AHEAD OF THE GAME: Chelsea are set to ask for exemptions from Premier League’s spending rules

Chelsea plan to seek exemptions from the Premier League’s spending rules when they submit their accounts at the end of the season.

They argue that they were unable to receive income for three months last year after the previous owner, Roman Abramovich, was sanctioned by the government.

Under Premier League rules, clubs can lose £105m in any three-year period, and Chelsea’s unusual circumstances last season put them at risk of default. Chelsea posted losses of £153.4m in their most recent accounts for the year ending 2021 but, along with other top-tier clubs, were given allocations by the Premier League due to the impact of the pandemic on their finances.

It is unclear how the Premier League will respond to Chelsea’s request. Complying with UEFA’s financial fair play rules may be a bigger challenge, having been placed on its so-called watch list of clubs in danger of breaking the rules.

LIONESS FIGHTING PROTEST BAN

FIFA will set itself on another collision course with the world’s best players by banning protests and symbols like the rainbow armband from this year’s Women’s World Cup.

The governing body has fallen out with top players by striking a sponsorship deal with the tourism authority of Saudi Arabia, a country with a history of oppressing women’s rights and where homosexuality is illegal.

The business deal with Visit Saudi has the potential to upstage the tournament in Australia and New Zealand in a repeat of the controversy that marred the World Cup in Qatar last year, with the outrage amplified by the significant percentage of gay players involved.

The tournament’s poster girl, Chelsea’s Australian striker Sam Kerr, is gay, as are many of Sarina Wiegman’s England squad.

The England players are not happy with the deal with Saudi Arabia and will speak to the FA when they meet for the Arnold Clark Cup next week to discuss how to respond. As co-hosts, the Australian and New Zealand soccer federations have already expressed their disapproval and asked FIFA for clarification on the deal. The FA have yet to comment.

THE POLITICAL TRICK OF TOTTENHAM

Tottenham’s argument with the South African tourism board in its bid to secure a controversial manga sponsorship deal with the government-funded body included the shocking claim that 35 British MPs are fans of Antonio Conte’s team.

Tottenham Labor MP David Lammy and Chatham and Aylesford Conservative MP Tracey Crouch are known Spurs fans, but the identity of some of the others is a mystery to many in Westminster.

However, Tottenham’s claim to have the support of more than five per cent of the House of Commons appears to have paid off, as SA Tourism has agreed to pay the club £42.5m on a three-year contract. .

FA CONSENT IN SELECTED STADIUMS FOR WOMEN’S INTERNATIONALS

The FA was not impressed by the venues chosen for England’s Arnold Clark Cup matches later this month, in which the Lionesses will look to defend their title against South Korea, Italy and Belgium in Milton Keynes, Coventry and Bristol, respectively.

The stadiums were selected by the organizers of the Pitch International tournament, who were unable to satisfy the FA’s request that at least one of England’s three games in the round-robin competition take place in London.

Pitch is also responsible for booking teams for the tournament, the quality of which has dropped since last year, when Germany, Spain and Canada were England’s opponents. Ticket sales have been modest to date, unlike those for England’s friendly against Brazil at Wembley in March, which are run by the FA and have already sold out.