Tom Burrows

I spent four months in the company of #Millwall captain Jake Cooper It was an eventful period that ended with a painful defeat in the playoffs this week This tells the story of that time and what life looks like for an EFL footballer (Free to read) nytimes.com/athletic/72727…

🐝 Great piece from @TBurrows16 on Brentford's club-record signing Mamadou Sangare and his journey from Mali to west London via Austria & Belgium 🛴 Left-footed CM used to arrive at training with Rapid Vienna on an e-scooter wearing crocs @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/74826…

The grand announcement was supposed to come on the eve of the World Cup final at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Gianni Infantino had come up with a plan to sell a stake in FIFA’s competitions to private investors, including Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared. Infantino decided to delay the announcement, which was expected to be rolled out during the past week. Instead, the news was revealed elsewhere. It threw a grenade into the rollout, which culminated in boycott threats. FIFA and Infantino have now rowed back on the plan. This is the inside story of how and why the idea came together, the failed rollout and where this leaves Infantino, with possible challengers seriously considering battling him for his throne. ✍️ @AdamCrafton_, @JamesHorncastle and @megan_feringa 🔗 nyti.ms/4fP3TDY

'The sky’s the limit for him' I spoke to those who know Mamadou Sangare best about his journey from Mali to becoming Brentford's club-record signing Really excited to see what he can do in the Premier League 🐝 nytimes.com/athletic/74826…

Chelsea's new owners reported themselves to the FA in 2022 and admitted to all 74 breaches. That has played a big factor in them avoiding any more serious punishments. The FA Regulatory Commission said they "sympathise with the current owners of CFC who now have to pay the penalty for the conduct of their arrogant predecessors". The fine imposed by the regulatory commission was initially set at £26m but Chelsea’s self-reporting and co-operation reduced this to £17.5m, while their guilty pleas brought it down to £11.4m. Given the earlier penalties already handed down by UEFA and the Premier League, it was finally lowered to £10m. For the same reason, the regulatory commission initially had the points deduction set at 15 points, but when mitigating factors were taken into account, it was brought down to six. A suspended six-point deduction was then overturned following Chelsea’s appeal in May, and replaced with the suspended two-window transfer ban. @TBurrows16 explains the decision-making behind Chelsea's punishment from the FA. 🔗 nyti.ms/3U53AgS

UEFA and FIFA’s cold war turned nuclear on Thursday. UEFA announced they would boycott FIFA events in the wake of the attempt to sell a stake to commercial partners. This is the story of the long-running forever war between the two governing bodies — and how it has grown more serious over time. ✍️ @AdamCrafton_ 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/74804…

▪️ The financial and reputational impact on the World Cup ▪️ Might European nations pull out of hosting FIFA tournaments? ▪️ Will England's Women's World Cup play-off in October go ahead? ▪️ Could this backfire on UEFA and/or threaten Infantino's power? After European nations agreed to boycott FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, we answer the key questions and consider what could happen next. 📝 @mjshrimper, @TBurrows16, @CWeatherspoon_, @megan_feringa & @Conor0Neill_ 🔗 nyti.ms/4wI3Q3O

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Eddie Howe set to leave Newcastle United. All parties initially chose to continue but 48yo has informed #NUFC of decision to take break & will depart after 5yrs as head coach. Matthias Jaissle of Al Ahli lined up as replacement @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/74795…

Huge amount going on at Oxford United, featuring promotion to the Championship for first time in 25 years, followed by relegation to League One, uncertainty around the stadium, numerous changes off the pitch and a transfer embargo, so here's a review of their finances #oufc

The World Cup is over, but football's packed calendar means proper downtime is becoming increasingly hard to come by So what are players actually entitled to when it comes to annual leave? And what do their contracts say? nytimes.com/athletic/74630…

With the World Cup now over, lots of players are heading off on their summer holidays. But most clubs are already back in training and many are beginning pre-season tours. In an increasingly squeezed football calendar, how does annual leave work for players, when can they take it and do disputes ever happen? @TBurrows16 investigates ⤵️ 🔗 nyti.ms/4fpsBKQ

Kevin Keegan’s death at the age of 75 will touch many people, if you consider all the achievements he packed into his lifetime. But you’ll have to forgive Daniel Taylor (@DTathletic) if he writes this from a slightly different perspective. Daniel was Kevin Keegan’s friend, something that developed from being his ghostwriter for his autobiography. This is the tale of a miner’s son who achieved greatness, both in football and as a person. 🔗 nyti.ms/4gOLzNu

In the heat of battle, scuffles and skirmishes can happen. Argentina's shunning of the Spanish coronation, however, felt uniquely unappealing, a show of disrespect to the winners of the highest-profile sporting event in the world. It was, however, entirely in-keeping with a charmless Argentine showing which offered little by way of substance or style over 120 minutes. 📝 @AdamCrafton_ bit.ly/4whSR0Y

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea reach verbal agreement with Aston Villa to sign Morgan Rogers⁠. Bid of £117m accepted by #AVFC & being finalised. 6+1y contract, medical Monday⁠. #AFC interested but 23yo attacker wanted #CFC; Xabi Alonso instrumental @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/63902…

The World Cup final is the only match of the tournament shown live on both the BBC and ITV – making it the broadcasters' only head-to-head battle Ahead of the final, I spoke to leading industry figures about who has stood out and where each has excelled nytimes.com/athletic/74498…

Michael Olise has been one of the stars of this World Cup with 🇫🇷 Yet despite his rising profile, he has no official boot or brand sponsorship deals I spoke to experts about why he's taken that approach - and just how unusual it is nytimes.com/athletic/74467…

The Football Association was not shy in trumpeting its ambition when appointing Thomas Tuchel in October 2024. English football’s governing body said it was aiming for this Sunday’s World Cup final in New Jersey - hence it wanted an elite manager, someone who had won things, someone to give them the best chance of winning their first World Cup for 60 years. Its first target was Pep Guardiola, with whom there was a verbal agreement, before he decided to renew with Manchester City. That led it to Tuchel, a Champions League winner in his own right, instead. But England will not be in New Jersey this weekend. ✍️ @JackPittBrooke, @David_Ornstein and @OliverKay 🔗 nyti.ms/4fbR9Xu

Thomas Tuchel's proactive disaster. My piece from Atlanta: nytimes.com/athletic/74429…

FIFA is targeting half-time during the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium to last no longer than 20 minutes. FIFA has previously said the performance will be 11 minutes long and described it as a “landmark celebration at the intersection of sport, music and global impact.” World football’s governing body, however, is yet to reveal the total length of half-time during the final, although multiple sources have told The Athletic they are targeting it to last around 20 minutes. More from @Dan_Sheldon and @AdamCrafton_ ⬇️ bit.ly/4pkFsm9

NEW: Aston Villa have struck an agreement with Visit Rwanda as the new front-of-shirt sponsor. Club sources say the partnership is worth up to £20million a year if bonuses are met and is the most lucrative in #AVFC's history. Story on @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/74348…

Michael Olise is a very different kind of footballer — playing, thinking and speaking about the game unlike anyone else. This is what makes him special: ■ Unique pre-match ritual ■ Ballet dancer’s jump ■ IQ of 127 and love of chess ■ Stubborn streak that annoyed Vieira ■ Passes that nobody else can see 📝 @stujames75 🔗 nyti.ms/4eZj26q