Manchester City joins French players' union to blast FIFA over player welfare
City wrapped up the previous Premier League season on May 25 and opened their Club World Cup campaign in Philadelphia just over three weeks later on June 18.
They face Al-Hilal in Orlando on Tuesday morning in the round of 16.
If City go on to reach the final on July 13, they will have a month to prepare for their new league campaign beginning on August 16.
Guardiola said he did not know how much the Club World Cup would take out of his squad and told reporters to ask him about the impact later in the year.
"I may say, so listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us," he added.
"I don't know, but it's the first time in our life that that's happened. So we'll see."
Guardiola said he understood comments made by former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp, who said the expanded 32-team event, to be held once every four years during the pre-season, was football's worst idea.
"Jürgen, we fought together many, many times … when we went to UEFA meetings especially, or when we discussed the Premier League calendar, about how to add more quality, giving the managers and players more rest," Guardiola said.
"So his comments didn't surprise me a lot … I understand his argument because I would defend his argument as well."
Guardiola's complaints about the Club World Cup come as France's union of professional footballers, Union Nationale des Footballeurs Professionnels (UNFP), launched a scathing attack on the tournament.
The UNFP also accused FIFA president Gianni Infantino of living "in an ivory tower" by ignoring the impact congested calendars have on players worldwide.
"The incongruity of the situation is not lost on anyone, except, of course, Gianni Infantino and his flatterers," a UNFP statement said this weekend.
"From the height of his ivory tower, which he parades around the world, the FIFA president is not bothered by the fate that the international calendar reserves for the game's leading players.
"His [Infantino's] Club World Cup proves, to the point of absurdity, that it is urgent to stop this massacre game. He flouts the physical and mental health of players for a few more dollars."
The UNFP statement says the Club World Cup comes at the end of an already exhausting season and thereby ignores "collective bargaining agreements [which] almost everywhere, provide for an incompressible period of three weeks of rest for footballers between two seasons".
The newly expanded tournament involving 32 of the world's best teams has faced pushback since FIFA announced it would be added to an already saturated calendar.
The tournament will be played every four years, sandwiched in between the men's World Cup, European Championship and Copa America.
Reuters/AP
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The Advertiser
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- The Advertiser
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English Premier League side Liverpool FC say they are "devastated" at the "unimaginable loss" of their player Diogo Jota after he was killed in a car crash in Spain. The Portugal forward died along with his younger brother Andre Silva in the accident in Zamora in the early hours of Thursday morning. News of Jota's death has sent shockwaves throughout football, with tributes flooding in from across the world. "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota," his club said in a statement. "The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre. "Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, team-mates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. "We will continue to provide them with our full support." Liverpool have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday. "Heartbroken" former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020, admits he is struggling to comprehend Jota's wrote on Instagram: ""I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!" Current head coach Arne Slot insists everyone associated with the club owes it to Jota to "stand together and be there for one another". Slot revealed they were in "absolute shock" and said on the club's website: "What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? "I wish I had the words but I know I do not. 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Local police in Spain say they are still investigating the accident in Spain. International team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo wrote on X: "It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married. "To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you." Jota won 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 international goals, and last month won the Nations League for a second time. He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool, with nine of those goals coming last season's Premier League win. He signed for Wolves, initially on loan, from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2017 and helped Wolves win the Championship in his first season. Jota began his career with Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira before moving to Atletico, where he did not play a game but was loaned out to Porto. His brother spent time in Porto's youth team before playing senior football for Gondomar and second-tier side Penafiel. English Premier League side Liverpool FC say they are "devastated" at the "unimaginable loss" of their player Diogo Jota after he was killed in a car crash in Spain. The Portugal forward died along with his younger brother Andre Silva in the accident in Zamora in the early hours of Thursday morning. News of Jota's death has sent shockwaves throughout football, with tributes flooding in from across the world. "Liverpool Football Club are devastated by the tragic passing of Diogo Jota," his club said in a statement. "The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre. "Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre's family, friends, team-mates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss. "We will continue to provide them with our full support." Liverpool have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday. "Heartbroken" former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020, admits he is struggling to comprehend Jota's wrote on Instagram: ""I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!" Current head coach Arne Slot insists everyone associated with the club owes it to Jota to "stand together and be there for one another". Slot revealed they were in "absolute shock" and said on the club's website: "What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? "I wish I had the words but I know I do not. "All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.£ Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard posted: "RIP Diogo. Condolences to his family and friends during this incredibly sad time." The English Premier League said "football has lost a champion who will be forever missed." Women's Euro 2025 teams observed a minute of silence ahead of group matches in Switzerland on Thursday to commemorate Jota and his brother, Andre Players from Belgium and Italy, and later from Spain and Portugal, stood in silence before the games in Sion and Bern, respectively. Meanwhile, fans left wreaths, scarves and shirts at a makeshift shrine outside Anfield. There were also similar scenes outside his previous club Wolves' ground, Molineux. The accident came less than two weeks after Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso. The couple have three children together. Local police in Spain say they are still investigating the accident in Spain. International team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo wrote on X: "It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married. "To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you." Jota won 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 international goals, and last month won the Nations League for a second time. He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool, with nine of those goals coming last season's Premier League win. He signed for Wolves, initially on loan, from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2017 and helped Wolves win the Championship in his first season. Jota began his career with Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira before moving to Atletico, where he did not play a game but was loaned out to Porto. 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"We will continue to provide them with our full support." Liverpool have opened a book of condolence, both physical in the Anfield Road Stand and online, lowered flags to half-mast and closed all stores and the museum and suspended all tours until Monday. "Heartbroken" former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who signed Jota from Wolves in 2020, admits he is struggling to comprehend Jota's wrote on Instagram: ""I'm heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father! We will miss you so much!" Current head coach Arne Slot insists everyone associated with the club owes it to Jota to "stand together and be there for one another". Slot revealed they were in "absolute shock" and said on the club's website: "What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? "I wish I had the words but I know I do not. "All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.£ Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard posted: "RIP Diogo. Condolences to his family and friends during this incredibly sad time." The English Premier League said "football has lost a champion who will be forever missed." Women's Euro 2025 teams observed a minute of silence ahead of group matches in Switzerland on Thursday to commemorate Jota and his brother, Andre Players from Belgium and Italy, and later from Spain and Portugal, stood in silence before the games in Sion and Bern, respectively. Meanwhile, fans left wreaths, scarves and shirts at a makeshift shrine outside Anfield. There were also similar scenes outside his previous club Wolves' ground, Molineux. The accident came less than two weeks after Jota married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso. The couple have three children together. Local police in Spain say they are still investigating the accident in Spain. International team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo wrote on X: "It doesn't make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married. "To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you." Jota won 49 caps for Portugal, scoring 14 international goals, and last month won the Nations League for a second time. He scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for Liverpool, with nine of those goals coming last season's Premier League win. He signed for Wolves, initially on loan, from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2017 and helped Wolves win the Championship in his first season. Jota began his career with Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira before moving to Atletico, where he did not play a game but was loaned out to Porto. 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Sky News AU
42 minutes ago
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Spanish police release statement about fiery Lamborghini crash which killed Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his brother
Liverpool star Diogo Jota had been travelling in a luxury car on a Spanish highway when it lost control from a suspected burst tyre before it crashed and caught on fire. The football world was left in shock when it was reported the 28-year-old and his brother Andre Silva, 26, died in a single-car crash early Thursday morning (local time). The incident happened on the A-52 highway just after midnight in the city of Zamora when it is believed the Lamborghini attempted to overtake when the tyre exploded. It left the road and appeared to collide into a barrier. "As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both people were killed," a spokesperson from Guardia Civil, a Spanish law enforcement agency, said. "Pending the completion of forensic tests, one of the deceased has been identified as Diogo Jota, a Liverpool FC player, and his brother, Andre Felipe." The vehicle was completely burnt out by the time firefighters arrived. The remains of the two men could only be identified through identification papers. It is not known who was driving before the fatal collision and a source from the Government Sub-delegation said investigators are looking at whether speed played a role. According to multiple reports, Jota was driving 10 hours towards a port in Santander where he would board a ferry back to the United Kingdom for pre-season training. He was told not to fly as he had undergone a minor surgery on his lung last month. Photos from the scene showed some of the charred remains of the lime green sports car, bushes burnt and the metal safety barrier split into pieces. Jota, a father-of-three, had only tied the knot with his long-time partner Rute Cardoso just 10 days ago in his Spanish hometown of Porto alongside loved ones. The beloved star also just over a month ago helped Liverpool win the Premier League trophy when the team drew with Crystal Palace 1-1. In his five seasons with the English club, the striker has scored 65 goals in 182 appearances. He also won the FA Cup, two League Cups and represented Portugal. Jota signed with Liverpool on a AUD$85 million deal in 2020. A one-minute silence was held in honour of the brothers ahead of the match between Portugal and Spain at the Women's Euro in Switzerland on Thursday night. Legendary footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota's teammate with Portugal, was left shocked and sent his condolences to the brothers' family. "It doesn't make sense. We were just together with the national team, you had just gotten married," Ronaldo wrote in Portuguese in a post on Instagram. "To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world. I know you will always be with them. "Rest in peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you." Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who is a minority owner of Liverpool FC, also took to social media in response to the news. "My prayers goes out to his loved ones during this time! May you all be guided and protected! YNWA JOTA!!" the basketballer wrote. Liverpool fans across the UK were stunned and left in tears, turning out to the Anfield Stadium to leave floral tributes that continues to grow hour by hour. -with Reuters
