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Football News: Review Of The Day 21st December 2018

Review Of The Day 21st December 2018
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Review of the Day

 

Arnautovic Set For Training Return

West Ham United boss Manuel Pellegrini has been handed a fitness boost as Austrian forward Marko Arnautovic is set to return to training next week, will in advance of his expected return. Pellegrini said: "We will need to see his last examination, but I think that next week he will start working with the team." On the minus front Jack is still not back, as former Arsenal injury-prone midfielder Jack Wilshere continues to show why he is nicknamed Jack Wheelchair. Wilshere has got out of his wheelchair for just 5 minutes since September as his glass ankles continue to give him problems. You have to wonder why anyone would be stupid enough to choose to sign Wilshere and why you would want to take that risk?

 

Transfers

Midfielder Adrian Popa has left Reading to join Bulgarian First League champions Ludogorets on loan for the rest of the season. The 30 year old Romanian international has only managed 17 appearances for Reading, ending last season on loan to Saudi Arabian side Al-Taawon.

Stephen Ireland, he of the 45 grandparents, has left Bolton Wanderers without playing a single game for the Championship side. Ireland had left Stoke in June after they were relegated from the Premier League, joining the Trotters in October.

Valencia defender Jeison Murillo has been signed by Barcelona on loan for the rest of the season, with an option to make it permanent for 25m euros. The Colombian has only made 3 appearances this season for Valencia, just one of those in La Liga.

Getafe have signed former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini. The 34 year old had been without a club since leaving Crystal Palace in July.

Bordeaux's French forward Alexandre Mendy has joined Ligue 1 bottom club Guingamp on loan for the rest of the season.

 

Stoke Get Fine

After a number of Stoke City players confronted the referee following his decision to award a penalty to Aston Villa against them, the club have been fined £5000. Stoke admitted a charge of failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion.

 

Wednesday For Sale

No, not the day of the week, though I am sure that would be up for sale if the Premier League could find a way to monetise it, instead it is Sheffield Wednesday on the auction block. Thai businessman Dejphon Chansiri has confirmed that he is intent on selling the Yorkshire club. Chansiri said: "I will put this club on the market. I believe many people want to buy." Wednesday are currently sat in 18th in the Championship and suffering from financial fair play breaches as Chansiri pointed out: "The EFL changed the regulations at the end of last season. We didn't just break (FFP rules) a little, we broke them a lot - eight figures. We have problems with FFP, so it is hard, but we will try our best. I am not looking to next season, I am looking now to solve FFP and how we can make this season as good as we can. If we can solve those problems now, then next season can be better."

 

Rangers Fined For Referee Criticism

Referee Willie Collum, the Scottish football fans' target of choice for his ineptitude, was criticised by Rangers after sending off Daniel Candeias for blowing kisses at Anton Ferdinand during a match against St Mirren. Rangers were fined £6000 after being found guitly of innappropriate conduct and criticising an official and indicating bias. They were cleared of a bringing the game into disrepute charge.

 

McGregor Gets Contract Extension

Celtic have given midfielder Callum McGregor a new 5 year deal which runs to 2023. The 25 year old has been with the reigning Scottish champions since he was 9 years old and made his debut in 2014. McGregor said: "I just want to keep learning and become a better player. It's one of the biggest clubs in the world and when you get the chance to extend your stay, it's a no-brainer for me. I want to be here for as long as I can."

 

Robinson Gets 5 Game Ban

Motherwell's manager Stephen Robinson has been given a 5 game touchline ban after he criticised the officials during his side's 7-1 defeat at the hands of Rangers. Robinson said that the officials were "conned" by Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos and that 4th official Craig Napier was "a young boy who is out of his depth". Two of the games are suspended until the end of next season.

 

Duo On Transfer List

St Johnstone pair Stefan Scougall and Greg Hurst have been put up for sale in the January window. Scougall has not played for them since August, while Hurst is on loan at Berwick Rangers.

 

eSwatini Appoint New Coach

African nation eSwatini (previously known as Swaziland) have appointed Serbian coach Kosta Papic as their new head coach on a 12 month performance-based contract. It is Papic's first foray into international management.

 

North London Clubs Fined

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been fined for failing to control their players in the derby match between the two. Both clubs admitted the charge and the Gunners were fined £45,000 while Spurs picked up a £50,000 fine.

 

Toffees Looking At 52,000 Seater

The planned new stadium Everton are proposing to build at Bramley Moore Dock is to initially have a 52,000 seat capacity, with potential to rise by a further 10,000 in the future. The club are looking to submit a planning application next year.

 

Seagulls Hit Out At Fans' Behaviour

Brighton & Hove Albion have stated their dismay at the way recent incidents "that are shaming our sport" have occurred involving football supporters. From banana skins thrown, racist abuse of Raheem Sterling, Chelsea fans with anti-Semitic chants (which they continued during the European travels), a bottle hitting Dele Alli and homophobic chants regularly made by opposing supporters when facing Brighton, the club said: "It appears a worrying trend is developing - we wish to play our part to stop this in its tracks. As we head towards 2019, it's disturbing that some people seem to think it's acceptable to behave in an anti-social manner at football matches. Racism, homophobia, anti-Semitism, discrimination and violence have no place in society, let alone in a football stadium." The Seagulls have also confirmed that the number of fans ejected from their stadium (both home and away fans) and arrests for hate crimes during this season and last has doubled the total of the previous 3 seasons put together.

 

Aussie Call-Up For Injured Mooy

Despute being ruled out until February by Huddersfield Town, Australia have called up Aaron Mooy for next month's Asian Cup. Mooy has a torn ligament in his knee but Australia manager Graham Arnold said that Mooy "believes he will be ready to go. [Huddersfield] ruled him out before we could speak to him. He's asked for the medical staff to go over and to have a look at him and we just want what's best for the kid. The kid wants to go to the Asian Cup and the kid wants to play for Huddersfield."

 

Arsenal Investigate Anti-Semitic Chants And Gestures

The Gunners are investigating allegations of anti-Semitic chants and gestures by their fans during the 2-0 Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Spurs. An Arsenal statement read: "We are aware and are currently investigating. We do not tolerate any anti-social, discriminatory or violent behaviour at Arsenal Football Club. Anyone identified will receive a lengthy club ban and their details will be passed to the police to commence legal proceedings."

 

Pinto Diagnosed With Cancer

Vitoria Setubal defender Nuno Pinto has been forced to put his career on hold after announcing he has lymphona at a news conference, where he was joined by team-mates, coaching staff and club president. Pinto was unable to speak as he broke down in tears, leaving club captain Vasco Fernandes to speak on his behalf. Fernandes said: "He is a warrior. We will always be with him. He's one of ours and we never dropped one of our own. He is a great person and a great father. In a while we'll remember this as one more battle that we won." Tributes have since poured in for the defender who wears the number 21, and the fans held their own during the 21st minute of their Portugese Cup game against Braga, unveiling a large banner of his face, along with the words: "Ours never dropped. Forca Nuno #21".

 

Greek Super League Suspended

The Greek Super League has been shut down for the weekend after a referee was attacked outside of his home. Thanasis Tzilos needed stitches for head and leg injuries caused by the assault and was released from hospital on Thursday. Olympiakos condemned the attack saying: "Greek football has reached the pits." Panathinaikos, their Athens rivals, said: "The mafia in Greek football lives and reigns". The Referees Association in Greece released a statement reading: "As a sign of sympathy we will refrain from our activities until further notice. We express our indignation of the cowardly attack against our colleague Thanasis Tzilos and the repeated attacks on referees. We will not allow those people to continue trying to terrorise us."

Written by Tris Burke December 21 2018 06:06:27

 

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