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World Football Feed, Ikoyi, Lagos (2026)

24/09/2026

Harry Kane described England's semi-final defeat to Argentina at this summer's World Cup as the most painful moment of his career with the Three Lions.

England were on the cusp of reaching the World Cup final for the first time since 1966 when Anthony Gordon turned in Morgan Rogers's cross in the 55th minute.

However, two late goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez completed the turnaround, with Lionel Messi bagging both assists at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Argentina were trailing until the 85th minute against England, the latest a team has been behind but gone on to win in normal time in a World Cup semi-final, making the defeat all the more difficult for Kane.

Thomas Tuchel came under fire for his tactical approach to the match, electing to replace both Gordon and Declan Rice for more defensive options to try and see the win out.

England have now been eliminated in each of their last three matches at this stage of a World Cup (1990, 2018, 2026), while Kane has also been involved in the Three Lions' defeats in the European Championship finals against both Italy and Spain.

However, England's latest setback hurt him the most, with Kane saying: "I'm so passionate about England, especially because I have been on this journey now.

"I have been to the finals, to semi-finals and been so close. Each one hurts in a different way. This one hurt, for sure. More than any other one.

"I would probably say even more than when I missed a penalty in Qatar [in the quarter-final against France] just in the way that it happened.

"It just felt like it wasn't us as a team. It wasn't the team that we wanted to be and said we'd be.

"I sometimes think when you maybe go against your beliefs, and you lose, it feels 10 times worse than just losing in a way where, if we lose doing it our way, you accept it, take it on the chin and move on.

"It's tough and it will still be tough. You have to move on."

The result overshadowed a landmark occasion for Kane, who made his 121st appearance in all competitions for England, the outright most of any outfield player for the nation.

England were, however, able to end the tournament on a high, claiming third place after beating France 6-4 in an enthralling clash at Hard Rock Stadium three days later.

Tuchel's side are preparing for their first match since that victory this Saturday, with World Cup champions Spain their opponents in the Nations League at Wembley Stadium.

England have won just two of their last 13 games against the reigning World Cup holders, losing nine times (D2). Those wins came at home to Spain in November 2011 (1-0) and away to Germany in March 2016 (3-2).

And Kane said while the pain from such disappointments "stays with you", England must use it as fuel as they aim to reach the next level on the international stage.

"It's something that we haven't quite been able to do in the latter stages of tournaments against the bigger nations and the better nations," Kane added.

"And it may be a mixture of things. It may be personalities, it may be mentality, it may be just the direction and how we want to play in those games.

"I think it's conversations that we need to have as a group and team. Not just sit down but as we gradually go through these next games, through this next period of the Nations League, which we want to try and win.

"We want to try and take that next step because I think that'll be an important step for us as a team.

"I know there's a perception that the Nations League may not be as important, but when you haven't won for so long, I think just the feeling of winning a trophy with England could then catapult us to head into the Euros in a couple of years."

24/09/2026

The top stories and transfer rumours from Thursday's newspapers...

PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United have made Antonio Conte their top target to replace Michael Carrick as manager, claim sensational reports in Italy - The Sun

Manchester United saved £8.5m when Ruben Amorim took over as head coach of AC Milan, the club's latest financial results have revealed - Daily Mail

Former Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has spoken out for the first time after his £60m move to the Saudi Pro League - and admitted the money was a big lure - Daily Star

Academy star Mishel Nduka has left Arsenal after just one year to join Manchester City - talkSPORT

Eric Cantona says he would not have signed for Manchester United under Sir Jim Ratcliffe's ownership - The Telegraph

Manchester United are flogging tiny chunks of turf from the Old Trafford pitch for £125 each - The Sun

EFL

Southampton manager Tonda Eckert deserves a "severe" punishment from the FA for the Spygate scandal, according to Cambridge United boss Neil Harris - Daily Mirror

Dele Alli has been spotted training at League Two side Barnet's facilities as he looks to maintain his fitness while searching for a new club - Daily Express

SCOTLAND

Rangers star Nicolas Raskin admits he was gutted to miss out on a big-money summer move - Daily Record

Stiliyan Petrov has urged the Celtic board to give Martin O'Neill proper help in the shape of a new director of football - The Scottish Sun

Hibs have held positive talks with Marink Reedijk - Daily Record

Scotland new boy Luis Binks believes Sebastien Pocognoli's refresher course in Spain will have the revamped national team ready to face their first big test in Slovenia - Daily Record

EUROPE

Harry Kane has mapped out his three-point career plan - and plans to finish in the NFL - Daily Mirror

Christian Eriksen has left German club Wolfsburg to return to Denmark with his family as uncertainty clouds his career following his second on-field collapse - Daily Mail

Former Premier League midfielders Idrissa Gana Gueye and Lucas Leiva have become the latest athletes to invest in Le Mans FC - talkSPORT

INTERNATIONAL

Jarrad Branthwaite has credited a "complex" rehabilitation programme in Germany, which analysed links between his injuries and his brain and movement, with his return to the England squad - The Guardian

Rio Ngumoha has his sights set on starring at Euro 2028 - talkSPORT

Jurgen Klopp has reportedly introduced four rules for Germany stars as the former Liverpool boss seeks to turn around the fortunes of their national team - Daily Mail

Gary Lineker refused to work for FIFA after being asked to meet Vladimir Putin while hosting the 2018 World Cup draw in Russia - The Telegraph

Erling Haaland's influence reached new heights during the World Cup - it has even caused a surge in carrot sales in Norway - talkSPORT

24/09/2026

In the first round of the UEFA Nations League, Germany will face the Netherlands away, with Klopp making his debut as head coach of the German national team.

Statistics show that the past five German national team head coaches – Nagelsmann, Flick, Löw, Klinsmann, and Völler – all won their national team debuts. Among the twelve German national team head coaches, only two have suffered a loss in their debut: Beckenbauer lost 1-3 to Argentina in 1984, and Ribbeck lost 0-1 to Turkey in 1998.

As a club coach, Klopp has an impressive debut record, with two wins and one draw in his first matches at Mainz 05, Borussia Dortmund, and Liverpool.

Debut records of the last 6 German national team head coaches

Nagelsmann October 2023 Germany 3-1 USA

Flick September 2021 Germany 2-0 Liechtenstein

Löw August 2006 Germany 3-0 Sweden

Klinsmann August 2004 Germany 3-1 Austria

Völler August 2000 Germany 4-1 Spain

Ribbeck October 1998 Germany 0-1 Turkey

Klopp's club debut records

Liverpool October 2015 0-0 Tottenham

Borussia Dortmund August 2008 3-1 Rot-Weiss Essen

Mainz 05 February 2001 1-0 Duisburg

24/09/2026

Real Madrid midfielder Fabian Ruiz was interviewed by the Onda Cero program "Radioestadio Noche." At the Spanish national team's training camp in Las Rozas, he discussed his potential to win the Ballon d'Or, his upbringing at Betis, and his professional career in Italy and France. Below is the second part of the exclusive interview.

Related reading:

【Campaigning for the Ballon d'Or? Fabian: Instead of Boasting, I Prefer Others to Judge Me】

【Fabian: I Understand Why Enrique Didn't Take Me to the Qatar World Cup; I Often Tease Him After Winning Titles】

You just spoke fondly of your mother. On the way to this interview, I was on the phone with my mother, and I told her, "I'm going to interview Fabian Ruiz, the key midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain." She said, "Oh, the one with Luis Enrique? Just a few days ago, Luis Enrique publicly said he regretted not taking him to the World Cup." My mother then asked in surprise, "Ah? He didn't go to that World Cup?" I replied, "He didn't go to the last one, but he later participated in and won the European Championship…" Then I asked my mother, "If you were Fabian's mother, and your story was broadcast and everyone was talking about it, wouldn't you feel embarrassed?" My mother curiously asked, "Why would his mother be on TV?" I said, "Don't you know his mother was featured in Real Betis' season ticket promotional video?" Sometimes we think everyone knows a story, but many people don't. I told my mother, "If you listen to that Betis membership promotional video from six or seven years ago, you'll understand."

So your mother used to drive you to and from training… Tell us about that experience yourself. You first started playing football in Los Palacios, right?

That's a long story.

We have plenty of time; the show broadcasts until 1 AM.

I initially played in a football training class, which wasn't a formal club; we had to pay tuition every month. Later, we participated in a tournament, and a Betis scout noticed me and signed me. I joined the Betis youth academy when I was eight years old.

Being signed by a top club's academy at eight years old shows truly exceptional talent. Many children at eight can't even properly control the ball.

Yes, when I first arrived, the coaches joked, thinking I'd be sitting in the sand because I was so small then. Later, they discovered I played with great discipline. In my early days at Betis, I trained with another boy from my hometown. My mother and his mother took turns driving us to training. As I grew older, almost all the responsibility for driving me fell on my mother's shoulders. Our family's financial situation was very difficult at the time, and affording the daily trips to training was a huge burden, not to mention the immense hardship my mother endured. When I was young, I was naive, but later, after hearing my brothers and mother talk about it, I understood the heavy burden she carried back then. When I was fourteen or fifteen, Betis showed great kindness and responsibility. They hired my mother as a cleaner at the club and arranged suitable work shifts for her, allowing her to clean in the mornings and have time in the afternoons to drive me to training.

She worked in the morning and picked you up in the afternoon.

Yes. Until I was promoted to Real Betis B and then to the first team. First-team training shifted to the mornings, so she couldn't drive me anymore. Every morning, I would ride with her to the sports city; she would clean inside, and I would sleep in the car until training began. My mother would finish cleaning, tap on the car window, and wake me up: "Fabian, it's time for training." I'd get out and go to the training ground. After training, I would either wait for her to finish work and go home together, or I would take the bus myself, since I wasn't old enough to drive yet.

You often saw her around the sports city, right?

Yes. It was a bit embarrassing at first.

That's normal. Imagine being a sixteen or seventeen-year-old in the locker room with club legends like Joaquín, and your mother works in the same place.

Of course, at first, I didn't really tell anyone that was my mother, because…

Maybe sometimes everyone would be chatting, and you'd say, "Wait, stop talking, stop talking, my mom's coming."

Yes! And every time after showering, I was always one of the last few out. My mother would stand outside the locker room door and knock, asking, "Fabian, can I come in?" I'd reply, "Come in, come in, Mom."

Haha, exactly.

Yeah, it was a bit awkward at first. After all, I was still young then… Everyone is shy when they're young, especially when you're facing a locker room full of seasoned first-team players.

If it were me… I'd be mortified. My son is only seven now and already tells me to go away: "Dad, don't kiss me in front of people…" That hurts enough, so I can totally imagine what your mother went through back then.

Yes, yes, that's exactly how it was when I was little. Looking back now, I wish she could be with me in the locker room every day, but at that age, I did feel a bit embarrassed. However, I think…

When did you transition from this embarrassment to pride? That is, from feeling awkward in front of stars like Joaquín and seasoned players because your mother was cleaning right there, to genuinely feeling proud of everything your mother did for you. When was that turning point?

I think it was when I transferred to Naples. At that time, I went to Italy alone, far from home, and it was from that moment on that I truly realized how precious my mother, who had been by my side every day, was. I started to genuinely miss her, and I clearly saw…

Because she used to work as a cleaner at the sports city?

Yes, she always cleaned at the sports city.

So once you realized that, were you extra careful not to make a mess? Like how we educate people now, not to mess up the locker room, to keep it tidy…

Yes, from then on, I understood what it meant to lead by example. I thought, "I know my mother will be cleaning up after us later, so I must try to keep the locker room in the best possible condition." So if a teammate carelessly threw their shoes in the aisle, I would pick them up and put them in the locker to try and lessen my mother's workload.

But as I said, it wasn't until I went to Naples alone that I truly began to miss her immensely and truly appreciate everything she poured into me. It was at that time that I directly told her…

Don't work anymore.

Don't work anymore. Because at that time, my greatest dream in life was to be able to let my mother completely rest, no longer do physical labor, and be by my side with peace of mind. So when that moment truly arrived, I believe it was one of the most beautiful moments of my life, a feeling of happiness completely comparable to winning a football championship trophy. For me, that was the top priority then.

If you win the Ballon d'Or, you must dedicate the trophy to her.

I hope that day comes. If I can lift the trophy, I will definitely dedicate the honor to her…

You might forget many things, but thanking your mother on the podium is absolutely unforgettable.

Absolutely unforgettable; I would never forgive myself for omitting that in this lifetime.

24/09/2026

According to reports from the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca will not be going on holiday during the international break, but his players without international commitments can.

Unlike his predecessors, Maresca will not be jetting off to enjoy the sun during the international break. The Manchester City manager might wish he could follow Pep Guardiola's example, but with his children still in school, his upcoming break will be local, structured around school drop-offs and pick-ups.

However, Maresca will not require players who are not on international duty to train extra. As has been the custom for the past decade, these players are free to arrange their time during this hiatus, provided they return to training before the match against Liverpool and maintain their expected fitness levels.

At Manchester City, there are usually not many players in the squad who are not on international duty. Foden and Lewis were not called up for England, Nunes was surprisingly left out of Portugal's squad, A has not yet received a call-up for the Brazil national team, and Doku has been excluded from Belgium's squad due to a recent injury.

All the aforementioned players will have the next two weeks off and are free to manage their time, with the club confident they can balance rest with maintaining fitness. For some players, especially Doku, who is injured, next week may involve recovery and rehabilitation training at the City Football Academy, but no collective training sessions will be arranged.

Maresca will resume training with these players a week before the Liverpool match, while those on international duty will return to Manchester as their respective schedules permit.

24/09/2026

After helping Spain reach the top of the world, Ferran Torres spoke with Spain's official media about the decisive championship-winning goal, the deep friendships he forged with teammates, how his life changed after the victory, and the team's ambition to continue winning honors and making history.

Ferran: "I've probably watched that goal a million times. It's one of the most special moments of my life—actually, it is the most special moment. Not just for me, but for my family too, because I was able to bring so much joy to so many people. I think I'll watch it at least once every day from now on.

That afternoon, I had a feeling that something important was going to happen. Of course, you can't predict beforehand that the team will win 1-0 and that you'll be the one to score at that exact moment. I've always dreamed of becoming a world champion. I've always said that life belongs to those who dream, and only by daring to dream big can you achieve great things. But when you actually hold the trophy in your hands and know that you are a world champion, the feeling in reality far exceeds anything you imagined. I had envisioned this scene many times. Being able to finally achieve it fills me with immense pride.

When I watch the goal video, what gives me goosebumps isn't just the goal itself. Of course, a goal means a lot to a forward. But when I ran towards the corner flag and saw my teammates' joyous faces, all of them excitedly rushing towards me, that scene particularly thrilled me. It has stayed with me. I think that was the most special moment among everything that goal brought.

I swear, at that moment it was as if I couldn't hear any sound; it felt like only the ball and I were left on the field. I felt as if that ball was destined for me. Everything happened so fast after that. For example, even now I'm still wondering why I kicked the corner flag—I'd never done that before.

I remember sliding on my knees to celebrate, and the first to hug me were Mikel Oyarzabal and Marc Pubill, followed by Marcos Llorente. We huddled together, first three of us, then four. I almost cried. What particularly excited me was that those three—Llorente, Pubill, and Oyarzabal—had been telling me when I came on that I would be the one to score. They were right in the end.

Of course, what you want to do is score goals, help the national team, and help the team continue winning matches. Considering what I'd been through before, I've always maintained a relatively calm mindset. Thank God, I have great teammates and great staff around me. There are moments you have to face, but overall, I've handled it quite well.

We spent many days together. I think the short time we spent together before training and the longer free times in the mornings and afternoons were very important. We had a lot of fun, often laughed together, and spent a lot of time with each other. That's how we built a friendship I hadn't expected."

"He has to come back to the national team!" (speaking of Llorente)

"I hope this video makes him reconsider retiring and come back to be with us. But he knows I'll always support him. He's my friend. People often say that football helps you make friends, and he's one of them. He showed me what kind of person he is and his value. I will miss him very much.

This has indeed changed me to some extent. You already had some recognition, and now more people know you, even internationally. Many new opportunities have arisen, and I'm very excited about that. But for me, the most important thing is to try to remain as I was before, maintaining close relationships with those dear to me, while also detaching myself a little from all of this. Because these changes can sometimes make you lose yourself.

This also motivates us. People always say that everyone wants to beat the champions now. What could be more motivating than that to continue proving we are the best? We want to keep winning and make history like that Spanish team that won two European Championships and one World Cup."

24/09/2026

According to Sport, Raphinha's statistics prove he has become the fifth legendary Brazilian "R" in Barcelona's history.

"Now it's my turn," Raphinha said in an interview with Sport during Barcelona's US tour in July 2022. "Everyone wrote their own wonderful story. Now I hope to write a story as wonderful as theirs." Four years later, these words have come true. Raphinha, who had just joined Barcelona at the time, spoke of Romário, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho, the four Brazilian superstars who played for Barcelona before him, making the letter "R" a hallmark for Brazilian talents joining Barcelona and the Camp Nou.

Raphinha is unstoppable.

The question then was whether Raphinha could reach the level of his predecessors and become Barcelona's fifth "R." Four years later, the answer is definitively yes, supported by both his impact and statistics. In his four seasons as a Barcelona player, he has made over 180 appearances, scored nearly 90 goals, and provided more than 60 assists.

Romário joined Barcelona from PSV in 1993. In his time with the club, he scored 30 goals in 33 league matches in his first season and a half, becoming a key member of the championship-winning team. He made a total of 84 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 39 goals. Although his stint was brief, he left a lasting impact.

Three years later, Ronaldo joined Barcelona. Although the Brazilian only stayed for one season, his impact was astonishing: he made 49 appearances and scored 47 goals in the 1996-97 season. He helped the team win the Copa del Rey, the Cup Winners' Cup, and the Spanish Super Cup, and won the La Liga Golden Boot with 34 goals. His speed, power, and finishing ability were exceptional.

Rivaldo's tenure was longer. He joined Barcelona in 1997 and played for five seasons, making 235 appearances and scoring 130 goals, becoming one of the key figures during a challenging period for the club. The most memorable moment is his overhead kick against Valencia in 2001, a goal that helped Barcelona qualify for the Champions League.

Ronaldinho played 207 official matches for Barcelona, scoring 94 goals and providing 71 assists. He won two La Liga titles, one Champions League, and numerous other trophies, and received the Ballon d'Or in 2005. But his significance extended far beyond these numbers. Ronaldinho restored hope to Barcelona fans, something that cannot be measured in statistics alone.

When Raphinha joined in 2022, he knew who stood before him, but the only pressure he felt came from within. In that interview four years ago, the Brazilian wore a large "R" pendant around his neck and had the same letter tattooed on his left forearm. Rather than inheriting anyone's legacy, Raphinha wanted to establish his own mark.

The start was not easy, as this is Barcelona, but Hansi Flick's arrival unlocked Raphinha's best form, and he made the final leap to join that group of Brazilian legends. In Flick's first season managing him, Raphinha scored 34 goals and provided 22 assists in 57 appearances, ultimately finishing fifth in the Ballon d'Or voting.

This became a turning point, elevating Raphinha to a new level. While a direct statistical comparison of these five players is difficult, it clearly demonstrates that the current Barcelona captain can now be mentioned alongside Ronaldo, Romário, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho. Ronaldo scored 47 goals in his sole season at Barcelona; Rivaldo scored 130 goals in five seasons; Ronaldinho scored 94 goals in five seasons; Romário scored 39 goals in 84 appearances. Raphinha has made 185 appearances and scored 89 goals, placing him in this elite category in terms of both total output and consistency.

Raphinha has not yet achieved Ronaldo's single-season dominance, nor has he replicated Ronaldinho's historical impact, and he cannot be fully compared with Rivaldo or Romário on statistics alone. However, he has indeed accomplished what seemed possible when he first arrived: becoming one of the most important Brazilian players in Barcelona's history. To reach the very pinnacle, he only lacks a Champions League trophy, and among his predecessors, only Ronaldinho won that trophy in Paris in 2006.

Therefore, Raphinha has definitively entered the conversation among Barcelona's great "R"s. He has scored 89 goals and provided 62 assists in 185 appearances, directly contributing to 151 goals. More importantly, his playmaking ability is particularly outstanding: his 62 assists rank second only to Ronaldinho's 71, despite Raphinha playing 22 fewer matches. Additionally, his 0.45 assists per 90 minutes is the highest among these five players.

In terms of per-90-minute output, the most compelling statistic is that Raphinha creates 1.10 goals per 90 minutes, second only to Ronaldo's 1.27; he scores 0.65 goals per 90 minutes, nearly identical to Romário's rate and higher than Rivaldo's and Ronaldinho's. While he may not be the highest scorer in this group, the statistics demonstrate that his offensive impact has reached the level of these great "R"s.

24/09/2026

Transfer journalist Moretto reports that Juventus has completed the signing of Neto, with the agreement finalized.

Di Marzio announced on social media that Neto signed a one-year contract with Juventus.

Neto previously joined Juventus on a free transfer from Fiorentina in 2015, before moving to Valencia in 2017.

24/09/2026

Cristiano: "I will retire when I feel like I am not doing anything here (National Team)"

The 41-year-old says he still believes he can contribute on and off the pitch and insists he will walk away when he no longer feels capable of helping the national team.

"Yes I did," Ronaldo said when asked if he had considered leaving Portugal.

"Of course, I'm always thinking on my decisions, my future, the present also.

"I'm a thinker. You have to think. This is why you see me here now. It means I will continue."

Ronaldo added: "I had a conversation with our president, with our coach. I still believe that I'm able to help the national team to reach what they want, and will finish when I feel like I'm not doing anything here.

"I think I can give to the national team my support, not only through the goals, but also outside of football."

The Al Nassr forward also responded to criticism in Portugal after A Bola ran a poll which saw readers leave him out of their preferred starting XI.

"I feel the Portuguese fans like me, but I do understand that some TV channels want to criticise me — they've tried to kill me, but only with a shotgun," he said.

"They are dying for me not to come to the national team anymore, but I can still move away from it.

"Anyway, I am used to it. For over 20 years I have been doing this, but my memories are with people who love me."

Ronaldo currently has 979 career goals and denied being obsessed with reaching the 1,000-goal mark, although he admitted he would love to do so in a Portugal shirt.

"I know why young kids love Cristiano, because they see me as an example, and I will continue to do that," he said.

"I'm happy with myself. It doesn't matter if I play tomorrow, if I rest the next game, for me the most important thing is that I feel good."

24/09/2026

On September 24, according to The Guardian, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham hinted that he might lift the ban on alcohol consumption in football stands. He stated that it was "unfair" to single out only football fans, as spectators are allowed to drink at other sports events.

The British Prime Minister, a loyal Everton fan who still attends matches, said there was reason to lift the ban through pilot programs, allowing football to enjoy the same treatment as rugby and cricket.

The proposal was welcomed by the Football Supporters' Association and the English Football League (EFL), but police warned that making changes without considering safety implications would be "extremely reckless."

Burnham has long opposed the ban, viewing it as discriminatory and outdated, reminiscent of an era when drinking in stadium stands fueled football hooliganism. When asked about it by reporters on a special flight to New York, Burnham said: "I don't think it's fair to single out football fans for special treatment. I've raised this point before. This legislation belongs to a completely different era of football, and I do believe there is reason to eliminate this discrimination."

"There are many ways to move forward, such as starting with pilot programs. But I will not abandon my long-held position. It makes no sense for sports fans to be treated differently."

The Sports Events (Control of Alcohol etc.) Act, enacted in 1985, strictly prohibits alcohol consumption within sight of the stands at stadiums in England and Wales.

A fan-led review of football governance in 2021 called for a re-examination of the ban and suggested piloting alcohol sales in stands at lower-league football matches in England.

A spokesperson for the UK Football Policing Unit, which coordinates football policing policy in England and Wales, said: "The UK Football Policing Unit welcomes meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss his views and to explain the challenges these proposed changes would bring to policing and the safety of stadium staff and fans."

"Other sports simply do not experience the same level of fan violence and crime seen in football – although this involves only a small minority – and alcohol often plays a role in fueling violent and disorderly behavior. Allowing more drinking during matches would only encourage this trend and would be irresponsible."

"Following several football-related tragedies, legislative changes were made for good reason following the Taylor Report (published in 1990, which investigated the causes of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989). We are currently in the longest period in history without a major football-related disaster. Making fundamental changes without a comprehensive review of evidence and full consultation with police officers with frontline experience would be extremely reckless."

An English Football League (EFL) spokesperson said the league would maintain an "open mind" about reviewing the regulations, which were "introduced over 40 years ago and have not kept pace with significant developments in stadium management, safety, and in-venue services."

Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Football Supporters' Association, said: "The FSA has always believed that it is unfair for football fans to be treated as criminals for having a beer while watching a game – especially when you can drink at an Oasis concert or a rugby match while sitting in the same seat. We welcome the Prime Minister's comments and fully agree that this regulation is outdated and should be reviewed. We look forward to participating in the relevant consultations."

Since the start of this season, fans have been allowed to drink alcohol within sight of the stands in the Women's Super League (WSL) and the Women's Championship (the second tier of women's football). A successful 18-month pilot program led to the WSL amending its rules this summer to allow – but not require – clubs to offer this option to fans.

Since the rule change, 25 of the 26 clubs in the top two tiers of English women's football have decided to implement this practice at all home matches. The only exception is Brighton Women's home matches at Broadfield Stadium in Crawley, although Brighton already allows fans to drink in the stands during home matches at the Amex Stadium, such as last Sunday's match against Aston Villa. Fan disturbances are generally less common at women's football matches.

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