Manchester City are expected to lodge an appeal before today’s deadline against the guilty verdict on more than 100 charges of breaching financial rules, which was handed down by the Premier League on Tuesday.
The fallout from the verdict has already reached the UK government, which was yesterday forced to clarify comments the prime minister, Andy Burnham, had made the previous day when he raised “concern” about City losing their Abu Dhabi owners as a result of the ruling. A Downing Street spokesperson emphasised: “If wrongdoing is established those responsible should face the appropriate consequences.”
On the pitch, Wales claimed their first win of the Nations League campaign by coming from behind to beat Norway in Cardiff. The sides went in level at 1-1 at the break, but Norway’s Torbjørn Heggem was sent off 17 seconds into the second half and Neco Williams scored the winner from the resulting free-kick.
Erling Haaland had been the focus of much of the attention, but he was kept at arm’s length by Wales and serenaded with chants of “You’re just a shit Kieffer Moore” from the home supporters. Norway captain Martin Ødegaard, who led the side to the World Cup quarter-finals in the summer, described the result as the “first punch in the face for a long time”. Wales manager Craig Bellamy, who has faced criticism of late, responded by saying: “Look, I am a strong person, I think we all are, but it’s the people around me I’m conscious of. It’s just society. What are we? Eight prime ministers in the space of 11 years? It’s nuts … We’re such a small country, why can’t we have each other’s backs? Why don’t we look after each other more? The others can go at us. We’re too quick [to criticise].”
In Dublin, the Republic of Ireland’s 2-2 draw with Austria was stopped twice in the first half by pro-Palestine protests against their matches with Israel. The Ireland squad had been under pressure to boycott last Sunday’s game against Israel in Hungary, which they won 3-0, and they face Israel again in Dublin on Sunday. Troy Parrott’s fine solo goal put Ireland in front, and tennis balls bearing Palestine flags were thrown on to the pitch in the 20th minute, before a man appearing to carry a Palestine flag invaded the pitch in the 35th minute. Austria recovered from 2-0 down in the second half to claim a draw.
Attention now turns to the weekend’s fixtures. Thomas Tuchel will speak from Croatia ahead of England’s Nations League game in Rijeka tomorrow. The match is due to be played behind closed doors as punishment for Croatian fans’ behaviour, although the stadium is expected to be largely full of local schoolchildren, plus around 100 England fans. Scotland are also in action tomorrow in North Macedonia, with Sebastien Pocognoli looking for his first win in charge. Tonight, France take on Italy in Paris and Northern Ireland face Ukraine in Slovakia.