Football News: Review Of The Day 9th July 2018

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Review of the Day

Transfers

30 year old Paraguayan midfielder Victor Ayala has left Barcelona to join Gimnasia. Barcelona SC Guayaquil of Ecuador that is.

Brazil's World Cup flop midfielder (and ridiculous choice to take) Paulinho has returned to China on loan following a season that started off so promisingly and ended with him as an impact(less?) sub. Guangzhou Evergrande have taken the Barcelona (real Barca this time) midfielder on loan, less than a year after they sold him to the Catalans. The deal includes a mandatory 'option' to make it permanent.

Southampton's Argentinian forward Guido Carrillo has moved to Leganes on loan after a failed spell in the Premier League.

Kenyan Ref Banned For Life

After Aden Marwa was filmed accepting money ahead of the Russian World Cup, he was dropped from the FIFA list of officials, despite his denials of any wrongdoing. Now the Kenyan referee is amongst 11 referees to be given bans by Confederation of African Football. Marwa has been banned for life, Togolese referee Yannissou Bebou and Gambian Jallow Ebrima have both been handed 10 year bans. The rest received bans ranging between 2 and 6 years long. 11 more referees have also been provisionally banned before a CAF disciplinary board on 5th August.

Hierro Steps Down From Spain

Fernando Hierro, who stepped in at the last minute to coach Spain through the World Cup, has left the national team's set up, after deciding against returning to his previous role of sporting director. The Spanish football federation state that Hierro has decided to "seek new horizons".

Torreira Confirms Arsenal Move

Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira has confirmed he is set to join Arsenal once he has taken a medical. The 22 year old will be leaving Serie A club Sampdoria to join the Gunners. He will be the 4th signing since Unai Emery took charge at the Emirates.

Vida Escapes Ban

Croatian defender Domagoj Vida has escaped a ban for his pro-Ukraine celebration following the victory over Russia in the World Cup. Former Croatian international Ognjen Vukojevic had posted up a clip of Vida shouting: "Glory to Ukraine!" shortly after the win. That was the slogan of the former Soviet republic's revolution that toppled a Russian-backed president in 2014, sparking a separatist war in eastern Ukraine as well as Russia's annexation of the Crimea peninsula. Both Vukojevic and Vida played for Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv in the past. FIFA decided just to issue a warning to Vida but take no further action.

R.I.P. Alan Gilzean

Legendary former Tottenham Hotspur striker Alan Gilzean has passed away at the age of 79 after suffering from a brain tumour. Scotland international Gilzean was part of a Spurs side that won 2 league titles as well as a UEFA Cup. He started his career with Dundee, where he had an incredible record of 169 goals in 190 games. His goals fired them to a Scottish league title and the semi-finals of the European Cup.

Written by Tris Burke July 09 2018 06:22:59