Football News: Review Of The Day 6th March 2020

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Reggie Cannon has signed a 3 year deal with FC Dallas.

Lee Grant has extended his Manchester United deal until the end of next season.

Elliot Simoes has agreed a new contract with Barnsley which will expire in 2023.

Transfers

Chicago Fire have paid over £3.5m for Argentine midfielder Gaston Gimenez from Velez Sarsfield.

Cenk Tosun's loan to Crystal Palace has been ended early due to his injury.

Former Everton and Manchester United keeper Tim Howard has come out of retirement to sign for Memphis 901 FC, where he is also part owner and sporting director.

Injury Round-Up

Cardiff City striker Isaac Vassell, a cousin of former Aston Villa forward Darius, has been ruled out for the rest of the season. The 26 year old had been returning from a quad injury and taking part in a game for the under-23s to regain fitness when Vassell picked up another quad injury. Manager Neil Harris said: "He has had a scan and he is not going to play again this season. Our hope for him is he is like a new signing in the summer."

Manchester City midfielder Kevin de Bruyne is doubtful for Sunday's Manchester derby with a back injury.

Also a doubt for the Manchester derby is Manchester United captain Harry Maguire, who suffered an ankle injury in training.

It looks like Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira's season is over after the 24 year old dynamo suffered a fractured ankle during the FA Cup win over Portsmouth.

Disciplinary Charges

Tunisian side Esperance have received a number of punishments following their abusive behaviour towards match officials during their African Champions League defeat at the hands of Zamalek. Defender Khalil Chamam has been banned for 6 matches and given a $40,000 fine "for use of offensive words and spitting on the match officials." Coach Mouine Chaabani was fined $20,000 and banned for four matches for "aggressive behaviour and use of offensive words at the match official." There was another 4 game ban with a $50,000 fine on top for assistant coach Mejdi Traoui as he was also guilty of "threats" as well as "aggressive behaviour and use of offensive words at the match official." Midfielder Abderaouf Benguit was also banned for 4 games and fined $20,000 "for use of offensive language at the match officials." The club itself was fined a further $10,000 for the use of flares by its supporters. The match officials detailed the problems they had as members of the Esperance backroom staff waited by their dressing rooms as they tried to head in after the game. The officials report detailed how the staff threw bottles and cigarette ends at them and made offensive remarks: "We got back to our dressing rooms with great difficulty, despite the large number of security people with us, due to members of the Esperance backroom staff waiting for us by our dressing rooms. They started to throw bottles and cigarette ends at us and made offensive remarks towards all four referees. After the match, the Esperance coach, certain players and senior club officials invaded the pitch and the tunnel as they tried to attack and insult the referees, and one of the club officials even threw a cigarette in a referee's face. They were then not willing to leave the dressing room area and get on their bus after getting dressed. So we had to wait around 45 minutes to leave our dressing room. After the final whistle, and despite the all the best efforts of the security forces to protect us, the end of the match was followed by several incidents. Esperance coach Chaabani addressed me in a very aggressive manner and insulted me with hurtful and offensive words. Assistant coach Traoui talked very aggressively to me and began to insult me with hurtful, offensive and threatening words. He even tried to hit me despite the intervention of the police surrounding us. Chamam from Esperance insulted with hurtful and offensive words as well as spitting on me. Benguit insulted us with hurtful and offensive language aimed at the refereeing team."

Hibernian striker Marc McNulty has been banned for 2 games for a stamp on Sean Clare in the Edinburgh derby. The incident was not spotted by referee Kevin Clancy at the time.

The European Court of Human Rights have upheld Michel Platini's ban from football. The former UEFA president had appealed after being found guilty of ethics breaches in 2015, but his appeal was rejected. The judgement read: "The court found in particular that, having regard to the seriousness of the misconduct, the senior position held by Mr Platini in football's governing bodies and the need to restore the reputation of the sport and of Fifa, the sanction did not appear excessive or arbitrary."

Brazilian legend Ronaldinho is being held by police in Paraguay over allegations he used a fake passport to ented the country. It was reported last year that his passports had been confiscated over unpaid taxes and non-payment of fines for a nature reserve he had built illegally. Ronaldinho's brother and a third man who travelled with them were also held.

Everton's manager Carlo Ancelotti has been fined £8,000 after accepting a misconduct charge for his red card against Manchester United.

Beckham Subject Of FIFA Complaint

Mexican Liga MX side Monterrey have filed an official complaint against Inter Miami over part-owner David Beckham's conduct during the transfer of Rodolfo Pizarro to Major League Soccer's new boys. Pizarro revealed after signing for Miami that Backham had made video-calls inducing the midfielder to make the transfer. Pizarro said: "He told me that he wanted to count on me. From when he called me via video, it influenced a lot in me taking this decision."

City Group Close In On Nancy

French Ligue 2 side AS Nancy-Lorraine look set to be the latest addition to the City Group. The City Group already owns clubs such as Manchester City, New York City FC, Yokohama F Marinos and Melbourne City, but have yet to buy a French club. Nancy's president Jacques Rousselot has revealed that a deal is close: "As I already said publicly on many occasions, I am talking to potential buyers for some time already. The sale of the club is progressing well and things gathered pace and intensified, although the City Group are very astute and meticulous in their analysis. There are still some steps to be made. (...) As soon as there is no risk anymore for things to go wrong and everything is agreed officially, I will announce it for everyone who loves ASNL."

FGR Begin Detailed Stadium Planning

After attempts to bring in the government for a review of Forest Green Rovers new Eco Park Stadium development failed, the club is set to go ahead with detail planning of the project. Stroud District Council had approved outline plans for the stadium but the local Eastington Parish Council had applied to the government for an inquiry. The government decided not to intervene and the club are to push on with more detailed designs according to owner Dale Vince: "Eco Park is not being called in by the government. It CAN go ahead. We can push on now with more detailed designs and next steps. We are on our way."

Mackems Told To Stay At Home

Sunderland players have a weekend off coming up and the club has instructed the players not to travel abroad during their break. Sunderland manager Phil Parkinson said: "It's important we give ourselves every chance of keeping that virus away. We said to the lads they can't go abroad, some wanted to go away. We don't think it's wise for anyone to go abroad, and the players understand that."

Coronavirus Disruption Continues

Morocco have become the latest country to order football matches to be played behind closed doors in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Italy also decided that all sporting events should take place without fans present. A Morocco football federation statement read: "The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has decided that all matches, all competitions and categories combined, will be played without an audience from today. The FRMF calls on the National Professional Football (LNFP), amateur leagues, women's Football Leagues and the regional leagues to implement this decision. This decision, taken in coordination with the authorities concerned, is part of measures to preserve the health of the football family (players, coaches, managers and supporters)." Valencia's home match in the European Champions League against Atalanta on 10th March will also be played behind closed doors. Valencia are attempting to overturn a 4-1 deficit from the first leg. In England disruption so far has been limited to the Premier League dropping the pre-match 'respect' handshakes between players and officials. Instead of a handshake, the players will just walk past each other before the game, which seems rather pointless!

Dier Confronts Fan

Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier climbed up a stand to confront a fan who insulted him. Stewards intervened to calm the situation and hold back the England player. Manager Jose Mourinho said: "I think Eric did what we professionals cannot do but probably every one of us would do. I repeat we professionals cannot do it, but I repeat I am with the player and I understand the player. The fans were with the team until the last penalty kick that we missed. This person insulted Eric, the family was there, the younger brother was not happy with the situation." Mourinho also hit out at the fans in that area saying: "The people that are in these privileged positions by the tunnel, of course some are Tottenham fans. But I think a lot of corporate, a lot of invitation, a lot of people with special status and probably it is the place of the stadium where I sometimes have doubts over if they are the real Tottenham fans, because these are the ones who support the boys until the last."

Written by Tris Burke March 05 2020 21:35:02