GM football fans. It’s Tuesday, August. 12 - Crystal Palace have lost their appeal against Uefa, Spain’s FA has approved a league fixture to be played in the United States, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.
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TOP TALKING POINTS
Palace Appeal Rejected
Crystal Palace will play in the Uefa Conference League after losing their appeal against demotion from the Europa League. The ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) also confirms Nottingham Forest’s spot in the Europa League, having been promoted in Palace’s place.
Having initially qualified for the Europa League by winning last season’s FA Cup, Palace were removed from the competition because John Textor, who owns a 45% stake in Palace and is the majority owner of French club Lyon, did not place his Palace shares in a blind trust. The club had until 1 March 2025 to show Uefa proof of multi-club ownership restructuring, but missed the deadline. Lyon kept their place in the competition as they had finished higher in their respective leagues—Lyon finished sixth, while Palace were 12th.
CAS’s ruling against Palace said that Uefa’s regulations were clear and do not provide flexibility to clubs that don’t comply by the deadline, as Palace claimed. The court also concluded that Textor did have a decisive influence over both clubs, and that Palace did not receive unfair treatment in comparison to Forest and Lyon.
Spanish FA Approves Matches Abroad
The Spanish football federation (RFEF) has approved plans for Barcelona and Villarreal to play a league match in Miami this season. The RFEF will now seek permission from Fifa and Uefa to move the game to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which is set to host seven matches at the 2026 World Cup. As Fifa is no longer opposed to competitive domestic matches being held abroad—read more in a previous write-up here—it sets a clear pathway for approval.
The match, scheduled for the weekend of December 20-21, could become the first European league fixture to be played abroad. However, an NFL fixture between the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals is currently scheduled, so the actual date of the La Liga game may have to be moved to avoid a clash.
The Spanish football supporters' association has joined with Barcelona and Villarreal fan groups to express their "absolute, total and firm opposition" to the plans. In a joint statement, they threatened legal action should the plans go ahead.
Prem Fixture Difficulties Released
Manchester United have the toughest five matches at the start of the Premier League, according to Opta’s fixture difficulty rating. Ruben Amorim’s side will face three of last season’s top four in their opening fixtures, with Arsenal and Chelsea at Old Trafford, and Manchester City at the Etihad. The model measures difficulty based on the average rating (see here) of each opponent, which ranges from Liverpool’s 100 rating to Sunderland’s 85.2.
Aston Villa and Chelsea have the easiest run of fixtures across the first five matches. Neither side faces a team that finished in the top four, and Chelsea does not play any team that finished above 10th. Newly promoted Burnley and Sunderland also have easier runs over the same period, while Leeds United have the fourth-toughest start. See every fixture difficulty rating across the first five matches here.
Across the first 10 matches, Liverpool’s ‘reward’ for winning the 2024–25 Premier League title is being handed the toughest set of fixtures. They face four of last season’s top six within the opening 10 matchdays, as well as an away trip to Crystal Palace, who beat them in the Community Shield. Wolves, who had the hardest opening 10 matches last season, now have the easiest start to the campaign. See every fixture difficulty rating across the first ten matches here.
POLL
Do you think the transfer window should close before the season starts?
ON THE BALL
Europe
> The Champions League 3rd qualifying round continues on Tuesday (Aug 12); see every fixture (More)
> Tottenham are opening talks with Manchester City winger Savinho, and negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing (More) | Everton have agreed a season-long loan deal for Manchester City winger Jack Grealish, and the agreement includes an option to buy for £50m (More)
> Spain's women's team coach Montse Tome will step down from her role after her contract expires on August 31, following their defeat by England in the final of Euro 2025 (More)
> John Textor has teamed up with the football financier Keith Harris in an attempt to buy Sheffield Wednesday (More)
> Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has not been selected for Wednesday’s Super Cup squad to play Spurs (More); reports suggest he will leave the club for the Premier League either this summer or next (More)
Americas
> Orlando City beat Inter Miami 4-1 in the MLS Florida derby as Luis Muriel scored a brace (More)
> Racing Club announced the signing of Marcos Rojo, but due to the player’s surname, which is the nickname and colour of their rival team Independiente, his shirt will only feature his first name (More)
> Officials in Modesto, a city in California, have approved a $188m project to build a new stadium for a USL team, as the league plans to bring men’s and women’s teams to the city (More)
Rest of the World
> Abdoulaye Doucoure has signed a two-year contract for Saudi Pro League side Neom SC (More) | Al Nassr have reached an agreement in principle to sign Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman (More)
> Kashima Antlers moved back to the top of the J-League standings as Toru Oniki's side capitalised on Vissel Kobe's 2-0 loss to Machida Zelvia (More)
ROUTERS’ VOICE
Yesterday’s Poll: Do you think it's good for world football if some competitive league matches are played abroad?
🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ 👍 Yes (43%)
🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙅♂️ Nope (55%)
🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (2%)
Your punditry takes:
👍 J.L: “Anything that brings new fans to the world's game is a positive. Having competitive matches in different markets allows fans to see the game played at its highest level. Instead of seeing the summer tour friendlies, let fans see the game played at its most fierce.”
👍 J.M.L: “Definitely. You hear stories about that ‘one game’ that a child attended that made a lifelong fan. Those stories are great. Beyond that, I am all for exposure to increase popularity in markets abroad.”
🙅♂️ J.D: “The ‘home’ team immediately loses that home advantage. Worst of all are the fans who already pay high ticket prices, possibly missing out on seeing their club live. I have friends who have not missed a home game for over fifty years, but would not be able to afford to travel to somewhere like Miami to watch a game, thus breaking that streak. Another cash grab, screwing over fans.”
🙅♂️ G.R: “It will take home games away from the local supporters who have been the rock upon which the club was founded. Doing so not only takes away the home field advantage, it also alienates those who cannot afford the travel and inflated ticket prices for said match.”
EXTRA TIME
Women’s team set shirt sales record with unique marketing.
ESPN ranks the top 50 Premier League players this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo announces engagement.
How important is a fast start to the season?
Which FPL assets to pick and which to avoid.
Neymar is still embarrassing players.
Mark Chapman will host the first MOTD of the season.
GAME FACE ON
Rank the following players based on the number of English top-flight titles they’ve won:
Kenny Dalglish.
Nathan Ake.
Roy Keane.
Ryan Giggs.
John Terry.
Scroll below for the answer.
ON TODAY
UEFA Champions League, 3rd Qualifying Round
See all fixtures here.
English League Cup, 1st Round
See all fixtures here.
*All times in UK. ET -5. CDT -6. PDT -8. MDT -7. CET +1.
Answer
Giggs (13), Dalglish (8), Keane (7), Ake (6), Terry (5).
Daily Wordle: Guess the football-related word, from player names to classic phrases, in six tries or fewer. Play it here.
When I see players aged 19 signing in Saudi Arabia... for me it's unthinkable.
