List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

After the Premier League 2023/24 fixtures were published, fans can also plot a path to the first piece of major silverware in 2024 after the Carabao Cup schedule was released. Manchester United picked up the first trophy of the Erik ten Hag era last year in the Wembley final. And the Red Devils will hope to defend their title after edging out Newcastle. Premier League fixtures LIVE: Opening weekend, Christmas matches and full schedules for every club Here are the key dates for this year’s competition, including the Wembley final: Carabao Cup 2023/24 schedule Carabao Cup Round Two - w/c 28 August 2023 Carabao Cup Round Three - w/c 25 September 2023 Carabao Cup Round Four - w/c 30 October 2023 Carabao Cup Quarter-Final - w/c 18 December 2023 Carabao Cup Semi-Final (first leg) - w/c 8 January 2024 Carabao Cup Semi-Final (second leg) - w/c 21 January 2024 Carabao Cup Final - Sunday 25 February 2024 The first major piece of silverware of the 2023/24 will be won on 25 February 2024. Read More Premier League fixtures LIVE: Opening weekend, Christmas matches and full schedules for every club Marcus Rashford couldn’t stomach Man City celebrations but England remain united England’s future is about to be defined – and it’s out of Gareth Southgate’s control

Leeds have appointed former Celtic head of football operations Nick Hammond as “interim football advisor on a short-term contract”. Hammond, 55, will help Leeds with their summer recruitment plans as they continue their search for a permanent director of football. The club said: “Leeds United are pleased to confirm the appointment of Nick Hammond as the club’s interim football advisor on a short-term contract. “Hammond will help support the club during the summer transfer window. “The experienced 55-year-old, former director of football at Reading and head of football operations at Celtic, worked in a similar consultancy role at Newcastle United. “The process for finding a new, permanent, director of football at Leeds United is under way and the club aim to complete this process by October, allowing the successful candidate to focus on the January transfer window.” Former Swindon and Reading goalkeeper Hammond spent 13 years as Reading’s first director of football from 2003 and was West Brom’s technical director before becoming Celtic’s head of football operations in 2019. Leeds parted company with former director of football Victor Orta by mutual consent last month, shortly before being relegated from the Premier League. They are also in the hunt for a new head coach after Sam Allardyce, appointed with four games remaining, left Elland Road earlier this month. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Wales return to Euro 2024 qualifying action against Armenia in Cardiff on Friday. Rob Page’s side began the campaign in March with a 1-1 draw in Croatia and a 1-0 home victory over Latvia. Here, the PA news agency looks at the main talking points surrounding the Group D clash as Wales aim to build on that promising start. Brooks is back David Brooks would provide one of the most heart-warming stories of the season by returning to the international arena at the Cardiff City Stadium. Brooks was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma while on international duty in October 2021 and has rejoined the Wales squad for the first time since announcing he was cancer-free in May last year. The 25-year-old attacker returned to action for Bournemouth in March and made his first start last month. Brooks has won 21 caps for Wales and played at Euro 2020 before his illness was diagnosed. Same again, please Duplicating March’s return of four points will do Wales just fine. Taking a point from World Cup semi-finalists Croatia courtesy of Nathan Broadhead’s stoppage-time strike was a bonus that few – if anyone – predicted. Beating Armenia and getting some reward against Turkey in Samsun on Monday would represent a huge step for Welsh ambitions of clinching a top-two spot and reaching the finals in Germany next summer. Johnson boost Wales’ March games were overshadowed by the absence of Brennan Johnson. Boss Rob Page suggested Johnson’s club Nottingham Forest had not done enough to get the forward fit for international duty, a claim which Reds boss Steve Cooper subsequently denied. Whatever the truth of that, Johnson had an impressive maiden top-flight campaign at the City Ground and his return to the Wales squad is a huge boost. Managing post-season break It will be nearly three weeks since the Premier League finished when Wales walk out to take on Armenia. The regular EFL season ended even earlier on May 8 and several members of Page’s squad have not played since. Page organised a Cardiff camp for his non top-flight players last month before taking the entire squad to Portugal to prepare for Armenia and Turkey, but it remains to be seen how match-fit they are heading into the two qualifiers. Painful memories Armenia and Wales have only met twice, in 2002 World Cup qualifying. Both games were drawn, with John Hartson scoring twice in a 2-2 draw at Yerevan’s Republican Stadium in March 2001 after Armenia had been reduced to 10 men. The return game the following September was Wales’ 500th match. But Wales failed to mark the occasion with a win as their World Cup qualification hopes disappeared with a goalless draw at the Millennium Stadium. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Nick Hammond takes on short-term advisory role at Leeds Former London Irish back-row forward Tom Pearson joins Northampton We are treated as small men – Shaunagh Brown wants more done for female athletes

The Premier League fixtures have been announced and fans will already be scouring the list to see when their best games are, when they face rivals and when the trickiest encounters are. We’ve taken a look through the season and chosen five games which are must-see for reasons across the entire span of league objectives, from title fights to avoiding the drop. FOLLOW LIVE: Premier League 23/24 fixtures announced Here are five to watch for throughout the entire campaign which could affect matters top to bottom. Chelsea vs Liverpool - 13 August Both looking to return to the top four after dismal 22/23 seasons, Liverpool and Chelsea will have spent the summer rebuilding their squads - or trimming them - and preparing for a much better start than last year. Mauricio Pochettino couldn’t have been handed a much tougher start and this game takes place on the very first weekend of the season - though, from his perspective, at least it is on home soil. The Reds requested an away day on the first gameweek to allow more time for stadium work to be done, but probably were not hoping for it to be against a club which has spent the best part of a billion pounds on transfers in the previous 12 months. Burnley vs Everton - 16 December Into December and there will be a meeting which could shape up as dictating the battle at the bottom: Championship winners Burnley hosting Everton, who avoided the drop last term on the final day of the season. The game will also mark a return for Sean Dyche to Turf Moor, where Vincent Kompany is now in charge. A potential battle at the bottom could ensue - or will we by then see that the Clarets have done enough to survive, or the Toffees having improved from last year to avoid yet another relegation struggle? Luton vs Newcastle - 23 December How about this for an early Christmas present: the richest club in the world heading to the smallest club and ground in the Premier League. Suddenly-mighty Newcastle, who will have just about wrapped up their Champions League group stage at this point, head on 23 December to the 10,356 capacity Kenilworth Road. That’ll be the smallest in Premier League history if there are no major works done before the campaign gets underway, with tiny Luton proud of their home and ready to welcome the game’s top stars there. Liverpool vs Man City - 9 March We’ll be heading towards the home straight at this point and we’ll already know what teams are really aiming for at both ends; presumably at the top, this massive match will give us an idea of what they are actually capable of. These are the two best teams from the past half a decade, but last year there was a huge gap between them. Are Liverpool back? Has the squad renewal paid dividends? Are Man City an unstoppable juggernaut heading for a second treble in a row...or even all four trophies perhaps? The additional wrinkle here is that the game takes place shortly after a potential piece of silverware for either of these clubs, with the League Cup final at Wembley set for 25 February. Will it be a case of a second marker being put down at Anfield, one way or another? Man United vs Arsenal - 11 May Finally, this could be a late-season battle for a Champions League spot - or even for the title itself. The Gunners fell short last term but will hope to be up and around the top spots again this year after a summer of improvement, while Man United - surely with new owners by this point and another year of progress under Erik ten Hag - might be hoping for a title fight of their own. This fixture takes place on the penultimate weekend of the season and could be the make-or-break game for both clubs, whether they are fighting for the top four or something far more tangible.

Paris Saint-Germain had long expected Kylian Mbappe’s letter, such was his overt dissatisfaction with how everything was going, but that was emphatically not the case with the rest of Europe. Monday’s news that the French star would not be signing his one-year contract extension caused “a scramble” around the continent’s top clubs. “Nobody was prepared for this,” one well-placed figure says. It instantly saw a number of sporting departments do a lot of investigation on Tuesday, to see if any deal might be possible. That’s the power of Mbappe, who has probably succeeded Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in becoming one player who clubs will drop everything for. It also speaks to that power that the player’s camp didn’t even feel the need to reach out to potential suitors beforehand. There were no backdoor soundings here. The door was instead blown off, with Mbappe himself then casually insisting he would still see out next season with PSG. That is dependent on a range of circumstances. Mbappe’s decision came down to some simple factors, though. While the primary issue was the club’s failure to progress at Champions League level, he is also conscious of how globally sidelined he is for most of the club season. Mbappe only really plays in about eight high-profile matches a year outside of tournaments, if even that. It is why so much is built up to those Champions League last-16 games. An irony is that this is a world PSG have also created. Their 2011 takeover fostered an almost one-team league in France, that just doesn’t command attractive broadcasting offers outside the country or Qatari station BeIn Sport. Mbappe destroying Ajaccio and Guingamp may make for a nice highlight reel on social media, but the interest for most fans doesn’t last beyond the time it takes to scroll up the feed. It’s all the more incongruous a situation given that Mbappe is the first player to truly realise the power that the Messi-Ronaldo era afforded the most famous players, especially those of his class. He gets it even more than they do. As such, he needs a move for the benefit of his life ambitions, not just his football ambitions. One increasing complication is that Mbappe faces a very modern dilemma. Just like Messi in 2021, his sheer value has actually limited his options. There are only a handful of clubs who could afford him in the current market. They are Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid. New Financial Fair Play constraints meanwhile limit that further. When one “big-six” executive was asked on Tuesday whether his club would be interested in pursuing a move, they just laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous.” City have a long-standing interest in Mbappe from 2017, but they – again – have the issue that came up with Messi in 2020 and 2021. It would take a complete rearrangement of their squad in order to accommodate him. This is really a profound illustration of FFP’s positives, even as there is so much debate about the regulations. They are visibly preventing the same small group of clubs hoarding even more players. Many might consider that a bit of a joke given Chelsea’s movements over the last year, but they almost need to sell an entire starting XI before they can even think of Mbappe. United offer a more interesting option, especially as they are actively looking for a No 9 – especially a fast one – and could come up with the budget. The issue is that it would prevent strengthening elsewhere, which raises another great variable in all of this. There remains the uncertainty of the sale of the club, as Qatar seek to buy United through Sheikh Jassim. PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi’s involvement in discussions is now well known. Mbappe going to a Qatari-owned United could offer a clean solution for a lot of involved parties here, if not necessarily for the wider game. It would also display a further issue with state involvement in the sport, way beyond FFP. There are still a number of circumstances that need to change for that prospect to become a serious one, though. All of which again leaves Madrid as the most serious option. That has long felt like his career destiny, and the Spanish club have taken longer-term steps that make it even more likely. Madrid have spent the last few years reshaping their budget for more vintage Bernabeu outlay, and this had already been anticipated as the first summer window since 2019 where they go big. Even they didn’t expect this Mbappe news, though. It has caused a rethink in their transfer plans, with that already from another rethink after the surprising departure of Karim Benzema for Saudi Arabia. The idea in the last two weeks had been that Madrid would bring in Jude Bellingham and a two-year option like Harry Kane – with that move more advanced than many had anticipated. Tuesday instead brought intensive talks about what to do next. Mbappe is there to be signed. Florentino Perez may have had a bit of a huff when the player rejected them for PSG last summer, with some Bernabeu executives even making empty claims about the French star never being allowed to play for Madrid in the future, but Monday night ensured all of that was forgotten in a flash. The main problem may be political rather than financial. Such is the current relationship between Madrid and PSG that Perez does not want to give the Qatari-owned project any money in terms of a fee, and PSG do not want to sell to Madrid. The French champions are “livid” at the entire situation, particularly with Mbappe himself. They had long realised the need to restructure the club – especially in the wake of the Champions League defeat to City in 2020-21 – and the idea had been to do exactly as their French star wanted. They were actually going to go for a Madrid-style realigning, seeking to go for younger talent in a high-pressing style, with the Parisian Mbappe the centre of this. He has now disrupted all of that, while disrupting the entire transfer market. Read More Kylian Mbappe breaks silence after speculation over PSG exit What next for Kylian Mbappe? Real Madrid, Man Utd and other options for PSG forward How Jude Bellingham can become the anti-Haaland for Real Madrid Football rumours: Man United, Real Madrid and Chelsea fight for Kylian Mbappe Kylian Mbappe breaks silence after speculation over PSG exit Real Madrid or Man Utd? What next for Kylian Mbappe

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor has signed a one-year contract extension to keep him in charge of the Women’s Super League side for the 2023-24 season. The 50-year-old was appointed in May 2020, succeeding Nick Cushing, and went on to oversee City winning a delayed FA Cup final in November of that year and the League Cup in March 2022. They were also FA Cup runners-up in 2021-22. Having finished second and then third in the WSL in the previous two seasons, the team missed out on the Champions League spots in 2022-23 with a fourth-placed finish. At the start of the campaign they were knocked out in the qualifying rounds of the European competition for a second successive year. After seeing the likes of Lucy Bronze, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Caroline Weir leave the club last summer, City lost their first two league games, then bounced back by going unbeaten in the next 14, winning 12, before finishing with three defeats and three victories across their final six matches. Taylor, whose tenure has featured 79 wins from 109 games in all competitions to date, said: “I’m very happy to have signed a new deal with the club – it feels great to have gotten it over the line. “I’m very happy to be able to commit to City for another season, and 2023-24 is one that I’m so excited about. “We have been in a transitional period over the past 12 months, and the women’s game has changed so much during my three years in charge. I know that there is pressure on us to succeed, but I enjoy that – I have always challenged myself throughout my career and that’s now more important than ever as a coach Gareth Taylor “We were fortunate to win trophies in each of my first two seasons, and although we haven’t been successful on that front this past year, the pride I’ve taken has come in different forms. “I’ve really felt that it has been so enjoyable in terms of where the team is at, where I think that they can go and what they can achieve for this football club. “I know that there is pressure on us to succeed, but I enjoy that – I have always challenged myself throughout my career and that’s now more important than ever as a coach. “I really want to try and squeeze every single last drop out of what I feel I’m able to do personally, and I believe that this group of players have the ability to turn those nearly moments into actual moments with the support of myself and the staff to get us to the next level.” Managing director Gavin Makel said: “We’re very pleased to have Gareth commit himself to the club for another year. “Together, we are building an exciting team full of talented players, both young and experienced, all with a shared vision of beautiful football and on-pitch success. “Gareth is someone who embraces the City Football Group methodology in its entirety, and it has been really pleasing to see him grow as a coach over the past three years. “Nils (Nielsen, the team’s director of football) and I are very much looking forward to continuing our work with him next season alongside this amazing group of players, with the future being incredibly bright for Manchester City.”

Chelsea will begin the new Premier League season with the visit of Liverpool. It was a bruising first year in charge for new owner Todd Boehly and he will hope the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino brings stability and much-improved results. Chelsea are expected to embark on a clearout of fringe players to thin down a bloated squad. Fixtures for the 2023/24 campaign were released on Thursday, less than three weeks after the conclusion last season and only five days on from Manchester City securing that historic treble. Following two seasons disrupted by the Covid pandemic, the most recent campaign was longer than ever to make space for the first Fifa men’s World Cup and also saw fixtures shuffled around following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The 2023/24 season is therefore expected to see a return to a relatively ‘normal’ schedule. However, City’s involvement in December’s Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia will force at least two of their games to be rescheduled. Chelsea’s 2023/24 fixtures 13/08/202316:30Chelsea v Liverpool 19/08/202315:00West Ham United v Chelsea 26/08/202315:00Chelsea v Luton Town 02/09/202315:00Chelsea v Nottingham Forest 16/09/202315:00A.F.C. Bournemouth v Chelsea 23/09/202315:00Chelsea v Aston Villa 30/09/202315:00Fulham v Chelsea 07/10/202315:00Burnley v Chelsea 21/10/202315:00Chelsea v Arsenal 28/10/202315:00Chelsea v Brentford 04/11/202315:00Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea 11/11/202315:00Chelsea v Manchester City 25/11/202315:00Newcastle United v Chelsea 02/12/202315:00Chelsea v Brighton 06/12/202320:00Manchester United v Chelsea 09/12/202315:00Everton v Chelsea 16/12/202315:00Chelsea v Sheffield United 23/12/202315:00Wolverhampton v Chelsea 26/12/202315:00Chelsea v Crystal Palace 30/12/202315:00Luton Town v Chelsea 13/01/202415:00Chelsea v Fulham 31/01/202420:00Liverpool v Chelsea 03/02/202415:00Chelsea v Wolverhampton 10/02/202415:00Crystal Palace v Chelsea 17/02/202415:00Manchester City v Chelsea 24/02/202415:00Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur 02/03/202415:00Brentford v Chelsea 09/03/202415:00Chelsea v Newcastle United 16/03/202415:00Arsenal v Chelsea 30/03/202415:00Chelsea v Burnley 03/04/202419:45Chelsea v Manchester United 06/04/202415:00Sheffield United v Chelsea 13/04/202415:00Chelsea v Everton 20/04/202415:00Brighton v Chelsea 27/04/202415:00Aston Villa v Chelsea 04/05/202415:00Chelsea v West Ham United 11/05/202415:00Nottingham Forest v Chelsea 19/05/202416:00Chelsea v A.F.C. Bournemouth Read More Premier League fixtures LIVE: Opening weekend, Christmas matches and full schedules for every club Burnley fixtures released for Premier League 2023/24 season Man City to begin Premier League title defence at Vincent Kompany’s Burnley 10 of the most memorable opening-round games in Premier League history

The Premier League fixtures announcement has thrown up some intriguing encounters in the opening round. Vincent Kompany’s promoted Burnley will host his former club and treble winners Manchester City, while fellow new boys Luton visit Brighton and Chelsea welcome Liverpool. Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the most memorable opening-round Premier League fixtures from previous years. 1992: Sheffield United 2 Manchester United 1 This game was not a classic like those below but it did feature the first Premier League goal. Brian Deane scored it, then won it for the hosts from the spot after Mark Hughes had levelled. Fortunes soon changed as Alex Ferguson’s side won the title and the Blades were relegated. 1994: Sheffield Wednesday 3 Tottenham 4 This launched what was meant to be a continental new era for Spurs, with Jurgen Klinsmann leading the line after a move from Monaco. He delivered too, scoring and then performing one of the Premier League’s most memorable celebrations – a dive to live up to his reputation. 1996: Middlesbrough 3 Liverpool 3 It was shirts-over-your-head time at the Riverside as Fabrizio Ravanelli marked his Boro debut with a hat-trick. The White Feather took on Liverpool’s Spice Boys and nearly came out on top but, at the end of the season, Boro went down despite the Italian’s 16 goals. 1996: Wimbledon 0 Manchester United 3 David Beckham’s majestic lob from his own half triggered one of the English game’s most celebrated and high-profile careers. Beckham was a well-established prospect before he caught Neil Sullivan napping – but this goal certainly helped him make a name for himself. 2016: Arsenal 3 Liverpool 4 The hosts took the lead through Theo Walcott, who recovered from seeing a penalty saved by Simon Mignolet to score just 69 seconds later. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side stormed back as Philippe Coutinho (2), Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane put them 4-1 ahead, before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Calum Chambers set up an exciting finish to a thrilling game. 2017: Arsenal 4 Leicester 3 The night started perfectly for Arsenal as new signing Alexandre Lacazette marked his league debut with a goal after just 94 seconds, only for Shinji Okazaki to level three minutes later. Jamie Vardy then capitalised on poor defending to twice put the Foxes ahead either side of Danny Welbeck’s equaliser. However Aaron Ramsey levelled, then fellow substitute Olivier Giroud’s 85th-minute goal settled a breathless encounter in Arsenal’s favour. 2017: Watford 3 Liverpool 3 Stefano Okaka gave Watford an eighth-minute lead, with Abdoulaye Doucoure re-establishing their one-goal advantage shortly after Mane equalised. Roberto Firmino levelled from the penalty spot after debutant Mohamed Salah was fouled, with the Egypt international then poking Liverpool ahead – only for Miguel Britos to equalise and give Marco Silva a positive first outing as Watford boss. 2020: Liverpool 4 Leeds 3 Champions Liverpool were given a scare by a fired-up Leeds side playing their first top-flight match in 16 years but ultimately a Salah hat-trick proved decisive. Three times the Reds were pegged back after taking the lead with a Salah penalty, a Virgil van Dijk header and another Salah strike, with equalisers coming from Jack Harrison, Patrick Bamford and Mateusz Klich. Salah finally settled the contest with a second spot-kick two minutes from time. 2021: Brentford 2 Arsenal 0 Brentford announced their arrival in the Premier League in style as goals from Sergi Canos and Christian Norgaard secured a memorable 2-0 win over Arsenal. The Bees finally came full circle as their last match in the top flight, in May 1947, was a 1-0 home defeat against Arsenal. 2022: Manchester United 1-2 Brighton Erik ten Hag endured a chastening reminder of the size of the job he had taken on at Manchester United as his first game in charge ended in a 2-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford. Starting with Cristiano Ronaldo on the bench, United were thoroughly outplayed in the first half as two Pascal Gross goals in the space of nine minutes gave the Seagulls a deserved lead. Ten Hag’s men did improve after the break once Ronaldo had come on, but only found the back of the net through an Alexis Mac Allister own goal and were unable to get a leveller.

The Premier League 2023/24 fixtures have been released and TNT Sports will kick off a new era for the channel on 12 August. Following a Eurosport merger, BT Sport will change its name to TNT Sports. And the first match following the rebrand will see Arsenal host Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium. Premier League fixtures LIVE: Opening weekend, Christmas matches and full schedules for every club The game will kick off at 12:30pm and will be the second match of the season following Burnley vs champions Man City on Friday 11 August. Here is the opening round of fixtures for the 2023/24 Premier League season: Premier League festive period 2023/24 11/08/202320:00Burnley v Manchester City 12/08/202315:00A.F.C. Bournemouth v West Ham United 12/08/202312:30Arsenal v Nottingham Forest 12/08/202315:00Brighton v Luton Town 12/08/202315:00Everton v Fulham 12/08/202317:30Newcastle United v Aston Villa 12/08/202315:00Sheffield United v Crystal Palace 13/08/202314:00Brentford v Tottenham Hotspur 13/08/202316:30Chelsea v Liverpool 14/08/202320:00Manchester United v Wolverhampton Read More Premier League fixtures LIVE: Opening weekend, Christmas matches and full schedules for every club England’s future is about to be defined – and it’s out of Gareth Southgate’s control Why is BT Sport being rebranded to TNT Sports? Eurosport merger explained

Hundreds of security guards and marshals at the Qatar World Cup went unpaid for long working periods without days off, before being forced out of the country when the tournament ended, a new Amnesty International investigation has found. Some did not earn enough to pay off the loan required for recruitment costs. The human rights body state that research into Teyseer Security Services “shows pattern of abuses against migrant workers”. Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s Head of Economic and Social Justice, has meanwhile accused Fifa of failing “to effectively investigate the issue or offer remedies”, demanding that the global governing body step in and “offer immediate and meaningful remediation for the human rights abuses suffered by workers”. The group spoke to 22 men from Nepal, Kenya and Ghana, who were among thousands of migrant workers employed on short-term contracts by Qatar-based Teyseer Security Services to work as marshals and security guards at World Cup sites in the build-up and during the tournament itself. Among the locations were Khalifa International Stadium, Fifa fan zones, the Corniche and the metro station in Souk Waqif. All of the workers interviewed said “false promises” were made by either Teyseer’s representatives or recruitment agents, among them the suggestions they could take up more senior roles to earn an extra £220 a month, or stay and work in the country beyond the three-month contract period. Once in Qatar, however, nothing materialised. Instead, a third of those interviewed – particularly those employed as marshals – said they had to work 12 hours every day for 28 consecutive days. That came without any day off or adequate pay to reflect this work, which breaches Qatari law. The work often involved standing for long hours without sitting down and dealing with large crowds without adequate training or support. “I had to take out a loan to pay for the expenses to travel to work in Qatar during the World Cup,” Marcus, his name changed at his request, told Amnesty. “I am still paying it, what I earned was not enough.” Richard, who has also requested his name be changed and worked at one of the team training grounds, found he would have earned more had he stayed in Ghana. “I lost because I paid almost £550 before going there. I only received about £1,200, so I only made £650. I would get more than that if I had stayed in Ghana. I lost my job as a result [of going] so I came back with little money and no job.” Kiran, a changed name for a worker from Nepal, found the nature of his work at the Souk Waqif metro intimidating and physically arduous. “It was a tough job because there was one metro [station] in the area and too much of a crowd. I had to stand for ten to 12 hours a day… just resting my back on the barricades. At times we felt scared because it was too busy, and people were pushing.” Cockburn puts the primary responsibility on Fifa and Qatar, stating the country’s existing mechanism for redress is “not fit for purpose”. He said: “The World Cup organisers were well aware of the issues but failed to put in place adequate measures to protect workers and prevent predictable labour abuses at World Cup sites, even after workers raised these issues directly. “It’s six months since the tournament concluded but Fifa and Qatar have yet to offer an effective and accessible scheme to enable abused workers to receive the justice and compensation they are owed. Qatar’s existing mechanism for redress is not fit for purpose and has left thousands of workers deprived of compensation for the abuses they suffered. “Fifa has a clear responsibility to ensure human rights are respected throughout the supply chain engaged in preparing and delivering its showcase competition. “Although six months have passed since the World Cup, Fifa has yet to effectively investigate the issue, or offer remedies. Workers have already waited too long for justice. Fifa must now step in and offer immediate and meaningful remediation for the human rights abuses suffered by workers.” The abuses led many of Teyseer’s workers to protest on multiple occasions while they were in Qatar. Some told Amnesty they reported their treatment on the World Cup Grievances Hotline but no action was taken. One said a manager threatened to fire him in relation for complaining and warned him not to report issues again. Hundreds of marshals eventually staged a protest demanding their dues days before their contracts expired in January, after which workers said representatives of both Teyseer and the government promised they would be compensated. That has not yet been honoured. Amnesty report that Teyseer representatives threatened “action” if the men failed to leave Qatar on flights arranged by the company. Hundreds had to leave Qatar without compensation. Teyseer denied the allegations to Amnesty, saying the company followed an “ethical recruitment process” while detailing various measures it had taken to protect workers’ rights. Fifa told Amnesty due diligence was conducted on the security firm but there were “different perceptions and views” on the experience of workers. The global governing body said it would seek further clarification on the issues raised but did not offer commitment to provide remedy. Qatar has introduced a grievance mechanism but workers must still be in the country to access the state’s labour courts and any compensation scheme. There is no way to complain remotely and, with workers inevitably forced to leave once their contracts are up, Amnesty state they have been “denied justice”. The Qatari government repeated the common line to Amnesty that measures had been taken in recent years to reform its labour system. Amnesty conclude by stating that the abuses endured are “part of a pattern suffered by migrant workers in Qatar” since the decision was taken to award the state the World Cup in 2010. In a statement to The Independent, Fifa said: “Fifa, in collaboration with its Qatari counterparts, implemented a far-reaching due diligence process with the aim to ensure that companies involved in Fifa World Cup-related construction and services abide by the Supreme Committee’s Workers’ Welfare Standards. We consider any non-compliance with these standards unacceptable and are actively following up when we learn about alleged breaches. “After receiving Amnesty International’s allegations concerning Teyseer’s workers on 19 April 2023, Fifa promptly followed up with the SC’s Worker Welfare Department (WWD) as well as with the Doha Office of the International Labour Organisation ILO. It is the primary responsibility of the respective companies as well as the Qatari authorities to rectify possible adverse impacts on workers. As Fifa, we work to use our leverage with the relevant entities to promote the provision of remedy when we become aware of such allegations, in line with our responsibilities under international standards. “We kindly refer you to the SC and the ILO for further information on this case. “More broadly, one should not lose track of the bigger picture: International experts and trade union representatives who have assessed and collaborated in the labour rights programme for Fifa World Cup workers have repeatedly recognised that it led to heightened protection and welfare for Fifa World Cup workers. “In addition, according to the International Labour Organisation, Qatar’s labour reforms have been significant and benefitted hundreds of thousands of workers with the World Cup being an important catalyst for these reforms. It is undeniable that significant progress has taken place, and it is equally clear that the enforcement of such transformative reforms takes time and that heightened efforts are needed to ensure the reforms benefit all workers in the country.” Read More This is the side of the World Cup that Qatar would prefer you ignore Everything wrong with the Qatar World Cup The man who was jailed after working on Qatar’s World Cup

It was last weekend when it really sank in for Callum Wilson that he and Newcastle United are bound for the Champions League. Not, as might seem logical, Saturday’s Champions League final, the sort of occasion that may have prompted thoughts of progressing that far, or at least welcoming Inter Milan to Tyneside, but Sunday’s Sam Fender gig at St James’ Park. Wilson had been on holiday, “totally switched off”, before the Newcastle-supporting rock star exposed him to his new reality. “I went to the concert with my wife at St James’ Park,” he said. “There was a sea of black and white. And before he came out, he actually played the Champions League song and everyone was cheering and I was like ‘this is absolutely real’. I could see how much it meant to everybody. Hearing the anthem in the stadium, without actually walking out to play, was surreal. This is going to happen next season and I cannot wait to get started.” Amid the broader picture of Newcastle’s rise and the reasons behind it are endearing stories of players who carried themselves further than most envisaged. In 14 years of professional football, Wilson has never played in Europe. He was part of a winless team when the club was taken over in 2021 and his former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe was appointed. He was one of seven survivors from Steve Bruce’s reign to make at least 31 Premier League appearances last season when Newcastle came fourth. Like Fabian Schar, Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock, Joelinton, Jacob Murphy and Miguel Almiron, he exceeded expectations. Wilson’s 18 goals were a career-best total in the top flight and exceeded by only four others: Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Ivan Toney and Mohamed Salah. Newcastle, who failed to win any of their first 14 league games last season, lost only five of 38 this year. “It’s an incredible achievement what has happened,” Wilson said. “Seven or eight of the players who started the games at the back end of the season were also the ones who were fighting relegation in the previous two seasons. That shows what a good job the manager has done with the current squad. But it also shows where the club has got to with a few new good players around us. Now it is only going to get better if we keep investing in the right way and become a top-four team more regularly.” If a challenge was posed to each, to raise his game, to ensure he was not cast aside to make way for reinforcements, it was particularly direct in Wilson’s case. Alexander Isak became Newcastle’s club record signing. There was a high-class alternative in attack. “We brought in a £60m striker last summer and that was one of our first big signings,” Wilson said. “You use it as competition, as fuel. You know, with the way that the club is going, that if you don’t perform then potentially it could be your time done at the club.” Especially when there was a point where Isak seemed to have displaced Wilson. A burst of goals earned him a World Cup spot but he entered April with a solitary strike in 18 appearances for club and country and as a substitute. “We went to Dubai for a mid-season training camp and we had five days there when we didn’t play football and I got to sit back and think ‘yes, it has been a fantastic start to the season but it has turned out into a bad season,’” he said. “I was out of the team so I had to basically pull my finger out and start scoring goals again.” Which he did, in impressive fashion. A run of 11 goals in 10 appearances powered Newcastle into the Champions League. If it was a dramatic intervention, Wilson is not alone in pulling his finger out. “That’s what everyone is doing,” he added. “Players like Sean Longstaff, who has come through the academy, and now the manager is getting the best out of him and he looks a top player week in, week out. We wouldn’t change him for anybody now. I think it’s a good place to be at.” Whether Wilson remains there remains to be seen. His form would suggest so, but he will soon enter the last year of his contract. “My time at Newcastle has been amazing so far and long may it continue,” he added. “My agent and the club will be speaking on my future at some point and hopefully it will be with Newcastle.” If the Champions League provides one reason to stay, the Premier League is another. Alan Shearer is an admirer, helping persuade him to join. Wilson wants to rank next to Newcastle’s record scorer. “In terms of Premier League goals, behind Shearer at Newcastle, there aren’t many in front of me now,” he said. He is sixth, but only nine goals behind Peter Beardsley, both the man nearest to Shearer and still far behind him. “I’m trying to get second – it’s a long way to catch Alan,” Wilson added. But he will become the first player since Shearer to wear Newcastle’s iconic No. 9 shirt in the Champions League. Read More The year that sportswashing won: A season that changed football forever Bellingham gone but who’s next? Midfield merry-go-round will define summer Liverpool’s must-add midfielder and Haaland 2.0 to Man Utd: Transfer targets for every Premier League club Callum Wilson tuned up to secure England recall after Newcastle disappointment England’s future is about to be defined – and it’s out of Gareth Southgate’s control Qatar World Cup workers suffered ‘human rights abuses’, new Amnesty report finds

The Premier League fixtures for the 2023/24 campaign are released this morning, just a few short weeks after the culmination of last term - and indeed while the last internationals are still ongoing. It’s always a day on the calendar to mark up and begin looking forward to the start of the new season, even though that date remains two months away yet. The usual weekends football fans quickly mark out - aside from the opening round of fixtures, of course - are the Boxing Day games, when they face their fiercest rivals and who they play across the season run-in and on the final day of the season. All those and more will be revealed at precisely 9am BST. Follow below on our live blog for the full fixture list.