GM football fans. It’s Monday, Oct. 20 - Players begin protesting against matches being played abroad, the Premier League is divided over its financial regulations, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
KEY FIXTURE
Premier League MD8 (Oct 20): West Ham United vs. Brentford. The Hammers have won only one of their eight Premier League games against Brentford, and haven’t had much joy in London derbies this term, losing all four by an aggregate score of 12-2. Brentford have enjoyed more wins over West Ham (6) than any other side in the competition, but are on a three-game losing streak away from home in the top-flight. See the Premier League table here.
Results…
Premier League: Liverpool 1-2 Man Utd (Report) | Spurs 1-2 Aston Villa | Forest 0-3 Chelsea | Brighton 2-1 Newcastle | Burnley 2-0 Leeds | Palace 3-3 Bournemouth | Man City 2-0 Everton | Sunderland 2-0 Wolves | Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
La Liga: Barcelona 2-1 Girona | Atletico 1-0 Osasuna | Getafe 0-1 Real Madrid (Table)
Bundesliga: Bayern Munich 2-1 Dortmund (Table)
Seria A: Torino 1-0 Napoli | Roma 0-1 Inter | AC Milan 2-1 Fiorentina (Table)
TOP TALKING POINTS
Premier League Divided
Premier League clubs are set to vote next month on new financial regulations, with reports suggesting they are split on two competing proposals — Top-to-Bottom Anchoring and the Squad Cost Ratio (SCR). The systems are intended to replace the current Profit and Sustainability Rules, which allow clubs to lose up to £105m over a three-year period.
The Top-to-Bottom Anchoring system, effectively a salary cap, would limit spending to five times the amount earned by the bottom-placed club in prize and broadcast revenue. Based on 2023–24 figures, when Sheffield United finished last and earned £109.5m, that cap would equal £550m. Clubs with the largest revenue oppose the proposal, claiming it would put them at a disadvantage to European rivals who only adhere to less restrictive SCR rules.
The Squad Cost Ratio model would restrict spending on wages and transfers to around 85% of total revenue. Nine Premier League clubs already comply with Uefa’s SCR, and many argue that aligning domestic and European rules would make sense. However, some clubs say they will only back SCR if it is paired with Anchoring to maintain competitive balance.
Players Protest Abroad Matches
Players in La Liga stood still for 15 seconds at kick-off this weekend to protest the league’s decision to stage a match in Miami. The demonstration began during Oviedo vs. Espanyol on Friday and continued across multiple fixtures, including Barcelona vs. Girona, Atletico vs. Osasuna, Sevilla vs. Mallorca, and Villarreal vs. Real Betis.
During Barcelona’s match, TV cameras cut away to exterior shots of the stadium to avoid showing the protest—watch in-stadium footage here. In other games, broadcasters focused on the centre circle as players from both teams stood still.
The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) said it did not ask Barcelona or Villarreal — the clubs involved in the Miami fixture — to participate in the protests to avoid it being misinterpreted as an action against Barcelona or Villarreal themselves. "We were not part of the [protest] but we felt that we needed to follow along out of respect for our fellow professionals," said Barcelona midfielder Pedri.
U.S. Soccer Overhaul Proposed
A U.S. Soccer-led committee has released a white paper recommending a complete overhaul of men’s college soccer to combat its perceived decline. Speaking of college soccer in an interview, president Cindy Parlow Cone said, “It may not be immediately at risk, but there is risk around the corner.”
The most dramatic proposal would split Division I men’s soccer into four regional conferences, replacing current setups like the Big Ten and ACC. Within these regions, teams would be sorted into tiers with the possibility of movement between tiers based on performance, similar to promotion and relegation. The proposal also aims to address the condensed four-month schedule by extending the season across six months to ease physical toll. Read the full list of recommendations here.
The committee has met resistance from many women's coaches, who feel the men's model doesn't suit their sport and that their sport is not in decline. The committee agreed to pause discussions on fundamental structural changes for the women's game until after the 2025 season.
POLL
Ange Postecoglou received the second-fastest sacking in Premier League history. Did he deserve to be relieved of his duties?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> Nottingham Forest sacked Ange Postecoglou immediately after they lost 3-0 to Chelsea (More) | Three men were arrested for carrying England flags in Salford City’s game against Oldham Athletic in protest against co-owner Gary Neville (More)
> Harry Kane scored his 400th club goal in Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga (More)
> Dundee beat Celtic at Dens Park for the first time since 1988 to leave Brendan Rodgers’ side five points off leaders Hearts (More)
Americas
> The U20 World Cup final between Argentina and Morocco will conclude shortly after publication (Live Result)
> Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi has won the 2025 MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals after scoring a hat-trick against Nashville on Decision Day (More); see the best of the three goals (Watch); See the MLS play-off bracket (More)
> Marta’s penalty for Orlando Pride in the 72nd minute to make it 3-2 broke the Washington Spirit’s 12-match unbeaten streak in the NWSL (More) | Seattle Reign clinched a spot in the play-offs with a 2-1 victory over Utah Royals; see the play-off schedule (More)
> USL Championship matches New Mexico United vs. Oakland Roots & Birmingham Legion vs Miami FC to conclude shortly after publication (Live Results); see the USL Championship standings (More)
Rest of the World
> Cristiano Ronaldo scored and missed a penalty as Al Nassr maintained their unbeaten start to the Saudi Pro League season with a 5-1 win over Al Fateh (More)
> Pyramids of Egypt secured the African Super Cup with a late goal from striker Fiston Mayele as they beat Renaissance Berkane 1-0 (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Friday’s Poll: Do you think VAR review requests from managers is a good idea?
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👍 Yes (74%)
🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🙅♂️ Nope (25%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (1%)
Your punditry takes:
👍 J.M: “Great idea. Stop forensically analysing every goal, trying to find a way to disallow it (and still getting it wrong somehow!) and have a challenge system where you have to make a specific appeal rather than just hoping there is something that happened. Keep your appeal if the decision is overturned, lose your appeal if it is not.”
🙅♂️ K.B: “No, it will be viewed tactically by managers to stop the flow of a game. Managers of teams under pressure could use the card to stop play and gather a team huddle to change tactics. It will turn the game into an NFL game, constant stopping and no flow.”
✍️ D.G: “As it's currently being tested, no. Give the managers one challenge per match. IF that challenge is successful, they can have a second one. If that first challenge isn't successful, then no more for the remainder of the match.”
EXTRA TIME
The truth behind the academy contract myth.
The quickest sackings in Premier League history.
Is the Club World Cup causing Chelsea and PSG’s injury crisis?
Argentina’s 2026 World Cup home kit leaked.
Why Australia play in Asia, not Oceania.
Thiago Silva still pulling off acrobatics at 41.
The best Ref Cam moment so far.
GAME FACE ON
Question: Which Tottenham player came runner-up to George Weah in the Ballon d’Or in 1995?
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
Premier League
West Ham vs. Brentford (20:00)
La Liga
Alaves vs. Valencia (20:00)
Serie A
Cremeonese vs. Udinese (19:45)
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
Jurgen Klinsmann.
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
Most kids dream of scoring the perfect goal. I've always dreamt of stopping it.
