Football News: Review Of The Day 2nd December 2018

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Review of the Day

Cambridge Done With Dunne

With just 5 wins in 20 matchs and sitting 21st in League Two, Cambridge United have sacked head coach Joe Dunne, who was only named in permanent charge in May. The 45 year old had spent 3 months as caretaker boss before getting the job, but it has been a poor start to the season. Cambridge's director of football Graham Daniels said: "Results have dictated the need for change. We believe we have the talent in this squad to be further up the table. While the team has shown its ability in patches during the season we have struggled to find consistency."

Norwich To Lose Their Balls

Championship frontrunners Norwich City are to lose their chairman Ed Balls on Boxing Day, as the 51 year old former Labour MP will step down from the post as well as his directorship of the East Anglian club. Balls will become an appropriately named club ambassador alongside Stephen Fry, as well as becoming club vice-president.

Johnson Gets 4-Match Ban For Bite

Derby County midfielder Bradley Johnson has been handed a 4-match ban by the Football Association for a bizarre attempt to bite Stoke City's Joe Allen. The midfielder took hold of Allen's shirt with his teeth during a flashpoint after Stoke's Oghenekaro Etebo was sent off. Johnson and Allen were both booked at the time, but officials missed that part of the incident, which was caught on cameras. Allen stated that Johnson never bit him but the FA decided that Johnson was "found to have committed an act of violent conduct for which the standard punishment would be clearly insufficient". Johnson will also face internal disciplinary proceedings from the club and an extra 1 match ban as it was his 5th yellow card of the season.

Killie To Investigate Power Failures

SPFL side Kilmarnock are to investigate after two power failures caused their league match with Hibernian to be halted twice. After 9 minutes of the second half Rugby Park fell into darkness and the referee took the players off the pitch. After 15 minutes they restarted the game only for a second power failure to kill the lights with just 13 minutes left in the match. The light returned and Killie finished the match with a 3-0 win over Hibs, but feared the referee abandoning the game.

Palermo Sold To A London-Based Company

Madcap Palermo owner Maurizio Zamparini has sold his stake in the club to a 'London-based company' the 77 year old has announced. Zamparini claims to have sold 100% of the club for a 'symbolic price' of around 10 euros after 16 years (and over 40 managers) in charge of the club. Zamparini said: "The objective for some time has been to find someone to continue my work with more financial power, capable of investments that I was no longer able to make. The new London-based owners will put into action the construction of the stadium and training ground. I have, with a lump in my throat, signed my departure."

Villa To Play In J-League

Former Spanish international striker David Villa is to team up with another Spanish World Cup winner, Andres Iniesta, in Japan with Vissel Kobe. The 36 year old has left MLS side New York City FC, one of the group of clubs owned by Abu Dhabi's crown prince, to team up once more with Iniesta. Villa played with Iniesta at Barcelona for 3 years, after he joined them from Valencia, where the pair won 2 La Liga titles and the Champions League before Villa left for Atletico Madrid, who he helped to a La Liga title as well. Villa was NYC FC's first ever player, when he joined them in 2014. Villa said: "The moment has come. It's decided. I have a new destination. A great challenge awaits. Asia. New trips. New country. New culture. New team-mates. Hello Japan. Hello Vissel Kobe." Vissel Kobe's owner has invested heavily in the club in an attempt to make it the biggest club in Asia and Villa will be playing alongside Lukas Podolski as well as Iniesta.

River Object To Madrid Game

River Plate have objected to the decision to play the second leg of the twice-postponed second leg of their Copa Libertadores final against fellow Argentine club Boca Juniors more than 6,000 miles away in Madrid. Boca said: "Argentine football as a whole and the Argentine Football Association cannot and should not allow a handful of violent [fans] to impede the development of the Superclasico in our country."

Leicester Give Watford Fans Free Food And Drink

After the Watford fans visiting the King Power stadium unveiled two banners in tribute to those that died in the helicopter crash a month ago, Leicester City's chairman, and son of deceased owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, Top Srivaddhanaprabha immediately rang down to ensure the away fans were given free food and drink. The first banner read: "Thank you Vichai for allowing us all to dream. Rest In Peace." The second listed the names of the other four who were killed in the accident. A Watford supporters' group called 'The 1881 Movement' raised the money for the banners, with over £1000 excess from fund-raising efforts to be donated to a Leicester foundation that is supported by the Srivaddhanaprabha family. It is these little gestures that made Leicester most fans second team during their run to the Premier League title.

Written by Tris Burke December 02 2018 04:07:50