League wins battle over transfer windows
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Football League has won a major victory over Fifa that will keep the transfer market open for two years on a trial basis. In a triumph of common sense, Nationwide League clubs will be allowed to sign up to 10 players a season – from wherever they want.
Fifa's new transfer windows will still close on Premiership clubs from 31 August, but the game's world governing body has abandoned a plan to enforce the ruling across the lower divisions after appeals from the League and the Football Association made it aware of the difficulties this would cause.
Football League officials were planning to defy Fifa anyway, but they have avoided a possible confrontation by agreeing a plan in principle. Now there will be movement in to and out of clubs, leaving them able to solve any injury crisis by buying or borrowing players, or to ease financial difficulties by selling them.
Fifa and Uefa, the game's European ruling body, were also warned of the possibility of legal challenges by out-of-work footballers, who would have been prevented from changing clubs if the windows ruling was fully in place.
The Real Madrid defender Ivan Campo will sign for Bolton Wanderers today. The 28-year-old Spaniard has agreed to join the Premiership side on a three-year contract after haggling for days since Real accepted a £1m fee for him.
Campo had held out for other offers, but the persistence of Wanderers' manager, Sam Allardyce, and the club's chairman, Phil Gartside – who met the player and his agents in Spain – is about to pay off.
Liverpool are bringing forward the arrival of Senegal's World Cup midfielder Salif Diao. The Anfield manager, Gérard Houllier, has spoken with Sedan, Diao's current club, and agreed that he will arrive on Merseyside in the next few days because of concerns over the fitness of Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamann.
The tough-tackling Diao will complete the £5m move in time for a possible debut against Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday week in Cardiff.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments