Football essentials, 2 October: City appeal, Zidane hosts Italy, Mbappé-PSG case dismissed

Three days after the verdict that found them guilty of 114 financial breaches, Manchester City have announced their appeal. Zinédine Zidane, for his part, prepares his first home match as France coach. The day in review, ahead of tonight’s Nations League programme.

City appeal and insist they are “innocent”

Found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges, Manchester City announced on Friday that they had appealed the independent commission’s decision. The club denounces “manifest and substantial errors of law” and repeats that “the club is innocent”, reports Le Monde. The Football Association can bring proceedings against the club and against individuals, but will wait for the appeal to conclude: the rules want the matter settled by the end of January. Our article details the sanctions on the table, from fines to relegation, and Etihad’s response.

France v Italy: Zidane back at the Stade de France

Sold out, with foreign broadcasters in town: Zidane’s first home match as France coach comes twenty years after the 2006 World Cup final, lost against this same Italy. L’Équipe reports a midfield of Da Cunha, Rabiot and Cherki (kick-off 19:45 UK time); Kylian Mbappé, taken off injured in Turkey last Friday, watches from Madrid. Our article revisits his 2006 final, and my match preview has the bet I am taking.

Ferran Torres leaves the Spain camp, Espí comes in

Hit on his left ankle, the PSG striker has left the Spain camp on the eve of the Czechia game, released back to his club. His replacement: Carlos Espí, the Real Madrid forward with four goals and two assists for the Under-21s against San Marino (13-0) on Thursday. Our article has the details on the ankle and PSG’s schedule.

Portugal: Proença wants Jesus and Ronaldo in one room

The federation president would like to arrange a meeting in the coming days between the coach and his former captain, and hopes for a Cristiano Ronaldo return “in the more or less near future”. Since the player walked out, the Seleção’s Instagram account has lost 1.5 million followers. Our article tells the story of the break-up.

Mbappé-PSG: harassment inquiry closed without charge

Investigating magistrates in Paris have dismissed the inquiry into PSG over allegations of moral harassment of Kylian Mbappé, AFP reported. The player, now at Real Madrid, had withdrawn his complaint in July 2025; the dismissal, issued in May for lack of sufficient evidence, has now been made public.

Negreira case: UEFA reopens the Barcelona file

UEFA has confirmed that it received the documents sent by Real Madrid and resumed its examination of the case against Barcelona in the Negreira affair. Real had announced the move back in June; Barcelona replied within the hour. The file runs to 50,000 pages, according to L’Équipe.