EA is still planning to launch a new “ FIFA” football game this time, but the future of the ballot seems uncertain, a new report reveals. CEO Andrew Wilson reportedly told workers that the FIFA livescore24 license has been an “ manacle” to how they plan on expanding the videotape game ballot in terms of game modes and collaborations with other brands.

Wilson reportedly gave EA workers more sapience into the future of its football game series in an internal meeting last November. Details about the said meeting were revealed by VGC on Wednesday, where Wilson purportedly told EA staff that the sports game series might profit further if its decade-long licensing deal with FIFA won’t be renewed. The agreement in place is set to expire after the 2022 World Cup, which kicks off on Nov. 21.

The New York Times reported last October that FIFA and EA Sports had been negotiating for two times about renewing their cooperation. Still, they couldn’t reach an agreement with FIFA wanting a$ 1 billion licensing payout for every four- time World Cup cycle. EA, on the other hand, wanted to expand the football game ballot beyond the typical football game modes it has been offering in the periodic replication of the title. Wilson’s statements to EA workers at the said meeting last November appear to reflect the information from the NYT story.

“ Our players tell us they want further modes of play, different effects beyond 11v11 and different types of gameplay,” the EA CEO reportedly said. “ I would tell you, it’s been a fight to get FIFA to admit the types of effects that we want to produce, because they say our license only covers certain orders.”

Wilson also said they’ve been wanting to offer in- game add-ons featuring other brands like Nike, per players’ request, but its standing agreement with FIFA won’t allow it. The football governing body has a decades-long backing deal with Adidas. The same report quotes the EA CEO telling workers in the same meeting, “ Principally, what we get from FIFA in anon-World Mug time is the four letters on the front of the box.”

EA Sports and FIFA have yet to advertise sanctioned details about the future of their cooperation. But the videotape game publisher is reportedly working on the release of “ FIFA 23” latterly this time to coincide with the forthcoming World Cup. It’s bruited to point events from both the men’s and women’s matches, which would be a first for the ballot. But it could also be the last if both parties reach an agreement anytime soon.

Chelsea and Liverpool will meet in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday to decide who wins the first domestic trophy of 2022.

Chelsea last won the competition in 2015 but it is a decade since Liverpool got their hands on the prize.

There will also be a different name on the trophy for the first time since 2017.

That is because Manchester City have won the competition for the past four years – beating Chelsea on penalties in the 2019 final – but were knocked out this season in the fourth round by West Ham.

This is the first of four potential trophies Liverpool could win this season, after closing the gap on Premier League leaders City to three points and progressing in the Champions League and FA Cup.

“It’s second time for me in this competition and I have lost so many finals in my life, but the few I won and the ones I lost didn’t hold me back to try again,” Liverpool boss Klopp told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“We realised how big it is during the ride – each round we made, it was always really, really nice.

“If we could win it then it will be a proper trophy for the whole club because we used players from the under-18s, under-23s and it makes a really nice journey and a really nice story and I hope we can bring it back and celebrate it with the academy.

“In 20 years if you want to talk about this team, I would not be surprised if people would then say if we don’t win anything any more, ‘yeah they were good, but they should have won more’.

“That’s why we should try now to win a few things. And the next chance, the best chance we have this weekend, is against Chelsea when it’s really tricky.”

But Champions League holders Chelsea could complete an early hat-trick of titles this season too, having already lifted the European Super Cup and Club World Cup.

A tale of two goalkeepers

Klopp has already put his faith in back-up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who is expected to replace first-choice Alisson Becker for the final.

The 23-year-old Republic of Ireland international has played the majority of Liverpool’s games in the competition this season and kept a clean sheet in the semi-final second-leg win over Arsenal.

“Kelleher is a really good example,” said Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders. “Him reaching the final, it shows that there’s an inside path for young goalkeepers at the club.

“A compliment for the goalkeeper department, that is what I like. It’s possible a young keeper can make the final, it’s nice to see.”

Chelsea have their own goalkeeping conundrum, with Kepa Arrizabalaga playing in every round so far instead of Blues number one Edouard Mendy.

Tuchel says the Spaniard “absolutely deserves” to start the final but would not confirm whether that will happen at Wembley.

“This is very easy to say – Kepa absolutely deserves to play and I also cannot get sentimental about it,” added the German. “I have to do what in the end is, in my opinion, the very best solution for the team.

“I know that this position is a very sensitive position. If Kepa was a player in the other 10 positions we would not have these discussions, we would just be full of praise and he would feel that praise in minutes on the pitch.”

Will Reds end 10-year wait for domestic cup?

The Carabao Cup may not have been high on Liverpool’s agenda in the past decade but it remains surprising to learn they have not won a domestic cup since 2012.

Kenny Dalglish led the Reds to a League Cup triumph at Wembley that year, beating Cardiff City on penalties.

Martin Skrtel levelled after Joe Mason had opened the scoring for the Bluebirds, with Cardiff’s Ben Turner than cancelling out Dirk Kuyt’s goal in extra time to take the final to a spot-kick shootout.

Steven Gerrard and Charlie Adam both missed penalties but, with Cardiff failing with three of their own, Liverpool claimed success after Kuyt, man-of-the-match Stewart Downing and Glen Johnson all converted.

The Reds lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup final later that year and were beaten on penalties by Manchester City in the League Cup in 2016, with this their first final since then.

They have, of course, been busy winning other trophies.

Klopp led the Merseyside outfit to Champions League glory in 2019, won the Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup and followed up by Liverpool’s first Premier League title in 2020.

Can this be Lukaku’s moment?

Tuchel has said it is not “not the time to laugh” about out-of-form striker Romelu Lukaku and left the club’s record £97.5m summer signing on the bench during Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Lille in the Champions League in midweek.

However, the suggestion was the German wanted to take the Belgian forward out of the firing line rather than rest the 28-year-old for Saturday’s showdown at Wembley.

Lukaku played 90 minutes in both legs of the semi-final win over Tottenham last month although he did not score or assist in either.

The frontman has netted 10 times in 28 games in all competitions since making his return to Stamford Bridge, scoring in both Chelsea’s games as they won the Club World Cup earlier this month and in a 5-1 FA Cup third-round rout of Chesterfield.

But Lukaku is yet to hit the target in the Premier League in 2022, and his last game under Tuchel has become infamous for only making seven touches in 90 minutes during a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace, one of which was from the kick-off.

“He played a lot of matches,” said Tuchel. “We had a similar situation with Jorginho, one of our captains, because we feel he’s a little mentally tired. The focus is on Romelu, that I understand, but it’s a similar situation as Jorginho.

“The decisions are made clear and the players accept. Once you play for Chelsea, you accept the team goes first and that’s why there are no hard feelings, not from Romelu or from me.”

‘I was dreaming of doing this at school’

Trent Alexander-Arnold was 13 the last time Liverpool won a domestic cup and the Reds right-back says he used to dream of winning silverware at Wembley while he was at school.

“It’ll be an exciting game for the whole club,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live. “It’s always a good day out when you go down to Wembley and to be able to celebrate with the fans and be part of it with them. So it’s important for us to go there and try to win it.

“We’ve performed really well, we’ve rotated, we’ve had different teams, young lads, senior players that have mixed and matched this season in this competition, but I think on Sunday it will be a strong squad to go out there and win it.

“We have won our own trophies as a team, but yes we’re still to win domestic cup competitions – our motivation is to go and win it and write another chapter in our history.”

Alexander-Arnold sees no reason why Liverpool cannot win all four trophies this season.

“The emphasis is on all four competitions and go as far as we can,” he added. “In our mind we don’t see any reason why we can’t win all four, to be honest.

“I was dreaming of doing this in 2012 at school. I never thought I would be in this position but I’ve been very lucky and fortunate so far. I’ve been blessed with the path that I have been put on.

“I always feel there is a buzz around this time of the season, for me especially. I enjoy these big games, the ones you need to win. The ones that are either going to win you trophies or lose you trophies. These are the games we want to be playing in.”

Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich says he is “giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable foundation the stewardship and care” of the club.

The decision also comes a day before Chelsea play Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

“I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart,” Abramovich said in a statement.

“I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.

“I believe that currently they are in the best position to look after the interests of the club, players, staff, and fans.”

His statement did not reference the invasion of Ukraine.

The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said it was “seeking urgent clarification” on what the statement means for the running of the club.

It is not known yet if Abramovich will be sanctioned as part of the UK government’s measures against Russia.

BBC Sport understands Chelsea are not for sale, and the £1.5bn loan their owner gave to the club is not being called in.

Abramovich is one of Russia’s richest people and is believed to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He added: “During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities.”

The Chelsea Foundation runs the club’s community and education departments as well as other charitable activities. Its chairman is US lawyer Bruce Buck, who is also chairman of the club as a whole.

The foundation’s other trustees are Chelsea women’s team manager Emma Hayes, the club’s director of finance Paul Ramos, British Olympic Association chair Sir Hugh Robertson, Fare (Football Against Racism in Europe) chief Piara Powar and lawyer John Devine.

During Abramovich’s time at Chelsea, the club have won the Champions League twice, both the Premier League and FA Cup five times, the Europa League twice and the League Cup three times.

In August 2021, they won the Uefa Super Cup and they recently won their first Club World Cup, meaning the Blues have won every possible trophy under Abramovich’s ownership.

Earlier in the week, Labour’s Chris Bryant told MPs he had a leaked Home Office document that suggested Abramovich should not be able to base himself in the UK.

Downing Street would not be drawn on the claims about Abramovich made in the House of Commons.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel had said on Friday there were “so many uncertainties around the situation of our club” following Russia’s invasion of a neighbouring country.

The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said it was “ready to work with the trustees of the Chelsea Foundation in order to ensure the long-term interests of the club and supporters”. It added: “We stand with the people of Ukraine.”

Analysis

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire, The Price of Football Podcast

The words Roman Abramovich has used are not ones we would normally use from a legal perspective.

He has said he is handing across control to the club’s charitable foundation so he will no longer be the person making the final decisions in regards to the transfer budget, the manager and other key elements of the club.

He does own the club. Chelsea FC is owned by a company called Fordstam, and Fordstam has borrowed £1.5bn from a company called Camberley International, which is based in the British Virgin Islands, and that company is controlled by Roman Abramovich, so it is already a fairly convoluted structure.

How the Chelsea Foundation will be funded, we are not certain.

I think Abramovich will be concerned – if the UK Government try to seize his assets then those assets would include Chelsea Football Club and that could have implications if this conflict drags on for a long period of time in terms of how the club be funded.

Clearly, there would be reluctance for it to be funded by the taxpayer.

By transferring it to the foundation, which is a charitable arm and he is not one of the trustees – although some people with long business connections are on the foundation – his legal team would be able to say Chelsea could not be seized by the government.

Poland will boycott their World Cup play-off against Russia because of the invasion of Ukraine, with captain Robert Lewandowski saying “we can’t pretend that nothing is happening”.

Polish football association president Cezary Kulesza has said the team “does not intend” to play the game.

Russia are due to host Poland in Moscow on 24 March, while Ukraine travel to Scotland on the same day.

“The right decision,” tweeted Lewandowski.

Abramovich hands over ‘stewardship and care’ of Chelsea

On Thursday, Fifa said it would monitor the situation after Poland, Sweden and the Czech Republic said in a joint statement that play-off matches should not be played in Russia.

“No more words, time to act,” tweeted Kulesza on Saturday.

The winner of the play-off tie between Sweden and the Czech Republic could meet Russia for a place at the World Cup finals, which get under way in Qatar in November.

Sweden have joined Poland in saying they will not play against Russia regardless of where the match is played because of the “illegal and deeply unjust invasion of Ukraine”.

The country’s football association also urged Fifa to cancel the play-off matches involving Russia.

The Scottish FA is in talks with Uefa over the home World Cup play-off semi-final against Ukraine and the planned women’s World Cup qualifier in Kyiv in April.

Meanwhile, former world heavyweight boxer Wladimir Klitschko, whose older brother Vitali is now mayor of Kyiv, urged people across the world to help Ukraine to “stop Russian aggression”.

“I’m addressing the entire world to stop this war which Russia has started. There is no time to wait because it is going to bleed into a humanitarian catastrophe,” he said.

“You need to act now. An hour or by tomorrow will be too late. Please get into action now, don’t wait. Stop this war.”

How else has sport responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?
Many sports governing bodies, clubs and players have reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine by cancelling or postponing events due to be held in the region.

The 2022 Champions League final will be played in Paris after Uefa – European football’s governing body – moved the match away from St Petersburg
Uefa also ordered Russian and Ukrainian clubs and national teams to play their home matches away from the region “until further notice”
Uefa is looking to end its major £30m-a-year sponsorship deal with Russian state-run gas giant Gazprom
Russia’s Formula 1 Grand Prix, due to take place in Sochi in September, has been cancelled
International sports federations were urged to move or cancel events currently planned in Russia or Belarus by the International Olympic Committee

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) has postponed World Cup 2023 qualifiers involving Netherlands v Russia on 27 February and Great Britain v Belarus on 28 February Manchester United have terminated their sponsorship deal with Russia’s national airline Aeroflot

‘My conscience won’t let me play’ – what else did the Poland players say?
Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski, 33, who is his country’s all-time highest goalscorer, said: “I can’t imagine playing a match with the Russian national team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues. Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can’t pretend that nothing is happening.”

Polish FA president Kulesza added: “Due to the escalation of the aggression of the Russian Federation towards Ukraine, the Polish national team does not intend to play the play-off match against Russia.

“This is the only right decision. We are in talks with the Sweden and Czech Republic to present a common position to Fifa.”

Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who plays for Italian champions Juventus, said his “conscience” would not let him play.

“I refuse to stand on the pitch, wearing the colours of my country and listen to the national anthem of Russia,” wrote the 31-year-old former Arsenal player, whose wife was born in Ukraine.

“I refuse to take part in a sporting event that legitimises the actions of the Russian government.”

Wojciech Szczesny
Other members of the Poland squad, including Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich, Southampton defender Jan Bednarek and Aston Villa defender Matty Cash posted messages on social media which outlined their position.

“It is not an easy decision but there are more important things than football,” read the collective statement.

The Poland players also highlighted the case of team-mate Tomasz Kedziora, who plays for Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv and is still in the Ukrainian capital.

Report
BBC Sport has learned that the UK government plans to conduct meetings with UK sports bodies early next week to explore what else could be done to intensify Russia’s sporting isolation.

Ministers have already welcomed Uefa’s decision to strip St Petersburg of the Champions League final.

Now they are likely to ask the FA to hold talks with other countries’ football associations to see if more can be done to put pressure on Fifa to expel Russia from World Cup qualifying.

Meanwhile, the International Paralympic Committee will hold an executive board meeting on Wednesday when the crisis will be discussed.

At this stage it is understood IPC bosses believe their rules do not allow for Russia to be excluded, and that any such move would be successfully challenged by Russia in court. But further talks are set to take place at the meeting next week.

Liverpool record a fourth successive palm to move nine points behind Man City
In a normal world, Liverpool’s rearmost triumph was the kind of grinding palm which defines genuine title contenders.

In the period of Manchester City? Maybe Jurgen Klopp’s side are doing no further than delaying the tightening of the blue lists on the Premier League jewel.

The winning thing by Fabinho which kept Liverpool’s title interest complete, and Burnley bottom of the Premier League, was in keeping with the match-unkempt and citable.

This was an enduring autumn when the grafters had to shine and the technicians might as well have stayed at home, yet over the course of 38 games these points frequently carry lesser value. For all the ineluctable daily livescore24 focus on Liverpool’s attack, it’s the reconstruction of its chine-Virgil van Dijk, Alisson and Fabinho theultra-reliable leaders whose situations infrequently fall below seven out of ten and more frequently than not exceeds it-which has steered back 2018-20 norms.

Anchorman Fabinho was the natural stage- eschewal at Turf Moor thanks to his thing and mopping up of every alternate ball bobbing around Liverpool’s half. Behind him, still and efficiently, Van Dijk has assumed hispre-cruciate injury status as the world’s most dressed centre- reverse.

The Dutchman’s comeback may have been last summer. The process of complete restoration has taken longer, the occasional mishap before Christmas a sign that he was still searching for his true tone. Recent weeks have seen Liverpool’s capacity for resistance increase, which is why they can now scrounge out results like this. Six weeks agone, they might have succumbed.

“ He’s fully back on track,” said Klopp of Van Dijk. “ You can see it in all movements, We were always induced it would be. It’s good timing because the decisive part of the season is coming up now and long may it continue.”

Van Dijk and Joel Matip had to endure an autumn of prolonged stretching of their neck muscles thanks to Burnley’s long inclinations to their bustling target men, especially during the home side’s most encouraging period in the first half. They weren’t always comfortable, but two crucial factors came to the Liverpool protectors’ aid in the first half. The first was Burnley bushwhackers’ propensity to mistime their runs as their full- tails slung it forward, therefore getting caught offside (albeit the delayed flag gave the vision of further frequent peril).

The second was the ghastly finishing of new signing Sahitz Wout Weghorst. Doubly the Dutchman was transferred into a one-on-one with Alisson, originally dicing ineffectively so Trent Alexander-Arnold could clear and latterly slicing hopelessly wide from close range. His miserable day was added up when he limped off interior through the alternate half with what appeared to be a knee injury.

Alisson made a more emotional stop from Jay Rodriguez as Burnley did what they do at their stylish, examining the appetite and courage of their Personality guests.
Liverpool weren’t plant wanting but plodded to maintain control. They awaited 21 twinkles for an attempt, Naby Keita testing Nick Pope with a low shot, and it was to Burnley’s credit this was such a grimly uncomfortable, physically demanding, character-testing autumn for the callers.

For Klopp, it was a classic case of getting into east Lancashire, seizing the points and taking solace from not having to return this season. Or next if Burnley fail to escape the nethermost three.
“ I’m absolutely pleased with the way we played the circumstances,” said Klopp. “ It was so tricky, if you stood on the pitch you could really feel the wind. It was ridiculous. It came from all directions.”

The decisive moment came on 40 twinkles when Alexander-Arnold’s corner was darted on by Sadio Mane and Fabinho nudged once Pope with his alternate attempt from close range-the Brazilian’s fifth in seven games.
Burnley infrequently hovered latterly, their positive early work a distant memory by full- time.

Their general performance defied their dangerous position, but the gap to safety is now seven points, numerous of those over have instigation and they’re running out of institutions. They’ve remained in the Premier League for eight seasons playing a familiar tune, but when you have won formerly at home in 20 games it may be time for a fresh songsheet.

“ The biggest thing is the way we’re creating chances,” said Dyche. “ There are a lot of good signs from these players, but we get nothing for it. We’ve to play like that against all opposition. We’ve to make on that.”

Whatever the positive spin, they’ve erected a foundation for Championship football.
Liverpool could have taken more openings on thecounter-attack had they brought their‘A’ game. Tellingly, it was the names of Van Dijk and Allison which echoed around the colosseum as the players made their exit.

That Liverpool could win so below their stylish is cheering for Klopp, fussing for Dyche, and a gentle memorial-not that it’s demanded-for Pep Guardiola.
Klopp’s traditional triad of fist pumps to the Turf Moor down end at full- time verified what Guardiola suspects. Liverpool haven’t given up yet, indeed if it looks like they’re adhering on to the most slender of expedients.