AFC Wimbledon wroteLeague announces Premier League trial for 2016/17
English Football League clubs have agreed, at their 2016 summer conference, to pilot a new format for the EFL Trophy as part of their ongoing commitment to creating more and better home grown players.

The one-season trial for season 2016/17 will include 64 teams made up of EFL League One and Two clubs, plus an additional 16 category 1 Premier League academy/under-21 sides.

Central to the competition (formerly known as the JPT Trophy) will be the introduction of a new group stage format with 16 regional groups of four teams. The top two teams will progress to the knockout stages of the competition with the final staged at Wembley Stadium in April 2017.

Full details for 2016/17’s competition will be finalised within the next 14 days.

The Football League was officially rebranded as the English Football League (EFL) yesterday.

(13 Jun 2016, 3:16 pm)Michael wrote Interesting proposal for it.


Sunderland's Retained list announced

Released:

Agnew, Liam 
Brown, Wes
Fletcher, Steven
Graham, Daniel 
Harper, Stephen 
Mandron, Mikael
Smith, Martin



http://www.safc.com/news/team-news/2016/june/retained-list-announced?utm_source=home_slide&utm_medium=state_0&utm_campaign=newsteam_news2016juneretained_list_announced


----

Full list of all the teams here:

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10310054/premier-league-players-released-or-retained-by-their-clubs


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According to Sky Sports:

SUNDERLAND INCREASE BID FOR HAMMER

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce has increased his bid for West Ham striker Diafro Sakho to £12m.

The Black Cats' boss had a £10m bid turned down last month for the 26-year-old, who Allardyce originally signed for the East London club in 2014.

According to the Daily Mail, Sakho has told current Hammers' manager Slaven Bilic he wants to leave the club this summer.

(14 Jun 2016, 10:52 am)MrFozz wrote I seen Giacherrini on the retained list, I thought he was being sold

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(15 Jun 2016, 8:15 am)MrFozz wrote Premier League Fixtures for next season

Premier league 2016-17 Fixtures

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Russian hooligans clashed with England and Wales fans in Lille yesterday, hours after their country moved to the brink of being expelled from the European Championship.

Trouble flared between a small number of fans from Britain and Russia outside a bar in the centre of the city, as hostilities between the two countries resumed three days after their sickening confrontation in Marseille.

Yesterday also saw Russia’s manager and star striker accuse England supporters of having been equally to blame for last week’s violence as supporters of their own team.

The chair and bottle-throwing in Lille – in which Wales fans joined forces with their England counterparts against black T-shirted assailants – did not appear enough to prompt further action from Uefa, which had warned both the Football Association and Russian Football Union that a repeat of Saturday’s violence could lead to both teams being expelled from the tournament.

Russia were formally sanctioned with a suspended disqualification yesterday, which would be activated in full if their fans cause trouble within a stadium during the remainder of Euro 2016. The punishment, which also included a €150,000 (£119,106) fine, was branded “excessive” by Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who nevertheless ruled out any appeal.

Russia manager Leonid Slutsky and striker Artem Dzyuba, who urged their team’s supporters to behave, also attacked the way they had been singled out, arguing responsibility for what occurred in Marseille had been “50-50”.

And Dzyuba claimed criticism of the conduct of Russian hooligans was part of a plot to strip the nation of the next World Cup.

“I don’t really understand this kind of reaction of the British media who have this impression that English supporters are like angels who came to this country and they’re just behaving themselves,” said the Zenit St Petersburg forward. “You have to be objective and it’s 50-50. In every conflict, there are two parts.”

Manager Slutsky, who is also in charge of CSKA Moscow, concurred, as well as accusing England fans of inciting attacks on them by Russia hooligans after the final whistle of Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the Stade Velodrome.

“We do not know what happened on the streets, of course, but when the Russian national anthem was played and all the people were shouting – the English supporters – this was something not ethical at all. And all the gestures we received when we were on our bus on the way to the stadium from all these English supporters.”

Russia's Dzyuba and coach Slutsky accused England fans of inciting violence
Dzyuba declared it “probable” that criticism of Russia’s fans had been politically motivated. “We can see the things the British media are talking about, talking about the World Cup 2018 and they’re saying that they have to take it away from Russia,” he added.

Damian Collins, a leading member of the Culture, Media & Sport select committee, did call earlier for Russia to be threatened with being stripped of the World Cup over the behaviour of their supporters.

Some Russian fans were also facing being deported from France, which launched an operation to arrest some 40 of those suspected of being involved in last week’s violence in Marseille. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said: “They are not wanted on our national territory due to their behaviour.”

The brutal attacks on England fans by Russian ‘ultras’ had been condoned this week by senior figures in the country’s football federation and parliament – one of whom tweeted “Keep it up!”

They, however, were slapped down by President Vladimir Putin yesterday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “I can’t agree with these statements of my colleagues.” Peskov branded the hooligans’ actions as “outrages” and “absolutely unacceptable”.

The lead for football policing in the UK, Assistant Chief Constable Mark Roberts, announced he had obtained evidence that almost 50 England fans had committed a range of offences in Marseille and could face criminal charges.

With England, Wales and Russia fans all in Lille ahead of their countries’ matches there and in nearby Lens today and tomorrow, emergency measures were announced to avoid any further conflict.


Police in Lille confirmed there would be a total ban on alcohol sales in supermarkets for three days from 6pm yesterday and that 350 bars would be ordered to close at midnight tonight and tomorrow. Anyone caught drinking in the street could be arrested.

Explaining the decision, Michel Lalande, the city prefet, said: “It is a dark day tomorrow because there are 15,000 Russians.” There was already a booze ban in place in Lens, with ticketless England and Wales fans having been actively encouraged to stay in Lille instead.

But Lalande said: “The English and Welsh should come on Thursday, after the Russians have left.” The FA’s head of security, Tony Conniford met with UK police representatives in France and the Football Association of Wales this morning to review and help improve security plans for tomorrow’s match in Lens.

The Football Supporters’ Federation and its Welsh counterpart issued a joint statement last night calling for policing methods at the tournament to be reassessed “as a matter of urgency” after officers were accused of failing to protect supporters in Marseille.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn wrote to England fans to urge them “to act in a positive and respectful way”. He also warned: “Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated and we will work with the relevant authorities to identify those supporters involved and issue sanctions where appropriate to our members.”

Fifa, meanwhile, sought to play down fears over Russia’s suitability to stage the next World Cup by insisting it would put in place a “comprehensive security concept” to prevent a repeat of last week’s hooliganism.

“For the 2018 Fifa World Cup, detailed security planning began by the local authorities from the moment the host country was chosen,” Fifa said in a statement. “The relevant Russian authorities are putting in place a comprehensive security concept for next year’s Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.” Fifa added that the security would incorporate “any lessons learnt from other events such as Euro 2016”.

(15 Jun 2016, 10:04 am)Michael wrote Russia should be ashamed of themselves, i'm dreading to think what they have planned for the world cup in 2018, if they get kicked out of the Euro 2016 then they should be stripped of the world cup to.

(15 Jun 2016, 2:53 pm)MrFozz wrote There countries Authorities should be ashamed as well...

They have been posting supportive tweets supporting there hooligans

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The Grauniad wroteA Swedish footballer has hit out after being sent off for breaking wind during a match – with the referee accusing him of “deliberate provocation” and “unsportsmanlike behaviour”.

Adam Lindin Ljungkvist, who was playing at left-back in the match between Järna SK’s reserve team and Pershagen SK, was shown a second yellow card late on in what local media called “bizarre circumstances”.

“I had a bad stomach, so I simply let go,” the 25-year-old told Länstidningen Södertälje. “Then I received two yellow cards and then red. Yes, I was shocked, it’s the strangest thing I have ever experienced in football.

“I asked the referee, ‘What, am I not allowed to break wind a little?’ ‘No,’ he replied … I don’t get it but maybe he thought I farted in my hand and threw the fart at him. But I did not.”

Opposition striker Kristoffer Linde told the paper: “I was standing a good distance away but I heard the fart loud and clear. It’s the strangest thing I’ve seen on a pitch, and I’ve been playing football since I was eight years old.”

The referee, Dany Kako, confirmed that Ljungkvist had received the second yellow card for breaking wind, explaining: “I perceived it as deliberate provocation. He did it on purpose and it was inappropriate. Therefore, he received a yellow card.”

Ljungkvist told Aftonbladet: “To provoke anyone with a fart is not particularly smart or normal. It’s nonsense – I just broke wind and got a red card. I spoke to the referee afterwards, I was annoyed, but there were no bad words. I just said he was a buffoon.”

Kako said he had experienced similar incidents before. “Once there was a player who stood and peed next to the pitch. I showed him a yellow card, too.”

(27 Jun 2016, 7:13 am)South Tyne Lad wrote To save making a new thread about it, I've just put it here.


Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from International Football with Argentina after missing his penalty in the Copa America Final against Chile.

Couldn't paste any news articles in, as I'm typing on my phone.

BBC Sport wroteLionel Messi has retired from international duty after missing in a penalty shootout as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years.

"For me, the national team is over," he said after defeat by Chile in the Copa America final. "I've done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion."

Messi, 29, has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with Spanish side Barcelona.

But his only major international honour is Olympic gold at the 2008 Games.

As well as losing two Copa America finals on penalties to Chile, Messi was in the Argentina side beaten 1-0 by Germany in the 2014 World Cup final.

The forward, who was been awarded the Ballon d'Or five times, was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.

"It's been four finals, I tried," added Messi, who made his debut for Argentina in 2005 and has played 113 times for his country.

"It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over.

Argentina's Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi scores stunning goal in stoppage time
"I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, then for everyone.

"I think there's a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it.

"It's very hard, but the decision is taken. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back."

Messi had scored five times at this year's Copa America, including a superb free-kick in the semi-final win over hosts the USA.

That goal made him his country's record scorer with 55 goals, eclipsing the 54-goal mark of striker Gabriel Batistuta.

Reaction

Argentina and Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero said he hoped Messi would "reflect" on his decision and reconsider.

"I think he spoke while he was heated, because a beautiful opportunity escaped us," said Romero. "I can't imagine a national team without Messi."

Sergio Aguero described the mood in the Argentina dressing room as "the worst I've ever been in" and suggested others may follow Messi's lead.

"There are several players who are evaluating not continuing with the national team," the Manchester City striker told South American media.

He added: "It is the worst defeat ever, worse than the two other finals. So the thinking is it might be time to make room for other players."

Argentine newspaper La Nacion thinks Aguero, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain are also set to retire, while ESPN Deportes reported Angel di Maria, Lucas Biglia, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Ever Banega could follow suit.

After leaving Argentina for Barcelona when he was 13, it has been suggested there is "less room for forgiveness" for Messi in his native country.

But following defeat by Chile, there was more criticism of Napoli striker Higuain, who missed the game's best chance when firing wide in a one-on-one with Chile keeper Claudio Bravo after 20 minutes.

Higuain missed a key chance in the World Cup final against Germany in Brazil, too, and also missed a penalty in the shootout when Chile beat Argentina in last year's Copa final.

Argentina are already six games into their qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup. They are third in the table, two points behind leaders Uruguay.

The top four teams progress to the finals in Russia, while the team finishing fifth qualifies for a two-legged play-off against the best team from Oceania.

Analysis

South American football expert Tim Vickery:

Before Sunday's match, Argentina football legend Diego Maradona said that the team should not bother coming home if they lose. Year in, year out, Messi has been more consistent at the highest level than Maradona was.

But Maradona has that title. He was the leader of the pack when Argentina won the World Cup in 1986. His form in the quarters and the semi-finals, against England and Belgium, was out of this world...

(29 Jun 2016, 3:54 pm)Tom wrote Gayle set for Newcastle medical (would be a fantastic signing imo!) and we are also in talks with Ritchie in a 11m deal. We need a good quality winger too so good signing again.

From here:
http://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/10328206/crystal-palaces-dwight-gayle-set-for-newcastle-medical-sky-sources
http://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/12691/10328552/newcastle-in-talks-to-sign-matt-ritchie-from-bournemouth-sky-sources

Only thing is will Townsend go...?

(29 Jun 2016, 7:35 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote There are reports that Gareth Southgate has turned down the offer of becoming England Gaffer. What a embarresment.....
Cant paste anything in again as I'm on my phone and its a farce.

(29 Jun 2016, 7:41 pm)Kuyoyo wrote All that has been mentioned so far is that Southgate will be interm manager for the World Cup qualifiers in September while they search for a full-time successor to Hodgson.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36657247

(29 Jun 2016, 7:41 pm)Kuyoyo wrote All that has been mentioned so far is that Southgate will be interm manager for the World Cup qualifiers in September while they search for a full-time successor to Hodgson.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36657247

(29 Jun 2016, 7:39 pm)Tom wrote Isn't that not a good thing haha? I wouldn't want him as manager not enough experience. Heard reports of Glenn Hoodle being considered for the job which wouldn't be a bad appointment to be fair. On the other hand heard Allerdyce linked with the job... he plays the same brand of shite football that roy does so no thanks.

(29 Jun 2016, 7:55 pm)Tom wrote Just found this too - http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/fa-lines-up-gareth-southgate-as-interim-england-boss-and-will-take-up-to-a-year-to-make-final-pick-a7108161.html

Why on earth will it take them a year to pick a manager. Surely it will be better to pick one now. Plenty of options, Glenn Hoodle, even Alan Shearer would be worth a try. But no they will pick a terrible manager I guess as usual with the same boring brand of football.

(29 Jun 2016, 8:07 pm)Michael wrote Shearer lmao