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The legal wing of the Professional Football League are set to begin their investigation into Kylian Mbappe's legal case against Paris Saint-Germain.

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Mbappe chasing unpaid wagesPSG allegedly owe €55 million (£46.5m/$61m)Striker joined Real Madrid in summerWHAT HAPPENED?

Per L'Equipe, the LFP are set to investigate Mbappe's case against PSG, as he believes he is owed €55m. The report claims that the commission is in possession of several documents that will be investigated, and both parties will be called to explain their position.

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Mbappe's agents are reported to have already warned PSG that they must pay his wages by June 30, which clearly did not happen. As a result, the World Cup winner, who joined Real Madrid on a free transfer after his PSG contract expired, and his lawyers are now eyeing formal legal action.

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Mbappe has already played twice for his new club in La Liga but is yet to score his first goal in domestic action. He did score against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup, however, as Real Madrid won 2-0.

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Real Madrid face Las Palmas on Thursday. They are currently fifth in La Liga, having opened their season with a win and a draw.

Aston Villa have now sent an opening offer as they look to complete their first signing of the summer, it has emerged.

Villa looking to end on a high

Two wins in seven days and shootout success in Europe have seen Villa move into pole position for both the UEFA Conference League and qualification for next season's Champions League under Unai Emery.

After beating Premier League leaders Arsenal, they also defeated Lille on penalties to move into the semi-finals of the Conference League, where they will face Olympiacos.

Emery should drop Aston Villa star after 6/10 performance v Bournemouth

Aston Villa secured back to back Premier League wins on the weekend

ByRoss Kilvington Apr 22, 2024

Should they make it past the Greeks, they will face a final against one of Club Brugge or last year's finalists Fiorentina, with Villa likely to be favourites for either game if they get there.

Meanwhile, they have opened up a six-point lead to Tottenham in fifth place, albeit with the Lilywhites having two games in hand. However, Ange Postecoglou's side take on all of Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool before the end of the season, leaving dropped points a likely outcome in at least one of those games.

The Premier League run in

Game

Aston Villa

Tottenham

33

N/A

Arsenal (A)

34

N/A

Chelsea (A)

35

Chelsea (H)

Liverpool (A)

36

Brighton (A)

Burnley (H)

37

Liverpool (H)

Man City (H)

38

Crystal Palace (A)

Sheffield United (A)

Villa too have some tricky games, with a trip to the AMEX and a resurgent Crystal Palace alongside home games against an improving Chelsea and a title-chasing Liverpool. However, with points on the board, they will be confident that they can get over the line.

Now, it has emerged that Villa are already planning their squad for next season, and have even tabled their first offer.

Villa target attacker to replace Zaniolo

Perhaps in recognition of the fact that Nicolo Zaniolo's mixed loan spell at Villa Park is unlikely to be made permanent this summer, Villa have targeted a new option in his position.

This comes in the form of another Galatasaray man, Barış Alper Yılmaz. It had been reported previously that Villa were 'keen' on the Turkish midfielder, but that has now been taken a step further. As per Turkish outlet Hurriyet [via Sport Witness], Villa have tabled a bid for the winger, who has grabbed six goals and nine assists in 50 outings this season.

However, their bid has fallen short. Galatasaray are demanding 25m euros (£21.5m) to let him leave this summer, with the winger contracted until 2027 in Istanbul. Meanwhile, Villa have so far only shown a willingness to stump up 17m euros (£14.6m) to bring him to Villa Park, though it is added that negotiations continue over a final fee and that a deal is by no means off.

Should Yılmaz impress for Turkey at this summer's European Championships, it is added that the fee could become higher still, with his nation in a favourable group including Georgia, Portugal and the Czech Republic.

Perhaps for that reason, Villa are keen to get the deal done sooner, and could yet return imminently.

England Women seeking matches this summer to solve batting puzzle ahead of 50-over showcase

Valkerie Baynes21-Apr-2020Tammy Beaumont says the nature of England’s exit from the Women’s T20 World Cup will sting for a long time to come.Having lost their opening match to South Africa, England finished second in their group and had their semi-final against India abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain. With no reserve day, India advanced as leaders of their group to a final against hosts Australia, who defeated South Africa in a rain-affected semi-final before securing an emphatic victory in the title decider on March 8.”Going out on a washout, a rain-affected game, it’s still hard to put into words how you feel about it,” Beaumont told ESPNcricinfo. “The raw emotion of when I’ve played in semi-finals and lost before is more obvious almost. This one’s going to burn and be annoying and niggly over a long period of time, almost until we get the chance to play again.”You can argue until the cows come home we should have had a reserve day, but at the same time we also should have beaten South Africa and come top of the group and then we wouldn’t have been on the wrong end of it.”England’s women were due to return to full training on April 14, meaning they have only missed a week of work so far as a result of the UK’s Covid-19 lockdown. But being confined to individual fitness programmes at home while the shape of the season remains uncertain, there is arguably more time to reflect on their World Cup disappointment.Similarly, Beaumont has had time to ponder her own performance at the tournament, where she had limited opportunities in an unfamiliar finisher’s role. When she was finally promoted to open alongside Danni Wyatt in a swap with Amy Jones, who had struggled as an opener, Beaumont was out for a second-ball duck in England’s final group game, a 46-run victory over West Indies.”At the back end, things weren’t quite working out with the batting order and I got moved back to the top and obviously didn’t really take that opportunity either against West Indies,” Beaumont said.”But I felt really good going into that semi-final and was really hoping I could make quite a big impact in that game. It wasn’t to be and it’s probably one of the tournaments you look back on as more of a learning experience and something to motivate me going forward.”Tammy Beaumont looks to the heavens after falling for a duck•Getty ImagesIn 67 T20I innings, Beaumont has batted in the top three 43 times, averaging 27.25 in 29 appearances at No. 2 with a strike rate of 112.86 and 26.30 in 13 matches at No. 3 with a strike rate of 113.36.She played at No. 6 in two matches during the tri-series with India and Australia immediately before the T20 World Cup and then scored nine runs at No. 7 against South Africa and six at No. 6 in England’s win over Pakistan during the group stages.”I’ve been quite open in saying that I’ve always been more comfortable in the top order or opening or batting at No. 3 so I think that was nice to go back to what I know,” Beaumont said.”It was a little bit of a pressure situation in a must-win game in our last group game, to go in in that situation and know that if we got through it would be straight into a World Cup semi-final, when I think at that point I’d only faced maybe 10 balls in the whole tournament. But that’s what you train for as a professional cricketer and the fact that they felt comfortable doing that with someone like me, I actually felt pretty good about.”It didn’t come off, I didn’t quite repay the selection, but hopefully in the future I’ll get another chance and I will get to repay the faith of the coaches and the captain.”Jones played more freely at No. 6 against West Indies, scoring an unbeaten 23 off 13 balls, which may prompt coach Lisa Keightley to persist with Beaumont at the top of the order and Jones lower down. The pair have regularly opened in one-day cricket in recent times but, with Wyatt enjoying some success opening with Beaumont at the top of the order against Pakistan late last year, England captain Heather Knight suggested her side may stick with a similar line-up for the 50-over World Cup, scheduled to be played in New Zealand in February and March.”It’s something we’ll have to look at again, ” Knight told ESPNcricinfo’s podcast. “Fifty-over cricket is definitely going to be our focus when we do get back playing and Tammy has proven that she’s a world-class opener in 50-over cricket so she’ll most definitely head to that role.”Danni moved up to open in 50-over cricket on that tour to Malaysia against Pakistan and did it very successfully. We see Amy as quite adaptable in terms of where she can bat.”We haven’t quite solved it yet and, to be honest, I don’t think we’ve solved it in 50-over cricket… that 6-7 role is a little bit up for grabs. There’s people who have had shots at it, haven’t quite done it or taken the role and made it their own, so that’s something that we definitely have on our list of things to get right leading into the World Cup, and hopefully we get a good run of matches before that to try and solve it.”

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has explained why somebody had to babysit Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal during a triumphant Euro 2024 campaign.

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Records shattered by hottest of prospectsClaimed continental crown day after turning 17La Roja will continue to handle him with careWHAT HAPPENED?

The record-setting teenager – who made his senior bow at club level when just 15 years of age – is now the proud owner of a European Championship winners’ medal. He helped his country to see off England in a major international final the day after celebrating his 17th birthday.

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Spain had to bend German labour laws during that tournament – with anybody under the age of 18 not supposed to work beyond 8pm on any given day – and they also had to make sure that the youngster was not included in any team outings to local bars and restaurants.

WHAT DE LA FUENTE SAID

With that in mind, De la Fuente has told of how Yamal had to be supervised in the team hotel: “It is important we do our work as educators and developers; there’s no escaping the fact that he was 16, a kid. There are questions of privacy, protection. When the players went out to eat, he couldn’t because he was underage. Someone with responsibility would stay at the hotel, looking after him. There are parental authorisations but, more so, a responsibility to society. The federation’s institutional responsibility goes beyond rights, legal requirements, authorisation, parental consents. So there are some inconveniences to being young – although we would all love to take a few years off.”

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While Spain are handling Yamal’s undoubted potential with care, De la Fuente admits that the hottest of prospects is a special talent that deserves to be mentioned alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Co. He added: “Lamine is very good. It’s true what I said: that he’s touched by God’s wand. There are players that are different. I don’t want to get into those comparisons, because I know we’re going to start [that], and they’re different footballers, different eras. But the talent? Pfff… there’s something that sets them apart. The super mega cracks, football geniuses, those who [made] history, all have something. At that young age they all seemed different, older.”

Tottenham Hotspur have displayed some classic shirts over the years, of which many became timeless, sought-after retros collected by football fanatics.

Football FanCast has decided to rank the top 10 best Spurs kits during the Premier League era. Here are our selections…

Rank

Kit

Manufacturer

1

94/95 Away

Umbro

2

99-01 Home

Adidas

3

91-94 Third

Umbro

4

91-95 Away

Umbro

5

95-97 Third

Pony

6

16/17 Home

Under Armour

7

04/05 Away

Kappa

8

02-04 Home

Kappa

9

01/02 Away

Adidas

10

07/08 Anniversary

Puma

10 2007/08 Anniversary Puma

A unique but fabulous ‘split-shirt’ kicks this list off at 10. The white and baby-blue colour combination made by Puma celebrated Tottenham’s 125th anniversary.

Modelled by former striker Darren Bent in the image above, the kit sports a small collar, adding a distinctive quirk. It was actually only worn once during a thrilling encounter against Aston Villa at White Hart Lane in 2007.

The game finished 4-4 after Spurs overturned a three-goal deficit, thanks to goals from Dimitar Berbatov, Pascal Chimbonda, Robbie Keane and Younes Kaboul.

A fitting game for a memorable shirt.

9 2001/02 Away Adidas

A pale blue Adidas classic joins the list in ninth. The aesthetic sponsor, the v-neck collar and the retro feel of three stripes on the sleeves all make for a timeless beauty of a kit.

It was worn during Glenn Hoddle’s first full season in the dugout following his spell as Southampton boss. Hoddle led his side to a League Cup final that year, before suffering a heartbreaking defeat at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium against Blackburn Rovers.

8 2002-04 Home Kappa

The first home kit of the list. Tottenham were battling relegation during the 2003/04 campaign, but managed to avoid the drop, ultimately finishing 14th in what was a disappointing season.

Not only that, but they had to watch their bitter rivals Arsenal win the league title unbeaten that year.

It was a period to forget for Spurs fans, but certainly not the kit. The traditional colour combination of white and navy made for a clean look. Manufactured by Kappa, the strip exhibited holiday-makers Thomson on the front, whilst the coloured crew-neck collar broke up the all-white shirt pleasantly.

7 2004/05 Away Kappa

Another Kappa-made kit enters the rankings. After a troubling season prior, Martin Jol guided Spurs to a top-half finish after taking over from Jacques Santini in November 2004.

The solid navy-toned away strip, paired with white shorts, created a classy look. Michael Carrick (pictured above) embodied the smart shirt, personifying a cool, assured and elegant midfielder.

6 2016/17 Home Under Armour

This home jersey was worn during Spurs’ final season at White Hart Lane before moving to their new stadium which lies a five-minute walk away.

Under Armour did a fantastic job on this strip, coordinating the white and navy so seamlessly, yet keeping a minimalistic feel. The shades of gold throughout added a touch of class and mirrored the success on the pitch that year for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.

Tottenham remained unbeaten at home in the league and achieved their highest finish of the Premier League era, placing second on 86 points, and also finishing above Arsenal for the first time since 1995.

5 1995-97 Third Pony

Certainly not for everybody, but there’s something about a yellow kit. Spurs finished a respectable 8th and 10th in this collared shirt under the stewardship of manager Gerry Francis.

The shield-like crest is a marvellous detail. It’s starting to become rather rare on modern football shirts, which is a real shame.

Its only let-down is the predominant Hewlett Packard sponsor, which feels a little in-your-face, for lack of a better phrase. But the manufacturers of the shirt Pony did a splendid job, with the collar a particular highlight.

4 1991-95 Away Umbro

Following on with the yellow theme, this kit notches just above the previous number due to its iconic and familiar sponsor, Holsten.

Pictured above, Teddy Sheringham models the gorgeous jersey made by Umbro and strikes a left-footed shot past the Lazio goalkeeper in the 1993 Makita tournament.

Spurs sported yellow for nearly all of the ’90s, either as an away or third shirt.

3 1991-94 Third Umbro

This eye-catching blue strip places third on the podium. Modelled by England international Darren Anderton above, the Umbro-made jersey displays a subtle outline on the upper chest spelling ‘Spurs’, which adds an unusual, but quirky detail to the collared classic.

The thin lines running down the shirt, coupled with the faint patterns in between, make this third kit a fun collectable for football fanatics.

2 1999-2001 Home Adidas

Another Holsten-sponsored kit enters the rankings. What is it about Spurs and Holsten? This home jersey has everything.

Adidas created a timeless classic that even today, could be worn as a casual fashionable top. The iconic three stripes running down the sleeves and shorts, paired with the bold, but aesthetically pleasing sponsor, make this one of Spurs’ best shirts of all time.

In this strip, George Graham’s side beat Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool at White Hart Lane during the 1999/00 campaign, finishing the season in 10th.

1 1994/95 Away Umbro

At number one is this navy and purple number worn by Jürgen Klinsmann in the image above. Made by Umbro, the stunning strip has become a trendy modern-day jersey, shelved at major outlets such as JD Sports.

Those available at the aforementioned retailer will be replicas, because you’ll be doing well if you’re lucky enough to own the authentic version. It’s become a very limited item.

A big well-done to Umbro and once again the shirt sponsor Holsten, which has featured predominantly on our list.

He was suspended following allegations of sexual harassment by a few women’s cricketers

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Jun-2020The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) has lifted the suspension on Atul Bedade, the former India batsman and head coach of Baroda Women’s team, after conducting an internal inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment by a few female cricketers. The BCA, however, confirmed Bedade would not continue as the coach “considering the sensitivity of the matter”.The BCA formed a probe committee in March after issuing Bedade a suspension letter for “personal comments on physicality, comments that discourage the morale of team members, angry outbursts unbecoming of a women’s team coach, using language that is not accepted of a person in-charge, and behaviour oblivious of gender sensitivity”.The committee headed by a four-member panel – CEO Shishir Hattangadi, senior HR manager Priyanka Verma and secretaries Ajit Lele and Parag Patel – conducted a hearing with Bedade and “various stakeholders”, before making their decision public.”A preliminary inquiry was conducted by the CEO and senior manager-HR in the matter,” a BCA release stated. “During the apex committee [meeting] held on June 2, 2020, the issue was discussed and CEO and senior manager-HR were called to explain the details of investigations and their recommendations. Based on the details provided to the apex committee, it was resolved that his suspension stands withdrawn.”Bedade’s stint as Baroda Women’s coach lasted less than a year, with the one-day championship in February being his last assignment. He played 13 ODIs for India in the 1990s before getting into coaching full time.

Michael Owen believes Cristiano Ronaldo could have been worth £1bn in his prime for the sporting and commercial success he delivered at Real Madrid.

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Ronaldo joined Madrid for a then-world-record feeOwen thinks £500 million would be cheap for the PortugueseHailed Ronaldo's all-encompassing influence at RealWHAT HAPPENED?

In the summer of 2009, Ronaldo set sail for Madrid after Los Blancos shelled out a then world-record £80m for the forward. The rest is history, with the Portuguese netting 450 goals in 438 appearances and winning 15 trophies, including two La Liga titles, four Champions League triumphs and two Copa del Rey crowns.

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With time and a consistently inflating market, transfer fees have hit the ceiling. There have been quite a few £100m transfers in the past decade with Neymar's move to Paris Saint-Germain for £200m currently being the most expensive deal of all time.

WHAT OWEN SAID

Owen believes Ronaldo would have shattered all records if he forked out a transfer in current market conditions and even "£500 million" would have been cheap for the talismanic forward.

In an interview with Owen said: "If you look at the transfer record now of over £200 million, you’d have to say that Cristiano Ronaldo was worth more than that at Manchester United. In hindsight, for what he gives you, look at the amount of Champions League medals he's going to pretty much win you single-handedly, for the amount of shirts and the publicity and the merchandise around the world that he's going to sell.

"In hindsight, I think 500 million would be cheap. You could even double that if you look at the goals, the trophies, the shirts, and how much the clubs have benefited from having him there. How he's grown their brand, how he's won them trophies and made them all this money. So I guess if you'd said to them at that point how much he would give you for nine seasons, they might say yes to a billion pounds, forget about £80 million. £500 million would be cheap."

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Real Madrid splashed the cash for Jude Bellingham last summer and further reinforced their squad in 2024 by signing Kylian Mbappe after his deal expired with Paris Saint-Germain. Despite these mega signings they are in a robust financial situation and Owen believes that much of the credit goes to Ronaldo.

"Since he (Ronaldo) played for Real Madrid they’ve thrown hundreds and hundreds of millions on the new stadium, they are in a great financial position," he said. "They're paying all this money to Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham – a lot of this will have been off the back of the success of Cristiano Ronaldo."

West Ham United have yet to announce Julen Lopetegui as David Moyes' successor but the Spanish manager's arrival is a formality at this stage, with Fabrizio Romano confirming the deal.

It is likely that West Ham have refrained from releasing an official announcement in the build-up to Sunday's culminating Premier League fixture away to Manchester City, which will see Moyes wave goodbye to the Irons following his trophy-winning tenure.

For his part, Lopetegui has already discussed summer transfer plans and the like with Hammers directors Tim Steidten and Mark Noble, and while several outgoings are to be expected, the pursuit of new players is well and truly underway.

West Ham eyeing new striker

Signing a striker was always going to be a priority at the London Stadium this summer. Danny Ings has failed to impress and has been transfer-listed for just £6.5m, while veteran Michail Antonio is out of contract in one month.

As such, a host of potentials have been linked, with Brentford's Ivan Toney the highest-profile name. However, there's a remote chance of that one happening with no European football next year and Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur also known suitors.

As such, there might be weight to rumours that West Ham are interested in signing S.C. Brage centre-forward Simon Banza, who – according to Calciomercato – is on the club's radar heading into the off-season.

Banza's Portuguese outfit have placed a €40m (£34m) price tag on his signature, which is steep, but he's proving himself to be a menacing striker with a deadly eye for goal.

Why Simon Banza is perfect for West Ham

Antonio is a singular threat in that he's not the most clinical of goalscorers but his brutish bearing on the pitch provides West Ham with an imposing and effective focal point. He has been described as a "monster" by journalist Paul Brown.

A ferocious vessel, he ranks among the top 14% of centre-forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and the top 13% for successful take-ons per 90 – as per FBref – despite approaching his professional twilight at 34 years old.

Why is this being discussed? Well, Banza's skill set would make him a suitable replacement for a forward such as Antonio while bringing a sharpened finishing ability too.

He's playing at an inferior level than that of England's top flight but Banza has been hailed for his "magnificent" performances by Braga official Alexandre Carvalho, having been surpassed only by Sporting Lisbon's red-hot sensation Viktor Gyokeres in the scoring charts.

1.

Viktor Gyökeres

32

27

105

2.

Simon Banza

27

21

95

3.

Rafa Mújica

30

20

127

4.

Jhonder Cádiz

29

15

149

4.

Samuel Essende

31

15

178

Boasting the best minute-per-goal rate of any player in Portugal's top flight this season, Banza, 27 years old, has showcased his predatory ability wonderfully, taking 3.3 shots per game and only missing 13 big chances, as per Sofascore.

Antonio, in comparison, has scored six Premier League goals from 25 league fixtures in 2023/24, missing as many big chances. This is not a bad return but highlights the improvement that could be made by welcoming Banza to the fold.

The eight-cap Democratic Republic of Congo international failed to score during his outfit's Champions League campaign this season but he did provide an assist against Real Madrid during a 2-1 group phase defeat at the Braga Municipal Stadium, then scoring in both legs of his side's Europa League final 32 loss against Qarabag.

Banza's return of 23 goals from only 30 starting appearances in all competitions this season suggests that he has what it takes to succeed at an ambitious club such as West Ham, especially given that he would be supplied with creative support by the likes of Jarrod Bowen, James Ward-Prowse and the replacement for Lucas Paqueta, who is expected to leave the club this summer.

Further supporting his case, the towering 6 foot 2 striker has actually outfired West Ham's top scorer – Bowen – this season. The Three Lions ace has bagged 20 goals from 44 fixtures and has been dubbed "unplayable" by Brentford boss Thomas Frank.

Banza too offers skills that would be hard to repel for defenders on Premier League soil, with one scout report stating: 'Banza is one of the most difficult strikers to defend in Portugal due to his tall frame, movement, and strength – he always looks to target opposition defenders and wreak havoc – and despite his 6 ft 2 frame, he is surprisingly mobile in his style of play, acting often as a brilliant facilitator.'

But, of course, it is his stunning rate of scoring that may yet win Lopetegui and co over, ranking among the top 1% of forwards across divisions similar to the Portuguese Primeira Liga for goals scored and the top 5% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90.

The tough, tenacious forward might just prove himself to be the perfect successor to Antonio's place in the West Ham squad, and while it would be something of a risk for Lopetegui's early-stage project, Banza has demonstrated himself to be a natural finisher and he would raise his game, surrounded by high-level peers such as Bowen.

£50k-p/w West Ham man to follow Moyes out exit door after losing his place

He could be on his way out alongside the manager who signed him.

ByBen Browning May 13, 2024

Surrey and Warwickshire had been set to allow in fans for return of first-class cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Jul-2020Plans for Surrey and Warwickshire to allow a limited number of fans to attend their opening Bob Willis Trophy fixtures have been shelved after the UK government cancelled a number of pilots around allowing crowds at sporting events due to rising coronavirus infection rates.Successful trial events were held at both Kia Oval and Edgbaston last week, with both counties hoping to allow in up to 2500 members to watch the return of first-class cricket. However, in a press conference on Firday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that these would not now go ahead.The news means that the return of fans at county games looks increasingly unlikely this summer. The government had provisionally set a date of October 1 for allowing the return of crowds, but many counties had been optimistic that this could be brought forward.The ECB has been working closely with Public Health England and local health authorities in order to allow the resumption of domestic cricket, after a four-month delay. While games will continue behind closed doors, the possibility of allowing some fans in to watch the T20 Blast in September now seems remote.In a statement, the ECB said: “We understand this is disappointing for supporters who have waited a long time to see their clubs in action and were looking forward to attending pilot events at the Kia Oval and Edgbaston this weekend.A socially distanced crowd watches on in front of the gas holder•Getty Images”However, we understand the reasons the government has made this decision, and remain ready to work with them to ensure supporters can safely return to stadiums when government advice allows.”We are pleased the Bob Willis Trophy will still begin this weekend behind closed doors, and fans will be able to watch their teams in action through the online streams being provided.”Richard Gould, the chief executive of Surrey, has previously warned that counties would need attendance levels to be “back to normal” by next summer, or it would risk changing the structure of the game “significantly”.”I know this will cause great disappointment for those that were due to come to the Kia Oval on Saturday and Sunday, and I apologise that we are unable to welcome you this weekend,” Gould said. “Club staff and players are also very disappointed. We will continue to work hard and hope to see supporters back into our ground before the end of the summer.”With the bulk of the ECB’s funding coming from its broadcasting deals, the governing body remains hopeful of a number of Blast games – including the quarter-finals and Finals Day – being televised on Sky. England’s international fixtures, already being played behind closed doors in tightly controlled, bio-secure environments, will not be affected.

Birmingham City co-owner Tom Brady issues a response to fellow NFL legend Emi Manning and Wrexham's Hollywood owner Rob McElhenney on social media.

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Brady responds to Manning's X postBoasted about winning more Super Bowl titlesWrexham face Birmingham on Monday WHAT HAPPENED?

Former New York Giants star Eli Manning recently revealed his love for League One side Wrexham as the Red Dragons announced the quarterback as their latest fan. On Friday, Manning took to X to share a post where took a dig at Birmingham's Tom Brady as he wrote, "Now I can beat @TomBrady in football and fútbol! Go @Wrexham_AFC!"

A day later Brady came up with a response as he pointed out that he has five more Super Bowl titles than Manning. He also urged McElhenney to educate Wrexham fans about the history of the NFL.

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Brady posted a video of himself on X where he can be heard saying, "So I've been working on a little response video at Eli and I am looking around the house but I can't find the other six of these. So, Rob can you just educate the Wrexham fans just a little bit on the history of NFL. Thanks bud, appreciate. I'll see you on Monday."

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Manning won the Super Bowl with the New York Giants in 2008 and 2012, beating Brady's New England Patriots on both occasions. Brady, on the other hand, won the title on seven occasions while grabbing the Super Bowl MVP trophy five times in his career.