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Soccer

Report: United, Arsenal among clubs resistant to 'Super League'

It seems the idea of a new European “Super League” is far from universally appraised, even by the clubs said to be involved.

A report in German outlet Der Spiegel suggested an assortment of football’s behemoths have been working together to move away from UEFA’s control and form a new competition. Talks over the new league are said to have reached an advanced stage and the intent is for the tournament to begin as early as 2021.

However, according to the Telegraph’s Jeremy Wilson, Manchester United and Arsenal are two of the most high-profile clubs opposed to the suggested scheme, despite both being listed among the 11 proposed founding members.

Wilson claims European clubs that play in domestic leagues which are considered to be lagging behind the Premier League in terms of financial heft have been the most vocal advocates for the move.

However, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin opposes the radical change, saying Monday: “It would damage football worldwide. It would be boring. To see Juventus vs. (Bayern Munich) every week would be more boring than, let’s say, Juve vs. Torino. It’s no question for me that I will fight and do all I can against such a league for as long as I am here.

“If we are talking about a closed system, we can forget about solidarity and the development of football. In the long run, the clubs would be the losers.”

Bayern were also listed as one of the 11 potential starting clubs, but chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge insisted the club “neither have any knowledge about this nor have we participated in any talks. That’s out of the question for us.”

NFL

Gordon has big night despite dislocated finger

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots wide receiver Josh Gordon said one of his fingers was dislocated in Sunday night’s 31-17 win over the Green Bay Packers.

Gordon, who finished with five catches for 130 yards and a touchdown, left the game briefly two different times.

“I guess it’s like a freak accident, nothing too crazy,” he said. “One of the slant routes, I think some pressure fell on it and it dislocated, so I popped it back into place a couple of times during the game. It’s fine.”

A 55-yard touchdown Sunday night helped Josh Gordon top the 100-yard mark in a game for the 12th time in his career. Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Gordon capped off the Patriots’ scoring with a 55-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown in the fourth quarter — a play that he said seemed to catch the Packers off balance.

“Usually it goes to [Julian Edelman]. The corner just flew up on the fake. I just saw Josh so I threw it,” said Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. “Julian thought I missed him and Josh made a great catch and run. It was a big play in the game. We needed a big play like that.”

That helped Gordon top the 100-yard mark in a game for the 12th time in his career.

“He’s extremely tough,” said running back James White, one of the team’s captains. “He’s big, strong, a fast guy who can catch the ball and run routes. He’s came into the building willing to work each and every day. Him building a rapport with Tom is getting better and better each week. He’s an explosive guy.”

Soccer

De Bruyne to miss 5-6 weeks with knee injury

Kevin De Bruyne will miss the Manchester derby and a number of other key fixtures in the coming weeks after suffering a knee injury during Manchester City’s League Cup win Thursday.

The midfielder, making his first domestic start since returning from a lengthy injury absence, limped off the pitch in the 86th minute after Fulham defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah fell on his left leg.

The knock overshadowed the 2-0 triumph, as scans Friday revealed that De Bruyne suffered knee ligament damage and will be out of action for five-to-six weeks, the team confirmed Friday.

Despite the serious nature of the injury, Manchester City said that the 27-year-old won’t have to undergo surgery.

Confirmation of the ailment represents a massive setback for De Bruyne, who returned from a right knee injury in August after a two-month layoff.

Manchester City face Southampton on Sunday and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday before the derby against Manchester United on Nov. 11.

De Bruyne could also miss key fixtures after the international break against Lyon and Chelsea, as well as a handful of other matches.

City faired well domestically during his absence, going unbeaten in nine matches between the Premier League and League Cup. The only blemish came in the Champions League when Lyon recorded a 2-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium.

NFL

Raiders to release veteran DE, captain Irvin

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders have told defensive end Bruce Irvin that they will release him, ending a star-crossed 2½-year tenure with the team.

Irvin was not on Saturday’s NFL transaction wire, meaning he cannot be released until 4 p.m. ET Monday. When he is released, he will then go on waivers.

Irvin thanked the Raiders organization in a tweet Saturday afternoon:

“We would like to thank Bruce Irvin for his years of service to the Oakland Raiders and we wish him the best,” general manager Reggie McKenzie said.

Irvin was named a defensive captain before the start of the season but saw his playing time diminish greatly, and he registered only nine defensive snaps in Thursday night’s 34-3 loss at the San Francisco 49ers.

He made the switch from outside linebacker this offseason and was a bookend pass-rusher to Khalil Mack, before Mack was traded to the Chicago Bears on Sept. 1.

Irvin, who had career-high-tying eight sacks opposite Mack last season, struggled as the primary pass-rusher, recording three sacks in eight games, which leads the team. Oakland has a league-low seven sacks on the season.

Irvin rankled some in the organization when he told reporters after the Raiders’ 27-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in London, “We lost, but I’ve got a beautiful wife I get to go home to, boy. I’m going to try to make some babies, man.”

Under returning coach Jon Gruden, the Raiders have torn down a roster that was thought to have foundation pieces in place to replicate the 12-4 season of 2016, in Mack and Irvin on defense and quarterback Derek Carr and receiver Amari Cooper on offense. Only Carr remains, as Cooper was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on Oct. 22. Plus, veteran cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie retired last week.

Gruden was asked Friday about Irvin’s diminished role.

“Well, last night, we weren’t in our nickel defense very much,” Gruden said. “Remember, we’re a 4-3 team, we’re not a 3-4. So in the base defense, sometimes he doesn’t fit the role that we need done. No disrespect to Bruce. He’s an edge rusher. We haven’t had a lead. We haven’t had the opposition behind in the chains a lot. So his role has been reduced. I know he’s frustrated. I’m frustrated. We’ll try to solve that as soon as possible. He’s a good player. He’s a good player.”

Just not with the Raiders, who are 1-7.

Irvin, who turned 31 on Thursday, had six tackles on the season, with one for a loss, and one forced fumble.

He had a base salary of $8 million this season, with a salary-cap number of $8.25 million, and was scheduled to make $9 million in 2019, with a cap number of $9.25 million. Next year’s salary was not guaranteed, though.

Coming into the season, Irvin took issue with Gruden saying it was rookie defensive end Arden Key’s “time” and that Irvin “has to step up” in 2018.

“I just said, ‘I think you got it backwards,'” Irvin told ESPN at the time. “‘It’s Bruce Irvin’s time, and Arden Key’s got to step up.’

“I mean, at the end of the day, we’ve both got to step up,” Irvin added, “so it is what it is.”

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Soccer