Football News: Review Of The Day 8th February 2018

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Review of the Day

Alexis Get Jail Sentence

Manchester United's January signing from Arsenal has been given a 16 month prison sentence for tax fraud while playing for Barcelona. The former Arsenal star was found guilty of defrauding 1million euros between 2012 and 2013, relating to income from his image rights. Sanchez has reached an agreement to repay the money owed along with interest. He will not go to jail as he is a first offender and the sentence is less than 2 years.

Scottish League Two Teams Oppose Colt Teams

Stenhousemuir have joined Annan Athletic in opposing a plan to have Celtic and Rangers 'colt' teams join their division. The two Glasgow clubs were looking to canvass support for a two year pilot run of the scheme but are facing opposition. "We are disappointed that this colt teams proposal has been proposed and presented by Rangers and Celtic FC and not by the Scottish FA," Stenhousemuir said on their website. "A proposal of this nature should have been presented as part of an overall plan for improving the transition of our youth talent from 17-20 year olds via a proposal from the SFA. We agree that some new methodology has to be found to improve the game in Scotland and, as a club, we would be pleased to be consulted on how we may play our part - eg an enhanced loan system. We are concerned that, after the two-year pilot, we had no assurances as to where this may go afterwards in terms of the fundamental principles or, indeed, the number of clubs involved."

Hartlepool Issued Winding Up Order

HMRC have issued a winding-up petition to Hartlepool United over an unpaid tax bill. They have until 21st March to a sum of around £48,000. Hartlepool are up for sale and facing serious financial problems which has seen supporters raising money to meet wages and other costs in January. They currently sit 18th in the National League following relegation from League Two last season.

Flynn Gets Contract Extension

Newport County manager Mike Flynn has signed a contract extension with a pay rise seeing him through to 2020 at the League 2 side. Flynn led the club to survival last season and this season has them challenging for promotion as well as forcing Premier League Spurs to a replay in the 4th round of the FA Cup. Flynn said: "I'm delighted that the board have agreed to improve my current deal. I've always said I want to build a club and not a team and the increase in my tenure helps achieve that goal."

Hull Owners To Do What Fans Want

Hull City vice-chairman Ehab Allam has agreed to follow fans' wishes in the rebranding process of the club. The Allam family have been involved in a long-running battle with the fans after Assem Allam, the owner, proposed a change of name from Hull City AFC to Hull Tigers, which was rejected by the FA in 2014. Since the Allams took ownership, their time has been marred by protests from the fans over the plans to change the club. They have recently begun the process of improving the relationship between the two parties with a number of concessions: "In the first two meetings I think we made some really positive steps in that we agreed to redesign the crest and involve the fans in that process so it'll be fan-led on the redesign," Ehab told BBC Radio Humberside. "I've agreed to bring back concessions - we haven't got to the bottom of how that would look, but I've got a few conditions. As long as we can find a way to reduce the level of abuse in the tickets then I'm open to introducing the concessions again." Ehab continued on the subject of the club's name: "I know that [AFC] is important to some fans but that's never been in the club's playing name. The club was registered 1904 with the FA as Hull City, full stop," he said. "I will do whatever the fans want so long as it is prescriptive enough for my staff to understand what they can use and when. So for example you've just asked me is it ok to use Hull City or the Tigers? Well yeah, but then I've got the Tigers Hall of Fame and the people complained about that, so it's not prescriptive to use that or the other."

Miazga Fined For Doing A Vinnie Jones

For those of us old enough to remember Vinnie Jones when he was a footballer, we will all immediately think of the famous photograph of him reaching back to grab a young Paul Gascoigne by his wedding tackle and squeeze until the pain is etched on Gazza's face. Now on-loan Chelsea defender Matt Miazga has been fined by loaning club Vitesse Arnhem after doing something very similar to Heerenveen's Denzel Dumfries when the two teams played out a 1-1 draw in January. Poor Dumfries also found himself on the receiving end of an elbow from Miazga's team-mate Tim Matavz, who was also fined by Vitesse but was also given a 4 match ban by the Netherlands FA. Vitesse said: "We have fined both because it doesn't fit with the concept of fair play at the club."

Scottish Non-League Side Launch Online Scheme To Chase SPFL Dream

Back in 2007 Ebbsfleet United were taken over by fans, who raised £700,000 through a website called OurFootballClub.com. For a period the fans used the website to control the club and make decisions, until the club was bought off them by Kuwaiti investors in 2013. Now a Lowland League club in Scotland, Edusport Academy, are looking to follow a similar model, using the same website. "It is a viable model if we can get enough members to sign up," owner Chris Ewing said. "This is an online project and you can touch the whole of the world. The dream I have is to have members from France, from Scotland, from England, from Finland, from Holland all pulling together. Of course, to get to the Premiership by 2025 is ambitious and some people would say it is a crazy statement, but I think crazy is doing the same thing year in year out and expecting different results. The Edusport Academy will continue to exist as a football academy and we also have a rugby academy and we are looking to launch a dance academy," Ewing, 39, told BBC Scotland. "But, with the actual football club itself, which has SFA membership and plays in the Lowland League, we're trying to create an online community that can pay a fee of £25 to join as members and they will have a decision-making and voting powers to influence the running of the club. It is a new concept here in Scotland. It has never been done before. The idea is to give fans a unique way not only to support a football club but to be involved in it in a day-to-day basis. I think Scottish football needs something new and innovative."

Malky Mackay In Scotland Running

Scotland's performance director Malky Mackay, he of the racist messages scandal while at Cardiff City, is now being considered for the role of Scotland manager, in a clear sign of desperation. When the manager of Northern Ireland turns you down and the options are a man who retired in 2011, I suppose Mackay might seem like a decent option. It is either that or the guy who sent in his CV after doing well on FM18.

Evra Kicks His Way Back To The Premier League

Former Man Utd left back Patrice Evra has returned to English football as the Frenchman has signed a deal for the rest of the season with West Ham. The 36 year old had been without a club since leaving Marseille in November after kicking a Marseille fan before a Europa League match. "It's amazing to be back and I am thankful to West Ham for giving me the opportunity to do my job," he said. "You don't realise how lucky you are. Just to wake up this morning and know I am going to train with my new team-mates made me smile. When you have to make a deal and money is not the issue, the deal could be done in five minutes. It was the fastest thing I have done in my life."

Oxford Look Beyond Unsworth

Everton's U23 coach David Unsworth has told the BBC that he is out of the running for the vacancy with Oxford United. Unsworth had been interviewed for the role earlier this week following the dismissal of Pep Clotet on 22nd January.

Radrizzani Apologises For Christiansen Mistake

Leeds United's chairman Andrea Radrizzani has apologised to the club's supporters for appointing Thomas Christiansen as boss, following the Dane's dismissal on Sunday, following 8 months in charge. "I did a mistake and I am sorry. I apologise for the lack of results," the Italian told Sky Sports News. "At the same time I ask the fans to support Leeds because we need to believe as the season is still young."

Deeney Avoids Disiplinary Action

Watford forward Troy Deeney has avoided disciplinary action from the FA after making the middle finger gesture with both hands to fans during his goal celebration in Monday's win over Chelsea. A panel of 3 former referees were unable to make a unanimous decision over whether it was a red card offence, despite Dele Alli having received a one match ban for making the same gesture with one hand earlier this season. Deeney claimed his celebration was in response to rumours he was leaving Watford: "I've kept quiet because I realise talking gets me in trouble" he added. "That was a case of letting everyone know I saw everything and I am still here."

Salah Expected Goals

Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah has become the fastest player in their history to score 20 Premier League goals and has 28 goals in total already. "I don't want to seem arrogant! But yeah, I expected it [on scoring a lot of goals]," Salah told FourFourTwo. "When I was in Rome, I was comfortable there. I had two good seasons there. I was happy. I always try to take another chance. I alway put myself under pressure. I didn't play for Chelsea when I was here three years ago. I came back here to show my football. I think I'm doing well. Ever since I was a kid, I had been a Liverpool fan - they were my favourite Premier League club," he added. "I've loved the club since I was young and knew this was a team I wanted to play for. I knew the history that this club has and, as soon as I got the chance, I had to make it happen. We want to push ourselves to win something. For us, for the fans and for the club. That is and always will be our target. A trophy."

Martinez To Sign For Inter

Racing Club president Victor Blanco has confirmed that Lautaro Martinez will be joining Inter Milan, despite being linked with both Real and Atletico Madrid. Former Inter pair Javier Zanetti and Diego Milito have convinced the Argentine. "Lautaro Martinez has expressed his desire to play for Inter," President Blanco told Fox Sports Argentina. "We want to make him happy, but he will certainly remain here until June. The total cost of the deal will be worth over $33m (circa €27m). We're currently negotiating over the percentage of his sell-on fee. He'll no doubt have a release clause of at least €110m, so that could generate a very important sum for Racing in future."

Herrera Set For Match Fixing Trial

Manchester United's Ander Herrera is likely to appear in court as a long-running match-fixing scandal has been re-opened due to an appeal by Deportivo La Coruna. In 2011 Depor were condemned to relegation after fellow relegation battlers Real Zaragoza beat Levante 2-1, saving Zaragoza. Herrera was playing for Zaragoza at the time and is being investigated over an allegation of cash payments being made to Levante players. Numerous players, as well as coaching staff and sporting directors of the 2 clubs received two large payments, around £44,000 and £35,000 in Herrera's case, which has remained unexplained. The players are said to have immediately handed back the money, which was then given to Levante players. Herrera denies any wrongdoing: "As I stated back in 2014 when this issue was raised, I have never had and never will have anything to do with to do with manipulating match results," his statement read. "If I am ever called to testify in a judicial hearing, I will be delighted to attend as my conscience is totally clear. I love football and I believe in fair play, both on and off the pitch."

Donati Ripped Up Hamilton Contract After Being A Victim Of Fraud

After Hamilton Academicals were hit by a bank scam which saw them lose £1m and put them on the verge of closure (see yesterday's Review Of The Day for more details on that story), former Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati agreed to cancel his contract with the club to help them survive. "Hamilton had some trouble over money because of the fraud three or four months ago," Donati said. "They needed to sell players and some players had to leave. I was one of them. I was not happy because I wanted to finish the season as a player. But when they asked me if I would consider going I said: 'Okay, I want to help the team.' I have to say thank you to Hamilton because last year they gave me an opportunity to come back to Scotland and that was one of my targets."

Perth Glory Confirm Chelsea Game

Perth Glory have confirmed the date of a match with Chelsea in the Optus Stadium, Australia. Chelsea will face Glory during their pre-season build up to next season, on 23rd July.

Written by Tris Burke February 08 2018 05:31:30