Manchester City appeal, while their chairman sat down with a British minister

An independent commission has found Manchester City guilty on 114 of 115 charges of financial breaches between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons: sham commercial contracts, inaccurate accounts and breaches of Premier League and UEFA spending rules. On Thursday evening, a day before the deadline, the club lodged a "comprehensive appeal", claiming the verdict is full of "clear material errors". The punishment has yet to be decided, and the rules allow sanctions ranging from a fine to a points deduction or even expulsion. Meanwhile Bloomberg revealed that chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak sat in Downing Street on 14 September, 11 days before the verdict, with Britain's business secretary - formally as head of Abu Dhabi's sovereign fund Mubadala. Nobody is claiming the case was discussed, but Emirati officials have already warned that the severity of the punishment could affect future investment in Britain. How separate are those two hats really, when they sit on the same head?

England in Croatia in front of empty stands - except for the kids

Croatia are paying for their fans' behaviour at last year's match against France, so today's Nations League clash with England is being played behind closed doors. Only local children and a small number of England fans will be let in. Thomas Tuchel is warning his players not to relax: "This is not pre-season, this is a key Nations League match." England have won the last three meetings, and Tuchel is considering resting Harry Kane and playing Jude Bellingham up front - Bellingham scored against Croatia at the 2026 World Cup. The punishment is meant for the fans, but it's Slaven Bilić's players who feel it. Has an empty stand in the Balkans ever taught anyone to behave?

Barcelona knocked on Gvardiol's door, the Croatian signed until 2031

According to Spain's Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona seriously wanted Joško Gvardiol this summer - a centre back who can also play left back, physically strong and composed on the ball. The Croatian had no desire to leave and in July signed a new contract with Manchester City until 2031. City signed him from Leipzig in 2023 for £77.6 million, and under new manager Enzo Maresca he has started all five Premier League games this season, with three direct goal contributions. Barcelona then tried for Inter's Alessandro Bastoni, again without success. The irony is hard to miss: the club that has just been found guilty of financial breaches is a place stars don't want to leave.

Macedonia waiting for their first goal in almost a year, the Scots are already in Skopje

Tonight at 20:45 at the Toše Proeski Arena, Macedonia host Scotland in round three of the Nations League, bottom of the group with no points and a goal difference of 0:5 after defeats to Switzerland in Skopje and Slovenia in Ljubljana. The national team hasn't scored in almost a year. Head coach Goce Sedloski is taking the blows himself - "Let the criticism be aimed at me, these lads deserve support" - and is announcing two or three changes to the line-up. Striker Bojan Miovski is even more direct: "We know we're in a crisis," he says, calling for a full stadium. So far, though, fewer tickets have been sold than for Switzerland, while 3,200 fans are expected from Scotland - they are already gathering around the Irish pub on the Vardar quay - and their captain Andy Robertson is set to win his 100th cap. Who will feel like the home side tonight?

Zenica says goodbye to Džeko, and VAR took away his last goal

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sweden drew 1:1 in the Nations League, but at Bilino Polje the result mattered least. Edin Džeko played his last match for the national team and almost signed off with a goal - he found the net in the first half, but VAR ruled it out for a foul in the build-up. In the 60th minute Viktor Gyökeres put Sweden ahead, and soon afterwards Džeko left the pitch through a guard of honour formed by both teams, while drones in the sky spelled out "Thanks, captain!". The equaliser came in the 80th minute, when Kerim Alajbegović's cross fooled everyone, including the Swedish goalkeeper. How many Balkan legends have been given a send-off like that while they're still playing?