FIFA GIVES CLUBS AN EXTRA WEEK BEFORE RELEASING AFCON STARS

Liverpool could be without Egyptian forward Mohamed for several English Premier League matches during the Africa Cup of Nations tournament (PETER POWELL)

Star players such as Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo and Achraf Hakimi will be able to play for their clubs for an extra week until December 15 before joining their national teams at the Africa Cup of Nations, FIFA said on Wednesday.

Top European clubs such as Salah's Liverpool, Mbeumo's Manchester United and Hakimi's Paris Saint-Germain face losing key players for up to five weeks for the 24-nation tournament in Morocco from December 21 to January 18.

But they had feared it could be even longer until FIFA amended its rules to soften the blow for clubs by delaying the release date by a week.

The decision came after "fruitful consultations led by FIFA with key stakeholders and thanks to the spirit of solidarity demonstrated by CAF to reduce the impact on various parties," FIFA said in a statement, referring to the tournament organisers, the Confederation of African Football.

"It was also decided to encourage member associations participating in the 2025 AFCON and clubs releasing players... to engage in good faith bilateral discussions in order to find appropriate individual solutions," FIFA added.

Before FIFA's ruling, players had been required to show up for international duty by December 8, meaning that English Premier League clubs could have been without vital players for up to seven or even eight league matches during a particularly busy part of the season.

The competition falls at an awkward moment for the likes of high-flying Sunderland and rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers who could be without up to seven and five players respectively.

Liverpool will be without Egypt forward Salah, Manchester City will have to do without his international team-mate Omar Marmoush and Algeria's left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri, while United will lose Cameroon's Mbeumo, Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo and Morocco full-back Noussair Mazraoui.

On the other hand, league leaders Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds will be unaffected.

French and European champions PSG will lose Hakimi, the reigning African player of the year, but other European giants such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Juventus will not see any players involved.

Bayern Munich's Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson, on loan from Chelsea, will be at the tournament but will not miss many Bundesliga games as the league will be on its winter break from December 22 to January 8.

Morocco, Egypt, Algeria and Senegal are amongst the tournament favourites.

- AFP

ALAN SHEARER BLASTS ERLING HAALAND DECISION THA COST MAN CITY IN FA FINAL - 'NO CHANCE'

Erling Haaland started for Manchester City as they faced Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday, though the Norwegian striker came under fire from Alan Shearer

Haaland handed the ball to Omar Marmoush instead, with the January signing missing his spot-kick(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Alan Shearer slammed Erling Haaland for giving away the ball to Omar Marmoush after Manchester City were awarded a penalty in their FA Cup final against Crystal Palace. The Eagles had been leading through Eberechi Eze's brilliant counter-attacking goal

Twelve minutes before half-time though, City were handed a prime chance to equalise. Referee Stuart Attwell point to the spot after Tyrick Mitchell lunged in on Bernando Silva and brought down the City star.

Haaland initially picked the ball up, but once VAR Jarred Gillett had confirmed the decision, he passed the ball to Marmoush. The January signing aimed his penalty down to Palace keeper Dean Henderson's right hand side.

But the Englishman had guessed right and palmed the ball away with a strong right hand. He then quickly got to his feet to also save Haaland's own follow-up and maintain Palace's precious lead.

Haaland's decision to hand Marmoush the ball surprised many, with the Norwegian having scored 30 goals in all competitions this season. Some pundits, including Gary Lineker and Wayne Rooney, believed that boss Pep Guardiola ordered Haaland to give the ball away.

The striker has missed three spot-kicks this season, scoring four. Despite that patchy record, Newcastle legend Shearer blasted Haaland for so easily giving up the chance to become a hero for his side.

"That is a big decision from Erling Haaland as well, not to want that penalty. If he's fit enough he's on the pitch, he's starting the game. So it must be mentally that he's either said he doesn't want it," Shearer said in commentary for BBC Sport.

"Or Pep doesn't want him to take it. That is a big surprise to me though. Not at all [would you pass it up]. Not when you're in his position. Erling Haaland, who and what you are. He's scored 30 goals this season.

"I'm only speaking from a personal point of view but I wouldn't be prepared to give up a penalty in a cup final - no chance. Come to that I wouldn't give one up in any game, let alone a cup final."

While he was critical of Haaland, Shearer also reserved praise for Palace keeper Henderson. The England international was perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch after an earlier decision revolving around a handball he committed.

But overlooking his fortune, Shearer was full of praise for the 28-year-old. He added: "What a save that is. He doesn't fall for the bluff beforehand. He's in control of that situation the goalkeeper.

"He guesses right and gets a big strong hand to keep that out. It really is an impressive save. Then he gets up really quickly again. A clever save it really was, quick along his line. Strong with his right arm. That is a huge save it really is. He's had an interesting 35, 37 minutes."

- Jacob Leeks

MAN CITY 115 CHARGES LATEST AS PEP GUARDIOLA REVEALS WHEN OUTCOME WILL COME AS LIVERPOOL WATCH ON

Relegation, points deductions and fines are possible punishments if Man City are found guilty

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the Champions League match with Club Brugge(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

Pep Guardiola has revealed that Manchester City expects to learn the outcome of the hearing into its 115 charges of alleged Premier League financial rule breaches 'in one month'. The Premier League referred City to an independent commission in February 2023 over 115 alleged contraventions of financial rules dating from 2009 to 2018. The Etihad club have always denied any wrongdoing.

The hearing took place in front of an independent commission between September and December. And Guardiola, while speaking about City’s record £180m investment in the transfer market during the winter window, has revealed that an outcome is expected very shortly.

He said: "In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence. After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far."

City added Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzales to their ranks during the last month. And Guardiola has claimed he was simply strengthening his squad and there were no other reasons behind the splurge.

"My words will not convince people," he said. "I know with this club it is always 'just about the money'.

"But in the past five years, we are the last among the top six for net spend. Even after what we have spent in this transfer window, we are away from Chelsea, (Manchester) United, Arsenal, Tottenham. Even from Liverpool. The only reason why is we sell a lot in the last seasons."

Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp recently joked he would throw a party should the Premier League strip City of their titles due to breaches of financial regulations. The Reds finished second to Guardiola's side while under Klopp in 2018/19 and 2021/22.

At his first public appearance as Red Bull's head of global soccer, the German said: "We had this discussion when I left. I haven't spent a lot of time in Mallorca because I am always flying around the place.

"But if it would happen, I told all the people who wanted to [come]: 'Just book a flight to Mallorca. I will buy the beer!' We'd have our own parade in my garden."

- Connor O'Neill

EGYPT FOUGHT BACK TWICE TO DRAW 2-2 WITH GHANA AT AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS AFTER A LIVELY SECOND HALF ON ABIDJAN

Getty

Egypt fought back twice to draw 2-2 with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations after a lively second half in Abidjan.

Mohammed Kudus blasted in to put Ghana ahead in first-half stoppage time, a minute after Pharaohs captain Mohamed Salah was forced off through injury.

Omar Marmoush levelled but West Ham's Kudus quickly restored the Black Stars' lead with a deflected effort.

However, Mostafa Mohamed stabbed in to give Egypt their second point and leave Ghana winless after two Group B games.

There were late chances at either end to win it, with Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori saving Emam Ashour's shot before Pharaohs keeper Mohamed El Shenawy failed to clear a corner which Iddrisu Baba could not divert goalwards.

Chris Hughton's Black Stars lost their opening game against Cape Verde and the four-time continental champions are on the brink of a second successive group-stage exit from the Afcon finals.

Cape Verde will secure top spot in Group B if the islanders beat Mozambique on Friday (14:00 GMT), with both Egypt and Ghana waiting to find out what they will require from the final round of games on Monday.

The 24-team format means three points may be enough to qualify as one of four best third-placed sides.