VAR false images

GM football fans. Route One here, and we’re covering false VAR images, Fifa’s emergency meeting and much more. Enjoy Route One? Share us with a friend on WhatsApp with this link.

PREMIER LEAGUE MW5 STATS

Man City vs Arsenal (Sun, 16:30 UK). Arsenal kept a clean sheet in both meetings with Man City last season, but City have won seven of their last nine meetings with the Gunners. Crystal Palace vs Manchester United (Sat, 17:30 UK). Crystal Palace did the double over Manchester United in the Premier League last season, the first time they’ve ever beaten them in consecutive league matches. West Ham vs Chelsea (Sat, 12:30 UK). Chelsea beat West Ham 5-0 the last time they met back in May – the Blues 30th victory against the Hammers. But West Ham won this exact fixture 3-1 last season. Full Premier League MW5 fixtures can be found here.

Plus…

• Hojlund and Mount return to Man United training after injuries (More)

• Lamine Yamal scores his first Champions League goal (Watch)

• Kevin De Bruyne set to miss clash against Arsenal on Sunday (More)

• Women’s Super League predictions and preview (More)

• Former Arsenal player charged after £600,000 of cannabis seized (More)

PREMIER LEAGUE

Steve Cooper accuses PGMOL of using ‘false images’ in VAR row

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper claims he has proof that the PGMOL used “false images” for VAR in his side’s 2-2 draw to Crystal Palace. Philippe Mateta’s goal, the first in a two-goal comeback by Palace, was initially disallowed by an on-field decision until a VAR review overruled it.

Leicester met with the PGMOL on Monday to tell them they had chosen the wrong frame for the ‘kickpoint’ – the moment Tyrick Mitchell crossed the ball. No resolution was reached. During Thursday's press conference, Cooper said that his side felt let down by the “awful human error”. The PGMOL has since rejected Leicester’s claim and insisted that no mistake was made in the controversial VAR decision.

The introduction of semi-automated VAR should curtail issues like this in future. Just like at the Euros, it will use ‘Snicko’ technology which determines the precise moment a ball is touched. While Premier League clubs voted unanimously to bring in the technology, it wasn’t ready to implement at the start of the season. The league expects it to be ready to be used after one of the autumn international breaks – the next two breaks are scheduled for 6-14 October and 10-18 November.

POLL

HEAD START

🏟️ Fans to decide United’s stadium fate. Manchester United will ask around 500,000 supporters if they want a new stadium or to redevelop Old Trafford. Sir Jim Ratcliffe favours a new build but the club want to ensure fans are on the same page. The survey will take place this week and a final decision on the ground will be made before the end of the year.

🤕 Odergaard out for a while. Arsenal will be without their captain Martin Odegaard for “a while”, according to manager Mikel Arteta. A scan showed that the midfielder has sustained damage to an ankle ligament. Asked if he expected to be without Odegaard for a matter of weeks or months, Arteta replied: “Hopefully not months but let’s see.”

❌ More players back strikes. Barcelona defender Jules Kounde “agreed with everything” Rodri said on footballers being “close” to striking over the volume of matches. The 25-year-old thinks that unions in different countries should align so that players' voices are heard. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has also backed Rodri’s warning, saying it’s “the general opinion of the players”.

CLUB WORLD CUP WOES

Infantino calls emergency meeting with broadcasters over lack of FIFA Club World Cup deal

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has organised an emergency meeting with television executives for today. The briefing aims to drum up interest in the Club World Cup, with the world governing body so far failing to announce a single broadcast deal for the tournament.

The tournament — which is nine months away — is yet to secure broadcast interest, venues or sponsors. As a result, clubs have been kept in the dark about the participation money or prize money that the tournament will offer. According to The Athletic, clubs will earn around £37.6mn but it’s unclear how Fifa will fund this.

Some sponsors are arguing that they already acquired the rights to “other Fifa tournaments” through their sponsorship of the World Cup. Fifa is choosing to treat the tournaments separately. Other sponsors aren’t convinced by the merits of the tournament. Especially because many of the world’s most popular teams — Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Barcelona and AC Milan — have failed to qualify for the competition. There’s also no certainty that Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr will qualify or that Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami will compete in the competition — as only the winner of the MLS Cup will likely qualify. We’re starting to think this tournament is more hassle than it’s worth.

AROUND THE FOOTBALL WORLD

🇫🇷 Ligue 1: PSG no longer attracts press attention and shirt sales have declined according to French outlet L’Equipe (More / in French)

🇸🇦 Saudi Pro League: Al Nassr CEO insists that Cristiano Ronaldo “doesn’t control the club” after his influence is questioned (More)

🇭🇷 Croatian Football League: Dinamo Zagreb have sacked head coach Sergej Jakirovic two days after the club lost 9-2 against Bayern Munich (More / in Croatian)

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish Premiership: St Johnstone owner Adam Webb is being treated for cancer of the head and neck (More)

🇬🇷 Super League Greece: Anthony Martial has signed for AEK Athens on a free transfer (More)

WEEKDAY RESULTS ROUND-UP

Champions League

Monaco beat Barcelona 2-1. 18-year-old substitute George Ilenikhna scored on his UCL debut to produce an upset against 10-man Barcelona. Arsenal draw 0-0 with Atalanta. David Raya made an unbelievable double save from a penalty to hold the Italian side to a draw. Bayer Leverkusen breeze past Feyenoord in a 4-0 triumph. Florian Wirtz scored twice on his Champions League debut, while Victor Boniface pulled off one of the trickiest pre-assists in the competition’s history.

Full Champions League results here.

ROUTER’S VOICE

Yesterday, we asked you: What's your favourite football shirt ever made?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👔 1970-80s: Retro classics... (59%)

🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🎉 1990s: Bold designs... (27%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 😎 2000s: Sleek style... (6%)

🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🛸 2010s: Modern aesthetics... (8%)

Your punditry takes:

• 👔 I.B: “1986 White Liverpool away shirt with Crown Paints as the sponsor. Absolute banger!!” (See I.B’s favourite kit here)

• 🎉 E.G: “My personal favourite is the 1999/2000 home kit for Real Madrid.” (See E.G’s favourite kit here - which is set to make a rerelease!)

• 😎 T.C: “AC Milan 2005 or Arsenal burgundy tribute 2006.” (See T.C’s favourite kits here and here)

EXTRA TIME

Death of the long-range goal? It’s alive and kicking.

Unai Emery’s odd texts.

The art of shirt swaps.

Ligue 1 goes on the offensive to attract English fans with new promo video.

Jamie Carragher in the Overlap hot seat.

Jess Park, remember the name.

Simon Jordan tears into Arsenal gifting Keir Starmer a box at the Emirates.

Schmeichel doesn’t hold back on Etihad’s atmosphere.

Lamine Yamal’s lookalike works a crowd in Barcelona.

Most expensive XI of all time.

GAME FACE ON

Question: Which player has the most assists in Champions League history (since 1992-93)?

Clue: 963 appearances for one club.

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Championship

• Stoke vs Hull (20:00)

Women’s Super League

• Chelsea vs Aston Villa (19:00)

La Liga

• Alaves vs Sevilla (20:00)

Bundesliga

• Augsburg vs Mainz 05 (19:30)

Serie A

• Cagliari vs Empoli (17:30)

• Verona vs Torino (19:45)

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

Answer

Ryan Giggs. All 41 of his assists came for Manchester United. He assisted 22 different teammates in that time, with Wayne Rooney (6) being the one he set up most often.