Reward scheme of the week<\/p>\n
That\u2019d be the one announced by Borussia Dortmund<\/a>, who are trying to encourage their supporters to watch their actual games rather than spend a chunk of the 90 minutes looking at their phones. <\/p>\n So, if the Dortmund faithful activate a thingumajig called Fan Mode in the club\u2019s app, it will track how many times they unlock their phones during games. The fewer times they do it, the more points they will earn \u2013 and points can be exchanged for goodies in the club shop. <\/p>\n Oddly, perhaps, Vodafone have teamed up with Dortmund on the initiative, when you\u2019d imagine they\u2019d quite like people to be glued to their phones. But according to Reuters, the company carried out a survey that found 63 per cent of spectators frequently use their phones during games, a source of severe annoyance for the other 37 per cent. Among the most irritating habits was fans taking selfies. <\/p>\n Mercifully, selfie sticks appear to be less of a thing these days, but if Dortmund could create an app that gives an electric shock to anyone still using one, we\u2019d all be grateful.<\/p>\n Punditry of the week<\/p>\n Undoubtedly, Paul Merson\u2019s take on the first 35 minutes of the Champions League game between Bayern Munich and Arsenal<\/a>. After Eberechi Eze gave Arsenal the lead, Merse, on Sky Sports News duty, held out little hope for the Germans\u2019 chances of getting back in the game. <\/p>\n \u201cSo comfortable, Arsenal<\/a>. So, so comfortable. Absolutely putting on a performance. Their movement, their passing, they have been by far the better team. At the moment, you can\u2019t see any way back for Bayern Munich. But they do score goals, you\u2019ve got to be careful, but at the moment . . . absolutely brilliant . . . it\u2019s 1-1.\u201d<\/p>\n Yes, Alphonso Davies equalised at that precise second. Merse? Legend.<\/p>\n Pitch inspection of the month<\/p>\n The one carried out by the referee ahead of a fourth-tier game in Spain. Yes, he tried bouncing the ball to test the, eh, surface. As the home club Pena Deportiva asked on X, \u201cReferee, so are we playing or not?\u201d<\/p>\n Quote of the Week<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll hold that umbrella for me to get wet and for everyone else to stay dry.\u201d \u2013 Michael Carrick risking a drenching. When it rains at Manchester United<\/a>, after all, it buckets down.<\/p>\n Number: 255<\/p>\n That\u2019s how many euros Cristiano Ronaldo was fined by the Portuguese Football Federation for walking out on the national team last month. The poor lad will need to set up a GoFundMe. <\/p>\n Word of Mouth<\/p>\n