The goalkeeper was included in the preliminary squad for Mali but according to Sports News Africa will not join up with his national side when they compete in the upcoming tournament. 

Samassa has excelled at the Ligue 2 side since arriving in the summer as a free agent, and will reportedly reject his international duties in favour of remaining with Laval while the competition takes place. 

In a quotation provided by France Bleu, the president of Laval, Laurent Lairy, referred to a ‘moral agreement’ that the goalkeeper made when he joined the club, where it is alleged that Samassa assured the club during negotiations that he would refuse to compete in the tournament. 

What could be described as a creative solution to a lengthy absence for Samassa will likely not work as intended. Refusing an international call-up without the agreement of the national federation could lead to a ban and a sanction imposed on the player as it contravenes FIFA regulations. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland 

Vincent Labrune, the head of the Ligue Football Professionnel (LFP) and Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-Germain and head of the European Club Association (ECA) have already vocalised their disapproval of prospective Super League proposals. 

“The LFP unequivocally supports UEFA-organised competitions. Nothing can replace the legitimacy, credibility and prestige of European competitions, such as those organised for over 60 years,” said Labrune. 

Monaco have joined the LFP and PSG in rejecting a potential Super League. “Following the decision of the European Court of Justice, AS Monaco would like to express its full commitment to the principle of sporting merit which governs UEFA competitions and the French championship,” began the statement.

“AS Monaco will continue to work with the Ligue 1 clubs within the Ligue de Football Professionnel, and with other clubs through the ECA, in order to participate progressively and collectively in the development of football,” the Principality club added. 

Monaco are the second French club to reject the Super League project. AS Roma, Manchester City, Manchester United, Sevilla, Valencia, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have also all opposed plans in the wake of the CJEU’s ruling on Thursday. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The CJEU ruled on Thursday that blocking the creation of a Super League would go against EU laws, which opens the door for the creation of the league, which was thwarted back in 2021. The Super League could, hypothetically, return, and plans are being pushed by Real Madrid and Barcelona in particular. 

However, in France, there is already strong opposition to a European Super League. In a press release, the Ligue Football Professionnel (LFP) opposed the formation of a Super League, whilst also pledging their allegiance to UEFA-organised competitions. 

Historically, PSG have been against the formation of a Super League. This stance has now been reiterated by PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, who is also the head of the European Club Association (ECA).

“PSG totally and completely rejects any plans for a so-called Super League, which has been the case from day one, and always will be,” began Al-Khelaifi in a statement. 

“As a proud European institution, PSG supports the principles of the European sporting model, the values of competition and inclusion, and works with all recognised stakeholders of European football – especially with supporters and players – who are at the heart of football,” he added.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The CJEU ruled on Thursday that blocking the creation of a Super League would go against EU laws, which opens the door for the creation of the league, which was thwarted back in 2021. The Super League could, hypothetically, return, and plans are being pushed by Real Madrid and Barcelona in particular. 

However, the LFP have announced their opposition to the plan. “The LFP unequivocally supports UEFA-organised competitions. Nothing can replace the legitimacy, credibility and prestige of European competitions, such as those organised for over 60 years,” began Labrune in the LFP’s statement. 

“We are very attached to the principles of sporting merit that should govern our sport: be that in terms of qualification competitions for European tournaments, but also in a more general sense, in terms of promotion and relegation.”

“If football is today the biggest sport on the planet, it is because it has managed to create these basic bases for competition, which are clear and transparent. Nothing should go against this intangible principle, which is aimed at giving everyone the right to ‘dream’ and to be able to reach the summit of the game,” concluded Labrune. 

PSG and Monaco voice opposition

Paris Saint-Germain have been vocal opponents of Super League plans in the past with their president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the head of the European Club Association (ECA). Their stance has been reaffirmed. “PSG totally and completely rejects any plans for a so-called Super League, which has been the case from day one, and always will be,” began Al-Khelaifi in a statement. 

“As a proud European institution, PSG supports the principles of the European sporting model, the values of competition and inclusion, and works with all recognised stakeholders of European football – especially with supporters and players – who are at the heart of football,” he added.

AS Monaco followed suit in rejecting a prospective Super League: “Following the decision of the European Court of Justice, AS Monaco would like to express its full commitment to the principle of sporting merit which governs UEFA competitions and the French championship,” began the statement.

“AS Monaco will continue to work with the Ligue 1 clubs within the Ligue de Football Professionnel, and with other clubs through the ECA, in order to participate progressively and collectively in the development of football,” the Principality club added. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

This decision resolves the conflict between the proposed Super League and the international football administrations by determining that the ban on players and clubs participating in these tournaments is illegal. 

The Super League was established in 2021 when twelve clubs across England, Italy, and Spain announced their plans to create what would be a semi-closed competition. 

However, the backlash from fans, teams, leagues, and administrative bodies led to the withdrawal of nine of the original twelve clubs leaving only Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Juventus. This was followed in 2023 by Juventus also withdrawing from the competition.

‘We have won the right to compete’

The project spearheaded in recent years by the two presidents of the remaining clubs, Florentino Pérez of Madrid and Joan Laporta of Barcelona, struck an important victory for their ambitions to establish this tournament. 

The promoter of the proposed competition, A22 Sports Management, welcomed the decision in a statement provided by Bernd Reichart: ‘We have won the right to compete. The UEFA monopoly is over. Football is free. Clubs are now free from the threat of sanctions and free to determine their own futures.’ 

This was soon followed by the announcement that there would be a newly proposed men’s and women’s midweek European competition to contest with the current model provided by UEFA, which as the Independent reports, would apparently be an open competition where participation will be based on sporting merit.

The future of football is free.

We are proposing a state-of-the-art streaming platform to allow fans to watch every game for free. #BetterForFootball

Discover more about Unify: pic.twitter.com/QXyU3pKhwF

— A22 Sports (@A22Sports) December 21, 2023

What does this mean for France?

The implications for France and Ligue 1, and the wider questions over how French teams will respond to the renewed and restructured Super League are yet to be seen, but the early indicators are not in its favour. 

In a transcription provided by RMC, the President of Olympique de Marseille, reacted to the ruling by denying that he wanted the club to join the new tournament. He instead suggested there was a pressing ‘need for dialogue in European football […] having three or four competitions organised by so many different organisers is a disaster.‘ 

The President of PSG, Nasser al-Khelaïfi, has not yet publicly commented on the announcement today, but a press release from the European Club Association (an organisation which he chairs) appeared to reaffirm his position against the Super League: we ‘stand more united than ever against the attempts by a few individuals pursuing personal agendas to undermine the very foundations and basic principles of European football.’

PSG had previously rejected proposals in 2021 to become a founding member of the Super League, while last year, al-Khelaïfi referred to the continued plans to develop the tournament as an attempt ‘to divide football.’

GFFN | Nick Hartland

PSG decided to play for a draw in the dying stages of their final Champions League group stage match against Dortmund.

PSG were reacting to scores elsewhere when they took their foot off the accelerator. After going behind to a Karim Adeyemi goal, Warren Zaïre-Emery equalised for Les Parisiens. However, the Ligue 1 club’s progression was on a knife-edge with Newcastle United drawing against AC Milan. A goal for the Premier League side would have dumped PSG out of the competition, and as a result, Luis Enrique’s side pushed for a winner.

‘It was one of the best decisions of my career’ – Luis Enrique

However, with AC Milan getting a late goal, PSG could have been dumped out of the competition if they lost against Dortmund. The Serie A side would have advanced at their expense. As a result, Luis Enrique told his players to “take fewer risks”. This instruction did not sit well with Mbappé, who wanted to go for the win that would see them finish top of the group, and therefore receive an easier draw in the Round of 16. 

Mbappé was visibly frustrated on the pitch, and according to Canal Plus, he made a swift return to the team bus after the match, sitting alone without his teammates for many minutes.  Luis Enrique has defended his decision to play for the draw, even if it was a decision that frustrated his talisman.

“I understand why Mbappé is annoyed, but it is me who gives the orders. It was one of the best decisions of my career […] it was a big decision, but not one taken solely by me, but also with my staff, even if it was me who had the final say,” said Luis Enrique in a press conference, transcribed by Get French Football News.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

At 17 years and 119 days, Ilenikhena beat the record set 30 minutes earlier by fellow wonderkid Warren Zaïre-Emery (17), who had scored in PSG’s decisive game against Borussia Dortmund. The previous record was held by Karim Benzema (35), who had scored in the competition back in 2005, when he was playing at Olympique Lyonnais, being 17 years and 352 days old at the time.

The Franco-Nigerian started his career at Antony Foot Evolution, a French club near Paris, before signing his first professional contract with Amiens SC. He then worked through the youth ranks, making his first appearances for the first team last season in Ligue 2. In total, he took part in 17 matches, starting three games and scoring two goals. His precocious goal-scoring ability caught the eye of several clubs, including the 22/23 Juplier Pro League champions Royal Antwerp, who obtained his signing in exchange for €6 million, which in retrospect already looks like a bargain.

The sky is the limit for Ilenikhena

Indeed, the striker is off to a flying start with Antwerp, for whom he has already scored four goals in 15 appearances in the JPL, scoring every 45 minutes in the league. His current role as a prolific super-sub isn’t without reminding Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel (18), who has been getting his name on the scoresheet every 68 minutes in the Bundesliga. However, Ilenikhena has the benefit of playing in a smaller club, and a less competitive league, meaning there is more space for the youngster to pick up substantial game time and progress rapidly as a player. Only separated by one year of age, the two strikers could go on to fight for France’s starting number nine role in the future.

In terms of playstyle, the 17-year-old possesses a rapid burst of pace, which when combined with a well-timed run means his direct defender is often nowhere in sight when he receives the ball. Ilenikhena also has the non-negligible trait of being left-footed, which allows him to be unpredictable when taking on a defender, often cutting inside the outside to curl a shot towards the goal. At such a young age, George is also blessed with seemingly natural striker instincts, meaning his first touch is often space-creating, giving him extra time to fire a shot or play a teammate through.

The prodigy is part of a very exciting France 2006 generation, which includes the aforementioned WZE but also FC Lorient hot-prospect Eli Junior Kroupi (17) and u-17 World Cup finalists Mathis Lambourde (17), Mathis Amougou (17) and Bastien Meupiyou (17). Zaïre-Emery has already made an appearance for the France first team, while it shouldn’t be long before Ilenikhena and Kroupi get their first call-up with Thierry Henry’s u-21 squad, though George still has the choice to represent Nigeria if he wishes.

Another top talent for Royal Antwerp

The player is already worth €4.5 million by Transfermarkt, his value having gone up by €3.5 million since he joined the Belgian club in the summer window, making him already the joint ninth most valuable member of the squad, with exciting profiles such as Arthur Vermeeren (18) and Mandela Keita (21) leading the ranking. However, if his meteoric rise continues, no doubt Ilenikhena could a some point become the most valuable sale in the club’s history, the current record being held by Gastón Ávila’s (22) €12.5 million transfer to Ajax Amsterdam last August.

The next test for him will be this Sunday’s domestic match-up against second-place Anderlecht, where he’ll be hoping to get his first start of the season.

GFFN | Alfred Lalande

Rennes needed just a point to finish top of their group and advance to the Round of 16 in the Europa League, however, in the 101st minute against Villarreal, they trailed 3-2. Assignon stepped up dramatically to net the equaliser to make it 3-3, and whilst the goal was initially awarded, it was then ruled out by VAR. 

WATCH | Assignon’s goal ruled out due to obscure rule

The goal was ruled out as Enzo Le Fée touched the ball twice from a direct free-kick. The Frenchman’s effort came back to him after hitting the bar, and as no other player touched the ball in the meantime, Assignon’s equaliser was therefore rightly ruled out. 

“I learnt about the rule at that moment,” reacted Rennes manager Julien Stépha, who like the commentators, was initially confused by the decision. As a result, Rennes finished second in their group and must now play against a team knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in a play-off tie. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

It was a great evening for Lille, who secured their place in the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League thanks to a comfortable 3-0 victory. Yazici scored the first goal of the game, with all three of Les Dogues’ goals coming from the penalty spot. 

After the celebrations at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Yazici returned home to an unpleasant surprise. The Turkish forward’s home had been burgled during the match. Two luxury watches, clothes and leather products had all been stolen. It is the second time that he has been burgled since his arrival at Lille in 2019. 

Following loans at CSKA Moscow and then Trabzonspor, Yazici is Lille’s top goalscorer this season with seven goals in 21 appearances in all competitions. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

“Do you really think I’m thinking about Milan tonight? I told you, I’m thinking about Clermont and Montpellier, that’s all. Defeat hurts me right now. We’ll just have to see. Whoever we come up against, I don’t have a preference.”

“After that, we’ll see. Right now, there are two games left and we want to finish well before we all go and get some rest [during the winter break]. We knew there was a risk of two more games, so we’ll see when the time comes.”

GFFN | George Boxall