Referees’ chief Howard Webb will appear in court next week to defend allegations that the PGMOL ruined the career of a female referee.
As first reported by The Telegraph, a leading female official, Lisa Benn, who has refereed in the Women’s Super League, has claimed she was sidelined by the body, which was then led by Webb and his wife Bibi Steinhaus-Webb, after lodging a complaint against a male coach.
The 34-year-old had alleged she was “physically manhandled and threatened” on a pitch by Steve Child, a PGMOL coach, during a men’s tournament in 2023. However, an investigation carried out by the PGMOL the same year found that Child’s conduct did not meet the threshold for disciplinary action.
She has filed an unfair dismissal complaint, and the tribunal will take place at an employment court in Croydon on Monday. Webb, The Telegraph claims, is set to provide evidence on behalf of the PGMOL later in the week.
Benn, 34, believes she was effectively punished for making a complaint about Child, despite alleged assurances to the contrary from Webb and Steinhaus-Webb, then the head of women’s referees at the PGMOL. She went on to lose her place on the FIFA list of referees and her annual £20,000 salary.
Liverpool could sanction a deal for one of their stars to join a Premier League rival this summer, as Sky Sports reports that a player is being monitored in the transfer window.
A sale for the Reds could come at an important time in the market, as the club are braced for another summer of huge spending to land key targets.
Elliott has made his return to Liverpool this summer, a year on from agreeing a loan move to join Aston Villa with an obligation to make the deal permanent once certain criteria had been met.
The midfielder was quickly discarded by Unai Emery, however, as the manager didn’t want to give him the appearances required to trigger the £35 million transfer switch.
In the end, Elliott was stuck in limbo until the end of the season, and his return to Liverpool comes at a time when he is looking to take on a new opportunity.
Fortunately for him, and for the Reds, there is interest this summer. Sky Sports reports that Premier League rivals Crystal Palace are monitoring a possible deal for the 23-year-old.
It’s unclear whether the Eagles will ramp up their efforts to land the star, who has been described as a “special” talent in his time, but there may still be a way back for him at Anfield.
The report adds that Elliott will be given the chance to impress Andoni Iraola, with the possibility that he will make an impression and stake a claim in the squad for next season onwards.
It hands him a potential lifeline, either at Liverpool or elsewhere, after a challenging season.
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Tough Elliott Decision To Follow
Liverpool will have a tough decision to make surrounding the future of Elliott, regardless of whether he stays or leaves this summer.
The 23-year-old only has one year left on his deal, which means an exit would be the last chance for the club to make some money back on a sale, but it would likely not reach the £35 million they had agreed before.
If the star does stay, then Liverpool may need to consider protecting his value by offering a contract extension, so they don’t lose yet another star as a free agent.
Liverpool must seek alternatives after ending their pursuit of Yan Diomande
That may have to come with guarantees over game time, however, which played a potential part in his original exit from the club to Aston Villa.
Regardless of whether he stays or leaves, Liverpool are not in the most ideal position and will have to see what the future holds for Elliott in the weeks to come.
Rangers are ramping up their efforts to improve the squad for the upcoming season, as TeamTalk reports that one star is close to joining the club, while another is about to leave in the opposite direction.
It’ll be the fourth bit of business that the Ibrox outfit complete this summer, having already made moves to give Derek McInnes a chance to impress in his first campaign in the dugout.
The 26-year-old will join from the newly-promoted Premier League club on a long-term deal, while the move will help push through a second switch elsewhere.
Hull are expected to sign Jack Butland from Rangers in a transfer going the other way, though it is a separate move and not described as a swap deal.
That is due to the Tigers facing financial restrictions upon their surprise return to the top tier of English football, with sales required by the start of next month to comply.
The move for Pandur is believed to be in the region of £6 million, securing a deal for the goalkeeper who has received plenty of plaudits in his time at the MKM Stadium.
That earned him a place in the Croatia squad for the World Cup, though he is currently playing as the second-choice to Dominik Livakovic.
Pandur is expected to undergo a medical in North America to complete a swift deal, while Butland is now set to travel to Hull to complete his move there.
It’s quite the accelerated switch from Rangers, helping to transform the goalkeeping ranks to strengthen the team moving forward.
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What Rangers Need Next
via Reuters
Rangers have moved quickly to address several issues within the squad, with the goalkeeping changes showing that the club mean business in getting back to the top.
Having already added two defenders, a striker, and a goalkeeper, it would make sense for the transfer business to turn back towards the midfield ranks.
Lewis Ferguson has been linked, though a deal with Bologna seems unlikely while they hold out for a large fee to sign the Scotland international.
It remains to be seen who else could be linked with a switch in that position, but Rangers could move quickly to add yet another impressive option to McInnes’s squad.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has told the club he wants to keep one player after talk he could be sold this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
After sealing a return to the Champions League for the first time in three seasons, Man United chiefs need to give Carrick the squad he needs that will allow him to perform strongly in Europe’s elite club competition alongside the Premier League, following their third-place finish last term.
The Red Devils already have a full agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta, with the Brazil international expected to complete his move to Old Trafford next month following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup.
The addition of the 26-year-old is unlikely to be the club’s last piece of business in midfield, after they identified the position as the priority area to strengthen ahead of next summer.
At least one more addition is expected following the exit of Casemiro, with the club still in talks to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United, although they face competition for the Portugal international’s signature from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
It could even be more than one after Manuel Ugarte suffered a serious injury while representing Uruguay in North America.
Romano: Carrick Wants Amad Diallo to Stay at Man United
via Reuters
While Man United are looking to add players to their squad this summer, there will be departures to come too.
Amad Diallo has been linked with a move to AC Milan following Ruben Amorim’s appointment at the San Siro, with the Portuguese manager a big fan of the Ivory Coast international during his spell in charge at Old Trafford.
Speaking on his latest YouTube video, Romano has dismissed rumours that the 23-year-old could return to Serie A following a previous spell with Atalanta, with Carrick telling Red Devils chiefs that the winger is an important part of his plans.
He said: “We also had some rumours from Italy about Amad Diallo, that maybe he can go to Milan. The link with Ruben Amorim.
“Let me clarify one thing, Man United have been clear with Amad Diallo. Amad is not for sale this summer. Manchester United will not let Amad Diallo leave the club in the summer transfer window.
“So, if you see links about Amad, English clubs, Milan and more, Man United want to continue with him. Michael Carrick has confirmed his decision to the club, and so the direction is very clear. Amad Diallo is expected to stay at Manchester United.”
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Man United Looking at Left-Sided Winger Signing
via Reuters
Diallo plays from the right for United, but it is the opposite flank where they are considering making a signing this summer, according to GIVEMESPORT sources.
United have an appreciation for Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa, but Arsenal are considered favourites to sign the England international as things stand, while there have also been tentative links to other wingers like AC Milan’s Rafael Leao and Hoffenheim’s Bazoumana Toure.
Another interesting name mentioned alongside United is Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain, with an exit for the France international more likely if they sign RB Leizpig winger Yan Diomande ahead of Liverpool.
