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Backheel Breakfast: PSG and Man City rejoice! Courts blocking Financial Fair Play rules.
Make it rain ... hopefully.
Lars Baron/Getty Images
Manchester Ctiy, Paris Saint-Germain and the other clubs that have way more cash than actual revenue can't spend freely quite yet, but they got a nice little boost on Wednesday -- theoretically. A Belgian court has blocked UEFA rules that were set to go into effect this season that would have seen the maximum losses that clubs are allowed decrease significantly.
That doesn’t mean UEFA think this matters, though.
However, UEFA claimed the Belgian court was “incompetent” and insisted its appeal “automatically suspends the ruling of the lower court.”
“It means that UEFA can proceed with the next phase of implementation of FFP,” it said.
PSG and City’s lawyers will obviously disagree.
While UEFA are planning on relaxing FFP in the future, that’s not terribly relevant to this transfer window. City and PSG would probably like to know how much they can spend right now, before they go spend a ton of money on players like Raheem Sterling or Angel Di Maria.
In the news
Liverpool just splashed out £29m for Roberto Firmino. Here’s what they’re getting.
The USMNT's Gold Cup roster is out and it's super weird. (Stars and Stripes FC)
Pepe Reina has rejoined Napoli. (SSC Napoli)
Because Arsenal are Arsenal, they signed a Romanian Under-16 captain. (Guardian)
Mainz have pulled off a minor coup and signed Fabian Frei. (Bundesliga)
Realizing she might get suspended, Abby Wambach apologized for her wack referee takes. (Pro Soccer Talk)
You should be reading
Katie Baker on the experience of watching USWNT-Colombia in Edmonton. (Grantland)
Jim Powell and Steven Bloor on the strange world of soccer mascots. (Guardian)
David Preece on intimidating referees and why it’s awful. (The Set Pieces)
Fun with transfer rumors
The section in which nothing should be taken seriously. It’s rumor season, so this section will be expanded, and as the summer rolls on, it will probably be bigger than the actual news section.
Jackson Martinez to Atleti is virtually done. (ESPN FC)
Arda Turan apparently wants to go to England. Not sure who’d actually pay his fee. (AS)
Juve and Napoli are battling it out over Ricardo Saponara. (Football Italia)
Barca have contacted Angel Di Maria, who probably doesn’t want to rot at United for 6 months waiting. (Sport)
Hey look, some teams actually want Yevhen Konoplyanka! (Mirror)
Chelsea want Asmir Begovic, and Stoke want Victor Moses plus cash. (Telegraph)
Tuesday’s games
Japan won, scored some great goals, and also looked really vulnerable.
What to watch on Wednesday (click for listings, all times ET)
Euro U-21: England vs. Italy (2:45 p.m.) - The Baby Lions learn how to let down their country at a young age.
Euro U-21: Portugal vs. Sweden (2:45 p.m.) - Watch just for Ruben Neves.
MLS: 7 games (from 7 p.m.) - With a late Timbers-Galaxy game on ESPN2.
Copa America: Chile vs. Uruguay (7:30 p.m.) - Played in dense smog!
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