A member of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning squad has called on US President Donald Trump to intervene after being barred from the USA ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final.

Joan Capdevila is a former left-back who was capped 60 times by Spain between 2002-2011. He was part of the Spanish squads that won Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup.

The 48-year-old played for several top Spanish clubs including Atletico Madrid, Deportivo La Corona and Villarreal.

Capdevila Begs Trump to Help Over ESTA Issue

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However, his status as a World Cup winner hasn’t prevented him from being denied entry to the United States for the biggest match of the year between Spain and Argentina.

The retired full-back tweeted: “I NEED HELP @realDonaldTrump. They just told me that I can’t travel to the final with my kids because my ESTA has been denied.

“Can anyone help me with this? You have no idea how excited I was to be there with all my teammates from 2010 and this team to cheer them on. I can’t believe they won’t let me enter the U.S. … and that I’ll miss a moment like this with my kids, who love soccer so much… If anyone knows how to fix this, I’ll be eternally grateful.”

Capdevila Reveals Why He’s Been Barred From US

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In an interview with Spanish radio station COPE, per USA Today, Capdevila said he’s been denied an ESTA because he played a match in Iran 10 years ago.

Back in 2016, a team of La Liga legends – featuring the likes of Fernando Morientes, Marcos Senna and Capdevila – traveled to Tehran to face a team of all-stars.

It seems Capdevila’s brief appearance in Iran a decade ago has cost him the chance to be at the 2026 World Cup final at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Headlines were made at the start of the tournament when Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States and subsequently missed the World Cup.

There were also numerous incidents of fans being denied ESTAs despite spending thousands of pounds on tickets, travel and accommodation.

However, Capdevila is the most notable former professional who has been unable to enter the USA for this summer’s showpiece international tournament.

The former defender now looks set to miss Spain’s second appearance in a World Cup final, 16 years after winning football’s most prestigious trophy for the first time in South Africa.

Spain head into Sunday’s final as narrow favourites following their impressive 2-0 victory over the much-fancied France in the semi-finals

However, they face a fiercely-passionate Argentina side who are determined to retain the World Cup trophy, with the peerless Lionel Messi in scintillating form despite the fact he recently celebrated his 39th birthday.

The second round of The Open was the scene of controversy after one of the leading contenders was handed a two-shot penalty.

Bryson DeChambeau had been on course to go within a stroke of the lead after shooting an impressive 66 through Friday’s action. A birdie-birdie finish was set to leave the 32-year-old American in the final group heading into the weekend, though, he was called back out after finishing his round to respond to a potential infringement.

DeChambeau was later penalised, having been adjudged to have inadvertently improved his lie on the fifth hole.

After initially telling officials he wouldn’t play the third round, the California native has since confirmed he will continue at Royal Birkdale, with tournament officials now explaining why he was punished.

Bryson DeChambeau’s Open Penalty Explained

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After a wayward tee shot landed him in heavy rough, DeChambeau was shaping up for his second when the infringement took place.

TV pictures showed the American treading over the deep grass before hitting his shot. He went on the make a bogey on that hole, but was in sparkling form for the rest of his round. It brought four birdies – on the ninth, 11th, 17th, and 18th – which placed him in contention for the lead.

However, officials determined DeChambeau’s actions on the fifth had brought him an advantage.

Returning to the scene with The R&A, DeChambeau sought to plead his case for around 15 minutes, but was unable to convince them. That led to the seven-under-par he’d finished his round with being dropped back to a five, leaving him three shots behind the leader.

Referee Explains Bryson DeChambeau’s Penalty

The rule that DeChambeau was adjudged to have broken is rule 8.1, relating to playing the course as you find it. This applies even when the action is deemed to be accidental, as executive director of governance for The R&A Grant Moir confirmed.

Speaking to reporters, Moir explained DeChambeau had been punished for “inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing” on the fifth hole.

Running through the technicalities, Moir told how ruling one restricts what a player may do to improve any of the protected conditions affecting the stroke. This includes the area of the player’s intended swing.

An improvement means altering one or more of the conditions impacting the stroke so the player gains a potential advantage. In DeChambeau’s case, this was the deep rough he’d stepped over in setting himself for his shot.

Moir said this applies even when the action is accidental, as it was for the two-time US Open champion.

Moir continued: “The prohibited action here is that the player mustn’t move, bend, or break any growing or attached natural objects.”

Andrew Boyers via Reuters

While there are allowances for players to fairly take their stance by taking “reasonable actions to get to the ball,” they have to take the “least intrusive course of action to deal with the particular situation and are not entitled to a normal stance or swing.”

Moir reiterated this applies even with no intention to improve the area, confirming they did not believe DeChambeau had done it on purpose.

Aston Villa are on the verge of sealing a major midfield rebuild this weekend, with a third signing on the verge of completion, according to reports.

The Villans have had a busy fortnight after losing Amadou Onana to a serious knee injury, with Youri Tielemans joining Man Utd and Lucas Digne on the verge of signing for Paris Saint-Germain, while Johan Manzambi has completed a club-record move to join the club, and Joao Gomes is close behind.

Unai Emery is keen to ensure his squad is strong and competitive after qualifying for the Champions League for next season, and the club are now closing in on another rival to bolster their midfield.

Joao Palhinha Set to Travel to Birmingham

via Reuters

According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, Aston Villa are ‘one step away’ from completing a move to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Joao Palhinha.

The Portugal international spent last season on loan at Tottenham and scored the crucial goals that kept them in the Premier League, but Spurs opted against making his loan permanent after signing Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.

Palhinha, who De Zerbi described as ‘one of the best’, was now returned to his parent club in Germany, but they are keen to offload him and a return to the Premier League looks nailed on.

Talks are ongoing between the two clubs to find a final agreement, but it’s reported in Portugal that the 30-year-old is scheduled to jet into the UK on Saturday in order to complete a medical and put pen to paper on a deal at Villa Park.

It’s believed that Villa favours a loan move with an option to buy, and while Bayern favour a permanent move, they would be willing to sanction a loan on the right terms.

Aston Villa Bounce Back Perfectly

via Reuters

Nobody at Aston Villa wanted to lose Tielemans or Digne this summer, but release clauses in their contract left the club helpless. What was important was how the board and recruitment team responded to the unexpected exits, and they’ve done brilliantly.

Manzambi was a long-term target who they jumped ahead of Newcastle to sign following a stellar World Cup, while Joao Gomes was a big opportunity signing following Wolves’ relegation, and was available for a similar fee to what Tielemans left for.

Pervis Estupinan has already agreed personal terms ahead of a move from AC Milan too, to strengthen at left-back, and with Palhinha on the verge of arriving, the squad is arguably now stronger than it was two weeks ago.