Fifa changes rules

GM football fans. Route One here, and we’re covering new Club World Cup rules, a successful free-ticket trial and much more. Enjoy Route One? Share us with a friend on WhatsApp with this link.

PREMIER LEAGUE MW7 STATS

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool (Sat, 12:30 UK). This is the fifth time that Palace face Liverpool with their opponents top of the table. The Eagles have lost each of the previous four by an aggregate score of 17 — 4, with a 7 – 0 home loss as the most recent. Arsenal vs Southampton (Sat, 15:00 UK). Southampton have caused Arsenal problems lately, going unbeaten in their last three Premier League meetings, with both of their matches in 2022-23 finishing level. Everton vs Newcastle (Sat, 17:30 UK). Everton have won six of their past eight Premier League matches at Goodison Park, losing the other two. But Newcastle have amassed 11 points this season, their most through six matches since 2011-12. Full Premier League MW7 fixtures here.

Plus…

• Europa League results (More)

• Spurs win 2 — 1 over Ferencvaros (More) |

• Gary Lineker’s Match of the Day reign may end on Saturday, leaked email suggests (More)

• Lee Carsley announces his England squad; Solanke & Walker in; Maguire, Rogers, Bowen & Maddison miss out (More)

• Vote for your Premier League Player of the Month; vote closes Monday 7 (More)

• Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley dies aged 79 (More)

• Inter Miami set to qualify for Club World Cup (More)

• VAR should have intervened to prevent Fernandes’ red card, Key Match Incidents panel rules (More)

CLUB WORLD CUP

Clubs will be forced to play their best teams at the new Club World Cup, and a new transfer window is added

Clubs will be expected to bring their best available squads to compete in July’s expanded Club World Cup, as per Fifa’s approved Regulations. The rule means clubs will not be able to allow players to sit out the tournament. It’s not clear how Fifa will enforce this rule.

Fifa is also introducing a new transfer window just before the start of the tournament – between 1 June and 10 June. It’s intended to give clubs the chance to buy players to feature in the tournament. But it essentially allows those competing in the Club World Cup to sign players two weeks earlier than those that aren’t. Another transfer window will be added at the end of the group stage, lasting three days until the start of the quarter-finals. Additionally, for players whose contracts expire on June 30 – mid-way through the Club World Cup – Fifa will allow a temporary extension until the end of the tournament.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino called for an emergency meeting in September as they were yet to announce broadcasters, venues, training bases or sponsors for the Club World Cup. Since that meeting, only venues have been announced.

POLL

HEAD START

📰 German papers turn on Kane. Harry Kane has been accused of going missing in another big game by German tabloid Bild following Bayern Munich’s defeat to Aston Villa in the Champions League. It reads: “When he returned home, the captain of England national team remained invisible, just as he did against Leverkusen”. Kane has scored 10 goals and assisted five in seven appearances this season.

🇪🇸 Madrid contact Trent. Real Madrid have made initial contact with Trent Alexander-Arnold, per Spanish outlet Revelo. The news has also been confirmed by Fabrizio Romano. His current contract expires in June next year and the right-back has turned down every contract offer by Liverpool so far. The latest one remains unanswered.

🗣️ Phillips speaks about Pep’s ‘overweight’ comments. Speaking on BBC Sport’s My Mate’s a Footballer podcast, Phillips opened up on the impact of Pep Guardiola’s comments on his weight in 2022. “Every club that I’d go to, the manager and the nutritionist and stuff like that, they’d always speak about weight before they’d say anything else. And it got to the point where it peed me off a little bit. I was getting quite frustrated with it,” Phillips said.

FREE TICKETS TRIAL

Club successfully trials free tickets for fans, revenue increases and they reach top of the table

German second-division side Fortuna Dusseldorf have successfully trialled allowing fans to attend matches for free. Average attendance is up to 40,000, with the German club expected to play in front of 52,000 fans on Sunday. They were previously reaching heights of 25,000. After trialling the concept for three games last season, Fortuna have extended it to four this time around.

It’s been a major success – although CEO Alexander Jobst is reluctant to admit so. Not only are Fortuna top of the league, but overall revenue has increased despite – or because of – the offer of free tickets. The club is also attracting more supporters. There are now 35,000 members and more joining every day, as well as around 135,000 ticket applications per game. Fortuna also found that no-show rates are lower for the free games than for the matches for which supporters have paid.

Initially, critics were sceptical. They argued the move was rooted in commercialism and could alienate existing matchgoers. But only a fraction of the 20,000 supporters recently polled expressed any negative sentiment to the concept. If the club finds a sponsor, there have been hints that they will continue offering free tickets for every home game by 2028.

AROUND THE FOOTBALL WORLD

🇦🇷 MLS: Inter Miami clinched the Supporters’ Shield with a 3 – 2 victory over Columbus Crew; Messi bags a brace (Highlights)

🇪🇸 La Liga: Real Betis’ Giovani Lo Celso has five goals in four games upon his return to La Liga (More)

🇮🇹 Serie A: Alvaro Morata fumes at Corbetta mayor for ‘violating’ his privacy by revealing the location of his new home (More)

🇫🇷 France national team: Kylian Mbappe is not called up to France’s Nations League squad due to injury; Michael Olise gets the nod again (More)

ROUTER’S VOICE

Yesterday, we asked you: Do you think an NFL-style half-time show would be a good thing for football?

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🕺🏽 Absolutely, another thing to look forward to... (11%)

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🤕 Nope, it's not needed... (89%)

Your punditry takes:

• 🤕 S.F: “Half-time is an opportunity to discuss the game with your mates and grab a beer. I don't see the point of this at all. Next, we'll be having four quarters and a mid-quarter break for adverts. No!”

• 🤕 S.M: “No way, that’s time to talk to friends about the game so far, about life, and wee break and a pint/cuppa!!”

• 🤕 E.G: “I’m an American, but I think that it’s really unnecessary and will just jack up ticket prices for a mediocre show.”

EXTRA TIME

The soaring value of young footballers.

Roy Keane in a genius bit of advertising.

Konate’s hilarious reaction to receiving a yellow card for nothing.

Carragher dissects Richards’ poor performances for Aston Villa.

Another magical Messi freekick to secure his brace.

Simon Jordan criticises Harry Kane in big games.

The stats in favour of Cole Palmer being the best in the Premier League.

GAME FACE ON

Question: Which current Manchester United defender hasn’t given a penalty away in his last 178 Premier League appearances?

Clue: He’s played for three Premier League clubs in total, amassing 245 appearances overall.

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Championship

• Sunderland vs Leeds (20:00 UK)

La Liga

• Leganes vs Valencia (20:00 UK)

Bundesliga

• Augburg vs M’gladbach (19:30 UK)

Serie A

• Napoli vs Como (17:30 UK)

• Verona vs Venezia (19:45 UK)

Ligue 1

• Marseille vs Angers (19:45 UK)

*All times in UK. EST -5. PST -8. CET +1. CST +8. JST +9.

Answer

Harry Maguire has not conceded a penalty in his past 178 Premier League appearances – 144 with United and 34 with Leicester.