FOOTBALL

English Football Introduces Major Time-Wasting Law Changes

English football, IFAB and match officials
Friday

English football will adopt a wide package of new laws for 2026-27 designed to reduce deliberate delays and increase playing time. Changes cover throw-ins, goal-kicks, substitutions, injury stoppages, goalkeeper treatment and several expanded areas of VAR intervention.

Players taking too long over restarts can lose possession, substitutes may be delayed from entering and teams can temporarily lose an outfielder when goalkeepers require treatment. VAR can also review second yellow cards that directly produce a sending-off.

Lundgaard Completes Eintracht Frankfurt Move From Liverpool

Sofie Lundgaard, Liverpool Women and Eintracht Frankfurt
Friday

Liverpool midfielder Sofie Lundgaard has completed a permanent transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt for an undisclosed fee. The 24-year-old Denmark midfielder leaves after three and a half years on Merseyside, where serious knee and ankle injuries repeatedly interrupted her playing time.

Lundgaard made 42 appearances for Liverpool after arriving from Fortuna Hjorring in January 2023. Moving to the Frauen-Bundesliga gives her a fresh start and a route toward regular football after rehabilitation limited her involvement during recent seasons.

New Zealand Withdraws Support For Gianni Infantino

New Zealand Football, Gianni Infantino and FIFA
Friday

New Zealand Football has formally withdrawn support for FIFA president Gianni Infantino and called for an independent review into the abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal. The decision puts New Zealand at odds with the wider Oceania Football Confederation’s more supportive stance.

New Zealand joins several European associations opposing Infantino while OFC stopped short of withdrawing backing and praised FIFA’s development work in Oceania. The split further fragments the voting landscape ahead of FIFA’s next presidential election in March.

Bayern Rule Out Joao Palhinha Move To Aston Villa

Bayern Munich, Aston Villa and Joao Palhinha
Friday

Bayern Munich sporting chief Max Eberl has publicly ruled out an agreement with Aston Villa for Joao Palhinha. Villa wanted a loan arrangement for the Portugal midfielder, while Bayern are insisting on a permanent transfer and will not accept the proposed structure.

Palhinha had reportedly agreed potential contract terms with Villa, but Eberl said there was no chance of an agreement under the current proposal. The statement represents a clear reversal after negotiations had advanced and leaves Bayern searching for another buyer.

Al Ahly Sign Mahmoud Salah On Five-Year Deal

Al Ahly, Ghazl El Mahalla and Mahmoud Salah
Thursday

Al Ahly have completed the signing of 18-year-old Ghazl El Mahalla prospect Mahmoud Salah on a five-year contract. The Egyptian club announced the deal shortly after Youssef Belammari suffered a serious cruciate ligament injury during preseason preparations.

Salah becomes Al Ahly’s sixth summer signing as the club continues strengthening its squad before the new campaign. Al Ahly are separately pursuing Petrojet left-back Tawfik Mohamed as a more direct solution to the defensive gap created by Belammari’s injury.

Manchester City Tie Xavier Parker To Long-Term Deal

Manchester City and Xavier Parker
Friday

Manchester City have secured highly rated 16-year-old midfielder Xavier Parker on new long-term terms despite interest from Manchester United, Liverpool and other major clubs. Parker will initially sign scholarship terms before automatically moving onto a professional contract when eligible.

New manager Enzo Maresca reportedly played a direct role in convincing Parker by presenting a tailored pathway toward City’s senior team. Retaining the teenager prevents a high-profile academy loss and strengthens City’s position around one of England’s most sought-after prospects.

Leandro Paredes Rejects AC Milan Approach

Leandro Paredes, Boca Juniors and AC Milan
Friday

Leandro Paredes has rejected an approach from AC Milan and instructed the Italian club not to open negotiations with Boca Juniors. The 32-year-old Argentina midfielder made clear that he wants to remain captain at La Bombonera rather than return to Serie A.

Milan contacted Paredes directly before making any club-level proposal, but the midfielder immediately closed the door. His decision removes another possible destination after previous transfer interest and keeps him committed to Boca under a contract running through 2028.

Aguerd Pulls Out Of Real Sociedad Move

Nayef Aguerd, Marseille and Real Sociedad
Thursday

Nayef Aguerd has backed out of a proposed return to Real Sociedad despite Marseille reaching an agreement with the Spanish club and the Morocco defender completing his medical. The 30-year-old changed course after speaking with Sociedad coach Sergio Francisco.

The proposed structure was a season-long loan costing around €4m with a purchase option near €11m. Aguerd’s late rejection overturns a transfer that had appeared effectively complete after his successful previous loan spell with Real Sociedad.

Ajax Advance Despite Shelbourne Conference League Draw

Ajax and Shelbourne
Thursday

Ajax have reached the Conference League play-offs after drawing 2-2 away to Shelbourne and advancing 5-3 on aggregate. Julian Brandt and Anton Gaaei scored for the Amsterdam club, which struggled badly during the second half in Dublin.

Shelbourne equalised late through Sean Moore after an earlier goal was ruled out by VAR, but Ajax’s first-leg advantage protected them. Míchel Sánchez’s side will now face Swiss club Sion for a place in the league phase.

Fog Forces Europa League Tie Into Friday Postponement

Lech Poznan, UEFA and the Faroe Islands
Thursday

UEFA postponed a Europa League qualifying second leg in the Faroe Islands after extreme fog repeatedly disrupted Lech Poznan’s journey. The Polish club eventually landed at Vagar Airport on Thursday afternoon, too late for the match to proceed safely that evening.

UEFA initially pushed kickoff back by more than two hours while Lech attempted to reach Torshavn, then moved the fixture to Friday at 19:00. The disruption followed widespread flight cancellations and another diversion caused by unsafe landing conditions.