Friday, November 15, 2024

The David Coote controversy has taken distinctive turns and the PGMOL were right to specifically talk about the referee's "welfare" and the need to provide him with the "ongoing necessary support he needs through this period". A number of stakeholders in the game do believe there is another strand to the story, which is about the body itself. The feeling, going right to the top of English football, is that this is the biggest test the PGMOL have ever faced. The same can be said of Howard Webb's time as Chief Refereeing Officer. How he handles this will define his tenure. Influential stakeholders are expecting to handle it transparently and with clarity, or else they may face more searching criticisms.

Don't forget to complete your registration

We've noticed that you still have not completed your registration to The Independent. Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism. It allows us to better understand our readers and tailor your experience.

By registering, you'll also gain access to a range of exclusive benefits, including:

Unlock these benefits by completing your registration today. 

The Web Summit event took place in Lisbon this week, and by far the dominant theme was the rise of Artificial Intelligence - right up to how it will affect football. This newsletter has written before about how clubs are starting to use to model tactics, and such have been the advances since that some figures at the summit were talking 30-50-year evolutions. We might well see an ultra-systemised game, where players have to follow even stricter instructions, only for another self-correction to come and individualism to eventually become a virtue again since it might end up so rare. This, of course, is something else that can be modelled.

The summit actually almost had quite a comic scene. Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada was long due to speak about sport's relationship with technology, but that actually meant he was flying back into Lisbon on the same day that Ruben Amorim was flying in the other direction. As more than one figure within the club said, "the timing could have been better". It wasn't just that Berrada was going back to Lisbon to speak at one of the city's most prestigious events just two weeks after taking one of their most prestigious club's managers. It was also the day it was announced that a United hero like Ruud van Nistelrooy would be leaving. He made quite an impact in his brief time back, with staff loving his demeanour. In his actual talk, on the Tuesday, Berrada spoke of how "excited" he was for Amorim while making a point of saying "he will integrate well into the existing structure". Wandering around the summit, meanwhile, was Hugo Viana. He is of course the Sporting technical director who had to negotiate with United over Amorim, and will soon find himself on the other side of the city as Txiki Begiristain's successor at Manchester City.

Gary Lineker's imminent departure from Match of the Day is causing a lot of discussion in the football media industry. The widespread expectation is that the BBC will go within the organisation, but it may not be so simple. It is a chance to look outside, and there are a lot of backers from two of Sky's finest talents: Dave Jones and Kelly Cates. Both would shake it up, and offer high-class coverage.

Football features

Miguel's Dispatches

One thing that a few days in Lisbon emphasised was just how so many people want to talk about Ruben Amorim. Any hint of people speaking English usually brought a reference. He's had quite the effect on the city. As even one Benfica fan said to me, "he played for us and is one of us, so Sporting's success is still dependent on us!"

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"I don't really like it if I'm totally honest. I think, like I just said there, England comes before anything, any club situation."

Harry Kane on the nine withdrawals from the England squad for this international week

Reading the game quiz

Ollie Watkins is one of nine players to have scored for England since 2000, whose name starts with a 'W'. Name the other eight.

(You can find out the answers here. The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too)

INDYBEST / BEST BUYS

Further reading

The Independent proudly partners with Refuge and the National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Join the conversation or follow us

Download the free Independent app

Please do not reply directly to this email

You are currently registered to receive The Independent's Football newsletter.

To unsubscribe from The Independent's Football newsletter, or to manage your email preferences please click here.

This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 14-18 Finsbury Square, London EC2A 1AH. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345

Read our privacy policy and cookie policy