Premier League referees "may take the lead from American football" by making live announcements to crowds to explain VAR decisions as the game "seeks to improve how it communicates with spectators." Confusion within a stadium has been "one of the biggest criticisms of the use of video replays so far in English football," which is one reason why top-flight clubs voted last month against introducing it for '18-19 to allow more trials. One idea proposed -- and being tested in Major League Soccer -- is for the official to speak over the public address system to explain what decision has been taken (LONDON TIMES, 5/11).
Liverpool is "weighing up whether to report" Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach for an "illegal approach" to Liverpool's 18-year-old striker Rhian Brewster, who "now looks certain to join the Bundesliga club at the end of the season." Brewster, an England U17 World Cup winner, has never signed a professional deal at Liverpool but the club "triggered the third year of his scholarship deal which means that he is not currently allowed to speak to other clubs even outside the Premier League." There has also been "great interest" from Red Bull Leipzig and Liverpool is closely monitoring that situation (London TELEGRAPH, 5/13).
Former France football captain Eric Cantona "raised eyebrows" midweek when his presence at a Peru training session "sparked a series of World Cup conspiracy theories through the national press." France plays Peru at the World Cup this summer in a group that also features Australia and Denmark. Peruvian newspaper Trome's headline was "A spy observing the Peru team," showing a photo of Cantona next to Peru Manager Ricardo Gareca (AFP, 5/11).
The Ethiopian Football Federation and the country's Match Officials & Commissioners Association agreed on Thursday to resume league matches. However Iyassu Fente, the referee who was assaulted prompting the suspension, "is not convinced things will change." He said, "The league is to kick off and we are yet to see the culprits being punished" (BBC, 5/11).
