City 115 case concludes

GM football fans. It’s Tuesday, Dec. 10 and we’re covering an update on Man City’s 115 case, a look inside Ashworth’s United exit and much more. First time reading? Sign up here.

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FIXTURES

Champions League: Girona vs Liverpool, 17:45 / 12:45. Liverpool are the only team with a 100% record, winning all five of their UCL league-phase games. Atalanta vs Real Madrid, 20:00 / 15:00. Madrid have lost three of their five matches in the UCL this season. If they lose this match, it would be the first time a reigning European champion suffered a three-game losing streak. Bayer Leverkusen vs Inter Milan, 20:00 / 15:00. Inter have won their last four UCL games without conceding a goal, while Leverkusen have won seven of eight home games in the competition since the start of last season. Full list of fixtures here.

Plus…

• Premier League: West Ham 2 - 1 Wolves

• La Liga: Getafe 1 - 0 Espanyol

• Serie A: Monza 1 - 2 Udinese

• EFL League One: Northampton 2 - 1 Peterborough

TOP TALKING POINTS

Man City 115 Case Concludes

The hearing into the Premier League’s 115 charges against Manchester City has concluded. The closing arguments were completed on Friday. A three-man panel will now consider the evidence before delivering a verdict, expected around March.

The original 115 alleged breaches now total 130 due to a correction issued after confusion over rules tied to specific seasons. Should City, who deny any wrongdoing, be found guilty of the charges, they could be hit with financial penalties, points deductions or relegation. See a detailed breakdown of City’s charges here.

Whatever the outcome, either side will likely appeal the panel’s verdict. If either side appeals, a fresh hearing with a new independent panel will be arranged. This would prolong a final verdict beyond the end of the current Premier League season.

Inside Ashworth’s United Exit

More details on Dan Ashworth’s exit from Manchester United (see previous write-up) have been revealed. Reports suggest his relationship broke down with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe during the appointment of a new head coach. Ashworth, it is claimed, did not provide clear, compelling arguments for who to bring in.

While colleagues say he is honest and intelligent, Ashworth butted heads with Ratcliffe on a few occasions. Ratcliffe was disappointed that Ashworth took a holiday on Ruben Amorim’s second day as head coach. There was also friction when Ashworth proposed outsourcing a data company to help replace Erik ten Hag – Ratcliffe insisted that they should keep everything in-house. But there is a general feeling at the club that Ratcliffe is overly involved in football decisions.

United are not thought to be in a rush to appoint a replacement for Ashworth. As for Ashworth, he reportedly has no shortage of offers. Arsenal, who lost sporting director Edu last month, are in search of a seasoned replacement. Ashworth also has a relationship with the Gunners’ managing director Richard Garlick from their West Brom days.

Premier League Referee Sacked

Premier League referee David Coote has been sacked following an investigation into his conduct. This comes after a leaked video showed Coote making derogatory comments about Liverpool and their former manager Jurgen Klopp. The 42-year-old called Klopp “f***ing arrogant” and a “German c***”.

The referee’s body, the PGMOL, wrote in a statement: “David Coote’s actions were found to be in serious breach of the provisions of his employment contract, with his position deemed untenable.” Coote has the right to appeal the decision to terminate his employment.

Coote remains under investigation for two other incidents. UEFA is investigating another leaked video that showed Coote snorting a white powder during Euro 2024, where he acted as a supporting VAR. The other is an investigation by the FA for an alleged betting breach relating to a yellow card he showed Leeds United player Ezgjan Alioski in 2019.

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> Brighton accepts it breached the Premier League’s Youth Development rules; enters sanction agreement (More) | Five Lionesses have been named in the 2024 FIFPro Women’s XI (More)

> Barcelona and Real Madrid both draw fourth-tier Spanish sides in the third round of the Copa del Rey (More) | Jude Bellingham is shortlisted for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year (More)

> Christian Pulisic is expected to be out for the rest of 2024 after tearing his calf in AC Milan’s 2-1 defeat against Atalanta on Friday (More)

Americas

> Lionel Messi named winner of the Landon Donovan MVP Award for 2024 (More) | Jameson whiskey, an Irish-owned brand, is now the whiskey sponsor of the MLS (More)

> Estevao Willian, Palmeiras winger, was named Breakthrough Player and Best Striker in Brazil’s Serie A; 13 goals and nine assists in 31 league matches. He will join Chelsea when he turns 18 in 2025 (More)

> Brazil national team extends its $100mn-a-year kit deal with Nike (More)

Rest of the World

> The Syrian football federation has changed the colour of the national team’s kit and logo from red to green after rebels toppled the Assad regime (More)

> The Beach Soccer World Cup 2025 dates have been announced (More) 

> United Nations’ top human rights official pledged to ensure migrant labour standards are “properly respected” ahead of FIFA confirming Saudi Arabia as the 2034 World Cup host (More)

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Yesterday, we asked you: Do you think clubs should retire shirt numbers to honour legends?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👕 Absolutely... (54%)

🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ 👎 Nope... (44%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other... (2%)

Your punditry takes:

• 👕 T.R: “Bayern's retirement of the 5 was an obvious choice and should be a model for other clubs. Beckenbauer was a legend for the side and country. (My first set of Adidas boots as well!) Der Kaiser!”

• 👎 J.N: “Too many legends, so few numbers...”

• ✍️ U.L: “Slippery slope. The No. 10s at Barcelona were Guardiola, Stoichkov, Kubala, Romario, Rivaldo, Maradona, Ronaldinho and Messi. At which point would you retire the 10? Albeit Maradona played only one season but that is a very heavy shirt to put on.”

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The best, worst and weirdest boots of the year.

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Jesse Lingard’s crowd control in South Korea. / via X

GAME FACE ON

Question: Which club is the only team to have held both the Europa League and Champions League titles at the same time?

Clue: Benitez.

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Champions League

• Dinamo Zagreb vs Celtic (17:45)

• Girona vs Liverpool (17:45)

• Atalanta vs Real Madrid (20:00)

• Bayer Leverkusen vs Inter Milan (20:00)

• Brest vs PSV (20:00)

• Club Brugge vs Sporting Lisbon (20:00)

• RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa (20:00)

• RB Salzburg vs PSG (20:00)

• Shakhtar Donetsk vs Bayern Munich (20:00)

Championship

• Burnley vs Derby (19:45)

• Luton vs Stoke (19:45)

• Plymouth vs Swansea (19:45)

• Portsmouth vs Norwich (19:45)

• Sheffield Wednesday vs Blackburn (19:45)

• Sunderland vs Bristol City (19:45)

• Leeds vs Middlesbrough (20:00)

*All time in UK. ET -5. CST -6. PST -8. MST -7. CET +1.

Answer

Chelsea (2012/13 season). They won the 2012 Champions League and followed it up by claiming the 2013 Europa League.