Red Star Belgrade said they will “protect” Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri when the clubs meet at the Marakana in November for a Champions League clash, according to Red Star general director Zvezdan Terzic.

Shaqiri was the center of controversy this summer when he celebrated a late World Cup winner for Switzerland against Serbia with a pro-Albanian gesture.

That action from Shaqiri, who was born in the former Yugoslavia to Kosovan-Albanian parents, is likely to draw anger from Belgrade natives if he’s part of the Reds’ squad for the meeting in Serbia. However, Terzic insisted Red Star will do everything to shield Shaqiri from “unwanted situations” should he be selected.

“I think that Shaqiri will be under unbelievable psychological pressure because he will know where he is coming,” Terzic told Belgrade newspaper Kurir, as quoted by the Press Association. “He knows that the Red Star is a symbol of Serbia and playing the Marakana – I don’t know whether he will play.

“Of course, as a football club, we treat our rivals equally and we do not have to deal with the past and the history. Red Star must do everything to make Shaqiri feel that he came to play football and it is our duty to protect him in the case of unwanted situations. Let’s be good hosts.”

Shaqiri – along with fellow Albanian-rooted Granit Xhaka and their Swiss teammate Stephan Lichtsteiner – escaped a FIFA ban for the display at the World Cup, instead receiving a fine.

Liverpool will host Red Star at Anfield on Oct. 24 before traveling for the return fixture on Nov. 6.

The European transfer window has only just closed, but it seems Liverpool are already looking ahead to their next move.

The Reds have reportedly made contact with Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot’s agent (his mother) regarding a move next summer, sources told ESPN’s Julien Laurens.

Rabiot was linked with a move away from Parc des Princes this summer, with Barcelona at one point said to be leading the chase for the talented 23-year-old. However, the Frenchman ultimately remained at the club, thanks in no small part to Les Bleus’ stubborn stance.

Now, though, Rabiot is in the final year of his contract in the French capital, and he has thus far rebuffed suggestions of signing a new deal. From January, he will be able to commit to joining a new club on a free transfer.

The flowing-locked midfielder previously revealed he was fond of Liverpool as a youngster, Laurens notes, but Jurgen Klopp will face stiff competition for the player he has reportedly admired since his Borussia Dortmund days. Though Rabiot’s wages would likely be significant, securing a player of his quality without having to pay a transfer fee would be hugely attractive to clubs around Europe.

There can only be three.

World football’s governing body announced a trio of nominees for The Best FIFA’s Men Player award on Monday, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Mohamed Salah, and Golden Ball winner Luka Modric beating out seven others shortlisted for the annual honor.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi and World Cup-winning Frenchmen Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and Raphael Varane are among those not named as finalists, as are Belgian duo Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, and England’s Harry Kane. Messi had been a finalist for the award in each of the last 11 years.

FIFA also revealed the three finalists for the Men’s Coach Award, with the third man to win the World Cup as a player and a manager, Didier Deschamps, joined by fellow former Les Bleus standout and last year’s winner Zinedine Zidane and Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic.

The distinction for best goalkeeper also appears to heavily weigh international exploits over those for club, with France’s Hugo Lloris, Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois, and Denmark shot-stopper Kasper Schmeichel nabbing nods.

Nominees for the Women’s Player Award and Women’s Coach Award were also revealed. Brazilian legend Marta, German midfielder Dzsenifer Marozsan, and Norway’s Ada Hegerberg are up for the player’s distinction, while Netherlands’ former winner Sarina Wiegman was named for the coaching honor alongside Lyon gaffer Reynald Pedros and Japan’s Asako Takakura.

The quintet of accolades and the FIFA Puskas Award will be handed out in London on Sept. 24.

Tottenham confirmed on Monday that plans to open their new stadium in time for a visit from Manchester City on Oct. 28 have been delayed.

The north London side released a statement, adding that the match with the reigning Premier League champions will be played at Wembley Stadium on Monday, Oct. 29 because of an NFL game scheduled for the previous day. The club’s initial plans were to open the new stadium for a Sept. 15 visit from Liverpool.

Tottenham also confirmed that England’s national stadium will also be the venue for the club’s three Champions League group stage matches against Barcelona (Oct. 3), PSV (Nov. 6), and Inter (Nov. 28).

The club played all of their home matches at Wembley last season amid the construction of a new 62,062-seater ground at the same location as White Hart Lane.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy apologized for the delay as part of the club’s statement:

Amongst the consequences of the delay have been substantial additional costs, not least of which the need for alternative venue hire, along with the inconvenience for our fans and those of our opposition.

I want to apologise once again and thank you all for your support, many of you have taken the time to write to us and commend what we are doing for the Club. When you face times like this in an organisation it’s teamwork and pulling together that gets you through.

We are now being regularly updated on progress and as soon as we have confidence in our project managers’ and contractors’ ability to deliver against the revised schedule of works, we shall be able to issue dates for test events and the official opening game.