Football News: Review Of The Day 15th February 2018
Image from: friendsjournal.org
Review of the Day
Wycombe Reject Barnsley Approach For Ainsworth
League Two side Wycombe Wanderers have rejected an approach from Championship side Barnsley for their manager Gareth Ainsworth. Ainsworth has been in charge of the Chairboys since 2012, when he took on the role of player-manager. Wycombe are currently holding the final automatic promotion place in their division in 3rd and a Wycombe club statement said: "Gareth is under contract with us and continues to do an outstanding job. Therefore we are fully focused on continuing the progress we are making with him in charge."
Oliseh Suspended
Fortuna Sittard have suspended coach Sunday Oliseh for "unacceptable actions" and placed him on "non-active" duties according to a club statement. "Several attempts by the club to encourage a change in the coach's behaviour have unfortunately not worked, resulting in an unworkable situation," the statement said. "The board of Fortuna Sittard emphasizes that the decision to suspend Sunday Oliseh is not motivated by the current sporting performance. The coach's unacceptable actions have made cooperation between many people within the organization impossible - from players to employees. Fortuna Sittard regrets the decision, but states that the club interest goes above all else." Sittard currently sit 3rd in the table of the Eerste Divisie, Netherlands second tier.
Clarke Signs Pompey Extension
Portsmouth defender Matt Clarke has signed a contract extension with the League One club. The 21 year old is now contracted until the summer of 2020. "I'm really pleased to have signed a new deal," Clarke said. "I originally arrived with the sole mission of helping get Pompey out of League Two. We've done that now, but want to continue that progression."
Premier League TV Rights Sold
The Premier League have sold 5 batches of TV rights, 4 to Sky Sports and 1 to BT Sport, for £4.464bn, with 2 batches left to sell, for the seasons 2019-22. However that previous deal was worth £5.14bn and was for 32 live matches less. There are still those two remaining packages left, though they are the smallest packages, containing just 20 matches each and there is the possibility that they remain unsold because the reserve price was not met. Perhaps they have reached peak value for UK rights now after the vast rise of 70% last time round?
Nacional Receive Fine And Fans Ban
Following Copa Libertadores match against Chapocoense, where a number of the Nacional fans taunted Chapocoense fans about the plane crash which killed 19 players and staff, the club has been fined $80,000 and their fans have been banned for 3 away games in continental competition.
Tavernier Gets New Deal
No this is nothing to do with Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rangers have announced that their attacking right back James Tavernier has signed a new 3 and a hlaf year contract with the club. "I'm really excited for the second half of this season and the seasons to come," Tavernier told Rangers TV. "I want to win the league. If we can go for the treble, I want to win the treble. I want to be winning leagues and that's why I came here," Tavernier said. "I want to write the next chapter at the club. The squad that we've got I'm really excited about. We've got good numbers in the squad, we've got great quality in the squad and the performances lately have been good. I want to aim high and be playing in the Champions League, so this club has got the capability to do that."
England Sign Qatar Deal
The most outspoken nation of all, after Qatar was 'awarded' the 2022 World Cup, was England. Then FA chairman Greg Dyke called that "the worst moment in FIFA's history" as he looked to have the hosting rights removed from Qatar if the corruption allegations, which are still being investigated, were proven to be true. Fast forward 3 years and now FA chairman Greg Clarke has signed a knowledge-sharing deal (whatever that is) with Qatar's FA and he has termed the 2022 World Cup as "exciting". You have to question the motives behind this. Are they financial, with Qatar doing what Qatar does and throwing money at criticisms until they go away? Are they football political, with the FA to bid for the 2030 World Cup and looking to get Qatar onside? Or perhaps even truly political, to help the English govt in its attempt to get closer ties with a country that is invested huge amounts of money in the UK?
Mastercard Extend Champions League Sponsorship
The UEFA Champions League has now managed to get 4 key sponsors to extend their sponsorship deals as Mastercard follow on from Heineken, Nissan and PepsiCo in signing new sponsorship deals which run until 2021.
Neymar 'Happy' AT PSG
Nyemar Jr. has insisted he is happy at Paris Saint-Germain, despite the persistent rumours of a forthcoming move to Real Madrid. Speaking after Madrid beat PSG 3-1 in the first leg of their Champions League Last 16 match, Neymar said: "I have a contract with PSG. I am happy with my team-mates and I only think about my story here."
Dijon Show Humour In Football Is Not Dead
After a jibe by Adrien Rabiot of PSG after his side lost 3-1 to Real Madrid in the Champions League, French Ligue 1 side Dijon have returned with a show of good humour. PSG hammered Dijon 8-0 in January and Rabiot included that in his post-match slam of his own team with this little jibe: "It's great to put eight goals past Dijon, but it is in these matches that you have to make it count," he told beIN SPORTS. Dijon were quick to respond on their official Twitter account with: "We did everything to give PSG confidence before Real Madrid... And this is how they thank us!"
Rabiot Rips Into His Own Team
Rabiot had a lot more to say about his team-mates and team than just the Dijon jibe: "I am disappointed," he told BeIN after the match. "We started by producing the match that we needed to. We always say the same things, we always do the same things, and in the end, we are always floored in the same way. It is very frustrating we let the match slip out of out hands in the end," he said. "But we should not be too negative. A 2-0 at home is clearly possible."
Written by Tris Burke February 15 2018 05:43:15