60 years ago England won the World Cup for the only time. This is about what happened to the 11 gold medals awarded that day. But more than that, it’s about hardship, dementia, loss, inheritance tax — and the struggle (even now) to honour England’s heroes nytimes.com/athletic/7478229…

With the FIFA Presidential election six months away, and the embattled Gianni Infantino seeking to hang on for a final term, The Athletic wrote to all 211 federations to ask about their voting intentions. The results paint an uncertain picture, with Infantino facing a complicated and precarious path to reelection. @PJBuckingham on the kingmakers who will decide on FIFA’s future leader. 🔗 nyti.ms/3T9VB2j

This is all about Ireland and the country’s history, its footballers, and their space in a messed up world. From Debrecen. nytimes.com/athletic/7636549…

Being in the press box for Sergio Aguero’s iconic title-winning goal in 2012 felt like witnessing the beginning of a new era in Premier League history. Now that era appears tainted. Manchester City being found guilty of 114 of 115 charges might be a victory for the Premier League, but it is one that will come at a cost that is hard to measure 📝 @OliverKay nyti.ms/4hMmqmu

Thomas Tuchel needed a performance from his players to dispel the World Cup hangover. Against Spain they delivered. Yes, it was high-risk and yes, there were mistakes. But for periods of this game England had the World Cup-winners on the ropes. They had Wembley rocking and England fans believing again. 📝 @JackPittBrooke nyti.ms/4ABTK77

The story of the Manchester City charges can be traced back to Rui Pinto, the Portuguese whistleblower who gained access to millions of private documents, including information about City’s finances. He is a divisive figure. To some a moral crusader, to others no more than a criminal. But either way, his actions have proved consequential. 📝 @jacklang 🔗 nyti.ms/4AHvRLB

"Of course. We can do what we want.” That's the line, in the hacked emails published by Der Spiegel in 2018, that sums up the sense of entitlement that fuelled Manchester City's cheating under this ownership. In the past, yes, you could do what you want, spend what you like. That was no longer sustainable in an era of clubs being bought by oligarchs, sovereign wealth funds and politicians with the wealth of a nation behind them. There are things I deeply dislike about FFP/PSR/SCR, but this #MCFC ownership model, among others, made financial regulation necessary. And then, as anyone who has read the material could have concluded even before the Premier League case began, they behaved like the rules shouldn't apply to them. Personally I struggle with the Lance Armstrong talk. There is a huge difference between a) a cyclist pumping himself full of performance-enhancing drugs as part of what USADA called “the most sophisticated, professionalised and successful doping program that sport has ever seen”, and b) breaches of financial regulations. Yes there are parallels — financial doping, as Arsene Wenger called it — but there are considerable differences too. This desperation to portray #MCFC players, managers and staff (even supporters) as cheats? Not for me. But the damage to City's reputation is enormous. And the Premier League must now accept that a huge chunk of its recent history will be tainted and overshadowed by the findings of its regulatory commission. The question of sanctions — and then, possibly, compensation claims — will be complicated and fiercely divisive. Turbulence lies ahead for the Premier League as well as for Manchester City. So much of what has happened in the Premier League since the early 2010s is now tainted. What we don't yet know is how the damage done might shape the future nytimes.com/athletic/7631415…

The potential punishments are outlined in rule W.51 of the Premier League’s handbook, with a range of potential options for the panel to consider if City are found to have broken the rules. Sanctions range from a reprimand and fines to points deductions — and even expulsion from the Premier League. Any points deduction could be applied when the decision is made or retrospectively, raising the prospect of City being stripped of titles. nyti.ms/4AvcSn8

🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City found guilty on virtually all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations. #MCFC expected to appeal against verdict issued by independent commission. Sanctions undecided, process ongoing @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/7049721…

EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City have been found guilty on almost all of the charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations. The sanctions have not been decided, with all possibilities remaining on the table, and City are expected to appeal. City have been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges, according to sources briefed on the matter who spoke anonymously as they were not authorised to do so publicly. More from @David_Ornstein 🔗 nyti.ms/4AvcSn8

Piece on the potential lifting of the booze ban at men’s football. Ultimately feels like fixing a problem that doesn’t really exist, or at least a problem there’s no pressing need to fix, with the potential cons in mind. nytimes.com/athletic/7625823…

In part one of an exclusive interview, Steve Parish (@CEO4TAG) talks to @MattWoosie about: 🚨 Remaining on 'high alert' after a summer of change 🇫🇷 "When you consider everything Pierre Sage’s had to cope with, he’s done really well" 🅱️ Transfer strategy, and the praise heaped on Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth 🦅 Raising the roof for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr 🔗 nyti.ms/4yX9qAm

Liam Rosenior was back in the headlines this week after riling fans and players from his former team Strasbourg. More importantly, he's making a positive impression at Paris FC — just as he did at Strasbourg (while he was there) and Hull. For all the rush to ridicule him at Chelsea, he's one of English football's few real coaching success stories in recent years. Yes he was out of depth at Chelsea, but he's hardly alone in that respect. (And that applies to owners, execs and players as well as coaches) nytimes.com/athletic/7623053…

From LinkedIn quotes to tactical notes, Liam Rosenior garnered mockery at Chelsea. But in France, where he hit the headlines this weekend for his celebrations when Paris FC beat his old club Strasbourg, his persona seems to resonate with players. Learning, growing and leaving his comfort zone. Whatever the tendency in some quarters to laugh at him, English football could do with producing a few more like Rosenior. 📝 @OliverKay 🔗 nyti.ms/47eJQL7

Exclusive Gianni Infantino accused by House Democrats of “woeful” level of co-operation after failing to turn over docs or schedule appearance with House Judiciary Committee after request for scrutiny of his/FIFA’s relationship with Trump administration nytimes.com/athletic/7622770…

“I always wanted to break records and (make sure) that people remembered my name. “But I have to be honest, I didn’t expect to be the top scorer of all time at the World Cup, at 27." @DTAthletic's exclusive interview with Kylian Mbappe. ▪️ Making World Cup history ▪️ Asking for a ‘Zidane’ haircut ▪️ Mid-air transfer talks with Liverpool ▪️ Why this could be his year for Ballon d’Or ▪️ The lure of being a ‘ghost’ ▪️Why he will never be silenced 🔗 nyti.ms/4cWI1pw

👔 Has Maresca been the pick of the new managers? ⚪️ How worried should Tottenham be right now? ✍️ Can anyone rival Vuskovic as best summer signing? 🔴 Should defeat make us reconsider Arsenal's prospects? With five games gone, our writers review the early weeks of the Premier League season. 🔗 nyti.ms/4hkfYlh

Manchester City have won their last seven games under Enzo Maresca. Some of their performances have not convinced, labouring to victories at home against Bournemouth and Coventry City, and their 5-3 win over Sunderland was a little too chaotic for comfort. So yes, there is room for improvement, but it is also safe to say Maresca has made a highly encouraging start. And in that respect, he has proved Guardiola right. As wonderful a coach as Guardiola is, it is worth recalling what he said when he left at the end of last season. “I feel I would not have the energy required daily (in the future), every three days, to fight for the title, being in front of the players,” he said. “After 10 years, it’s good to shake, to move, different faces. It’s really good for everyone.” Manchester City won six Premier League titles under Guardiola, and so much more besides, but his final two seasons were far from his most impressive. More than £300m of midfield reinforcements helps in Manchester City’s case, but so too can a new coach who is able to bring what an illustrious predecessor no longer felt able to do. Early days, much bigger tests ahead, but so far the transition has been impressively smooth. 📝 @OliverKay 🔗 nyti.ms/4rn8Fh7