Liverpool reassured Mohamed Salah will not be used for propaganda in Qatar for Club World Cup

Liverpool have received assurances that Mo Salah’s presence in Qatar during December’s Club World Cup will not be used for propaganda purposes.

Egypt cut off diplomatic relations with Qatar in 2017 as part of a Middle East-wide blockade, and a visit from their most high-profile sports star could have diplomatic ramifications. 

Salah’s presence at sporting events has been politicised in the past: he was angered when forced to attend a banquet hosted by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov where he was granted ‘honorary citizenship’ during Egypt’s training camp before the World Cup in Russia.

Ahead of the Club World Cup trip to Qatar in December, Liverpool have been told that Salah will be treated in the exact same way as his team-mates.

The 27-year-old has visited Qatar on a number of occasions because of his friendship with former Egypt international Mohamed Aboutrika, who is a pundit for the beIN Sports channel.

Politics and football is a growing issue, from Mesut Ozil being criticised for being photographed with Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2018 and inviting him to be the best man at his wedding, to Henrik Mkhitaryan missing the 2019 Europa League final between Arsenal and Chelsea because of tensions with hosts Azerbaijan and his native Armenia.

Liverpool feared the striker could be pressured into withdrawing from the Club World Cup

David Beckham is targeting Kylian Mbappe as his first blue-chip client as he starts his career as an agent. 

The former England captain registered Footwork Management Ltd last month, with friend Dave Gardner and former PR chief Nicola Howson also listed as directors and former Nottingham Forest striker David Johnson appointed to manage their clients. 

Recruiting Mbappe could prove lucrative, as the France striker remains unsettled at Paris Saint-Germain amid interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City. 

Beckham, who has contacts at his former club PSG, is understood to have had several meetings with Mbappe.

David Beckham wants Kylian Mbappe to be his first blue-chip client after becoming an agent

Manchester City’s owners are set to appoint Damian Willoughby as chief executive of Mumbai City, the Indian Super League club they are in the process of acquiring. 

Mumbai City will become the eighth club owned by the City Football Group, who have turned to the Etihad Stadium to provide leadership for the new operation. 

Willoughby is the senior vice-president of corporate partnerships at City, having previously worked in marketing roles at Chelsea and Rangers.

Brexit is emerging as a potential factor in the battle to host the 2030 World Cup, with rivals to the proposed joint bid from Britain and Ireland pointing out the uncertainty surrounding the UK’s departure from the European Union as they lobby for votes amongst the 211 FIFA members.

Brexit is emerging as a potential factor in the battle to host the 2030 World Cup

The Home Nations have commissioned a feasibility study about staging the centenary World Cup, but have yet to commit to bidding, with that decision likely to be heavily contingent on whether China enter the race. 

FIFA are expected to clarify details and timings of the bidding process at a Council meeting in Shanghai later this month, with a pan-South American bid involving Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile also in preparation.

The beleaguered EFL have had one significant victory to celebrate recently, as their controversial television deal with Sky Sports has been signed off by auditors Harbottle & Lewis. 

Following complaints from several Championship clubs, the EFL Board commissioned an independent report into the TV rights auction that led to the five-year £595million deal with Sky that started this season. 

The Harbottle & Lewis report concluded that due process was followed and after that was circulated to all 71 EFL clubs, they have agreed to let the matter rest.