Football is a beautiful game, known for its passionate fans, electrifying atmospheres, and unexpected twists. Yet, sometimes, the drama transcends the pitch and takes on a life of its own.

It's one of the most annoying things as a fan. There you are, all geared up for the game and then… it's off. Postponements are typically caused by inclement weather, injuries, or other common factors, but it's the instances where the weirder, more unusual scenarios have interfered with matches are the ones that truly pique our interest.

And as the winter season inevitably brings about the threat of postponements galore, Football FanCast has put together a list of cancelled games so bizarre that they border on the unbelievable. Here are some of the odder examples of games getting the chop…

Old Trafford bomb scare halts season finale

15th May 2016: Manchester United vs Bournemouth

In 2016, fans gathered at Old Trafford for a highly anticipated match between Manchester United and Bournemouth. However, moments before kick-off, chaos ensued as the game was postponed due to a bomb scare.

The stadium was evacuated, bomb disposal experts were called in, and a suspicious package was discovered. After a tense investigation, it turned out to be a dummy device left behind following a security exercise.

Though no real danger was present, this incident remains a reminder that football can throw up unexpected twists.

Kangaroo interrupts play

20th March 2018: Canberra FC vs. Belconnen United

Football matches are no strangers to pitch invaders, but in Australia, it's not unruly fans but a kangaroo that caused a game to be delayed.

In 2018, during a match between Canberra FC and Belconnen United, a single kangaroo decided to make the pitch its home, laying on one of the goal lines in a women's league clash.

Australia is known for its unique wildlife, no matter where you are, you're never too far from a kangaroo.

Alien activity illuminates Fiorentina skyline

27th October 1954: Fiorentina v Pistoiese

In October 1954, an astonishing event unfolded during a football match between Fiorentina and Pistoiese at Florence's Stadio Artemio Franchi. With the stadium brimmed with spectators for a local derby, the game came to an abrupt pause during the second half.

Fans and players alike were captivated by unusual, egg-shaped objects in the sky, which left behind a peculiar, snow-like substance that gradually dissipated over an hour. The match was suspended, with the referee's report citing the reason as "spectators seeing something in the sky".

Intriguingly, this UFO sighting coincided with numerous similar sightings in Tuscany that day. Despite an official explanation attributing the phenomenon to migrating spiders, this account remains disputed and a source of enduring mystery for those who witnessed it, leaving an indelible mark at the intersection of football and unexplained occurrences.

Undelivered goalposts cause match cancellation

25th August 2018: Teignmouth vs Crediton United

A South West Peninsula Division One East fixture, pitting Teignmouth against Crediton United, faced an unexpected cancellation when the critical components, the goalposts, failed to materialise. The intended goalposts had been in transit but suffered a delay in delivery.

Unfortunately, relocating the game to Crediton's venue was not an option due to a pre-existing event scheduled at their ground. Jumpers for goalposts wasn't an option, either.

This curious turn of events left the anticipated clash without the essential equipment for play, rendering the match unplayable and leaving fans and players alike to ponder the peculiar fate of the missing goalposts.

Middlesbrough refuse to play after illness ravages squad

21st December 1996: Middlesbrough vs Blackburn

In the run-up to Christmas in 1996, a severe flu outbreak swept through Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough squad, leading the club to make a crucial decision. Just one day before their scheduled Premier League match against Blackburn, they cancelled the game, citing a staggering 23-player unavailability due to injuries, illnesses or suspensions.

However, this decision had grave repercussions for Middlesbrough. Following a subsequent Premier League investigation, Blackburn argued that they should have been awarded the points for the unplayed fixture. Ultimately, the authorities ordered the match to be rescheduled. As a consequence of this episode, Middlesbrough incurred a significant penalty of a three-point deduction and a £50,000 fine.

When the rescheduled encounter finally took place, it ended in a draw. Nevertheless, the deduction of three crucial points proved to be decisive, as it ultimately led to Middlesbrough's relegation on the season's final day.

Cheese festival given priority over FA Cup clash

27th August 2015: Frome Town vs Chippenham Town

While it's common for FA Cup matches to be rescheduled for Friday nights to accommodate TV viewers, this particular fixture involving two non-league teams presented a rather unique scenario. The game wasn't shifted to satisfy broadcasters but was postponed to prevent a scheduling clash with the Frome Cheese Show.

The Frome Agricultural and Cheese Show, drawing over 20,000 visitors annually, was set to take place that same weekend. Fearing a potential drop in attendance if the football match proceeded as planned, officials from the Southern League Premier Division club made the prudent decision to delay the game.

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Unsurprisingly, not many people were disgruntled by this choice, as it ensured that the people could enjoy good cheese and good football on different days.

Total eclipse viewing in Torquay stretches police resources

11th August 1999: Torquay vs Portsmouth

This Worthington Cup First Round fixture was originally slated to take place at Plainmoor, the home ground of Torquay United, on Wednesday, 11th August, 1999. While this scheduling might seem ordinary at first glance, it coincided with a highly extraordinary event: the first total solar eclipse in Britain since 1927.

And as luck would have it, the southwest of England offered the prime viewing location for this rare celestial phenomenon.

Remarkably, even though the date and location of the eclipse had likely been anticipated for decades, the local police found themselves facing a logistical challenge.

They requested the postponement of the match, explaining that their resources were insufficient to manage both the football game and the massive influx of spectators expected to gather for this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event.

Madonna stage collapse leaves Marseille homeless

16th August 2009: Marseille vs Lille

Madonna has had a long career and stage mishaps are far from uncommon, with one of the most notorious incidents occurring in 2015 when a backing dancer accidentally yanked her off stage by her cape during a Brit Awards performance.

In 2009, an entirely different kind of Madonna-related mishap disrupted the plans of Olympique Marseille. Marseille were meant to be playing Lille for their first home game of the season, but Madonna inadvertently put their stadium out of commission for two months. Just before a Madonna concert was set to take place at the stadium, the stage collapsed.

This unforeseen turn of events prompted a thorough investigation into the incident, leaving Marseille temporarily without a suitable venue for their home matches for a number of weeks, leaving them to play their first home league game of the season in Montpellier. The collision of pop culture and sports in this peculiar episode left the football club grappling with an unusual predicament.

Scotland game delayed after opponents fail to show up

9th October 1996: Estonia vs Scotland

In 1996, Scotland were gearing up for a momentous World Cup qualifier against Estonia. The night before the game, Scotland conducted a training session at the Kadrioru Stadium, but they encountered an issue with insufficient floodlighting. Protesting this issue, Scotland appealed to FIFA, who empathised with their concerns, resulting in the rescheduling of the match. The kick-off time was moved up from 6.45pm to 3pm.

Estonia expressed discontent, mainly due to the potential loss of television revenue. Speculation arose that they might stage a late arrival in protest. To everyone's surprise, the game kicked off, only to be abandoned by the referee after a mere three seconds.

Rather than awarding a 3-0 victory to Scotland, FIFA mandated that the match be replayed at the Stade Louis II in Monaco. Scotland midfielder Ian Ferguson made headlines for his departure from the field, as he was recorded swearing at fans.

Arsenal's coach turns up at the wrong ground

4th November 2023: Arsenal U18s vs Brighton U18s

Arsenal's U18s had a bit of an adventure before their game against Brighton & Hove Albion. Their team coach took a wrong turn on the motorway, heading towards Bournemouth instead, and that set off a chain of delays. The game was supposed to kick off at noon at Brighton's AMEX Football Centre in Lancing.

The game was initially pushed back, but it was then decided that it should be played on a different day. It goes to show the importance of making sure you know where you're going.

Football's charm lies in its unpredictability. In the beautiful game, unexpected events take centre stage – from curious encounters with aliens to games disrupted by cheese-related mishaps. The element of surprise keeps fans, players, and staff on their toes, making every match a thrilling journey into the unknown. You never know what might happen next.

Play was suspended for eight minutes in Mirpur after umpire Tanvir Ahmed made wrong no-ball calls off Oshane Thomas

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur22-Dec-2018West Indies’ T20I captain Carlos Brathwaite reacted strongly to on-field umpire Tanvir Ahmed erroneously calling a no-ball off Oshane Thomas and even said that he was prepared to risk sanctions for protesting against it and holding up play for eight minutes.The incident occurred in the fourth over of Bangladesh’s 191 chase, when Tanvir wrongly pulled up Thomas for overstepping. Replays later confirmed that Thomas had some part of his foot behind the line.After Liton Das miscued the ball to mid-off, West Indies wanted to review the on-field not-out decision, only to be told by match referee Jeff Crowe that they couldn’t opt for it, as it was confirmed that the delivery wasn’t a no-ball only after they had heard from their dressing room.What the laws say about reviewing

3.1.1 A player may request a review of any decision taken by the on-field umpires concerning whether or not a batsman is dismissed, with the exception of ‘Timed Out’ (Player Review)

3.1.2 No other decisions made by the umpires are eligible for a Player Review with the exception of Fair Catch/Bump Ball (even after the third umpire has been consulted and the decision communicated).

The incident came minutes after Tanvir had called another no-ball off Thomas erroneously, off the fifth delivery in the fourth over. The free-hits of both no-balls were hit for sixes.”Sanctions may come and go, but if you don’t stand for something, you fall for everything,” Brathwaite said at the post-match press conference. “If the sanctions are to be handed, I would gladly take it. My team-mates need to be stood up for and as the captain of the ship, I will stand up for them.”Brathwaite said that he had already informed Crowe about the dubious umpiring decisions during the series after the second T20I on Thursday. During that game, umpire Tanvir and Gazi Sohel had given one lbw decision each, though both were off inside edges. West Indies managed to overturn the on-field calls successfully both times after opting for reviews.”I went to the match referee after the second game. I didn’t think the 50-50 decisions were going in our favour,” Brathwaite said. “Those decisions went for Bangladesh. I never ever want to accuse someone of cheating. I will stop short of that. They are professionals as well. I don’t think they would go out there to be biased or, for lack of a better word, cheat.”I didn’t accuse them of cheating but I made my point clear to the match referee that every 50-50 decision in the ODI series and T20I series up to that point went against us. Traditionally, we haven’t played the best cricket, whether red or white ball. But I found that every time I have been playing for the West Indies, the decisions have hampered us. It happened earlier in the fourth over, so a point needed to be made.”Brathwaite explained that he was asking Crowe about what the laws say about reviewing in that intense discussion and said that he had to take the responsibility by taking a stand for his team.”Everyone saw that it was not a no-ball,” he said. “For a young man who is inexperienced, Oshane Thomas was under the pump. To finally get a dismissal but the ball has gone to your name as free-hit, to bowl the extra ball with an extra run, obviously it messed his mindset. As captain I had to take fall for the team. I had to make a stance not just for myself or the team but for West Indies cricket.”Brathwaite also clarified that he had not planned to take his team off the field and had instead asked Crowe for five minutes to allow his team to regroup. “I must commend the match referee,” he said. “After we had some stern words, it was resolved. We worked too hard for my team to walk off the field or forfeit the game or series. The decision was to stay on, fight on and finish the game.”But I also asked the match referee for five minutes that our team can get their head around playing a cricket game, forget the debacle that has just happened, get past the event and let us just finish the remaining 16 overs. Thankfully it was allowed.”While Brathwaite said that making the third umpire check every delivery for a no-ball will “hamper the pace of play”, this incident in Mirpur has reopened the debate about laws.”I think the pace of play is important. As teams we often take longer to finish the overs,” he said. “I haven’t given it a serious thought but off the top of my mind, if we check every single ball, it may hamper the pace of play. There must be more strategic ways to do these things.”I don’t know what all the rules are pertaining to reviews so I don’t want to tell them how to do their job. But it can be looked at. The laws may be put into question after this incident.”

Tottenham are now believed to be the main contenders to sign a "very quick" player who's absolutely adored by his club's fanbase.

Lange making Spurs transfer plans

New sporting director Johan Lange and his arrival at N17 will be very intriguing to follow, as the new transfer chief is tasked with upgrading Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou's squad in 2024. Working under Chief Football Officer Scott Munn, the former Aston Villa employee comes in as a direct replacement for Fabio Paratici after his 30-month worldwide ban from football.

While the Italian still apparently advises Tottenham on a consultancy basis, Lange is now set to play a big role in giving Postecoglou exactly what he wants in terms of transfers.

The Lilywhites are said to be prioritising the addition of a new left-sided centre-back after Micky van de Ven's injury, with the Dutchman's absence seriously exposing Spurs' lack of depth in that position. Elsewhere, Postecoglou is believed to want a left-wing alternative to Dejan Kulusevski, leading to links with Al-Ittihad winger and former Celtic star Jota.

Tottenham now favourites to sign Iling-Junior

Sticking to the left wing, another transfer target has emerged for Spurs with reports out of Italy sharing details about their interest in Juventus starlet Samuel Iling-Junior. The former Chelsea academy man has made four appearances off the bench for Massimiliano Allegri's side, playing 12 Serie A matches in total last term as well.

His cameos for the Old Lady have apparently done enough to impress Spurs, who have him on their transfer target list for Postecoglou.

A report by Italian newspaper Il Bianconero has some positive news in this regard, as it is now claimed the north Londoners are "first and foremost" in the race to sign Iling-Junior.

Indeed, Spurs have entered pole position for Iling-Junior and are the main contenders for his signature, with Juve said to value him at a pretty affordable £13 million. In a further boost for Postecoglou and Lange, Juve could even be open to negotiating a loan deal. Both Spurs and Allegri's side already seem to have a strong working relationship, having successfully negotiated the transfers of Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur in the summer of 2022.

Iling-Junior likened to Rafael Leao

The 20-year-old, according to Eurosport journalist Michele Neri, is similar to AC Milan star Rafael Leao in terms of playing style. Juve's fans also went "crazy" for Iling-Junior after a performance last season, with the club's supporters remaining big admirers.

“Iling Junior is a very quick player, who loves to take on opposing full-backs and attack the vertical spaces, in a very direct way,” Neri explained to TNT Sports.

“He is a left winger who can also play as a right winger if needed. He has a great sense for dribbling and a speed from a standing start that other Juventus players do not have.

“In these qualities you can absolutely see shades of Rafael Leao when the AC Milan superstar was a bit younger. The fans went crazy for him after the Benfica game where he played 20 minutes and really shone, providing an assist to Milik.

“But then, due to injuries, he was not used more consistently by Allegri. However the fans appreciated him anyway."

Tottenham Hotspur's winless run in the Premier League stretched to four matches after an enthralling encounter at the Etihad Stadium. Still, Dejan Kulusevski's late leveller against Manchester City underscored the newfound mindset under Ange Postecoglou.

Spurs, let's be frank, were abject last year, slumping to an eighth-placed finish in the English top-flight and letting Harry Kane slip through the floorboards and away to Bayern Munich in August, hampering the maiden stage of Postecoglou's reign, with the Australian striving to re-energise and restore the languishing side.

But England and Tottenham's record scorer was scarcely missed across the opening weeks of the campaign, with newly-appointed captain Heung-min Son firing the London side into the ascendancy, bolstered by the creativity of James Maddison, the ferociousness of Yves Bissouma and the dynamic defending of Micky van de Ven.

It was as if the formerly rusty mechanisms had been neutralised, with the clicking together resulting in eight victories and two draws from the opening ten matches of the league term; Postecoglou, for his labours, claimed a three-peat of Manager of the Month awards.

But Spurs' injury-ravaged squad have found their thinness to be their undoing across recent weeks, with a calamitous, if gallant, defeat against Chelsea preceding losses to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Among the biggest setbacks of this period have been the injuries inflicted on van de Ven and Maddison, with the influential summer signings both taken off against the Blues and ruled out until after the new year.

The defence is the priority for transfer reinforcements in January, but Maddison's void appears to have been filled by Argentinian midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, who appears to be salvaging his career on English shores.

Giovani Lo Celso's Tottenham career so far

Everyone loves a resurgence, and Lo Celso may well be enjoying one of the Premier League's most exciting comebacks of the season, having now scored in successive matches for Spurs after sitting on the fringe for the opening phase of the term.

It's hardly surprising; Maddison, who signed from Leicester City for £40m in the summer, posted three goals and five assists before his injury and was awarded August's Premier League Player of the Month, leading pundit Jermaine Jenas to claim that he is "on the verge" of becoming world-class.

But the England international's troubles are Lo Celso's gains, and he truly looks to have pounced on the chance to impress and will play a central role over the December period.

This is after a struggle to break into stardom at the club after signing from Real Betis for £55m in 2019, having made just 90 appearances to date (which technically translates to about 24 appearances per season), and spending the past 18 months on loan with Villarreal.

Player

#1 James Maddison

#2 Paulo Dybala

#3 Florian Wirtz

#4 Isco

#5 Jamal Musiala

#6 Julian Brandt

#7 Suso

#8 Jonas Hofmann

#9 Riyad Mahrez

#10 Dominik Szoboszlai

As the table above clearly portrays, Lo Celso is comparable to some of the most creative and effective playmakers across Europe, and while he had failed to impress across previous seasons on English shores, his recent return to Spain has been most beneficial for his career.

Indeed, the 27-year-old ebbed and flowed from fitness last season but showcased his ball-playing skills during his time with Villarreal, ranking among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 6% for shot-creating actions and the top 11% for assists per 90, as per FBref.

Such skills have come in handy in Maddison's absence, with Lo Celso complementing his recent goals in the Premier League with a 93% pass success rate, averaging 3.4 ball recoveries per game and winning 58% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.

Giovani Lo Celso's performance vs Manchester City

In the lion's den last weekend, Lo Celso produced a commendable display of crispness and intent, with Sofascore highlighting the player's incredible 100% pass completion (40/40) against Manchester City, with the £70k-per-week ace also scoring and winning three of his five contested ground duels.

According to football.london's Alasdair Gold, Lo Celso was worthy of an 8/10 match rating after the event, with the correspondent claiming that he 'started strongly but gave away the free-kick City took the lead from. However, he more than made up for that with a low curling effort in the second half to make it two goals in two games and his second goal against City. Worked hard in his 77 minutes or so and is making a difference for Spurs.'

This newfound difference-maker is serving well in Maddison's absence, and he could even prove to be Tottenham's next Christian Eriksen, hailed as a "master of the last pass" by reporter Milena Gimon.

How Giovani Lo Celso compares to Christian Eriksen

Eriksen chalked up 305 appearances for Spurs and clinched 69 goals and 90 assists across all competitions, leading erstwhile Lilywhites boss Mauricio Pochettino to state that: "He is so special and we always call him Golazo, because he is capable of scoring unbelievable goals. The recognition from us is massive. It is true he is so quiet, so calm. He is a very relaxed person but he loves football."

After a lengthy stay in north London that established him as one of Europe's premier playmakers, Eriksen was sold to Inter Milan for £17m in January 2020 and Lo Celso was lined up as the replacement, and while the South American failed on that account, he might now be rekindling his Spurs career.

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

G/A Rate

19/20

20

2

2

0.20

18/19

35

8

12

0.57

17/18

37

10

11

0.57

16/17

36

8

16

0.67

15/16

35

6

15

0.60

14/15

38

10

2

0.32

13/14

25

7

9

0.64

Now occupying a deeper-lying role for Manchester United, Eriksen has only scored three times from 59 appearances for Erik ten Hag's side but has racked up 12 assists, underlining that unceasing creative brilliance.

The Dane ranks among the top 3% of midfielders for assists, the top 14% for passes attempted and the top 15% for progressive passes per 90; Lo Celso offers the tools to craft a season of similar influential effect under Postecoglou's wing.

While Maddison will surely be among the first names on the starting teamsheet when he recovers from his issue, Lo Celso is proving his worth with some big, crucial moments this season and will now hope to sustain his match action and performance over the forthcoming period.

MatériaMais Notícias

A cobrança da diretoria para que o Botafogo saiba reagir no Campeonato Brasileiro moveu os bastidores do clube no decorrer desta semana. Além de ter mergulhado na penúltima colocação da competição nacional, a equipe de Eduardo Barroca tenta “reverter o quadro” de um time que se mostra apático.

Das quatro partidas nas quais saiu de campo com os três pontos, os alvinegros só conseguiram vencer de virada uma vez. O resultado aconteceu justamente sob o comando de Barroca, quando a equipe arrancou o 2 a 1 sobre o lanterna Coritiba em pleno Couto Pereira.

> Botafogo em situação delicada. Veja a tabela do Brasileirão!

Contra Atlético-MG, sob o comando de Paulo Autuori, e Palmeiras e Sport, ambas com Bruno Lazaroni como treinador, o Botafogo abriu dois gols de vantagem e acabou sofrendo gols no fim. A reação também não foi recorrente na série de empates do Alvinegro.

Apenas na sua estreia, no 1 a 1 contra o RB Bragantino, e diante do Fluminense, os alvinegros foram buscar os resultados. A necessidade de mudança de postura se torna ainda mais urgente devido às cobranças que custaram inclusive multa a jogadores que foram considerados “sem comprometimento” com o grupo e o Botafogo.

Com o voto de confiança dado a Eduardo Barroca e à sua comissão técnica e o recado dado ao seu elenco, o Alvinegro encara o Santos neste domingo, às 16h, na Vila Belmiro.

Glasgow Rangers have been dealt a blow after learning that they could be without one of their first-team stars through injury for Thursday's Europa League game vs Aris.

Rangers injury news

The Light Blues are set to host Akis Mantzios’ side this evening at Ibrox, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time, and whilst they will be hoping to gain a positive result, they will have to try and do so without several squad members for various reasons.

Philippe Clement currently has Nicolas Raskin, Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe on the sidelines with their own respective problems, while Connor Goldson is suspended and Leon Balogun and Ridvan Yilmaz won’t be available for selection either.

Davies starts & "wonderful" talent benched in predicted Rangers lineup v Aris

Rangers will be hoping to bounce back by securing three points against Aris

ByRoss Kilvington Nov 29, 2023

Back in February 2021, Scott Wright first joined the club from Aberdeen and during his two years in the Scottish Premiership, he’s become a regular feature of the first-team squad, but this season, the right-winger has very much been in and out of the team.

Scotland’s former youth international has made one start and the same number of substitute appearances in the Europa League (WhoScored – Wright statistics), and if the following update is to be believed, the 26-year-old might be facing a wait to make his next outing too.

Scott Wright could be ruled out

Speaking during his pre-match press conference on Wednesday, Clement confirmed that Wright might not be available to face Aris for tonight’s important encounter on home soil.

As quoted by Rangers’ official account on X, he said: “We have a few players out as not selected in the European squad. Raskin and Jack will not be back yet. Scott Wright is a doubt for tomorrow with a muscular issue.”

Rangers missing a real "driving force" in Wright

Whilst Wright has been missing from the matchday squad on eight occasions in the league since the start of this season, he’s still previously shown what he’s capable of having posted 16 goal contributions, nine goals and seven assists, during his time at Rangers (Transfermarkt – Wright statistics).

The Aberdeen-born talent is also a versatile operator having been deployed in seven different positions following his arrival on the professional scene, including three roles across the frontline and four roles in the midfield, so his ability to adapt makes him a great option to have in the squad.

Right Winger

40

Left Winger

32

Attacking Midfield

26

Centre-Forward

6

Central Midfield

2

Right Midfield

1

Left Midfield

1

Clement’s forward has even helped to contribute to silverware whilst wearing the blue shirt having been part of the group that was crowned Scottish Premiership winner and Scottish Cup champion, so he will possess a winning mentality that the manager could have done with having at his disposal.

With Wright being described as a “driving force” by journalist Josh Bunting, his possible absence would therefore be a real blow for the boss, who will want to have his strongest squad available to give them the best chance of securing a victory under the lights.

Ahead of week nine of the MLS season, the league announced that three major competitive initiatives are set to be implemented this weekend.

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MLS implementing new competitive initiativesOff-field treatment, timed subs & in-stadium VAR announcements arriveDetails on nine-week delayGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowUSA Today Sports What are the three initiatives?

Prior to the start of the 2024 MLS season, the league announced that three new competitive initiatives would arrive for the campaign. However, they were delayed as a result of the months-long lockout of the PSRA officials.

With PRO, MLS and the PSRA all working together again, the following three competitive initiatives will be implemented starting this weekend: In-stadium VAR announcements, an off-field treatment rule and timed substitutions.

GOAL breaks down each rules below.

AdvertisementOff-field treatment

If a player is suspected to have an injury and remains on the pitch for more than 15 seconds, medical staff will be waved onto the grass for treatment. When it's deemed safe, the player and the medical staff will leave the pitch for further evaluation, and the player will not be able to return to the pitch for a minimum of two minutes.

Exceptions to the rule are moments where there may be a potential head injury, goalkeeper injuries, serious medical events, and fouls resulting in yellow or red cards. The goal of the rule is to reduce time-wasting by players for non-serious injuries while also creating a safe space for medical staff to evaluate players in a less-pressurized environment.

Getty ImagesIn-stadium VAR announcements

In-stadium VAR announcements by the center official are set to arrive in week nine. The announcements will be announced to fans in the stadium and to fans watching via the broadcast at home. The goal of the new rule is to share transparency between players, staff and fans with the referees when making a decision using Video Review technology.

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Timed substitutions rule

When a substitution between a player on the field and one on the bench is being made, the active player will now only have 10 seconds to leave the pitch after his number is raised on the board by the fourth official. The player is expected to leave at the closest, safest and most convenient part of the pitch.

If the active player fails to leave the pitch within 10 seconds, the player being substituted into the game will be forced to wait for a 60-second 'holding period' until entering at the next moment of stoppage. As a result, the opposition team will have a man advantage during the short time span. The rule is being implemented in hopes that it will reduce time wasting during substitution periods at any point during a match.

Away days have given fans reason to venture out and explore places they mightn't have been before whilst following the team they love.

24 teams make up League Two, so there are plenty of unique quirks each ground can bring, from the atmosphere to the food and drink on offer.

With those factors in mind, amongst others such as accessibility and pricing, Football FanCast has ranked the 10 best away days in England's fourth tier.

Read more: Top 10 away days in the Premier League

10 Edgeley Park – Stockport County

Cost of pie: £5

Cost of beer: £4

Stockport County's Edgeley Park home houses a capacity crowd of 10,841 and is located just an 11-minute walk away from the train station, providing fans with great access to the ground.

Situated just outside of Manchester, fans will have plenty to do pre- and post-match, with a plethora of restaurants and pubs to choose from should you opt to venture out into the neighbouring city.

Alternatively, if you're looking to do a bit of shopping, The Trafford Centre is well worth a visit, with over 200 shops, restaurants and attractions.

For fans spending their pre- and post-match activities in Stockport, The Armoury pub, situated a five-minute walk from Edgeley Park, welcomes away dayers.

Stockport typically offer an away allocation of up to 900 fans, though, that can increase to 1,400 for larger fixtures.

However, for all of the positives, the glaring drawback of Stockport away is the food and drink pricing. You'll be charged £9 for a pie and beer – which is the most costly pricing in League Two, so for that reason, the rating suffers.

Away day rating: 8/10

9 VBS Community Stadium – Sutton United

Cost of pie: £3.50

Cost of beer: £4

Located in South London, Sutton United's VBS Community Stadium, formerly known as Gander Green Lane, houses a capacity crowd of 5,032.

Sutton gained promotion to the Football League in 2021 for the first time in their history, and achieving such a feat has garnered a buoyant atmosphere at the ground, so visiting fans can expect a decent noise.

Transport links to the stadium are ace, with Sutton station just a short 20-minute walk away, or alternatively, the 413 and 80 busses stop conveniently close.

You won't have to shell over a tenner for food and drink, either, with a pie and beer totalling £7.50.

If you're looking to visit an old-school ground, look no further than Sutton away.

Away day rating: 8.5/10

8 Bradford City – Valley Parade

Cost of pie: £3.50

Cost of beer: £4.80

Valley Parade – which seats 25,136 fans – is the second biggest stadium in League Two, only behind MK Dons' Stadium MK.

Betting.com's Away Day index ranked Bradford City as the 20th-best away day across the top four divisions, let alone League Two itself.

The Bantams scored 10/10 for the car park pricing category, as large stretches of road around the stadium are available for fans to park on at no charge.

Bradford's Forster Square train station is a 22-minute walk to the ground, or alternatively, Bradford Interchange is a 27-minute commute. So transport links are excellent – which will be music to the ears of away dayers.

The only obvious notable downside is the price of beer. £4.80 it'll set you back, the second most expensive charge in the division, so for that reason, we've knocked Bradford away down a half rating.

Away day rating: 8.5/10

7 Bescot Stadium – Walsall

Cost of pie: £4

​​​​​​​Cost of beer: £4

The Bescot Stadium seats 11,300 fans, so it's a pretty big venue for the level.

The transport links to the stadium are excellent, with the train station just an eight-minute walk away from the ground. Away dayers can often be heard chanting on their march up to the ground, further building up the atmosphere.

There's room for a packed-away end, with Walsall often allocating 2,000 seats, so you shouldn't be too hard-pressed to get yourself a ticket with your mates.

Before and after the match fans will often venture into Birmingham, which is situated just 10 miles away. There's a plethora of pubs and restaurants to visit, whilst the Bullring & Grand Central shopping centre often attracts a number of visitors throughout the West Midlands and beyond.

Football Youtuber Alex Vlogs described it as the best away day of the 2021/22 season, so there's evidence to suggest our rating aligns with the views of others.

Away day rating: 8.5/10

6 Cherry Red Records Stadium – AFC Wimbledon

Cost of pie: £4

​​​​​​​Cost of beer: £4.50

AFC Wimbledon's Cherry Red Records Stadium, formerly named Plough Lane, can seat up to 9,215 fans.

Betting.com's Away Day index scored Wimbledon as the seventh-best away day across the top four divisions, evincing the popularity of a trip to South West London.

Transport links to the ground are efficient, with Earlsfield Station, Haydons Road and Tooting Broadway all within walking distance.

Several bus services run close to the stadium while the 493 arrives directly at the doorstep, so away fans won't be short-supplied with transport.

Of course, any trip to the capital can be fun-filled if done correctly, so if you're looking to sample some of London's most famed pubs and restaurants, AFC Wimbledon away should be on your checklist.

And there's room to take a decent away following, allowing a great noise to be generated.

Away day rating: 8.8/10

5 Wrexham A.F.C. – The Racecourse Ground

Cost of pie: £2.80

​​​​​​​Cost of beer: £4

The Racecourse ground, prior to redevelopment works, seated 10,771 fans but that number is due to increase to 16,000.

Situated in the northeast of Wales, Wrexham is easily accessible for away dayers and the train station lies just an eight-minute walk from the ground.

Following the club's takeover, which has seen Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney become owners, The Red Dragons have been on a skyrocketing trajectory.

After gaining promotion to League Two last term, the buoyant mood around the Racecourse is infectious, so travelling fans can expect a cracking atmosphere.

As far as for food and drink, you can get yourself a pie for just £2.80 – the second-cheapest price in the division whilst a beer costs £4, slightly on the pricier side.

Wrexham probably won't be in League Two for much longer, given the influx of investment they've received, so this season might be your first and only chance to visit for a while.

Away day rating: 8.9/10

4 The New Lawn Stadium – Forest Green Rovers

Cost of pie: £3.50

​​​​​​​Cost of beer: £4

The New Lawn stadium houses a capacity crowd of 5,147 and is situated in the small village of Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.

The Cotswolds-based club are the only side across the EFL (English Football League) not to sell meat, so if you're looking for a bite to eat, you'll have the choice of a Quorn pie or veggie burger, among other options.

Away dayers travelling by train will find it rather difficult to get to, as there isn't actually a train station in Nailsworth. So the advice is to get off at Stroud and take the number 63 bus to get to the stadium.

Although slightly inconvenient, it all makes for a fun adventure, one that you wouldn't normally experience travelling to any other ground in the Football League.

Forest Green Rovers is a must-do away day, simply for its unique quirks.

Away day rating: 9/10

3 The EnviroVent Stadium – Harrogate Town

Cost of pie: £4

​​​​​​​Cost of beer: £4

The EnviroVent Stadium, formally known as Wetherby Road, seats 5,000 fans.

Harrogate, which is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, is a very picturesque town and is home to the famed Bettys (a tea room), which houses one of the largest collections of Spindler works in the world.

Bettys is well worth a visit for away dayers should you fancy a more quiet retreat rather than the atmospheric pubs that are dotted around the town.

On the approach to the ground, you'll likely walk through 'The Stray', which is a lovely parkland home to several cherry blossom trees. So if you love nature, perhaps Harrogate Town away should be on your checklist.

And foodies will love the pie and mash, pictured below…

Away day rating: 9/10

2 Notts County – Meadow Lane

Cost of pie: £3

​​​​​​​Cost of beer: £3.50

Notts County's Meadow Lane home houses just over 20,000 fans, making it one of the largest stadiums in the division.

Away dayers travelling by train will only have to make a short 11-minute walk to the ground, which is located 300 yards from Nottingham Forest's City Ground. The two historic stadiums are divided by the River Trent.

Meadow Lane is said to serve a great pie, which is reasonably priced at £3 whilst a beer will set you back £3.50 – a cost only bettered across the division by Morecambe FC.

Nottingham is a vibrant city with lots on offer and if you're looking to sample some music during your visit, there's no lack of concerts and gigs dotted around various venues.

Aside from that, Notts County is one of the oldest football clubs in England, so for that very reason, it's a ground well worth visiting.

Away day rating: 9.1/10

1 Peninsula Stadium – Salford City

Cost of pie: £3

​​​​​​​Cost of beer: £3.50

Perhaps not a surprising feature on our list, given the ground's locality.

Salford City's Peninsula stadium, which houses 5,108 fans, lies on the outskirts of Manchester City centre, so away dayers will have plenty to do before and after the match.

The nation's third-largest city is famed for its array of restaurants, bars, shopping centres and pubs, of course. If you're after a pre-match pint, look no further than Deansgate, which is situated in close proximity to the Arndale shopping centre.

The ground itself offers a pie and a beer for £6.50, which isn't too dear, compared to the rest of the division's prices.

Perhaps the only downside is the transport links to the stadium, which is rather surprising, given Greater Manchester's fantastic tram service. Though, for whatever reason, the nearest tram stop to the Peninsula Stadium is a good 30-35-minute walk away.

So due to that, we've knocked it down a half rating, but nonetheless, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better away day.

Salford also serve the joint-cheapest (£1.50) cup of tea in the division… 'you'll never sing that'.

Away day rating: 9.2/10

​​​​​​​

Club

Stadium

Cost of Beer

Crewe Alexandra

Alexandra Stadium

£3.50

Walsall

Bescot Stadium

£4

Grimsby Town

Blundell Park

£3.50

Crawley Town

Broadfield Stadium

£3.50

Colchester United

JobServe Community Stadium

£4

Accrington Stanley

Crown Ground

£3.50

Stockport County

Edgeley Park

£4

Harrogate Town

EnviroVent Stadium

£4

Mansfield Town

One Call Stadium

£3.50

Sutton United

VBS Community Stadium

£4

Morecambe FC

Mazuma Mobile Stadium

£3

Doncaster Rovers

Eco-Power Stadium

£3.50

Notts County

Meadow Lane

£3.50

Salford City

Peninsula Stadium

£3.50

AFC Wimbledon

Cherry Red Records Stadium

£4.50

Tranmere Rovers

Prenton Park

£3.50

Gillingham

Priestfield Stadium

£3.70

Wrexham A.F.C

The Racecourse Ground

£4

Newport County

Rodney Parade

£3.50

MK Dons

Stadium MK

£5

Swindon Town

County Ground

£3.50

Forest Green Rovers

The New Lawn Stadium

£4

Bradford City

Valley Parade

£4.80

Barrow

Holker Street

N/A

Club

Stadium

Cost of Pie

Crewe Alexandra

Alexandra Stadium

£3

Walsall

Bescot Stadium

£4

Grimsby Town

Blundell Park

£3.30

Crawley Town

Broadfield Stadium

£3

Colchester United

JobServe Community Stadium

£3.25

Accrington Stanley

Crown Ground

£2.50

Stockport County

Edgeley Park

£5

Harrogate Town

EnviroVent Stadium

£4

Mansfield Town

One Call Stadium

£3

Sutton United

VBS Community Stadium

£3.50

Morecambe FC

Mazuma Mobile Stadium

£3.50

Doncaster Rovers

Eco-Power Stadium

£3.30

Notts County

Meadow Lane

£3

Salford City

Peninsula Stadium

£3

AFC Wimbledon

Cherry Red Records Stadium

£4

Tranmere Rovers

Prenton Park

£3.50

Gillingham

Priestfield Stadium

£3.80

Wrexham A.F.C

The Racecourse Ground

£2.80

Newport County

Rodney Parade

£2.80

MK Dons

Stadium MK

£3.80

Swindon Town

County Ground

£3.50

Forest Green Rovers

The New Lawn Stadium

£3.50

Bradford City

Valley Parade

£3.50

Barrow

Holker Street

N/A

David Moyes jokingly claimed he will be glad to see Jurgen Klopp leave the Premier League after West Ham held Liverpool to a draw.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Moyes' pays tribute to Klopp
• Jokingly claimed he is happy to see the German leave
• West Ham held Liverpool to exciting draw

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Hammers twice came from behind to hold Liverpool to a 2-2 draw as they ruined the Reds' title hopes at the London Stadium on Saturday. After earning a hard-fought point, West Ham boss David Moyes paid a hilarious tribute to Jurgen Klopp as he claimed he was glad that the German was leaving the league at the end of the current season.

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• WHAT DAVID MOYES SAID

  Speaking at the post-match press conference, Moyes told reporters, "I'll be glad he's gone. He's too f***ing big. Teeth are too bright. I hate saying this because I've worked for the club's biggest rivals but I think he's been immense for Liverpool, I think he's the Daddy there, I really do.

  "He's been able to control a big football club, which is something that isn't easy to do at times, but he's controlled it. But I'm glad to see the back of him, I've got to say. The Premier League brings in lots of managers from different places, some come and go very quickly, some can last the course."

• (C)Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Scot has not enjoyed much success against the Liverpool manager. Since he took charge of the East London side in 2018, Moyes has won just once in 14 meetings against the Merseyside club. However, they got the result at a time when Klopp's side could ill-afford to drop points in the race for the Premier League title.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The club will be next seen in action on May 5 as they take on Tottenham Hotspur in an important league fixture at Anfield.

Umaima Sohail, the only new player to be handed a contract earlier this week, has been picked in both the ODI and T20I squads to face West Indies

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jan-2019

Bismah Maroof scoops the ball•International Cricket Council

Bismah Maroof has been named Pakistan women’s captain for both the ODI and T20I series against West Indies women. The three-match T20I series will take place in Karachi from January 31 to February 3, and will mark the resumption of women’s international cricket in Pakistan since they hosted Bangladesh for two T20Is and two ODIs in September 2015. This will be followed by three ODIs in Dubai.Maroof had missed Pakistan’s previous ODI series, against Australia in Kuala Lumpur last year, due to a sinus problem, for which she underwent surgery. She later returned to action in the World T20 in the Caribbean, but not as captain. A PCB press release said she had stepped down from the role and Javeria Khan, who filled in for Maroof, will continue to lead.Maroof has now taken back the captaincy, which she termed a “huge honour”. “It’s always a privilege to be appointed captain of your country,” she said. “But to be named captain in a home series against a tough side like the West Indies, that too when international cricket is making a steady return to Pakistan, is a huge honour.”Umaima Sohail, the only new player to be handed a contract earlier this week, has been picked in both the ODI and T20I squads.T20I squad: Bismah Maroof (capt), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Diana Baig, Irum Javed, Javeria Khan, Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Nida Dar, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Umaima SohailODI squad: Bismah Maroof (capt), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Javeria Khan, Kainat Imtiaz, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Saba Nazir, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Umaima Sohail