Liverpool baffled by Ronald Koeman’s outburst at Ryan Gravenberch over Holland snub… and ructions over Match Officials: Mic’d Up show - AHEAD OF THE GAME
- Holland boss Ronald Koeman was ‘not happy’ with Ryan Gravenberch’s decision
- Midfielder declined an under 21 call-up to to focus on settling in at Liverpool
- Production company refused to share advance details of referees’ show
Liverpool have been left baffled by Holland manager Ronald Koeman’s outspoken attack on Ryan Gravenberch, who declined an under 21 call-up for European Championship qualifiers against Moldova and North Macedonia to focus on settling in at his new club after completing a late transfer from Bayern Munich on deadline day last week.
Liverpool had contacted the Dutch FA to discuss Gravenberch’s withdrawal, while the midfield player also spoke to Holland’s under 21 manager Michael Reiziger to explain his decision.
These diplomatic efforts appear to have cut no ice with Koeman, who declared he was “not happy that Gravenberch refused to play for this country,” although the 21-year-old is not facing any formal disciplinary action from the Dutch FA.
Holland boss Ronald Koeman was ‘not happy’ with Ryan Gravenberch’s decision
Midfielder declined an under 21 call-up to to focus on settling in at Liverpool
Ructions over referees’ show
Referees’ chief Howard Webb’s commendable desire for greater transparency around officiating does not appear to be shared by everyone associated with the Premier League.
The top-flight’s international production company, Premier League Productions, left their domestic rights holders Sky Sports and TNT Sport frustrated this week by declining to share advanced details of Match Officials: Mic’d Up, a new monthly programme in which Webb and Michael Owen explain controversial refereeing and VAR decisions using previously unheard audio.
Premier League Productions refused to share advance details of Match Officials: Mic’d Up
To compound the broadcasters’ irritation at being unable to promote the new programme in detail on their digital channels, its transmission was also brought forward by 24 hours at short notice, leaving Sky and TNT with little choice but to take other planned programmes off air on Tuesday evening.
On the programme itself Webb admitted to several mistakes by officials and video assistants in the opening weeks of the season, conceding that Nathan Ake’s goals in Manchester City’s 5-1 win over Fulham last weekend should not have stood, but dismissed Erik ten Hag’s claim that Alejandro Garnacho was not offside shortly before scoring a disallowed goal against Arsenal on Sunday.
Agents take on FA
England’s leading agents are preparing for a crunch legal battle with the FA later this month over whether FIFA’s new intermediary regulations should be introduced immediately in this country.
The UK’s biggest agencies CAA, Stellar and Wasserman have taken action against the FA seeking to defer the new rules, with an intermediary hearing set for 20 September.
The new regulations which will limit agent fees to three per cent of transfer fees were agreed by FIFA last year and are due to be brought in on 1 October.
Agents are concerned that changing the rules overnight will require them to rip up existing contracts with players, leaving both parties exposed and causing chaos in the industry.
Wander appointment defended
Potential Everton investor Josh Wander has made history of sorts by becoming the first person with a criminal record to be elected to the Board of the influential European Clubs Association.
ECA conducted due diligence into Josh Wander (above) before he was elected this week
The co-founder of American investment firm 777 Partners was elected at the ECA’s general assembly in Berlin this week as a result of the group’s ownership of Belgian club Standard Liege, one of six clubs they have invested in.
ECA sources insist that Wander’s election complies with their statutes and that they conducted due diligence before the elections following reports that he pleaded “no contest” to drug charges in America 20 years ago.
One of Wander’s other company’s Sutton Park have been accused of multiple cases of fraud in American courts, although he has not been personally indicted.
Wander’s 777 are in talks with Everton about providing investment to owner Farhad Moshiri, negotiations which have accelerated following the withdrawal of MSP Sports Capital last month.
