Latest news with #relegation
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLS Faces FIFA Fire on Promotion and Relegation
MLS Faces FIFA Fire on Promotion and Relegation originally appeared on Athlon Sports. FIFA president Gianni Infantino is rattling cages in American soccer. He's urging Major League Soccer (MLS) to adopt promotion and relegation, a system defining global soccer leagues. Citing Wrexham AFC's meteoric climb from non-league to England's Championship, Infantino argues it fuels competition absent in MLS's closed structure. Advertisement Wrexham's Hollywood-backed saga, fueled by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, showcases soccer's underdog magic. Promotion and relegation let minnows dream big, toppling giants through grit. MLS, like the NFL or NBA, operates as a sealed fortress, with franchise fees soaring past $500 million, making owners wary of risking relegation according to Infantino's vision isn't just romantic; it's strategic. A 2016 study revealed 88% of 1,000 U.S. soccer fans backed promotion and relegation, craving heightened stakes says Yet, MLS's stability, with 2024 attendance hitting 11.4 million, suggests fans aren't fleeing its current model. 'It has to must be discussed with common sense and a dialogue in a positive spirit' - Gianni Infantino said in a 2025 fireside chat with Fox Sports. The United Soccer League (USL), MLS's rival, is stealing a march. In 2025, USL owners voted to launch a three-tier system with promotion and relegation by 2027, challenging MLS's dominance according to This move amplifies pressure on MLS to evolve or risk being outshone. Advertisement Infantino's claim that soccer will eclipse all U.S. sports in 'three to four, maximum five years' feels audacious. A 2025 poll of 2,501 Americans showed only 14% follow soccer, trailing football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and even the Olympics ( His timeline seems more hope than reality. MLS owners face a $500 million gamble. Relegation could devalue franchises, spooking investors who banked on guaranteed top-flight status says Unlike Wrexham's fairy tale, MLS clubs lack the cultural roots to survive a drop, critics argue. Football Role Models - Rob and Ryan are winning with Wrexham.(Photo by) Wrexham AFC's value has surged since Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney purchased the club for $2.55 million in 2021. As of April 2025, following their third successive promotion to the EFL Championship, football finance expert Kieran Maguire estimated the club's valuation at approximately $191 million (£150 million). This marks a 7,400% increase from the 2021 price. Yet, Infantino's push taps into soccer's global soul. Promotion and relegation reward ambition, not just wallets. European giants like Manchester United thrive under this pressure, per UEFA's 2024 report. Advertisement MLS's closed shop has drawbacks. Stagnant teams face no real penalty, dulling competition. Fans crave the drama Wrexham embodies, where every match pulses with consequence. The USL's bold experiment looms large. If successful, it could force MLS's hand, reshaping American soccer. Infantino's dream hinges on MLS embracing risk over comfort. FIFA's challenge is clear: evolve or stagnate. MLS must weigh its fortress against soccer's beating heart. Will it dare to dream like Wrexham? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 23, 2025, where it first appeared.
BBC News
a day ago
- Business
- BBC News
Lyon included in Ligue 1 fixtures despite demotion
Lyon have been included in the Ligue 1 fixtures for next season despite being relegated to French football's second tier because of the poor state of their the schedule released on Friday, Lyon have been earmarked to play Lens in their opening game of the 2025-26 campaign - which starts on the weekend of 16-17 were provisionally demoted in November by the DNGC, the body which oversees the accounts of French professional football officials, including owner John Textor, met with the DNGC earlier this week but failed to convince the body that the club had improved their financial situation enough to lift the punishment. Last October Textor's Eagle Football Group, which owns a 77% stake in Lyon, announced debts of £ previously described the DNGC's decision as "incomprehensible" and have taken steps to Gones finished sixth in Ligue 1 last season and qualified for the Europa League. Their relegation could prove significant to FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, whose hopes of playing in the Europa League next season are under threat because of Uefa rules which prevent multiple teams under one multi-club ownership structure competing in the same European owns stakes in both clubs although he agreed a deal to sell his 43% share in Palace on executives met on Friday to discuss the matter, and the outcome of the hearing had been expected to be announced later in the day, but the meeting is now set to resume at the start of next week.
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Another survival scrap 'can't happen again'
Stoke City defender Ben Wilmot says another relegation battle "cannot happen again" after last season's final-day survival in the Potters finished two points - and four places - above the relegation zone after a goalless draw at Derby County proved enough to keep them tense end typified a turbulent season on and off the field at the bet365 Stadium that saw three different permanent managers take charge of a struggling side."Last season was one of the toughest mentally because of all the change," Wilmot told BBC Radio Stoke."And the nervy end to it wasn't very fun, so it was nice to get the job done and switch off for a few weeks." The appointment of Mark Robins at the start of the year brought some stability to Stoke, who had fired Stephen Schumacher five games into the season before hiring Spaniard Narcis Pelach only to sack him three months later after 19 games and three league former Coventry boss Robins could not pull the Potters comfortably clear of trouble, meaning the squad went into that final game at the Rams knowing defeat could see them drop into League One for the first time in more than 20 years."That last week, everybody was talking about the situation and who had to beat who and what we had to do and if we'd lost who we were relying on," Wilmot said."We were just so preoccupied - it was the only topic of conversation for the whole week."It was a very stressful end to the season. Nobody wanted to go down, but it was nice to get the job done and get away from it." Feels like Robins 'is in charge of the whole place' That drama and stress have had a lasting impact on the squad, with Wilmot sure the experience will stiffen their resolves as they head into the new season."Everybody will be back with the mindset 'that cannot happen again', and I think it'll certainly put us in good stead," he said."I think we'll be a little bit more fierce in the way we approach games and not allow ourselves to drop that low in the league again - hopefully we can get off to a good start."We just hope for a steadier season on and off the pitch."Last year was very turbulent - it's not easy for people to perform when you're constantly flipping between systems and different managers. It's tough."It's a lot of the lads first time experiencing a relegation battle, and that will only have a positive impact on their careers and how they deal with games mentally."So when times get tough this season, which they will, we'll be better prepared."As horrible as last season was, it's definitely put us in better stead for this." With another Championship campaign approaching, Robins is now six months into the job and preparing his first pre-season with the the extensive rebuilding of the squad ahead of the 2023-24 season, which saw 19 players signed that summer, the recruitment this time round has been much more measured, with only Wales winger Sorba Thomas the only permanent arrival so and the unifying influence Robins has had, makes Wilmot "optimistic" going into the new season."It felt that way a few weeks after the manager came in," he said."Things just felt different. You feel like he really is in charge of the whole place, rather than just being the coach, which is a nice feeling - you feel like you've got someone who is the boss."With it not being such a huge turnaround, it feels like we're building something rather than it's another rebuild with 15 to 20 lads leaving and coming in, so the whole vibe around the building has been better than it has been the last few years." 'We can get the club back to where it needs to be' Stoke start their eighth attempt to get back to the Premier League at home to Derby on Saturday, 9 August, in a repeat of that survival game in will have to improve significantly on their performances last season when they recorded their worst points tally (51), league position (18) and goal difference (-17) since they were relegated from the top flight in Wilmot, now the club's longest-serving player, having arrived four years ago, is confident that will happen."The reason I came here was to get back into the Premier League and that's not happened," he said."This is probably the most optimistic I've been coming into pre-season over the last few years."With the group we've got and the manager, this season should be a lot better than last, and we'll certainly be pushing for play-offs at least."The turnaround across the board has been crazy, but hopefully things are going to settle down under this manager, and we can get the club back to where it needs to be."
New York Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Inside Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester demise: A damaging tenure for club and manager
As Newcastle United became the third team in just eight games to score inside the first two minutes against Leicester City, the live television camera turned to manager Ruud van Nistelrooy on the touchline. 'For f***k's sake,' he vented in frustration. Even novice lip readers were aware of his feelings and every Leicester fan shared his sentiment as their team slid in embarrassing fashion towards a second relegation in three years — and the Dutchman was powerless to stop it. Advertisement Leicester's appointment of Van Nistelrooy proved disastrous, not only for the club but for him. In November, the former Manchester United striker was handed the reins to replace Steve Cooper, who had been sacked after just 12 games in charge. There were questions over Cooper's appointment and his swift removal, but the abject failure of Van Nistelrooy's tenure places more criticism at the door of the club hierarchy. Van Nistelrooy knew he was on thin ice but hoped Leicester would realise he had spent five months on a steep learning curve and had knowledge of what was required to rebuild the club next season. But after weeks of silence, a decision to bring his spell in charge at the King Power Stadium to an end has been made. Here The Athletic looks at the Dutchman's disastrous tenure. All sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships. Van Nistelrooy had graduated from being one of the best strikers in Europe to quietly doing his coaching apprenticeship in the youth ranks of one of his former clubs, PSV Eindhoven. He built an impressive reputation as a coach, winning two trophies at PSV before working under Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford and stepping up in a brief four-game tenure as interim manager. However, after deciding to take on the challenge of attempting to keep Leicester in the Premier League, his reputation as a coach has been left severely damaged. His record since taking over from Cooper at the end of November last year is one of the worst in the club's history and Leicester have set unwanted Premier League records. Cooper was sacked after a five-game winless run but Leicester were two points above the relegation zone with 10 points at the time. Leicester took that decision just five months after appointing Cooper partly because they felt the team was on the wrong course and in need of new direction. Under Van Nistelrooy, the direction of travel was even worse. It was hoped Van Nistelrooy's aura as a hugely respected and successful former player would lift a squad struggling to cope with the Premier League after an unsettled pre-season and difficult start to the campaign. According to sources close to the squad, the Leicester players initially were impressed a former player of his stature was coming in rather than a coach with no playing background, like Cooper. Advertisement Van Nistelrooy seemed to have had that impact at Old Trafford. Following Ten Hag's exit in October, he won three of his games as interim head coach, including two matches against Leicester, but what impressed the hierarchy at the King Power was the apparent bond he had with the players, especially Casemiro, who ran to celebrate one of his goals with Van Nistelrooy on the touchline. It was hoped Van Nistelrooy would set new, high standards and generate a similar response from the Leicester players. They had struggled to connect with Cooper's more relaxed methods after their Championship-winning season under Enzo Maresca, a close friend of Van Nistelrooy from their time as team-mates at Malaga and a coach with similar philosophies. Unlike Maresca, Van Nistelrooy didn't have a pre-season to work with his players but, more concerningly, he arrived without any backroom staff. He was working with the team that remained after Cooper, his assistant Alan Tate and chief analyst Steve Rands had departed. The remainder of Cooper's coaching team, Ben Dawson and Danny Alcock, did not leave until after a 4-0 home defeat to Brentford at the end of February, nearly three months after Van Nistelrooy's arrival. The Dutchman threw himself into the role, taking every training session and video analysis session until Jelle ten Rouwelaar became his first appointment a week after he arrived, after some delays surrounding his work permit. Van Nistelrooy had worked with Ten Rouwelaar, who became a first-team coach at Leicester, at United, but his next appointment, former Rochdale manager and Manchester City Under-21 coach Brian Barry-Murphy, was new to him and to the players. Van Nistelrooy completed his backroom team with former Leicester midfielder Andy King promoted from coaching the under-18s. Advertisement From the start, high standards were a priority. Van Nistelrooy had shown dedication and application to become a gifted goalscorer and win domestic titles with PSV, United and Real Madrid, finishing as the Champions League's top scorer three times. He tried to instil the same level of professionalism and self-sacrifice in his players. He had a structured training regime based around the two key elements of his coaching philosophy: possession and pressing. Sources close to several players said they were impressed with his attention to detail. Cooper had been a more informal leader, asking the players not to call him 'boss' or 'gaffer', but they had preferred the more defined leadership of Maresca and Van Nistelrooy that commanded more reverence. Van Nistelrooy also forged a good relationship with Jamie Vardy through a mutual respect as successful Premier League strikers. It was Van Nistelrooy's record for scoring in consecutive Premier League games that Vardy broke during Leicester's title-winning 2015-16 season. Vardy started all but two of the games under Van Nistelrooy, despite turning 38 in January. Like the majority of the squad, Vardy liked and respected Van Nistelrooy. Vardy has now left the club after his contract expired, but not before he had described the campaign as a 'a s** show'. His stature brought respect from the players but Van Nistelrooy quickly began to find that while they could carry out his instructions on the training pitch at Seagrave, it was becoming a different matter under the pressure of matchdays. After four points from his first two games, there was a startling deterioration. Save for a 6-2 drubbing of Queens Park Rangers and then a much-needed away win at Tottenham Hotspur, Van Nistelrooy's Leicester sank fast as confidence and belief in what they were being asked to do eroded. Tensions started to emerge, with Van Nistelrooy criticising Facundo Buonanotte's selection of moulded studs in one game. He also made three players who commuted long distances to Seagrave — Conor Coady, from Liverpool, and Harry Winks and Jannik Vestergaard from the London area — aware he wanted them to avoid tiring journeys by staying over at the hotel at Seagrave when a morning training session followed an afternoon session the day before. Advertisement Winks, who initially moved to Nottinghamshire when he signed but moved back to London to be near family, became a father in mid-March and expressed his desire to support his partner. While Van Nistelrooy had sympathy for his midfielder's situation, he demanded players put their preparation first. Winks did not feature in another squad under Van Nistelrooy. In March, the Dutchman also said he had 'dealt with' an incident when Vestergaard had, with the club's permission, brought his dog to training because he had no one to look after it that day. Van Nistelrooy began to trust a smaller section of his squad. The home defeat to Newcastle in April was the fourth consecutive defeat in which he named the same starting line-up. He returned to his preferred system at Brighton and Hove Albion afterwards and turned more towards younger players in the final games of his tenure, with one eye on the next campaign. Despite stating in his first press conference he was not wedded to one system of play, he stuck stubbornly to the same system he utilised at PSV, a 4-2-3-1 with a high full-back pushing on, one winger and one wide player coming in to play as a second No 10 — a system not dissimilar to Cooper's. It wasn't until the away trip to Chelsea at the start of March that he changed to a back five. Some players felt a change of approach should have come earlier, although the continued run of defeats proved that the problem for Van Nistelrooy was not his chosen system but the aptitude of the players at his disposal — specifically the athleticism and fitness of the squad to play an intense, pressing style. Initially, Van Nistelrooy favoured the more experienced front three of Vardy, Jordan Ayew and Bobby De Cordova-Reid because they were better at understanding how he wanted them to press from the front, but the new signings hardly featured towards the end as Van Nistelrooy changed tack. Advertisement Only attacking midfielder Bilal El Khannouss from the £80million spent in the summer by Cooper appeared consistently under Van Nistelrooy. Oliver Skipp, signed from Tottenham Hotspur for £20million, started just two games under Van Nistelrooy, while £15million defender Caleb Okoli hardly featured and loanee Buonanotte was used predominantly as a substitute. Odsonne Edouard, whose arrival on loan from Crystal Palace took up the other Premier League loan spot, featured in just one squad, as an unused substitute. Both Cooper and Van Nistelrooy said Edouard's exclusion was to do with numbers — they only used one striker and that was Vardy, but even when Van Nistelrooy went to two frontmen, with Patson Daka partnering Vardy, Edouard was not even on the bench. Such a waste of money hampered Van Nistelrooy, who had said he was given assurances when discussing the position with Leicester that there would be funds available. When the January transfer window came around, that assurance faded, with the club's ongoing concerns over profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) overriding any pledges. Van Nistelrooy wanted more attacking options, especially a winger, with Abdul Fatawu ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, and a central defender to help ease defensive issues, as well as a right-back. He got a full-back, Woyo Coulibaly from Parma, but he made only five appearances and just one start, and he was substituted at half-time of that game —February's home defeat to Brentford. As Van Nistelrooy seemed to lose confidence in his players, they seemed to lose confidence in what they were being asked to do. When they conceded an early goal, all belief and fight evaporated. Van Nistelrooy is usually calm and measured, but he could also express anger when required. He would use the tactic sparingly but there was typically little response. Losing and costly individual errors became a cycle Van Nistelrooy could not break as the season spiralled out of control. Advertisement He had the air of a defeated, broken man after the Newcastle loss, but after relegation, he stressed his desire to carry on and rebuild Leicester in the Championship, asking for clarity from the club's senior management so the planning could start. '(I am) still hoping to find out,' Van Nistelrooy said before the home game with Southampton on May 3. 'The quicker the better in the best interest of the club.' The club has now made that decision. It is hypothetical to say Cooper would have kept Leicester in the Premier League if he hadn't been replaced by Van Nistelrooy, but there is also no escaping Leicester's woeful record under Van Nistelrooy. The failure of the club's recruitment policy was also one of the biggest contributing factors to the relegation. The decision to remove Van Nistelrooy could have come sooner but the financial consequences of sacking two managers and their staff in one season was not insignificant in regards to Leicester's issues with PSR. Not many managers survive losing as many games as Van Nistelrooy, especially when losing nine consecutive home games without scoring a single goal. Despite this record, the fans' anger was directed more towards the club's board than Van Nistelrooy. When the axe fell post-relegation, it was almost merciful, but his reputation as a coach has been severely damaged. As for Leicester, the ramifications of another relegation could last a lot longer. The next manager will not only have to oversee a complete squad rebuild — which will likely be restricted by financial pressures — he must build bridges with a fanbase that has become increasingly disconnected from the club. Whoever that may be, the Leicester City job now requires a Herculean effort.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Lyon thought they were too big to fail. Now they face a season in Ligue 2
Just five days ago, John Textor bounded down the corridors of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. 'Victoire, victoire,' he cried as his side, Botafogo, stunned PSG in the Club World Cup. French football's financial watchdog, the DNCG, brought him back down to earth on Tuesday as it confirmed Lyon's relegation to Ligue 2. 'Everything is good financially,' said Textor prior to the DNCG meeting. This is not the first time that the Lyon owner has gone into one of these meetings with a sense of confidence swiftly eroded by the commission's verdict. It was the same back in 2023 and in November last year. On the former occasion, the club were issued a transfer ban, forcing them to sell off key assets such as Bradley Barcola and Castello Lukeba, without being able to replace them. Textor was indignant, even confused. 'Welcome to football in France,' concluded the American in a lengthy communique lambasting the authorities' decision and their inability to 'understand' Eagle Football's multi-club model; a recurring theme in this ongoing drama. Textor was generous in his serving of blame. There was a bit for everyone, including former owner and president Jean-Michel Aulas. 'He hid bad news. I could have found a solution if I was aware. If I knew that we would have had these restrictions in the first transfer window, I would have asked to stop the transaction and restructure rather than giving half a billion dollars in cash to the sellers,' said Textor. Aulas hit back, even threatening a court case. 'I was never troubled by the DNCG. I never had any problem with them in 35 years as president,' he retorted. The Frenchman, almost as big as the institution of Lyon itself given their success under his tenure, has publicly stated that he did not wish to sell to Textor. He preferred another candidate but a deal could not be reached. Upon his arrival, Textor inherited a club in debt. Lyon had fallen out of the Champions League but their significant wage bill did not reflect their new standing, even less so when academy products Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso returned on 'free' transfers but with considerable salaries in 2022. But Textor has done little to correct Lyon's course. Assets have been stripped: OL Féminin, OL Reign and the LDLC Arena, which houses Lyon's basketball team, were all sold. There are fears that Lyon's academy, the lifeblood of the club's identity, could be next. 'If that happens, OL will lose a lot. It is the club's DNA,' warned Maxence Caqueret, a recent graduate who is now playing for Como. Yet those sacrifices have not sufficed in convincing the DNCG of the club's financial stability. The club's recent transfer dealings play a part. Almost €150m was spent last summer in a bid to return to the Champions League. The most eye-raising investment was in Moussa Niakhaté, who was signed from Nottingham Forest for €32m despite not being a guaranteed starter at the time. Orel Mangala also arrived for more than €20m and that opaque Nottingham Forest connection could have been extended by the arrivals of Danilo and Matt Turner this summer. The pair, who played just 17 games between them last season, were touted to arrive in a deal worth around €30m. Lessons are not being learned. In November, Lyon once again met with the DNCG. 'The meeting went well, I'm confident in our numbers,' said Textor, who felt he had got to grips with the particularities of French football administration. Yet once again, Lyon were stung, this time not merely with a transfer ban but with a provisional relegation to Ligue 2. In the months since, on-pitch success has been seen as the remedy for the club's off-field ills. 'The club's future has been uncertain since the start of the season; that is why, since the beginning, we set ourselves the target of qualifying for the Champions League,' said Niakhaté after a defeat to Monaco in May that put paid to those ambitions. They instead had to settle for the Europa League, again. Textor went for broke to achieve Champions League football – investing in playing staff and then in Paulo Fonseca after deciding that Pierre Sage could not lead them to the promised land. But those bets did not come in, the Champions League revenue would not usher through the club's coffers, and the deficit would not be plugged. Despite that, Textor arrived with confidence. The sale of his shares in Crystal Palace had given a boost, as had the sale of Rayan Cherki to Manchester City for a fee in excess of €40m. But the DNCG would not accept 'hypotheticals' and promises of future sales, nor could the club factor in any TV revenue, with Ligue 1 currently without a broadcaster for next season. That applied to all clubs. Initially blocked at the entrance to the DNCG's offices, Textor was finally let in and he left – once again – sounding confident. 'We feel very comfortable with the DNCG's processes. We enjoyed the hearing. Our liquidity situation has improved remarkably, but I've learned enough about the processes in France that I would never presume anything coming out of the hearing,' said Textor. He was right not to presume. The verdict fell and an earthquake was felt throughout French football as seven-time champions Lyon were relegated to Ligue 2. 'It is a terrible blow,' said Aulas. 'Sadness dominates and an immense inability to understand.' The club's main ultras group, the Bad Gones, have called on the owner to leave, with 'Textor out' banners appearing across the city. 'John has never been and never will be the man for the situation. The Botafogo supporter should now leave the Lyon landscape,' read a statement from the group. Much of the blame has fallen on Textor's shoulders and, while the financial crisis gripping French football can be used as a mitigating factor, it is worth noting that Lyon are the only Ligue 1 side to suffer this fate. Lyon branded the decision 'incomprehensible' and announced that they will appeal. French football's lower echelons are littered with clubs perceived as too big to fall - Bordeaux and Sochaux, both down in the National divisions are two of the most recent examples. Lyon's error was believing that such a fate would not – could not – befall them. 'I am one of those that wants to fight PSG but it is very difficult – you have to go step by step,' said Textor last week. Those first steps, if Lyon's appeal proves unsuccessful, will be taken in Ligue 2, by beating the likes of Nancy, Pau and Rodez next season. Ignorance, hubris and exceptionalism have driven a once great club to the precipice of the abyss. This is an article by Get French Football News
