علق السويسري جياني إنفانتينو، رئيس الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم على أنباء استبعاد الكيان الصهيوني من مسابقات التي يشرف عليها “فيفا” سواء على صعيد الأندية أو المنتخبات.
وقدمت منظمة العفو الدولية، أمس الأربعاء، دعوة لتعليق عضوية الكيان الصهيوني في الاتحاين الدولي (فيفا) والأوروبي (يويفا) بسبب الحرب في قطاع غزة.
ووفقًا لصحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، فإنه لم تُصدر اللجنة التنفيذية للاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم أي دعوة لمعالجة هذا الحرمان المحتمل من حقوق أندية ومنتخبات الكيان الصهيوني.
اقرأ أيضًا | هل يناقش فيفا منع مشاركات منتخبات وأندية الكيان الصهيوني؟
وقال إنفانتينو في كلمته الافتتاحية حول استبعاد الكيان الصهيوني: “في الفيفا، نحن ملتزمون بجعل قوة كرة القدم لتوحيد الناس في عالم منقسم، قلوبنا مع من يعانون من النزاعات العديدة حول العالم اليوم، وأهم رسالة يمكن لكرة القدم أن تنقلها في هذا الوقت هي رسالة السلام والوحدة”.
وفقًا لصحيفة “موندو ديبورتيفو” الإسبانية، فإن رئيس الفيفا أكد أنه على تواصل مع رؤساء الاتحادات القارية بشأن هذه القضية، ولم يُناقش أي شيء بشأن احتمال استبعاد الكيان من المسابقات الدولية، خاصة بعد خطة السلام التي طرحها دونالد ترامب مؤخرًا.
وأتم: “فيفا لا يستطيع حل المشاكل الجيوسياسية لكنه يستطيع ويجب عليه تعزيز كرة القدم في جميع أنحاء العالم من خلال الاستفادة من قيمها الموحدة والتعليمية والثقافية والإنسانية”.
There has been some concern from sections of the Celtic fanbase in recent weeks about the role that Paulo Bernardo is going to play for Brendan Rodgers this season.
The Portugal U21 international has been an unused substitute in both of the club’s Scottish Premiership matches so far this term, with Reo Hatate, Callum McGregor, Benjamin Nygren, Arne Engels, and Luke McCowan all ahead of him in the pecking order.
Paulo Bernardo
Bernardo played 28 times in the league for the Hoops in the 2024/25 campaign, but only started 13 of those matches, and produced two goals and three assists, per Sofascore.
Rodgers has seemingly decided that he is his last option in the middle of the park, though, as five other central midfielders have been used ahead of him in the opening two matches.
Celtic told asking price for midfield target
It could get even worse for Bernardo before the end of the summer transfer window, as the Hoops appear to be looking at signing another player in his position.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Claret & Hugh, West Ham United central midfielder Andy Irving is a target for Celtic, as they look to further bolster their options in the coming weeks.
The report claims that the Scotland international is not going to get regular football under Graham Potter at the London Stadium, and is on an unofficial transfer list for the Hammers.
It adds, though, that the Hoops will have to pay a fee of around £3.5m to land a deal for the left-footed maestro, who they have already turned down a bid of £2.2m for this summer.
Celtic now have to decide whether or not they want to splash the cash to bring the Scottish midfielder to Parkhead before the end of the window.
Why this is bad news for Paulo Bernardo
The news of the club’s interest in Irving, and the relatively reasonable asking price, will come as bad news to Bernardo because the arrival of another midfielder would send him even further down the pecking order.
It seems unlikely that the Hoops would want to bring in another midfielder, much less one for £3.5m, if they did not plan for the player to play a key role in the side, which means that they would be signed with the view to playing instead of the Portuguese star.
This means that the arrival of Irving could leave Bernardo as the seventh choice central midfielder for the Hoops, meaning that he would not even make the starting line-up if Rodgers switched his midfield three up completely.
Appearances
31
28
Goals
5
9
Big chances missed
0
1
Big chances created
10
7
Key passes per game
1.4
1.2
Assists
6
4
As you can see in the table above, Irving played regularly in Austria in the two seasons before the 2024/25 campaign, when he only started one game for West Ham in the Premier League, as per Sofascore.
These statistics suggest that the Scottish midfielder could provide a big threat at the top end of the pitch from the middle of the park as both a scorer and a creator of goals for his side when given the chance to play week-in-week-out.
The 25-year-old, whose football journey was described as “fascinating” by reporter Barry Anderson, could be an exciting addition to the squad as a homegrown, Scottish, talent who could provide quality depth behind the starters.
However, not everyone would be delighted by his arrival at Parkhead because it could force Bernardo to consider his short-term future at Parkhead with the summer transfer window due to close at the start of next month.
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The former Benfica starlet will not want to be the seventh choice in midfield for the 2025/26 campaign, as it may see him rarely feature on the pitch, and that is why the possible signing of Irving could result in the Portuguese talent moving on from Celtic.
Manchester United have now submitted a £34 million bid to sign an “intelligent” midfielder who Ruben Amorim has worked with before, according to a new report.
Man Utd looking to sell first-team players in mini overhaul
Man United have spent big money on two proven Premier League stars this summer, and if they wish to do more business it looks as though they are going to need to sell multiple first-team players.
Scored at Old Trafford: Man Utd now battling to sign £22m-a-year striker
He knows the Premier League well…
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Marcus Rashford is so far the biggest departure out of Old Trafford, as the England international has joined Barcelona on loan with an option to buy. The Red Devils are still looking to sell Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrell Malacia and Antony.
And they could be in line to see one of those leave fairly soon, as according to Foot Mercato, Al-Nassr have submitted a bid to sign Antony. It isn’t clear how much the offer is worth from the Saudi side, but United are holding out for a fee of £52 million.
Meanwhile, it’s been reported by The Sun that United are now open to the possibility of selling defender Luke Shaw. The 30-year-old is gathering strong interest from the Saudi Pro League, and with two years left on his contract at Old Trafford United could be tempted to sell, despite the fact he featured for Amorim last season and looks to be part of his plans for the upcoming campaign.
Man Utd submit £34m bid for Hjulmand
As departures become the main talking point at Old Trafford, the Red Devils are still assessing their options for reinforcements, as they look to bolster their midfield. According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, Man United have now offered €40 million (£34 million) to sign Morten Hjulmand from Sporting.
Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres celebrates scoring their second goal with Sporting CP's MortenHjulmand
The 26-year-old is believed to have a release clause worth €80 million, but Sporting are willing to lower their demands to €50 million. Juventus are also interested in the midfielder, but they too must sell players before making a move for Hjulmand.
This has now opened the door for United, especially as Hjulmand’s entourage believes the right valuation is around the €30/40 million mark, which is roughly £26/34 million. His agents are unsurprisingly keen to land a big move, with the Sporting star worth almost double their next top client, Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard.
The Dane is well known to manager Amorim, as he worked with the player at Sporting, and this report states that the player himself would rush back to England to work with him again, but United have still got to find an agreement with the Portuguese club.
Apps
96
Goals
7
Assists
6
Hjulmand, who has been dubbed defensively “intelligent” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has been a key performer for Sporting in the last two seasons, as they have won Liga Portugal twice. The Denmark international is under contract until 2028, but United will hope the lure of working with Amorim will help them secure this transfer, as the likes of Arsenal, Barcelona, and Tottenham Hotspur also hold an interest.
The 19-year-old made a superb century against the Indians in Canberra to further his case
AAP04-Dec-2024Teen sensation Sam Konstas says he is up for the challenge of playing Test cricket this summer, believing he is in the right headspace to debut for Australia.Konstas catapulted back into the public spotlight on Sunday when he smashed a 90-ball century against a Test-level Indian attack for the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.The runs showed the 19-year-old is clearly a step above, with only one other batsman in the PM’s XI top or middle order passing five runs.Related
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Konstas has been the talk of the summer since October, when he became the youngest player to score twin tons in a Sheffield Shield match since Ricky Ponting.His runs dried up somewhat after that, before he hit an unbeaten 73 for Australia A against India A at the MCG last month. Nathan McSweeney ultimately won the race to start the Test summer as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner, but Australia’s side is far from set in stone.Konstas will face his next toughest test in the Shield this week, against a Western Australian attack expected to feature Lance Morris, Joel Paris and Corey Rocchiccioli.Teenage debutants are rare for Australia, with Ashton Agar the last male to do so in 2013. Asked if he felt he needed more time scoring runs in domestic cricket rather than getting an immediate call up, Konstas said it was a case of the latter.”I really want the chance, I love being challenged and hopefully that can happen soon,” Konstas said. “I feel like I’m in a good headspace. It’s been the best few months I’ve had, and hopefully one day I can represent my country.”For me, it’s focusing about Friday and then trying to score runs to put myself forward. It would be a huge honour to represent my country one day.”Konstas has already earned plenty of plaudits on his rise this summer. His mentor Shane Watson, potential Sydney Thunder opening partner David Warner and Steven Smith are among those to congratulate him on his runs.But blocking out the hype has been easy for Konstas. The Under-19 World Cup winner spent most of his teens without social media, only signing up to it in recent months in order to promote sponsors.He is also a keen meditator before games, and moves quickly to the wicket in a statement of intent at the start of his innings.”I don’t get too fazed about [the hype],” Konstas said. “It’s about being in the present and being the best version of myself, and then hopefully let the result take care of itself.”Likewise, Konstas said he had not been too down about missing out on Test selection for the start of the summer.”I feel like it’s all part of the journey,” he said. “Unfortunately I didn’t get the runs that I would have liked. But I’ve been reflecting on how I could have done better and challenging how they got me out and tactics they used.”
Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has undergone surgery after a bicycle crash, leaving him a major doubt for their Champions League opener.
Enrique suffered broken collarbone in cycling accidentFaces race against time for Champions League openerRafel Pol steps in to lead PSG trainingFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , the PSG coach has undergone successful surgery after suffering a broken collarbone in a cycling accident. The 55-year-old Spaniard, who guided the Parisians to their first-ever Champions League crown as part of a 2024-25 treble, crashed during a bike ride in Spain and was taken to hospital. The Ligue 1 giants confirmed the news and offered full support to their manager, but his recovery timeline remains uncertain. He is now considered a serious doubt for PSG’s Ligue 1 clash with Lens on Sunday and their Champions League opener against Atalanta on September 17.
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The setback arrives at a critical moment for PSG, who are under pressure to build on last season’s historic treble. Les Parisiens have won all three matches in Ligue 1 this season and are preparing for the Champions League to get underway, but the absence of their coach on the touchline could still prove disruptive. Assistant coach Rafel Pol has already stepped in to lead training and will front the press conference ahead of the Lens clash.
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The Asturian coach is widely regarded as one of Europe’s elite tacticians, having previously managed Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Since joining PSG in 2023, he has reshaped the squad and delivered unprecedented success with a Ligue 1 title, domestic cup victories, and their long-awaited Champions League triumph in 2025.
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Enrique’s recovery will continue in Spain, with PSG monitoring his progress closely. While there is no official return date, the club are preparing for several games under interim leadership if necessary. Pol will remain in charge until the coach is declared fit to return, with Enrique’s presence for the Atalanta clash still highly doubtful.
Sufiyan Muqeem spun a web around Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, registering the best figures by a Pakistan bowler in T20Is as his team crushed Zimbabwe by ten wickets to seal the T20I series.Zimbabwe were skittled for 57, losing their ten wickets over a 20-run period as they fell to their lowest total in T20I cricket. In response, Pakistan coasted to the total with 14.3 overs to spare, marking the biggest win by balls remaining between two Full Members in men’s T20I cricket.
Zimbabwe start well, before collapsing
Difficult to believe in hindsight, but Zimbabwe got off to a flying start. Brian Bennett and Tadiwanashe Marumani took the attack to Jahandad Khan and Abrar Ahmed, blasting the ball through the infield with superb timing and power on what looked a cracking batting surface – when Sikandar Raza won the toss, he had no hesitation batting first.Even Haris Rauf’s introduction didn’t stanch the bleeding, Bennett showing his deft skills and picking up two boundaries behind point on the off side. By the end of the fourth over, Zimbabwe sat pretty at 37 for 0.But what happened after that was as dramatic as it was ignominious for Zimbabwe.Abbas Afridi had Marumani slash one straight to cover-point, and once that wicket-maiden was complete, Rauf removed Bennett off the first ball of the next over. Zimbabwe needed to rebuild, but never came close to achieving a second wind. Seven balls later came the dagger blow as one snaked back in from Afridi and made a mess of Raza’s stumps.ESPNcricinfo Ltd
When Salman Agha brought himself on, he had Dion Myers plumb in front off just his fourth delivery before Muqeem took over. Using the conventional wristspinner and the wrong’un, he had Zimbabwe’s lower-middle order on a string. Ryan Burl was fooled by a googly that struck his pad in front of middle, while Tashinga Musekiwa had no answer to another wrong’un that knocked back his stumps for a golden duck. Clive Madande survived the hat-trick ball, but Muqeem returned to remove another two in his following over, and eventually finished off the innings when Madande top-edged him. He finished with figures of 2.4-0-3-5.
Easy chase, easily done by Pakistan
There was nothing complicated about Pakistan’s chase, and the openers knew it.Raza bowled the first over but Omair Yousuf took 11 off it to set the tone.Saim Ayub got into the act with a lovely late adjustment that saw him carve Richard Ngarava over the slips for a boundary. Blessing Muzarabani’s poor series continued with both Ayub and Yousuf sending him to the fence, the latter scything him over deep point for six with a shot that oozed confidence.Ayub wasn’t to be outdone, and there was time enough for his signature shot: a whip off Trevor Gwandu off the pads behind square leg for six. It was Muzarabani’s errant line once more that allowed Ayub to pick up two more boundaries that finished the game off.It was telling of how little Zimbabwe had tested Pakistan that, on a blazing hot day in Bulawayo, when the openers took their helmets off and shook hands, there was barely a bead of sweat on their foreheads.
Celtic are reportedly closing in on making their first addition to their ranks on the flanks with the signing of Belgian star Michel-Ange Balikwisha this week.
Sky Sports reports that a fee of £5m has been agreed between the two clubs and that a medical will take place later this week before the move is rubber-stamped and made official.
Michel-Ange Balikwisha in action for Royal Antwerp.
Brendan Rodgers made it clear earlier this month that he wants the board to bolster his attack with more signings before the window slams shut at the start of next month.
The Hoops boss said: “The squad will hopefully look again different come the end of the window. I think it’s very clear. We need to improve in the front end of the pitch. The attacking department has always, and always will be, the strengths of my teams. We’ve lost important players in that area, and we need to replace players in that area.”
Nicolas Kuhn left to join Como earlier this summer and Jota is due to be out until the turn of the year with an ACL injury, though, which means that Celtic may need more signings than just Balikwisha.
One other option they have been linked with in the attacking midfield positions is Go Ahead Eagles forward Jakob Breum, who could bolster their options out wide.
What Jakob Breum could bring to Celtic
The Denmark U21 international would be an interesting signing for the Hoops, if they are still keen on him, because he is not a typical out-and-out wide player.
Per Transfermarkt, 23 of his 29 starts in the 2024/25 campaign came as an attacking midfielder, with the other six on the left wing. This suggests that his best role in a Rodgers system may be as one of the central midfielders ahead of Callum McGregor, rather than as an out-and-out winger.
Benjamin Nygren
Benjamin Nygren, for example, played wide and centrally during his time in Denmark, but has mainly operated as a central midfielder, tasked with scoring and creating goals in central areas, since his move to Parkhead.
Therefore, Breum could arrive at Parkhead as a player who is more likely to impact games as one of the three in midfield than as an out-and-out winger as a replacement for Daizen Maeda, James Forrest, or Hyun-jun Yang.
Appearances
26
xG
6.27
Goals
10
Big chances created
6
Key passes per game
1.6
Assists
5
As you can see in the table above, the Danish attacker performed well as a number ten for Go Ahead Eagles as an efficient finisher who also offered decent creativity at times.
However, Celtic seem to need more of an out-and-out right winger, with Balikwisha coming in on the left, than a number ten option to play over Reo Hatate or Nygren.
It should not be a surprise, therefore, to learn that the Scottish Premiership giants are reportedly looking to bring a natural right winger to the club.
Celtic set to bid for Dutch star
According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Celtic are preparing to submit an offer to sign Feyenoord forward Calvin Stengs before the end of the summer transfer window.
Speaking on Football Insider’s podcast, the reporter said: “Stengs is a player that has emerged on Celtic’s radar – he had a difficult season for Feyenoord, a few injury problems, so that may be a concern for Celtic. He’s into the final two years of his contract with Feyenoord, so could be available for a cut-price fee this summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
“Celtic are looking at that, seeing there could be real potential to land a former Dutch international for a relatively small fee with a bid imminent.”
O’Rourke has not revealed how much it would take to snap the Feyenoord star up, but it was reported earlier this month that a fee of around £5m could be enough to get a deal done.
It now remains to be seen whether or not this “imminent” bid from the Hoops will be enough to convince the Dutch side to part ways with the left-footed star before the deadline.
Why Celtic should sign Calvin Stengs
The Premiership champions should do everything in their power to ensure that their bid is enough to secure a deal for Stengs because he could be a much-needed addition to the team.
As aforementioned, Celtic do not need a player of Breum’s profile as much as they need a right winger, due to the current make-up of the squad, which is why the Feyenoord ace could be an even better signing for the Hoops this summer.
The 26-year-old dynamo, who scored against Celtic in the Champions League in 2023, could come in as the best option on the right flank ahead of Forrest and Yang, whilst Breum would just be one of a number of decent options in the attacking midfield roles.
Stengs missed 35 games through injury in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt, which meant that he was unable to showcase the best of his abilities at the top end of the park last season.
However, the right-sided attacker’s form in the Eredivisie during the 2023/24 campaign, when he was fit for the majority of the season, suggests that he has the quality to be a terrific signing for Celtic.
Appearances
29
xG
5.22
Goals
6
Big chances created
13
xA
8.59
Key passes per game
2.5
Assists
12
As you can see in the table above, Stengs was directly involved in 18 goals, more than Breum’s 15 in the Eredivisie last term, in 29 games for Feyenoord.
The Netherlands international, who was described as a “flamboyant” winger by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is a winger who can provide a huge threat as a creator whilst also finishing chances at an efficient rate.
Celtic manager BrendanRodgersbefore the match
Yang and Forrest have scored six goals between them in the Premiership since the start of last season, which speaks to their lack of output in the final third, and that is why it is important for the Hoops to bring in a right-sided attacker before the window closes.
Stengs appears to be a player who suits what Celtic need, positionally and quality-wise, and could be a much better signing than Breum, due to his superior numbers in the Eredivisie and his better fit within the current squad.
Nygren repeat: Celtic agree personal terms to sign "creative" forward
Celtic are reportedly closing in on a deal to sign a star who could be a Benjamin Nygren repeat.
Ashlyn Castro is back in cheerleader mode at Santiago Bernabeu, with a cropped Real Madrid jersey being donned while heading to an iconic venue to support boyfriend Jude Bellingham. The England international midfielder has returned to action ahead of schedule after making a surprisingly quick recovery from surgery on a long-standing shoulder problem.
Surgery to fix problematic shoulder
Bellingham revealed at the FIFA Club World Cup, having been forced to wear uncomfortable strapping for several months, that he was heading under the knife. A successful operation took place on the back of that tournament in the United States.
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Initially ruled out for several months
It was expected that the 22-year-old playmaker would be sidelined for several months. It was initially suggested that he could be out until November, with that recovery plan being revised slightly to October.
Bellingham back for the Blancos
Bellingham was back on the field when Real faced Espanyol on September 20. He was given a late cameo outing in that contest, with no risks being taken on his fitness. The Blancos are, however, delighted to have another ‘Galactico’ at their disposal once more.
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Castro supporting from the stands
Castro joined Bellingham in the stands as he was forced to watch on from afar, but she is now able to cheer her man on once more. The American model and influencer sported a custom Real Madrid third kit when paying another visit to a VIP box at the Bernabeu.
Tom O’Connell walked out later after the allocated three minutes were up and was given out as a result
Mohammad Isam01-Jan-2025Chittagong Kings captain Mohammad Mithun praised his opposite number Mehidy Hasan Miraz after the latter called back Tom O’Connell, who had been dismissed timed out during their BPL match against Khulna Tigers in Dhaka on Tuesday.O’Connell, the Australian legspinner, walked out to bat after the allocated three minutes were up during Chittagong’s chase of 204. Mehidy, the fielding captain, went to the umpire along with several of his team-mates to ask about the delay.The umpires, Raveendra Wimalasiri and Tanvir Ahmed, adjudged O’Connell to be out. As O’Connell started to trudge back to the dugout, Mehidy called him back.Related
Mithun accepted that the dismissal was legitimate, and said that O’Connell had been taken by surprise as the wickets fell quickly, and he didn’t have enough time to get ready despite batting at No. 7.”I personally feel Miraz did a fantastic job,” Mithun said. “He showed that he has a big heart. It is within the rules for the fielding side to appeal. Credit to Miraz for letting [O’Connell] return to the crease.”The batter shouldn’t be late to the crease, particularly in a T20. He was a little late in getting ready. Probably he was a little relaxed when he was getting ready, maybe he didn’t realise that we would lose wickets so quickly. That’s what made him late. Nothing else.”O’Connell’s turn to bat came when Pakistani batter Haider Ali fell for a second-ball duck. Chittagong were 56 for 5 in the seventh over at that stage. After the timed-out drama, however, O’Connell himself fell for a golden duck, caught at short midwicket where Mehidy took the simple catch off Mohammad Nawaz’s bowling.Khulna went on to beat Chittagong by 37 runs.
Daryl Mitchell has been promoted to become chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) after filling the role on an interim basis for the last six months.Mitchell, who scored 39 first-class hundreds and captained Worcestershire, spent four years as PCA chair from 2017-21 before becoming director of cricket operations and then chief operating officer. He has served as interim chief executive since Rob Lynch stepped down to join MCC as director of cricket and operations, and has now been appointed on a permanent basis after the role was advertised publicly before Christmas.The appointment comes at a time when the PCA is looking to mend its relationship with the ECB after a testing period, which prompted the players’ union to suggest the sense of “genuine collaboration” between the two parties had evaporated late last year. Mitchell said in a statement he will try to build “closer working relationships” with the ECB and counties in his new role.Related
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The PCA were particularly frustrated at what they described as “a severe lack of communication and consultation” in two policy areas late last year: the new stance on No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) and the split of extra money in the Hundred’s salary pot. The men’s county schedule has been another long-standing pressure point between the two parties.”I am delighted to have been entrusted by the PCA players’ committee and the board to lead the association as the chief executive,” Mitchell said. “Representing players has been a key part of my life since I became a PCA rep in 2009.”Evolution is the key to the future of our members and the PCA and forging even stronger relations with players is crucial to the future of our game. Being a cricketer in today’s world provides a wealth of opportunity, albeit with challenges and greater complexities than ever before for our members to navigate, both collectively and as individuals.”Mitchell will be working with a new chair, with James Harris’ second term set to run out in February, while his previous role is now vacant. Harris was part of the interview panel for the chief executive hiring process, along with PCA president Eoin Morgan, and said Mitchell was “the standout candidate from a very strong field”.