Jack Flaherty stars as the Los Angeles Dodgers tie a Major League Baseball record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched, reaching 33 in their 9-0 win over the New York Mets in the first game of the National League Championship Series.

WATCH MORE: Profar rages after Dodgers fans throw baseballs at him

The court agreed that Fifa’s refusal to provide Diarra with an international transfer certificate (ITC) for a proposed move to Belgian club Charleroi in 2015 demonstrated that its rules “impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club”.

Fifa has now announced that it will open a “global dialogue” with footballing stakeholders as part of a process to adapt the rules.

“Fifa sees the Diarra decision as an opportunity to keep modernising its regulatory framework, which has been one of the declared objectives of the Fifa president since 2016,” said Fifa chief legal and compliance officer Emilio Garcia Silvero.

After the Diarra ruling, a Fifa spokesman said: “Fifa is satisfied that the legality of key principles of the transfer system have been reconfirmed.”

DAVID DE GEA has enjoyed a stunning return to form with Fiorentina after a YEAR away from the pitch – and now has the stats to back it up.

The former Manchester United star is the highest-rated goalkeeper in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

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The decision to let long-term servant De Gea depart on a free transfer and replace him with £41m-recruit Andre Onana was bold.

And now De Gea’s exploits in Italy are starting to raise further question marks on Erik ten Hag’s decision.

The Spaniard, who spent 12 seasons at Old Trafford, had to wait 446 days to enter the pitch again.

Fiorentina placed their trust in him during the summer, securing his services on a one-year contract.

So far, the Serie A side’s move has proven to be a masterstroke.

In fact, De Gea’s rating of 7.61 makes him the highest rated goalkeeper in Europe this season, according to match ratings site WhoScored.

De Gea has been putting in brilliant displays for the Florence-based outfit on a regular basis.

He saved two penalties to help Fiorentina seal a memorable 2-1 win over AC Milan before the international break.

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De Gea got down low to his left to save Theo Hernandez’s first-half spot-kick before superbly diving to his right to prevent Tammy Abraham scoring his penalty in the second half.

The 33-year-old also made an incredible save to deny Samuel Chukwueze’s strike from rattling the net.

As per WhoScored, he has made 4.3 saves per game in Serie A so far this term.

And fans were quick to comment on De Gea’s new rating.

One user wrote: “Bro casually took a gap year and came back the highest rated keeper as if he’s in high school 😂❤.”

A second said: “Man United are kicking themselves right now for letting him go.”

Another added: “And we dumped him for Onana 😶.”

A fourth declared: “Forget playing it out from the back. There is something to be said about just being a good shot stopper.”

While one more said: “One of the best goalkeepers ever. A United legend.”

Meanwhile, Onana has shown promise this campaign, but he is yet to establish himself as a reliable figure between the sticks.

Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter says some his side side’s decision-making was ‘scary’ in their 40-35 loss at home to Bristol Bears at Sandy Park.

The Chiefs led 32-12 before Dan Frost was sin-binned in the 65th minute and Bristol scored three tries in four minutes to turn the game in its head.

The defeat means Exeter have suffered their worst-ever start to a Premiership season having lost all four of their opening matches.

It is 10 years since Baxter’s side last lost four league games in succession as they prepare for a Friday night trip to bottom side Newcastle Falcons.

“It was a little bit scary watching us after we got that yellow card,” Baxter told BBC Radio Devon.

“It’s not just that we got the yellow card management side of things wrong by putting bodies into breakdowns which we didn’t need, but actually we started missing tackles.

“You build your wall of 13 guys, you maybe keep one guy in the back field.

“It’s really important as the first guy you stay alive to complete your tackle. No more than one other guy maybe competes in there and you have got yourself back on your feet again and you’re ready to go again.

“We just couldn’t do it, and it’s a little bit scary.

“Some of the lads will be looking and I swear they’ll be saying to me ‘I don’t really know what I did’.

“We had guys stepping off being our last defender and stepping in to go into breakdowns that were already won by Bristol and then they just walked down the outside to score tries.

“Some of it is a little bit silly almost, but we’re not going to move unless we take responsibility for it.”

Erebus Motorsport’s victory in the Supercars showpiece Bathurst 1000 has taken a sour turn, with one of the team’s crew members attacked amid celebrations on Sunday evening.

Race winner Brodie Kostecki revealed details of the incident when speaking on Monday’s Seven Network breakfast programme Sunrise, stating that it had left a crew member and his partner hospitalised.

“One of our crew members was unfortunately attacked last night. It’s really disappointing and really put a spoil on the evening,” he said.

“We wish Sam all the best and hopefully he recovers fast, along with his partner, Tameika.”

Local authorities have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing.

“Officers attached to Chifley Police District have commenced an investigation following an incident on William Street, Bathurst early this morning,” read a statement.

“Inquiries are continuing and there is no more information at this stage.”

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Speaking to AutoAction, Erebus chief executive Barry Ryan added: “I cannot believe there are people like this in the world.”

“These young, innocent people were out celebrating a life achievement.”

Kostecki and team-mate Todd Hazelwood had earlier completed a pole-to-flag victory at the Mount Panorama circuit, sealing the Erebus team’s first win in Australia’s most prestigious race since David Reynolds and Luke Youlden triumphed in 2017.

The pair had been forced to fend off the advances of fellow Chevrolet Camaro driver Broc Feeney (Triple Eight), who was partnered with team boss Jamie Whincup, following a late safety car period but kept things clean to secure the Peter Brock Trophy.

Following behind-the-scenes drama ahead of the season, which led the reigning champion to sit out the opening two meetings for Hazelwood, Kostecki will cross manufacturer lines to compete next year with the Dick Johnson Racing Ford squad. 

He will replace Anton de Pasquale, who will head the other way and join Team 18 among the Chevrolet ranks, in place of Mark Winterbottom. Erebus has signed Super2 racer Cooper Murray to replace Kostecki.

FIFA has launched its battle to ensure the transfer system remains – by asking the rest of football how the rulebook needs to be reworked.

But world chiefs have conceded that clubs may NOT be able to ask for a fee for every player who wants to leave them.

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Former Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra’s victory over the world body at the European Court of Justice saw a major threat to the current system.

Diarra’s lawyer, Jean-Louis Dupont declared the only possible outcome will be the end of clubs being able to demand fees for players.

The ECJ ruled that current regulations, which mean clubs can sue players for breaking contracts and prevent them being able to move to a rival in another country, “impede the free movement of professional footballers wishing to develop their activity by going to work for a new club”.

It added: “Those rules impose considerable legal risks, unforeseeable and potentially very high financial risks as well as major sporting risks on those players and clubs wishing to employ them which, taken together, are such as to impede international transfers of those players.”

Dupont, who was also the successful lawyer behind the Jean-Marc Bosman case that upended European football in the 1990s, argued the decision would inevitably lead to US-style collective bargaining agreements between players and clubs and “trades” – swap deals – rather than transfer fees being paid.

FIFA had initially reacted to the verdict by insisting that only a minor tweak of “two paragraphs of two articles” of the regulations needed to be amended.

But now Zurich legal bosses have announced Fifa will “open a global dialogue on the transfer system, involving key stakeholders” to redraft the rules.

Fifa legal boss Emilio Garcia Silvero insisted that the ruling “confirms the sanctity of contracts”.

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However, asked if the ECJ decision does “mean the end of transfers or transfer fees” his reply hinted at a recognition that some players will be able to move for nothing.

Silvero said: “The Diarra decision does not question that employment contracts between players and clubs must be respected. 

“Consequently, if players wish to be released from a contract, there will be financial consequences. 

“If a club wishes to engage a player under a valid contract, this will often still mean that the transfer fee needs to be paid.”

Using the word “often” rather than “always” was a significant change of position.

Last week’s general assembly of the powerful European Club Association was dominated by behind the scenes discussions of the potentially “terrible” impact of the ruling, with serious fears the business models of clubs in “selling” countries like Portugal, France, Holland, Belgium and in Scandinavia could be destroyed.

One prominent figure suggested every case where a player walks out of a current deal might see clubs having to sue for compensation in their local courts, creating a “law of the jungle” situation.

Silvero confirmed that clubs, leagues and player unions will now be asked to comment on new proposals.

He said: “The Diarra decision confirms it remains Fifa’s responsibility to establish, protect and enforce a robust regulatory system for international football, in particular to safeguard the regulations and integrity of a sports competition. 

“This includes rules related to the composition of teams, such as transfers, registration periods, contractual stability and many other important topics. 

“Fifa will now initiate a global dialogue with key stakeholders. 

“Together with them, Fifa will determine what conclusions must be drawn from the Diarra decision, and which changes are most appropriate and suitable.”

Transfer fees scrapped Q&A: How landmark ruling could mean NFL-style trades and stars suing for millions

FORMER Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra has won his landmark case at the European Court of Justice.

SunSport’s Martin Lipton explains what it was all about – and what it might mean for the future of football…

What was the case about?

Diarra argued Fifa’s transfer rules were illegal after the world body backed Lokomotiv Moscow’s claim that he had broken his contract by refusing to train with them.

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Is that it?

No. Belgian club Charleroi wanted to sign Diarra but were told they would have to pay the money he was fined by Moscow, while Fifa refused to issue an International Transfer Certificate unless they coughed up.

Okay, so what does the ruling mean?

Theoretically players will have the right to break their contracts and switch clubs without a fee changing hands – just like any employee in any other industry.

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Hang on – does that mean the END of transfer fees?

Potentially, yes. Although players would have to want to move.

We would basically end up with a US-style “collective bargaining” model where players would be free to move within transfer windows without impunity.

Clubs might be able to “trade” players – swap deals – but with no extra cash changing hands.

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Is everybody agreed about this?

Absolutely not. Fifa claimed the ruling “only puts in question two paragraphs of two articles” of its transfer regulations.

Yet the Judges said the current rules were “prohibited” under EU law and “anti-competitive” as they “limit the freedom of action” of players to change employer.

Read SunSport’s full Q&A with football on the brink of the biggest shake-up in 30 years…

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