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The Government has on Friday, August 14 held a consultative meeting with the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) and the National Council of Sports regarding the resumption of football and sports in Uganda.

Football and sporting activities, in general, were suspended in the East Africa nation in March owing to the Covid-19 outbreak. It is the reason why Fufa went on to annul the Ugandan Premier League and crown Vipers SC as the champions.

A total of 25 rounds, which relates to 80% of matches, had been played by the time and per Fufa rules, it was in order to crown the Venoms, who were also given the right to represent the country in the Caf Champions League, while KCCA FC were given the mandate to play in the Caf Confederation Cup.

"Fufa, National Council of Sports and Government of the Republic of Uganda today held another meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister in regard to the resumption of football and sports in general," the Federation posted on their official Facebook page.

"There's hope that the green light will come soon."

Fufa president Moses Magogo and his deputy Decolas Kizza were present in the meeting.

The Federation has also confirmed promotional play-off games will be played for the rightful teams to play in their respective leagues.

Special permission has also been made for the women's U17 team to start preparations for the World Cup qualifying match against Cameroon.

"Our immediate focus is to see that the promotional playoff games across the different competitions are played to a conclusion," Magogo said.

"We also asked for permission to have the Uganda U17 Girls' national team enter a residential camp in preparation for the World Cup qualifier games against Cameroon."  

Uganda made some structural changes in women's football to help the country grow and for ladies to get more involved in the game.

Despite the improvements already made, the administrator has challenged clubs to try and improve further.

"As Fufa, we have always thought that such engagements help us to understand our successes and challenges better," Magogo had said in an earlier interview. 

"We can agree to disagree here but even when Fufa or clubs have different opinions about an issue, when we meet, a solution is always found. 

"We are proud of the journey moved so far since the start of regular club football for Women Football in 2015. I can say we have registered a number of successful stories ranging from an increase in the number of girls taking part, the quality of football displayed to our national teams. 

"But at the moment we are saying can we engage another gear?"

Cape Town City moved closer to the top eight bracket following a 1-0 win over Chippa United at Orlando Stadium on Friday afternoon. 

Kermit Erasmus' first-half goal was the difference as the Mother City-based side bagged only their eighth win of the season. 

The former Orlando Pirates marksman headed home after being left unmarked in the box following a delightful cross by Fagrie Lakay. 

City dominated possession for the better part of the game while Chippa chased the game and often had to soak up the pressure.

With this being Lehlohonolo Seema's first game in charge of the Chilli Boys, changes in their usual starting line-up were expected. 

Seema started with Mlungisi Mazibuko in goals while Thokozani Sekotlong led the attack as a lone striker. 

His counterpart, Jan Olde Riekerink, didn't make any surprising changes to the team that featured heavily before the suspension of the season in March. 

Peter Leeuwenburgh kept his place in between sticks while Erasmus, Lakay and Surprise Ralani completed the 4-3-3 formation upfront. 

After a slow start to the first-half, City created their first real chance through Lakay in the 15th minute but he would sky his out-of-box effort over the crossbar after a brilliant combination with Erasmus and Shane Roberts.  

City then took the lead two minutes later through Erasmus who was left lurking inside the box and the diminutive striker made no mistake, heading the ball past Mazibuko.

This was after Lakay had positioned himself well to collect the ball from a Chippa United throw-in before whipping a cross into the box.  

It was the 25th goal that Chippa United had conceded this season - a record Seema will have to work on improving ahead of next season provided he keeps the job beyond the current campaign.  

The game lost its spark soon afterwards with Chippa United having to deal with the pace of City's front three while trying to create goalscoring chances of their own. 

However, it was a rather disappointing half as they only registered a single shot at goal - a Ruzaigh Gamaldien attempt which went wide without even troubling Leeuwenburgh. 

City made a forced substitution at the start of the second half after Thamsanqa Mkhize, injured from the first-half, was replaced by Ebrahim Seedat.

Whatever Seema told his players at half-time really worked wonders as Chippa United took the game to City soon after the restart. 

Perhaps the introduction of  Kurt Lentjies and Augustine Kwem also sparked them to life as they played with more purpose and determination, especially in the final third of the pitch. 

Their first shot at goal after the restart came a few minutes into the second half when Gamaldien fired wide from inside City's box.  

Lakay proved too much for the home side as he used his pace to unsettle the defence. 

He was fouled in a promising position for City to double their lead but Mduduzi Mdantsane's free-kick sailed over the crossbar.

As expected, fatigue crept in midway through the second half and goalscoring chances were few and far between.  

The last 15 minutes brought back the excitement as Chippa United pushed forward in numbers while City sat back and wanted to catch them on a counter.

Tashreeq Morris had a chance to put the game to bed and double City's lead in the 75th minute after a delightful through pass from Mdantsane but he failed to beat Mazibuko.  

There was drama with 10 minutes to go as Kelvin Moyo was red-carded for a second bookable offence. This forced Chippa United to finish the match with 10 men. 

Ultimately, the Citizens held on to their lead to register a comfortable win and move up to ninth on the standings.

Javier Mascherano is convinced Barcelona will overcome a "very good" Bayern Munich side in their Champions League quarter-final tie thanks to the presence of Lionel Messi.

Argentina superstar Messi took his tally for the season to 31 goals with a strike in last week's 3-1 last-16 second-leg win over Napoli as Barca progressed 4-2 on aggregate.

Bayern have won 26 of their past 27 matches in all competitions and now await Quique Setien's side in Lisbon on Friday after thrashing Chelsea 7-1 over two legs in the previous round.

Despite the German champions' impressive form, however, Mascherano is expecting former team-mate Messi to guide Barcelona to victory in the one-legged tie.

"Bayern have a very good team with some physically strong players but, in a one-off match, anything can happen and I'm convinced Barcelona will be good enough," Mascherano, who is now playing in his native Argentina for Estudiantes, told Catalan daily Ara ahead of the last-eight clash.

"Barcelona need to control the match because it's always difficult for them to defend around their own area. If they can control things, then it's down to individual moments and that's when things begin to happen.

"Messi is the main reason Barcelona can beat any team. He knows they are just two more matches away from the Champions League final. I saw that desire from him against Napoli and it spread to his team-mates."

Messi is likely to start alongside Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez on Friday but there is talk Barca are looking to bring in a long-term replacement for the latter.

Inter striker Lautaro Martinez has been strongly linked with a switch to Camp Nou during the close season, and Mascherano is a fan of his compatriot

"I don't know if he's the perfect replacement for Luis Suarez," he said. "What I do know is, he's a very good player and is very compatible with Messi for the national team.

"But I don't know if he's Suarez's replacement or if Suarez needs replacing."

Tanzania Mainland Premier League champions Simba SC have completed the signing of Kenya international Joash Onyango from Gor Mahia.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi have not, however, confirmed the length of the 27-year old’s contract as they get busy in the transfer window each passing day.

Onyango, who earned his maiden Harambee Stars call-up under coach Sebastien Migne, made his debut against Ghana at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani during an African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers.

He was part of the 2019 Afcon squad in Egypt that was eliminated in the group stages after losing two matches and winning against Taifa Stars of Tanzania in Group C’s last encounter.

Onyango, nicknamed 'Berlin Wall' due to his defensive performances, had established himself as one of the outstanding defenders in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) while serving the Green Army.

He never looked back since he became a regular first-team member for Gor Mahia when Musa Mohamed left for KF Tirana of Albania in 2018.

His outstanding partnership with Harun Shakava and later on Charles Momanyi at the back, saw him consequently appointed the K’Ogalo’s assistant captain.

“We have placed on our shoulders great targets of going far in the Caf Champions League as well as good performances in the domestic competitions,” Simba, who have so far signed Bernard Morrison from arch-rivals Yanga SC, said as they confirmed Onyango’s signing.

“For that reason, the club must sign good and dependable defenders and ones who are experienced in featuring in big games.

“Therefore Kenya international [Joash] Onyango has landed at Msimbazi.”

Onyango is expected to be part of Wekundu wa Msimbazi contingent that will represent Tanzania in the Caf Champions League next season. The former Western Stima and Mumias Sugar FC star has prominently featured for Gor Mahia in both the Champions League and the Caf Confederation Cup in the last three seasons.

His arrival is seen as Simba’s plan to survive when Serge Pascal Wawa, 33, will eventually leave the club. Onyango is expected to fight for places with the Ivorian as well as Kennedy Juma and Erasto Nyoni.

Simba lost the battle to sign centre-back Bakari Mwamnyeto from Coastal Union as the Tanzanian preferred a move to Yanga.

Onyango’s move from Gor Mahia to the Tanzanian giants is the latest setback suffered by the KPL giants against their regional rivals.

In 2018, prolific striker Meddie Kagere left K’Ogalo for Simba before Francis Kahata did the same last year.

Kagere and Kahata were key for Simba during the 2019/20 season where they lifted the Community Shield, the FA Cup and defended the league title with six matches to spare.

In 2015, Ugandan international Dan Sserunkuma left Gor Mahia for Simba too but he did not instantly settle before he left after one year.

Bidvest Wits goalkeeper Ricardo Goss is expecting an entertaining match when they take on Orlando Pirates in a PSL match on Saturday.

Wits secured a 4-3 victory over Pirates in an enthralling PSL encounter which was played at Moses Mabhida Stadium in September last year.

The two former PSL champions then played to a 3-3 draw in the Nedbank Cup match at Orlando Stadium in January and Wits went on to win on penalties. 

Goss returned to action for the Clever Boys against Kaizer Chiefs in midweek after serving a four-match ban and he is now expected to face Bucs at Ellis Park Stadium. 

“I think it will be entertaining, there have been a lot of goals [between the sides],” Goss told the South African Football Journalists Association (Safja).

“It was 4-3 at the Moses Mabhida and 3-3 in the Nedbank Cup so it is usually very entertaining. I think it is 50/50 and the team that defends better will win.”

The former South Africa under-23 international played the entire league encounter which ended in a 1-1 against Chiefs at Orlando Stadium.

Goss had been suspended by the PSL after pushing match referee Mxolisi Bambiso during Wits’ 2-0 defeat to Cape Town City in a league match in January.

The 26-year-old explained that his emotions got the better of him and he added that he has learned a lesson. 

“We knew it was an important game to win and my emotions got the better of me,” he said.

“It is something I am not proud of and something that will never happen again. I have apologised to the referee and to my teammates for the way I reacted.

"I think I have learnt my lesson, I was out for six months and I do not want to go through that … again.”

Goss, who is competing with Brandon Peterson and Brighton Mhlongo in the Wits goalkeeping department, has made 13 appearances across all competitions for the Clever Boys this season. 

The former Lamontville Golden Arrows keeper is set to join Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of the current campaign.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidential aspirants led by experienced administrator Sam Nyamweya, Omondi Aduda, Nicholas Musonye, Alex Magelo among others, have filed a petition with the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) to bar the Federation and the Electoral Board from engaging in organizing the elections.

On Tuesday, August 11, the Board went on to release a roadmap to the elections, something which the aspirants were against, arguing the current regime has no legal mandate to oversee the elections. In the March 17 SDT ruling, the National Executive Council (Nec), which is a body mandated to make vital decisions including the elections-related, was sent home after the expiry of their term.

As a result, the FKF could not come up with the Body to oversee the exercise. The Tribunal, further, stated the exercise should have started afresh meaning even the existing voters' register was null and void.

"The petitioners pray... the court to issue prohibitive orders against the [Electoral Board] and the [FKF} from proceeding with the illegal election process as indicated in their road map ... until they comply with the court orders issued on the 17th March 2020," read part of the Petition to the SDT and obtained by Goal.

"A declaration that FKF cannot hold its elections until it fully complies with the ruling."

The candidates have further asked for a roundtable meeting to come up with a fair procedure to be used in the elections and without the same, the current regime cannot hold the elections.

"The petitioners pray for a declaration that FKF cannot hold its elections until a clear eligibility criterion that is all-inclusive and fair for candidates and voters is set and applied in accordance with the Constitution of Kenya, the Sports Act, and the FKF Constitution.

"A declaration that the FKF Electoral Board has no authority or power to issue any regulations on FKF elections as their mandate is limited to overseeing national and county elections and can also appoint an individual or institution to oversee sub-county elections."

The FKF elections have been canceled twice owing to failure to comply to set regulations and rules by the government. 

Antoine Griezmann knows exactly what he’ll be listening to as he gets ‘in the zone’ for Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League showdown with Bayern Munich on Friday.

French rapper Nekfeu has been the soundtrack to the Barca forward’s life in lockdown.

And the World Cup winner kept himself entertained by returning to one of his favourite pastimes – Football Manager.

“Ousmane Dembele plays Fortnite a lot, Sergi Roberto too. I think everyone has their own things to think about something other than football. For me, I love playing Football Manager,” Griezmann told Goal.

“I have been playing Football Manager with Marseille. I really enjoy playing the game - I try to learn things as a coach, how to lead a group, and it is very close to real life.”

This week life gets very real as Griezmann seeks to steer Barcelona past Bayern Munich in Lisbon.

The two clubs have both reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the 18th time, more than any other team, and are among the favourites to claim club football’s most coveted title.

And Griezmann can’t wait to get back into action, though he will miss the presence of the fans at the Estadio da Luz.

“It is very different in an empty stadium. I think the best feeling is to be able to celebrate with your people, with your fans, and hopefully we can do it as soon as possible.”

The PUMA ULTRA 1.1 launches in the Chasing Adrenaline colour combination of shocking orange, black and white and is available on pre-sale from August 12th at PUMA.com and key football accounts, with global release on August 24th at PUMA.com, PUMA stores and at leading football retailers worldwide.

What a story! The Atalanta fairytale had swayed observers to the point that RB Leipzig’s equally impressive Champions League run had largely gone unnoticed.

In only their second-ever participation in Europe’s most prestigious competition, the German side, established barely a decade ago, are now two games away from winning Old Big Ears. Defeating a floundering Tottenham Hotspur without Harry Kane and Son Heung-min in the first knockout round was one thing, getting the better of Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid was an entirely more daunting obstacle.

After all, Los Colchoneros had left egg on the face of Liverpool in the previous round, silencing an Anfield crowd that many thought would give Jurgen Klopp’s side the advantage in the return leg on Merseyside. After Paris-Saint Germain knocked out Atalanta on Wednesday night, the expectation was for another favourite to make it through to the semis.

However, the revamped nature of this year’s shortened Champions League has shown that over 90 minutes, at a neutral venue, anything is indeed possible.

Die Roten Bullen deserved their 2-1 win over Atletico on Thursday, make no mistake. Julian Nagelsmann’s troops played without fear, impressed with their combination play in the Spanish side’s half (even though their final third passes frustratingly went awry at times) and were alive to the two-time finalists’ threat on the counter.

Their defensive showing was a collective effort, although the highly-rated Dayot Upamecano epitomised the Bundesliga side keeping Simeone’s team at bay whenever they came forward. Not everyone has the ability nay nerve to truly bully Diego Costa, despite the striker visibly no longer at the peak of his powers.

However, the 21-year-old centre-back of Bissau-Guinean descent deserves immense credit for neutralising him with minimal fuss.

The pair’s mini-battle began in the fourth minute when the young defender committed his only foul of the game on the former Chelsea forward. This set the tone for the duo duelling, and the centre-back came out on top in the contest. Winning nine of 11 total duels, unsurprisingly the highest in the RBL side, underscored Upamecano’s dominance in Lisbon.

The sight of Costa hacking down the Leipzig man in the second-half after losing yet another tussle with the youngster and the glare that followed underlined the forward’s frustrations. Minutes later, he was replaced after a joyless evening at Estadio Jose Alvalade.

Upamecano’s display wasn’t just about what he did out of possession, however, even though a strong tackle on left-back Renan Lodi in the 39th minute showed his uncompromising nature. A timely intervention prevented a through ball from reaching Costa who would have been eyeball to eyeball with Peter Gulacsi in goal...which was one of three interceptions for the French Youth international.

With the ball at his feet, Upamecano’s composure and ball carrying bellied his relative inexperience, and his importance to the Red Bulls’ build-up was intermittently noteworthy during the encounter.

One moment just before the interval highlighted the defender’s calmness in possession: upon receiving a pass just inside his half, the 21-year-old spotted the space between Marcos Llorente and Yannick Carrasco to run into, beat the subsequent press from Saul Niguez before picking out right wing-back Konrad Laimer in an advanced position.

The wideman’s poor cross didn’t take advantage of his teammate’s fine work, but it showed the possibilities that can open up when the centre-back drives forward with the ball or has it at his feet.

Upamecano, who had the joint-highest touches (99) on either side, completed all three attempted dribbles and was largely positive in his play. The youngster successfully found a teammate with 75 of 81 attempted passes, a 91 percent completion rate. 10 of 15 long passes reached its intended target, showing the central defender wasn’t only playing easy five-yard balls but took risks from time to time in possession.

Fbref statistics show that the centre-back has not only carried the ball the farthest in any direction but has equally been the most effective ball-carrier toward the opponent’s goal in the Leipzig team. Also, the 21-year-old played the highest volume of passes longer than 25 yards for the side in the Bundesliga, completing 86.6 percent of a staggering 732 attempts, while he led the way for passes into the final third as well.

The second-half vs Atletico tested him more defensively, as the Madrid outfit came out of their shell, and the wonderkid seldom put a foot wrong. He had the presence of mind to pull out of a tackle with Lodi on the hour when others would have left a foot dangling to concede a penalty. Instead, Polish referee Szymon Marciniak rightly booked the full-back for simulation.

Upamecano’s pace and anticipation were evident on two occasions late on, as he nullified passes sent to Alvaro Morata and Carrasco into the channels in the final 15 minutes. Moments after the latter, a wicked deflection saw a tame Tyler Adams shot beat Jan Oblak with two minutes of normal time to play, taking the Germans through.

In truth, the growing defender will face a sterner test in their final four battle with Ligue 1 side Paris-Saint Germain, who possess arguably twice the talent of Atleti in Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and even Angel Di Maria. Still, you get the feeling one of the best young defenders will relish the challenge against one of the most dangerous attacks in Europe.

Thursday night saw Nagelsmann navigate a tricky quarter-final encounter without the team’s best player Timo Werner, who left for Chelsea last month despite the temptation to complete their Champions League journey.

Leipzig are only two games from success, and with Upamecano in this sort of form, maybe it isn’t so preposterous to dream with European glory within touching distance.

FC Dallas have strongly condemned "repulsive and unacceptable" racist comments and death threats Reggie Cannon has been subjected to this week. 

Dallas defender Cannon criticised supporters who booed players for kneeling during the national anthem before his side returned to MLS action against Nashville on Wednesday.  

Some fans were allowed into the game, which started after the teams showed their support of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

Sportsmen and women have taken a knee worldwide since NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick became the first to do so in the 2016 season, protesting against police brutality and racial inequality. 

But jeers were heard among supporters as Dallas, Nashville and the officials took a knee, with a water bottle also appearing to be thrown on the field in response. 

Dallas chairman Clark Hunt and president Dan Hunt says the abuse United States international Cannon has come in for will not be tolerated. 

"We want to be clear: We love and support Reggie Cannon. The racist comments and death threats he has received are repulsive and unacceptable," a statement from the duo said. 

"There is no place in our sport, or in our country for that matter, for the kind of horrific vitriol Reggie has had to endure today. Hateful or violent threats are never warranted – especially when they are directed toward a member of our FC Dallas family. 

"We will continue to work together – with our players, our coaches and our fans – against racism and in the cause of equality for all." 

Full-back Cannon said after a 1-0 defeat for Dallas: "I think it was disgusting. I think it was absolutely disgusting.

"You've got fans booing you for people taking a stand for what they believe in, and millions of other people support this cause.

"We discussed with every other team and the league what we were going to do, and we've got fans booing us in our own stadium. How disgraceful is that?

"For a lack of a better word, it pissed me off."

Cannon said the players had asked for the anthem not to be played before the match but "they ignored our wishes".

"We were going to kneel regardless if the anthem was played or not," he explained. "Unfortunately, it was played during the time when we asked for the anthem not to be played."

Ernst Middendorp has defended his decision to fill the void left by George Maluleka with Nkosingiphile Ngcobo in Kaizer Chiefs' midweek draw against Bidvest Wits. 

Maluleka's six-year relationship with Amakhosi came to an end in June after signing a pre-contract with Mamelodi Sundowns at the start of the year. 

And there were concerns as to who will replace him in Middendorp's starting line-up until the German mentor released his team for the Wits game with Ngcobo partnering Willard Katsande.   

"It was a good move. Let’s talk chess... from an opponent inside the league to provide a certain direction but okay‚ it happens. We had to find the solution," Middendorp told the media.  

"What I have seen and we have seen‚ in the training sessions in the last three‚ four weeks‚ after we could work as a team‚ is a lot of good moments contributing in attacking, in particular," Middendorp of Ngcobo.

"And so far he has done well. Here and there we have to expect that it will not go from game to game but we made a decision to put him in and he had some good passes."

Middendorp admits that while Ngcobo has done well considering he's only 20 years old, he doesn't believe in raving about the younger players in his squad.  

He feels anyone, irrespective of their age, should be considered for selection if they are doing well. 

"I’m not really riding the wave of ‘young players’‚ and ‘Diski [reserve] team players’. I believe that if somebody is part of the squad‚ it doesn’t matter if they are 34‚ or 19 or 20 – if he is part of the squad then he deserves to be there," continued Middendorp. 

"Then he has done a lot of good stuff already in his development work‚ prepared here in our case by [Chiefs assistant and development coach] Arthur Zwane.

"And then let’s not talk [about age]. If someone is 19 or 34‚ I look at what is happening on the training ground‚ and if we get the impression that this is the right one.

"If someone is in the squad of Kaizer Chiefs‚ then he should perform‚ then he should be available for selection.”

Fresh from a 1-1 draw against Bidvest Wits on Wednesday night, former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Sergio Dos Santos is confident coach Ernst Middendorp can claim maximum points against Polokwane City on Saturday afternoon.

The former Amakhosi mentor also weighed in on Itumeleng Khune’s absence in the clash against the Clever Boys, saying there is nothing wrong with the Nigerian goalkeeper, but laments a lack of concentration for conceding a late goal at Orlando Stadium.

On the other hand, the 70-year-old believes Middendorp cannot afford to make changes to the team as yet, explaining that it is Mamelodi Sundowns that have the luxury of doing that because of the depth they have.

“Look, we’ve discussed this before. The present goalkeeper has done a very good job for Chiefs and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't,” Dos Santos told Goal .

“Since the start of the season, I don’t see any problems with Akpeyi but they were just unlucky against Wits to only get a draw. Although I thought Wits had better chances to win it, Chiefs were leading 1-0 and they were not really in control of the game.

“There were injuries and the replacements came in but they were sleeping a little bit and they gave Wits too much space in the box. They were eventually punished and you can’t really blame the goalkeeper for that.

“I don’t think they really miss Khune because the present goalkeeper has done a very good job for Amakhosi.”

On what the German manager can do to get the desired results at Loftus Versfeld Stadium against Clinton Larsen’s troops, the Cape Town-based coach warns against making changes as yet.

“It will be difficult for Chiefs to make many changes because they have just started the games after the break and it will take a little while for the boys to start playing as a team again,” he added.

“I think Mamelodi Sundowns have got a better, settled team because they got a bigger squad. So, it’s easier to make changes because the players have been playing together for a very long time. You saw against Wits, Chiefs got two injuries and it was not easy to replace them.

“That is the difference, of course, what happens with Polokwane City. They have to win because Sundowns is going to be right up the trail there but they are also going to have a tough game against Highlands Park tonight [on Friday], make no mistake about that - it’s going to be tough."

"The run is going to be tight from now until the end of the season and the team that slips up is the one that’s going to get punished for sure.”

Coming to the PSL log leaders’ chances of ensuring their first win since the games returned after they were suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, Dos Santos offers a piece of advice.

“Of course [Chiefs have a chance against Polokwane] because some players will feel the pressure and as you know after playing one game, the boys are going to be a little bit tired,” he continued.

"So, the important thing is to keep possession, that’s very important. Don’t be in a hurry to go and score and don’t run too much, slow the game down and let Polokwane come.

“Then you have to try and steal the ball. Catch them on a counter and get that goal which Chiefs do very well, and I’m sure they will the game,” he concluded. 

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has revealed Leon Balogun will not be available for their Scottish Premiership game against Livingston on Sunday.  

The 32-year-old centre-back was forced off in their victory over St. Johnstone on Wednesday after he suffered an injury.

The Nigeria international was subsequently replaced by Filip Helander in the encounter as the Gers secured their third consecutive league triumph.

Gerrard, who has been impressed with the performances of the defender since joining the side, explained the Super Eagles star will not feature against Callum Davidson’s men.

“Leon Balogun won't be available for the weekend, he has a small quad problem and we are waiting on results from a scan,” Gerrard said in a pre-match press conference.

Balogun has been delivering solid defensive displays since joining Rangers as a free agent after parting ways with Wigan Athletic following the expiration of his contract. 

The defender was named in the Premiership Team of the Week following his performances in his debut against Aberdeen.

Balogun’s effort has helped Rangers keep clean sheets in their opening three games against the Dons, St. Mirren and St. Johnstone.

The experienced centre-back featured for Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Düsseldorf, Darmstadt 98 and Mainz 05 before moving to England in 2018 to team up with Brighton and Hove Albion.

Balogun spent two years with the Premier League side and then joined Championship club Wigan, initially on loan before the deal was made permanent.

The defender has been a key member of the Nigeria national team since he made his debut for the three-time African champions against Mexico in 2014.

Balogun, who has 32 caps for the West Africans, was part of Gernot Rohr’s side that finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

The centre-back will hope to make a return to Rangers squad when they face Kilmarnock on August 22.

It’s never straightforward picking out a best goal from an array of options. This is, in part, due to its subjective nature, with observers selecting in line with their preferences.

Ask observers of the game what constitutes a ‘perfect goal’ and there’s bound to be difference of opinion.

While some will opt for long-range belters, others may favour a well-worked team effort or moments of individual brilliance that leave the mouth agape in wonder.

Fans of this last option may well opt for Jay-Jay Okocha’s boldness in Eintracht Frankfurt’s 3-1 victory over Karlsruher SC in August 1993. Late in the game, with the away side trailing 2-1, Frankfurt launched a quick counter-attack, which seemed ready to end when Okocha received the ball with Oliver Kahn eyeball-to-eyeball.

A simple finish past the German will have sufficed, but the Nigerian seldom did the simple thing, did he?

Instead, he took the ball this way and that, briefly sending the blonde shot-stopper sprawling at thin air, thereafter teasing the Karlsruher defenders with even more feints, before unleashing a left-footed shot past the already bamboozled Kahn.

The iconic goalie wasn’t a household name at the time, but that effort has been replayed time and again over the years, with Okocha’s magical moment still eliciting rave reviews.

Kahn stayed helpless on the turf while the virtuoso trickster danced in celebration. In 2016, 23 years later, the eight-time Bundesliga winner joked that he was still 'dizzy' from being on the receiving end of the Nigerian’s brilliance decades before .

Witnessed by 32,000 supporters at the Waldstadion, the wonderstrike was voted Goal of the Year by viewers of the Sportschau .

The national award for best goal scored for or in Germany was claimed by Nigeria’s most-talented player of all-time in 1993, but where does it rank among a plethora of memorable strikes by Africans in history?

In fairness, such a call is extremely subjective and represents something of an impossible task, although there's no doubt that African players have been responsible for some truly breathtaking goals.

It’s impossible to forget Michael Essien’s piledriver from 30 yards against Arsenal in 2006/07 or his left-footed volley in 2009’s Champions League semi-final second-leg against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge that went in off the underside of the bar.

Both ferociously struck efforts will probably be no match for Papiss Cisse’s strikes against the Blues on the same ground in 11/12. The Senegalese’s second in particular, in which he cut across the ball with his right foot to send a swerving effort from the inside-left channel past Petr Cech, also gets a mention.

Didier Drogba, a scorer of remarkable goals himself, seemed to applaud his opponent’s effort, which was telling.

The Ivory Coast icon scored several ferocious strikes too, with his half-volley on the turn against Liverpool in 06/07 particularly noteworthy. That season also featured great goals against Barcelona on home turf and Everton at Goodison Park, then there was that stunning free-kick at Arsenal in 09/10...the Blues legend scored the lot! 

In addition, Togo star Emmanuel Adebayor left an indelible mark on the North London Derby with a crashing self-made volley for Arsenal at White Hart Lane in September 2007.

Acrobatic efforts aren’t left out either: Who can forget Kevin-Prince Boateng’s scissor kick for Las Palmas in October 2016, which came about from Tana’s back-heeled assist or Masuluke Oscarine’s last-gasp overhead kick to salvage a draw for Baroka FC against Orlando Pirates in late 2016?

Demba Ba also netted two spectacular FA Cup goals against Manchester United and Manchester City in 2013, the first at the Bridge and the latter at Wembley.

Indeed, it’s a tough choice to make given the glut of brilliant strikes over the years.

George Weah’s amazing solo effort for AC Milan against Hellas Verona in September 1996 closely rivals Okocha’s from three years earlier.

The striker’s effort was different to the Nigerian ace in that, while the playmaker’s magic all happened in the box, the 1995 Ballon d’Or winner ran the length of the field; and beat three Verona players en route , to score in a 4-1 win for the Rossoneri .

Manchester City icon Yaya Toure netted several unforgettable strikes for the Citizens in his Premier League stint, but none probably outdo his solo effort against Aston Villa in 13/14.

City’s box-to-box midfielder received the ball inside his half, sprinted at full tilt past two Villa players, leaving another three in his wake to finish past Brad Guzan.

Occasionally, skill and individual brilliance are secondary to magnitude, as seen at the 1998 and 2010 World Cups.

Having had an Okocha throw-in cleared by Fernando Hierro, Sunday Oliseh smashed in a thunderous attempt from about 30 yards to complete Nigeria’s 3-2 comeback against the fancied La Furia Roja .

It was an unforgettable hit from the midfielder who reminisced over the importance of the goal in 2014.

“People always talk about it back home,” Oliseh recalled in 2014 . “The fact that this goal propelled us to winning the group, eliminating a great team like Spain, and the fact that it cemented my family’s name in the history of world football, it couldn’t be better.”

12 years later, Siphiwe Tshabalala finished off a brilliant team move to put South Africa ahead against Mexico at the opening game of the 2010 World Cup. A packed Soccer City, and likely the entire continent, erupted after the wideman’s thunderbolt sent Bafana Bafana 1-0 up.

While the match finished 1-1, that strike is forever etched in every African’s memory.

Honourable mentions go to Sikiru Olatunbosun’s volley for MFM FC against Rangers in 2017, Hlompho Kekana’s strike for South Africa in 2016 away at Cameroon from inside his half, or Tshabalala’s 40-yard volley for Kaizer Chiefs against old side Free State Stars in 2015, at the same scene of his World Cup opener in 2010.

From Okocha’s wizardry and effrontery, to Weah’s brilliance or Oliseh’s scorcher, Africans have always scored memorable goals from time immemorial, but which is your favourite?

David de Gea is in for some disappointing news after learning Yeovil Town are not interested in signing the troubled Manchester United goalkeeper.

The Spain international has been the subject of a lot of criticism in recent weeks because of his underwhelming performances for the Red Devils.

There is growing speculation about De Gea's future at Old Trafford, with reports claiming United could replace him this summer, with Dean Henderson set to return from his loan at Sheffield United.

If the 29-year-old is thinking about cutting his losses and heading for the exit door ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, he may be in for a difficult time when it comes to finding a new club, as even National League side Yeovil have warned him they would not offer him a place at Huish Park.

The shots-topper posted a cryptic tweet on Thursday night consisting of a white and green circle.

Before he clarified on Friday that it was a nod to Elche ahead of their Segunda Division play-off match, Yeovil took it as a hint that he wants to make the switch to the fifth-tier team in the near future, but they joked that he has no chance of taking a place between the sticks there.

The club quoted the goalkeeper's tweet and replied: "Nah not interested, sorry David."

He may be under a lot of pressure due to some disappointing displays for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team of late, but his time at the club is not over yet.

Coach Solskjaer gave him his full support as he faced questions over De Gea's form last month.

"David has proven it over the years. Form might be temporary, but class is permanent. He's an absolutely top keeper," the United boss said.

Club legend and former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes Solskjaer is right to stick by his man , saying last month that De Gea is one of the best in his position in the Premier League.

"I see David de Gea as the goalkeeper for Manchester United for many years to come and I think he has been treated unfairly in all honesty," he added.

But ex-United stars Gary Neville and Roy Keane are concerned about De Gea's ability to get back to his best.

"I’ve never been a big fan of his. He makes far too many mistakes, big mistakes that cost United big points," Keane told  Sky Sports .

"We talk about recruitment, it’s a difficult part of the game. That’s just my opinion. If Manchester United want to challenge for league titles, they need a better goalkeeper."

Neville added : “I was nervous about him in his first year or two at Manchester United but then he did prove to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world for four or five years. In the last 18 months he's been riddled with mistakes and only Solskjaer can make that decision over the goalkeeper.

“What I would say about that decision is that Solskjaer has to be decisive and ruthless with that decision, he's got to think about himself and the club. If he thinks De Gea is going to return to the level he was at before, stick with him."

Sarina Wiegman has signed a four-year deal to succeed Phil Neville as England's head coach, beginning in September 2021.

The 50-year-old's appointment was announced on Friday in anticipation of Neville's departure, which will come in July 2021 when his contract expires.

Wiegman will take over after she leads the Netherlands at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, rescheduled for July of next year due to the impact of Covid-19.

She will lead the Lionesses to the upcoming Euros in 2022, for which England are the hosts, as well as the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and the 2025 Euros.

However, Wiegman will not take charge of the Team GB squad that will fly to Japan next year - or a team at the 2024 Olympics, if Team GB were to qualify.

"I’m delighted and honoured to join England Women next year," she said.

"England is the cradle of football and the major developments in women’s football globally over recent years have been led by The FA. I’m very much looking forward to contributing my experience and expertise to this ambitious team.

"The ride with the ‘Oranje Lionesses’ has been amazing so far, but we haven’t reached our final destination yet. There are two more goals: qualifying for the UEFA Women's EURO in 2022 and challenging at the Olympics next summer. That would be a fitting completion for me of everything we've strived to achieve in women’s football in my home country.

"I am extremely excited by the prospect of leading England Women in the future, but for now I am one hundred percent focused on Oranje. I will do my utmost to add another chapter to their remarkable journey before making my next step."

The FA’s director of women’s football, Sue Campbell, added: "It speaks volumes for the progress of England Women over recent years and the bold ambitions we have for the future that we had so many world-class candidates apply for the role.

"Sarina was our number one choice. She is the perfect cultural fit for us, which is crucially important in building a winning team. Her technical expertise, leadership skills and winning mentality is hugely impressive.

"I am confident that together with our incredible support staff and ambitious, talented playing squad she can help us achieve the international success we are striving for.

"Sarina will also be a great ambassador for the FA and the women’s game in England, sharing our desire to inspire the next generation of English players, coaches, administrators and supporters."

Wiegman led the Netherlands to glory at their home Euros in 2017, when they beat Denmark 4-2 in the final. She then coached the team to the final of the 2019 World Cup, where they were beaten 2-0 by the United States.

The former Dutch international, who appeared over 100 times for her country between 1987 and 2001, had emerged as one of the front-runners to take Neville's position in recent weeks, along with former USWNT coach Jill Ellis, who had been one of the big names linked for the job for some time.

It was announced in April that Neville would leave his position when his contract expired. The former Manchester United defender took over in January 2018 and guided England to the semi-finals of the World Cup in France last year.

The FA are yet to confirm the coach who will lead Team GB, with a statement reading: "The FA will now renew its dialogue with the home nations in respect of the postponed Tokyo Olympics to take place in July 2021, as well as the 2024 Games, and a decision on the head coach for Team GB next year will be announced in due course."

The relegation of Wimbledon and Watford in 1999/00, two overly direct teams, seemingly marked the death of route one football in the Premier League, until Sam Allardyce came along with his Bolton Wanderers side in 2001/02.

At the time, Jay-Jay Okocha was still plying his trade for Paris Saint-Germain, the club who made him the most expensive African player in a £14 million deal in 1998.

The Nigerian playmaker joined the Bolton revolution on a free transfer after the 2002 World Cup as PSG didn’t take up the option of renewing his contract.

The idea of Allardyce and Okocha joining forces was a strange one, owing to their contrasting styles: the English manager was intent on bringing back old school British football to a changing Premier League that was gradually becoming more global, while the skilled artist was a mesmeric showman who simply wanted to have fun after crossing the white line.

For his part, the talented Super Eagle was so excited about playing in England that he probably didn’t hesitate with his decision to play for the Bolton icon.

As it turned out, the next four seasons were thrilling for the West African star who thrived in Allardyce’s system.

Their style was degradingly tagged 'hoof ball' by naysayers, who felt exasperated by the swathe of long balls the Trotters played into dangerous areas. However, even though it seemed that way, there was a lot of method to the perceived madness that was witnessed on most weekends.

While what was often experienced on matchdays wasn't easy on the eye football, it was the result of several hours spent poring through clips of the opposition, trying to find strengths and weaknesses in an attempt to prevent the former and exploit the latter.

Allardyce perfected this in his time at the club, and it is to his credit that after finishing in the bottom five in their first two campaigns back in the big time, the Wanderers ended in the top eight for the next four years.

The English manager took football back to basics, and while this irked many, it tended to bring out the best in his signings, Okocha inclusive.

Under the ex-defender, the Nigerian formed a major part of a side that possessed more technical players than they were given credit for, but also perfected their direct style of play.

Okocha and Frenchman Youri Djorkaeff, who signed months before the ex-Nigeria star, playing at the Reebok Stadium was a big deal for fans given they were thrilled by both exciting imports who gave the side a bit of guile in the final third.

Allardyce also added Ivan Campo and Fernando Hierro, multi-time Champions League winners from Real Madrid whose exquisite passing ranges highlighted how the manager’s ethos wasn’t just about destroying the game plan of the opponent.

Furthermore, the addition of Stelios Giannakopoulos in 2003 gave the side added bite in attack owing to his propensity to time his runs into the box intelligently to score, while Kevin Nolan’s prowess at attacking second balls was equally impressive.

Still, the grit of Kevin Davies, a target man whose presence was nearly every centre-back’s nightmare, made Bolton’s strategy even more effective. On many occasions, the Trotters played balls forward to the striker knowing full well his physical presence would be a handful to their opponents’ rearguard.

Even though the Englishman averaged eight goals in the Premier League for the side from Greater Manchester, what he contributed to the side shouldn't be watered down by his modest numbers.

Many of the aforementioned were in the Bolton side that made it to the League Cup final in 2003/04 but fell to a 2-1 defeat by Middlesbrough.

While it took a collective effort to make the Wanderers an established top flight side, Okocha’s influence in making the club regular in the top eight saw him named captain at the start of his second season.

Indeed, the Nigerian turned out to be more than just a tricky showboater for Bolton, taking their 02/03 season by the scruff of the neck to score an important strike in a 2-0 victory over Sunderland, a late winning penalty against Tottenham Hotspur, an incredible winning goal in a 1-0 success over West Ham United and the winner on the final day at Middlesbrough’s expense.

The aforementioned four of the playmaker’s seven league goals came in the final nine games of the campaign, which helped the Wanderers retain their top flight status.

He not only led Bolton to their first final in nine years, but also captained the side in their Uefa Cup sojourn in 05/06 where they reached the Last 32 on their first taste of European football.

Allardyce’s men may not have been the most eye-catching side to watch, but with players like Okocha in his ranks, the Englishman transformed an unfancied side from Greater Manchester into one of the most consistent teams in the Premier League.

Donny van de Beek says he is "proud" to play for Ajax and will not complain if he does not get a move away from the club amid interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid.

Ajax director Edwin van der Sar revealed in June that Van de Beek is a target for United and Madrid following another impressive campaign for the Dutch giants.

However, the Netherlands international concedes that leaving the club this year is unlikely due to the "messy" situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Van de Beek, who has two years to run on his Ajax contract, insists he has no problem remaining at the Johan Cruijff ArenA for another season.

"It is very messy, in any case a very messy period in terms of transfers," he told Fox Sports following Ajax's 5-1 pre-season friendly win over Utrecht on Thursday.

"Nothing is certain yet. I am still a player of Ajax and I am still proud to be there.

"If there had not been the coronavirus, it might have been different now. There is no clarity now and we have to wait and see how it turns out.

"I'm still here and after all these years I still have a lot of fun. If I also play at Ajax next season, I still have a lot of fun. You won't hear me complaining."

Academy product Van de Beek has spent five seasons in Ajax's first team, accruing close to 200 appearances in all competitions and has won one Eredivisie title and a KNVB Beker with the Dutch giants.

The 23-year-old is contracted to the club until 2022 and Ajax CEO Van der Sar has warned that they will not sell their players for a low price despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

"There will always be some who benefit from a crisis and some clubs will have to sell for less, but I think we're in a fortunate position thanks to our strong financial policy,” he said  in June.

“Therefore we don't have to sell, but we made agreements with the players. These won't go below a certain price level. We won't let go of our players for sale prices. We prefer to keep them here."

Former Inter president Massimo Moratti has claimed that current owners Suning Holdings Group have “everything is takes” to sign Lionel Messi from Barcelona as fresh rumours continue to swirl regarding the Argentina captain's future.

Messi has voiced his disapproval at the level of performances at times in 2019-20, while the club's transfer dealings and head coach appointments have many wondering whether the six-time Ballon d'Or winner is considering a move elsewhere.

And while Moratti ultimately failed in his attempts to lure Messi to San Siro during the early stages of his Barca career, the 75-year-old businessman believes that the club's new owners have everything that would be required to land their dream signing.

“I am just a simple fan of Inter now, so I don’t have any inside information,” Moratti told Quotidiano Sportivo. “Having said that, I do know this: Suning have everything it takes to bring Messi to Milan, in terms of both resources and competence.”

One pursuit that did prove successful was the signing of Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United, a move that Moratti initially saw as a massive gamble – especially as it helped spell the end for former captain Mauro Icardi at the club.

Now, however, Moratti admits he was wrong to doubt Antonio Conte's push to sign the Belgian, with the striker proving a fantastic addition to the club alongside fellow frontman Lautaro Martinez.

“I got it wrong on Lukaku,” Moratti confessed. “In all honesty, I thought he was just physically strong and feared we would regret losing Icardi. Instead, Romelu is a champion, always helps his team-mates and has good vision.

“Antonio Conte was right to demand his signing and then did so well to improve him. Winning the Europa League won’t be easy, as there are four very competitive sides left, but I do hope Inter can be the next Italian club to lift a European trophy.”

One Serie A side that will not be lifting a European trophy this season is Atalanta, who lost out to two late PSG goals in painful fashion.

And while Moratti congratulated Gian Piero Gasperini's side for their Champions League efforts, his words for Juventus, who were knocked out by Lyon, were not so kind.

“It’s one thing to be eliminated by PSG, another to go out against Lyon, the team seventh in Ligue 1. There is simply no comparison,” he sniped.

“Inter waited for 45 years between Champions League trophies, so Juve are pushing 25 years, maybe they’ll be quicker than we were…”

Tanzania Mainland Premier League champions Simba SC have unveiled a new logo as well as the 2020/21 jersey.

The club’s spokesperson Haji Manara explained why they have altered the club’s logo which will no longer carry their slogan ‘Nguvu Moja’.

Wekundu wa Msimbazi made the changes in a season they recorded success on the pitch, they retained the league title, won the FA Cup as well as the Community Shield trophy.

“According to the growing demands of evolving football, many clubs have decided to change their logos in order to remain relevant in the current market,” Manara said during the unveiling ceremony.

“Simba are doing this because we are not an island. It is very few big clubs that have had their logos unchanged since their inception.

“Let me give you an example of clubs like Manchester United, Barcelona, Arsenal, and even some here in Africa have had to change their logos in order to be compatible with the modern market demands.

“Our slogan 'Nguvu Moja' will not appear in the new logo and this is the reason; just because of the modern demands and in the business perspective as it was done by big clubs world-wide we have decided to get rid of the slogan from our logo.

“Orlando Pirates have deleted the slogan, even Al Ahly, the best team in Africa for the decade have also done so.”

Manara stated that the intention of doing away with the slogan from their new jerseys and logo should not be understood as a step to completely do away with the ‘Nguvu Moja’ slogan.

“It does not mean we are completely doing away with the slogan, no. But given the demands of modern soccer and the markets we have had to make some changes,” the outspoken official said.

“We will, however, retain it in our constitution and in the press releases.

“I am making this explanation just to avoid misinterpretation that we have completely deleted our slogan.”

New boy Bernard Morrison was among the three players used to unveil the new jersey set for the upcoming season.

Morrison was signed from arch-rivals Yanga SC after just half-a-season stay.

Football Manager is one of the most popular sports video games in the world and fans of the long-running franchise can look forward to Football Manager 2021 (FM21) later this year.

There had been some concerns that there may not be a follow-up to Football Manager 2020, but Sports Interactive bosses eased those worries with an announcement in late July.

So, while we look ahead to the fresh instalment of the simulation game, Goal brings you everything we currently know about release dates, price, devices and more.

Contents

When will Football Manager 2021 be released?

Football Manager games are normally released around the beginning of November, but coronavirus-related disruptions this year mean that it will be slightly later than usual.

Sports Interactive head honcho Miles Jacobson said there would be a delay in the launch of Football Manager 2021, but gave an indication that it could be available in late November or early December 2020.

"Despite all the problems going on in the world, there will be new Football Manager games released later this year," Jacobson said in a message shared on the official Football Manager website in July. 

He added that the games "will be delivered a little later than we’d originally planned" but the expectation is that they will be ready in time for the Christmas and holiday period.

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How much will Football Manager 2021 cost?

It's not clear yet how much Football Manager 2021 will cost, but the standard version of the games usually cost in the region of £40, though there are usually pre-order and loyalty discounts available.

There are a number of different versions of the game, with Football Manager Touch - a scaled-down version optimised for tablet devices - being cheaper than the standard computer edition.

Last year, FM20 Touch cost just over £20 and that it likely to be the same for FM21.

To put the price of Football Manager into perspective, it is significantly cheaper than the FIFA franchise, with the standard version of that costing £59.99 in the UK, although they are admittedly very different games.

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Which devices will Football Manager 2021 be on?

Football Manager 2021 is expected to be available on the usual platforms of PC, Mac and Google Stadia, as well as Nintendo Switch, tablet devices and mobile phones (for Touch and Mobile versions).

Sports Interactive have also teased the news that FM21 will be available on "more platforms than ever before", but it is unclear which these will be exactly.

There have been calls over the years for Football Manager games to be made available on PlayStation and Xbox devices, but we will have to wait and see for now.

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What new features will Football Manager 2021 have?

It is normal for Sports Interactive to remain tight-lipped about new features until everything is locked in place, but we usually hear from them roughly two months before launch. 

So, while the coronavirus-enforced lockdown may have thrown a spanner into the works, we can safely assume that official details will be made public some time in September or October in order to whet appetites.

According to Jacobson, the new games will "have exceptionally strong feature sets", but not quite the 'dream feature set' he had originally envisaged pre-Covid-19.

FM 20 brought new features such as Club Vision and Code of Conduct, so it will be interesting to see what fresh additions appear. While we wait to learn of new features, here are some potential FM21 features:

Graphics

The issue of game engine graphics has long been a focus of Sports Interactive and, while strides have indeed been made to make the visual experience better, there is still a way to go.

Of course, it's not likely that FM21 will look as good as FIFA 21, but every step towards realism is one to be welcomed in a simulation game.

New player stats

While the old adage 'if it's not broke, don't fix it' may often ring true, some gamers would like to see new player statistics added to the usual technical, mental and physical columns.

RealSport suggests that player stats "have been static for a while" and they make a good case, arguing that fine-tuning your team's tactics would be easier if you knew if a striker with a strong finishing attribute was better at first-time shooting and so forth. 

More licenses

Manchester United taking legal action against Football Manager over a trademark complaint illustrates how fraught the question of licensing and likeness can be, but fans of the game always want the real deal.

However, that is sadly not always the case in Football Manager, but they are not alone in that respect. For example, Juventus' exclusive deal with Konami means that they are now known as 'Zebre' in Football Manager and 'Piemonte Calcio' in the FIFA franchise.

While getting more official licensing deals in plays sounds good, it may be tricky and the ongoing battle for alliances looks to be getting more competitive, with AC Milan and Inter set to be exclusive to FIFA 21.

Greater engagements between clubs and authorities

Every now and then, clubs will lock horns with the football authorities and sometimes, as Manchester City did with UEFA, they will end up taking a dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Disputes arise at all levels of the game, so it may be a headache to cover all bases, but more dynamism on big-ticket issues such as ejection from the Champions League or transfer bans would enhance realism.

Improve international management

Management at international level is very different to management at club level and that is reflected in the game, with much greater control and options available to club managers.

The popular FM Blog has suggested that FM21 could benefit from increasing the training and scouting dynamics available to international coaches.

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