Forced relegation incoming

GM football fans. It’s Monday, Nov. 18, and we’re covering Lyon’s forced relegation, Ronaldo’s retirement plans and much more. First time reading? Sign up here. Send us feedback at [email protected].

TONIGHT’S NATIONS LEAGUE STATS

Croatia vs Portugal (19:45 GMT / 14:45 ET). While Portugal are already through to the quarters, Croatia need a point to secure a position in the knockout stages. Poland vs Scotland (19:45 GMT / 14:45 ET). Both teams are on four points from five games, but a Scotland defeat would result in automatic relegation; Poland can afford to draw. Spain vs Switzerland (19:45 GMT / 14:45 ET). Spain top their section, while Switzerland's relegation to League B has been confirmed after securing just two points. Learn about Nations League relegation here.

Plus…

• Nations League results: England 5 - 0 Rep. Ireland | Italy 1 - 3 France | Israel 1 - 0 Belgium | Norway 5 - 0 Kazakhstan (Full results here)

• How will the Nations League knockout stage and play-off draws work? (More)

• Hungary coach stable after collapsing vs Netherlands (More)

• Neymar’s agent confirms he will not leave Al Hilal for Santos (More) / via X

• Wayne Rooney to feature in Wrexham-style documentary on his time as Plymouth boss (More)

LYON FINANCIAL STRUGGLE

Lyon provisionally forced relegation to Ligue 2, owner says “no chance”

Olympique Lyon have been provisionally relegated from Ligue 1 at the end of the season because of financial mismanagement. The French side are also banned from making transfers in the January window. The National Directorate of Management Control will retract its punishment only if Lyon shows better finances.

Lyon’s owner, John Textor, has insisted there is “no chance” his club will be relegated. Textor, whose Eagle Football Group owns 77% of Lyon and a stake in Crystal Palace, was confident the club's finances would improve. The American businessman hinted he could raise money by selling his 45 per cent stake in Palace, worth around £230mn. The French club has debts of around £83.6mn.

Textor was close to buying Everton in September. But he couldn’t find a buyer for his stake in Palace. He also reportedly annoyed Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s owner, after giving a public interview with Sky Sports during the negotiation.

Lyon haven’t secured the Ligue 1 title since they won it seven times in a row from 2001-02. They are currently fifth in the league.

POLL

HEAD START

🕵️ PSG’s football adviser considered for Arsenal role. Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Campos is one of the names under consideration by Arsenal to replace sporting director Edu. Campos, who has a reputation for finding young talent, has not yet renewed his contract with the French champions. The former Monaco and Lille sporting director has signed youngsters who have been sold for big profits including Kylian Mbappe, Victor Osimhen, Bernardo Silva, Fabinho and Antony Martial. It’s understood that Bayer Leverkusen’s Simon Rolfes and Real Socidad’s Roberto Olabe are also being considered for the role.

🫡 Amorim confirms five new coaching staff at Man Utd. The former Sporting CP coach has hired several members of the team who helped him win two Primera League titles, a club statement confirms. Carlos Fernandes will be Amorim’s assistant head coach, having been close to him at all three clubs he has managed. Darren Fletcher and Andreas Georgson, first-team coaches under United’s former manager, will remain at the club. Amorim’s first match in charge will be away to Ipswich Town this Sunday, November 24.

🏆 Fifa president has his name engraved on the Club World Cup trophy. Fifa have announced the new gold-plated Club World Cup trophy ahead of the revamped 32-team tournament in the United States next summer. The trophy, crafted by Tiffany & Co, has engraved Gianni Infantino’s name and signature. This is one step short of Jules Rimet, the Fifa president who created the World Cup in 1930, who had the whole trophy named after him. There is only one spot left in the Club World Cup. Atletico Mineiro and Botafogo will determine this when they face each other in the Copa Libertadores final on November 30. The full roster of teams featuring in the tournament can be found here.

CR7 RETIREMENT PLANS

Cristiano Ronaldo makes retirement hint after record Portugal win

Cristiano Ronaldo spoke on his potential retirement after setting a new record for the most international wins on Friday. Portugal’s 5-1 win against Poland in the Nations League marked Ronaldo’s 132nd international win – one more than Sergio Ramos for Spain. Ronaldo scored twice in the match, including a bicycle kick.

When asked about a plan for retirement after the game, the 39-year-old replied, “If it has to happen, in one or two years… I don’t know. I’m turning 40 soon.” This comes a week after Ronaldo admitted he had doubts over whether he could reach the 1,000-goal mark before retirement. In a previous interview, Ronaldo ruled himself out of the possibility of staying in the sport as coach. 

He has scored 910 career goals for club and country in 1,251 appearances. He has also recorded 256 assists. Across his career, Ronaldo has contributed to a goal every 88 minutes.

AROUND THE FOOTBALL WORLD

Top Five European Leagues

> Liverpool set their sights on Rayan Cherki, Lyon winger, as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah (More)

> Paul Pogba will leave Juventus after agreeing a mutual termination of his contract. He’s training in Miami as he considers options (More)

Rest of the World

> Ajax to cut 20 per cent of their workforce – around 500 employees – amid financial challenges (More)

> Mexico coach Javier Aguirre left bloodied after being hit with a can of beer following his side's 2-0 defeat by Honduras (More)

Women’s Football

> Chelsea move to the top of the Women’s Super League after beating title rivals Manchester City 2-0 at home. Manager Sonia Bompastor continues her perfect start, winning all 10 of her matches in all competitions (Match highlights)

> Rangers extend the gap over Celtic with a 3-2 win in the Scottish Women’s Premier League; Glasgow City remain top after win (Celtic vs Rangers highlights)

ROUTER’S VOICE

On Friday, we asked you: Do you think managers should be able to challenge referee decisions?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👔 Absolutely... (61%)

🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🚫 Nope... (35%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other... (4%)

Your punditry takes:

• 👔 S.F: “Only if they have a set number of challenges which they lose if they're wrong. Cricket and tennis employ such tactics if you wrongly challenge you lose one. So for example each manager could have one in each half only, but if their challenge was correct they didn't lose it and still had one left.”

• 🚫 A.R: “Managers show little enough respect to the officials already by allowing them to complain! Just accept decisions and move on. Next thing we will be asking for the crowd’s opinion.”

• ✍️ T.P: “That would be such a departure from the philosophy that the referee has full control, therefore the flow of the game would not survive.”

EXTRA TIME

Images of the new Ajax logo for next season. / w images

Guardiola berates players in new Manchester City feature film. / short clip

When the boots match the kit.

Roy Keane on his future son-in-law’s goal for England. / via X

Ruben Amorim’s first interview for Manchester United.

Football fraudsters that take advantage of aspiring players.

Arsenal players’ career predictions from ChatGPT.

The Premier League’s super subs who can’t (and shouldn’t) get a start.

Victor Boniface sent a fan money from the team bus. / via X

GAME FACE ON

Question: Who Am I…

• I have played for Wolfsburg, Manchester City, Roma, Inter Milan and Fenerbahce.

• I made my international debut in 2007, earning over 130 caps and scoring 67 goals.

• I am known as the “Diamond” in my country.

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

UEFA Nations League

Group 1

• Croatia vs Portugal (19:45)

• Liechtenstein vs San Marino (19:45)

• Poland vs Scotland (19:45)

Group 2

• Kosovo vs Lithuania (19:45)

• Romania vs Cyprus (19:45)

Group 3

• Bulgaria vs Belarus (19:45)

• Luxembourg vs N. Ireland (19:45)

Group 4

• Serbia vs Denmark (19:45)

• Spain vs Switzerland (19:45)

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

Answer

Edin Dzeko.