GM football fans. It’s Tuesday, July. 29 - La Liga is set to introduce new VAR rules, Uefa projects financial losses from the Women’s Euro 2025, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

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La Liga is reportedly set to allow managers to challenge VAR decisions during matches, with a maximum of two requests allowed per match. However, if the request leads to a decision being overturned, the team will retain their challenge. Official confirmation of its implementation has not been announced yet.

Last year, Fifa held the first trials that allowed coaches to challenge a referee’s decision. During these trials, the coach would request a review by twirling a finger in the air and handing a card to the fourth official. Pierluigi Collina, Fifa’s head of referees, said the first tests held during the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup, a Fifa youth competition in Zurich, went well.

Reports in Spain also suggest that a low-cost VAR system will be introduced in the country’s third-tier league. It could use a new system named “VAR Light”—a simplified version that requires fewer cameras and minimal installation, where officials use a mobile device with up to four streams. Dive deeper comparisons of VAR and VAR Light here.

UEFA is expecting the Women’s Euro 2025 to represent a loss between €20m and €25m, slightly better than the €32m loss projected before the final. The losses are primarily due to the increased prize money, as participating teams shared a total prize of €41m–double what it was at the previous tournament. In comparison, the men’s tournament last year, which paid out €331m, earned Europe’s governing body €2.1bn.

Positively, though, the tournament generated €128m in revenue—more than twice as much as the previous edition and ten times as much as the €12.7m in 2017. The majority of revenue comes from media rights (56%), commercial rights (32%), and tickets and hospitality (12%).

In terms of viewership, the final drew more than 16 million viewers in the UK, making it the nation’s most-watched television moment of the year. In Spain, meanwhile, viewership averaged 4.1 million, peaking at 6 million during penalties, which is a million shy of the country’s Fifa Women‘s World Cup 2023 final victory over England.

Morecambe have been suspended from the National League, England’s fifth tier of men’s professional football, with immediate effect. The decision comes after weeks of unpaid wages and a stalled ownership takeover, which has left the club with a shrunken squad and under a registration embargo.

Morecambe were relegated from League Two last season, falling out of the EFL for the first time since 2007. Owner Jason Whittingham, who took over in 2018, has been attempting to sell the club for three years. While the club had approval from the EFL and an agreement to sell to investment group Panjab Warriors, Whittingham’s Bond Group Investments has yet to sell its shares. Whittingham issued a statement on behalf of Bond Group, claiming that discussions are ongoing to complete the sale.

With the season starting on August 9, the club’s first three fixtures, against Boston United, Brackley Town, and Scunthorpe United, are suspended. The National League’s compliance and licensing committee will meet again on August 20 to confirm the decision or potentially overturn it should a last-minute takeover materialise.

> Sunderland have agreed a fee worth up to £13.4m for the signing of Bayer Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka (More) | Newcastle are in talks with Southampton over a move for goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale (More)

> Cristian Totti, son of Francesco, has retired from football at 19 after facing challenges and media scrutiny for not performing on the same level as his father (More)

> Pep Guardiola has reiterated that he will take a break from coaching after leaving Manchester City, admitting it could be as long as 15 years (More)

> Premier Sports Cup holders Celtic will host promoted Falkirk in the last 16 of the competition; see full draw (More)

> The United States women’s national team will face Portugal in back-to-back friendly matches in October to honour Alex Morgan and Alyssa Naeher’s retirements (More)

> Vasco de Gama goalkeeper Leo Jardim's late sending off for time-wasting against Internacional led to his side conceding in added time to draw 1-1 in Brazil's Serie A (More)

> River Plate were held 0-0 at home by San Lorenzo in the Argentine Clausura tournament as Marcelo Gallardo's side remain unbeaten and two points clear of their rivals at the top of Group B (More)

> Al Nassr’s new signing Joao Felix, 25, has been collectively transferred for €240m throughout his career, making him the fourth costliest player in history (More)

Yesterday’s Poll: Do you think this will go down as one of the best transfer windows ever?

🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ 👏 Absolutely (44%)

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅‍♂️ Nope (50%)

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (6%)

Your punditry takes:

Opta’s League One predictions ahead of the new season.

The 10 best (and worst) designated players in MLS history.

Inside one of football’s most confusing careers.

How can teams qualify for the next Club World Cup?

Women’s Euro 2025 Team of the Tournament revealed.

The history of football–part two. (video)

The 7th-tier English side with a huge Spanish following.

Question: Arsenal’s new striker Viktor Gyokeres scored the most league goals (39) in Europe last season. Can you name the players that make up the rest of the top five?

Scroll below for the answer.

Uefa Champions League, 2nd Qualifying Round

English League Cup, Preliminary Round

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

Answer

Kylian Mbappe - 31. Mo Salah - 29. Robert Lewandowski - 27. Harry Kane - 26.

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