Manchester United are believed to be in pole position to sign a “remarkable” young player from their Premier League rivals, according to a new update from Fabrizio Romano.
Man Utd transfer news
While the Red Devils appear to be increasingly likely to complete the signing of Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu in the January transfer window, an alternative option has reportedly been lined up. Benfica ace Alvaro Carreras is seen as another option in that area, with the 21-year-old chipping in with one assist apiece in the Primeira Liga and Champions League this season.
United are also said to be interested in signing Joao Felix from Chelsea, with the Portuguese struggling to nail down a regular starting berth under Enzo Maresca this season. They have contacted the attacker’s representatives, as they eye up a potentially exciting deal.
Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz is another player who is being considered by the Red Devils, as they weigh up whether to submit a first offer for him or not. The 25-year-old is another player struggling to be a regular at his club, not helped by being surrounded by world-class talent.
With Marcus Rashford’s United future still very much up in the air, a potential replacement for him may need to come in this month, and exciting Borussia Dortmund youngster Jamie Bynoe-Gittens has been backed to come in. He has seven goals and three assists to his name in the Bundesliga so far this season.
Man Utd lead race to sign "remarkable" Arsenal talent
According to Romano on X, Manchester United have now contacted Arsenal over the signing of teenager Ayden Heaven, and are in pole position to snap him up.
Red Devils fans could be forgiven for not knowing a huge amount about Heaven, given his age and lack of experience, but he is a footballer who could have a massive future ahead of him. The Arsenal defender has won two caps apiece for England’s Under-18s and Under-19s, while Mikel Arteta heaped praise on him during pre-season last summer.
INEOS now preparing new bid for physical player who wants to join Man Utd
United and Ruben Amorim look set for a busy end to this January transfer window.
ByBrett Worthington Jan 23, 2025
Primarily a centre-back, Heaven is able to do a good job at left-back, too, so Ruben Amorim could consider him not only a great long-term prospect, but also a versatile one.
O caminho para os clubes paulistas da Série A e o Flamengo fundarem a Libra (Liga Brasileira de Clubes) parecia tranquilo, mas acabou por se tornar árduo com a oposição do Futebol Forte, grupo que agora abrange não só os emergentes da elite nacional, mas também equipes da Série B. Quais são os motivos que fazem o pelotão liderado por Athletico, Fortaleza e Fluminense se recusar a aderir a essa Liga? O LANCE! explica a você abaixo.
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+ GALERIA: Veja quais clubes já aderiram à Libra e quem está à espera
PODER
Quem vai mandar na Libra? Essa é uma pergunta essencial para parte dos 23 integrantes do Futebol Forte. Há consenso entre Athletico, Fortaleza e Fluminense, o trio de ferro do bloco, que paulistas e Flamengo querem enfiar a entidade na marra e que haverá pouco espaço para eles na cadeia de comando, mesmo sob uma hipotética gerência empresarial com profissionais de fora.
Há reclamação por parte dos times da Segundona também. Com o estatuto da Libra como foco. Isso porque o texto prevê que os 20 integrantes da Série B tenham poder de voto de peso um ante o peso dois dados aos da Série A.
O DINHEIRO
É importante ressaltar que o Brasileirão da Libra entraria em funcionamento’, digamos assim, apenas em 2025, quando vencem os atuais contratos da CBF com patrocinadores e, principalmente, a TV Globo.
Diante disso, a Liga já está acertada com a Codajas Sports Kapital (CSK), que tem o apoio do banco BTG e promete receitas na margem de até R$ 5,1 bilhões com patrocínios e direitos de transmissão.
TV
Nos bastidores, conforme o L! apurou, Amazon e Globo, dobradinha que já atua na Copa do Brasil, por exemplo, estariam de olho na Libra e demonstraram interesse na compra conjunta dos direitos.
Há ainda questões como direitos ao nome do torneio, publicidade estática nos campos de jogo, exploração da marca e TV no exterior, que aumentaria o faturamento. Segundo estudos da Liga, o Brasil tem potencial para pelo menos se igualar à França, o que deixaria o país entre as dez ligas mais valiosas do mundo.
O QUE A LIBRA DEFINIU
Em seu estatuto, a Liga definiu a divisão de 40% da receita igualmente entre todos os participantes da competição, 30% de variável por performance e 30% por engajamento.
Esse último item é definido por critérios como média de público no estádio, base de assinantes de pay-per-view, número de seguidores e engajamento em redes sociais, audiência na televisão aberta e tamanho da torcida.
FUTEBOL FORTE DISCORDA
O grupo inicialmente formado apenas pelos emergentes da Série A aponta os critérios como os principais motivos pelas suas insatisfações. Segundo eles, a própria Libra detalha que a diferença entre o campeão brasileiro e o lanterna da competição, por essa divisão, geraria um abismo de até 6,5 vezes na receita de cada um dos clubes.
O Futebol Forte quer uma cópia da divisão adotada na Premier League, da Inglaterra: 50% divididos igualmente, 25% por performance e 25% da receita nos critérios de engajamento, que poderia ser rediscutida adiante. Segundo eles, isso faria cair a diferença entre primeiro e último para 3,5 vezes, valor considerado mais justo.
SÉRIE B
A divergência atingiu a segunda divisão. Isso porque a Libra definiu em seu estatuto o repasse de 15% das receitas para a competição, podendo chegar a 20% caso os grandes caiam. Mas os clubes querem mais.
A proposta dos integrantes da Série B é de repasse de 25%. A proposta teve o apoio do Futebol Forte, que com isso angariou a adesão de 12 participantes da Segundona.
CONCORDÂNCIA
Nem todos os pontos entre Libra e Futebol Forte são de discórdia. Ambos aprovam, por exemplo, cláusulas de fair play financeiro colocadas no estatuto.
O trecho, inclusive, determinará punição aos clubes que infringirem a regra. É possível que haja perda de pontos, rebaixamento, impedimento de registro de atletas e até sanções financeiras aos que gastarem mais que o permitido pelo regulamento da competição.
E COMO FICA?
O Futebol Forte promete formular suas reivindicações em reunião agendada para o próximo dia 16. Posteriormente prometem encontro com a Libra, após melarem a reunião que aconteceria quinta-feira (12) na sede da CBF, no Rio de Janeiro (RJ).
Para a Liga ser implantada, o estatuto da CBF define que haja a adesão de pelo menos um terço dos participantes das séries A ou B. Ou seja, a Libra precisa de 13 assinaturas. Se isso não ocorrer, o Brasileirão continua organizado pela CBF e os dois lados negociarão por conta própria seus direitos de televisão.
QUEM JÁ É INTEGRANTE DA LIBRA
Corinthians São Paulo Palmeiras Santos Bragantino Ponte Preta Flamengo Vasco Botafogo Cruzeiro
QUEM INTEGRA O FUTEBOL FORTE
Athletico América-MG Atlético-GO Avaí Brusque Ceará Chapecoense CSA CRB Coritiba Criciúma Cuiabá Fluminense Fortaleza Goiás Juventude Londrina Náutico Operário Sampaio Corrêa Sport Tombense Vila Nova
QUEM SÃO OS MODERADORES E AINDA NÃO APOIARAM NENHUM DOS LADOS
Grêmio Internacional Bahia Atlético-MG Novorizontino Guarani Ituano
Micky van de Ven would be keen on a move to Real Madrid should the club follow up their interest by making a move, a Tottenham insider has revealed.
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Real Madrid want centre-backVan de Ven on their radarInsider reveals Dutchman would be keenFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
After Van de Ven's agent Jose Fortes told Marca that the defender "has the level to play for a big club like Real Madrid" last week, former club scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that the La Liga giants have been sending scouts to watch him and that he would be keen on the switch.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT BROWN SAID
Brown said: "His agent is really pushing for a move to Real Madrid. They want a centre-back and have been looking at options. They've had scouts at Tottenham games so I don't doubt Van de Ven is on their radar. If they come calling, he will want to go. It's always difficult for players to turn down a move to Real Madrid."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Van de Ven could well be looking for a way out of Tottenham this summer, with the club's only possible route back into Europe via winning the Europa League. He has suffered with injuries this season but has not lost his pace, which stands him out as one of the most exciting young defenders around.
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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR VAN DE VEN?
Van de Ven is set to feature on Thursday when Tottenham take on Eintracht Frankfurt for a place in the Europa League semi-finals. They then host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Monday.
Convocado para os amistosos da Data Fifa de junho com a Seleção Brasileira, Daniel Alves, atualmente no Barcelona, com quem negociação extensão contratual, também tem comemorado outro sucesso na carreira: o crescimento do Instituto que fundou.
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O Instituto Daniel, atualmente, conta com 400 crianças sendo atendidas na unidade de Itapuã (nove mil metros quadrados), em Salvador, e a unidade no município de Lauro de Freitas (dois mil metros quadrados), também na Bahia, que abrirá vagas em breve para atender a outros 400 adolescentes. Nascido em Juazeiro, o jogador quer contribuir com a formação de jogadores no estado.
A premissa do Instituto é de atender crianças e jovens em situação de vulnerabilidade social e oferece aulas gratuitas de iniciação no esporte. O executivo do projeto, Maurício Carlos dos Santos, comemorou o crescimento no atendimento e ressalta que a ideia é desenvolver mais atividades nas unidades e buscar novas parcerias.
– Temos a disposição, o conhecimento e a vontade de ajudar esses meninos e meninas a terem maiores oportunidades em suas vidas, é isso o que Daniel nos deu como missão, então é focar na estruturação do projeto e buscar sempre aumentar nossa capacidade de gerar novas vagas e ampliar nossos atendimentos – destacou Maurício Santos antes de completar:
– Não é apenas fazer um trabalho com os adolescentes e tê-los no Instituto para que eles ocupem seu tempo e sim que isso verdadeiramente possa gerar uma melhora no aprendizado e consequentemente ascensão social, além da formação do indivíduo. É assim que vamos trabalhar sempre.
Funcionando desde o início com recursos próprios do jogador e com apoio dos municípios de Salvador, Lauro de Freitas, e do Governo do Estado da Bahia, as crianças também têm acesso a sala de informática, estúdio de transmissão, aulas de reforço, nutrição, assistência social, e ensino de idiomas.
تحددت بشكل رسمي الأندية المتأهلة إلى الدوري المصري الممتاز، في الموسم المقبل 2025-2026، بعد انتهاء مباريات الجولة الأخيرة من بطولة دوري المحترفين (دوري الدرجة الثانية أ).
وحسم فريق كهرباء الإسماعيلية، التأهل إلى الدوري الممتاز، بعد الفوز مساء السبت 31 مايو، على نظيره منتخب السويس بهدفين دون رد.
ووصل فريق كهرباء الإسماعيلية إلى النقطة 74 محتلًا المركز الثالث خلف المتأهلين سابقًا المقاولون العرب ووادي دجلة.
وكانت هناك منافسة شرسة على التأهل في المركز الثالث بين كهرباء الإسماعيلية وأبو قير للأسمدة، حسمها الأول بسبب فارق المواجهات بين الفريقين، حيث إن فريق أبو قير للأسمدة فاز في لقاء الجولة الأخيرة أيضًا ووصل إلى نفس عدد النقاط 74.
وكان فريقا ووادي دجلة والمقاولون العرب، حجز مقعديهما في بطولة الدوري المصري للموسم المقبل 2025-2026، باحتلالهما المركز الأول والثاني على الترتيب.
طالع أيضاً.. المقاولون العرب يعلن مصير محمد مكي بعد التأهل لـ الدوري الممتاز الفرق الصاعدة إلى الدوري المصري 2025-2026
Tottenham Hotspur still have a number of weeks left to dip into the market before the January transfer window officially slams shut at the start of next month.
The less-than-convincing win over non-league outfit Tamworth in the third round of the FA Cup on Sunday was a timely reminder that Ange Postecoglou’s squad is still not up to scratch.
They needed an own goal and strikes from substitute Dejan Kulusevski and Brennan Johnson to beat the National League side in extra time, after failing to find the back of the net in regulation time.
The clash was a big opportunity for some of the fringe players within the squad to put their hand up and show Postecoglou that they are ready to fight for a first-team spot moving forward for the rest of the season.
Sergio Reguilon and Timo Werner were two players who were given a chance to showcase what they can do in a Spurs shirt, and they both failed to advance their cause for a starting berth in the Premier League.
The German forward, in particular, was disappointing and has endured a frustrating season since the club opted to extend his loan from RB Leipzig until the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Timo Werner's form this season
The former Chelsea striker has been utilised as both a left-sided winger and as a central forward at times across all competitions by Postecoglou this season, and struggled in both roles.
His dull showing against Tamworth, missing two ‘big chances’, extended the attacker’s run of games without a goal or an assist to ten matches in all competitions, which illustrates the lack of impact he has made at the top end of the pitch for Spurs.
Put simply, Werner has not offered enough in the final third to justify the club keeping him beyond the end of his current loan from RB Leipzig, which is due to end in the summer.
The German speedster scored two goals and provided three assists in 13 Premier League matches in the second half of last season at Spurs, which was a solid but unspectacular return in his first loan spell at the club.
Werner was then brought back for a second loan stint with Tottenham this term and his output has decreased, with zero goals in 17 league outings so far.
24/25 Premier League
Timo Werner
Appearances
17
Goals
0
Big chances missed
2
Assists
3
Key passes per game
0.6
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the 28-year-old flop has offered very little in front of goal in the Premier League, with just three goal contributions in 17 matches.
The experienced forward has, simply, not done enough in the final third to warrant Spurs keeping hold of him on a permanent deal and that is why Daniel Levy must dip into the transfer market to find a suitable replacement for Postecoglou.
Tottenham competing to sign French star
According to GIVEMESPORT over the weekend, Spurs are still in the race to complete a deal for Paris Saint-Germain attacker Randal Kolo Muani in the January transfer window.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The report claims that Tottenham, Manchester United, and Juventus are all showing an interest in the France international, who is available to move on from the Ligue 1 champions.
It states that PSG are open to allowing him to move away on loan, amid their pursuit of Napoli superstar Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but will only do so if there is an obligation to make the deal permanent at the end of the loan, with a fee of £50m being demanded.
France'sRandalKoloMuanireacts
The outlet adds that Spurs have made an offer but are currently at a stalemate in negotiations as they are not prepared to include an obligation, over an option, to make the deal permanent at this moment in time.
Kolo Muani is happy to consider a move to link up with the Premier League side but until either Tottenham or PSG budge in their respective stances, there is nothing to consider.
Levy must, now be prepared to include an obligation to make the deal permanent for £50m in the summer because Spurs could finally move on from Werner by bringing the French star in as his replacement, for the next five months on loan and then permanently in the summer.
Why Spurs should sign Randal Kolo Muani
You may think of his huge miss in the 2022 World Cup final for France against Argentina or his return of just two goals in Ligue 1 when you think of Kolo Muani, but neither of those things are a fair reflection of what Spurs could reasonably expect from him.
The France international, firstly, is a versatile attacker who could offer Tottenham quality in a variety of positions, as he is capable of playing on the left, on the right, or through the middle, which means that the 26-year-old ace can cover the roles that Werner has been playing in.
As you can see in the video above, Kolo Muani has also previously showcased his quality at the top end of the pitch in a major European league in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt.
He produced 26 goals and 17 assists in 50 appearances in all competitions for the German side before his move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2023, which was followed by a return of nine goals and six assists in 40 matches last season.
22/23 Bundesliga
Randal Kolo Muani
Appearances
32
xG
13.24
Goals
15
Big chances created
11
Assists
11
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the French dynamo provided regular quality as both a scorer and a creator during his last season with Frankfurt in the Bundesliga
Kolo Muani, who was described as “remarkable” by German legend Lothar Matthaus, could benefit from a return to regular game time, having started just 15 Ligue 1 matches since the start of last season, and that is what Spurs could offer.
If Postecoglou could get him back to the levels he displayed with Frankfurt then he would, quite simply, be a huge upgrade on Werner and allow Tottenham to move the German forward on, whilst also being worth the £50m outlay for his services in the summer.
Not just Werner: Spurs ace who lost the ball 15 times must be dropped
Tottenham were taken to extra-time by non-league side Tamworth on Sunday.
As the January transfer window comes to a close, Barcelona have reportedly already set their sights on signing an in-form Crystal Palace star when the summer arrives.
Crystal Palace transfer news
The Eagles have done well to keep hold of their own star men in the last month whilst also welcoming additions themselves to hand Oliver Glasner a welcomed boost.
Having commenced the January transfer window by welcoming a young talent in Romain Esse – who scored on his debut against Brentford recently – Palace ended their window by welcoming an experienced defender in the form of Ben Chilwell.
The Chelsea defender comes in at the same time that those at Selhurst Park were reportedly forced to reject an offer of as much as £70m from Tottenham Hotspur for Marc Guehi.
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Rejecting the offer with such little time remaining to find a viable replacement, Guehi may not be the only star man who Crystal Palace face a battle to keep when the summer arrives.
According to reports in Spain, Barcelona are now plotting a move to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta this summer and see the forward as a less complicated option on the spending front as well as one who could replace Robert Lewandowski.
Whether Crystal Palace agree with that verdict on the economical front remains to be seen, however, given that they remained unmoved by Spurs’ late big-money attempts to lure Guehi away from South London.
Should they remain just as stubborn in the face of Barcelona’s chase of Mateta, then Palace may yet keep hold of their star striker this summer.
"Amazing" Mateta is more important than ever
If Barcelona come calling this summer, then Palace should do everything in their power to turn the Spaniards down amid Metata’s growing importance. The 27-year-old is at the peak of his powers and last summer’s move to sign Eddie Nketiah seemingly only spurred him on to make the starting role his own and prove that he is the best option for Glasner at Selhurst Park.
After scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Manchester United last time out, Mateta was at the centre of his Glasner’s praise. The Austrian told reporters: “We don’t always talk because he knows what we demand of him. With his two goals today, he is amazing in the box.
“He has the feeling that a number nine must have in the box. He makes so many runs where he doesn’t get the ball. You need to suffer as a striker because you make so many runs where you don’t get the ball. He gets the reward and it decides the game for us.”
With six goals in his last five Premier League games, Mateta is once again the man of the moment for Crystal Palace.
Chelsea have now made contact to sign a new defender for Enzo Maresca as they look to fill the void left by Thiago Silva at Stamford Bridge, it has been reported, but they face competition for his signature.
Chelsea's defensive woes
Injuries to both Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana have seen Chelsea’s Premier League form take a significant dip in recent weeks, and have prompted something of a defensive crisis at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues opted to recall Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell at Crystal Palace, and he has filled in at the heart of defence in recent weeks. However, he is not believed to be in Maresca or the club’s long-term thinking.
Indeed, it is claimed that Chelsea are ‘likely to sell’ the defender at the end of the season in a move that would spark need for yet further upheaval in defence, with Axel Disasi also out of favour at Stamford Bridge and likely to leave.
Clearly missing Fofana, Chelsea have considered making a move to sign a new defender this January amid links to Marc Guehi, but Chalobah’s return may well have pushed that move further down the line.
Chelsea with and without Fofana (Premier League 24/25)
With Fofana
Without Fofana
Games
12
11
Wins
7
4
Defeats
1
4
Goals conceded per game
1
1.64
Points per game
2.08
1.36
They have also been linked with moves for young defensive duo Tomas Araujo and Castello Lukeba, and now a new name has entered the frame with the Blues reportedly already in contact over a potential move.
Chelsea make contact over "world-class" defender
That comes as Caught Offside report that Chelsea have “registered an interest” in Feyenoord defender David Hancko as they look to fix the centre of their defence. The centre-back was linked with a move to Liverpool last summer but never made the switch to the Premier League, though he could do so 12 months on.
According to the report, both the Blues and Tottenham have “asked for information” on the centre-back, who one Dutch journalist dubbed “world-class” last April.
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It is added that the 27-year-old is unlikely to move in January, but that clubs are already queuing up to land him in the summer. To that end, it is claimed that “he is expected to have an asking price of around €50million” [£42m] amid interest from the Premier League as well as Juventus and Atletico Madrid.
It is clear why Chelsea would want to sign the left-footed defender. Having failed to replace Thiago Silva properly since his Stamford Bridge exit, Hancko was considered the most statistically similar to the Brazilian back in January 2023, and the Slovenian defender has only improved his game since then.
However, Chelsea may well have to move fast, with Juventus believed to be hot on his trail too. Would he be the right man for Maresca, or should the Blues be looking to add another young talent to their side?
Virat Kohli is “excited” and “having fun” playing cricket, he said, but not long ago, he wasn’t getting any joy from the game. As he said recently, he was “faking his intensity a bit” and the fatigue and everything else added up and took a toll on him mentally. After top-scoring for India in the defeat to Pakistan on Sunday night at the Asia Cup, he also said that MS Dhoni aside, no one actually made the effort to reach out to him when he was going through a low phase.That phase came on the back of a somewhat tumultuous period in his career. He had given up the IPL and T20I captaincy, and lost his ODI captaincy – something he hadn’t expected – hours before a selection meeting. Then came his shock announcement of quitting Test captaincy earlier this year. All along, the runs weren’t coming quite as smoothly as he was used to.How did he deal with it? In Dubai, Kohli tried to provide answers, and stressed that he was in a good place.”Let me tell you one thing: when I left Test captaincy, I got a message from only one person, with whom I had played previously; that was MS Dhoni,” Kohli said. “Many people have my number. On TV, people give lots of suggestions, people have a lot to say. But none of the people who had my number sent me a message.”That respect [with Dhoni], that connection you have with someone, when it is genuine, it shows like this, because there is no insecurity with either of us. Neither does he [Dhoni] need anything from me, nor do I need anything from him. Neither of us suffers from insecurity. I can only say: if I want to say something to someone, I reach out to that person individually if I want to help.”I mean, if you give the suggestions in front of the world, it has no value for me. If it is for my improvement, you can talk with me one-on-one, (tell me) that I genuinely want you to do well. I live life with a lot of honesty, so I can see through such things. I am not saying that it doesn’t matter to me, but you see the real thing. I can only say that. When you play for such a long time, when you play with honesty, the only one who looks out for you is the almighty. Until I play, until I am worthy of playing, I will play this way.”Prior to the Asia Cup, in an interview with Star Sports, Kohli elaborated about his struggles. He touched upon how an obsession over his professional identity had led to him losing perspective as a human being. He subsequently took time off, during which he switched off completely from the game, not even doing something as spontaneous as lifting a cricket bat.2:56
Uthappa: Kohli looked ominous from the first boundary he hit
At the Asia Cup, Kohli has found a semblance of form, scoring 35, 59* and 60 at an overall strike rate of 126.22. But, more importantly, there has been an air of calm around him, both at training and at the games. He said that came from the realisation that taking a break wasn’t a bad thing sometimes.”I didn’t think I’d go a month without touching my bat, but the situation became such that I had to take a break,” he said. “More mentally than physically. Then you realise when you bat again after a month why you started playing the game. That [realisation] is lost at times, the way people look at you, cheer for you when you’re at the ground, at such times you can lose that realisation.”That drive and purity for the game, that joy dissipates. It was important to rediscover that again for me. When I’m happy in my space, then I know what I can do for the team. Me being in a bad space is neither good for the team nor for me. I think no one should run away from this, if someone is feeling negative or low, taking a break isn’t a bad thing.”And I hope people will derive strength from that and address whatever they are feeling. We’re all human, everyone can feel this way. But to recognise that and care about it is important. If you ignore it, you will get more frustrated. This is something I realised and I got a lot of help. I’m happy, I’m excited and having fun playing cricket again, which was the most important thing for me.”
The left-arm spinner now has 14 days to respond to the charges, which include failing to report a corrupt approach
Umar Farooq13-Sep-2022The PCB has suspended Asif Afridi under its anti-corruption code, after charging the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa left-arm spinner for two breaches including failing to report a corrupt approach. Asif had missed most of the ongoing National T20 Cup, and he cannot take part in any cricket-related activity until the conclusion of the case that is currently under the PCB’s anti-corruption unit.The PCB has not shared the specifics of the charges, but it has confirmed that Asif has been suspended with immediate effect, under article 4.7.1 of its constitution, which allows the board to use its discretion in circumstances “where it considers that the integrity of the sport could otherwise be seriously undermined”. Asif now has a maximum of 14 days to respond to the charges against him.Asif, 35, played a solitary T20 game for KPK in the National T20 Cup on August 31, in Rawalpindi against Central Punjab, and has not found a place in the XI since. In his only appearance, he scored one run off one ball and returned figures of 2 for 24 in his four overs.Earlier this year, Asif had earned a call-up to the Pakistan side for the home series against Australia, but did not make the XI. He had been rewarded for an impressive PSL season during which he picked up eight wickets in five matches for Multan Sultans while returning an economy rate of 6.5, and was selected as cover for Mohammad Nawaz, who had missed a part of the PSL with an injury.In the recent past, the PCB has been dealing with a number of cases of alleged corruption. Most recently, it banned the batter Umar Akmal for not reporting spot-fixing approaches made to him before the start of PSL 2020. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced his ban from 18 months to 12 months, but the PCB issued a condition that his reintegration was subject to Akmal paying a fine of PKR 4.25 million and taking part in a rehabilitation program.In similar cases in the past, Mohammad Irfan served a six-month ban, while Nawaz was given a two-month suspension in 2017. Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif received bans for spot-fixing in the PSL while opening batter Shahzaib Hasan was also slapped with a ban after being deemed guilty of failing to disclose corrupt approaches.