GM football fans. It’s Monday, Sept. 15 - A judge has ruled that employers can refuse hiring someone based on the club they support, Fifa has changed the international break to help player welfare, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

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Premier League MD4: Manchester City 3-0 Manchester United. Erling Haaland has scored his 50th goal in his 50th home Premier League game for Manchester City. In the competition's history, only Alan Shearer required fewer home appearances to hit 50 goals (47). Burnley 0-1 Liverpool. Liverpool are the first side in Premier League history to win four consecutive games thanks to winning goals scored in the final 10 minutes or later. See every Premier League Matchday 4 result here.

Results…

Employers in the UK are legally entitled to turn down a candidate for a job if they support a rival football team to their company’s existing staff, a judge has ruled. The comments came during a hearing in Croydon, south London, where a Russian national argued she was rejected for a job because she didn’t like to swear or go drinking with colleagues, things she claimed were “typically British.”

"It is perfectly lawful for an employer to decide that somebody will not be a fit with the team," said Judge Daniel Wright. He explained this could apply, for example, if an ardent Arsenal supporter chose a fellow fan over an equally qualified Tottenham season ticket holder because they "do not want to damage the harmony of the office.”

The judge added that the decision would be lawful on the grounds that managers want to maintain good relations between colleagues, though he acknowledged that taking the example to extremes might not be good for business.

Starting from next year, Fifa has removed the October international break and replaced it with a single, extended three-week window in September. By consolidating the traditional September and October international breaks, one week fewer in the domestic season is lost to international fixtures. The new international calendar is locked in until at least 2030, where the changes can be reversed.

The changes come amid concerns about player welfare. The reduction in breaks will reduce the number of journeys where players from one continent have to travel to another for their international fixtures. Plus, during this period, national teams will be limited to playing a maximum of four matches.

For this season, there are two international breaks between now and Christmas, between 9-14 October and 13-18 November. Following November, the next break will come in March, as qualification for the World Cup is wrapped up in the springtime.

Real Madrid are set to submit a report to Fifa on the state of Spanish refereeing, arguing that the club has suffered a series of perceived injustices. The latest came during their 2-1 La Liga win over Real Sociedad when centre-back Dean Huijsen was sent off in the 32nd minute for what the referee judged to be a last-man challenge.

Spain’s refereeing committee has since admitted the red card was a mistake, as Huijsen’s teammate Eder Militao was covering the run. The on-duty VAR, Figueroa Vazquez, has been suspended for failing to direct referee Gil Manzano to review the incident.

Real president Florentino Perez and the club’s in-house TV channel, Real Madrid TV, have long been critical of what they view as biased officiating in Spain. Ahead of last season’s Copa del Rey final, the referee assigned to the game broke down in tears at a press conference, describing the abuse his family had suffered after sustained criticism from Real Madrid TV. A new protocol was introduced this year, whereby referees are announced only one day before each match, rather than a week in advance, to combat the pressure applied to referees by some clubs.

> Lord Alan Sugar, the 138th-richest person in the UK, has threatened to sue Jamie Redknapp and Sky Sports for claiming he left Tottenham in a mess when he sold the club in 2001 (More)

> Rasmus Hojlund and Kevin De Bruyne both scored for Serie A leaders Napoli in their 3-1 away win at Fiorentina (More)

> Russell Martin is the first Rangers manager to fail to win any of his first five league games since John Greig in 1978; Rangers lost 2-0 to Hearts (Match Report/incl analysis)

> Sam Kerr made a goalscoring return for Chelsea as the reigning WSL champions beat Aston Villa 3-1 (More); see all the WSL results (More)

> Lionel Messi missed a Panenka penalty as Charlotte beat Inter Miami 3-0 (Match Report); watch the penalty miss (More) | Vancouver Whitecaps clinched an MLS Cup Play-offs spot with a 7-0 win over Supporters’ Shield-leading Philadelphia Union, with a Thomas Muller hat-trick (More); see all MLS results (More)

> The KC Current have become the fastest team in NWSL history to reach 50 points in their top-of-the-table goalless draw with Washington Spirit (More); see all NWSL fixtures (More)

> USL Championship Western Conference leaders FC Tulsa extended their lead with a 1-0 away win at New Mexico, while second-place Sacramento dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Phoenix Rising (All Results); see USL Championship standings (More)

> River Plate went top in Group B of the Argentine Primera Division after a 2-1 victory over Estudiantes de La Plata (More)

> Al Nassr are top of the Saudi Pro League on goal difference following their 2-0 win over Al Kholood (All Results)

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Friday’s Poll: Do you think play-offs are a good way to decide promotion?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👍 Yes (55%)

🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ 🙅‍♂️ Nope (43%)

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (2%)

Your punditry takes:

The making of Match of the Day.

Wayne Rooney scores in the Icons match.

Salah becomes the fourth-highest Premier League goal scorer.

… and how 10 British record signings fared in the Premier League.

Why you shouldn’t celebrate too early as a goalkeeper.

Everton's stadium tunnel runs through a restaurant.

Dortmund’s new away kit receives a mixed reaction.

Question: The Champions League league phase kicks off on Tuesday. Last season, the top 8 teams advanced directly to the Round of 16, skipping the play-offs. Can you name all eight clubs — and put them in the correct order of the final standings?

Scroll below for the answer.

La Liga

Serie A

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

Answer

Liverpool. Barcelona. Arsenal. Inter Milan. Atletico Madrid. Bayer Leverkusen. Lille. Aston Villa.

Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.