Football News: Review Of The Day 7th April 2019

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Review of the Day

Racist Abuse Allegations Investigated

A couple of incidents of alleged racial abuse are being investigated in England's second tier following Saturday's round of matches. A Brentford season ticket holder was arrested after Derby County Duane Holmes had been abused in the dugout during the two sides 3-3 draw. According to manager Frank Lampard, a fan came up to the side of the dugout and abused Holmes after he was substituted late in the game. Other players and fans near the dugout reported the abuse and Brentford said that the supporter was "identified at the time, removed from the ground and subsequently arrested". Wigan Athletic have reported an abusive message received by defender Nathan Byrne on social media after their 2-2 draw with Bristol City. Wigan stated that they have "reported the abuse as hate crime and will work with the relevant authorities to ensure the actions of the person responsible are dealt with appropriately". The abuse was not confined to the Championship either as Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha was called a 'diving monkey', also on social media. Northampton Town have also said that their players suffered "appalling" abuse outside of a hotel in Nottingham before their League Two match against Notts County. Midfielder Timi Elsnik (on loan from Derby County) wrote on social media: "Went for a pre match walk with the team in Nottingham and this young man outside the hotel started racially abusing some of our lads. The most disgusting thing I've seen&heard! He's done it in front of his girl as well with no shame so he must do it all the time. Absolute idiot!"

Lennon Hopeful Of Retaining Boyata

Celtic caretaker manager Neil Lennon is hopeful that he can persuade Belgian defender Dedryck Boyata to sign a new contract with the club, despite rumours linking him with a move to Hertha Berlin. Lennon said: "I wouldn't be surprised if there is interest in him, but we are still hopeful that we can persuade him to stay." He also said that he was not aware of any deal being agreed with the Berlin side. Boyata has been with Celtic since 2015, when he was released by Manchester City.

Yarmolenko Ruled Out For The Season

Ukrainian international winger Andriy Yarmolenko has been ruled out of the final weeks of the season. The 29 year old had to have surgery following an Achilles tear suffered against Tottenham Hotspur back in October and was expected to be back for the final few matches but manager Manuel Pellegrini has decided to leave him out of the squad for the run-in so that he can be fully fit for next season. Pellegrini said: "Yarmolenko is working very well, he has no pain. But maybe it will be too soon for him to play before we finish. To play this season, I don't think would be good for him. It would be better to do a very good pre-season. He must be calm and wait for next season working hard, and we will see the player that we bought because he is a very good player." Midfield duo Carlos Sanchez and Jack Wilshere are both due back to full training this week, so it will only be a couple of weeks before Wilshere is injured again.

Keates Gets Heave Ho

Walsall have sacked manager Dean Keates after the weekend's loss to Oxford United leaves them a point from safety with five matches left to play in League One. Walsall had lost 5 games in a row leading to Keates' dismissal. A Walsall statement read: "Walsall Football Club have tonight parted company with manager Dean Keates with immediate effect. The club would like to place on record its thanks to Dean for all his hard work and dedication during his time with the Saddlers and wish him well for the future."

Former Forest Full-Back Gets New Role

Former Nottingham Forest full-back Matthieu Louis-Jean has left his role as a scout for Manchester United. The 43 year old had been working for the club scouting in the French leagues for talent since 2016, but has now moved up to Head of Recruitment at French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice. Gilles Grimandi, the former Arsenal player, made him his first appointment after he was in turn appointed as the club's technical director.

Ratcliffe Looks Away From England

After failing to convince Roman Abramovich to sell Chelsea to him, Britain's richest man Jim Ratcliffe is now looking at clubs outside the English league pyramid to buy. His brother Robert has been in the south of France, believed to be looking at OGC Nice with a view to buy, and told a local newspaper in the area: "We looked at a fair amount of clubs. It was a rumour that made a lot of noise. In the Premier League, there are 6 top clubs that are worth billions of pounds. That is massively inflated vis-à-vis commercial value. There are sellers, but far less buyers in England. We are not interested in buying an English club." It does also suggest that Mike Ashley's claims with regards to how he is looking to sell Newcastle United for a reasonable amount are bogus. Surely if a club the size of Newcastle were available, as Ashley keeps telling people, for a decent amount it would be a good option?

Fekir's Agent Confirms Pics Were Done With LFC

The agent of Olympique Lyonnaise attacker Nabil Fekir has finally confirmed that the player had undergone a medical and taken photos with a Liverpool shirt during the summer, before his move to the Reds fell through. With the 25 year old only having one more season left on his contract, it is expected that he will be moving on during this summer, with his agent Jean-Pierre Bernes dropping unsubtle hints that his client will leave Lyon. Bernes said: "It is not about staying here. And we will know maybe the real circumstances that prevented Fekir's move to Liverpool. The knee was a part of it, but not only that. He had passed a medical, done photos with the Reds shirt..."

Adriano Claims Neymar Regrets PSG Move

Yet another claim has come out that Neymar Jr is regretting leaving Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian captain's time in France has been 'injury-plagued' as the attacker spends most of his time back home in Brazil while 'injured'. Now former Barca team-mate Adriano has claimed that he spoke to Neymar recently and his former team-mate told him that he regrets leaving the Catalan club. Adriano told Cadena SER: "I spoke with Neymar about three weeks ago, all of us who have been in Barcelona and left repented and he believes that even more."

Thauvin Slams His Own Team

Former Newcastle United winger Florain Thauvin has called his current team "rubbish" during a post-match interview. The French attacker is currently playing for Marseille France's Ligue 1 and was upset following yet another defeat to Bordeaux. Thauvin told reporters: "I'm talking sh*t, I'm tired, but we've been poor this season. It's the same story every season. I'm fed up. For a top-three finish, it's over. And even if we get into Champions League, what's the point? We're rubbish." Talk about how to win friends and influence people!

Garde Denies Lyon Talks

Montreal Impact head coach Remi Garde has denied speaking to Lyon about taking the job of head coach there as Lyon lose again, this time to Dijon. Garde, a former Lyon player, said simply "no" when asked if he had been contacted by Lyon and also told a press conference: "I've spent so [much] time, so many years in that club that maybe people talk. But I'm just focused on what I have to do and I already spoke about that." Garde said back in March, when the rumours first circulated linking him to a return to Lyon: "On my side, I deny all recent contacts with Lyon on the subject that was brought up. I have the feeling that this was piece of information that was created from nothing."

Diego Costa Insults Ref And Sees Red

Or perhaps it would be better to say that Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa saw red, then insulted the referee, who showed him a red card? Only the fiery forward clearly saw the red mist as he leaned right into referee Gil Manzano's face, with his fists clenched in between the two and shouted, just inches away from the ref that "I sh** on your f***ing mother". Though I am not sure if it is a regular arrangement he has with the ref's mother or not, I am going to assume not. The referee confirmed that incident in his match report: 'In the 28th minute the player Diego Da Silva Costa was sent off for the following motive: he shouted loudly at me the following words: 'I s*** on you w**** mother, I s*** on your w**** mother.' Team-mates had to restrain the Brazilian-born striker after the red card was issued.

Written by Tris Burke April 07 2019 06:15:27