1. EPL move summer deadline
The English Premier League (EPL) summer transfer window will be brought back in line with the rest of Europe following a vote held today.
In the past two years the summer window has closed before the start of the new top-flight season, but clubs have voted for a later deadline. This means the 2020 summer window will now close on 1 September.
An EPL statement said: “At a shareholders’ meeting today, Premier League clubs voted to adopt a change to the summer transfer window closing date for season 2020/21.
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“This will move the closing date back to the traditional point at the end of August/early September.
“The 2020 closing date will therefore be 17:00 BST on 1 September [31 August 2020 being a UK bank holiday]. Clubs agreed after discussing the topic at length at previous shareholders' meetings.”
The EPL also confirmed that the 2020-2021 season will start on 8 August.
2. FA to bring in heading limits
The Times reports that the English Football Association is to launch new guidelines to limit how often a young player can head a ball during training. A study published last year found that professional footballers were 3.5 times more likely to die of degenerative brain disease.
3. Tributes paid to Munich air disaster victims
Manchester United and their supporters are today paying tribute to the 23 victims of the 1958 Munich air disaster.
Today marks the 62nd anniversary of the tragedy in which eight United players and three club officials died. Eight journalists and four other passengers were also killed.
In their tribute United said: “The date of 6 February will forever be circled on the calendars of everyone connected with Manchester United.
“On that day in 1958, the darkest day in United’s history, 23 people - including eight players and three members of the club’s staff - suffered fatal injuries in the Munich air disaster. We will never forget.”
Flowers of Manchester: Man Utd’s Busby Babes are forever remembered
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4. Archer out of Sri Lanka tour and IPL
England bowler Jofra Archer has been ruled out of the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka next month and the 2020 Indian Premier League campaign.
The 24-year-old, who has a low-grade stress fracture in his right elbow, will hope to return to full fitness for the summer schedule. England play the West Indies in three Test matches in June.
5. Wales chief Pivac makes one change
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has made one change to his team for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.
Nick Tompkins makes his first international start at centre with George North moving back to the wing. Johnny McNicholl drops down to the bench.
Wales team to face Ireland
- Starting XV: 15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. George North, 13. Nick Tompkins, 12. Hadleigh Parkes, 11. Josh Adams, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Tomos Williams; 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Dillon Lewis, 4. Jake Ball, 5. Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 6. Aaron Wainwright, 7. Justin Tipuric, 8. Taulupe Faletau
- Replacements: 16. Ryan Elias, 17. Rhys Carre, 18. Leon Brown, 19. Adam Beard, 20. Ross Moriarty, 21. Gareth Davies, 22. Owen Williams, 23. Johnny McNicholl
6. Scotland and England name teams
After last week’s disappointing result in Paris England head coach Eddie Jones has made five changes to his starting XV to face Scotland on Saturday.
Willi Heinz is selected at scrum-half in place of Ben Youngs while Mako Vunipola, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam and Jonathan Joseph also come into the team.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend makes one change with Magnus Bradbury coming in at No.8 in place of Nick Haining, who drops to the bench.
‘We hate you too’: Scotland vs. England Six Nations preview
Scotland team
- Starting XV: 15. Stuart Hogg (captain), 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Sam Johnson, 11. Blair Kinghorn, 10. Adam Hastings, 9. Ali Price; 1. Rory Sutherland, 2. Fraser Brown, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Scott Cummings, 5. Jonny Gray, 6. Jamie Ritchie, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Magnus Bradbury
- Replacements: 16. Stuart McInally, 17. Allan Dell, 18. Simon Berghan, 19. Ben Toolis, 20. Nick Haining, 21. George Horne, 22. Rory Hutchinson, 23. Chris Harris
England team
- Starting XV: 15 George Furbank, 14 Jonny May, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Willi Heinz; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Kruis, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Tom Curry
- Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Courtney Lawes, 21 Ben Earl, 22 Ben Youngs, 23 Ollie Devoto
7. Haas unveil 2020 livery
Haas F1 Team have unveiled a new look for the 2020 Formula 1 season. The team revealed the livery for the VF20 car via their social media channels.
Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation and chairman of Haas F1 Team, said: “I’m pleased to see the car return to the more familiar Haas Automation colours, it’s certainly a livery that people identify with.
“Frankly, I’m hoping the VF-20 will return us to the kind of form we ran in 2018 when we finished fifth in the constructors’ championship - 2019 was a tough season to endure.”
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8. Brawn: Chinese GP could be rescheduled
The Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, which is planned for Shanghai on 19 April, could be postponed and rescheduled following the coronavirus outbreak.
F1’s managing director Ross Brawn said: “We will leave open the opportunity to see if the race can run later in the year. China is an enthusiastic, growing market so we’d like to have a race in China. We’re waiting for the Chinese promoter and authorities to make the final decision, which I think they will.
“They have cancelled all the public events in March, so no public sporting events or activities. It is a tragic and very difficult situation. I think it’ll become clear in the next week or two what’s going to happen.”
F1: Hamilton to hold talks with Mercedes boss Wolff this month
9. Spurs win five-goal cup thriller
Tottenham are through to the FA Cup fifth round after beating Southampton 3-2 last night. In the replay Spurs needed an 87th-minute penalty from Son Heung-min to secure their spot in the next round where they will play Norwich City.
FA Cup fifth-round draw
Ties to be played week commencing 2 March
- Sheffield Wednesday vs. Manchester City
- Reading vs. Sheffield United
- Chelsea vs. Liverpool
- West Bromwich Albion vs. Newcastle United
- Leicester City vs. Birmingham City
- Derby County vs. Manchester United
- Tottenham Hotspur vs. Norwich City
- Portsmouth vs. Arsenal
10. Back pages: Messi to Man City?
Could Barcelona’s superstar striker Lionel Messi soon be wearing the sky blue of Manchester City?
Following Messi’s row with Barca sporting director Eric Abidal, The Sun reports that City manager Pep Guardiola is on “red alert” in the hope of bringing his former charge to Manchester.
Today’s back pages
Lionel Messi’s Barcelona row puts Man City on red alert
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