pep guardiola has urged lionel messi to end his career at barcelona. having been linked with a move to city at the end of last season, teh forward could leave barca a free when his contract expires next summer. after the city manager signed a two—year contract extension on thursday its reignited rumours his former player could join him in manchester. if you ask me my opinion, as a person like, i have a huge gratitude to barcelona for what they've done for me in the academy as a football player, they gave me absolutely everything what i want to do is finish my career there. that is what i want. to finish the contract and what will happen with this man. the fa have warned former players might lack the experience to replace greg clarke as chair of the organisation following his resignation. speaking to the bbc‘s sports editor dan roan, fa chief executive mark bullingham said some will lack the financial

and business experience and will need to run the board of a a50 million pound business. it has been a tough week in there and people who be very upset by it as well as some of our team internally. but we have dealt with that now we are absolutely committed to move forwards and we see that this is a very critical role and we are excited by the opportunity to appoint someone who can represent us domestically and internationally for the future. you have them as part of the future. you have them as part of the six person panel, why ham? wise so the six person panel, why ham? wise so important? is a member of our board but we really wanted some of that we can represent our community and liam, natalie represents the players, but he is the current coach in with him, we are covering all areas of the game in our panel. would you like the new chair to be a former player? i think that we

absolutely need another influence of foreign players. one, we want to have a fantastic ambassador, there's no question that other place can do that but secondly, we need somebody getting run the board and some players would be capable of doing that, but some might not have the experience. to expect to be some sort of pressure on the fa, given the comments of greg clark and given the comments of greg clark and given the pressures that you are under a nyway to the pressures that you are under anyway to improve the diversity of the game? to have a non—white chair? i think it is absolutely important that we have this list and we have a candidate from this list, doing it any other will be wrong and disrespectful to the communities that you are talking about. to grab clark's comments represent the fa today? with a indicative of the organisation because that is the fear of some, that bit of a light or

an attitude that is held you back to making the kind of reforms and improvements that people have wanted to see. that did not represent the beliefs of anyone, that is why so many people were upset. there's growing criticism of the fa and its decision to withdraw the england futsal squad from a european qualification play off. the organisation was fined by uefa last week for "refusing" to fulfil the euro 2022 play—off games against north macedonia and pressure on the sport is mounting — with the pandemic forcing massive budget cuts in england. putting the national side under threat. joe lynskey reports. this is football but indoors in a top speed. it plate with a smaller, have your ball, designed to build skill on the floor but now the game here is under threat. they said the

fa cut most of their funding in the community and for both the national side and the grassroots stud below we estimate a stage thousand kids are playing the game every year instead of going around slashing budgets, we need to have an inclusive support and played by boys and girls in the secret of a major impact on them. they would do to play in north macedonia in the playoffs this month, but the fa pulled them out a short notice travel restrictions. the governing body were then fined by ua five. the fa had took all of our funding for preparation, but was to want to represent our country and every other nation in europe went ahead and played and now we have the england football team playing games and in countries that are suffering from covid—i9.

and in countries that are suffering from covid-19. this is obviously difficult but an indoor game, which is less safe during a pandemic in the football associations got its own issues to deal with funding wise and namely trying to keep its clubs afloat, we'll just said and namely trying to keep its clubs afloat, we'lljust said to them? being an indoor sport there is a slight risk but there have been very few infections and obviously, the benefits of kids participating in the sport and the thing is, they've not said that these are temporary cuts, is a permanent cuts so there's hardly anything left to fund the game. a safe bed and pulling out the followed government guidelines including nonessential travel, expecting loss of £300 million this year and they say they have to prioritise its core functions. every sport right now is fighting for its future but for england, the game could soon be over.

it started with ten teams, now there are four in what is the final weekend of the international swimming league in budapest. adam peaty‘s london roar go up against the cali condors, la current and the defending champions energy standard. olympic champion becky adlington joined me earlier to reflect on the success of this year's event. i think every single pass athlete is going to wanted this. but you know what, it is pretty and that it's happening and i was lucky enough to be part of it last year was out there when it was travelling all over this year has been very different, it's all been in one place but it's been one of those that has just been amazing to see so many swimmers come to life because we would do associate swimming with being long, there can be a lot of waiting, quite boring and sometimes they are what you associate with that comes a very long rows, this is short, sharp, it is fast, it is dynamic. it is interesting. if

included things that make it more of a show, it is more entertainment and thatis a show, it is more entertainment and that is will be a lot of waiting, quite boring and sometimes they are what you associate with that that comes a very long what you associate with that that comes a very long rows, what you associate with that that comes a very long rows, this is short, sharp, it is fast, it is dynamic. it is interesting. if included things that make it more of a show, it is more entertainment and thatis a show, it is more entertainment and that is what we have really needed it because it was meant to be a global event with stages being held all over the world. and they decide where in budapest this year, by a secure environment and ijust where in budapest this year, by a secure environment and i just think it's testament to swimming that they are able to get on an event like this in the current climate. definitely and we saw football come back quite early on and it is nice to see the other sports been able to cater to that and obviously, the athletes as well as everyone that is been involved in the sport will of been involved in the sport will of been loving to go but we understand the times that we are living in, that wasn't possible. we made sure was televised in online and making sure was accessible for people to

watch because i think everyone is craving life sport life events in general. so, ithink craving life sport life events in general. so, i think it is amazing that they have the capacity to at least be able to view it and i certainly miss seeing it. i think it is good for the athletes as well because obviously the olympics next year, they need to get this competition back and they missed out on such a chunk of it from the lockdown that they really needed this boost for their confidence and knee leading into next year as well. and to suggest that they really need this in the spotlight, we note that they lost a generation of swimmers, you yourself have inspired a generation of swimmers when you're competing. how hard is been on the sport for swimming and that the sport for swimming and that the sport was not given any kind of funding and that recent support package that came from the government. it's notjust dictates of the guys missing out and is right

across the board from communities and for everyone, we have 90—year—olds and multiple generations of people have missed out on that sport, the community environment and also a life skill environment and also a life skill environment as well. but, i think it is just great that it has been able to come out for a short window and we are back in lockdown again, so they've had to shut it down, but the amount of petitions that i've seen, the amount of stuff that statistics have shown how vital we need sport like swimming in the physical and mental health hopefully the pools will open back up soon. and finally you'd think if you were all alone at sea, nothing but you and your vessel, a storm would be something you'd want to avoid. well not so for british yachtsman alex thomson who continues to lead the vendee globe, as he aims to become the first

non—frenchman to win the event solo round the world race. he was the first of the 32—strong fleet to cross the equator into the southern hemisphere on wednesday. in what has been a gruelling start to the race. he spoke to us earlier with an update on his progress, he said he actually used a tropical storm to enhance his positioning in the race. the biggest challenge of the race so far has definitely been tropical storm, very unusual situation and i decided to stay close to the middle of it again a very good position from the first place and definitely the biggestjohn so far and it feels fantastic to be leading the race and when you are in front, you can dictate the pace and take some time i relax a little bit if you want to and not feel the pressure of always

having to make sure you are close to the person. and following behind. he never feels good when some of the competition falls or to damage and asa high competition falls or to damage and as a high attrition rate, many people who saw the race will not finish and it feels terrible, visceral camaraderie between the two even when the competition is damage. i enjoyed leading, that is what i enjoy the most and it's the most satisfying bet and are from the competition, the thing i enjoy the most is marketing directors mothers, christmas cake. it is so good, got a little piece every single day. will be keeping across his progress for the remainder of the race. that's all from sportsday.

goodbye. hello. the weather as we had to the weekend is looking a little bit mixed. we will see a court front slowly moving through them that would dominate things the next few days and on saturday, quite a breezy sort of date there will be some rain around and that ring will be on the court front in scotland and northern ireland will slip across england and wales through the rest of the week but we will see gales developing the north of scotland for around 60 mph and really windy with breezy and mild elsewhere with overnight double figures than it was last night and through the day on saturday, you would see it sitting across northern england and wales and for the better pa rt

england and wales and for the better part of the day, for scotland and for northern ireland, is that rankings are the way, some sunshine and blustery showers and thunderstorms and gals across the north of scotland, cloudy and mild in the south with temperatures around eight to 13 degrees and it is turning milder. goodbye.

this is bbc news with the latest headlines for viewers in the uk and around the world. pfizer asked america regulators for emergency authorisation for its covid—19 vaccine as the uk government says he hopes to roll that out to the public and the new year. borisjohnson that out to the public and the new year. boris johnson gets that out to the public and the new year. borisjohnson gets his full support to the home secretary despite an inquiry uploading claims of bullying against her. millions of public sector workers could face a pay freeze next year. after georgia officially certifies joe pay freeze next year. after georgia officially certifiesjoe biden as the winner of the us presidential election donald trump invites michigan states legislators to the white house and another attempts to overturn the results.