Spend Cap Under Fire

GM football fans. It’s Friday, Jan. 10 – La Liga infighting, alcohol in stands to be trialled and everything else you need to know. Forwarded this email? Sign up here.

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FIXTURES

FA Cup, Third Round: Aston Villa vs West Ham, 20:00 / 15:00. West Ham’s new manager Graham Potter may take some comfort from Villa having lost their last six home clashes in the FA Cup. But the Hammers have only won three matches in their last 10. Wycombe vs Portsmouth, 19:45 / 14:45. Portsmouth have progressed from six of their last seven FA Cup third round ties against sides from a lower division. See the full list of FA Cup weekend fixtures here.

Results…

• FA Cup 3rd Round: Sheff Utd 0-1 Cardiff | Everton 2-0 Peterborough | Fulham 4-1 Watford

• Spanish Supercopa, Semi-Final: Real Madrid 3-0 Mallorca (Match Report)

• Scottish Premiership: Dundee 1-1 Rangers (Match Report)

TOP TALKING POINTS

La Liga Infighting

Barcelona have been granted temporary permission to register Dani Olmo and Pau Victor by the Spanish government after launching a fresh appeal. Celebrating the news, Barca president Joan Laporta allegedly verbally abused members of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in a VIP box–with phrases such as “cowards” and “sons of *****”—during his side’s 2-0 win in the Spanish Supercopa.

La Liga and the RFEF denied the players’ re-registration following Barca's missing the deadline to prove it was compliant with the league’s financial rules. Although La Liga accepted that Barca had taken measures to increase their spending cap, it noted that players cannot be re-registered with a club for a second time in the same season.

Yesterday, La Liga president Javier Tebas wrote on social media that the Catalan side received favourable treatment from the Spanish government. He added that the financial fair play rules in La Liga are "admired worldwide" and have helped save numerous historic clubs from ruin.

Laporta is expected to hold a press conference next Tuesday where he will offer the club’s version of events on the saga.

Alcohol Trials Begin

Four Women’s Championship clubs–Birmingham, Bristol City, Newcastle, and Southampton–will participate in trials allowing fans to drink alcohol in the stands while watching games. The trial will start this month and run until the end of this season, but it will apply to league fixtures only.

Drinking alcohol “in view of the pitch” is banned in the top five men’s leagues in English football, per the Sporting Events Act of 1985. But the women’s game is not subject to the same legislation. Nikki Doucet, chief executive of Women's Professional Leagues Limited, said that its “fan base and the behaviour is different (to the men's game), and it's about being able to give our fans choices.”

Across the pond, liquor is becoming a bigger part of the in-game experience–epitomised by a Jameson whiskey’s multi-year agreement with Major League Soccer (MLS). But studies across US and European leagues have shown that alcohol does lead to “more severe occurrences of antisocial behaviour” during matches.

Spending Cap Attack

The PFA, a players’ union, is planning to oppose the Premier League introducing its first cap on spending from next season. The proposed cap will use an ‘anchoring’ scheme which would restrict clubs to spending five times the amount the bottom clubs receive in TV and prize money.

Those in favour of anchoring say it would improve the competitive balance. It may also reduce wage and transfer inflation. The argument against anchoring has been put forward by both Manchester United and Manchester City who believe a spending cap would weaken Premier League clubs compared to European rivals. 

In 2021, the PFA successfully blocked an attempt by the EFL to have squad salary caps for clubs in League One and Two. It argued that the salary cap breached a constitution made by the PFNCC, a body that has protected player contracts and conditions for decades.

POLL

ON THE BALL

Europe

> Everton have sacked Sean Dyche after a run of just one win from their last 11 games; David Moyes emerges as top target to replace him (More) | Manchester City want to sign Omar Marmous immediately as Eintracht Frankfurt demand £67m for the forward (More); they’ve also shown interest in Palmeiras centre-back Vitor Reis, valued at £33m (More) | Amad has signed a five-year contract extension with Manchester United (More)

> Red Bull is now the new sponsor of Atletico Madrid (More) | PSG have made contact with Napoli over Khvicha Kvaratskhelia; the Italian side are demanding around £70m (More)

> Luton Town manager Rob Edwards has left the club following four straight defeats in the Championship (More)

> Arsenal women have won all three of the Women’s Super League awards for December; Alessia Russo was voted player of the month and goal of the month, while interim boss Renee Slegers won the manager of the month award (More); Slegers is in the frame to become the permanent Arsenal Women’s manager (More)

Americas

> Apple TV+ and MLS released the trailer for the eight-part documentary, “Onside: Major League Soccer”; premiering February 21 (More) | Carlos Vela’s family are safe after his home was destroyed in the devastating Palisades Fire in Southern California (More)

> USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said that he wants his team to adopt Argentina’s mentality where “when they go to the pitch, they go to war and to defend your badge, your flag and that is what we need to create” (More)

> Orlando Pride captain Marta re-signs with the club on a two-year deal (More)

Rest of the World

> Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored a goal in every year since 2002 as he takes his total to 917 career goals (More)

> Pavel Nedved has officially been appointed as the new sports director of Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab (More)

ROUTERS’ VOICE

Yesterday’s Poll: Do you think set-piece coaches are vital to a squad, or just a fad?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🙌 Vital... (68%)

🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ 😴 Fad... (30%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (write in!)... (2%)

Your punditry takes:

• 🙌 J.H: “Only 2-3% of corners result in goals, meanwhile 25-30% of all goals are scored off of set pieces. It would seem to be an important part of the game, deserving specialised coaching.”

• 🙌 T.T: “Some teams cannot outplay their opponents, but a well-rehearsed set play can give a team a chance to make up for a lack of skill with physical power and discipline.”

• 😴 G.W: “It may be because I am 50 now, but feels a bit fad-ish. Specialist positions like GK, 100%, but a set piece is part of the general game. I would almost go as far as to say Arsenal's success is a bit of luck.”

EXTRA TIME

How the man who signed Henry, Bale and Suarez is reshaping Toulouse.

Women’s football trends in 2024 and what’s next. (report)

Neville and Carragher pick their combined Team of the Year. (video)

Spanish football’s homegrown youth revolution explained.

Iconic New York Cosmos signings 50-years on from Pele joining.

Breaking down Ruben Amorim’s tactics at Man Utd.

AS Monaco collaborates with fashion brand Koche.

When Ancelotti asked Chelsea players to decide their own tactics. (via X)

GAME FACE ON

Can you name which team comes next in this sequence: Leicester City 2020-21, Liverpool 2021-22, Manchester City 2022-23…

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

FA Cup, 3rd Round

• Wycombe vs Portsmouth (19:45)

• Aston Villa vs West Ham (20:00)

La Liga

• Vallecano vs Celta Vigo (20:00)

Bundesliga

• Dortmund vs Leverkusen (19:30)

Serie A

• Lazio vs Como (19:45)

Ligue 1

• Nantes vs Monaco (18:00)

• Auxerre vs Lille (20:00)

Scottish Premiership 

• Hamilton vs Patick (19:45)

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

Answer

Manchester United. The connection is the last four FA Cup winners.