Players at the Women s World Cup should be allowed to show support for social causes, believes Football Australia chief executive James Johnson.
Australia and New Zealand are set to host this year s finals following the men s tournament in Qatar in 2022.
The build-up to that event was dominated by discussion of human rights issues relating to the host nation, and players were banned from wearing a OneLove armband supporting LGBTQ+ rights.
Football Australia is in talks with FIFA to avoid similar problems this time around, Johnson revealed, and expects players to be vocal in support of various causes.
What you ll see from the Matildas is not just great performances on the pitch, but they re going to make some points off it as well, he told Sky Sports.
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Robert Lewandowski and Arjen Robben say Bayern Munich will have to be at their best to overcome Liverpool in a difficult Champions League last-16 clash.
Bayern visit Anfield for the first leg of the tie on February 19, taking on the 2017-18 runners-up and current Premier League leaders.
Despite having five domestic fixtures to negotiate before the trip to Merseyside, both Lewandowski and Robben have one eye on Liverpool.
I think we played very well in the groups, Lewandowski said at an Audi event. Of course now we have very difficult opponents in Liverpool.
At this moment they are top in the Premier League, we still have a few weeks, and I think what will be very important is how we feel one week before the game.
If we are ready, we are fit, …
Market: Over 1.5 goals
Odds: 3/10 @
Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways on Wednesday night, St. Mirren will welcome a struggling Hibernian to Paisley.
Starting with the hosts, while St. Mirren might have only continued to gain a string of praise from across Scotland since opening up the 2023/24 campaign, Stephen Robinson’s side are seeking some recent stability. Last seen getting hit with a 2-1 loss at the hands of defending champions Celtic, the Saints have now secured just a single win from any of their previous five appearances. With that run stemming all the way back to September 23rd, the Paisley-based outfit will certainly be excited to make a return to home soil here. Last seen at St. Mirren Park storming their way to a routine 4-0 romp …
The Football Association is expected to ask FIFA to extend Ivan Toney’s ban globally unless an appeal leads to the suspension being overturned.
As things stand the 27-year-old will not be able to play again until January 17 next year after he was banned for eight months by an independent regulatory commission for admitting 232 breaches of FA betting rules.
The PA news agency understands the FA could only apply to FIFA for a worldwide extension if a ban is still in place once the appeals process is complete.
Ivan Toney has been suspended from all football and football-related activity with immediate effect for eight months, fined £50,000 and warned as to his future conduct for breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
Full statement:
— FA Spokes…
Bayern Munich were beaten by Bochum for the first time in 18 years after a crushing 4-2 defeat at Vonovia Ruhrstadion.
Despite a Robert Lewandowski brace, Julian Nagelsmann s side could not avert a surprise loss against their inspired opponents.
Christopher Antwi-Adjei, Jurgen Locadia, Cristian Gamboa and Gerrit Holtmann were all on target before half-time for the hosts, who had not netted four times in the Bundesliga since a 5-3 victory over Wolfsburg in November 2007.
Meanwhile, the leaders conceded four goals in the German top flight for the first time since a 5-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in November 2019.
Bayern had won each of their past eight away games against Bochum and took the lead after just nine minutes, Lewandowski scrambling the ball hom…