations between Barcelona and the RFEF have been strained in recent times. During September’s international break, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick publicly criticised the national team for not taking care of their players, blaming Spain for aggravating Yamal’s groin problem. The situation resurfaced before the October break when Spain manager Luis de la Fuente included Yamal in his squad, prompting Barcelona to issue a statement clarifying the extent of his groin problem.
Iniesta Fraud Accusations
Former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is under investigation by Peruvian authorities for alleged fraud amounting to around $600,000, according to the country’s Public Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors claim local investors were defrauded by two companies co-founded by Iniesta, Never Say Never (NSN) Barcelona and its subsidiary NSN Sudamerica, which were created to organise entertainment events in the region.
Investors allege they funded a series of projects, including football matches and concerts, most of which never took place and whose investment funds were not returned. Only one of six planned events was reportedly held before the company declared bankruptcy, leaving unpaid debts and uncertainty over where the money went.
Local media report that funds were “transferred to accounts abroad,” though the company has denied the allegations and criticised what it called the malicious dissemination of false information.
POLL
Should federations be compensated when players switch national teams after representing them at youth level?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Arsenal and Crystal Palace’s Premier League matches initially scheduled for December 21 have been brought forward by one day (More) | Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah and Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford have been added to England's squad for their final two World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania (More)
> Raheem Sterling has been a victim of another burglary and is understood to have been in the house with his family when the incident occurred (More)
> Robert Lewandowski, 37, is reportedly considering retirement if Barcelona doesn’t offer him a renewal (More)
> French club Lille to pursue legal action against some of their fans after incidents of hate speech and racism (More)
Americas
> U.S. men's national team midfielder Tyler Adams has withdrawn from Mauricio Pochettino's November squad due to a head injury (More)
> Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has pledged to give up her premium seat for the opening match of the 2026 World Cup to a young woman who could not afford to attend (More)
Rest of the World
> Cristiano Ronaldo says that he will retire in “one or two years” and that the 2026 World Cup will be his last (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Pep Guardiola has taken charge of 1,000 matches in his managerial career. Is he the best manager of all time?
🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ 🐐 Yes (40%)
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅♂️ Nope (55%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (5%)
Your punditry takes:
🐐 J.M: “Hard to argue against him, really. Absolutely ridiculous level of success in multiple leagues. Yes, he has always managed top teams, but so have other managers, and they have not had anything close to the same level of success.”
🙅♂️ E.R: “Tailoring your career to follow the best teams with the most cash doesn’t make you a great manager. Building a team, developing players from the academy to the pitch, rebuilding after losses, and staying within the confines of a budget. That’s what makes a great manager.”
🙅♂️ J.V: “It is difficult to say he is the best when he has been granted the best resources at all of his coaching stops. I prefer to see quality coaches bring up mid-level teams rather than coaches with huge budgets and the ability to get top players. You are managing top players, so just get out of their way. What are you going to do with a team with limited resources and no big name players?”
✍️ H.M: “I think he is the smartest manager of all time, but not the best. He didn’t really change the game the way Johan Cryuff did, and he didn’t inspire and turn personalities into superstars like Sir Alex Ferguson did, but he does have the best tactical mind that football has ever seen.”
EXTRA TIME
Five rules that fans would change in football.
Messi did not contact Barca to gain access to Camp Nou.
… and imagine going on a romantic date and Messi walks by.
Why do footballers tape up their wrists?
The most unique kit design this season comes from an amateur club.
Lewandowski lights up the Empire State Building.
What the stats say about Liverpool’s title chances.
Mourinho leaves Fenerbahce with a huge hotel bill.
GAME FACE ON
Who Am I…
I made my senior career debut in 2008.
I’m a striker, but I only reached double figures for Premier League goals in a single season for the first time last season.
I won the Premier League in 2012-13 and the FA Cup in 2014-15 & 2016-17.
Scroll below for the answer.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
I imagine myself playing all my life in Barcelona.
Answer
Danny Welbeck.
