Premier League
Set back for English Premier League board
The Premier League’s sponsorship regulations between 2021 and 2024 are “void and unenforceable”, a tribunal ruled on Friday.
The decision follows a legal challenge by Manchester City against the league’s Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, which regulate commercial deals between clubs and companies linked to their owners if considered above fair market value.
“In the first partial final award, the APT Rules and the amended APT Rules were found to be unlawful in three respects,” the tribunal said in its conclusion.
“There now arises for decision the question of whether those three respects can be severed from the remaining APT rules so that those remaining APT rules are valid and enforceable.
“The three respects in which the APT rules and amended APT rules were unlawful cannot be severed with the result that the APT rules as a whole are void and unenforceable.”
The Premier League has said the ruling does not affect the “valid operation” of its current APT rules, which were amended in November despite objections from City, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, and Aston Villa.
“The result, the Tribunal has determined, is that the previous APT Rules, as a whole, are unenforceable,” the Premier League said in a statement.
“However, the previous APT rules are no longer in place, as Clubs voted new APT rules into force in November 2024. This decision expressly does not impact the valid operation of the new rules,” the English league added.
Invalidated rules included low-interest shareholder loans and competition law conflicts outlined by a tribunal last year.
Reigning champions City had previously criticised the Premier League’s approach, arguing that changes to the regulations should not have been implemented before the tribunal’s final ruling.
In a separate independent hearing, City claimed a partial victory after an arbitration panel ruled on sponsorship deals that the club was blocked from completing.
City, who have won eight Premier League titles, one Champions League, three FA Cups and six League Cups since being bought by Sheikh Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, were accused of more than 100 alleged breaches of finance rules.
They are expected to find out the verdict for the alleged financial breaches later this year.
-Reuters
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Merseyside rivals Everton and Liverpool united on Thursday to condemn “in the strongest possible terms” racist abuse directed at Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure on social media.
The teams said the abuse was received by Doucoure after the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Wednesday, which finished 2-2. After the final whistle, Doucoure was involved in a melee containing players, officials and police officers that took place in front of Liverpool’s visiting fans.
“Such abuse is reprehensible and will not, and should not, be tolerated,” Everton and Liverpool said in a joint statement.
“Together, the two clubs will work with Merseyside Police who are conducting an investigation with the aim of identifying the individuals responsible.”
The teams encouraged social media companies to “take a zero-tolerance stance” on racism.
“Platforms need to take accountability and action to ban such abusers,” the teams said.
Doucoure was seen celebrating in front of Liverpool’s fans after Everton scored a last-gasp equalizer through James Tarkowski to draw the final derby to be played at Goodison Park before the home side moves to a new stadium next season.
Curtis Jones took exception to Doucoure’s conduct and grabbed hold of his rival, sparking a free-for-all. After it finally settled down, Doucoure and Jones were both shown second yellow cards by referee Michael Oliver and therefore sent off. Liverpool manager Arne Slot and his assistant, Sipke Hulshoff, were also shown red cards.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said immediately after the match that he thought Doucoure “wanted to provoke our fans.”
-AP
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
A chaotic end to Wednesday’s Merseyside derby, featuring a last-gasp goal and a raft of red cards, provided the perfect conclusion to an old-fashioned tussle between Everton and Liverpool, the last at Goodison Park after 131 years.
Everton captain James Tarkowski equalised deep into stoppage time to earn them a 2-2 Premier League draw against Arne Slot’s side.
But it felt like a victory to Everton boss David Moyes and the Toffees faithful, who serenaded their squad long after the final whistle.
“I think the night was made for something to happen,” said Moyes, whose team are unbeaten in their last four league games. “It wasn’t the greatest, it wasn’t the cleanest game of football you’ve ever watched, bit scrappy on both sides. It was a bit of an old-fashioned throwback in some ways.
“Mental probably sums it up. A brilliant finish for us, to finish the last Goodison Merseyside derby and score in the last minute is in a way fitting.”
Everton’s Beto scored the game’s opener in the 11th minute, before Mohamed Salah first set up Alexis Mac Allister’s goal in the 16th minute and then scored his own in the 73rd and the league leaders looked poised for victory.
Tarkowski struck a blistering goal into the corner in the 98th minute, sparking bedlam among players and fans. A melee between Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure and the Reds’ Curtis Jones saw both receive red cards after Jones took umbrage at Doucoure celebrating in front of the Liverpool stands.
Liverpool boss Slot and assistant Sipke Hulshoff were also shown reds, meaning neither were permitted to speak to TV after the game or attend a post-game press conference.
The stadium exploded after a lengthy VAR check for offside allowed Tarkowski’s goal to stand.
“The bit after the game, it’s not the things you really talk about,” Moyes said. “But the place was boiling hot all night, emotional, incredible atmosphere inside the stadium. The stadium was at fever pitch. You could see what it meant to supporters at the end of the game, the crowd was rocking. It was one of the big nights.”
The final derby before Everton move to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for next season was due to be played in December but was postponed due to Storm Darragh.
The draw, which featured four goals and four red cards, was a fitting finish with neither side able to claim permanent bragging rights — the tally totalling 41 wins apiece at Goodison for the Merseyside rivals with 38 draws.
“I’ve watched (the goal) about 15 times, I won’t lose the image of me volleying that ball into the roof of the net against Liverpool, for sure,” Tarkowski said. “We are leaving this special stadium so a nice memory for everyone going into the future.”
Liverpool, whose single point on Wednesday put them seven clear of second-placed Arsenal atop the Premier League table, have had the upper hand between the two teams of late.
Toffees fans, though, have a sense of humour about their lack of results. One sign in Wednesday’s crowd read: “At least an empty (trophy) cabinet is easier to move.”
The draw has Everton 10 points clear of the danger zone in 15th.
-Reuters
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Goodison Park, which will be vacated after this season, hosted its final Merseyside derby on Wednesday as Everton drew 2-2 with Liverpool in a Premier League clash.
Here are some key details about the stadium, Everton’s future plans and a look at the history of the hosts’ rivalry with Liverpool:
WHEN WAS GOODISON PARK BUILT?
Everton played at Anfield from 1884-1892, before relocating to Goodison Park, with the club’s move directly leading to the founding of rivals Liverpool.
Goodison Park opened its doors in 1892, with the first match played between Everton and Bolton Wanderers. The first match between Everton and Liverpool at Goodison Park took place in October 1894, which the Toffees won 3-0.
The stadium grew sizeably in the next few decades with new stands being built in 1907 and 1909, while major renovations took place in 1948, 1971 and 1994.
HOW HAVE EVERTON FARED IN MERSEYSIDE DERBIES AT GOODISON PARK?
Everton and Liverpool have faced off 120 times at Goodison Park in all competitions, with both sides enjoying 41 victories apiece while 38 matches have ended in draws – including 10 of the last 13 Premier League meetings.
Among the most memorable derbies at the stadium was a 4-4 FA Cup replay draw in 1991 that led to the resignation of Kenny Dalglish as Liverpool manager, Everton’s 5-0 defeat in 1982 and a shock 2-0 win last season that helped Everton avoid relegation.
Of the 33 Merseyside derbies played at Goodison in the Premier League era, Everton have won eight and Liverpool have won 11, with 14 draws.
WHY ARE EVERTON LEAVING GOODISON PARK?
Goodison Park is the 13th largest soccer stadium in England and Wales by capacity, with its relatively small 40,000 seats meaning the team has struggled to compete with the match-day income of their rivals.
Everton’s previous attempts to build a new stadium – at King’s Dock in 2003 and Kirkby in 2009 – both ended in failure.
WHERE WILL EVERTON PLAY NEXT SEASON?
Everton formally agreed a 200-year land lease at a site at Bramley-Moore Dock in 2017 and announced plans to build a waterfront stadium that can help bridge the gap to the leading top-flight teams.
The club planned to relocate to the new stadium beginning from the 2024-25 season, but that was pushed to 2025-26 in 2023.
The new stadium is currently called Everton Stadium, but the club could explore the option to sell naming rights, as they have done in the past.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH GOODISON PARK?
In 2021, Everton said the Liverpool City Council had approved the outline application for a community-led legacy project at Goodison Park.
The stadium is set to be demolished after Everton play their final match there, with the land set to be redeveloped into a mixed-use scheme with housing and offices.
-Reuters
Follow the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- Premier League4 days ago
Everton’s Goodison Park set for emotional last Merseyside derby
- UEFA Champions League5 days ago
Guardiola Challenges Man City to ‘Special Night’ against Madrid in Champions League
- Nigerian Football7 days ago
Remo Stars continue perfect run with their fourth double of the season
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
Nigeria football chieftains, Gusau, Elegbeleye go back to the classroom
- Governing Bodies1 week ago
BREAKING! FIFA’s axe falls on Congo
- Other Sports1 week ago
Lord’s Taverners donate sports kits to CSED Initiative
- U-20 FOOTBALL22 hours ago
Flying Eagles’ coach Zubairu accepts Group of Death challenge
- CRICKET2 days ago
Nigeria Cricket heroines get rousing welcome at Alma mater