UEFA VOTES TO BOYCOTT WORLD CUP AHEAD OF PRIVATE INVESTOR FUND

The core investor would be a US investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner

US President Donald Trump (right) and Fifa president Gianni Infantino get ready to present the World Cup to Spain in New Jersey. Photo: dpa

Uefa member federations agreed on Thursday to boycott all Fifa competitions in protest of Gianni Infantino’s plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private equity investors.

“Uefa and its national associations will not participate in Fifa competitions,” the European football body said after an urgent online meeting of the 55 members.

“Some things are simply too important to sell,” Uefa said in a statement. “The Fifa World Cup belongs to football. It always will. And so long as Europe has a voice, it will never be for sale.”

The strategy meeting was called to counter Fifa president Infantino’s offer of US$20 million to each of Fifa’s 211 global members that has to be accepted by mid-September.

Infantino’s secret proposal was revealed on Tuesday to spin off its commercial operations in a new US$20 billion subsidiary 20 per cent owned by private investors. The core investor would be a New York investment firm created by Joshua Kushner, the brother of US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino has presented the private equity offer as a chance to “turbocharge” funding development of football. Photo: Reuters

“This is not merely a profound failure of leadership, but an abdication of Fifa’s duty as the custodian of world football,” said Uefa, where Infantino was a long-time staffer and its CEO-like general secretary when he was first elected to lead Fifa in 2016.

- Associated Press

MICHAEL CARRICK 'NOT OFFENDED' BY MAN UTD PLAN AND 'RESPECTS' DECISION

A Manchester United fan group are pressing on with protest plans this Sunday but Michael Carrick is not offended by them venting their frustration at Old Trafford

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Michael Carrick insists he is "not offended" by the planned protest by Manchester United fans ahead of their clash against Fulham - and vows that it won't impact on the players as they bid to make it three wins from three under him.

Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim until the end of the season and has begun with a bang - first downing Manchester City at Old Trafford before going to Arsenal and beating them in north London. It has United firmly in the hunt to claim a Champions League spot for next season.

There is a feel good factor around the club, but the fans have not changed their mind on holding a protest before Sunday's clash, albeit their anger is directed at Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the overall ownership structure.

United fan group The 1958 is expecting upwards of 6,000 supporters to join their pre-match march to protest against the Glazers and Ratcliffe, who have continued to make unpopular decisions with anger and frustration mounting.

The 1958 group see Ratcliffe, who is in charge of football operations, as very much being in bed with the Glazers as the club's debts of £1.1billion continue to rack up - but Carrick understands their right to air their feelings.

The man in the dugout has maintained: "It doesn't affect the team. I fully respect the supporters. They're incredible. They have been for so long and had a lot of ups and some downs as well, but, you know, I'm not offended by it or anything, and the players certainly aren't. Within the stadium, the support we've felt, and that's been there for all the games that I've watched for quite some time, has been of the highest level and I'm sure it will continue to be like that.

'The connection we've had over the last couple of weeks has been pretty special and we've both fed off that. I think the supporters have fed off it.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not popular among the Man Utd faithful(Image: James Gill - Danehouse, Getty Images)

"We have as a group, the players certainly have, and that's something we need to keep building on moving forward, because that's exactly how we wanted it to be. I think we've had a good couple of weeks and we're moving in the right direction. We want to keep building on that."

Already there is talk of Carrick landing the job beyond this season, although the original plan was for the club to eye a new permanent manager come the summer. Carrick's results could make him hard to ignore however with 15 games of the season remaining.

- Samuel Meade

VALENCIA FANS RALLY AGAINST PETER LIM IN LAS PALMAS DEFEAT

Valencia fans protest | Image: X/screengrab

Thousands of Valencia fans protested against owner Peter Lim and the reported detention of two fans in Lim's home country of Singapore before and after its 3-2 loss to Las Palmas in LaLiga on Monday.

Dani Cuesta and his wife were detained in Singapore almost three weeks ago after Cuesta reportedly held up anti-Lim signs.

Valencia fans have been protesting Lim's management of their club for years.

The millionaire businessman bought Valencia in 2014 but supporters have been angered by what they feel is his absentee ownership, and thousands rallied outside Mestalla Stadium before the game.

Thousands more returned after a defeat that left Valencia bottom of La Liga with just one win in 10 matches.

The game started well for the home side with Pepelu putting Valencia ahead from the penalty spot after 14 minutes.

But Alex Muñoz equalized for Las Palmas three minutes before halftime and on-loan Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Fábio Silva put it 2-1 ahead seven minutes into the second period.

Pepelu was sent off for an off-the-ball incident after 69 minutes and Alberto Moleiro added a third for Las Palmas soon after.

César Tárrega got a goal back in stoppage time for Valencia but it was too little too late and Las Palmas celebrated a surprise first win this season and its first in La Liga since February.

The victory lifted it above Valencia on goal difference and off the bottom of the table.

- Associated Press 

EVERTON FAN FLY BANNER OVER ETIHAD PROTESTING POINTS SANCTION

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An Everton fan group flew a banner over the Etihad Stadium protesting the 10-point deduction the club have been handed for breaching financial rules during Manchester City's Premier League game against Liverpool on Saturday.

The banner, which was organised by The 1878s fan group, read "Premier League = corrupt" and was flown over the stadium in the second half of the game that ended in a 1-1 draw.

On Nov. 17, Everton were docked 10 points by the Premier League for a breach of the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) for the season ending 2021-22.

It is the biggest sanction in the history of the Premier League and saw the Merseyside club drop from 14th to 19th on the table.

EPSOM DERBY POTESTER TACKLED BY POLICE DURING RACE

PROTESTERS CRASH WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP WITH ORANGE POWDER

JUST STOP OIL PROTESTERS INVADE THE WORLD SNOOKER TOURNAMENT