England manager Thomas Tuchel has said he will not rule out selecting players who are playing outside the Premier League, stressing that club league status will not automatically determine a player’s eligibility for the national team.

Tuchel made the statement amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding Manchester City and the possible consequences of the club’s financial regulations case.

An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations relating to the period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.

Manchester City has denied the allegations and appealed against the verdict, while the final punishment has yet to be determined.

Possible sanctions reportedly include a points deduction, financial penalties or expulsion from the Premier League.

Speaking ahead of England’s Nations League encounter with Croatia in Rijeka, Tuchel said he would assess players individually rather than automatically exclude them because they were no longer competing in the top division.

“There is always a possibility,” Tuchel said.
“I would always try to pick the best team for the camp, for the occasion, for the tournament.

“I will never rule out that because they don’t play in the top flight in their country. We need to look at it case by case.”

All 24 members of Tuchel’s current England squad play for clubs in the top divisions of their respective countries.

However, there have been recent exceptions to the practice.

James Trafford was included in Tuchel’s England squads in March and June 2025 while playing for Championship club Burnley.

He did not make his England debut until after returning to Manchester City.

Sam Johnstone remains the most recent player to win an England cap while playing in the Championship, having represented West Bromwich Albion in 2021.

Kalvin Phillips also received his first England call-up and made his international debut while playing for Leeds United before the club returned to the Premier League.

Tuchel’s comments come as the situation surrounding Manchester City continues to attract attention within the England camp, given the number of City players involved with the national team.

The England manager acknowledged that the case had become a significant topic of discussion among the players.

“We had some time off between the matches and it is a big subject. Everyone speaks about it, so there is no other voice needed,” Tuchel said.

“I am glad to be not that voice. No-one needs my half knowledge on the topic.”

According to Tuchel, Manchester City players in the England squad have discussed the matter, but the issue has not affected their focus ahead of the international fixture.

“Of course, the players talk about it. City players talk about it. We talk with them but only briefly,” he said.

“They are ready to go tomorrow, that’s what they show on the pitch and in camp. But of course, it’s a big topic in the camp.”

England are preparing to face Croatia in Rijeka as they continue their Nations League campaign.

Tuchel’s position means that, should circumstances force England players to move outside the Premier League, their club’s league status alone would not prevent them from being considered for future international selection.

A jersey worn by basketball legend Michael Jordan during the 1998 NBA Finals has sold for $12.3 million (£9.3 million), setting a new auction record for Jordan memorabilia.

The Chicago Bulls jersey, worn by Jordan during Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz, was sold by entrepreneur Ryan Gough through Joopiter, the digital auction house founded by musician and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams.

The sale was reported by BBC Sport on Thursday.

The jersey is closely associated with Jordan’s final championship-winning season with the Bulls, which was later immortalised as his “Last Dance”.

Jordan led Chicago to a 4-2 series victory over Utah in the 1998 Finals, securing his sixth NBA championship.

He was also named the Finals Most Valuable Player for a record sixth time, further cementing his status as one of the defining figures in basketball history.

The $12.3 million sale surpassed the previous auction record for Jordan memorabilia, which stood at $10.1 million (£7.6 million).

That record was set by another jersey worn by Jordan during Game 1 of the same 1998 NBA Finals.

Joopiter described the latest item as one of the most significant game-worn sports artefacts ever offered at auction.

“Few objects in the history of sport embody greatness as completely as Michael Jordan’s game three jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals,” the auction house said in its listing.

The auction house said the jersey, worn during the “Last Dance”, represented the culmination of an era that helped transform basketball from an American sport into a global cultural phenomenon.

Jordan’s memorabilia has continued to attract substantial interest from collectors and investors, with several items connected to the six-time NBA champion fetching millions of dollars.

His 1997 Ferrari 550 Maranello also recently sold for $2.7 million, reportedly four times the previous auction record for the model.

Despite the latest record-breaking sale, however, Jordan’s jersey does not rank as the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia ever sold.

That distinction belongs to a jersey associated with baseball legend Babe Ruth and his famous “called shot” during the 1932 World Series.
Ruth’s jersey sold for $24.1 million (£18.2 million) in 2024.

Jordan’s latest auction record nevertheless highlights the enduring commercial and cultural value of memorabilia linked to one of the most celebrated periods in NBA history.

The 1997-98 Bulls season, which culminated in Jordan’s sixth championship, remains particularly iconic among basketball fans, with the team’s final title run later receiving renewed global attention through the documentary series The Last Dance.

Manchester City’s transformation from an underperforming English club into one of the most dominant forces in world football has been closely linked to the enormous financial backing of Abu Dhabi.

Since the club was acquired by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, City have enjoyed unprecedented investment, winning multiple Premier League titles and establishing themselves as a major force in domestic and European football.

But the club is now facing a major legal crisis after the Premier League found Manchester City guilty of financial-rule breaches following a lengthy investigation.

The Premier League had brought 115 charges against City in February 2023, accusing the club of breaching financial regulations and failing to cooperate with the investigation.

The league subsequently confirmed that City had been found guilty of charges relating to financial breaches, including allegations that the club used sham contracts and concealed funding.

Potential sanctions could include significant fines, the stripping of titles and, in the most severe scenario, expulsion from the Premier League.

Manchester City have continued to deny wrongdoing and are expected to appeal the verdict. Club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has also maintained confidence that City will ultimately establish their position.

At the centre of Manchester City’s ownership structure are two of the United Arab Emirates’ most influential figures: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Khaldoon Al Mubarak.

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan is one of the most powerful figures in the United Arab Emirates.

Born in 1970, he is the younger brother of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He serves as vice-president and deputy prime minister of the UAE, as well as chairman of the country’s Presidential Court.

Mansour’s Abu Dhabi United Group acquired Manchester City in 2008, ushering in a new era for the club.

His influence extends far beyond football. He chairs Mubadala Investment Company, one of the UAE’s major state-backed investment funds, which manages hundreds of billions of dollars in assets.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Manchester City’s chairman, is also the chief executive of Mubadala.

Mansour’s business and political interests have given the Manchester City ownership significant influence across sectors including investment, media, infrastructure and energy.

His activities outside football have, however, attracted controversy.

He is a majority owner of RedBird IMI, which reached an agreement to acquire The Daily Telegraph before the transaction was blocked following scrutiny over foreign state ownership of British newspapers.

Mansour also owns Abu Dhabi-based International Media Investments, which operates Sky News Arabia.

His name has also featured in international controversy surrounding the war in Sudan.

A New York Times investigation reported that he played a central role in alleged UAE support for Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces, a claim Abu Dhabi has strongly rejected.

The UAE has repeatedly denied allegations that it supports the paramilitary group.

In Manchester, Mansour’s investment has gone beyond the football club.

The Abu Dhabi United Group has invested heavily in the redevelopment of Manchester’s eastern area, including projects around the Etihad Stadium and the club’s wider campus.

However, the nature of some of those investments has also attracted scrutiny, with a University of Sheffield study and reporting by The Sunday Times raising questions about whether the group received favourable arrangements for some redevelopment projects.

Khaldoon Al Mubarak
While Sheikh Mansour is the ultimate figure associated with Manchester City’s ownership, Khaldoon Al Mubarak has become its most prominent public face.

As chairman of Manchester City and City Football Group, Mubarak has overseen much of the club’s transformation since the Abu Dhabi takeover.

He is regularly seen at City matches and has played a central role in the club’s development both on and off the pitch.

Under his leadership, City have invested billions of pounds in players, infrastructure and football operations while significantly increasing their commercial revenues.

City Football Group has also expanded into a global network of clubs, with investments involving teams such as Spain’s Girona and Major League Soccer side New York City FC.

Mubarak is also a major figure in the UAE’s business establishment.

He has served as managing director and group chief executive of Mubadala Investment Company since 2002. The state-owned investment company says it manages hundreds of billions of dollars in assets across more than 80 countries.

He is also a board member of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, the UAE’s state-owned energy giant.

Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Mubarak holds senior government positions in Abu Dhabi, including membership of the emirate’s Executive Council.

His position has made him one of the most influential non-royal figures in the UAE.

His long involvement with Manchester City has also brought him into contact with senior British political figures.

Reports have described him as having developed close relationships with politicians in Greater Manchester and the wider UK political establishment.

Why the ownership matters
Manchester City’s current crisis goes beyond football because of the scale and influence of the figures behind the club.

Sheikh Mansour’s political position and business interests, combined with Mubarak’s senior roles in Abu Dhabi’s investment and government structures, have made Manchester City closely connected to the UAE’s wider economic and political establishment.

That connection has also helped make City’s legal battle with the Premier League a matter of international interest.

The club’s response to the verdict, the outcome of its appeal and any sanctions eventually imposed could have significant consequences for Manchester City and potentially reshape one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.

For now, City continue to contest the charges, while the ownership group remains at the centre of scrutiny over the financial and governance practices that accompanied the club’s rise to the top of English football.