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The pressure is mounting on Manchester United boss Michael Carrick after his side's poor start, but will things improve when they face rivals Leeds on Saturday? "I cannot remember the last time Leeds were seen as favourites going into this fixture but I don't fancy Manchester United's chances at all," said BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton. "Leeds are just a much more rounded team. Their fans must be relishing this game." Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against AI, BBC Sport readers and a variety of guests. For week seven, he takes on former heavyweight boxing world champion Fabio Wardley, who supports Ipswich Town. Wardley can reclaim his WBO title when he meets Daniel Dubois at London's O2 Arena on Saturday. The fight, a rematch of their thrilling battle in May, when Dubois stopped Wardley in the 11th round to take his crown, will be shown live on DAZN and you can listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live as well as following a live watchalong on BBC iPlayer. Wardley took Sutton on at predictions before that first fight too - so will either outcome be different this time? "I beat Fabio last time - he's from Ipswich so he doesn't stand a chance of beating me," Sutton said. "But good luck to him on Saturday night and I hope he wins his rematch - he's got a better chance against Dubois than he has against me." Do you agree with their predictions? You can pick your own below. The most popular scoreline selected for each game is used in the scoreboards and tables at the bottom of this page. A correct result (picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth 10 points. The exact score earns 40 points. Want to make more predictions? You can play BBC Sport's new Match of the Day predictor game every week, featuring six fixtures from domestic and European competition. It took Ipswich 19 matches and until 30 December to rack up three wins the last time they were promoted to the Premier League, in 2024-25, but their new-look side have already matched that total in their first six games. "Whenever you get promoted there is going to be a large amount of player turnover because, if you want to stay up, then you need to bring some players in who are going to be game-changers, and are going to offer you the different perspectives or different outlets you will need at this level," Wardley told BBC Sport. "With a bunch of new players and a new manager in Gary O'Neil too, there was always going to be a question mark as to how well they would gel, or even how quickly, but the team are looking great. "You only have to look at the start we've made to the season to answer the question of whether we look like we belong in the Premier League. "Three wins from six games is a great start for any team coming up from the Championship and the boys are doing really well right now." Wardley has seen two of those wins for himself, with both of them coming thanks to last-gasp goals. "My training camp has been very strict and very stringent so I've been very busy with a lot of what I've got going on, but of course I've tried to make it to Portman Road as much as possible," he added. "I went to the first game of the season against Sunderland, which ended with a nice little last-minute winner for us, with Jack Clarke sticking that one in. "And just before I came away for the build-up to my fight, I was at Saturday's game against Fulham, which ended in a similar fashion really. "We went 1-0 down early on but clawed it back and then scored two goals in three minutes, with the winner coming in added time. "Winning like that proves the team have got character. The boys are showing a lot of resilience and we are going to need it this season." Chris Sutton and Fabio Wardley were speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan. The AI predictions were generated using Microsoft Copilot Chat - we simply asked the tool to 'predict this weekend's Premier League scores'. Everton are still unbeaten and, as well as their results, they have really impressed me with the way they have played so far. Bournemouth had a better xG than Chelsea last weekend, but lost 5-1. That game showed again how Xabi Alonso's side are going to be enjoyable to watch this season but very difficult to predict. You just don't know what you are going to get with Chelsea at the moment but at least you know what to expect from Everton. They are always so well organised and should probably have beaten Hull last time out, with the number of good chances Thierno Barry had. I can see them making things awkward for Chelsea and maintaining that unbeaten start. Brentford are another team to have made an unbeaten start, and while I thought they were a bit lucky to get a draw at Aston Villa last week, they have plenty of momentum. Liverpool got a big win on their travels in the Champions League against LASK on Wednesday but there are two ways to look at that result. On one hand, they looked good going forward and it was great for Bradley Barcola to open his account with a hat-trick. But, at the same time, they conceded three goals and they still have that vulnerability about them at the back. If the Reds empty the midfield again in this game then they are going to be in trouble, because Brentford are quite direct and will keep looking to run in behind the Liverpool defence. The sceptics will say Barcola needs to start delivering in the Premier League too, and Florian Wirtz has been taking a bit of a battering for his performances. The question I asked on the Monday Night Club was 'what kind of player actually is he?' They have paid so much money for him but is he a dribbler? No. He's not the kind of player to shoot and score from the edge of the box either. He's got an intelligent football brain but Liverpool wanted more than that. When you spend so much on a player, you want some numbers from him. This is a tricky game for Liverpool, and I don't think they will win it. They definitely won't keep a clean sheet, either. This feels like a massive game for Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa, who is still waiting for his first league win. They had it in the bag against Ipswich last week so losing that game so late on was just desperate for them. I've watched Fulham a couple of times this season, against Liverpool and Manchester United, and they played well both times without getting over the line. After this game, they go to Coventry next. I know the Cottagers are not a club known for going through managers but if they lose this then the pressure will really be on Arbeloa. Hull, in contrast, will be relishing this after the start they have made. Their identity is as a team who will have a real go at you and their approach is a bit like a bull in a china shop. It has been working pretty well so far and I think they will fancy their chances against a Fulham side who might be lacking a bit of belief. Despite that, I am going to go with Fulham here. I don't think their results have really reflected their performances so far, but that might change on Saturday. Manchester City will have learned a lot from their defeat by Paris St-Germain. I was there for Radio 5 Live and I thought City's second-half display was a magnificent response. For those teams to meet at this early stage of the Champions League it was always going to be a good game, but it was never going to be tense because neither side were going to be knocked out. PSG showed how good they are in the first half hour, but City will have gained a lot of confidence from their response. If they end up playing PSG again later in the competition, that second half will have done them the world of good psychologically. There is obviously a lot of noise around City at the moment but in that game and against Liverpool last week, you could see the unity in their team. They played with such intensity in the second half against PSG that I wonder how much that has taken out of them, but they will want to keep their foot on the throttle. Fair play to Ipswich, for coming back to beat Fulham the way they did, but I don't see them getting anything here. We know Gary O'Neil's side will have a go and I really like their approach this season, but City will have too much quality for them. Fabio on the Ipswich players who have impressed him this season: A few do stand out. Julio Enciso is doing a lot in the middle of the park and then there is Leif Davis, who has been there for a long time and is part of the core of the team. Another one who doesn't always get much of a mention is our goalkeeper Christian Walton. He had to battle for his place and has been in and out of the side but he always seems to claw his way back in and he has proved why he is the main man between the sticks. Fabio's prediction: The boys have got a tall order on Saturday. Look, playing City is no joke for anyone in the Premier League, especially a team that has just come up, but as I've been saying this week about my own situation in my fight, having an underdog mentality can be a good thing - it does free you up and kind of take the weight off your shoulders, and it allows the boys to play and just do their thing. It's a big ask to go away to City and get a result but hopefully they can pull something off and come away with at least a point. 1-1 Newcastle's defeat at Coventry on Monday was such a wild game. The way the Magpies play, they just go for it, and load players into the front line. They lost 4-1 in the end but the scoreline could have been anything with the number of chances Newcastle had. Aston Villa have made a slow start to the Premier League season results-wise but I think they done all right, bearing in mind what their manager Unai Emery has had to deal with in terms of the players they lost. Johan Manzambi is getting fitter every game and Nicolas Jackson has found some great form. It takes time for a team to come together but I thought they were really good against Brentford last weekend, but just weren't ruthless enough. That wasn't a problem against Fenerbahce on Wednesday, though. This is a really hard one to call and the only thing I know for certain is that there will be a few goals. Both these teams play in Europe on Thursday but neither of them are in great form. Sunderland have lost three in a row, while Bournemouth have not won in the league so far this season. The Cherries have been a team who have got in front but let things slip a few times this season but, against Chelsea, they went 2-0 down right from kick-off, then did it again with their third goal inside the first few seconds of the second half. Bournemouth boss Marco Rose had probably told his players "don't do anything stupid" at the break, so he must have been absolutely livid at that. They really need a positive result here but so do Sunderland. It's going to be close, and I can't pick a winner. I am not quite sure how Crystal Palace beat Nottingham Forest last week, because Forest had some incredible chances. I don't see the Eagles getting anything here, though, because Brighton are absolutely flying at the moment. The Seagulls showed great resilience to hold on at 1-0 with 10 men in their win against Sunderland last week and ended up scoring a second goal right at the end too. Again, both teams play in Europe on Thursday so they will have to find the right balance with their team selections - but I don't see it affecting Brighton any more than it will Palace. I found Lisandro Martinez's outburst about Manchester United's recruitment very strange, especially after his mistake that cost his side victory over Tottenham. You'd think Martinez would keep his head down after making a mess of the cross that let Dominic Solanke equalise - If I am United's director of football Jason Wilcox then, in January, I am buying a big left-sided centre-half who can deal with crosses to take his place. While some Manchester United fans might agree with what Martinez said, there is a time and a place to do it and it felt like a really poor error of judgement. It just shows what kind of state Manchester United are in at the moment, though. Don't forget that Spurs played them off the park early on in that game. Maybe they will up their game and find a way to win this time because they are getting desperate - but I don't see it. I think Leeds will beat them, and beat them convincingly. So far this season I have backed Manchester United most weeks but I have had enough of that. I must have lost my head to stick with them so long - not any more. Nottingham Forest held Arsenal 0-0 here last season but I don't think they have got a clean sheet in them this time. Forest were actually pretty good in their defeat against Crystal Palace, but just didn't take their chances. I can't see them causing Arsenal too many problems, however. The Gunners had a good win over Lille in the Champions League on Tuesday and this should be just as comfortable for them. Tottenham will be fresh from their training camp in Marbella and we are about to find out if it worked. If they don't beat Coventry and get their first win of the season, then they will probably have to go back out there next week as well. Being serious, they do look like they are improving already and they played well against Manchester United last week. Coventry are a dangerous counter-attacking team, and their pace in forward areas will cause problems, but this is going to be Tottenham's night. Chris was the only predictor who saw Manchester City's win at Liverpool coming. Including City's 3-0 victory at Anfield, he got four correct results with no exact scores from the 10 games in week six, giving him 40 points. His guest, Starsailor frontman James Walsh, managed two correct results with no exact scores, leaving him on 20 points. The collective efforts of the BBC readers saw them get five correct results with no exact scores, to end up on 50 points. But it was AI who took the weekly win with a total of 80 points, thanks to four correct results plus an exact score in Aston Villa's 2-2 draw with Brentford. There was only one game where everyone picked the right outcome, Chelsea's 5-1 victory over Bournemouth, although hardly anyone got the correct score. From more than 35,000 predictions, the most popular scoreline was a 2-1 Blues win. Almost 9,000 of you went for that, while only four of you got it spot on. Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has issued an apology following his controversial remarks criticising the club's hierarchy. After United's Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday Martinez said that the club had left head coach Michael Carrick with an under-equipped squad. Following talks with the club on Thursday, the Argentina international released a statement saying "I want to apologise". It is also understood Martinez has been formally punished for his outburst with a fine. Carrick will hold a news conference on Friday, prior to the game against Leeds United on Sunday. He takes his side to Elland Road on the back of just two wins from nine games this season, placed 13th in the Premier League with six points from as many games. Martinez, 28, is out of contract at the end of the season, though there is an option to extend his deal by another year. Man Utd a circus after Martinez comments - Keane Outburst came out of 'anger and frustration' - Martinez Wilcox the target again in another damaging Man Utd fallout Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore says the success of Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham in the Bundesliga influenced his decision to join FC Koln. The 19-year-old became the latest English talent to move to the German top flight after completing a season-long loan move to the RheinEnergieStadion last month. Moore's move came almost a decade after a 17-year-old Sancho left Manchester City to join Borussia Dortmund. During his time in Germany, Sancho established himself as one of Europe's most exciting wingers, making more than 150 appearances for Dortmund and helping the club win the DFB-Pokal in 2021. He subsequently secured a £73m move to Manchester United. Bellingham followed a similar path in 2020, leaving boyhood club Birmingham City to join Dortmund. The midfielder quickly developed into one of the most sought-after players in world football before joining Real Madrid for an initial £88.5m in 2023. Speaking on Thursday's Euro Leagues podcast - which will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live at 21:00 BST - before Friday's Bundesliga match with Eintracht Frankfurt, Moore revealed that the success of his fellow Englishmen had inspired him to turn down offers from England in favour of a move to Germany. "I think over the years you've seen so many young players come out here, and there are some really good examples of world-class players like Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho doing really well," Moore said. "It's a really attractive place to play football, especially for a young attacker. It's a great platform to play, and that was sold to me by the people at the club and the manager. "They've put real trust in me, and the amount of game time I've played so quickly in my Koln career has been nice. It's been good to have that trust from all the staff and people at the club. "I'm already happy with my decision. Now I can really kick on, make my own story and build my own path in German football." Although Moore only turned 19 in August, he is no stranger to stepping outside his comfort zone. Last season, he made 47 appearances in all competitions, including the Champions League qualifying rounds, during a loan spell at Scottish Premiership side Rangers. It was the first time Moore had left his boyhood club Tottenham, and he rose to the challenge, scoring six goals and providing two assists in 28 Scottish Premiership appearances. The experience offered a different test to the one he now faces in Germany, but it provided valuable exposure to the demands of first-team football. "I had options to stay in England and maybe stay somewhere a little more comfortable," Moore said. "But the conversations came down to me picking a team, and I wanted to take myself a little bit out of my comfort zone to test myself in a big league and one of the top five leagues. "When we were speaking, everyone said they thought it would be a really good experience for me to experience this type of football. "It's really intense, and there are some great teams in the league. "For me, it was a no-brainer. I made the decision early that I wanted to come out here, and now I just need to push on." It has been a whirlwind few weeks for Moore since moving to Koln on transfer deadline day. Having now found an apartment close to fellow England youth internationals Reigan Heskey and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, who are also on loan at the club, the 19-year-old has turned his attention to learning German. Moore had his first lesson this week and, at his mother's request, is hoping to expand his vocabulary in the language over the coming weeks. "I wasn't the brightest at school, so I might take a while to learn the language," Moore joked. "But I think the more hours I put in, I'll pick it up at some point anyway. "At least I'll be able to learn a few words so I can order my food or something in German." Fortunately for the attacker, he will not have to rely solely on his German when Koln travel to face Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich next month. The fixture will also give him the chance to reunite with Harry Kane, who was still at Tottenham when Moore was first invited to train with the senior squad during the 2021-22 season. "He's been a massive idol of mine since I was really young. When I first went up to train with the first team under Antonio Conte, Harry Kane was over there, and I'd seen some finishing that I'd never seen anything like again," Moore recalled. "It will be a great experience to play against him and share a pitch with him. I'm really looking forward to it." Almost a decade after Sancho's move to the Bundesliga, it is Kane now flying the flag for England in Germany's top flight. Moore, meanwhile, is hoping to leave the Allianz Arena with a special memento of his own. "I'll try my best to get my hands on that shirt," Moore said. "I saw him on the last international break, actually, and went and said hello. If I see him on the next one, if we're in the same place, I'm definitely going to say to him, 'Give me that shirt when we next play.' "Hopefully, I'll be coming back to Koln with that in my hand." Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Vitor Matos says Eom Ji-sung has the strength to move on from the alleged racial abuse which marred Swansea City's win at Millwall. The Metropolitan Police is investigating after Swansea's staff reported alleged abuse aimed at South Korea international Eom at The Den on Tuesday. Matos says winger Eom, 24, "feels supported" at Swansea on the back of an incident that is "sad for everyone, either in football or in society". "You have a behaviour that unfortunately nowadays still happens in the world we live in," the Swansea head coach said. "We have a tool to fight against that. We used that [by reporting the allegation]; now he's moving on. "As an adult, he understands that he needs to speak about these situations. You complain about the situation, and you have the strength as well to move on - that's how we should handle it." Matos reiterated that officials at Millwall "did really well to follow the protocol" after the alleged abuse was reported in the second half of Swansea's 1-0 win, prompting a delay of around seven minutes before the game resumed. When asked what he expects to come next, Matos added: "That all ways of investigating what happened come to a conclusion and then with that conclusion, hopefully everyone can be aware of that, and Millwall decide to do what they need to do in this kind of situation." The incident at Millwall came just over a fortnight after it emerged that the Football Association of Ireland was investigating whether Swansea forward Adam Idah was racially abused by Israel supporters during a Nations League fixture with the Republic of Ireland last month. Matos has spoken to Idah, 25, about what occurred during a match played in Serbia. "It's a different situation because in the end the referee [in that game] said he didn't hear anything so they could not stop the game," Matos said. "I was not there, so it's hard for me to judge the situation. "I was there [at Millwall], I was quite clear the fourth [official] followed the protocol, which I think is the right thing to do in these situations, and now there's an investigation." Eom, an unused substitute at Millwall, has been in fine form for Swansea this season, while he also helped South Korea win the Asian Games earlier this month. He will be in contention to feature when Swansea, who are top of the Championship, host third-placed West Ham United on Saturday (15:00 BST). Neil criticised over racial abuse stoppage comments Latest Swansea City news, analysis and fan views Listen to the latest Swansea City interviews, news and discussion on BBC Sounds

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A bizarre online rumour, a red card and a four-match suspension have put Vinicius Jr back into the spotlight at a crucial point in Real Madrid's season. First, over the summer, came the uncertainty over his future at Real Madrid, with contract talks stalling for more than 18 months and Arsenal reportedly among the clubs interested in the Brazilian. Those negotiations eventually reached a resolution, with Vinicius securing an improved deal, but the headlines have continued. Then came bizarre conspiracy theories claiming he had been replaced by a body double, following cosmetic surgery he had done after the World Cup. Now, following his dismissal against Villarreal at the weekend, a four-match suspension means he is ruled out of El Clasico against Barcelona a week on Sunday. But beyond the social media frenzy and disciplinary controversy, bigger questions are emerging about Vinicius' form, his on-pitch behaviour and his relationship with the Real Madrid supporters. A key moment was when Jose Mourinho opted to start the Brazilian on the bench for the match against Villarreal, their first since the international break. It was the first time since last April that Vinicius had not started a match for the club, with Mourinho handing Yan Diomande a place in the starting XI instead. "What makes me sad is the fact he really wants to be at his absolute best," Mourinho said beforehand. "He wants to be the Vini who wins games, scores goals and makes the difference. Seeing the pain he feels himself makes me sad. He is an extraordinary guy who works very hard to get back to his absolute best. "He deserves better treatment, as he has made Madrid very happy on many occasions." Vinicius has been continually booed and whistled by some Real Madrid supporters this season, along with other players. After entering the game in the 52nd minute he looked to have made an immediate impact, scoring what Real believed to be their second goal after a Jude Bellingham assist. Vinicius raced towards the supporters, kissing the badge before being engulfed by his team-mates, who piled on top of him in celebration. Even Mourinho sprinted across the pitch to join the celebrations, which felt like a public display of his faith in the Brazilian. The referee was sent to the monitor, which showed Vinicius pulling Nathan Saliba's hair while the ball was in play and neither player was challenging for it. The referee overturned the goal and instead showed Vinicius a straight red card. The Brazilian's reaction to the decision then became a further disciplinary issue, with team-mates having to intervene as he continued to protest. Mourinho refused to speak to press afterwards. News travelled around the media room that Mourinho felt if he did speak, he would say something that would get him suspended. Two hours before Real faced Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday, the Spanish football federation's disciplinary committee handed Vinicius a four-match suspension. Two matches were imposed for the hair-pulling incident, with a further two for his protests following the dismissal. The punishment rules him out of league fixtures against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia. Most significantly, it means he will miss El Clasico, unless an appeal changes the outcome. Mourinho expressed his frustration at the timing of the announcement, questioning why it came just two hours before their Champions League match. "Do you think it's normal for a player who is going to play an important match for Spanish football to know two hours before that he is sanctioned with four games? You don't need to answer me," Mourinho said. "It's not normal. Couldn't they do it now or tomorrow morning? We found out on the bus and almost arrived at the stadium." The Portuguese coach described the decision as showing "little respect" for the club and suggested the timing was intentional, particularly with Madrid facing a demanding schedule in the coming days. Following Real Madrid's 4-3 victory over Roma, Vinicius also addressed the incident, having apologised to his team and fans on social media. "I don't remember any player ever getting a four-game suspension," Vinicius said. "I tried to get past the player in front of me and ended up grabbing his hair. "That's it – a red card. That's why I was so surprised, but I didn't say a single bad word to the referee to deserve a four-game suspension." The forward also acknowledged his frustration at being substituted in the 59th minute against Roma when Real Madrid were trailing 3-1. They then scored three late goals to stage a remarkable comeback win. "It's normal for me to get upset after being substituted because I always want to play every match," he said. "I'm aware of my form and how I'm playing. I'm here to help the team, and sometimes I need to come off so other players can play and change the dynamics." The Brazilian has gone six appearances for Real Madrid without scoring, with his last goal coming in August against Real Sociedad. The 26-year-old has also become the subject of bizarre conspiracy theories on social media after undergoing a cosmetic surgery procedure on his chin in July. Because of the visible differences, rumours on social media suggested Vinicius had been replaced by a body double. Meanwhile, Vinícius's personal life has also made headlines in Brazil, with his reported split from Brazilian-American television personality Virginia Fonseca dominating coverage over the weekend. The internet may continue searching for extraordinary explanations on why Vinicius has experienced a dip in form, but Real Madrid need to find answers on the pitch. The win against Roma, especially coming from two goals down, was described by Vinicius as a "huge boost for the team". He assured fans that he will be back to his best form as soon as possible. "I know I'm not at my best right now, but I've had worse moments, and even when people doubted me, I've always stood up for this club," he said. "That's why I renewed for six more years. The good streak will return, and the goals will come back. I'm sure of that. I have no doubt. I'm here to help the team." 'Shameless' - Mourinho critical of Vinicius Jr ban timing Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Hit for six when two men down, Lincoln City were outplayed and outgunned by West Ham on a night that head coach Tom Shaw described as a "brutal experience" for the Imps. And yet Shaw, who shares his role as Lincoln boss with Chris Cohen, defiantly says they will not be defined by the horror defeat inflicted on them by a Hammers side who were playing Premier League football just five months ago. Two red cards in the opening 23 minutes, with Tom Hamer's dismissal after 160 seconds followed by Conor McGrandles' sending-off, had Lincoln – a club with one of the smallest budgets in the Championship – facing what Shaw called an "impossible situation" against the favourites for promotion. It took until the 45th minute for Konstantinos Mavropanos to break the deadlock, but a five-goal avalanche followed after the break with substitute Edvin Austbo, Jarrod Bowen and Pablo netting before fit-again Czech Republic international Tomas Soucek came off the bench to complete the 6-0 win with a late double. "In a weird way I think our boys will come out a little bit stronger from going to the dark moments and the dark place they've had to when being two men down against that quality," Shaw told BBC Sport. "In the unique situation, I don't think it affects stuff and it won't define anything." West Ham were the first of the teams relegated from the Premier League last season to face Lincoln, a club back in the second tier for the first time after a 65-year absence. With the Hammers having won the Europa Conference League by beating Italian side Fiorentina a little over three years earlier, their trip to the 11,000-capacity ProAmpac Stadium was seen as a "monster fixture" for Lincoln, a club who were playing non-league football less than a decade ago. And it is more than just a couple of divisions that have separated these two sides in years gone by. West Ham, whose 62,500-seat London Stadium home was built and used for the 2012 Olympic Games, took a squad that cost more than £200m to Lincolnshire on Wednesday. Starting for the Hammers was Max Kilman, whose £40m transfer from Wolves to West Ham in 2024 cost more than four times the total amount Lincoln have paid for players in their 142-year existence. When asked if the heavy defeat delivered by the Hammers, and the financial gulf between the two clubs, underlined how much of an "underdog" Lincoln are on their return to the second tier, Shaw replied by saying it was a tag they were eager to shake off – even if it is a fitting label. "The outside world perhaps label it as that at times, but we don't want to be that any more. We don't want to feel like that any more," he said. "We want to take the game to some of these teams and that is our intention. "We've had some really good results and we've competed in the majority of these games. So we've got to grow now. We've got to grow as a team, as a staff, as a football club. We've got to grow into the Championship properly and people can label us as the underdogs, but we won't be playing like it." West Ham score six in rout of nine-man Lincoln Lincoln City 0-6 West Ham United - fans' verdicts The defeat was Lincoln's heaviest of the season and extended their losing run to three matches. Before that, however, back-to-back victories on the road at Preston North End and Bristol City had the Imps in eighth spot. Shaw, who defended both Hamer and McGrandles by saying "they'll never let us down" despite each being shown a straight red card, lamented that his side "didn't get a proper game" against the Hammers. "We go away thinking we could have had a good old ding-dong with them, but once the red cards happen it's a very, very tough situation," Shaw said. Pre-match, post-match and topical Imps content Subscribe and listen for everything you love about Lincoln

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President Gianni Infantino has apologised to the Fifa Council for his World Cup sell-off plan - but has been told he is not fit to lead unless he releases all of the documents and answers key questions. The Fifa Council met in Zurich on Thursday for the first time since Infantino's secret Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal emerged. Under FFE, which Infantino scrapped within days, a portion of the commercial rights of football's world governing body would have been given to a private investment firm. In a three-and-a-half-hour meeting, Infantino also faced questions about US striker Folarin Balogun's suspended red-card ban, the Fifa Peace Prize and funding for national associations. "One of the disappointing things is that we didn't get answers to anything that we had specifically requested - for example getting the papers from FFE," Hewitt said. "I asked the question 'why not?' - and we were asked to submit those questions in writing. "I think the man has to answer those questions and if he doesn't answer those questions now, he's not fit to be Fifa president - and that was what was shared in the meeting." Hewitt added: "I've repeatedly asked for the papers to be shared. I haven't received them and still in spite of the request today, I haven't received them. "It is the rationale for why FFE happened in the way that it did, the Balogun case, the Peace Prize. "The responses to those questions, which I still don't have answers to, will determine from my personal point of view whether or not Gianni is the right candidate. "That will be the point at which or not we can say that any individual that was involved in FFE can or cannot be trusted because until we see what actually happened it's very difficult to say behaviour needs or not to change." Hewitt acknowledged there had been "some contrition" in Infantino's apology. "Then there were no holds barred in terms of what we felt about what had happened," she added. "What he really apologised for was not bringing it to the Council. If you regret it that deeply, share it with us." It has prepared criminal legal proceedings against Infantino and lodged a claim in three US courts for all documents related to FFE to be released. Hewitt hopes Infantino now freely releases the documents so the Council can understand what happened. "Those papers coming to Council are a crucial next part of us feeling comfortable as to what, if any, criminal proceedings need to take place," Hewitt said. Asked if there was any change in stance from Uefa about Infantino, she added: "From my position, nothing has shifted. I've no new information that makes me feel any differently, other than we do have a president who is apologetic." Could Wenger really take on Infantino and run for Fifa presidency? Infantino says he is open to talks over Fifa reform Infantino will stand for re-election as Fifa president for a third time in March, and as yet no credible candidate has emerged to challenge the Swiss-Italian. Former Tottenham and Switzerland defender Ramon Vega has said he intends to run, but it appears unlikely he will get the five letters of support from member associations let alone be a serious contender. Senior figures within European football have told BBC Sport they want former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to run. But it is unclear whether Wenger would be prepared to give up his position as Fifa's global head of football development for a fight against his boss that he may not win. Hewitt accepted Uefa - and Infantino's other opponents around the world - must find someone to put their name on the ballot before the deadline of 18 November. She also indicated it would be important for the president to have a rival after being re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023. "I think it's important to Gianni to have somebody who stands with a different manifesto, and good for Fifa to have that choice," Hewitt added. "We're in a democracy here. We must remember there are 211 associations and it's really important that all 211 associations have the opportunity to vote according to how they feel. "This is somebody first and foremost who puts football first right at the heart of everything that they do. Secondly, it has to be somebody who unites the world. Thirdly, somebody who needs to have the courage to bring about reforms." Hewitt said Balogun avoiding a suspension after being sent off at the World Cup was one of the "biggest issues". Balogun's ban was suspended after US President Donald Trump asked for the decision to be reviewed. BBC Sport understands a proposal was put to the Council to amend the Fifa disciplinary code, which would prevent a repeat. Under that, regulations would be amended to state the disciplinary committee could not suspend an automatic one-match ban for a red card. "What happened in July did not serve football... whether it's the Balogun case, the FFE case... the reputation of football was put under serious threat," said Hewitt. "Once behaviour starts to influence what happens on the pitch, then I think it's a dark day for football and a number of people said that in the room." The Fifa Peace Prize - awarded to President Trump - was also raised, but Hewitt said Infantino's behaviour with "other maybe celebrities and dignitaries" was also discussed. "When he puts other dignitaries in front of his 211 associations, then he's lost what football is about," Hewitt said. "And that was said by a number of people, not just the Europeans." How the Peace Prize came to be awarded will be the subject of an investigation by the Fifa social committee. "They will consider, first of all, how the Peace Prize came about, whether it should have come about, whether it should have been awarded in the way that it was, who made that decision and whether or not it should be taken out or whether it should be reformed," Hewitt said. "That committee will report back to Council in December and then Council will make the decision based on its recommendation. "Today there was a watershed moment where it's very clear in order to move forward, which we all want to do, we have to understand the past." Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast

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Arsenal midfielder Mariona Caldentey is expected to miss about two months of Women's Super League action because of a hamstring injury. The Spain international suffered the injury during Arsenal's 4-2 defeat at Manchester City on 4 October. Caldentey has been a key player for Arsenal since joining from Barcelona two years ago and was the 2024-25 WSL Player of the Year. "Mariona [Caldentey] went off against Manchester City and didn't go away with Spain. It's a hamstring injury so she will be out for a while," said Arsenal manager Renee Slegers. "It's a bigger hamstring injury. The estimation right now is between eight to 10 weeks. We'll see. "We're re-scanning and the healing process looks good. Of course, we're hoping for less [time out], but it's a bigger hamstring injury." Caldentey's absence is a blow to Arsenal who return to WSL action on Saturday when they host Birmingham City (12:45 BST). The Gunners have had a disappointing start to their campaign, winning just one of their opening five WSL matches, leading to questions over Slegers' position. They sit 10th in the table and will be without injured England forward Chloe Kelly and German summer signing Selina Cerci on Saturday. "Selina had surgery on her knee. She had been struggling and it got worse, so we had to intervene unfortunately," said Slegers. "She's out as well for a while. It's one of the reasons why it was harder for Selina to get into the team because she missed some parts of pre-season. "She has been available and has trained the majority of sessions, but of course it affects the player when you're managing something. "Germany did a scan and the best solution going forward was to clean [the knee] up with surgery." The making of Spain and Arsenal's humble magician Find interviews and extra content on the BBC Women's Football Weekly feed

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Getafe have made a formal offer to sign former Manchester United attacker Jadon Sancho. The 26-year-old winger is out of contract after his deal expired in the summer and has been exploring a number of options. An agreement is said to be complicated but Spanish side Getafe, who are 14th in La Liga and playing in the Europa Conference League this season, are keen to find a resolution. Sancho, who cost United £73m when he joined from Borussia Dortmund in 2021, is said to favour a move away from England but remains open to all options. Earlier this week ex-Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal, who had been without a club since his deal at the Bernabeu expired in June, joined Getafe on a free transfer. The 34-year-old Spain right-back, who won 27 trophies with Madrid, including six Champions League titles, has signed a contract until June 2027. Sancho spent last season on loan at Aston Villa, making 39 appearances as Unai Emery's team achieved Champions League qualification and Europa League success, coming on as a late substitute in the victory over Freiburg, his third European final in three seasons. He also had loan spells with Dortmund and Chelsea during his five years at United. His move to Stamford Bridge in the 2024-25 campaign included an obligation to buy. However, Chelsea paid a £5m penalty to send Sancho back to Old Trafford after he made 41 appearances. Sancho has been posting training videos to his Instagram, external account while he continues his search for a new team, including his visit to non-league side Flixton, who had to clarify that the former England international was not on trail with the North West Counties club. 'Jadon was not on trial with the club' - Flixton dismiss Sancho talk

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It's not a sight you often, if ever, see from a top-flight footballer. Keeping calm under pressure comes with the job description, but there's a sense it's what's expected from fans and team-mates. So when Everton striker Thierno Barry posted a video last month, external of him breaking down during a private training session, it sparked conversation around showing emotion in an industry where revealing any sort of vulnerability can be a risk. BBC Newsbeat met the French footballer at the club's training ground to find out why he chose to show the raw moment - and how he's using it to drive forward. "I was really scared about posting that. "And I said: 'No, I just need to show myself'," says Barry of the video released on his YouTube channel last month. "Last season I showed a version of me [that wasn't] me and [people] need to learn about me." In the video, the 23-year-old is seen getting frustrated and upset about his performance. He then leaves the private training session, where he begins to cry, as his team works to reassure him. The next day, Barry is seen reflecting on how it felt positive to let go. "Sometimes it feels good to just lose it," he says to the camera. Barry reveals he sat on the video for three weeks before choosing to release it. "It's the first time I cried in front of my friends, they always see me as a strong [person]," he says. "I'm happy that I can show that moment. They know I care about the club and I care about playing good on the pitch." A Premier League move from Villarreal for £27m at the age of 22 was always going to be a jump for the Lyon-born player - and fans expect a lot from new signings. Everton ended up re-posting the clip from his vlog on their own feed, external, with the caption "emotional resilience". Comments streamed in underneath urging the player to keep his head up. He acknowledges the support he has received from fans and his club. "The people around me helped a lot because, like I said, I'm really hard with myself and the people with me try to help me to be more positive." And for Barry, any disapproval wouldn't reach the levels of his own inner-critic. "I'm always harder with myself, and I just need to be sometimes more calm," he says. "Like, you're a crying guy, and I just want to show that I'm strong to show that, because I'm not scared to show that. "That's why I posted this video." He also spoke about the early days of adjusting to a new club and home, something he describes as "really difficult". "It's hard because it's the hardest league in the world. New league, a new language." Last season he made 41 appearances and scored just eight goals. This season he's already scored six. "People can say I miss a lot of chances, but I also create a lot of chances," he says in his defence. But he also knows the cost of not capitalising on chances. "Every fan counts on you to score goals, so imagine you didn't score, you know, for three months like me [last season] it's difficult." After Barry scored against Hull last weekend, he posted on his Instagram that he was "still learning". "This season is more easy to switch because I know I have time on the pitch," he says. "And I think when I miss that chance, seven minutes later, I have another opportunity to score. That's a real pressure. "When I come to the ball, in my head, it's like time stops." Barry is also finding time to celebrate on the pitch, even rolling back the years by bringing back the dab and hip-swinging celebrations. As for his second year with the club, the 6ft 5in player says he wants to keep focus. Does he see a call up to the French team any time soon? "I didn't think a lot about that because for me it's like really far, you know? "I just do my job, if something happens, something happens." Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

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Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane says the club are "like a circus" after defender Lisandro Martinez's attack on the hierarchy. Martinez's comments came after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, which stretched their winless streak to five games. The Argentina international criticised United for not strengthening the squad in the summer following qualification for the Champions League, saying he expected more investment in the United squad and "more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]". Speaking on The Overlap, external podcast, Keane said Martinez's statement reflected the overall state of the club. "There will be some fans saying it's great and some saying you're letting the team down, especially from a player who hasn't been at his best, when the team is struggling," Keane said. "I think as a reflection of the club, it's obviously chaos there, like a bit of a circus. "When you're going through a difficult spell like United are, the issue I have with certain players saying things is you always have to start with the man in the mirror before you start coming out with all these comments." Martinez said on social media on Wednesday that he spoke out of "anger and frustration". Outburst came out of 'anger and frustration' - Martinez Wilcox the target again in another damaging Man Utd fallout Man Utd defender Martinez issues scathing attack on board The 28-year-old's contract expires at the end of the season and United have the option to extend it by another year. "I don't think it will be a big falling-out - because I think we have question marks over this dressing room anyway," Keane said. "I don't think there's enough characters - enough men in there - but I don't see him as a senior player at Manchester United. I see him as a centre-half who's making lots of mistakes." Former United defender Gary Neville compared the incident to comments made by Wayne Rooney when they were team-mates in 2010. "I've got a problem with this from a player's perspective," said Neville. "That is a direct attack on the players you are playing with. "So if I were Harry Maguire or Bruno Fernandes, or any other senior player, I would be absolutely fuming with him because you're basically saying we shouldn't be here and we should be bringing more players in." United travel to Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Hibernian have banned their Block Seven supporter group from their next three matches after pictures showed some visiting fans clashing with police and stewards at Saturday's Scottish Premiership game away to Dundee United. The club statement comes on the day when police also revealed that 10 more people had been charged in connection with disorder following Hibs' match away to St Johnstone last month. Hibs said on Monday that they would "take appropriate action as necessary" after they "establish the full circumstances" surrounding the latest scenes that unfolded in the away end at Tannadice as their side suffered defeat in head coach Marink Reedijk's first match in charge. "Following initial investigations, Hibernian Football Club can confirm that the Block Seven supporter group has been banned from our next three fixtures - against Falkirk and Celtic at Easter Road and away to St Mirren," their latest statement reads. Ten more charged after St Johnstone v Hibernian match disorder "The club has discussed this sanction with the SPFL [Scottish Professional Football League]. This three-match sanction follows a one-match ban issued as a result of an incident occurring earlier this season. "The club's investigation into the events at Tannadice is ongoing and we will continue to work with supporters, Police Scotland and Dundee United FC. "Further action, including additional sanctions on an individual and/or collective basis, will be considered once that process is complete. "The safety and well-being of every supporter who attends our matches is a top priority for the football club. No-one should feel unsafe or uncomfortable when supporting Hibernian and behaviour that puts others at risk is unacceptable. "We thank our supporters for their continued backing and want to reassure them that the club will continue to address unacceptable conduct so as to not undermine the experience of the wider Hibs support." Visit our Hibs page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views

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Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has revealed he rejected the chance to sign for Barcelona when he left the European champions in 1984. The Scotland midfielder joined Italian club Sampdoria for £650,000 just weeks after lifting Liverpool's fourth European Cup against Roma. Souness was then one of the world's finest midfielders - he finished sixth in that year's Ballon d'Or - so his decision to swap Anfield for Genoa, rather than one of Europe's heavyweights, was a surprise. "I had to leave Liverpool because my wife at the time was about to inherit money and she had to spend three years out of the country," Souness told BBC Scotland's The Saturday Show. "I could have got around it somehow, but I decided to go because at that time Italy was the place to go. All the best players in the world were going there. "I got offered a two-year deal at Barcelona, which I turned down because I needed three and, even because of my age, go to the third year. "There were a couple of other clubs in Italy interested, but Sampdoria had been bought by Paolo Mantovani and he was building a young team so wanted an experienced player. That's how I ended up there." After rejecting Barcelona - who had just appointed Terry Venables as manager and allowed Diego Maradona to leave for Napoli - Souness won an Italian Cup in two seasons at Sampdoria before joining Rangers as player-manager in 1986. He revolutionised the Ibrox club in a trophy-laden five-year spell in charge and has advised the club on managerial appointments in recent years. However, he says he would never become Rangers manager again - in the same way as Martin O'Neill has returned to Celtic - because his abrasive style of management does not work with today's players. "No, Martin's a very different personality to me. He's a nice guy," added the 73-year-old. "I started in management at 33 and football was a very different workplace then. My style of management, maybe my style of telling people too readily what they don't want to hear, it wouldn't work today. "Football certainly needs a bit of that, but would it accept it? I doubt it." Souness, whose new book 'My Rangers: How I changed Scottish football for ever' was released this week, believes his old club have the psychological edge over Celtic following the two Old Firm victories by Derek McInnes' side in September. Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 in the League Cup at Ibrox then won 1-0 at Celtic Park in the Premiership a week later and sit two points behind the champions in the table. "They've now psychologically planted a seed in Celtic's heads that they are bigger, stronger and better than them in the last two games," he said. "Celtic have left Ibrox after losing 3-0 in the first game thinking, 'how did that happen?' It didn't flatter Rangers. "So, seven days later, if you're a Celtic supporter, player or on the staff you're thinking 'that won't happen again'. Well, it did happen again, and on your pitch - and the 1-0 did not flatter Rangers. "So they've now got a psychological edge over Celtic, but that could be short-lived if Rangers were to lose a game against a team they're expected to beat. "They've given themselves a platform. They're in a wonderful position, but they have to understand that, every team you play, it's the opposition's cup final. So Derek's got to remind them of that and they'll look like they've started to believe. "Derek has been a player there and knows the Scottish scene. So he was well suited and a great choice. He did get off to a slow start, but in the last couple of games they've turned an enormous corner."

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S.C.U Torreense's league fixtures this season include meetings with the 'B' teams of Sporting, Benfica and Porto. But the Portuguese second division club, located 35 miles north of Lisbon, are in this season's Europa League after stunning giants Sporting to win the Taca de Portugal in May. "This is a landmark moment," Andre Sabino, the club's director of football and CEO tells BBC Sport. Torreense have never played a European home match before but will end that run on Thursday when they host Sunderland (17:45 BST). Having already visited Norwegian side Lillestrom on their European debut, Torreense have further games against Ferencvaros, Ararat-Armenia, Celtic, Real Sociedad, Lech Poznan and Olympiacos before the end of January. Managed by Luis Tralhao, whose brother Joao is currently serving as an assistant to Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, the club are hoping to do more than just make up the numbers. "It is something extraordinary for Torreense. These are clubs with huge histories, strong identities and enormous European experience," Sabino adds. "To be able to share the same competition and compete against them is a privilege. But we don't want to simply participate. We want to compete." Second-tier Beira-Mar played in the 1999-2000 Uefa Cup, although they were a top-flight team at the time of qualifying. But Torreense are the first team from the second division to qualify by winning the Taca de Portugal. "The Portuguese Cup has been played since 1938 in its current model and it was the first time that a second division team won it," Portuguese football journalist and ex-Benfica goalkeeper Jose Delgado tells BBC Sport. "You can imagine when they could defeat a giant club like Sporting in the final, it was quite a surprise and for the city, it's something very, very special." After beating Lillestrom, they have already exceeded the expectations of some. "I thought that Torreense could go through the Europa League with no points," adds Delgado. "The truth is that they already have three points and that is something. "It's something that I don't think will ever happen again in Portuguese football. But Torreense has this." With Portugal ranked outside Uefa's top five leagues, every club in the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League has a responsibility to perform well to earn their nation important ranking points. "For Portuguese football, everybody [thought it] was nice that a club like Torreense won the cup, but also we had some concerns," says Delgado. "The first game everybody thought that Torreense had no chance against Lillestrom and they won. It was quite a good surprise. But it's like a fairytale for Torreense because they are a small club." As their 2,431-capacity home at Estadio Manuel Marques does not pass Uefa's stadium criteria, they will instead face Sunderland almost 47 miles away at the Municipal Stadium in Leiria. "Obviously, it is not ideal," Sabino explains. "Playing at home should mean playing in your own stadium, in front of your own supporters and in the environment that represents your club. "But at the same time, we understand the logistical and regulatory requirements involved in European competition. "We have to look at the bigger picture. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to compete in the Europa League, and we will make Leiria feel as much like home as possible." The additional travel has not deterred supporters from watching their beloved club face big European names. "Our supporters and our people are what make a home, regardless of the kilometers. The response from our supporters has been fantastic," Sabino adds. "They understand that this is a historic moment for Torreense and they want to experience it with us. "We hope to see Leiria filled with Torreense colours and feel that support from the first minute." Torreense missed out on a return to Portugal's top division for the first time since 1991-92 after a 2-0 two-legged defeat by Casa Pia in a promotion/relegation play-off in May. But qualification for the Europa League's league phase guarantees a financial injection of at least 5m euros (£4.2m). Every positive result and extra round reached adds more to that pot. "For a club like Torreense, it is a very significant amount," Sabino explains. "It gives us an opportunity to strengthen the club in several areas and to accelerate projects that otherwise would naturally take much longer. "However, we have to be very responsible. Success can create opportunities, but it also creates responsibilities. "Our objective is not simply to spend more because we have more resources. We want to invest intelligently, strengthen the structure of the club and create conditions for sustainable growth." Torreense have already made 19 new signings from across the globe. As well as turning to Portugal's top flight for five new recruits, other signings have come from France, Greece, Spain, Serbia, Portugal, Brazil, Denmark, Morocco and Germany. The majority from outside those countries' top leagues. Of their 32-man senior squad, just four are Portuguese. "It has been a very different challenge," Sabino explains. "European football changes the perception of the club and naturally makes Torreense more attractive to certain players, but it also increases expectations." Last season, Torreense missed out on automatic promotion on goal difference before losing the play-off. This term they have won only one of their opening seven league games. With the overwhelming majority of football fans in Portugal supporting one of the 'big three' of Porto, Benfica and Sporting - Delgado says sometimes home fans even cheer for their more illustrious opponents when they visit. "Right now I think that there is a great sympathy about Torreense, but I don't think they will get many more [fans] because of this presence," he adds. "Maybe this presence will make some investors look at them in a different way and put some money in the club." Time to rise? Ranking European football's sleeping giants The 'Kane-esque' striker Spurs may regret letting go

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Despite the backlash caused by his failed plan to sell commercial stakes in the World Cup to private investors, Fifa president Gianni Infantino looks increasingly likely to be re-elected unopposed for a fourth and final term next year. Senior figures within European football have told BBC Sport they want former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to run as a surprise candidate. But would the man who has been the governing body's head of global development since 2019 really challenge his own boss? And what lies behind the support he has? On Thursday the Fifa Council will meet for the first time since the emergence of Infantino's Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme plunged the organisation into crisis, leading to calls from the game's leaders in Europe, North America and Asia for him to step down. A defiant Infantino will come face to face with some of his fiercest critics at what could be a spicy gathering in Zurich. But the meeting will also bring into sharp focus the failure so far to identify a unifying figure with the worldwide appeal to challenge Infantino. While potential rivals like Victor Montagliani, the president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), and Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin have let it be known they are not contenders, Infantino has been busy touring the world, shoring up his position. The growing expectation is that such is the support he retains in his power base of Africa, South America and Oceania, he will be returned, despite only carrying the backing of roughly half of Fifa's 211 members. To date, the only person to declare their intention to run is the former Tottenham defender Ramon Vega, although few rate his chances. Here in Zurich, there is no indication that he is plotting a bid. On Wednesday evening Wenger joined Infantino and other Fifa Council members for dinner in a Zurich restaurant. As a senior member of Fifa's management team, he will also be present at Thursday's meeting. When BBC Sport asked about his intentions via Fifa, no comment was provided. Meanwhile, those close to the 76 year-old, who left Arsenal in 2018 after 22 years in which he became the most successful manager in the club's history, will not be drawn on whether he is interested. One told BBC Sport he would be "an ideal candidate, but he is his own man". A high-ranking Fifa official insisted he had no idea if Wenger was tempted. But what is clear is that he does have supporters, who believe he commands the level of respect beyond Europe that would be essential if the Uefa-led rebellion against Infantino is to have any chance of success. "He's a brilliant football man who truly understands football development because he's been running it," claimed one senior official at a European national association. "People don't see him as just a European. He's very respected in Asia, for instance, from his time working in Japan. A lot of people are saying he'd be the ideal candidate. With him, it's not about money, status or ego. He genuinely loves the game. "He's made a difficult role work and understands Fifa, and that's why he'd be a really good candidate. "That said, he's in a really difficult position." That was highlighted amid the fallout over FFE, when Wenger, who has traditionally been loyal to Infantino, distanced himself from the aborted plot. "I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports," Wenger said in a statement at the time. "The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent Fifa that serves our game with commitment, transparency and integrity." Some may have expected Wenger to resign over the controversy, given his thinly veiled criticism of Infantino, the way he had been kept in the dark, and the condemnation of the plot from stakeholders across the game. But he has carried on in a role in which he oversees youth development at academies in 60 countries, as well as youth competitions around the world. He is also a technical adviser to rule-making body International Football Association Board (Ifab). Wenger has caused controversy at times in his Fifa role, notably for proposals such as biennial World Cups, and the idea of a 'daylight' offside law. But he also has a global profile, including in Africa, where Infantino recently received a major re-election boost when receiving the backing of all 54 member national associations after promising an increase in funding. Known as a champion of African players when in charge at Arsenal, Wenger's support of an expanded 48-team World Cup in order to drive development in countries beyond the game's traditional powers has been well received in the continent. Indeed, at the weekend Wenger was in Cape Verde at a Confederation of African Football conference, telling the delegates: "We want to see an African team win the World Cup, and the numbers show that it is feasible." Such sentiments would do him no harm if he was to stand for president. BBC Sport has been told that a large number of Fifa's staff also want Wenger to run, and believe he could change the organisation's image. Others, however, are more sceptical. One well-connected figure in Fifa circles told BBC Sport that he would be "amazed if Wenger would rise up against the man who appointed him in the first place. Arsene has had some fairly 'out there' ideas. In terms of the administration of the game and the relationships on a political level, in the kind of places you're going to need to corral and command power, I'm not sure he's the man for that." Another senior European official said: "He has the stature, but I'm not sure he smacks of the future. Maybe he could do a single term to introduce reforms. He is very respected in the game and has done a good job of the development programmes, but whether he'd split from Gianni, I just don't know." If Wenger does want to run, he has until 18 November to declare his candidacy, and would need to be nominated by at least five national associations. As a manager, Wenger is remembered as a legendary figure who changed English football with his forward-thinking approach to tactics and nutrition. Could he attempt a shake-up of a different kind at Fifa? It is an intriguing prospect. Will anyone stop re-election of Infantino as Fifa president? Infantino says he is open to talks over Fifa reform