<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="52458" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Premier-League">Premier League</keyword> team <keyword id="2885445" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Watford-FC">Watford FC</keyword> will feature <keyword id="1985091" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="dogecoin">dogecoin</keyword> as its sleeve sponsor, according to a report.</li><li>The Athletic said the deal, part of a sponsorship with Stake.com, would be worth just shy of $1 million.</li><li><keyword id="2721952" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="crypto">Crypto</keyword> has boomed this year and is edging its way into the world of <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> sponsorships.</li></ul><p><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/doge-usd">Dogecoin</a> may not be heading <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/reddit-wall-street-bets-lingo-guide-glossary-yolo-diamond-hands-2021-5">to the moon</a> but it's heading to the Premier League.</p><p>Players for Watford FC, which was promoted to the world's richest <keyword id="3071" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Soccer">soccer</keyword> league this year, will wear a dogecoin logo on their sleeves for the 2021/22 season, <a href="https://theathletic.com/2759960/2021/08/14/exclusive-dogecoin-watford-sleeve-sponsor-premier-league/">The Athletic reported</a> on Saturday.</p><p>The initiative is part of a sponsorship deal with gambling company Stake.com. It will be worth just shy of $1 million to the team, according to The Athletic, a sports <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> website.</p><p>Watford FC did not respond to Insider's requests for comment on Sunday.</p><p>Watford, which is based just north of London, is no stranger to the crypto world. It <a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/premier-leagues-watford-fc-puts-bitcoin-logo-on-kit-accepts-btc">sported a bitcoin logo</a> on its shirts as part of a sponsorship deal with Sportsbet.io for the 2019/20 Premier League season, which saw the side get relegated.</p><p><keyword id="2420795" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="cryptocurrencies">Cryptocurrencies</keyword> <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/cryptocurrency-explained-what-are-stablecoins-cbdcs-bitcoin-tether-ethereum-2021-7">are digital currencies</a> that aren't controlled by a centralized authority, such as a commercial or central bank. Instead, they are secured using complex cryptographic technology.</p><p>Crypto has boomed in 2021, with the entire value of the market now standing at around $1.95 trillion, according to <a href="https://coinmarketcap.com/">Coinmarketcap</a>. Yet regulators have repeatedly warned that cryptocurrencies are highly risky.</p><p><em><strong>Read more: </strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/crypto-investing-how-a-genzer-uses-reddit-to-trade-ether-and-bitcoin-2021-8">A 20-year-old crypto market-maker who skipped college breaks down his Reddit-inspired approach to trading - and outlines why he sees ether displacing bitcoin as the 'king cryptocurrency'</a></em></p><p>Dogecoin was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-dogecoin-2013-12">started as a joke</a> in 2013 and uses the image of the meme Shiba Inu dog known as <keyword id="1990795" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="doge">Doge</keyword>. But it has since captured the imagination of many crypto fans and has garnered the support of celebrities - most notably Tesla boss Elon Musk.</p><p>The meme cryptocurrency has risen 8,185% over the last year, according to <a href="https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/dogecoin">Coingecko</a>. Fans like to say it's heading to the moon - but the highly volatile token is down 60% since an all-time high of $0.732 reached in May.</p><p>Sports and crypto tie-ups are becoming more common as companies reap the rewards of the crypto boom.</p><p>The Aston Martin Formula 1 team is sponsored <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cryptocom-sponsors-aston-martin-f1-formula-one-cryptocurrencies-bitcoin-2021-3">by exchange Crypto.com,</a> and soccer star Lionel Messi's new contract with Paris Saint Germain <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/messi-soccer-football-psg-paid-crypto-paris-transfer-package-payment-2021-8">includes some PSG "fan tokens"</a>.</p><p>The Premier League is a hot target for sponsors. It's the most lucrative soccer league in the world, with 5.86 billion euros of revenue in 2019 - around $6.92 billion at today's exchange rates - according to <a href="https://editorial.uefa.com/resources/0269-12520e35613a-56ad9decabd8-1000/uefa_european_club_footballing_landscape_-_may_2021.pdf">UEFA</a>.</p>

A Premier League soccer team will sport the dogecoin logo on its jerseys as the meme token hits the soccer world, report says

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="David Rogers / Getty Images" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/580f502add0895e3098b4908-960/gettyimages-596428232.jpg"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/580f502add0895e3098b4908-2063/gettyimages-596428232.jpg" alt="WATFORD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: Nordin Amrabat (L) of Watford is tackled by Granit Xhaka during the Premier League match between Watford and Arsenal at Vicarage Road on August 27, 2016 in Watford, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)" data-mce-source="David Rogers / Getty Images" /></a><p class="source"><span>David Rogers / Getty Images</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Premier League club Watford FC is under investigation after supplying a forged bank letter from HSBC bank to footballing authorities, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/10/24/watford-face-fine-and-points-loss-over-forged-hsbc-bank-letter/">according to The Telegraph.</a></p><p>The club could face a fine, and possibly a league points deduction, for the letter, which was submitted when current owner Gino Pozzo took full financial control over the club.</p><p><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/football/2016/10/24/hsbc-letter-sport-xlarge_trans++JKw5vLEHYuL1UeCKr-xp3NQjXMSzq9pXL1Y21dnIREY.jpg">The letter, which features an HSBC letterhead, said that Pozzo had sufficient funds to bankroll the Hertfordshire club, </a>and that the bank would offer him a guarantee if necessary. </p><p>It was submitted before the club's 2014/5 campaign, in which they won promotion to the Premier League from the Championship division. It read:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Our client - Hornets Investments Limited - has sufficient financial resources with HSBC Bank that would allow us, if needed, to issue on behalf of Hornet Investments Limited a cash-backed unsecured bank guarantee up to the amount of GBP 7 million for the funding of The Watford Association Football Club."</p><p>Watford currently sit ninth of the 20 teams in England's top league on 12 points, but they are only five points above the relegation zone at this early stage in the season.</p><p>Any points deduction would be likely to have a significant impact. <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/portsmouth/7464004/Portsmouth-points-deduction-confirmed-by-Premier-League.html">In 2009/10, Portsmouth FC suffered a nine-point deduction</a> after the club went into bankruptcy administration, finishing bottom place and 11 points off their nearest rival.</p><p><span>There is no known precedent for the alleged offence in question, however.</span></p><p>There is also no suggestion that Italian owner Pozzo had any knowledge of the falsified document. The club's executive chairman Raffaele Riva suggested that a third party who was helping the club with its restructuring at the time is responsible.</p><p>Riva told <em>The Telegraph:</em> "In 2014, there was a restructuring of the shareholding of the ultimate parent company of Watford Football Club. I compiled some of the documents required by the EFL which related to Hornets Investment Limited, which is the holding company, including a letter of support from a bank as a proof of funds for the EFL."</p><p>'To facilitate this I asked a third party, X, to assist. I trusted X to do so because, at that time, we worked together on other projects. I have not worked with X since the end of 2015," he said.</p><p>"No other individual at Watford FC was in any way involved in obtaining the letter. The letter was submitted to the EFL via Watford FC along with the other documents. It has come as a huge shock to be notified there are doubts over the veracity of the letter," he added.</p><p>Watford will be judged according to EFL rules from 2014, when the letter was sent. Punishments range from straightforward fines to points deductions and expulsion from domestic competitions.</p><p><em>The Telegraph </em>passed a copy of the document onto the EFL, the police, and HSBC.</p><p><span>An EFL spokesman said: "We can confirm, following receipt of information from <em>The Daily Telegraph</em>, that we immediately commenced a disciplinary investigation into serious allegations made against Watford Football Club."</span></p>     <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ex-wells-fargo-employee-bankers-abused-customers-2016-10">Ex-Wells Fargo employees reveal how some bankers abused customers</a></h3>        <div>            <div>    <script src="http://player.ooyala.com/v3/6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e"></script>    <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="lyNTR3NjE6eeFw_BqaT6rpuP-DCPt7nU" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>    <script>    if (typeof RunFunctions === 'undefined') { var RunFunctions = []; }     RunFunctions.push(function()    {         var ooyalapopvideo = OO.Player.create('ooyalaplayer_popvideo', 'lyNTR3NjE6eeFw_BqaT6rpuP-DCPt7nU',{ autoplay: 'false' });     });    </script>    <noscript><div>Please enable Javascript to watch this video</div></noscript></div>        </div>        <script>(function() { function createPlayer() { OO.ready(function() { RunFunctions.forEach(function(ooyalaFunction) { ooyalaFunction(); }); RunFunctions = [];}); } createPlayer(); }()); </script>    </div>

Premier League club Watford is under investigation for using a 'forged' letter from HSBC

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12143328" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="keir-starmer" source="Orion">Keir Starmer</keyword> is under investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.</li><li>The MPs' sleaze watchdog said Starmer's declarations of earnings and gifts was being probed.</li></ul><p>Keir Starmer is under investigation by the Commons' Standards Commissioner for alleged breaches of rules for MPs on declaring outside income and gifts.</p><p><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-financial-interests/parliamentary-commissioner-for-standards/complaints-and-investigations/allegations-currently-under-investigation-by-the-commissioner/">The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards</a> added the Labour leader to the list of MPs under investigation, noting the case had been opened last Wednesday, June 8.</p><p>Starmer told broadcasters Monday morning that he was "absolutely confident, there's no problem here."</p><p>A spokesperson told Insider: "Keir Starmer takes his declaration responsibilities very seriously and has already apologised for the fact that administrative errors in his office have led to a small number of late declarations.</p><p>"The Standards Commissioner has asked for more information which we are happy to provide."</p><p>A Labour source said Starmer's office had apologised for the fact that there were some late declarations.</p><p><a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/220530/starmer_keir.htm">Starmer's register of interests</a> contains a number of entries that appear to breach the requirement to declare outside earnings and gifts within <a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmcode/1882/188204.htm">28 days of receipt</a>. Starmer has three entries for outside earnings beyond the 28 day period.</p><ul><li>On November 15 2021, Starmer declared he had received £135.78 in book royalties on September 29, 2021.</li><li>On May 13, 2022, Starmer declared he had reeceived £317.23 in book royalties on March 23, 2022.</li><li>On May 18, 2022, Starmer declared he had received £18,450 as an advance for a book on April 19, 2022. This entry appears to be one day late. Starmer has said he will be donating the advance from Harper Collins to charity.</li></ul><p>Starmer also has four entries for gifts and hospitality declared more than 28 days after it was received.</p><ul><li>On December 23, 2021, Starmer declared he had received a hospitality ticket worth £192 on July 8, 2021.</li><li>On December 23, 2021, Starmer declared he had received a ticket for the British Kebab Awards, an event popular with MPs and others who work in Westminster, worth £522 on October 29, 2021.</li><li>On May 5, 2022, Starmer declared he had received hospitality for two people from Crystal Palace FC, worth £720, on April 4, 2022.</li><li>On May 6, 2022, Starmer declared he had received tickets for four people from Watford FC, worth £1416, on April 4, 2022.</li></ul><p>The total value of the seven late entries is £21,753.01.</p><p>Analysis by Insider suggests Labour's shadow foreign secretary David Lammy could also face an investigation into late declaration of earnings.</p><p>His most recent entry in the register of interests shows he received £20,910 for eight speeches in early December 2021, but only declared them more than six months later at the end of May.</p><p>Lammy's speeches were for corporate clients, paid through speakers' agencies, for companies including EY, Deloitte, and the Canary Wharf Group.</p><p>The sleaze investigation comes as Starmer faces a separate probe from Durham Constabulary over <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/beergate-how-labour-keir-starmer-mired-partygate-row-boris-johnson-2022-5?r=US&amp;IR=T">allegations of attending a lockdown-breaching event in May 2021, known as beergate.</a></p><p>Lammy's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.</p>

Keir Starmer under investigation by MPs sleaze watchdog over late declarations of earnings and gifts

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dc54b4a3afd3737b7480193-2000/gettyimages-1185083127.jpg" border="0" alt="Christian Pulisic" data-mce-source="Getty/Darren Walsh" data-link="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/christian-pulisic-of-chelsea-celebrates-after-scoring-his-news-photo/1185083127?adppopup=true"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/christian-pulisic-of-chelsea-celebrates-after-scoring-his-news-photo/1185083127?adppopup=true">Getty/Darren Walsh</a></span></p><p class="caption">Pulisic has been on fire for Chelsea FC in recent weeks.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Christian Pulisic is currently the best player in the English Premier League, according to <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11854687/premier-league-power-rankings-chelsea-midfielder-christian-pulisic-top">35 statistics that have been compiled by Sky Sports.</a></li><li>The broadcaster uses <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/19024/9994064/how-are-the-sky-sports-power-rankings-calculated">a wide range of other stats</a> including goals, assists, dribbles, passes, and touches, to calculate the league's most in-form player over the last five matches.</li><li>Pulisic sits top of the pile, ahead of the division's 463 other players.</li><li>The American has been on fire for Chelsea in recent weeks, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/christian-pulisics-debut-season-at-chelsea-better-than-eden-hazards-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T">scoring a hat-trick against Burnley a fortnight ago</a>, before hitting the winning goal against Watford seven days later.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/soccer-news?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=TIR=TIR=T">Read more of our soccer coverage here.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul><p>Christian Pulisic is currently the best player in the English Premier League.</p><p>That's according to <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/11854687/premier-league-power-rankings-chelsea-midfielder-christian-pulisic-top">35 statistics that have been compiled by Sky Sports.</a></p><p>The 21-year-old American has been on fire for Chelsea FC recently. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/christian-pulisics-debut-season-at-chelsea-better-than-eden-hazards-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T">He hit a hat-trick against Burnley two weeks ago</a>, and followed it up by scoring the winner against Watford seven days later.</p><p>He also registered assists in games against Southampton and Norwich City in the weeks prior.</p><p>Sky Sports use goals and assists and <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/19024/9994064/how-are-the-sky-sports-power-rankings-calculated">a wide range of other statistics</a>&#xa0;including dribbles, passes, and touches, to calculate who is the division's most in-form player over the last five matches.</p><p>Pulisic sits top of the pile, ahead of the league's 463 other players.</p><p>Behind him sit five Leicester City players in Jamie Vardy, Ben Chilwell, Caglar Soyuncu, James Maddison, and Ayoze Perez.</p><p>Brendan Rodgers' side sit third in the Premier League having won seven of its 11 games so far, one of which was a 9-0 thrashing of Southampton at the end of October.</p><p>Fellow Chelsea forward Willian comes in seventh, while Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Leicester duo Youri Tielemans and Kasper Schmeichel, make up the top 10.</p><h2>Pulisic believes 'anything is possible' at Chelsea</h2><p>The USA international was part of the Chelsea team that pulled off a sensational comeback against AFC Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday.</p><p>Frank Lampard's men were losing 4-1 just after half-time at Stamford Bridge, however two red cards for the Dutch team changed the tide.</p><p>Three quickfire goals from Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, and finally 18-year-old Reece James - who became the club's youngest ever Champions League scorer - leveled the game for Chelsea, and it was unlucky not to have fully completed the turnaround had it not been for a handball in the build up to Azpilicueta's late disallowed goal.</p><p>"We showed a lot of resilience and a lot of fight," <a href="https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2019/11/07/christian-pulisic--our-mentality-is-that-anything-is-possible" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pulisic told Chelsea's official website</a> after the thrilling encounter.</p><p>"Being down 4-1 and to think we were still able to come back is crazy. It says a lot about our team. Anything is possible, that's our mentality."</p><p>Chelsea next take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday November 9.&#xa0;</p><p><strong>Read more:&#xa0;</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/christian-pulisics-debut-season-at-chelsea-better-than-eden-hazards-2019-10" data-analytics-position="8">Christian Pulisic has been far more effective than Eden Hazard was in his debut season at Chelsea FC</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/christian-pulisic?r=US&amp;IR=T">Christian Pulisic can be the Tiger Woods of American soccer, the Chelsea FC star's childhood club chairman says</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/watch-rodrygo-goes-score-for-real-madrid-in-champions-league-2019-11" data-analytics-position="1">An 18-year-old scored 3 goals for Real Madrid, emphasizing why everybody's calling him the next big thing in Brazilian football</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/carlos-vela-leader-says-diego-rossi-2019-11" data-analytics-position="2">'Special' Carlos Vela is a 'fantastic leader and player' says the teammate of the new MLS MVP</a></p><p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/video-josef-martinez-wins-mls-goal-of-the-year-2019-10" data-analytics-position="9">Josef Martinez has won the 'MLS Goal of the Year' award for his extraordinary rainbow flick and top corner finish against FC Cincinnati</a></p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Another one 🙌🏼😅 +3 <a href="https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChelseaFC</a> <a href="https://t.co/7KSVSAhrV6">pic.twitter.com/7KSVSAhrV6</a></p>- Christian Pulisic  (@cpulisic_10) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1190731798545866752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 2, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/world-famous-sports-logos-hidden-messages-2019-10">10 world-famous sports logos with hidden meanings</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/sMSU7CxL-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div>

35 statistics show that the 21-year-old American Christian Pulisic is currently the best player in the English Premier League

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Romelu Lukaku, Danny Ings, and Brentford all starred in the second round of the <keyword id="11895950" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="premier-league" source="Orion">Premier League</keyword>. </li><li>Lukaku netted on his second Chelsea debut, while Ings scored a superb overhead kick for Aston Villa.</li><li>Elsewhere, Manchester United was held to a draw by Southampton at St. Mary's. </li></ul><p>Chelsea FC striker Romelu Lukaku was the weekend's big winner in another thrilling round of English Premier League action. </p><p>The Belgian, who re-signed for the Blues in a $133 million deal from Inter Milan earlier this month, took just 15 minutes to score on his second debut for the club as it brushed aside Arsenal 2-0 at The Emirates Stadium.</p><p>Lukaku swept home Reece James' cross from close range before celebrating by holding his head in his hands, clearly overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment.</p><p>A boyhood Chelsea fan, Lukaku first moved to Stamford Bridge in 2011 as a teenager, but made just a handful of appearances before being loaned out and eventually sold. </p><p>"It was great, something that I dreamed of for many, many years - since I was 10 years old," Lukaku said.</p><p>"To have those fans not supporting only me but the team. To be able to be part of this is great, I've always wanted this. I want this to continue."</p><h2>Danny Ings scored a stunner for Aston Villa</h2><p>Ings scored 34 Premier League goals for Southampton over the last two seasons before being snapped up by Villa for the bargain price of $34 million.</p><p>And he's now hit two goals in two games for his new club.</p><p>The Englishman scored from the penalty spot on his debut against Watford last weekend, before he netted against Newcastle United on Saturday - smashing in a brilliant a overhead kick to open the scoring in a deserved 2-0 win.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1429186797851004947">August 21, 2021</a></blockquote><p>"What a feeling," Ings, 29, said on Instagram after the match.</p><h2>Brentford proved it means business </h2><p>Newcomers Brentford were among the bookmakers favorites to be relegated from the Premier League ahead of the new campaign.</p><p>However, two matches in and Thomas Frank's side has more than proved its got what it takes to stay up. </p><p>After a thrilling 2-0 victory over Arsenal on the opening weekend, Brentford kept Crystal Palace at bay on Saturday to secure a hard-fought 0-0 draw and keep up its undefeated top flight streak.</p><p>Though rarely threatening Palace's goal, the Bees never looked in danger of conceding, with a back three of Ethan Pinnock, Kristoffer Ajer, and Pontus Jansson managing to keep the ever-dangerous Wilfried Zaha quiet. </p><p>Brentford faces Aston Villa, Wolves, and Brighton next up. If it can continue to perform like it has against Arsenal and Palace, the team will be well on their way to securing safety.</p><h2>United slip at the second hurdle</h2><p>An opening day 5-1 thumping of Leeds United had Manchester United fans already dreaming of what might be this season. </p><p>However, against Southampton on Sunday, the ghosts of last season came back to haunt Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side as it was held to a 1-1 draw.</p><p>The Saints went ahead on the day courtesy of deflected own-goal from Brazilian midfielder Fred, before Mason Greenwood levelled after the break.</p><p>Despite dominating possession, a lack of ruthlessness in the final third meant United was unable to find a winner.</p><p>Southampton's Stuart Armstrong could have also easily won the match for the home side after capitalizing on an error Harry Maguire. United was rescued by keeper David De Gea, who parried the striker's shot wide. </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">-Manchester United (@ManUtd) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1429774168107716613">August 23, 2021</a></blockquote><p>"Overall, I think we created enough chances to win it and played some decent football at times," said Solskjaer after the draw.</p><p>"Then again we could have lost it but for a very good save from David [De Gea]. It's a point from a losing position but it's not what we wanted."</p>

A $130 million striking sensation, a marvelous overhead kick, and a high flying newcomer stole the show in the Premier League

<ul class="summary-list"><li>With <keyword id="8763838" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid-19">COVID-19</keyword> cases surging, the British government has once again placed the <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword> on lockdown to reduce the spread of the virus.</li><li><strong>"Non-elite" soccer in <keyword id="6355981" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="england">England</keyword> has been halted until December 2, including training and competition for top-level youth and development squads on the girls' side of the game.</strong></li><li>Boys at the same level have been permitted to continue playing, prompting accusations of sexism levied towards the <keyword id="87908" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="FA">FA</keyword> — UK soccer's governing body.</li></ul><p>The English Football Association — the governing body for soccer throughout Britain — is facing accusations of sexism resulting from a recent wave of pandemic safety measures.</p><p>Once again, the UK government has placed the country on lockdown as COVID-19 cases skyrocket across North America and Europe. Through December 2, most Brits are required to stay at home, avoid meeting people outside of their homes, and close certain non-essential businesses and venues.</p><div type="image" title="premier league covid" height="1713" width="2284" msid="79139788" hostid="261"></div><p>However, the protocols allow "elite <keyword id="6356028" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports">sports</keyword> persons to train and compete" as an exempt activity. Or some of them, at least.</p><p>The FA barred top-level development squads for women ages 16-21 as well as Regional Talent Clubs for girls ages 9 to 15 from continuing to train and play because they "do not meet the necessary 'elite' protocols required" by the government. Still, all "elite" football academies for men 15 and up, as well as some highly-ranked boys' clubs, can practice and compete as normal.</p><div type="image" title="liverpool wsl academy team" height="1532" width="2043" msid="79139789" hostid="261"></div><p>"We can also confirm that the Barclays <keyword id="10056419" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="fa-wsl">FA WSL</keyword> Academies and FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs are to be suspended during this period as their resources — including finances and personnel — do not meet the necessary 'elite' protocols required and a number of their facilities are now closed due to the UK Government's new national Covid-19 restrictions," a press release <a href="https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/nov/06/further-update-on-non-elite-football-061120">published by the FA on Friday</a> read. "Academy players within the Barclays FA Women's Super League can continue training within either an education setting or blended training and education provision."</p><p>"In addition, the UK Government has confirmed that 'elite' football academies can continue during this period and has specified the following:</p><ul><li>Aged 15 and above within the 'elite' sport exemption;</li><li>Other age groups if in an overarching education setting, i.e., full-time educational provision, or blended training and education provision;</li><li>Ofsted FA/PL/EFL recognised: Category 1 and Category 2 academies."</li></ul><p>Controversy erupted shortly thereafter, with many girls and young women impacted by the decision airing their grievances on social media accompanied by the hashtag #isitbecauseiamagirl.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Women's Football Club  (@Womens_FC) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1325045531157073921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Charlotte Kneer  (@C_Kneer) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1325395804258000896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—HMWright  (@HeatherWright20) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1325409043448475650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—claudette pendlebury and Izzy  (@claudepen) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1325135087709675521?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Michelle Owen  (@MichelleOwen7) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1325552365567680512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2020</a></blockquote><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Lille-Mae Mulpeter  (@LouiseMac6) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1324681019094683648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2020</a></blockquote><p>The decision to table youth girls' soccer was irritating even at the top levels of the women's game in the UK, with Manchester United manager Casey Stoney calling the move "a real shame" and insisting that she "personally can't understand it."</p><div type="image" title="manchester united academy team" height="1666" width="2222" msid="79139796" hostid="261"></div><p>"I class our regional talent club and academy as 'elite', because they're at Manchester United," <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/54833598">Stoney told the BBC</a>. "They're training to become professional players, just like the boys are, but unfortunately, it's not seen that way in terms of governance."</p><p>"That's one of the things that has got to change," she added. "It's really disappointing, but it's the classification of the academies."</p><h2>Women in Britain's top professional soccer league are experiencing disparate treatment from the FA as well.</h2><p>The FA Women's Super League — Britain's top women's professional soccer league — is home to some of the top soccer players on the planet, <a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">including US Women's National Team stars</a> Alex Morgan, Tobin Heath, Christen Press, Rose Lavelle, and Sam Mewis. And even though the FA WSL has become one of the world's most elite landing spots for women's soccer players in recent years, the British government is treating the league as something of an afterthought as the country shuts down.</p><p>The Vitality Women's <keyword id="82387" type="SPORT" weightage="60" keywordseo="FA-Cup">FA Cup</keyword> for the 2020-2021 season — which was originally scheduled to begin November 15 — has been postponed due to the UK's latest protocols. Like the girls' youth teams, the FA WSL teams slated to compete in the upcoming tournament were not deemed "elite" enough by the British government to earn an exemption to play.</p><div type="image" title="manchester city.JPG" height="1598" width="2500" msid="79139805" hostid="261"></div><p>The men, however, kicked off the opening round of their FA Cup on Friday. They'll continue to play through the national lockdown, including the 10 non-elite clubs that were slated to participate in the first round competition, <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/30964/12124229/womens-fa-cup-suspended-during-month-long-lockdown-in-england-as-mens-fa-cup-goes-ahead">according to Sky Sports</a>.</p><p>According to Conservative MP Nigel Huddleston, however, there's still potential for the government to reverse the decision to put the Women's FA Cup on hold for November.</p><p>"We are in discussions with the <a href="https://twitter.com/FA">@FA</a> about the Women's FA Cup to see if a solution can be found that means the competition does not need to be paused," the sports minister from Worcestershire wrote.</p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Nigel Huddleston MP  (@HuddlestonNigel) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1324415501662081033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 5, 2020</a></blockquote><p>Still, for many — including Watford FC Women striker Helen Ward — the fact that the men's and women's games are receiving disparate treatment at all is cause for frustration and concern.</p><div type="image" title="helen ward" height="1875" width="2500" msid="79139815" hostid="261"></div><p>"I don't know who makes these decisions but they clearly don't realize how far the women's game has come," Ward told Sky <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">News</keyword>. "I can't get my head around it. It sends a really bad message and instills the belief in the next generation that boys' football is more important than girls'."</p><p>"I think it is hard to say it's anything other than gender inequality," she added.</p><ul class="read-more-links"><li>Read more:</li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/nwsl-viewership-up-493-percent-despite-sports-ratings-struggles-2020-10">TV ratings for North America's top women's soccer league are up a whopping 493%. Here's how they succeeded as other sports are losing viewers.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/european-soccer-clubs-poaching-american-stars-covid-19-pandemic-2020-9">European clubs are poaching US Women's Soccer stars thanks to the coronavirus pandemic</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/wnba-players-georgia-senate-runoff-vs-team-owner-kelly-loeffler-2020-11">WNBA players endorsed the opponent of Atlanta Dream co-owner Kelly Loeffler to help force a runoff for Georgia's Senate seat</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/wnba-natasha-cloud-bails-out-woman-arrested-destroying-trump-signs-2020-11">A WNBA star bailed a Florida woman out of jail after she was arrested for destroying Trump campaign signs</a></li></ul>

The English football association is facing accusations of sexism after COVID-19 forced girls' play to a halt but not the boys

<p><strong><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5a61027e28eecc01028b5a5a-1500/sean%20dyche.jpg" alt="sean dyche" data-mce-source="Burnley FC/Twitter" data-link="https://twitter.com/BurnleyOfficial/status/954030260521263104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeadspin.com%2Fajax%2Finset%2Fiframe%3Fid%3Dtwitter-954030260521263104%26autosize%3D1"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://twitter.com/BurnleyOfficial/status/954030260521263104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdeadspin.com%2Fajax%2Finset%2Fiframe%3Fid%3Dtwitter-954030260521263104%26autosize%3D1">Burnley FC/Twitter</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></strong></p><ul><li><strong>A former teammate of Burnley FC manager Sean Dyche said Dyche used to eat worms.</strong></li><li><strong>Dyche on Thursday clarified that he used to only suck on worms and then spit them out as a joke.</strong></li></ul><hr><p><br>Burnley FC manager Sean Dyche has an unusual method of messing with teammates and players.</br></p><p>In December,&#xa0;<span>Søren Andersen, a former teammate of Dyche's on Bristol City, said on a Danish podcast that Dyche used to eat worms. Anderson said that eating the worms caused Dyche's notoriously gravelly voice.</span></p><p><span><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/01/17/sean-dyche-has-gruff-voice-ate-worms-according-former-teammate/">From The Telegraph</a>:</span></p><p>"Every time we trained, he used to eat rainworms," Anderson said.</p><p>He added: "It was horrible, I've never experienced anything like it. It was like: 'whoops, there's a rainworm' and then he ate it. ... It was a bit disgusting and very strange. He was a good player, and I enjoyed being around him, but the thing with the worms was really strange."</p><p>On Thursday, Dyche was asked about Anderson's comments and clarified that he did not eat worms - he just sucked on them as a joke.</p><p>"I've done this here and when I was a manager at Watford, you get one of them nice, big, juicy worms, hang it out your mouth just on the edge there," Dyche said, then imitating swishing the worm around his mouth. "And then, of course, the worm comes out, wash your mouth out with water.</p><p>"A bit of banter with&#xa0;<span>Søren, probably taken a bit too far."</span></p><p><span>Dyche also joked that his gravelly voice comes from smoking exhaust pipes and eating gravel.</span></p><p><span>"For the record, I definitely don't eat worms," Dyche clarified.</span></p><p><span>Watch his explanation below:</span></p><div><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WORMS?  Is Sean Dyche the <a href="https://twitter.com/BearGrylls?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BearGrylls</a> of football management...? 🤔😅 <a href="https://t.co/57nvdKGgGS">pic.twitter.com/57nvdKGgGS</a></p>- Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/BurnleyOfficial/status/954030260521263104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-shaq-turned-down-being-on-the-cover-of-a-wheaties-box-twice-2018-1">Why Shaq turned down being on the cover of a Wheaties box twice</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/8E7caLkz-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div></hr>

Premier League manager says he only sucks on earthworms one month after former teammate said he ate them

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5dadb1784af90974c9333782-2000/pjimage%2076.jpg" border="0" alt="Nainggolan, Ronaldo, Ramos" data-mce-source="Getty" /></div></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Europe's biggest clubs returned to action this weekend after a two-week-long international break.</li><li>Real Madrid's first defeat of the season, Inter Milan's seven goal thriller against Sassuolo, and a wonder goal from Radja Nainggolan were amongst the highlights.</li><li>Catch up with everything that happened in the past week across Europe's top five leagues below.&#xa0;</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/soccer-news?r=US&amp;IR=T">Read more of our soccer stories here.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.</a></li></ul><h2>Serie A&#xa0;</h2><p>Italy's top flight provided the most exciting action from around Europe this weekend.</p><p>The highlight of the weekend came in the unlikely form of Cagliari midfielder Radja Nainggolan, who produced the goal of the season so far with a stunning, swerved volley from outside the area.</p><p>Game of the weekend went to Sassuolo and Inter Milan, who saw out a 3-4 thriller at the Mapei Stadium. Antonio Conte's newly formed strike duo of Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku scored two-a-piece to cancel out goals from Dominico Berardi, Filip Duricic, and Jeremie Boga.&#xa0;</p><p>Cristiano Ronaldo was on the scoresheet for Juventus as the league leaders beat Bologna 2-1 at home, whilst AC Milan remains in the bottom half of the table following a 2-2 draw with Lecce.&#xa0;</p><h2>Premier League</h2><p>Liverpool kept up its unbeaten record in the league this season as it saw out a drab 1-1 draw with Manchester United. Marcus Rashford had given United the lead early on, before Liverpool was denied a Sadio Mane equalizer thanks to a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) call for handball. Thankfully for Jurgen Klopp's side, substitute Adam Lallana saved the day with just five minutes to go.</p><p>Elsewhere, Chelsea continued its impressive start to the season with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Newcastle United - Frank Lampard's side managed 15 shots on goal before it finally found the net through Marcos Alonso.</p><p>Manchester City kept up the pressure on Liverpool with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, while Tottenham Hotspur's dreadful form continued with a 1-1 draw with Watford.</p><p>It could have been worse for Spurs had it not been for a controversial goal from Dele Alli, who appeared to handle the ball before slotting it home.</p><h2>La Liga</h2><p>FC Barcelona was the weekend's big winner in Spain as it beat Eibar 3-0 to jump into first place in the league. Attacking trio Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Antoine Griezmann were all on the score sheet, which will have been a huge relief for fans amid rumours of unrest in the dressing room.&#xa0;</p><p>Real Madrid had been unbeaten prior to the weekend, but came crumbling down at the hands of RCD Mallorca on Saturday. Lago Junior scored the only goal as the newly promoted side beat Eden Hazard-less Madrid 1-0.</p><p>Atletico Madrid saw out a tense 1-1 draw with Valencia, Sevilla beat Levante 1-0, and high flying Granada maintained its surprise third place position with a 1-0 win over Osasuna on Friday night.&#xa0;</p><h2>Ligue 1</h2><p>Unsurprisingly, Paris Saint Germain is running away with the Ligue 1 title again for the seventh time in eight seasons. Thomas Tuchel's side scored four for the third time already this season, beating OGC Nice 4-1 away from home.</p><p>The pick of the goals came in the form of Angel Di Maria's deft lob - his second of two on the day and 10th this season.</p><p>After a poor start to the season, AS Monaco won its third game in the last four to move further away from the relegation spots. Leonardo Jardim's side beat Rennes 3-2 in an enticing affair at the Stade Louis II. Wissam Ben Yedder (2) and Islam Slimani proved the heroes on the day.</p><p>Like Monaco, Olympique Lyonnais has also endured a difficult start to the campaign. After sacking Sylvinho, <a href="https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2019/official-lyon-appoint-rudi-garcia-as-manager/">the club appointed Rudi Garcia as its new manager last week</a>, but the Spaniard will have to wait for his first win after Lyon - who is now above the drop zone on only goal difference - drew 0-0 with Dijon.&#xa0;</p><h2>Bundesliga</h2><p>Jadon Sancho stole the headlines in Germany - but not for the right reasons. The English teenager was dropped and fined by Borussia Dortmund manager Lucien Favre after returning late from international duty, <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11899/11839341/jadon-sancho-dropped-and-fined-by-borussia-dortmund">according to Sky Sports.</a> Fortunately for Favre (not so much for Sancho, however), the youngster's absence didn't prove costly as Dortmund secured a vital 1-0 over league leaders Borussia Monchengladbach courtesy of a second half Marco Reus goal.</p><p>Dortmund's win moved it level on points with Bayern Munich, who slipped to a shock 2-2 draw at FC Augsburg. Goals in the 1st and 91st minutes from the home side cancelled out Robert Lewandowski&#xa0; - <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-15-highest-goalscorers-in-european-football-right-now-2019-10?r=US&amp;IR=T">who now has 17 goals already this term</a> - and Serge Gnabry's strikes.&#xa0;</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Sunday evening is going to involve watching this Radja Nainggolan goal over and over and over and over again.<a href="https://t.co/RT2mcAaZ2s">pic.twitter.com/RT2mcAaZ2s</a></p>- MUNDIAL  (@MundialMag) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1185949564089573384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Handball? Dele Alli couldn't look more guilty 😂<br><br>This goal was given, but Sadio Mane's strike against Man Utd was ruled out 🤨<a href="https://t.co/RbT2vwrcB0">pic.twitter.com/RbT2vwrcB0</a></br></br></p>- Goal  (@goal) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1186191390818082816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 21, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ohhhh Angel Di Maria that is special 😍<br><br>PSG are two goals to the good against Nice thanks to a sublime chip from the Argentine!<br><br>Magnifique 👌 <a href="https://t.co/02BKCJsCy7">pic.twitter.com/02BKCJsCy7</a></br></br></br></br></p>- Football on BT Sport  (@btsportfootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1185272488202256385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2019</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Here's everything you missed in European soccer this weekend

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ad8ad751b60b41f008b4898-1564/kane%20salah%202.jpg" border="0" alt="kane salah 2" data-mce-source="Getty/Business Insider"><p class="source"><span>Getty/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">Mohamed Salah vs. Harry Kane.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><ul><li><strong>Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane are locked in a head-to-head battle to be the best player the Premier League has to offer.</strong></li><li><strong>Salah's top form this season has seen his goal tally surpass Kane, but the Tottenham striker is one of the most consistent players in Europe.</strong></li><li><strong>We analysed three key statistics from the last three league seasons to determine who can truly claim to be best.</strong></li><li><strong>That man is Salah - but Kane could still reclaim the crown.</strong></li></ul><hr><p>&#xa0;</p><p>Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah are locked in a "Ronaldo vs. Messi" battle to be the best player that the Premier League has to offer - but both&#xa0;have had to scrap to reach the summit.</p><p>Liverpool FC attacker Salah was once an outcast. Unwanted at Chelsea, he was booted out of Stamford Bridge and sent away, with his talent unrecognised, on loan deals.</p><p>But after his move to AS Roma in 2015, the Italian media began to label him as the <a href="http://www.lastampa.it/2015/03/06/sport/calcio/salah-oltre-i-gol-le-cose-da-sapere-sul-prodigio-del-momento-iYp0YqWf7WoKN6mLR7G36J/pagina.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"Egyptian Messi."</a>&#xa0;He transferred to Liverpool last year and has raised his performance to a level so preposterously high, the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43444922" target="_blank" rel="noopener">comparisons to FC Barcelona forward Lionel Messi</a> now finally seem apt.</p><p>Tottenham Hotspur striker Kane has also fought hard to reach the top.</p><p>Kane, like Salah, was sent away on loan deals when he was younger and struggled to convince Tottenham's coaches that he was worthy of a first team role at home. He was tall, gangly, and says he <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tom-brady-inspired-harry-kane-to-become-the-premier-league-top-scorer-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">"didn't even look like a proper striker."</a></p><p>But then something clicked. The arrival of Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino in 2014 and a chance YouTube viewing of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/tom-brady-inspired-harry-kane-to-become-the-premier-league-top-scorer-2018-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a Tom Brady documentary</a> changed Kane's game forever. His Brady-like dedication to the training ground eventually paid dividends as he is now a first team staple having scored 106 Premier League goals (and counting) for the north London side.</p><p><strong>Kane is a more modern Cristiano Ronaldo. </strong></p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5acc78d987826b28008b4a4d-2000/harry%20kane.jpg" border="0" alt="Harry Kane" data-mce-source="Getty Images"><p class="source"><span>Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Harry Kane.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>When Ronaldo first came to England in 2003, he was a skinny and awkward-looking teenager who was prone to one too many stepovers. But by the time he left the league six years later he had developed into a muscle-clad powerhouse who had refined his skillset.</p><p>Kane, like Ronaldo, was once a skinny player. And, just like Ronaldo, he has worked hard to perfect his craft. After years of improvement, Kane is the Premier League's best striker - a consistently powerful, agile, and sharp player capable of rifling a shot into the goal at will.</p><h2>Egypt's Messi vs. the English Ronaldo</h2><p>Salah <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/apr/22/mohamed-salah-pfa-player-of-year" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently won the PFA Premier League Player of the Year award</a>&#xa0;for his work this season and there is little question that he has been on fire over the last nine months.</p><p>However, to determine who is truly the best overall, Business Insider looked at three core statistics over the last three league seasons.</p><p>To assess performance in the attacking zone, we asked: 1. How efficient is the player in front of goal (how often do their shots hit the target), and 2. How reliable are they as a goal creator or a goalscorer on a game-by-game basis?</p><p>We looked at ESPN and Whoscored.com statistical data since 2015 to analyse:</p><ol><li><strong>Shot accuracy</strong> (percentage of shots on target)</li><li><strong>Strike rate</strong> (goals per shots taken)</li><li><strong>Attacking efficiency</strong> (goals plus assists divided by total minutes played)</li></ol><h2>The stats show the winner is clear</h2><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5ad7626526645a2f008b4773-2000/mohamed%20salah.png" border="0" alt="Mohamed Salah" data-mce-source="Getty Images"><p class="source"><span>Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">Mohamed Salah.</p></img></div><p></p></div></div><p>Kane is the natural centre forward and has been more accurate in front of goal over the last three league seasons.</p><ul><li><strong>Kane's 449 shots have hit the target 46% of the time</strong></li><li><strong>Salah's 292 shots have hit the target 44% of the time </strong></li></ul><p>But Salah has a superior shot selection to Kane, underlined by his more clinical strike rate.</p><ul><li><strong>Kane scores one goal for every 5.5 shots he takes</strong></li><li><strong>Salah scores one goal for every 4.9 shots he takes</strong></li></ul><p>Salah also tops Kane when it comes to attacking efficiency.</p><ul><li><strong>Kane scores or creates a goal once for every 96.7 minutes he plays</strong></li><li><strong>Salah scores or creates a goal once for every 93.7 minutes he plays</strong></li></ul><p>Salah has also achieved superior statistics despite playing in a more withdrawn, or wider, attacking position than Kane. He has been&#xa0;a more accurate passer of the football (77%) than Kane (72%), he creates more goal-scoring opportunities for his teammates, and is more comfortable with the ball at his feet.</p><h2>Salah is king</h2><p>The Italian press waxed lyrical over Salah when he played for Roma in 2015 and 2016. Though it has taken years for the rest of the world to notice, it is easy to see why he is the pharaoh of his homeland.</p><p><strong>Here are some of his best moments from this season...</strong></p><p><strong>...And from previous seasons:</strong></p><p>But that does not mean he will always be the Premier League's best player.</p><p>Kane has consistency on his side. He has scored 20+ goals in a single Premier League season for four years in a row, so we can assume he will do the same next season, have a shooting accuracy of around 45%, and score or create a goal once for every 97 minutes he is on a league pitch.</p><p><span>How Salah will fare in his second Premier League season at Liverpool remains to be seen. He may even revert to the player Chelsea abandoned just three years ago, something we've seen glimpses of in recent games.</span></p><p>During a 0-0 draw with relegation-threatened Stoke City in April, Salah had a good chance to score and win the game but missed his chance. Liverpool had to settle for a single point, rather than all three.</p><p>This result was just two days before Kane scored the second goal in Tottenham's 2-0 win over Watford.</p><p>Yes, Salah may be the king for now - but there is plenty of time for Kane to reclaim the crown.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We've picked out five of <a href="https://twitter.com/22mosalah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@22mosalah</a>'s best <a href="https://twitter.com/premierleague?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PremierLeague</a> goals…<br><br>…now we want you to rank them! 👇<br><br>1️⃣ ___________________<br>2️⃣ ___________________<br>3️⃣ ___________________<br>4️⃣ ___________________<br>5️⃣ ___________________ <a href="https://t.co/TP1RvGPoaX">pic.twitter.com/TP1RvGPoaX</a></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></br></p>- Liverpool FC (@LFC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LFC/status/986484474794971137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VrNqkS9lMQE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Salah believes his own hype trying to chip it in every time. Confidently predict he will now revert back to the player Jose Mourinho definitely didn't want to sell and had no role in exiling from Chelsea.</p>- Tom Adams  (@tomEurosport) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/990193691196346369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2018</a></blockquote><script async="" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nba-referee-james-harden-step-back-jumper-travel-basketball-zach-zarba-2018-4">NBA ref explains why the James Harden step-back jumper isn't traveling</a></h3>        <div>            <iframe class="bijwplayerclass" data-player="jwplayer" src="https://content.jwplatform.com/players/zdkBznt4-CEZHWCBG.html" width="100%" height="100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="margin:0px;" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><script>function receiveMessage(event){ console.log(event.data.fullscreen); Android.fullscreen(event.data.fullscreen); }window.addEventListener("message", receiveMessage, false);</script>        </div>    </div></hr>

We analysed who the better football player is, Mohamed Salah or Harry Kane - and the stats show the winner is clear

<p class="p1"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54ca025069bedd1c5942ee4c-1200-924/steve-easterbrook-mcdonalds-ceo.jpg" alt="Steve Easterbrook McDonalds CEO" border="0"><p class="source"><span>Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">McDonald's new CEO Steve Easterbrook</p></img></div><p></p></div></div>McDonald's announced on Wednesday that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-ceo-is-out-2015-1">Steve Easterbrook, its senior executive brand president and chief brand officer, is replacing Don Thompson as chief executive</a> of the ailing fast food chain.</p>
<p class="p2">Easterbrook is McDonald's first British CEO. (But not the first non-American CEO - that was Charlie Bell of Australia.) Easterbrook grew up in Watford, <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword>.</p>
<p class="p2">In one important way, Easterbrook brings McDonald's something it really needs right now: Someone who knows McDonald's inside out but who also has experience of fast-growing, trendy, fast-food brands that offer something more special and upmarket than McD's traditional fare: Easterbrook was briefly the CEO of both Pizza Express and Wagamama, where he grew both brands.</p>
<p class="p2">Providing nothing goes terribly in the first year of his tenure at the top of the company, he will surely be considered for a place in one of the future Queen's Honors lists.</p>
<p class="p2">Here's everything we know about him:</p>
<p class="p2">Easterbrook, 47, attended Watford Boys Grammar School in North London. He continues to support Watford FC.</p>
<p class="p2">Even at a young age, he was a McDonald's fan, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2008/may/16/fooddrinks.mcdonalds">telling The Guardian in 2008</a>: "Me and my mate used to go across the park, jump on the Met line to get the tube into Harrow. There was a sports shop we always used to go into, and there was a McDonald's. We used to go off with three or four quid in our pocket. That would cover our train fare, mooching around Harrow, and going to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/mcdonalds">McDonald's</a><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">. It was the first time I had shakes and fries."</span></p>
<p class="p2">He then studied natural sciences at Durham University, UK. After graduating he went on to work for professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers as an accountant.</p>
<p class="p2">In 1993 he joined McDonald's as a financial reporting manager in London. He spent 18 months at "Hamburger University," McDonald's corporate training academy near Chicago.</p>
<p class="p2">He worked in various operational and finance roles before being promoted to vice-president for the UK's southern region in 2001.</p>
<p class="p2"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54ca02a9eab8eab804b2c8a7-262-262/steve easterbrook.png" alt="steve easterbrook mcdonalds ceo" border="0"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://twitter.com/steveeasterbrk">Twitter</a></span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div>In 2006 became the boss of the McDonald's UK, overseeing more than 1,200 outlets and an estimated £35 million marketing budget. During his time there he was credited with turning around the business in the region, by introducing a sharp focus on employee training, adding healthy options to the menu and implementing a major restaurant redesign.</p>
<p class="p2">We asked Richard Robinson, managing partner of UK management consultancy Oystercatchers, and former head of adult and family marketing at McDonald's between 2004 and 2006, what he thought of his former boss:</p>
<p class="p2">"Steve's an outstanding leader, man-manager and all round good guy. He's passionate about both the McDonald's customer and the McDonald's Crew that serve them. He leads from the front counter: This may sound corny but Steve knows every inch of how the restaurant works, having come up through the ranks. Above all, he's someone we can all trust to always do the right thing. 'I'm lovin' it."</p>
<p class="p2">In 2010 Easterbrook was promoted to become president of McDonald's Europe, responsible for 7,000 restaurants across 39 countries. He had originally been given the newly created role of global chief brand officer, but McDonald's U-turned on the decision after just two months and instead moved Easterbrook back to London to look after its European business.</p>
<p class="p2"><a href="http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/article/1039679/mcdonalds-switches-easterbrook-global-brand-role">Industry observers guessed at the time</a> that it was this backtracking that led Easterbrook to leave the company in 2011 to become chief executive of UK restaurant chain Pizza Express. There he was charged with growing its number of outlets from around 400 to 600.</p>
<p class="p2">However, his tenure at the pizza restaurant was short and he left to become the boss of noodle chain Wagamama 2012. At the time it operated 84 restaurants globally. It now has about 140.</p>
<p class="p2">Easterbrook returned to McDonald's 2013, taking up the global chief brand officer role permanently at the company's HQ in Illinois. Most recently on the marketing front, McDonald's launched a major global <keyword id="35666" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="advertising">advertising</keyword> campaign, described as a "brand transformation." Here's the the TV ad: <iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EShRCWOtNJ4" frameborder="0" height="400" width="800"></iframe></p>
<p class="p2">Elsewhere, under Easterbrook's watch, McDonald's has been <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-australias-upscale-burgers-2014-10%20">experimenting with more upmarket restaurants in Australia</a> and it has made <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-changes-to-improve-business-2014-9">dramatic changes to its menu in the US</a> as the company looks to arrest a long-term decline in sales.</p>
<p class="p2">Beyond his brief 2-year break, Easterbrook has been a McDonald's man since 1993, and the chain is counting on his knowledge of the firm and his marketing skills that helped propel the brand forward in the UK and Europe to turn around a tough period for the company. He has a mammoth task ahead of him as the chart below, showing McDonald's same store sales in the US under previous CEO Don Thompson's tenure, demonstrates:</p>
<p class="p2"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/54ca05816bb3f7eb4342ee50-1200-848/mcd-sss-1-3.png" alt="McDonalds SSS" border="0"><p class="source"><span>Business Insider</span></p></img></div><p></p></div></div></p>

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