Matt Slater
@mjshrimper
Followers
52,361
Following
2,689
Media
1,300
Statuses
67,647
Senior football news reporter @TheAthleticFC
From Essex, now in NW
Joined July 2009
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
Explore trending content on Musk Viewer
Rafah
• 744392 Tweets
#เพลงขึ้นใจ
• 323718 Tweets
NUNEW 3RDMV IS OUT
• 179345 Tweets
#CDTVライブライブ
• 158417 Tweets
ENGFA IN NUNEW 3RDMV
• 140569 Tweets
連休最終日
• 124964 Tweets
井上尚弥
• 121230 Tweets
マリカ杯
• 42679 Tweets
ボクシング
• 34982 Tweets
シェリン
• 32113 Tweets
#ドレミファドン
• 29331 Tweets
#SixTONES_ABARERO
• 27312 Tweets
GW最終日
• 23615 Tweets
エンティーム
• 21989 Tweets
フルサイズ
• 19288 Tweets
デビュー曲
• 17866 Tweets
#BF_Masterplan
• 13383 Tweets
髙塚大夢
• 12015 Tweets
ジャクソン
• 10461 Tweets
You know they have just sneaked a 36-team Champions League with 225 games & VIP passes for two ESL-type clubs past the lot of you, right? Quick, they're bringing the joint venture with UEFA & £5bn private-equity stake in next. Look into my eyes, not around the eyes etc
272
5K
19K
No need to hit translate tweet on this one.
ℹ️ Scott Parker is niet langer hoofdcoach van Club Brugge.
309
435
4K
29
207
7K
When I get a moment, I'm going to look at old pics of previous World Cup ceremonies to see if Blatter or Havelange wanted crash the pic quite that badly. Or if any captain was forced to wear the hosts' national dress. That was...odd. His Argentina shirt was fine.
324
198
3K
Remember Mamadou Sakho’s positive test before the 2016 Europa League final? He’s not forgotten or forgiven WADA for comments it made about him being a doper, despite UEFA clearing him. They have cost WADA “substantial” damages & an apology in court today.
36
281
2K
Man of destiny Gianni Infantino opens the FIFA Congress in Kigali by comparing his victory in 2016 FIFA presidential election to Rwanda’s recovery from genocide.
83
292
1K
Suggestions that 20% (it's growing) of the crowd have left to pray have just been shot down by the Qatari journalist sat next to me. "No, they've just left."
8
146
1K
All change at Ipswich.
🇺🇸 businessman Brett Johnson is leading a £17.5m takeover
💷 Marcus Evans effectively wipes the club’s £100m debt
⚽️ Paul Cook lined up to replace Paul Lambert
114
325
1K
Like Bruce Springsteen, we occasionally take requests & the fans down the front with the homemade signs have all been asking for the same thing: do one on Clearlake, PIF, Chelsea & the Saudi Pro League!
So, here it is. A “nothing burger”.
56
179
1K
24hrs after the BBC challenged Qatar/FIFA’s dubious claim that this World Cup will be carbon neutral, ITV, the other UK rights-holder, runs a damning doc about Qatar’s human rights record, treatment of domestic critics & terrorism links. If this is sportswashing, it’s not working
48
113
912
Amanda Staveley has just given an answer to a question about the charade that is PIF’s separation from the Saudi state that is pretty much the textbook definition of sports washing. I can’t be bothered to type it out.
117
127
953
Today in the EFL: A sacked director is allowed to represent Blackpool at a league meeting, Charlton's owner demands the EFL buys him out (but rents back his stadium), Crewe tell an abuse survivor he waited too long to report it & the league's oldest club get a winding-up order.
74
442
871
Less than a week after Manchester United resist calls to pay their staff the real living wage, they agree to pay their billionaire owners an £8.7m dividend in January. Not bad for a business that saw Covid turn an £11m profit in Q1 last year into a £27m loss this summer.
50
385
838
Bosses from EFL's 72 clubs held divisional meetings this afternoon & 5 of them have just been talking to a few journos. The headline? I misjudged Project Big Picture's popularity in EFL when I said 2/3 would like it. Sounds like 9/10 of them LOVE IT! Total support for Parry, too.
297
208
854
After 2hrs of procedure & speeches packed w/ vacuous phrases about football’s power, Norway FA pres Lise Klaveness delivers a powerful & personal call for inclusion, reparations for dead workers & defending human rights. A guy from Honduran FA then basically tells her to shut up.
24
110
854
Only days after Reading owner Dai Yongge said he was “open” to selling the training ground to keep the lights on, he’s done it. The buyers are….Wycombe Wanderers. You can’t blame them (Reading approached them) but it’s insult to injury for Reading fans.
112
162
722
It’s been a lively day in the Worst-Run Club In England League. Southend United still out in front but Everton won’t give up without a fight.
39
128
689
Do you know what World Cups need? Three-team groups & pre-match shootouts for bonus points. These four-team groups with concurrent final matches just aren’t working. Too far-fetched.
27
80
689
Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani tells
#FTFootball
he’d love to have made money 10/12 seasons in Championship. But he’s only looking ahead now. Says he bought
#LUFC
for £100m in 2017. 49ers’ latest investment values club at £300m. In 5-7 years (w/ a new stadium)? £1bn.
22
69
642
I don't do much transfer stuff, so this is in keeping with my track record, but Duje Caleta-Car to Liverpool ain't happening this window. I understand the interest was real but Marseille don't want to sell him just yet.
18
86
600
This is fan-tastic. One of the clearest explanations of the supporter/club connection that powers professional sport I’ve ever heard. Recent events suggest that link isn’t the only game in town now but football should never forget that fans fund the show.
Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United is the antithesis of Mike Ashley’s. Talk you wouldn’t hear in today’s game. This if ever there was any doubt is why Keegan is regarded so highly.
#NUFC
162
723
4K
25
83
587
A broker who has been working on a Chelsea bid has just texted…
20
93
568
Daniel Ek is rich, smart &, as far as Arsenal fans are concerned, has all the top tunes. But Stan Kroenke & the other US owners of Super League wannabes are richer, believe the values of their clubs are rising & can’t hear/see your protests. Why sell?
43
127
545
But…but there were written assurances! Assurances, written down!
Al-Rumayyan, governor of the Saudi PIF, says decision-making processes can be bypassed if the crown prince does not agree with the majority for any decision taken by the PIF.
26
42
149
104
65
560
When Fenway Sports Group bought
#LFC
the club was “chaotic” & “nearly bankrupt”. A decade on they’re English, European & World champs. They’re also churning out viral videos, booming on social media & raking in sponsorships. Here’s how they did it.
21
101
502
Man Utd fans, meet Sir Jim Ratcliffe, a chap who sounds as complicated as the polymers he sells but who named his Defender-inspired 4×4 after a pub and who wants that vehicle to be something “you can hose down, inside and outside”.
15
83
510
When I reported how leveraged his buy-out of Burnley 16mo ago, Alan Pace called me out, prompting many Burnley fans to pile in. Now we know. The takeover cost the club £102m. So far. And interest rates are rising. It’s very simple: don’t get relegated.
31
80
493
Q1: Why did the National League back the decision to scrap cup replays?
A: It’s in talks with the Premier League about an EFL Trophy-like comp between 16 NL sides & 16 U21 PL teams.
Q2: When is fixture congestion OK?
A: When it’s subsidised by the PL.
62
174
491
Lots can happen in two & a half years - Man City won two league titles - but what about the PL’s FFP investigation into City? Not so much.
But now we know why & it’s no thanks to the PL, who really don’t want us to let us see behind the curtain.
40
107
467
I’ve done it so you don’t have to: the PPG tables for the EFL. Apologies for my infantile scribble & losing focus in L2’s lower reaches. I think you’ll agree that the main news here is congrats Swindon, Wycombe’s rise & Southend aren’t down yet.
71
102
466
The Premier League’s FFP investigation into Man City has been like a nuclear sub: potentially devastating, rarely surfacing. Here’s a piece from the last time it popped its head above the water. Until today.
15
62
441
Breaking: EFL clubs have rejected the PL's Covid rescue package.
45
108
431
Full house for Phil Neville’s 1st press conference as England Women manager. He’s just said he’s a quick learner. It certainly seems that way so far. Has had a credible & well-delivered answer for everything.
19
28
431
Here’s the background to that HUGE Premier League decision to rip up a £550m deal. Money or politics? The experts were split
@DreyerChina
@Prof_Chadwick
@Fire_and_Skill
@jonlsullivan
@CameronWEF
@nigelforlan
14
113
404
DONE DEAL!!!
As first revealed by
@TheAthleticUK
in February, a US group led by Phoenix Rising owner Brett Johnson has bought Ipswich from Marcus Evans.
26
56
421
Everyone agrees some clubs need urgent financial help to survive. But nobody agrees on which clubs, how much help &, most importantly, who should pay for it. The result is panic & a competition of ideas that ranges from revolutionary to reckless.
13
58
386
The real Southend Utd story is we're in Bury territory. Our licence to play is conditional. We're in breach. The NL wants to help but can't risk another 23-team season. And the rest of the league can't stand us. We've got 2-3 weeks to convince the NL to let us play. Sell up. Now.
38
126
405
Some interesting news from FIFA, no, really. They've announced 3 regulatory tweaks & 2 could be significant for leagues finishing their seasons this summer: 1) players can now PLAY for 3 clubs in one season 2) leagues can open the summer transfer window before this season is done
30
140
375
Meet the Pacific Media Group gang, the data-led, hard-pressing, youth-oriented, multi-club model storming leagues across Europe:
🏴 Barnsley 🇨🇭 Thun 🇧🇪 Oostende 🇫🇷 Nancy 🇩🇰 Esbjerg
Who they are, how they’ve done it, what the fans think & what’s next.
12
64
399
Exclusive: A group fronted by former Manchester United & Everton star Darron Gibson has emerged as the new favourite to buy L1 side Wigan Athletic. Gibson, who is still playing for Salford City in L2, spent the 18/19 season with Wigan
#WAFC
36
79
386
The sunlit uplands have arrived!
The Premier League has agreed a new 6yr deal for the US TV rights with existing partner NBC. It's worth well over $2bn (£1.6bn), double what NBC paid in 2015.
Huge news for the PL, NBC & US soccer fans.
25
67
380
Premier League clubs agree to increase number of substitutes you can name in a matchday squad from seven to nine but no change on the number you can actually use. They have also applied to join the concussion subs trials - up to two additional subs per team - could start in Jan.
23
50
376
There are 92 PL games left, this is where you can watch them:
▪️Sky Sports, 39 they had coming + 25 additional ones they’re going to make freely available
▪️BT Sport, 8 they had + 12 new ones, no plans to make them free-to-air
▪️BBC, 4 games
▪️Amazon Prime, 4 games
27
160
385
The crypto guys from the WaPo piece did a Twitter space chat earlier. It was…remarkable. The business plan seems to be 1) come to London, meet EFL, buy club 2) spend lots of money on players found by Statsbomb 3) flog NFTs to a global fan base of….? 4) reach PL, like Ted Lasso
21
43
375
Mercedes-Benz, Dolce & Gabbana, Ikea, Marriott Hotels, Houston Rockets & now Mesut Ozil: offending China is an eclectic club, easy to join, hard to leave. But can you ignore the world’s fastest growing consumer market just because it’s a bit touchy?
25
140
348
The PL is thinking about getting into the live streaming business. Is that a) to raise lots more 💰 by cutting out middle-men like Sky, BT, NBC b) because everyone is thinking about it or c) to reduce prices? Take your time, it’s not imminent.
45
46
349
After 117 years of thrilling action, Southend Utd may have only two more fixtures: Torquay (A) today & old foe HMRC (A) on Wednesday - lose that one & it’s all over. A piece about how we got here & why clubs like Southend (all of them, then) matter.
18
72
342
The PL gave agents £409.5m last year. More than three times the amount it shared with the EFL in solidarity payments.
Chelsea paid the highest amount of fees to agents & intermediaries compared to other Premier League clubs for the 2023-24 season.
#CFC
spent £75.1m ($93.2m) on fees paid to agents & intermediaries — in figures published by the FA — between February 1, 2023 to February 1, 2024.…
26
62
237
10
69
345
Everyone loves a transfer, right? You lot certainly do, transfers are always our biggest stories. But how many of us would be happy if our current employer stopped us getting a better job by demanding a fee to let us go? So why do we let football do it?
49
63
330
Ecuador are all over Qatar. Odd atmosphere in the ground, which is lovely, btw. The Ecuador fans are enjoying themselves. But most Qataris are sat in silence. There is one singing section - in purple shirts - doing their best, but they are very much the exception.
12
32
326
Having missed out on Messi, the Saudi Pro League has lost its new exec chairman Garry Cook, too. The former Man City boss is set to take the CEO job at his hometown club, Birmingham City, when their US-led takeover is completed later this summer.
9
32
322
Is this falling apart within a week? Four pillars: 1. Membership: meant to be 15+5, now 11 (others wobbling), from just 7 cities. 2. Finance: a pricey JPMorgan loan 3. Market: fans hate it! broadcasters aren't biting, nothing from sponsors 4. Regulatory approval: erm....no
18
88
318
Project Big Picture: Frankenstein’s monster or a bizarre collection of good ideas that looks a bit scary at first but is essentially decent? Those in the first camp can just scroll to the bottom.
39
59
299
Didn't take long. Lyon threaten the French league with legal action for ending the season early. Their boss wanted to settle things with play-offs. I'm going to start a European football lawsuit tracker.
24
97
304
Like most clubs, Spurs are “for sale” all the time. You just need to pay what they want. But the word among club brokers is Spurs are now more “for sale” than that. There’s no rush, & it’s likely to be gradual, but the club is (quietly) on the market.
32
58
305
Crystal Palace chair Steve Parish has just accused Aleksander Ceferin & UEFA of “picking (clubs’) pockets” & slammed the plans for the post-24 Champions League. “He talks about being for the fans but he gives two places for the clubs who bring the most TV money.”
4
41
305
Exclusive: Two youth players at Oxford United were nearly sacked on Friday when it emerged they’d been at an NYE party. Tempers have cooled but they remain suspended. It comes a week after
#OUFC
boss Karl Robinson said clubs had got “sloppy” with COVID.
20
77
294
It’s always tease, tease, tease…
The Man Utd share price went below $20 yesterday for 1st time since the Glazers said they MIGHT sell the club. Why? Because the market thinks they might not. That’s all the news. Roll on the deadline for 3rd bids!
30
39
303
Just waiting to get into my room at media village in Rio. Slight delay as they make the bed. As in actually make it.
13
204
288
At a newspaper owned by Man City owner Sheikh Mansour.
21
79
289
In a joint letter from the bosses of the European Club Association, European Leagues & UEFA to Europe’s FAs, leagues & clubs tonight, they restate aim to finish the domestic seasons, most likely in July & August, & then complete Euro comps.
26
91
280
Barnsley co-owner Paul Conway threatens to sue the English Football League if the outstanding FFP cases in the Championship aren’t concluded this season, while another club owner says Sheffield Wednesday could face automatic relegation.
60
114
287
The group in talks with one of Birmingham City’s shareholders is led by businessman Jeremy Dale, a lifelong fan with a track record in tech & media. PGA European Tour boss Keith Pelley is a partner in his proposed investment vehicle. Long, long road ahead.
20
36
285
We don’t want “old money” teams like Real, United, Bayern or Juve to dominate. But we don’t like it when “new money” disruptors are bankrolled by oligarchs, sheiks or venture capitalists. We’re a fussy bunch. A Saturday chin-stroker for you to rage about.
32
48
279
Absolutely fan-tastic news. Great for the club, city, staff, everyone. But if what I've heard about the price tag is true, only a fan would have done this. Kudos to David Clowes but English football must heed this lesson & get a grip of its finances.
13
29
285
Ah, TODAY's select committee hearing has started. Good stuff Everton/Forest, Man City & 777. Star of the show so far is Julie Clark of
@EFC_FanAdvisory
, sitting behind PL CEO Richard Masters in an Everton shirt. She just giggled when RM said "we want to be open & transparent".
5
38
283
Felipe Moreno’s purchase of Wigan Athletic is pretty much done. His takeover vehicle has filed its articles of association at CH. Deal has been held up by some Anglo-Spanish legal debate over insurance/indemnities but sorted now & leases on stadium/training ground agreed. Hola!
17
74
267
A “my mate fancies you” phone call, a juicy secret, landslide votes & 2010’s sexiest man alive. Here’s the background story to the football feel-good tale of 2020 & the next must-see sports documentary. How Rob McElhenney & Ryan Reynolds bought Wrexham.
8
68
264
Six weeks have passed since Derby County said Sheikh Khaled’s takeover would happen “very soon”. Doubts are growing over the deal, with concerns raised over Derby’s debts & his, including an unpaid legal bill linked to the sheikh’s 2019 bid for Newcastle.
29
62
245
If all you know of beIN Sports is Keys & Gray and the digital piracy row that held up the Newcastle takeover, you’re missing a far bigger tale. “The best-kept secret in global sport” encapsulates why Qatar wanted to host the World Cup & what happens next.
7
37
254
Derby sold Kamil Jozwiak to Charlotte FC last week. Makes sense, it didn’t work out at Derby & they need cash. Fresh start for the player.
Small problem: Derby have only paid Lech Poznan 25% of the c€4m fee agreed in 2020 & the Polish side want the rest.
56
54
248
West Brom fans, some good news: you’ve got new auditors & they’re not daft. The bad news is that means they don’t think your owner is going to pay that £5m loan back &, if you don’t go up, you’re going to have to flog a lot of talent to keep the lights on.
31
56
247
Oh God, Greg Clarke in a nutshell. In a rambling answer on diversity, Clarke says “coloured footballers”. Kevin Brennan asks him to apologise. Clarke starts by saying “let me make three points..” Brennan jumps in, “it needs one, not three”. Even then, his apology is long-winded.
15
40
240
If you’re wondering what’s happened at Scunthorpe Utd, here’s the 1st chapter. When the last chapter is written, it might end up being the worst scandal in English football’s recent history. There will be plenty of blame to go around.
12
76
254
There is a lot to digest in this statement - the list of people/events that have conspired against the blameless owner, for example - but the most important thing to remember now is that good people will lose their jobs & unsecured creditors will lose money.
25
39
243
Confirmation there’s no Project Restart for L1 & L2 should come early next week. Points per game, weighted for home/away games, looks like the preferred option to decide champions, who goes up & who comes down.
48
140
238
Raine Group has written to interested parties to say the Chelsea sale process is back on. Plan is to take its preferred bidder to UK govt & ask for 2nd licence/approval. Raine is confident sale can be completed in 4-6 weeks. Sounds optimistic to me!
16
61
237
A terrible (but important) thread. The only possible conclusion to stories like this one, which are depressingly common, is that UEFA et al don’t want away fans. Too many headaches. Why else would you treat paying customers this badly? It must be intentional.
27
64
245
The panel in Derby FFP case has taken on board the appeal body’s view re amortisation & fined
#DCFC
£100k. But EFL wants a points penalty that would relegate them, so it’s publishing 2 sets of fixtures for Ch’ship & L1, one w/ Derby, the other w/ Wycombe, pending a likely appeal
An independent Disciplinary Commission has delivered its verdict on sanctions for Derby County relating to ongoing disciplinary proceedings.
#EFL
202
200
485
21
94
226
Bury breaking! Steve Dale has texted to say he’s sold the club. EFL is aware and will take a look ASAP. Dale hasn’t said who he’s sold it to. I do know that C&N Sporting Risk has put in a bid. Theirs was not the only one.
15
97
222
@CFCDaily
@liam_twomey
@TheAthleticUK
Erm...Bain Capital? Some of the online estimates of his personal wealth are also miles off. He's a billionaire several times over.
16
17
227
It’s a stonker! In terms of domestic rights deals in club football, only the Big 5 & MLS’s global Apple deal (just) beat it. It’s more money per season than the top flights everywhere else. Up 57% on the current deal. Great news for the clubs and fans.
37
39
235
The Ukrainian FA couldn’t make it to Qatar for the FIFA Congress. They’re otherwise engaged (being bombed by the hosts of the last World Cup & its massive army) so they sent a video. The Russian FA could make it to Doha, though, which is nice.
3
50
226
Caster Semenya facing daily pills or more miles as IAAF reinstates hormone limit
3
58
215
Sorry Paula, you've lost your 'worst take' at the Worlds crown to the boss. Unbelievable nonsense. The BBC has been athletics' best friend in the UK for years. God forbid one of its staff actually calling it as they see it & asking some completely reasonable questions.
Seb Coe turns on BBC: "It's very easy to sit there and make all sorts of Gabby Logan-type judgements over 3/4 days and clear off back to Match of the Day ... The problem I've got with that is it's the way our sport is being portrayed by some of the people in that (BBC) studio"
139
27
68
9
32
230
The penny appears to have dropped at FIFA on how to handle suspected concussions. 3min on-pitch checks are not good enough; rugby-style, 10min mandatory off-pitch assessments are coming, with temporary subs.
12
75
227
“For the avoidance of doubt…”
Oh, there’s no doubt about it. WBA are in danger. But who’s to blame? The chancer with no links to club/city/country who bought the club to… 🤷♂️
Or the local guy who controversially engineered the sale, making £150m, which he took to a tax haven?
West Bromwich Albion Group Limited has secured a loan from MSD UK Holdings Limited.
387
44
322
23
49
225
400+ comments & 1.5k likes - I’m glad it’s got that reaction because what happened at Wembley before the game was a disgrace & it shouldn’t be swept away with the broken glass. Because that’s what we always do.
✍️ w/
@OliverKay
et al
19
37
218
Southend didn’t win a game this season until their 17th fixture. They lost 16th game 6-1 at Col U & the team bus was locked out of Roots Hall car park by fans. 8wks later, they’ve won five of last 10, with 2 draws. Play-off form! Still 92nd but the great escape is ON.
4
37
219
Southend United fans, your occasional reminder that we'll never be the club we should be until we have new ownership. We're under embargo, again. Unpaid taxes, again.
37
42
220
Not a great day for English football’s...erm, ‘business model’ tomorrow. Three clubs in companies court facing winding-up petitions: Bolton, Macclesfield & Ebbsfleet.
33
182
207
That BBC News report on the govt’s Internal Market Bill was dreadful. Awful explanation of the issue & v generous assessment of Johnson’s day, which included being ridiculed by Ed Miliband. Apathy, ignorance, lazy sloganeering, no wonder this govt still gets 40% in the polls.
9
28
216
In last 6mo, different outlets have estimated Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s wealth at £18.9bn, £29.7bn, £15.3bn & £13.8bn, the last two on same day last week. So how rich is he? 🤷♂️ A better question for Man Utd fans is does it really matter? Some thoughts ⤵️
17
39
207
As reported 👇first, UEFA is set to finalise Champions League reforms: 36 teams, Swiss model in/group stage out, 8 games (not 10), 1 new spot for mid-sized league champ, 1 for 3rd team in 5th league & 2 spots based on previous year’s country coefficient.
46
62
199
Right, I've just filed my last embargoed night lead (think I've swerved the 0430) after three coffee-fuelled but fun-filled years working with some great journos at
@pasport
. I'll be back at my desk in the spare room on Monday, though, but will be wearing
@TheAthleticUK
pyjamas.
57
5
215
FIFA is set to reveal next stage in its plan to isolate Europe & force through biennial World Cups: fan approval. The results of 1st of 2 global surveys are imminent: fans want more World Cups, particularly young & non-Euro fans. Momentum is building.
123
43
202
Man City are now the Disney of football (and by that I mean a diversified multinational in the mass entertainment business and not a Mickey Mouse club)
10
33
196