Dan Sheldon

Excl: The UK government has admitted its embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Foreign Office in London have discussed the charges levelled at Manchester City by the Premier League, but are refusing to disclose the correspondence. Full story: @TheAthleticFC: theathletic.com/4889001/2023/0…

Every women’s team will have to include at least two women as staff members on the bench — with one of them being either the head coach or assistant coach — as part of new regulations FIFA has agreed to introduce. This will be implemented at all women’s FIFA competitions, both at country and club level, effective immediately. The first tournament under the rule will be the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland in September. More from @Dan_Sheldon_ ⬇️ 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/71306…

Chelsea have been handed a suspended one-year ban from signing first-team players and given a £10m ($13.7m; €11.6m) fine from the Premier League relating to alleged breaches of financial rules during Roman Abramovich’s time as owner. Full story from @David_Ornstein and @liam_twomey ⬇️ nytimes.com/athletic/70812…

🔴 Wages compared to rivals 🔴 Why soaring operating costs? 🔴 Kroenkes’ transfer spending 🔴 Effect of Emirates income 🔴 How Champions League wins proved crucial @CWeatherspoon_ analyses Arsenal’s latest finances. 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/70812…

Roman Abramovich’s legal team has informed the UK government that the proceeds from the Chelsea sale in 2022 are “wholly” his and that he is ready to fight any attempt to confiscate the funds. Full story from @Dan_Sheldon_ ⬇️ nytimes.com/athletic/71007…

The social media platform X has been forced to take down offensive posts made by xAI’s Grok tool about Diogo Jota and the Hillsborough stadium and Munich air disasters after complaints by Liverpool and Manchester United. Update from @Dan_Sheldon_ ⬇️ 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/70986…

Update: The abhorrent posts made by xAI’s Grok tool about the Hillsborough disaster, Diogo Jota and the Munich air tragedy have been deleted after Liverpool & Manchester United sought their removal. #LFC #MUFC @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/70986…

Liverpool and Manchester United are trying to get offensive posts made by xAI’s Grok tool about the Hillsborough stadium disaster, the death of Diogo Jota and the Munich air tragedy taken down from X. #LFC #MUFC Full story @TheAthleticFC: nytimes.com/athletic/70986…

■ How big is the World Cup? ■ Is FIFA really introducing mid-half commercial breaks? ■ Why don't we know the full schedule yet? ■ What is the situation with Iran? To mark 100 days to go to the 2026 World Cup, our writers answer 100 questions about this summer's tournament. Whether you're a beginner wanting to know the basics or a dedicated fan needing the latest on the teams and the tickets, we've got it covered. 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/70594…

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has been cleared by the IOC of breaching its rules on political neutrality. Infantino was alongside US president Donald Trump on Thursday at a Board of Peace event & had worn a Trump-themed ‘USA’ cap. Story @TheAthleticFC: nytimes.com/athletic/70633…

Arsenal technical director James Ellis is set to leave the club, just seven months after being promoted to the position. Ellis was chosen to become technical director last summer, having previously been Arsenal’s head of recruitment. The promotion was designed to provide support for new sporting director Andrea Berta, as well as offering continuity in a time of considerable change. Full story from @gunnerblog ⬇️ nytimes.com/athletic/70608…

FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his UEFA counterpart Aleksander Ceferin have been accused of “aiding war crimes” & “crimes against humanity in the occupied Palestinian territory” in a complaint filed at the International Criminal Court. @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/70581…

🚨 Big ticketing update from Arsenal: 🔺 #AFC have announced the introduction of safe standing at the Emirates Stadium from the 2026-27 season 🔺 Ticket prices will rise by an average of 3.9 percent for a general admission season ticket @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/70520…

Roberto Rosetti, UEFA’s head of refereeing, believes VAR has become too “microscopic” and claims the reason for the technology’s introduction in the first place has been forgotten. “About the VAR intervention, I can tell you this: I believe that we forgot the reason why VAR was introduced,” the Italian said. “We forgot a little bit. Everywhere. You remember, eight years ago, I came to London. We discussed the ‘what VAR stands for’. We spoke about clear mistakes. “Why we spoke about clear and obvious mistakes. Because technology works so well in factual decisions. In objective decisions, it is fantastic. For interpretations, subjective evaluation is more difficult. That’s why we started to speak about clear and obvious mistakes — clear evidence. “I believe that we need to, at the end of the season, again in our meetings, to speak about this. We cannot go in this direction of microscopic VAR intervention. We love football like it is.” More from @Dan_Sheldon_ 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/70441…

The Football Association is looking into comments made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the Manchester United co-owner claimed that Britain has been “colonised by immigrants”. During an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, Ratcliffe, a British billionaire who has resided in Monaco — a tax haven — since 2020, made multiple inflammatory and inaccurate observations about the United Kingdom’s immigrant population. After making the comments, which were widely condemned by politicians and fans of Manchester United, FA sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, indicated that although the governing body is yet to launch a formal investigation, it is now reviewing Ratcliffe’s remarks to see if there is a rule breach. More from @Dan_Sheldon_ 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/70410…

🚨 The Football Association is looking into comments made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe after the Manchester United co-owner claimed that Britain has been “colonised by immigrants”. They are yet to open an investigation. #MUFC Full story @TheAthleticFC: nytimes.com/athletic/70410…

Thomas Tuchel is set to stay on as England head coach after the World Cup this summer. The German’s contract was due to expire following the tournament, but he is now expected to sign an extension that will take him through to the European Championships in 2028. More from @Dan_Sheldon_ 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/70410…

RT @David_Ornstein: 🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Thomas Frank sacked as Tottenham Hotspur head coach. #THFC working through various possible contingency pl…

New: In court documents filed on Monday, Jonathan Barnett, the former high-profile football agent, has denied any wrongdoing after being accused of “threatening to kill” a woman who alleges he raped and tortured her if she spoke out. @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/70354…

Martin Zubimendi is Arteta’s Mr Dependable. He not only scores and creates goals, but also has a wicked passing range and gets stuck in with the defensive work, whether that is sliding into tackles, winning headers or gaining back possession. No sooner had Zubimendi got to his feet after being fouled by Brian Brobbey than Arsenal’s midfielder was headed towards the corner flag to mimic the injured Mikel Merino’s celebration. Zubimendi had just scored his sixth goal of the season, which is now two more than he has managed in a single campaign in his career. It is an example of why the Spaniard is so important to this Arsenal team. @Dan_Sheldon_ 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/70164…

From @TheAthleticFC: The Saudi Pro League has told Cristiano Ronaldo “no individual — however significant — determines decisions beyond their own club” after his future at Al Nassr has come into focus. nyti.ms/4r1V79S