The FA Cup third round (stream all games live on ESPN+, U.S. Only) gets underway on Thursday -- but VAR won't be used in any of the ties.

VAR was introduced into the FA Cup in the 2017-18 season starting in the third round -- but only in ties when a Premier League club was at home "due to the infrastructure, workforce and costs that are required for its operation."

It meant that over the course of the next seven seasons, the competition effectively had a two-tier approach, and where a tie was played determined if a refereeing error was corrected. Also, if a lower-league team earned a replay at the ground of a Premier League club, different conditions would be in place for the two fixtures.

In the 2023-24 season VAR was used in only 10 of the 32 third round ties, and seven of the 16 matches in the fourth round.

The Football Association has now made a crucial change which "ensures that there is a consistent refereeing approach for all clubs taking part in the same stage of the competition."

There will be no VAR in any game in Round 3 and 4, but all matches will have VAR from the fifth round onwards, regardless of where the game is being played.

Manchester City are interested in Palmeiras centre-back Vitor Reis, sources have told ESPN.

The club are exploring the possibility of a January deal for the 18-year-old Brazilian youth international. Reis is valued at around 40 million ($41m).

It is unclear at this stage if he would immediately join Pep Guardiola's first-team if an agreement is reached with Palmeiras or whether he would be included in the senior squad at a later date.

City are also in talks with RC Lens over a deal for 20-year-old centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov. Strengthening the defence has become a priority after injuries to Rúben Dias, John Stones and Nathan Aké this season.

Sources have told ESPN that City are also stepping up their efforts to sign Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt this month.

Frankfurt, who are third in the Bundesliga table and well-placed in the Europa League, want to keep the Egypt international. They have been informed of City's interest and are expecting a formal offer in the January window.

Marmoush, who has 18 goals this season, is valued at around 50m ($61m).

City also hold an interest in Brazil midfielder Ederson, but do not believe Atalanta are willing to negotiate in January while they're in the race to win the Serie A title.

Icy conditions have put Everton's FA Cup third-round match against Peterborough on Thursday at Goodison Park in doubt.

Snow has battered large parts of Merseyside in recent days and weather warnings are in place.

Everton fan safety services confirmed a meeting will be held at 1 p.m. GMT (8 a.m. ET) to determine if the game can go ahead safely.

"A safety meeting involving the club and relevant authorities will be held at 1pm to assess the weather and travel conditions for tonight's FA Cup fixture against Peterborough United," the group said on social media.

"At this stage the match is planned to go ahead as normal and every effort is being made to ensure that remains the case.

"We will continue to keep fans updated, and will provide more information following the meeting."

Barcelona are facing criticism from Athletic Club after Dani Olmo and Pau Víctor were granted temporary playing registrations by the country's top sports court.

The players had been denied registration by both LaLiga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) after the Catalan club missed a Dec. 31 deadline to prove it was compliant with the league's financial fair play rules.

Barça successfully appealed to Spain's Sports Council (CSD) for Olmo and Victor to be temporarily allowed to play before a definitive ruling is made.

Speaking before his team's 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in Wednesday's Spanish Supercopa semifinal in Jeddah, Athletic Club president Jon Uriarte called the decision "grotesque."

"It is a provisional measure taken by a political body," Uriarte said.

"Now it is LaLiga and the [Spanish Football] Federation that will have to defend the decision they took.

"Maybe if I draw a conclusion, it is that we are eight days into the new year and we are experiencing something that is incredible.

"We, clubs, are asked to make an effort to grow, to make our competitions bigger on the one hand, and on the other hand to make efforts to come here [to Saudi Arabia], to a country far from our fans, to play these [Supercopa] games but then we experience situations of this type that are grotesque.

"A situation like that cannot happen because it is very bad for football."

Athletic is the only club in Spain's top two divisions to have publicly reacted to the CSD's decision on Olmo and Victor.

Barcelona's sporting director Deco defended the club in response to Uriarte's comments.

"Every club has their own issues and their own problems and should focus on themselves," Deco said.

"We're doing things well at Barça, trying to do things in the best way possible.

"Everything else is in the hands of the governing bodies or the courts. And if they have given [the players registrations] for the moment, there is a reason for that."

Athletic forward Iñaki Williams said he thinks Spanish football may be "tarnished" by the ordeal.

"In the same vein as all football fans, I'm surprised. It seems that the rules are not the same for everyone, but we are not the ones who have to decide," Williams told reporters.

"If those who decide have decided this, there must be a reason. It never ceases to surprise us, the image of Spanish football may be a little tarnished because there is a lot of division because many things are not understood.

"We have to close this chapter for the good of Spanish football.

"I am happy for Dani Olmo and Pau Victor because I think it is a very difficult situation for them and all they want is to play football. As a football professional, I'm happy for both of them."

LaLiga president Javier Tebas weighed in on the matter, expressing surprise at the CSD decision. He also took the opportunity to ask why there has been a "complicit silence" from Real Madrid TV.

"CSD president [Jose Manuel Rodriguez Uribes] seems to hear a single voice, which does not represent Spanish professional football," Tebas said on social media.

"And that voice, curiously, maintains a complicit silence in this case. Where is Real Madrid TV now?"

Real Madrid TV has been a critic of some of LaLiga's actions and especially comments by Tebas.

Olmo, a 60 million ($62m) summer signing from RB Leipzig, and Víctor, who joined in August on a permanent transfer from Girona, will be available to play in Sunday's Spanish Supercopa final after missing Wednesday's game.

We're just past the halfway point of the Premier League season, and shocks and surprises continue to reverberate across the competition. Wasn't this supposed to be a transitional year for Liverpool under new boss Arne Slot? Yet they are in first place, six points clear of Arsenal with a game in hand, and look like champions elect.

Who would have believed last season's strugglers Nottingham Forest would be in the top three? Or that champions Manchester City would implode? Or that Manchester United would languish in 13th while AFC Bournemouth and Fulham challenged for the qualifying places for Europe.

Likewise, some surprising players have emerged as the stars of the season after 20 games. With that in mind, here is my half-term team of the campaign.

Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford, Everton

Where would the Toffees be without the heroics of their long-serving keeper? Probably in the bottom three. His remarkable defiance earned an unlikely point at Arsenal. And he saved penalties from Anthony Gordon and Erling Haaland to ensure his team managed draws against Newcastle United and Manchester City respectively.

For a team that has failed to score in eight of their past 10 matches, Everton are lucky the England No. 1 has been as good as he has.

Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool

Despite his off day against Manchester United, he remains a unique talent -- a right-back who is among Europe's elite as a creator and striker of wonderful passes. He makes my midseason starting XI because I'm focusing on what he can do and not on some of his deficiencies. Real Madrid's overtures to sign him in the summer transfer window are understandable, and they are a hard club to turn down.

Whether Alexander-Arnold sticks or twists, we'll know soon enough.

Centre-back: Murillo, Nottingham Forest

His central defensive partnership with Nikola Milenković is a big reason Forest are surprisingly (and, to most, inconceivably) third in the table, behind only Liverpool and Arsenal. They have kept a league-high nine clean sheets while racking up 12 wins in their first 20 games.

Athletic and aggressive, Murillo also tops the Premier League charts for clearances (117). It's only a matter of time before he signs for a bigger club.

Centre-back: Gabriel Magalhães, Arsenal

He's rock solid in the league's best defense (18 goals conceded) and a key player in the Gunners' set-piece successes. His three league goals include a winner against arch-rivals Spurs, and another in a 2-2 draw against Man City.

Left-back: Antonee Robinson, Fulham

At left-back, the pacy and dangerous United States international has more assists (13) than any other defender over the past two campaigns and seven this season alone. He also tops the stats for interceptions (37). Fulham will do well to hold on to him, as he looks a perfect fit for any big club wanting a left-back or wing-back who can operate high up the pitch.

Central midfield: Moisés Caicedo, Chelsea

Perhaps overburdened by the 115 million transfer fee when he first moved from Brighton & Hove Albion to Chelsea, he has settled to become the midfield strong man he looked on the south coast. Only Crystal Palace's Daniel Muñoz (71) has made more tackles than Caicedo (62), who will be vital to Chelsea's chances of finishing in the top four and qualifying for next season's UEFA Champions League.

Central midfield: Ryan Gravenberch, Liverpool

After being a bit-part player for former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, the Dutchman has made the problem defensive midfield position his own under Arne Slot. Gravenberch mixes steel and silk, providing an ideal foil for Alexis Mac Allister.

Right-wing: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool

Almost beyond dispute, Salah has been the player of the season so far with 31 goal involvements, scoring 18 times in 19 games, with another 13 assists. He's always likely to produce a match-changing moment and, at 32, still in terrific condition. Surely, Liverpool will find a deal to keep him at Anfield beyond this summer when his contract expires.

Attacking midfield: Cole Palmer, Chelsea

Ice cold, but red hot! With 13 goals and six assists, Palmer is demonstrating that his 2023-24 breakthrough season was no flash in the pan. Languid and deceptive, his vision and eye for goal lend him a touch of genius. He carries his extraordinary talent -- not to mention his team -- with a what's-all-the-fuss demeanor.

Left-wing: Bryan Mbeumo, Brentford

Matching Palmer with 13 Premier League goals, Mbeumo and his teammate Yoane Wissa (10 goals) are making sure the Bees do not miss former poster boy Ivan Toney, who left for Al Ahli this season.

Brentford will continue to punch well above their weight if they keep Mbeumo happy and manager Thomas Frank in charge.

Striker: Alexander Isak, Newcastle United

The Sweden international has scored in each of the last seven games to lead a Newcastle revival. Quick and almost balletic in his movements, Isak's all-round contributions to Eddie Howe's team makes him the best No. 9 in the game right now. He scores all types of goals -- 13 in the league -- and, with the club valuing his transfer fee at 150m, most clubs won't be able to afford signing him. It's Newcastle's way of saying "hands off!"

Substitutes

GK, Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
CB, Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest)
LB, Milos Kerkez (AFC Bournemouth)
CM, Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion)
CM, Dejan Kulusevski (Tottenham Hotspur)
FW, Alex Iwobi (Fulham)
FW, Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
FW, Luis Díaz (Liverpool)
FW, Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
FW, Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
ST, Liam Delap (Ipswich Town)

Australia captain Pat Cummins is in doubt for the Champions Trophy after it was revealed that he had been managing an ankle problem during the Test series against India.

It was confirmed on Thursday that Cummins would miss the two-Test tour of Sri Lanka (paternity leave) and will undergo scans on his ankle in the coming days to determine whether he will be able to lead the team in the Champions Trophy, which will be held across Pakistan and the UAE next month.

"We'll have to wait and see when that scan comes back and see how it's tracking," chair of selectors George Bailey said. "There's a little bit of work to do. We'll probably get a bit more information around where that's at."

Cummins sent down 167 overs during the five Tests against India, the most by an Australian bowler, taking 25 wickets at 21.36.

Australia's opening game of the Champions Trophy is against England on February 22, and they have a one-off ODI in Sri Lanka on February 13 after the Test series, which is part of their preparation.

Cummins captained Australia to the 2023 ODI World Cup title in India but has only played two games in the format since amid workload management.

Australia have used a variety of stand-in captains in that period. Steven Smith led the side last season against West Indies before Mitchell Marsh had the role in England, with Smith again deputising for the deciding game of that series. Earlier this summer against Pakistan, Josh Inglis led the team in the final ODI in Perth.

Josh Hazlewood, meanwhile, is being earmarked for a return in the Champions Trophy after the selectors took a cautious approach to his recovery from the calf injury that ended his India series after Brisbane, which in itself was a comeback game after a side problem.

"Josh is working really hard and all the news of how he's responding to his recovery from the calf injury is coming along really well," Bailey said. "It's just probably a little bit tight, given the amount of time that he would have missed and also with how we may structure up and the loads those quicks may be put under."

Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland and Sean Abbott are the three frontline quicks heading to Sri Lanka. Abbott could earn a Test debut on the tour, and it was his durability that earned him the nod.

"In Sean's favour, given outside of the conditions that we expect to face, he's just robust," Bailey said. "We know he can put a heavy body of work in should he be required."

Australia hope to have Cameron Green back available for the World Test Championship final, while preparing for him to return as a batter only.

Green posted a video of himself running on social media on Wednesday, almost three months after undergoing season-ending surgery on his back.

Chief selector George Bailey confirmed on Thursday he was "very hopeful" Green would be available to play at Lord's against South Africa.

Green is due to undergo further post-operation scans next month and is expected to be back batting in May. He will have to wait longer to bowl, potentially after Australia's three-Test tour of West Indies in June and July.

While Beau Webster retained his spot after an impressive debut in Sydney, Marsh will be left to wonder when his next Test will come at age 33.

But Bailey suggested there was still potential for Marsh to return to the team in next summer's Ashes, after his impressive return to the team against England in 2023.

"I don't necessarily see it as the end of the road for him," Bailey said. "I think Mitch at his best and with a longer-term view of potentially what the Ashes may look like and what England may throw at us there.

"He's got a skill set that suits there, not taking away from the fact that at some stage clearly we're going to have the return of Cameron Green as well into the team. But unlike some, I'm probably not as glass half empty around where that leaves Mitch."

Webster's selection comes after he hit 57 and an unbeaten 39 in Sydney, but his ability to shoulder a heavy workload with the ball could also be crucial in Asia.

He also bowled offspin for the majority of his career before turning to medium pace during Covid, but Bailey said it was unlikely his tweakers would be called upon in Sri Lanka.

Instead, Travis Head can provide support to Australia's spinners Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy, who could both feature as frontline spinners in the XI alongside Nathan Lyon.

"[Webster's spin] probably wasn't something that came up as a factor in selection," Bailey said."I think we've got plenty of spin options there. It's a nice fourth or fifth bow for Beau to have up his sleeve, but I don't necessarily think that we'll be heading down that path."

Nurul was on 2 from one ball after walking out in the 18th over of Rangpur's chase of Barishal's 197 for 5. First, he saw Shaheen Shah Afridi and Jahandad Khan send four batters back by the end of the 19th over - including Mahedi Hasan given out obstructing the field. Then, up against Kyle Mayers' medium pace with Rangpur needing 26 runs to win the game, Nurul went 6, 4, 4, 6 and 4 to leave two runs to get off the last ball, which he smashed for six more. At the start of that over, it seemed like Rangpur's unbeaten run in the competition was over. At the end of it, they had made it six wins out of six and were six points clear at the top.