AHEAD OF THE GAME: Chelsea set to ask for spending rules exemptions

are planning to seek exemptions from the ‘s spending rules when they submit their accounts at the end of the season. 

They argue they were unable to receive income for three months last year after the previous owner, , was sanctioned by the Government.

Under Premier League rules, clubs are permitted to lose £105million over any three-year period, and Chelsea’s unusual circumstances last season put them at risk of a breach.Chelsea recorded losses of £153.4m in their most recent accounts for the year ending 2021 but, along with other top-flight clubs, were given allowances by the Premier League due to the impact of the pandemic on their finances. 

It is unclear how the Premier League will respond to Chelsea’s request.Complying with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules may be more of a challenge, after being placed on their so-called watch-list of clubs in danger of breaching the rules.

LIONESSES FIGHT PROTEST BAN

FIFA will put themselves on another collision course with the world’s leading players by banning protests and symbols such as the rainbow armband from this year’s Women’s World Cup.

The governing body have antagonised top female players by agreeing a sponsorship deal with the tourist authority for Saudi Arabia, a country with a history of oppressing women’s rights and where homosexuality is illegal.

The commercial deal with Visit Saudi has the potential to overshadow the tournament in Australia and New Zealand in a repeat of the controversy that marred the World Cup in Qatar last year, with the ill-feeling amplified by the significant percentage of gay players involved.

The poster-girl for the tournament, Chelsea’s Australian striker Sam Kerr, is gay, as are many members of Sarina Wiegman’s England squad.

England players are unhappy at the Saudi deal and will talk to the FA when they meet up for the Arnold Clark Cup next week to discuss how to respond.As co-hosts, the Australian and New Zealand football federations have already voiced their disapproval and asked FIFA for clarification on the deal. The FA have yet to comment.

TOTTENHAM’S POLITICAL STUNT

Tottenham’s pitch to the South African tourist board in their bid to secure a controversial sleeve sponsorship deal with the government-funded body included the eyebrow-raising claim that 35 British MPs are fans of Antonio Conte’s side.

Labour MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, and Conservative MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tracey Crouch, are well-known Spurs fans, but the identity of some of the others is a mystery to many in Westminster.

Tottenham’s claim to have the support of more than five per cent of the House of Commons appears to have paid off, however, as SA Tourism have agreed to pay the club £42.5million for a three-year deal.

FA DISMAY AT STADIUMS PICKED FOR WOMEN’S INTERNATIONALS 

The FA have been left unimpressed by the venues chosen for England’s Arnold Clark Cup fixtures later this month, which will see the Lionesses seek to defend their title against South Korea, Italy and Belgium in Milton Keynes, Coventry and Bristol respectively.

The stadiums were selected by tournament organisers Pitch International, who were unable to satisfy the FA’s request that at least one of England’s three games in the round-robin competition take place in London.

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Pitch is also responsible for booking teams for the tournament, which have dropped in quality from last year, when Germany, Spain and Canada were England’s opponents.

Ticket sales have been modest to date, in contrast to those for England’s friendly against Brazil at Wembley in March, which is the responsibility of the FA and has already sold out.