Further to that email: Qatar lifted the Asian Cup for the first time after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had earlier dismissed a protest about the eligibility of two of their players.
Sudan-born forward Almoez Ali, one of the players in question, opened the scoring in the Gulf state’s 3-1 final win over Japan as he finished the competition as top scorer with a record nine goals.
The protest, made by the United Arab Emirates’ football association a day after Qatar beat the UAE 4-0 in a heated semi-final on Tuesday, also involved defender Bassam Al Rawi. Al Rawi, who was born in Iraq, and Ali each played in today’s final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
According to documents that have been published on websites in the UAE and elsewhere, the mothers of Ali and Al Rawi were not born in Qatar, as has been claimed by the Qatari federation, so neither player is eligible for selection.
But ahead of the meeting with four-time winners Japan, the AFC issued a short statement to say the matter had been reviewed and closed.
“The Asian Football Confederation Disciplinary and Ethics Committee on Friday dismissed the protest lodged by the United Arab Emirates Football Association over the eligibility of two Qatar players,” it said.
It did not respond to questions about how this decision was reached or if the UAE, or any other party, has the right to appeal against the decision. Several UAE websites have suggested that this case is likely to end up at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland.
Qatar’s unblemished progress through the tournament has been played out against the backdrop of an 18-month diplomatic crisis that has left the hosts of the 2022 World Cup very isolated within the region.
Initially, 12 governments joined the diplomatic and economic blockade of Qatar, with the key players being Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE - a situation that has left Qatar with a closed land border with Saudi Arabia and no access to the air space and sea lanes of its closest Gulf neighbours.
This year’s Asian Cup, then, was always going to provide a proxy battleground for this dispute and so it has proved.
It started with the UAE trying to prevent senior Qatar federation official, and AFC vice-president, Saoud Al Mohannadi from attending the tournament, only for the AFC to intervene on his behalf. Five Qatari sports journalists were also denied entry visas.
Having beaten Saudi Arabia in a bad-tempered group-stage game, Qatar claimed 1-0 wins against Iraq and South Korea in the knockout stages to set up the semi-final against the UAE - a grudge match that saw home fans pelt the Qataris with shoes, an insult in the Middle East, and bottles. Staff and agencies.
Some reader correspondence: “I just wanted to point out the hilarious level of sour grapes being displayed in the UAE regarding Qatar’s win,” writes Anonymous O’Pseudonym. “Virtually zero coverage on major news sites and TV channels, despite vast advertising campaigns at the start of the tournament. Please don’t mention my name, don’t want to be deported!”
Leicester City news: New Leicester signing Youri Tielemans hopes to be involved against Manchester United on Sunday. Tielemans joined the club on Thursday on loan from Monaco and Foxes boss Claude Puel said he would assess the 21-year-old Belgium international midfielder’s fitness. Tielemans has already played 35 times for club and county this season.Only Daniel Amartey, who still working his way back from surgery after a broken ankle last October, is definitely out.
Provisional squad: Schmeichel, Ward, Jakupovic, Simpson, Chilwell, Morgan, Evans, Maguire, Pereira, Soyuncu, Fuchs, Maddison, Albrighton, Gray, Tielemans, Mendy, Ndidi, Choudhury, Ghezzal, Iheanacho, Barnes, Okazaki, Vardy.
Back to the Asian Cup final: The very longwinded presentation ceremony is drawing to a close in Abu Dhabi. Fifa president Gianni Infantino is in the presentation party, as is the Asian Football Federation president, Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa. Here’s hoping they’re having a chat about the plight of Hakeem al-Araibi, although I wouldn’t hold my breath. Read on ...
Understand that Chelsea rejected £5m loan fee offered by Tottenham for Michy Batshuayi
— Ed Aarons (@ed_aarons) February 1, 2019
News in from Preston: Naughty carry-on at Deepdale, where Frank Lampard’s Derby County ™ are tonight’s visitors. “This has been added outside Deepdale for tonight’s PNE v Derby clash (legit, I checked),” says a Preston-supporting office grass.
Haha mooie humor #pnefc pic.twitter.com/ZnVKt7Cbll
— PNE Fans 🇳🇱 (@PnefcNL) February 1, 2019
Full time in Abu Dhabi: Japan 1-3 Qatar
Qatar have won the Asian Cup. Referee Ravshan Irmatov has blown his whistle and it’s all over at the Zayed Sport City Stadium, where Qatar have won the 2019 Asian Cup final. Goals from Almoez Ali, Abdulaziz Hatem and Akram Afif were enough to see off Japan, who scored a consolation through Takumi Minamino.
There was controversy towards the end when Qatar, under fierce pressure from Japan, scored their third through a penalty that shouldn’t have been given. For all that, they’ve won seven games out of seven and conceded just one goal on their way to victory. Solid in defence and lightning quick on the counter-attack, Qatar are worthy winners of the Asian Cup.
Farewell then, Marouane: Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini has completed his move to Chinese side Shandong Luneng, the Premier League club have announced.
GOAL!!! Asian Cup final: It’s Japan 1-3 Qatar in the Asian Cup final, where the referee has just consulted his pitchside monitor and used VAR to award Qatar one of the most ridiculous penalties you will ever see. Japan and Southampton defender Maya Yoshida was left fuming after being penalised for handling the ball while contesting a header and it couldn’t have been more accidental.
Ravshan Irmatov, the referee from Uzbekistan consulted his monitor and for reasons best known to himself thought differently. Akram Afif scored from the spot to put Qatar 3-1 up and there’s just five minutes to go Zayed Sport City Stadium.
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Mauricio Pochettino says Tottenham are not equipped to fight for title @Paul_Doyle https://t.co/OSFoy3LHYW
— Guardian sport (@guardian_sport) February 1, 2019
GOAL!!! Japan 1-2 Qatar. Japan have halved the deficit against Qatar in the Asian Cup final, having just become the first team to score against them in seven matches during this tournament. Takumi Minamino took advantage of a lucky ricochet to lift the ball over Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb with 20 minutes remaining.
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Weather report: Two English Football League matches and three National League fixtures have fallen victim to the weekend’s big chill. In League Two, Crewe v Carlisle and Port Vale v Tranmere have already been postponed.
National League fixtures including Boreham Wood v Wrexham, Ebbsfleet v Hartlepool and Maidenhead v Dagenham & Redbridge have also been postponed and more could follow.
Asian Cup final update: With 57 minutes gone, it remains Japan 0-2 Qatar at the Zayed Sport City Stadium. Abdulaziz Hatem, who scored Qatar’s second, has missed a glorious chance to put the game beyond Japan and play has been interrupted so that Qatar central defender Boualem Khoukhican receive treatment and be stretchered off after being knocked out cold in an accidental clash of heads with Qatar defender Maya Yoshida.
An interesting story coming out of Tranmere: Rovers manager Micky Mellon has revealed that his striker Ishmael Miller has asked for his wages to be frozen until he returns to fitness following surgery on a hamstring injury. Miller, formerly of West Brom, Nottingham Forest, Blackpool and Huddersfield joined the League Two side last month, scored on his debut but was forced off injured in his second game.
“At this moment, Ishmael’s not getting paid by Tranmere,” Mellon said in an interview with BBC Radio Merseyside. “He came in to see me about a week ago and we had the conversation where he said to me ‘Stop my wages until I get fit again’.
“He wants Tranmere Rovers to keep moving forward while he’s out injured, which is possibly the first time I’ve heard that. I need everybody to understand how big a gesture that is from Ishmael at this moment in time.
“If he’d kept getting paid and waited until he got fit, nobody would’ve blinked an eyelid as that’s what’s supposed to happen. People might say ‘Well, he’s in a position where he can do that’. Well, he doesn’t have to do that. He knows how tight things are at this club and where we’re at in terms of what we’re trying to do.
“I think it says an awful lot about him as a man. Often footballers get bad publicity, but he thought about us and Tranmere first.” Much like Juan Mata’s Common Goal chairty, I can’t see this wheeze catching on in training grounds around the country.
Marco Silva speaks: The Everton manager expects Idrissa Gana Gueye to put any disappointment at not joining Paris Saint-Germain behind him and show his best form for Everton. The French champions made an offer reported to be worth £21m for the Senegalese midfielder but Silva suggested such a paltry sum was never going to be enough to prize away a key member of his squad.
Silva admitted Gueye’s head was likely to have been turned by the prospect of playing in the Champions League, but insisted the 25-year-old is happy at Everton.
“I know Idrissa very well, he is a good professional and a fantastic boy,” he said. “He really likes our club, he is enjoying playing in our club. When a club like PSG comes in it is normal he starts to think about his future but now he has stopped, the market is closed and I don’t have doubts we will see the best Idrissa again.
“You can use the word disappointed and of course it was a good opportunity for him, but it is a fantastic opportunity for him to stay with us also.”
Banter alert!!! The half-time entertainment at the Asian Cup final, which is being played at the Zayed Sport City Stadium in Abu Dhabi is excruciating, comprising as it does as some moronic, braying, try-hard MC attempts to whip the fans into something, anything approaching what can be described as a frenzy with a series of exhortations, soundtracked by a disc jockey with a predilection for predictably dire Euro-pop.
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Crystal Palace news: Michy Batshuayi goes straight into contention to feature for Crystal Palace against Fulham after his arrival on loan from Chelsea. His potential availability strengthens Palace’s attacking options, with Wilfried Zaha suspended after his red card at Southampton. Cheikhou Kouyate misses out with an ankle injury, but James Tomkins is expected to be passed fit following a knock.
Provisional squad: Guaita, Hennessey, Speroni, Perri, Wan-Bissaka, Ward, Sakho, Kelly, Van Aanholt, Dann, Riedewald, Tomkins, Townsend, McArthur, Meyer, Milivojevic, Schlupp, Benteke, Ayew, Wickham, Sako, Batshuayi.
Asian Cup final half-time: The players have adjourned to the dressing-rooms at half-time in Abu Dhabi, with Qatar leading Japan courtesy of two fine goals. The first was an overhead kick (following an impromptu display of ball-juggling) from striker Almoez Alli, while the second was a surface-to-air screamer from midfielder Abdulaziz Hatem.
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From the Asian Cup final: “Sitting in the stadium in Abu Dhabi is a lesson in geopolitics,” writes Robert Lowery. “I’m ensconced next to what I can only describe as a large multi-generational Iranian hen party, bedecked in green white and red headbands, wristbands and t shirts ( if they had a bit of yellow and Carroll’s Meats on their chest you’d feel right at home) all shrieking loudly in between selfies on I-phones for the lads from Qatar. Who said sport wasn’t war by proxy?”
Carroll’s Meat’s? I think you’ll find the company name emblazoned across the Offaly jersey is Carroll’s Cuisine. At least it was last time I squeezed into a replica shirt, which was a long, long time ago.
Sheffield Wednesday news: Steve Bruce will take charge of his first game as manager when the Owls visit bottom-placed Ipswich tomorrow. Bruce took a break from football after he was sacked by Aston Villa last year and both his parents passed away.
“I thought long and hard about whether I wanted another job, but when the phone call came I discovered I was ready to get back on the horse again,” he said. Bruce has spent recent weeks holidaying in Bridgetown, Barbados, where he watched the England cricket team lose their opening Test against West Indies.
Martin O’Neill’s Nottingham Forest head to Birmingham while Hull host Stoke in a mid-table battle at the KC Stadium. Rotherham head to Millwall with both sides in danger of dropping out of the division. Elsewhere, relegation-threatened Wigan and Reading entertain QPR and Aston Villa respectively.
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Blackburn news: Jack Rodwell, the treatment room-dwelling money-sponge from the Netflix docu-series Sunderland Til I Die can currently be found trying to resurrect his once-promising career at Blackburn Rovers, who he has helped propel to eighth in the Championship. They travel to Brentford tomorrow.
“Jack has had a bit of a topsy-turvy career, but we see his quality and see how good he is,” said Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray. “He’s a good human being and an honourable man. I’ve worked a long time in the game and I don’t think I’ve come across a player with more natural ability.” A good human and an honourable man? Sunderland fans may beg to differ.
GOAL! Japan are now two behind in the Asian Cup final after 26 minutes of the first half. With Japan’s defence backing off, the pre-match favourites allow Qatar’s Abdulaziz Hatem to unleash a shot from distance and the midfielder wheels away in celebration as the ball sails into the top left-hand corner.
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Marcelo Bielsa speaks: The Leeds manager has admitted he is wary of Norwich’s attacking spark ahead of ther clash between the Championship’s first and second placed teams at Elland Road tomorrow evening.
“Norwich is a team that attacks very well,” he said, possibly from his place in a bush adjacent to the NOrwich training ground. “It doesn’t mean that they don’t defend well because the profile of the team is a creative one. We want to attack but we know we will have to defend a lot too, and it is an opponent we have to respect.”
A win for Norwich would take them to the summit of the Championship, passing Leeds on goal difference. “We know that we face a really good side,” said their manager Daniel Farke. “It will be a difficult game but we’re looking forward to it. “As a player and a supporter you always look forward to these games. These games are why you start playing football.”
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GOAL!!! There’s been an early goal at the Asian Cup final, where Qatar have gone one up against Japan courtesy of a sensational overhead strike in the 11th minute from Almoez Ali. It’s Japan 0-1 Qatar at the Zayed Sport City Stadium.
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Good day, folks. Barry Glendenning here to take up the cudgels from John Brewin, who has gone for a lie-down in a darkened room.
I’ll kick off my stint in the Big Chair O’News with word of a postponement in the Highland Football League, where tomorrow’s mid-table clash between Deveronvale and Huntly at the Princess Royal Park in the town of Banff has fallen victim to the adverse weather conditions. Tenth in the table, just a point behind Huntly (albeit having played three games more), Deveronvale were hoping to leapfrog their rivals from Aberdeenshire but Mother Nature has thrown a spanner in the works.
The Asian Cup final is kicking off right now in Abu Dhabi.
And here are the teams.
Qatar XI: Al Sheeb; Correia, Khoukhi, Salman, Hassan; Madibo, Hatim; Al Rawi, Al Haydos, Afif; Ali
Subs:T.Mohammed, Al Aaeldin, A. Mohamed, Al-Ali, Albakri, K.Mohammed, Y.H. Ali, Afif, Al Hajri, Ismaeil
Japan XI:Gonda; Sakai, Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Nagatomo; Haraguchi, Shibasaki, Shiotani, Doan; Osako, Minamino
Subs: Kitagawa, Muroya, Schmidt, Makino, Higashiguchi, Endo, Miura, Ito, Inui, Sasaki, Muto
More Celtic news: midfielder Tom Rogic is set to be out for six weeks after a knee injury. The Australia midfielder is set to have an operation after returning from the Asia Cup. Brendan Rodgers has been doing the talking.
He went down to London with a member of our medical team yesterday to check that his hand didn’t need an operation and while he was there we thought we would have his knee looked at and it showed up that a lateral meniscus problem which is going to put him out for up to six weeks. Not what we expected but that’s the way football works. It is unfortunate.
Some Chelsea team news. No place for Gary Cahill, who didn’t move on transfer deadline day.
Chelsea could make changes. Gonzalo Higuain and Eden Hazard could again combine as two thirds of Chelsea’s forward triumvirate, with Willian or Callum Hudson-Odoi possible inclusions instead of Pedro. The Blues could make defensive changes after the lacklustre showing at Bournemouth, with Andreas Christensen the most likely to come in.
Provisional squad: Kepa, Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Barkley, Higuain, Hazard, Pedro, Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud, Zappacosta, Willian, Christensen, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Emerson Palmieri, Ampadu, Hudson-Odoi.
Jürgen Klopp has been speaking about Liverpool’s lost boy, Lazar Markovic, who finally left for Fulham after having his contract paid up. Markovic’s last game for Liverpool was the occasion of Steven Gerrard’s final Anfield goal, on May 2 2015 v QPR. Markovic was one of the remaining monuments to Liverpool’s famed transfer committee.
Lazar knew for a long time what our plans were and, for different reasons, transfers did not work out. He can go to Fulham and show his potential again. He’s a good lad and a really good footballer.
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This one’s made for Crouchie.
Scott Brown is #goingfor10 after signing a new Celtic deal until 2021. The club captain turned down an offer from A-League newcomers West Melbourne to stay on at the club he joined from Hibs in 2007. Here, he reveals something of his origin story.
I am 33 just now and 34 in the summer and I feel as good as I have done for a long time. It is something I have done all my career. People have doubted me all the way through. People said I would never play football in the first place, I was too small and not aggressive enough. It was when I was 11 or 12 coming through, playing at Hibs at the time - I was a tricky winger although you would never believe it - and a few of them said you will never make it, you are too small, not aggressive enough, so I had to go out and prove them wrong and work on my game. I think I have managed to win battles that I was never going to win. I have stayed here for 12 years and not a lot of people would have expected that when I first signed.
When will Harry Kane be fit again? It sounds like Mauricio Pochettino doesn’t know. Or at least, doesn’t want to tell us.
I cannot tell you if he is ahead of schedule or not. We assess him day by day. He is showing his social media and he looks strong and fit, running and doing exercises. He is very strong and gives 100 per cent to be back as soon as possible. He’s determined to be back as soon as possible and be available. We will see day by day but we are happy.
More on Chelsea and the Sarri/Jorginho issue, here is Dom Fifield’s verdict from Thursday on that collapse at Bournemouth.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Sarri has been speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s home game with Huddersfield, and after the 4-0 loss to Bournemouth on Wednesday, the worst defeat of the Abramovich era. Are we nearing the terminal velocity of the AVB/Scolari eras? Judge for yourself.
I didn’t attack the players. I talked to them because I needed to understand. Then I went to my home immediately because I wanted to review the match. There wasn’t another reason. I said that maybe I wasn’t able to motivate them. If there were some mental problems it could be players, technical staff or the club. But I cannot think to the club, only the players and the staff. We must be doing something wrong, the staff first of all. So I said we are not able to motivate them. In the other match I said it was probably difficult to motivate them. It is a part of my job, of course, but I want to change the mentality.
A bit on Jorginho.
I want to do very well the Plan A. I don’t want to change something that isn’t working, I want to see it play well and then we look to change something. Everybody ten years ago knew Barcelona, they won everything because they played well their football. I want to play my football. It depends what you want from Jorginho. If it is the last pass then he has not adapted. He usually plays 40 or 45 minutes from goal, so it is impossible to so the last pass. He is very good at other things.
JT has been welcoming new Aston Villa signing Fred Guilbert, a defender loaned from Caen to the fold.
JT and our new signing, @FredGuilbert24 📸#PartOfThePride #AVFC pic.twitter.com/lu5skA4X8h
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 1, 2019
More news from Spain, where the semi-final of the Copa del Rey will be an El Clásico played over two legs. The first leg will be played at Real Madrid, the second at Barcelona. Valencia and Betis meet in the other semi.
We get two Clásicos in a week with Copa then Liga, end of Feb/start of March...https://t.co/tFGliiVyWw pic.twitter.com/6jgIICAc76
— AS English (@English_AS) February 1, 2019
Big news at the Moss Rose.
Welcome to Macclesfield Town, Brice!https://t.co/vmNw7kR2lo
— Macclesfield Town (@thesilkmen) February 1, 2019
Nick Ames spoke to José Gomes, the Reading manager with a rather varied CV.
Cardiff team news ahead of that Bournemouth game.
Transfer deadline-day signing Leandro Bacuna is expected to make his debut. Bacuna is set to replace Harry Arter with the Republic of Ireland midfielder unable to play against his parent club. Victor Camarasa and Josh Murphy, who both missed the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on Tuesday, will be assessed.
Provisional squad: Etheridge, Smithies, Peltier, Bennett, Manga, Cunningham, Bamba, Ralls, Gunnarsson, Damour, Bacuna, Camarasa, Harris, Hoilett, Niasse, Paterson, Reid, Murphy, Mendez-Laing, Ward, Healey.
Cardiff’s opponents this weekend are Bournemouth, whose manager has been speaking about Emiliano Sala.
It is an incredibly sad situation. We just want to send all of our best wishes to Emiliano’s family, Cardiff City supporters and everyone connected with the club. We are thinking of them during this time. There are so many things around football clubs, tragedies and moments of difficulty. It is then when the football clubs unite and the supporters, players, everyone connected with the club share in that moment. It is one of the beauties of football, it is what we do so well in this country. It has been great to see the whole football family do that.
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock has been talking about a transfer window overshadowed by tragedy.
From the Press Association wire:
Neil Warnock says some players did not want to join Cardiff on transfer deadline day because of the disappearance of Emiliano Sala.
Sala and pilot David Ibbotson remain missing after the Piper Malibu plane carrying them over the English Channel disappeared on January 21, two days after the Argentinian striker completed a club-record 15million move to Cardiff.
“One or two of the strikers we were talking about didn’t really want to come in the circumstances,” Cardiff manager Warnock said ahead of Saturday’s Premier League home game against Bournemouth. “They didn’t want to come in after what’s happened. So it’s been a very difficult window.”
Cardiff did recruit Reading’s Leandro Bacuna on Thursday, with the Curacao full-back or midfielder joining for around £3m.
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Some red-hot preview action. More to follow.
Quiz! Quiz! Quiz! I got 9/13.
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Burnley team news for their match with Southampton.
Sean Dyche confirmed Robbie Brady and Johann Berg Gudmundsson will be available. Brady has shaken off a groin injury he suffered in last Saturday’s FA Cup thrashing at the hands of Manchester City while Gudmundsson made a late cameo at Manchester United in midweek after three weeks out with a thigh complaint. Steven Defour and Matt Lowton are unlikely to feature but deadline-day signing Peter Crouch will be hoping to make his Clarets debut against one of his former clubs.
Provisional squad: Heaton, Hart, Pope, Lowton, Taylor, Tarkowski, Mee, Gibson, Ward, Bardsley, Long, Cork, Gudmundsson, Hendrick, Defour, Brady, Westwood, McNeil, Crouch, Barnes, Wood, Vydra.
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Luís Suárez has given a lengthy interview to Sport, the Barcelona newspaper. Some gems in there.
On playing angrily.
Playing with intensity and aggression doesn’t mean you are going around hitting and kicking people all the time. But those battles and arguments are who I am. Now I laugh and enjoy more with my teammates. That’s changed, but the way I play won’t ever be different. When I say that I’m different off the pitch it’s because, if I’m angry off it, it has to be for a very big reason. On the pitch I get angry for the smallest things!
On Neymar and a possible return.
He was a player that, inside the dressing room, transmitted so much happiness. He was a teammate who always had a smile on his face. Like Brazilians in general. Of course I miss that but we made the change at that moment, that he wasn’t going to be here, and we needed to fill that gap which he left. In football, I always say that you never know what could happen. Right now he’s enjoying life in Paris a lot. His objectives are clear. But obviously, as a teammate, friend or a fan of football you want the best at your side. But this is hypothetical and you never know.
On hanging out with Messi.
We don’t only talk about football. We talk about the past, the future. We’re humans that, aside from being teammates, we’re good friends who have a lot in common. Not only that but sometimes our wives are doing things we’re left alone. In my house or his drinking mate. We can be sat talking for two or three hours. But I always say this: a lot of people see him as Messi but for me, he’s simply Leo. We talk about a lot of situations in matches. The good as much as the bad because we’re both self-criticial. There are days when the team wins and I feel frustrated because I didn’t perform well. And Leo knows I’m in an argumentative mood. The same way I know when he’s angry because he didn’t have a good performance.
On Coutinho’s troubles.
I don’t think it’s because of his position because he’s used to playing there. With Brazil he plays there and when I was with him at Liverpool too. Afterwards he changed his position a little but he knows how to play and can make the difference in matches. He goes through patches, but so do all of us. There are moments where, and I know because it’s happened to me, that two or three moves don’t work out. “Ah, nothing is going my way. I need to do it better.” And that’s the worst at times. But I believe Philippe has played in Europe for many years and he’s shown the quality of footballer he is. I think you’ve been unfair with him. Especially after what he gave the club in his first six months here.
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News ahead of the Asian Cup final, which kicks off at 2pm GMT in Abu Dhabi.
REUTERS - A protest by the United Arab Emirates over the eligibility of two Qatar players was dismissed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Friday, a few hours before they were due to take to the field for the Asian Cup final.
The AFC on Thursday confirmed that the UAE FA had protested the eligibility of Almoez Ali and Bassam Al Rawi, who helped Qatar reach their maiden final at the continental championship against Japan.“The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Disciplinary and Ethics Committee today dismissed the protest lodged by the United Arab Emirates Football Association over the eligibility of two Qatar players,” an AFC statement said.
A UAE FA spokesman reached for comment by Reuters said he had no information and ended the call.
Sudan-born striker Ali, 22, scored his record-equalling eighth goal of the tournament when Qatar humiliated the UAE hosts 4-0 on Tuesday, while Iraqi-born defender Al Rawi, 21, was suspended for that match but expected to return for the final.
FIFA requirements mandate that a player switching national allegiance must either qualify through their parents or grandparents or have resided in a country for five years after their 18th birthday.
The protest comes against a background of a political and economic boycott of Qatar which the UAE launched with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt in 2017. The four countries accuse Qatar of supporting terrorism, which it denies.
The political rift was manifest in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday when Emirati fans hurled sandals and drinks bottles at Ali and two other players celebrating their goals during the semi-final.
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More meat on the Will Grigg bones. Reminder that there is no ‘s’ on the end of his name. A man better known for the apostrophe at the end of his name.
Sunderland have signed striker Will Grigg from Wigan for £4m. The Black Cats, fifth in League One, have handed the Northern Ireland international a three-and-a-half-year contract. A statement on Sunderland’s website confirmed the deal was struck “moments before the January transfer window slammed shut” on Thursday.
Grigg, who has won promotion from League One four times in the past five years, scored 65 goals in 150 appearances for the Latics. Wigan boss Paul Cook told his club’s official website: “The club desperately wanted to keep Will but this is an offer we simply couldn’t refuse. “This comes with so much emotional attachment because Will is so popular with our supporters and is somebody who has given everyone associated with the club so many great moments during, not just my time as the club’s manager, but throughout his three and a half years at Wigan Athletic. “We all wish Will the very best for the future.”
Grigg joins Jimmy Dunne, Grant Leadbitter, Lewis Morgan and Kazaiah Sterling in moving to the Stadium of Light during the transfer window, while Max Power’s loan deal was also made permanent.
He’s 50 today, so here’s some celebration of the brilliant Gabriel Batistuta.
On Gabriel Batistuta’s birthday, a reminder of his career in football stickers.
— Proper Football (@sid_lambert) February 1, 2019
This is a celebration of hair in its purest form... pic.twitter.com/jCohuf5adI
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Idrissa Gueye’s face not visible here, but he will no doubt be delighted that he is not a PSG player this morning. Also not pictured, Michy Batshuayi, who joined Crystal Palace instead of Everton.
Will Grigg’s move from Wigan to Sunderland has finally ignited when there was confusion over the deal being completed. Let’s call it this year’s Andrey Arshavin, and bandy about stuff about term sheets and the like. The fee is huge for the lower divisions but needs to be ratified if he is not to become an Adrien Silva for 2019.
We can confirm that @WillGrigg has completed a £4million transfer to @SunderlandAFC, subject to FA and EFL approval.
— Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) February 1, 2019
Full story 👉 https://t.co/umAl9JcJK2#wafc 🔵⚪️💚
Predictable stuff from the Sunderland feed here.
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What’s the verdict on a rather dry January?
Bournemouth team news for their match at Cardiff.
They are without top goalscorer Callum Wilson again because of a knee problem. Midfielder Jefferson Lerma (ankle) faces a late fitness test, while January signing Dominic Solanke, who was on the bench for the midweek 4-0 win against Chelsea, could be given a debut after overcoming a hamstring problem. Cherries captain Simon Francis and midfielder Lewis Cook (both knee) remain long-term absentees.
Provisional squad: Boruc, S Cook, Ake, A Smith, Clyne, Gosling, Surman, Stanislas, Brooks, Fraser, King, Begovic, Daniels, Rico, Mepham, Ibe, Mousset, Solanke, Lerma.
Perhaps the biggest news of the transfer window was Newcastle breaking their transfer window 15 years on. Get the lowdown on Miguel Almirón here.
Brighton team news for their home game with Watford.
Brighton duo Bernardo and Alireza Jahanbakhsh could be involved in Saturday’s Premier League game at home to Watford. Left-back Bernardo, who has been absent since January 2 due to a hamstring injury, has returned to training, while Iran winger Jahanbakhsh is available following his involvement in the Asian Cup. Winger Jose Izquierdo remains out due to a knee problem and is Albion’s only definite absentee.
Provisional squad: Ryan, Button, Steele, Montoya, Bruno, Bong, Bernardo, Dunk, Duffy, Balogun, Burn, Stephens, Propper, Bissouma, Kayal, Knockaert, Jahanbakhsh, March, Gross, Locadia, Andone, Murray, Gyokeres.
And some Manchester United team news for their game at Leicester.
Caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer expects Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba to be fit. Martial missed Tuesday’s 2-2 draw with Burnley with a slight injury sustained in training, while Pogba was seen limping out of Old Trafford after the match. Chris Smalling returned to the bench in midweek after a foot injury and is pushing for his first appearance in two months, but fellow defender Marcos Rojo is out. Marouane Fellaini has a calf injury and is closing in on a move to China.
Provisional squad: De Gea, Romero, Grant, Valencia, Dalot, Darmian, Shaw, Young, Jones, Bailly, Smalling, Lindelof, Fred, Matic, Herrera, A Pereira, Pogba, Lingard, Mata, Sanchez, Martial, Lukaku, Rashford.
Fulham’s team news for their game at Palace.
Joe Bryan is a doubt for Fulham’s Premier League fixture at Crystal Palace. The full-back limped off during Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over Brighton and may force manager Claudio Ranieri to change a winning team. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is in contention to return, having returned to training following injury, while Aboubakar Kamara has left on loan for Turkish club Yeni Malatyaspor.
Provisional squad: Rico, Bettinelli, Fabri, Fosu-Mensah, Le Marchand, Christie, Odoi, Chambers, Ream, Ayite, Bryan, Seri, Anguissa, Cisse, Johansen, De La Torre, McDonald, Kebano, R Sessegnon, Cairney, S Sessegnon, Schurrle, Vietto, Mitrovic, Babel.
Here’s Southampton’s team news for their game with Burnley.
Southampton expect to have midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg fit following a head injury. Hojbjerg suffered a cut to his head in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, but otherwise Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl reported no fresh injury concerns. Forward Charlie Austin has been carrying an ankle problem, so will be assessed, while defender Ryan Bertrand (back), midfielder Mario Lemina (abdominal) and forward Michael Obafemi (thigh) all continue their recovery.
Provisional squad: McCarthy, Vestergaard, Stephens, Targett, Bednarek, Valery, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Hojbjerg, Ings, Gunn, Ramsay, Elyounoussi, Armstrong, Slattery, Long, Gallagher, Austin
Here’s the Huddersfield team news.
Aaron Mooy and Philip Billing are both set to return. Mooy was used as a second-half substitute in Tuesday’s defeat at Everton after he recovered from knee ligament damage. Billing is also expected to be available after two games out with a minor knee problem, while new signing Karlan Grant could feature up front.
Provisional squad: Lossl, Smith, Kongolo, Schindler, Jorgensen, Lowe, Puncheon, Mooy, Billing, Hogg, Kachunga, Mbenza, Pritchard, Diakhaby, Mounie, Hadergjonaj, Durm, Depoitre, Hamer, Grant.
Updated
The word is out, Chelsea are vulnerable. Huddersfield fancy their chances. Here’s new Terriers manager Jan Siewert, though it seems he fancies Huddersfield’s chances in *every* game.
I think there are reasons why we are at the bottom - you just have to look at our goals and we have scored 13 at the moment, so of course this is the reasons. But this is talking about the past, which I don’t want to do. I want to focus on the future and we have to work on continuing to play like we did for 70 minutes last week. I am still convinced that we can go for the three points in each game and I see that the boys are really willing to go forward. I want to develop something, and I think everyone saw we have possibilities.
The rumours of the day after the night before.
With snow and ice expected to stick around in Britain and Europe until tomorrow, football fixtures may be hit this weekend. There have already been a few postponements of lower league games in Scotland and England. If any matches further up the pyramid fall victim I’ll keep you informed.
Updated
Ole Gunnar Solskjær has already faced the press to preview Manchester United’s match against Leicester on Sunday. Jamie Jackson was there and listened to the interim manager challenge Anthony Martial, who has signed a new deal at the club, to be the next Cristiano Ronaldo. Well, kind of.
Good morning!
Brrrrr! It’s been a snowy start to Friday in Britain after the January transfer window SLAMMED shut last night. New signings will be waking up to take part in their first (icy) training session at their new clubs and we’ll have the latest updates on whether any of the new recruits are likely to play a part this weekend. The January window wasn’t the most scintillating was it? Perhaps clubs are sick of agents pushing players on them. Most of the business done was of the loan variety.
Peter Crouch’s move to Burnley was a headline-grabbing one while it emerged late that Liverpool’s forgotten man, Lazar Markovic, was released and went to Fulham on a short-term deal. Markovic failed to make an impression at Anfield after arriving from Benfica in 2014 for £20m. He made just 34 appearances for the club, scoring three goals, and has had loan spells at has had loans at Fenerbahce, Sporting Lisbon, Hull and Anderlecht in recent seasons. Fulham vice chairman Tony Khan told the club’s website: “Lazar Markovic is a gifted young player. We’re pleased to welcome him from Liverpool for the remainder of the season. Lazar is known as a great teammate, he has the support of our manager and he has the talent to strengthen our attack.”
Premier League spending is down
Here’s some interesting analysis on the transfer window from Reuters:
Premier League clubs spent £180m during the January transfer window - the first time the figure has fallen since 2012, according to football finance experts at Deloitte. Nearly a third of the total expenditure was accounted for by Chelsea’s £55m outlay for Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund.
Last year’s winter transfer window saw top flight clubs shell out £430m, with big money moves including Virgil van Dijk at £75m and Aymeric Laporte for £50m. However, most of the major transactions this January saw players leaving Premier League sides, with Brahim Diaz moving from Manchester City to Real Madrid for £15.5million, Mousa Dembélé moving to Guangzhou R&F from Tottenham for £11m and Schalke shelling out £9.6m for Manchester City’s Rabbi Matondo.
Tim Bridge, director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said: “As we approach a decisive phase of the season, Premier League clubs’ January transfer spending has been relatively muted in comparison to what we have seen in previous years.”
January spending was at £225m in 2011 but fell to £60m in the following year. It doubled the following year, and remained steady at £130m in 2014 and 2015, before jumping to £175m, £215m on and £430m over the last three seasons. The £180m transfer bill means total gross spending by Premier League clubs in the 2018-19 season is an estimated £1.4bn, the second-highest season ever following record spend of £1.9bn in 2017-18.
Other findings from Deloitte included the so-called Big Six accounting for 43% of the January expenditure, lower than last January when this figure stood at 62%.
Equally, those in the bottom six of the table spent 20million - compared to 70million in the same period last season. Championship clubs spent £60m in the window, more than double last year’s total of £30m Deloitte added.
And here’s a wrap of the deadline day business:
Updated
