**Football Daily | Evangelos Marinakis, Phlegm, and a Full-Throated Discourse** Last Friday, news broke that Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis had received a five-match stadium ban for “improper behaviour” in the tunnel area following his team's defeat to Fulham. Many, including Football Daily, were left wondering what could have warranted such a significant punishment. In contrast, Nuno Espírito Santo and Morgan Gibbs-White received shorter bans for verbally confronting match referee Josh Smith and his officials. It turns out Marinakis's suspension stemmed from a more serious infraction: he was penalized for his outspoken remarks directed at the officials. In reading about Luka Modric, I was struck by a remarkable statistic: he has now participated in over half of Croatia’s all-time men’s national games, with 182 appearances out of 363. Modric has outlasted numerous legends at Real Madrid, including Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, and Toni Kroos. At 39, he continues to perform at the highest level for both club and country, which is truly impressive. It’s surprising that his name isn’t mentioned more frequently in discussions about football greats. While four years can bring significant changes in football, the transformation from a certain period to the current state of Real Madrid is quite striking. The contrast between the unpredictability of past seasons and the current predictability is notable. Arthur Ellis may have been the ‘man in the middle’ during a memorable match in Berne, but that was long before my time. So, I, along with over a thousand other readers, remember him more for his role in the classic television show "It’s A Knockout." Despite the controversies surrounding Stuart Hall, Ellis brought a certain ‘smart, aristocratic’ flair to the show, making the 1979 edition feel rather seedy in retrospect. This is just a glimpse of our daily football email, Football Daily. For the complete version, be sure to check out our subscription page and follow the instructions.

Erling Haaland has expressed that he does not regret his actions during a recent match against Arsenal, where he threw a ball at Gabriel Magalhães's head. When questioned about the incident, Haaland stated, "I don't regret much in life." The incident occurred during a tense game in September, following John Stones's late equaliser, when Haaland retrieved the ball from the net and threw it at the unsuspecting Arsenal defender. In response to whether he condoned his behavior in retrospect, Haaland remarked, "It was in the heat of the moment, and a lot of stuff happened in that game. Things that happen on the football pitch stay there, and that’s how it is." His comments reflect a mindset of accepting the intensity and emotions that come with competitive football.

Diego Simeone expressed his frustration during a press conference following Atlético Madrid's 1-1 draw with Real Madrid, particularly addressing the incident that led to a 15-minute stoppage in the match. The game was paused after objects were thrown at Real Madrid's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, prompting the players to leave the pitch for safety. Simeone condemned the actions of those who threw missiles, stating, "We don’t need people like that in our stands." However, he also pointed out that Courtois has a tendency to provoke the crowd, suggesting that his behavior contributes to the tension. He remarked, "It’s not right for fans to respond that way, but it’s also not right when we provoke." His comments highlight the complex dynamics between players and fans in high-stakes matches.