GM football fans. It’s Friday, July. 18 - Football’s lawmakers are considering major changes to VAR and penalties, the first women’s £1m transfer is official, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURE
UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, Quarter-Final: Spain vs. Switzerland, 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET. Tournament favourites Spain have won 11 of their last 12 international matches, and recorded a joint-record 14 goals in the group stage, defeating Portugal (5-0), Belgium (6-2) and Italy (3-1). Hosts Switzerland progressed from the group stage for the first time in history with one win, one loss, and a draw. When these sides last met in the group stage of the 2023-24 Uefa Women’s Nations League, Spain scored 12 goals in beating Switzerland 5-0 at home and 7-1 away. The winner of this fixture will face either France or Germany in the semi-final. See the Women’s Euro 2025 bracket here.
TV Channels: BBC / ITV (UK) | FOX Sports (US) | TSN (Canada)
Results…
Women’s Euro: Sweden 2-2 England (England win 3-2 on pens) (Report)
TOP TALKING POINTS
Major Rule Changes Considered
Football’s lawmakers are considering increasing VAR’s powers to include corner kicks and yellow cards ahead of next year’s World Cup. Discussions to expand VAR’s scope are already taking place at senior levels of the game, but would need approval at the International Football Association Board (Ifab) annual meeting next March—in time for the 2026 World Cup.
While VAR intervening in fact-based decisions, such as confirming which player last touched the ball before a corner, is viewed as appropriate, lawmakers acknowledge that intervening in subjective decisions, like issuing yellow cards, could prove controversial. The case in favour argues that second yellow cards, which result in red cards, can significantly influence a match.
Changes to penalty rules are also being considered. Ifab is discussing scrapping rebounds, meaning the ball would be declared “dead” if the goalkeeper saves the penalty or it strikes the post or crossbar. Supporters of the rule change believe that the team awarded the penalty already has a significant advantage, and it would also reduce the issue of encroachment into the box before the kick is taken.
First Women’s £1m Transfer
The first £1m transfer in women’s football has been completed after Canada forward Olivia Smith moved from Liverpool to Arsenal. The 20-year-old, who made her international debut at age 15, has signed a four-year deal with the Champions League holders.
The previous highest fee was the £898,000 ($1.1m) paid by Chelsea for United States centre-back Naomi Girma in January from San Diego Wave. See a list of the highest transfer fees in women’s football here.
In her first season in Europe with Sporting CP, Smith recorded 22 goal involvements (13 goals, nine assists) in 18 league appearances. The following season, Liverpool signed Smith for a club record fee of £212,000. When comparing debut WSL seasons, Smith’s seven goals meant she outscored Mayra Ramirez (four), Vivianne Miedema (four), and Alessia Russo (three).
Dive deeper into why Arsenal value Smith so highly here.
Billionaire Fan Buys Stadium
A billionaire fan of Brazilian side Gremio has purchased the club’s stadium for R$130m ($25.2m) and donated it back to the club. Marcelo Marques’s investment means Gremio no longer needs to pay the R$20.5m annual debt service, and the club estimates it will now generate R$50m to R$100m more in annual revenue by keeping all stadium income.
The successful food entrepreneur founded the “Gremio e Nosso” (“Gremio is Ours”) movement. It opposes converting the club into a Football Corporation (SAF), a legal model in Brazil that allows clubs to operate as public limited companies and attract outside investment. Marques is now running for club president, and his rivals are reportedly stepping down.
He has always been a significant financial backer behind the scenes, most notably helping to sign Luis Suarez in 2023, including covering part of the Uruguayan’s salary.
POLL
Staying on the theme of rule changes, do you think that rebounds on penalties should be scrapped?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> The number of football matches in England and Wales with reported incidents of disorder increased by 18% during the 2024-25 season (More) | Snoop Dogg has become a co-owner and investor of Welsh side Swansea City (More)
> Manchester United have submitted a third transfer bid for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo worth £65m plus £5m in add-ons (More) | Liverpool are in advanced talks to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth more than £70m (More)
> Cesc Fabregas’ Como have already spent around €112m this summer, making them the biggest spending club in Italy so far (More)
> Christian Pulisic wins the ESPY “best soccer player” award, beating Lamine Yamal, Aitana Bonmati, and Alexis Putellas (More)
Americas
> Neymar scored his first league goal of the season for Santos against league leaders Flamengo; the Brazilian now has 700 career goal involvements (732 games, 443 goals, 257 assists) (More)
> Sam Surridge scored his MLS-leading 17th goal as Nashville beat Columbus 3-0 to break the Crew’s five-game unbeaten streak (More); see all MLS results and upcoming weekend fixtures (More)
> The USL Championship continues as Detroit City vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds (19:00 ET) & North Carolina vs. Indy Eleven (19:30 ET) kick off this weekend’s fixtures; see full USL Championship schedule (More)
Rest of the World
> Saudi Arabia were drawn to Iraq and Indonesia in the fourth phase of he 2026 World Cup qualifiers, while Qatar will face the UAE and Oman (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Do you think VAR should be involved in all decisions, not just goals, penalties and red cards?
🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 📸 Yes (30%)
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅♂️ Nope (67%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (3%)
Your punditry takes:
📸 T.A: “It should have a say where there is clear injustice that doesn't result in a goal, penalty or red card. I'm thinking particularly of incidents where players are sent off after two yellows. On occasion, an incorrect decision here has resulted in a sending off, and VAR are unable to correct it. That is ridiculous.”
📸 K.P: “If the technology is out there, and when it becomes fail-safe with qualified individuals working behind the scenes, it can only be an improvement. Human error is always going to be questioned. Clear-cut decisions are needed throughout football, but this will always be difficult and contentious with fans. My only opposing thoughts are that the referees are becoming totally reliant on VAR, and that is not good, they need to be accountable in this game of money.”
🙅♂️ S.M: “VAR takes long enough to review disputed penalties, red cards, offsides, and goals. If it gets involved with every decision the referee makes, why do we need a ref on the pitch?”
🙅♂️ P.J: “I think sports that are played by people should be judged by people. Part of the drama of sports is the missed calls. Some of the most memorable stories in sports are the missed calls. I think we should not be taking that drama away.”
✍️ J.M: “Certainly not every decision; games would be three times as long with every decision being scrutinised by VAR! However, I do think VAR should be involved in more decisions than it currently is, like for second yellow cards. It is crazy that a red card is always checked, but not a red card for a second yellow.”
EXTRA TIME
Every transfer in Europe’s top five leagues. (live tracker)
Glimpse the highest altitude football pitch in Europe.
Seattle Sounders bring a retro vibe to their new kit.
… and San Jose Earthquakes unveils the Rewind Kit.
How Scandinavia become the centre-forward capital.
Player injures himself doing Ronaldo’s Siu celebration.
John Terry releases Chelsea academy coaching clip.
GAME FACE ON
Name the common club among the following sets of three players:
Kingsley Coman, Joao Cancelo, Paul Pogba.
Ferland Mendy, Bruno Guimaraes, Malo Gusto.
Hakan Calhanoglu, Lucas Paqueta, Diogo Dalot.
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
UEFA Women’s Euro, Quarter-Finals
Spain vs. Switzerland (20:00)
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
Juventus. Lyon. AC Milan.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
I want to leave football before football leaves me.
