Summary

  • Legendary commentator John Motson has died at the age of 77

  • He covered 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 29 FA Cup finals for BBC Sport

  • Send us your tributes using #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply).

  1. Motson family statementpublished at 09:54 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023
    Breaking

    John Motson's family have released a short statement:

    “It is with great sadness that we announce that John Motson OBE died peacefully in his sleep today.”

  2. Legendary commentator Motson diespublished at 09:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023
    Breaking

    Some very sad news to bring you now..

    Legendary commentator John Motson has died at the age of 77.

    John MotsonImage source, Getty Images
  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    Tweet #bbcfootball, WhatsApp 03301231826, text 81111 (UK only, standard rates apply)

    Graymanuk: Dear Mr Guardiola, No, you don't need to play nine strikers, just occasionally consider passing the ball to the one striker on the pitch. Haaland is faster and stronger than most defenders, surely once or twice in a game try a ball over the top for him to chase.

  4. 'We will adjust some things to try and go through'published at 09:39 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    RB Leipzig 1-1 Man City

    Pep Guardiola debriefed his players on the pitch at full timeImage source, Getty Images

    Given City's formidable record on home soil - they have won 17 of 19 games at the Etihad Stadium this season - City will rightly feel confident of getting the job done in the return leg on Tuesday, 14 March.

    At full-time on Wednesday, Guardiola gathered his players in a huddle to remind them they had plenty to be positive about.

    "I said 'why you have your heads down? Heads up, it was good'," Guardiola said of that moment.

    "Hopefully in three weeks we arrive in a good condition. We can do better. We have to adjust some things and to find a way to go through."

  5. 'Trust the process' as Guardiola opts not to turn to his benchpublished at 09:35 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    RB Leipzig 1-1 Man City

    Man City boss Pep Guardiola walks across the pitch at the Red Bull ArenaImage source, Getty Images

    As the game wore on and a winner for City - who were unfortunate not to have been awarded a late penalty for handball - looked increasingly unlikely, it seemed unusual that Guardiola did not turn to his bench.

    It is the first time a side has not made any substitutions in a Champions League match since Manchester United against Juventus in October 2018 under Jose Mourinho.

    With a number of attacking options available to him including Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez, Guardiola had players who could make a difference, but he didn't see the need to mix things up.

    "I saw the team was good, especially in the middle," he added. "In the end I decided to continue with what I had."

    Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand said on BT Sport: "You want to get on the pitch and play football, especially when you think you are the person who can affect this game, unlock this team.

    "But at the same time you have to respect Pep. All of the players, especially in the attacking areas of the pitch, have these moments - so you have to be patient, trust the process."

  6. Football phone-inpublished at 09:29 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Nicky Campbell's phone-in show on BBC Radio 5 Live this morning will focus on reaction to the Government's football governance white paper until 10:00 GMT.

    Guests include Henry Winter, chief football writer for The Times, plus Dave Pennington, of Manchester United Supporters Trust, and Macclesfield fan Jonathan Smart.

    Click here to listen to the show on BBC Sounds.

  7. Haaland's quiet nightpublished at 09:26 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    RB Leipzig 1-1 Man City

    Erling Haaland touch map against RB LeipzigImage source, Opta

    City's hopes of scoring more than the one goal were not helped by a quiet display from Erling Haaland.

    The striker, who missed a number of chances at Forest, had just seven touches of the ball in the first half and none of those were in the opposition penalty box.

    Haaland, usually so deadly with the few chances he gets, had a real opportunity to add a second for City after the break but dragged his shot well wide.

    The Norway international has five goals in five Champions League games for Guardiola's side this season, and has 32 overall, so of course is allowed the odd quiet game, but this was a particularly anonymous one.

    By the end he had had 20 touches of the ball and just one shot on goal.

    Mahrez, who scored his 20th goal in the Champions League, defended the work of his team-mate.

    "He is a fast, powerful attacker and we know his qualities," he said.

    "It's not up to him to win, to go get the ball. He's not there to have 70 touches every game."

  8. 'Man City look more dangerous to me when they don’t have the ball'published at 09:15 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    RB Leipzig 1-1 Man City

    Erling HaalandImage source, Getty Images

    Former Premier League defender Matthew Upson believes Erling Haaland is more effective for Manchester City in games where they don't dominate possession.

    In Wednesday's 1-1 draw with RB Leipzig, City had more of the ball with 62% possession, but it was a quiet display from Haaland on his return to Germany.

    Haaland had just seven touches of the ball in the first half and none of those were in the opposition penalty box. His first touch in the Leipzig box came in the 68th minute.

    At full-time he had had 20 touches of the ball and just one shot on goal.

    Upson told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily: "It’s his job, that’s what his job is. You can’t say he doesn’t do his job when you look at the numbers.

    "I know he didn’t score tonight, but that’s his role. That’s how they play. I don’t know if you can say too much more about it. His manager seems happy with it and he seems happy that he scores a lot of goals and is going to be breaking records.

    "How can you look at Manchester City and say they aren’t successful at the moment with the amount of goals they are scoring?

    "Do you not feel sometimes they are more dangerous and create better chances when they don’t have as much of the ball? It never used to be that way because the dominance of the ball, they would just smother you to pieces without Haaland in the team.

    "But with him in the team, they look more dangerous to me when they don’t have the ball. It’s a bit of a conundrum in that way for me."

    Manchester City's Steph Houghton added: "I’m a big Haaland fan and I think what he does for the team is something that a lot of people don’t see.

    "His work rate defensively is unbelievable and even though we don’t feel he is getting involved a lot with the ball, he is occupying two players all the time because nobody really wants to be in a one v one situation with him running in behind or with the ball at his feet."

    Find all the latest Man City content here

  9. Guardiola's joke about the second leg...published at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    RB Leipzig 1-1 Man City

    Gary Rose
    BBC Sport

    Man City players and Pep Guardiola applaud fans after drawing with RB LeipzigImage source, Getty Images

    After watching his side held to a second successive 1-1 draw, this time in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with RB Leipzig, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola offered a novel solution to the visitors' struggles to score more.

    "Maybe in the second leg I will be crazy and play with nine strikers," he joked.

    Guardiola may have appeared in a positive mood after the game in Germany - and an away draw in a European knockout game is certainly not a result to be sniffed at - but it will likely still frustrate him that his side have not turned their recent dominance into more goals.

    At the weekend they dropped two points in the Premier League title race after a first-half opener for City was cancelled out by a second-half equaliser by Nottingham Forest - and it was the same story at RB Leipzig.

    City had been in total control in the opening 45 minutes yet only had Riyad Mahrez's goal to show for it.

    "You expect us to come here and win 0-5? That is not a reality," Guardiola told BT Sport after the game.

    "This is a competition that in the group stage many important teams are out. It is difficult. We are a good team and we do many, many good things. We continued to do this.

    "People expect us to come here and win 4-0, I am sorry we are not able to do this."

    Full story.

  10. 'Still all to play for'published at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    RB Leipzig 1-1 Man City

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  11. 'City will be confident of progression'published at 08:44 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    RB Leipzig 1-1 Man City

    Gary Rose
    BBC Sport

    Man City boss Pep Guardiola after the draw with RB LeipzigImage source, Getty Images

    An away draw in the knockout stage of Europe should be considered a very decent result, but City boss Pep Guardiola will likely be frustrated that his side failed to once again make their first-half dominance count.

    They had gone into the game looking to respond after they were held by Nottingham Forest at the weekend, once again conceding in the second half after scoring before the break.

    They controlled proceedings in the early stages of this game as Leipzig rarely ventured beyond their own half and once Riyad Mahrez scored it seemed only a question of how many more goals City would score.

    But despite their possessional dominance, City found it hard to create too many chances, not helped by the absence of Kevin de Bruyne through illness.

    Erling Haaland struggled to make an impact on his return to Germany, but really should have scored with one of his few chances in the second half, racing forward before dragging his shot well wide.

    But while City may be frustrated not to have come away with a win, they will be confident of getting the job done back at the Etihad where they have won 17 of their 19 games this season.

  12. Man City frustrated by late Leipzig goalpublished at 08:37 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    RB Leipzig 1-1 Man City

    Riyad Mahrez scores for Man City against RB LeipzigImage source, Getty Images

    Manchester City paid the price for failing to make the most of their first-half dominance as they were held to a draw by RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

    The away side were in complete control in the first 45 minutes and got the breakthrough midway through the half when Ilkay Gundogan pounced on a mistake in defence and fed Riyad Mahrez to drive into the back of the net.

    But RB Leipzig came out in the second half with more ambition and twice went close to equalising early on through Benjamin Henrichs, who first headed just over before then sweeping wide with just Ederson to beat.

    The Manchester City goalkeeper was called upon again to deny Andre Silva at his near post but the hosts were finally rewarded for their mounting pressure when Josko Gvardiol headed in following a short corner.

    Match report.

  13. Postpublished at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    We'll move onto some reaction to Wednesday's Champions League action now...

    But more reaction to the regulator news is coming, don't fret.

  14. get involved

    Get Involved - Football regulatorpublished at 08:27 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    Get involved #bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply).

    What do you think of the plans for a new English football regulator?

    Is it a good or a bad thing for the game?

    What would you like to see brought in? Let us know in the usual ways and we'll share as many opinions as we can throughout the day.

  15. 'White paper is fantastic' - Bury AFC chairmanpublished at 08:20 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    BBC Radio 5 Live

    Phil Young, chairman of Bury AFC - a club set up by fans of Bury FC, which was expelled from the English Football League in 2019 after financial problems - has welcomed the government white paper on football.

    He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's fantastic, we are delighted to see the white paper come out. The content we wanted to see is predominantly all in there.

    "I could spend ages picking tiny holes and asking for little bits and pieces to go in there, but fundamentally we are all happy."

  16. Regulator 'a terrible idea' - Sullivanpublished at 08:15 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    David SullivanImage source, Getty Images

    Government plans for greater regulation of football have been called a "terrible idea" by West Ham owner David Sullivan.

    An independent regulator will licence clubs in a bid to ensure they are run more sustainably, introduce robust owners' and directors' tests while also giving fans veto powers to prevent owners making changes to a club's heritage, such as the badge or kit.

    It will also have powers to block clubs joining breakaway leagues, appearing to prevent a repeat of any attempt by clubs to form a Super League like the one which proved so unpopular with supporters in 2021.

    The news was "warmly" welcomed by the Football Supporters' Association, but Hammers owner Sullivan criticised the plans.

    "It's a terrible idea. The regulator will have a huge staff that football will have to pay for. It will be a total waste of money," he told Sky Sports News:

  17. Nothing to fear from regulator - Brighton chiefpublished at 08:08 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport

    I spoke to Brighton chief executive Paul Barber about the new football regulator, which was announced last night.

    The Premier League was initially resistant to the idea but have grudgingly come to accept it, although it is not exactly clear how involved the regulator will get.

    "The pyramid is precious and we need to make sure it is nourished," said Barber.

    "I had hoped football itself could have solved some of the difficulties but we haven’t, so we only have ourselves to blame.

    "But clubs should have nothing to fear as they should be running themselves in the right way anyway.

    "I would like to think it will be light touch and football will limit power of regulator by doing the right thing."

  18. Government & Premier League - their positionspublished at 08:03 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    "The English game remains one of the UK's greatest cultural exports, with clubs and leagues around the world modelling themselves on its success," the government said before its white paper on football governance - a policy document which outlines the proposed legislation - is released on Thursday.

    "That is why the government is today taking the necessary and targeted steps to ensure that continues for generations."

    The Premier League was understood to be wary of a regulatory body when the proposals were announced in April last year.

    The league says it is "vital" a regulator does not lead to any "unintended consequences" that could affect its global appeal and success.

  19. Why is a football regulator needed?published at 07:57 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    The main purposes of the proposed new football regulator will be:

    • Stopping English clubs from joining closed-shop competitions, which are judged to harm the domestic game
    • Preventing a repeat of financial failings seen at numerous clubs, notably the collapses of Bury and Macclesfield
    • Introducing a more stringent owners' and directors' test to protect clubs and fans
    • Giving fans power to stop owners changing a club's name, badge and traditional kit colours
    • Ensuring a fair distribution of money filters down the English football pyramid from the Premier League
  20. Regulator to block English clubs joining European Super Leaguepublished at 07:52 Greenwich Mean Time 23 February 2023

    Goalkeeper sporting "football is for the fans" t-shirtImage source, Getty Images

    Blocking clubs from joining a breakaway European Super League will be among the powers held by English football's new independent regulator.

    The plan for a regulator, recommended by a fan-led review last year, has been confirmed by the UK government.

    Preventing historic clubs going out of business is one of the aims, as well as giving fans greater input and a new owners' and directors' test.

    The significant move aims to protect English football's cultural heritage.

    We'll have more on the plans covered in the Government's football white paper throughout the day.

    Read the full report here.