PSR Replacement Delayed

GM football fans. It’s Friday, Feb. 14 - Premier League changes delayed, the Dutch FA rules out a replay, and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

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FIXTURES

Premier League MW25: Brighton vs. Chelsea, Friday, 20:00 / 15:00. After a five-game unbeaten run against Chelsea in the league, Brighton have now lost each of their last three against them. Manchester City vs. Newcastle, Saturday, 15:00 / 10:00. Man City have lost just one of their last 34 Premier League games against Newcastle—but the Magpies have won each of their last four league games on the road. Tottenham vs Manchester United, Sunday, 16:30 / 11:30. Spurs won at Old Trafford in September and now eyeing a league double over United for the first time in the Premier League era. See the full list of Premier League fixtures here.

Results…

• Europa League: Porto 1-1 Roma | Fenerbahce 3-0 Anderlecht (Full results here)

• Conference League: Gent 0-3 Betis | Kovenhavn 1-2 Heidenheim (Full results here)

TOP TALKING POINTS

PSR Replacement Delayed

The Premier League is delaying the introduction of new financial rules limiting the amount clubs can spend on players. In a meeting on Thursday, clubs expressed near-unanimous support for implementing squad cost ratio (SCR) rules, which would limit clubs to spending a set percentage of their income on player-related costs. However, it was agreed that issues must be ironed out before introducing the new system.

Instead, the league’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR)–which allow clubs to lose no more than £105m in a three-year cycle–will remain in force next season. Several clubs, including Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Aston Villa, have criticised PSR for limiting their spend heavily in transfer windows.

It was also announced at the meeting that semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) will be trialled in the FA Cup fifth round next month. SAOT will be used in seven matches that are taking place in Premier League stadiums, with only Preston versus Burnley not trialling the technology. The league hopes to introduce SAOT in the Premier League before the end of the season.

… and EPL’s Title Race Runway

With every side having played 24 games, Arsenal are seven points behind Liverpool with 14 games to go. Historically, overcoming such a deficit at this stage is challenging. The largest points gap overturned after 24 games is five points, achieved twice: by Manchester United in 2003 and Manchester City in 2019.

Nevertheless, Opta’s latest predictions have slightly adjusted Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League–falling from 90.1% to 89%. While they remain overwhelming favourites, the minor downgrade resulted from their 2-2 draw away at Everton on Wednesday. Arsenal, who are unbeaten in 14 matches, have a 10.9% chance of winning the league, up from 9.8%.

Both teams face a similar average fixture difficulty—based on their opponents' points per game at home or away—until the end of the season. Liverpool’s average difficulty is 1.34, while Arsenal’s is 1.33. Notably, they will meet each other in Matchweek 36, where Liverpool has the advantage of hosting that encounter.

The 12th Man

The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has ruled out a replay between Heerenveen and Fortuna Sittard, despite the visitors briefly having 12 players on the pitch. The 2-2 draw result will stand.

Heerenveen, managed by Robin van Persie, led 2-1 after 90 minutes in the Eredivisie game before Fortuna made a double substitution. However, only one of their on-field players left the pitch. While the player was only on the pitch for 22 seconds, the controversy lies in the fact that the extra player was indirectly involved in earning a corner from which they equalised.

The German Football Association came to a similar decision three years ago when Bayern Munich played with 12 players on the pitch for 17 seconds during a match at Freiburg. Bayern were 3-1 up at the time in the latter stages of the game. Despite Freiburg’s appeal, the German FA concluded that the mistake had been made by the match officials, not Bayern.

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> Nicholas Jackson, Chelsea forward, is expected to be out until April with a hamstring injury (More) | Lucas Paqueta promised his brother a yellow card as a birthday gift, says whistleblower (More / translated)

> Second place Bayer Leverkusen will host league leader Bayern Munich on Saturday in the Bundesliga (More) | Harry Kane reiterated his desire to one day play in the NFL (More)

> A verdict is due next week for Luis Rubiales’ trial (More) | Pau Cubarsi has signed a contract extension with Barcelona until 2029 (More)

> The Rangers Fan Advisory Board have issued a message to club chiefs over issues and concerns following the Scottish Cup loss to Queen’s Park (More)

Americas

> Two-time GRAMMY award-winning Tems joins San Diego FC’s ownership group as a club partner (More) | FC Dallas acquired Argentine midfielder Luciano Acosta from FC Cincinnati for at least $5m in one of the biggest official cash-for-player swaps to date in MLS (More)

> New Inter Miami CF signings Tadeo Allende, Gonzalo Luján and Telasco Segovia have said that the chance to play on the same team with Lionel Messi was an integral part of their respective decisions to join (More)

> Botafogo defender Alexander Barboza had a front tooth knocked out by Flamengo centre-back Cleiton with a blindside punch (More)

Rest of the World

> Al-Nassr overcame Al-Ahli 3-2 despite being down to 10 men as Jhon Duran netted a brace (More)

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Yesterday’s Poll: Do you think it's acceptable for authorities to bar travelling supporters when tensions might run high?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 👮 Yes... (64%)

🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 🙅 Nope... (35%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other... (1%)

Your punditry takes:

• 👮 M.E: “The authorities have responsibility for the safety of the fans. Disturbances and violence should not be tolerated.”

• 👮 J.A: “Yes. Human life is more important than a game. Authorities often may know more than they are letting on for security reasons. If they deem it’s unsafe, we should listen to them.”

• 🙅 P.C: “If it ever comes to the stage where supporters are barred from away matches, we might as well all stay home and watch matches on our TVs.”

• 🙅 L.J: “Add additional police presence and be vigilant. Don't ruin it for all away fans because of some bad apples.”

• ✍️ C.S: “For the most part, no. But in extreme cases (fans threatening each other before the games, previous dangerous conflicts, etc.) I think it is appropriate. But the reverse fixture should also ban away fans in order to make it fair.”

EXTRA TIME

Legendary referee proposes new penalty kick rule.

Jose Mourinho mocks Icardi after ‘The Crying One’ comments. (via X)

Champions League team of the week announced.

The new youngest-ever goalscorer in a European club competition.

CBS exposes Micah Richards’ expensive food delivery. (via X)

LAFC's 2025 secondary kit is a work of art.

Fabregas on how data has changed football.

England Women’s Euro home kit first photos leaked.

The dying art of shooting from free kicks.

Fashion’s ongoing obsession with football jerseys.

Joe Cole’s funny way of dealing with Sunday league trash talk.

GAME FACE ON

Guess the player by their transfers:

• 1989 - Sporting CP

• 1995 - Barcelona

• 2000 - Real Madrid

• 2005 - Inter Milan

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Premier League

• Brighton vs Chelsea (20:00)

La Liga

• Girona vs Getafe (20:00)

Bundesliga

• Augsburg vs Leipzig (19:30)

Serie A

• Bologna vs Torino (19:45)

EFL Championship

• QPR vs Derby (20:00)

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

Answer

Luis Figo.