Season ticket purge

GM football fans. Route One here, and we’re covering Arsenal’s ticket purge, the banned referee in the Euros semi-finals and much more. First time reading? Sign up here.

Here’s a fun fact… the four semi-finalists of Euro 2024 were the joint winners of Eurovision in 1969.

Have your say: Submit your Hot Take of the Day here.

Head Start

Arsenal ban 20,000 members and 54-season ticket holders

Arsenal clamp down on touting - or, reselling of tickets - and banned 20,000 members and 54-season ticket holders.

The north London side will continue its anit-touting measures next season. They plan to develop greater online protection, deliver boots-on-the-ground operations and dedicate internal resources to take action against fans. 

But that’s not the only way to have your Arsenal ticket confiscated.

Last season, Arsenal introduced a new policy that meant supporters had to use their season ticket for 17 out of 22 matches. The idea is that every seat should be filled as demand has risen sharply.

Fans who couldn’t attend were expected to make their ticket available on Arsenal’s Ticket Exchange or Ticket Transfer platforms.

Despite this, 24 season tickets were cancelled as they didn’t meet the required usage.

Arsenal’s board are upping the anty next season… now season ticket holders will have to attend 20 out of 23 matches or else (!!). 

As ticket prices rise as supply struggles to meet demand…

… we expect more clubs to take a leaf out of Arsenal’s book by weeding out low-participating season ticket holders and club members.

At the end of the day… no one wants to be known as the club with empty seats.

Plus…

Manchester City claim the Premier League’s analysis of their commercial income is ‘unfair’ (More)

Didier Deschamps responds to criticism that his French side are ‘boring’ (More)

Liverpool appoint former Manchester City analyst Aaron Briggs to be the link between the academy and first-team set-up (More)

The BBC insists it was ‘consistently respectful’ to Cristiano Ronaldo amid ‘Misstiano Penaldo’ backlash (More)

Stats Zone

Euro 2024 SF: Spain vs France (Today at 20:00 BST) 

→ Spain are the only team to win all five matches at this Euros but no side has ever won six times in a single Euro tournament.

→ There have only been four goals scored in France’s five Euro 2024 matches (three for, one against), with those either penalties (2) or own goals (2).

→ France forward Kylian Mbappé has scored just one goal from 20 shots at Euro 2024.

Add to calendar here

Copa America SF: Argentina vs Canada (Today at 20:00 ET)

→ Argentina have now reached the semi-finals at seven of their last eight major tournaments.

→ Argentina have won their last 10 matches against CONCACAF opponents in official competitions, not conceding a goal in any of their last six such games.

→ Canada are just the fourth CONCACAF team to reach Copa semi-finals and the third to do so on their debut.

Add to calendar here

Euro 2024

England’s semi-final referee served a six-month ban for match-fixing

The referee for England’s Euros semi-final against the Netherlands served a six-month ban for match-fixing. 

Back in 2005, Felix Zwayer took €300 (yes, €300, we couldn’t believe it either) as a bribe from another official named Robert Hoyzer. The deal would mean that Zwayer made favourable decisions for SV Wuppertal in their game against Werder Bremen Amateure. 

Almost ten years later, in 2014, the German football association DFB found him guilty of accepting the bribe and he was banned for six months. 

Hoyzer was sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison. 

The drama of this story isn’t that Zwayer is referring a game at the Euros…

(He’s already taken charge of Italy vs Albania, Turkey vs Portugal and Romania vs Netherlands).

… but instead, it’s because then-18-year-old Jude Bellingham publicly questioned Zwayer’s integrity after Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 defeat by Bayern Munich in 2021.

The results? Bellingham was fined €40,000 and Zwayer took a two-month break from officiating.

That game was full of tough decisions, with Zwayer giving two penalty decisions in favour of Bayern Munich…

… and if the same happens in England’s game with the Netherlands, expect the media to analyse and scrutinise every decision. Oh, and don’t forget to look out for any awkward handshakes.

Off The Pitch

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Photo of the Day

18 years ago today. During the final moments of his career in the final of the 2006 World Cup, Zinedine Zidane headbutted Marco Materazzi for insulting his sister. In the 110th minute, Zidane was shown a red card. As to the result, Italy beat France 5-3 on penalties to become world champions and Zidane won the Player of the Tournament award.

Yesterday’s Poll

We asked you: Who do you think will win Euro 2024?

Routers voted that Spain have the best chance of winning Euro 2024 with a 61.4% share of the vote.

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🇪🇸 Spain (61.4%)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🇫🇷 France (11%)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England (26%)

⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🇳🇱 The Netherlands (2.7%)

Your punditry takes: 

• 🇫🇷 Ruairi D voted ‘France’: France have the Euros in the bag, Spain’s injuries and suspension may get to them and France are seasoned veterans of tournament football, making the final in 3 of the last 4. They might even win the final on Le Pens 🫣.

• 🇪🇸 Gibo R voted ‘Spain’: Spain have looked the most complete team and scored freely. England and France both have the players to win it but their performances have belied their quality and are the Dutch back with no real stand-out superstars? Spain (Winners) for me on performance, my heart wants England and St. George.

• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Brian voted ‘England’: Lady Luck is on our side for a change.

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Around The Football World

🇪🇸 Spain captain Alvaro Morata says that it’s “likely” that Euro 2024 is his last tournament and his country’s supporters have “no respect for anything or anyone” (More)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Jack Grealish and girlfriend Sasha Attwood have announced they are expecting their first child (More)

🇧🇷 Dorival Junior will remain in charge of Brazil at least until the 2026 World Cup despite the team's early Copa América exit (More) 

🇰🇷 South Korea have appointed Hong Myung-bo as manager for the second time after sacking Jurgen Klinsmann five months prior (More)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Former Aberdeen defender Andy Considine has announced his retirement at the age of 37 (More)

Extra Time

GOAL’s Ballon d’Or 2024 power ranking update.

Enzo Maresca’s first interview as Chelsea head coach.

Luis Diaz’s father celebrates his goal in exactly the way you think he would.

Fabrizio Romano reveals how Lionel Messi was forced to leave Barcelona.

Long read: The winners and closers of Premier League’s ‘secret’ transfer window.

Watch: Crystal Palace owner, Josh Harris on investing in sports teams.

Game Face On

Question: Which two players have won the FIFA World Cup as both captain and manager?

Scroll below for the answer.

On Today

FOOTBALL

Euros SF: Spain vs France (20:00 BST - Add to calendar here)

Copa America SF: Argentina vs Canada (20:00 ET - Add to calendar here)

*EST -5. PST -8. CET +1. CST +8. JST +9.

Answer

Franz Beckenbauer and Didier Deschamps.

Hottest Take of the Day

Today’s Hottest Take of the Day was submitted by Martin B from Monaco: English pundits corrupt young footballers by convincing them there is only one mould for each position: strikers have to be big and strong, wingers fast and skilful, holding midfielders athletic etc etc. More successful countries do not impose limiting beliefs on their players. Take Spain in 2012 with Fabregas, Silva and Iniesta upfront or Thomas Muller on the wing in 2014 for Germany or Cannavaro as Italy's main centre-back.

Submit another Hot Take of the Day here.