FA chief fears openly gay players would suffer ‘significant abuse’, Mourinho in jibe at press and Liverpool after bore draw and truly bizarre goalkeeping incident in Egypt

1. FA chief Greg Clarke has told a House of Commons Select Committee meeting that he would be amazed if there wasn’t a single homosexual player in the Premier League. Clarke said he felt that players would suffer ‘significant abuse’ if they came out, despite it not being unprecedented in professional football.

2. After seeing his Manchester United team held to a stalemate by Liverpool, Jose Mourinho is sure to have angered the Anfield faithful by commenting that their club “aren’t the last wonder of the world that the media like to say they are”.

3. Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock is outraged that allegations that he forced Crystal Palace players to pay him in order to play them in certain games during his time as Eagles manager have been brought up again by MPs. Jason Puncheon was fined by the FA for making the allegations on social media in 2014.

4. American businessman Frank McCourt has bought French Ligue 1 club Marseille for £40m and has promised to invest £180m in the club over the next four years. McCourt said “Today a new chapter opens in the history of Olympique de Marseille”.

5. Surrey village team Mertsham have been handed a home tie against Football League opposition in the form of Oxford United as reward for qualifying for the First Round of the FA Cup for the first time in Isthmian League club’s history.

6. Before arriving in England, Manchester City striker Nolito would eat cake, drink fizzy pop and then train. However, the Spanish international soon realized the error of his ways after speaking to his Barcelona B coach Luis Enrique (LeBuzz).

7. Amidst continuing rumours about a move from Chelsea to AC Milan, Cesc Fabregas’ wife saw fit to categorically deny her husband is set to leave Stamford Bridge in a series of tweets (Metro).

8. For all of the hype and build up for “Red Monday” which broadcasters had promised would have drama, suspense and spectacle not to be missed, a cat running on to the pitch at Anfield was more entertaining than the bore draw played out by Liverpool and Manchester United (Standard).

9. There have been plenty of songs about football but Phil Collins and Genesis’ ode to Match of the Day has to be heard to be believed (YouTube).

10. And finally…We’ve brought you some bizarre incidents in the past but this one takes some beating. During an Egyptian Premier League game a goalkeeper makes a save with his hands, blatantly outside his area, yet the referee doesn’t book him. Stranger still, none of the opposing players appeal (Mirror).

By Chris Horricks (@chrishorricks31).