Governing Bodies
PREMIER LEAGUE PLAN FOR 92 MATCHES IN JUST 39 DAYS
The Premier League will return with a crunch double-header on Wednesday, June 17.
The opening games of Project Restart will see Manchester City take on Arsenal and Aston Villa face Sheffield United behind-closed doors in less than three weeks.
After weeks of uncertainty, a return date was finally decided at Thursday’s shareholders meeting, while a raft of significant proposals were also raised.
There proposals include:
- In the event of a Covid-19 outbreak at a club, teams may be required to play with just 15 available players
- The final date of the Premier League season has been earmarked for the weekend of July 25-26
- For top clubs to pay more of the proposed £330million broadcast rebate, though the payment could be halved if the season is completed by end of July
- Saturday and Sundays will see four games per day, which will be televised. There will be one match on Friday and Monday night
- If the season is curtailed, standings to be decided by an unweighted points-per-game system
- For games to be played as normal at home and away venues – but some ‘high-risk’ fixtures to take place at neutral venues.
If the season runs according to schedule, the FA Cup final has been pencilled in to take place at Wembley Stadium on August 1.
The quarter and semi-finals will be played during the Premier League season.
If the five-and-a-half week timetable runs without delay, all remaining 92 games will be played in just 39 days.
One source at a Premier League club told Sportsmail that proposals for clubs to fulfil fixtures with as many as 10 unavailable players shouldn’t cause a problem with the vast majority of clubs now willing to play.
Discussions on how to minimise the proposed £340million broadcast rebate was high on Thursday’s agenda.
Enhancements to the broadcasting product, such as half-time interviews, crowd noise and dressing room cameras have been explored in an attempt to reduce the payment.
It is understood the rebate could be slashed to as little as £170million if the Premier League meet their target of playing the final game by the end of July.
Some matches will also be free-to-air; the BBC confirmed on Thursday that they will show four Premier League games.
On Saturday and Sundays matches are scheduled for 12.30pm, 3pm, 5.30pm and 8pm, with games being broadcast back-to-back.
Midweek matches will kick off at 6pm and 8pm. Sky Sports confirmed on Thursday night that 25 of the 64 games they will televise will be free-to-air.
BT Sport and Amazon Prime will show the remaining 28 games.
While not required to, the bigger clubs – who have earned more for broadcasting revenue – have agreed to pay a bigger portion of the broadcasters rebate in a show of solidarity to the smaller clubs.
The FIFA Museum in Zurich has launched a new special exhibition titled Innovation in Action: Football Technologies on and off the Pitch, offering visitors an unprecedented glimpse into how innovation is transforming the world’s most popular sport.
Opened on Monday, October 1, 2025, the immersive showcase was developed in collaboration with the FIFA Innovation Team and other departments within world football’s governing body. It explores how cutting-edge technology supports players, referees, and fans—enhancing performance, ensuring fairness, and enriching the overall football experience—while preserving the game’s passion and human spirit.
“What makes this exhibition truly special is that we can give visitors a never-before-seen behind-the-scenes look that allows them to step inside football innovation, experiencing it hands-on rather than just reading about it,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We offer a glimpse at technologies and tools that fans don’t normally get to experience up close, while also showing how innovation has evolved over almost 100 years of FIFA World Cup history.”
Organised around five themed sections — Broadcasting & Media, Intelligent Data, Refereeing & Fair Play, Staging the Game, and the Innovation Lab — the exhibition blends rare artefacts with interactive displays. Visitors can relive football’s broadcast evolution, from the black-and-white footage of the 1954 World Cup to today’s ultra-slow motion 4K replays, and even step into a virtual referee booth to experience the pressures of officiating in real time.
Among the standout features is the FIFA Player App, which allows fans to explore Chelsea star Cole Palmer’s performance statistics from the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Final, illustrating how data helps players refine their craft.
Another exhibit showcases Canada goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan’s water bottle from the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 — marked with opponents’ penalty data — revealing how analytics influence critical moments.
Visitors can also view a referee body camera used at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, giving a fresh perspective on decision-making from the official’s point of view.
The exhibition invites visitors to engage directly with football technology. They can test their reflexes and judgment as referees, operate goal-line technology systems, or assume the role of a broadcast director managing live match feeds. Data enthusiasts can analyse player movements, while aspiring innovators can design their own football tech concepts inside the Innovation Lab.
Innovation in Action runs until 31 March 2026 at the FIFA Museum in Zurich. Entry is included with a standard museum ticket.
With its rich mix of storytelling, interactivity, and history, the exhibition promises to be a must-see experience for anyone passionate about the future of the beautiful game.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that football could not solve conflicts, but it must carry a message of peace and unity as Israel’s military operation in Gaza and other global tensions fuel calls for the sport to take a stand.
“At FIFA, we are committed to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world,” Infantino told a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich where he met Palestinian federation president Jibril Rajoub.
“Our thoughts are with those who are suffering in the many conflicts that exist around the world today, and the most important message that football can convey right now is one of peace and unity.”
Infantino said world football’s governing body could not solve geopolitical crises, but “it can and must promote football around the world by harnessing its unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values.”
“I met Palestinian Football Association (PFA) President Jibril Rajoub today at the Home of FIFA in Zurich to discuss the ongoing situation in the Middle East region,” Infantino later wrote on Instagram.
“I commend President Rajoub and the PFA for their resilience at this time and I reiterated to him FIFA’s commitment to using the power of football to bring people together in a divided world.”
FIFA has faced repeated calls to act over the war in Gaza, with Palestinian officials pressing for Israel to be suspended from international football.
The issue has been under review by FIFA for months, but no decision has been taken. Infantino has consistently said such matters require consensus with the confederations and must be handled with caution.
The comments came a day after FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani noted that any decision over Israel’s participation in European competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, was a matter for UEFA to decide, effectively putting the onus on the European body.
“First and foremost, it (Israel) is a member of UEFA, no different than I have to deal with a member of my region for whatever reason… They have to deal with that,” Montagliani told reporters at the Leaders sports business conference on Wednesday.
Israel are third in Europe’s Group I of the qualifying stage for next year’s World Cup in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Amnesty International on Wednesday sent a letter to FIFA and UEFA calling on them to suspend the Israel Football Association.
-Reuters
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has dismissed reports suggesting that its Statutes will be amended at this year’s Annual General Assembly (AGA), insisting that no such plans are on the table for the September 27 meeting.
In a statement, the Federation stressed that the ongoing conversation around its Statutes remains at a preliminary stage and that suggestions of imminent changes are unfounded.
Ahead of the AGA, the NFF will host a workshop on September 26, bringing together representatives of its members, as well as officials from FIFA and CAF. According to the Federation, the forum is strictly consultative, designed to deliberate on proposals for new Statutes in line with the principles of good governance and international best practices.
The NFF explained that only after consensus is reached with its members will a separate General Assembly be convened to formally consider and adopt any proposed Statute changes.
“The NFF remains committed to due process, transparency, and working hand-in-hand with its General Assembly Members, FIFA, and CAF,” the statement read.
“The ultimate goal is to establish enduring Statutes that will strengthen governance, broaden representation, and promote inclusivity within Nigerian football.”
The Federation added that the long-term reform framework is aimed at ensuring stability and progress across its structures and enhancing the participation of all stakeholders in the country’s football administration.
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