Football News: Brawl Bans Handed Out, Neville Refuses To Resign As His Valencia Player Receives Standing Ovation From Barcelona Fans Plus More
Image from: zimbio.com
1. 12 players given bans after brawl
A mass brawl during a 'friendly' match between Gimnasia and Estudiantes, while Manchester United defender Marcus Rojo watched on, has led to 12 players and 3 coaches being given stadium bans by the government of the province of Buenos Aires. Seven Gimnasia players, five Estudiantes players, two Estudiantes coaches and one from Gimnasia have all been banned from entering football grounds for two Argentinian league championship matches by APREVIDE (Agency for the Prevention of Violence in Sport). Gimnasia have also been ordered to play their next two home matches behind closed doors. Former Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron is the president of Estudiantes, he has fined his team's players and ordered them to do community service. The pre-season friendly between Boca Juniors and River Plate, the previous weekend, was also marred by trouble and Boca pair Dani Osvaldo (the former Southampton striker) and Daniel Diaz await their punishment after being accused of inciting violence during a 'friendly' that saw 40 fouls and five red cards. They made insulting gestures towards River fans.
2. Ramires scores on his debut
Former Chelsea midfielder Ramires gets a goal on his debut for Jiangsu Sainty:
Here's Ramires' debut goal pic.twitter.com/VUhuIBwekd
— WeAreChelseaFC (@WeAreChelseaFC) February 3, 2016
3. Neville rules out resignation
Despite his inability to lead Valencia to a league win, and now seeing his side humiliated in the Copa del Rey, Gary Neville is insisting he will not resign his post. With Barcelona slamming 7 past Los Che, for no reply, the fans are turning on Neville, who has never held any kind of management post prior to this and does not speak Spanish. Despite seeing Luis Suarez score four and Lionel Messi a hat-trick, Neville is adamant he will see it through until he eventually gets sacked. Neville faced a barrage of questions about his future in the post-match press conference. When asked if he would resign, his answer was simply "no." A second question about his future saw him ask for the next question before a third questions saw him reply: "Next question. I have answered that before. I think I was very clear."
4. Real Madrid player gets a standing ovation from Barca fans
Denis Cheryshev has joined Valencia on loan from Real Madrid and made his debut in the Copa del Rey clash against Barcelona. As he came on, the Barca fans gave him a standing ovation.
Cheryshev.....Cheryshev...#CheryshevTeQuiero .. pic.twitter.com/mPJALU9SWO
— MARCOS JOVER (@MARCOSJOVER) February 3, 2016
In case you are wondering why, it was because Cheryshev's appearance was responsible for getting Madrid thrown out of the competition, after he played despite being suspended.
5. Lightning does strike twice for Eibar
Eibar are pointing the finger of blame at Middlesbrough after they signed striker Kike Garcia from them on deadline day. The documents were submitted 60 seconds too late, after the window closed at midnight. Eibar are adamant that it was Boro's fault for submitting the documents late, but this is the second time this has happened to Eibar, as last January the same thing happened when they signed Liverpool defender Rafa Paez on a 6 month loan deal last January. Last January they were just unable to use Paez at all because of his late registration, this time around they will just have to wait until next season, as Kike signed a 3 and a half year deal.
6. Fake Twitter followers Premier League rankings
1. Manchester United - 11.76% fakes
2. Chelsea - 11.93% fakes
3. Arsenal - 12.29% fakes
4. Manchester City - 13.69% fakes
5. Leicester City - 15.41% fakes
6. Liverpool - 20.93% fakes
7. Watford - 22.19% fakes
8. Swansea City - 22.92% fakes
9. Tottenham Hotspur - 23.88% fakes
10. West Ham United - 26.87% fakes
11. Aston Villa - 29.19% fakes
12. Everton - 29.26% fakes
13. Stoke City - 29.7% fakes
14. West Bromwich Albion - 30.59% fakes
15. Newcastle United - 30.67% fakes
16. Southampton - 30.71% fakes
17. Sunderland - 30.9% fakes
18. Bournemouth - 31.64% fakes
19. Crystal Palace - 32.5% fakes
20. Norwich City - 32.59% fakes
7. Lukaku a doubt for the weekend
Everton striker Romelu Lukaku is a major doubt for the weekend's trip to Stoke City due to a back injury he suffered during the Toffees' 3-0 win over Newcastle United. Lukaku had to be replaced at half time due to the injury and is now likely to join John Stones on the sidelines, after the England defender missed out due to a hamstring injury. Boss Roberto Martinez said: "He (Lukaku) couldn't walk. He had a knee in his back and tried to run it off in the first half and couldn't. We are playing on Saturday and it will be difficult to see him make it but it is not a major problem. Stones had a bit of a niggle in his hamstring and he had a scan yesterday and it was all clear. I think it was a fatigue reaction. He is 21 and at this stage has played more games than at any time in his professional career. I expect him to be back in the next week or 10 days."
8. Striker says he would have scored for Arsenal
New Bournemouth signing Benik Afobe believes he could have scored goals for Arsenal if he had been given a chance. The 22 year old, who was signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers during the January transfer window, graduated from the Gunners' academy and is looking forward to facing his old club this weekend. "I believe I would've [scored goals for them]," Afobe told the Daily Mail. "That's the story for another day. I'm not there any more and I don't hold any grudges and this could've happened or that could've happened. I'm in the Premier League now scoring goals so at the end of the day I'm happy." Arsenal head to Dean Court on the back of three games without scoring.
9. Berahino told to forget about social media
West Bromwich Albion team mate Ben Foster has some advice for outcast Saido Berahino if he wants to get his career back on track. Goalkeeper Foster has told striker Berahino to stop moaning on Twitter and focus on his football. Berahino used Twitter to complain after a summer move to Tottenham Hotspur failed to happen, even threatening to go on strike. Since then the 22 year old has been frozen out of the team. "When the gaffer says that little incidents have gone on, they're just little silly things that he doesn't need to do," Foster said. "These days with the likes of Twitter and Instagram, that kind of stuff, people are getting in touch with him from all different corners of the world. The best thing to do would be to delete all that rubbish and just focus on playing football. He knows he's here until the end of the season, it's as simple as that. You'd like to think he'll get his head down and get stuck in. He just doesn't need it. You saw when he came on that he offers a threat, he'll always score goals no matter where he goes because he is a natural goalscorer."
10. Carroll fit for the weekend
West Ham United striker Andy Carroll is set to be able to face Southampton at the weekend, after he recovered the hamstring injury he suffered against Bournemouth last month. Unfortunately the news is not all good as new signing Sam Byram has picked up an injury in training and is expected to miss out. There is better news on Manuel Lanzini and Diafra Sakho as both are set to return to training soon. Head of West Ham's Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke said: "Andy Carroll is fit to play a part in Saturday's game against Southampton. Unfortunately Sam Byram picked up a small injury in training and will be out for a week. Diafra Sakho and Manuel Lanzini are in the final stages of their rehab and are knocking on the door to train with the first-team." The Hammers statement added: "New signing Emmanuel Emenike will be available for Saturday's game at Southampton having obtained his work permit."
Written by Tris Burke February 04 2016 10:53:32