Football News: Review Of The Day 25th August 2018

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Review of the Day

Transfers

Free agent utility player Darren Lyon has signed a 1 month deal with Peterborough United. The 23 year old left Hamilton Academical by 'mutual consent' earlier this month. Leaving the Posh on loan, until January, is midfielder Jermaine Anderson. The 22 year old has joined Doncaster Rovers for a spell.

Despite being managerless at the moment, Cheltenham Town have signed midfielder Sam Jones on loan until January from Shrewsbury Town.

Rotherham United defender Michael Ihiekwe has joined Accrington Stanley on loan until January.

Cardiff City striker Rhys Healey has moved on loan to MK Dons until January. Also leaving the Bluebirds on loan until January is midfielder Stuart O'Keefe, who is joining Plymouth Argyle.

Fulham striker Cauley Woodrow has joined Barnsley on loan until January, when his transfer will become permanent.

Brazilian striker Vinicius Morais has left Napoli on loan for Portugese side Rio Ave.

Rayo Vallecano have taken Raul de Tomas on loan from Real Madrid.

Nordin Amrabat's younger brother Sofyan has been sold to Club Brugge for under £2m by Feyenoord.

Nahki Wells has joined Steve McClaren's struggling QPR side on loan from Burnley.

Arsenal Youngster Gets Nigeria Call Up

In an odd decision, Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has called up Arsenal youngster Kelechi Nwakali for the first time, despite the 20 year old being on loan to Porto and playing with their B team. Rohr only usually makes these kind of call ups when a transfer has been made, to enable a player to get a work permit. Which seems perilously close to endangering any competitive football Nigeria are involved in, when their head coach is picking a number of players who need work permits and then ensuring they are given minutes.
Nigeria squad:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna, Spain), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa)
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Udinese, Italy), Leon Balogun (Brighton, England), Chidozie Awaziem (Porto, Portugal), Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Ola Aina (Torino, Italy), Jamilu Colllins (SC Paderborn 07, Germany), Semi Ajayi (Rotherham, England), Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain)
Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey), Joel Obi (Chievo, Italy), John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva, Isreal), Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City, England) Kelechi Nwakali (Porto B, Portugal)
Strikers: Ahmed Musa (Al-Nassr, Saudi Arabia), Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China) Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone, Italy) Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, England), Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray, Turkey) Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux, France) Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England)
Standby: Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium), Stephen Eze (Lokomotiv Plovdiv, Bulgaria); Musa Muhammed (HNK Gorica, Croatia); Blessing Eleke (FC Luzern, Switzerland)

Hodgson Moans About Watford Mascot Ahead Of Game

Last season Watford's mascot, Harry the Hornet, dived in front of Tom Daley's training partner Wilfried Zaha, after the Crystal Palace player was booked for simulation for one of his many dives that day. Despite the fact that Zaha throws himself to the ground to win free kicks and penalties with a regularity even Neymar envies, Zaha and his manager Roy Hodgson actually had the bare-faced cheek to hit out at the mascot for diving in front of him (maybe because it was not Harry's turn yet?) and tried to, laughably, claim there was an agenda against Zaha. Hodgson even said, though I can only assume he must have had his tongue firmly in his cheek at the time, that "Zaha does not dive". He then went on a long rant about the mascot, as apparently having fun and a laugh at football is alien to Hodgson, which explains why his teams play such crap football to watch I suppose. Hodgson said: "If you're asking me whether Harry the Hornet, who I presume is the mascot, should dive in that way, I think it's disgraceful, because that's not what football matches are about. And certainly if it's provoking the crowd into looking for something that's not there, it should be stopped." Actually I am bored even reading his whines. If mascots are unable to provide a bit of fun for the crowd when Hodgson takes his team there, then what is the point?

Hibs Given UEFA Fine

Hibernian have been fined 8,000 euros after being found guilty on three charges during the away leg of their Europa League qualifier against Greek side Asteras Tripolis. The fine was set by UEFA for "setting off fireworks", "throwing of objects" and "insufficient organisation (no stewards with away supporters)". Their opponents were also fined, 5,000 euros for more than five bookings and a "field invasion". UEFA have also opened disciplinary proceedings against Olympiakos over the first leg of their Europa League play-off against Burnley in Greece. Olympiakos fans have been accused of thorwing objects on to the pitch and blocking stairways.

Palestinian FA President Banned And Fined By FIFA Over Messi Shirt Burning

The president of Palestine's FA has been suspended for 12 months and fined 20,000 Swiss francs for "inciting hatred and violence" after he urged football fans to burn Lionel Messi shirts and pictures in protest at a friendly that was due to take place between Argentina and Israel. The planned match in June was cancelled, with Argentina's Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie claiming that the country's footballers "were not willing the play the game".

Lloris Charged With Drink Driving

Tottenham Hotspur captain Hugo Lloris has apologised after he was caught by the police while drink-driving on the early hours of Friday. Lloris said: "I wish to apologise wholeheartedly to my family, the club, my team-mates, the manager and all of the supporters. I take full responsibility for my actions and it is not the example I wish to set." The 31 year old now faces police charges.

Hazard Staying With Chelsea

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has said that Belgium superstar Eden Hazard is going nowhere this season despite the links with a move to Real Madrid. He was not so unequivocal over the future of Ruben Loftus-Cheek though, telling a press conference that Loftus-Cheek's situation will be reviewed in December. Sarri said: "I cannot sell without the possibility to buy another player at the same level. So I think Eden will stay with us for the whole season. I have spoken with him twice this week, after I spoke to the club, so I think that Loftus-Cheek will remain with us. We can speak again about his situation, but only in December."

Former Hammers Defender Faces Jail Over 'Revenge Porn' Case

Former Czech Republic international and West Ham United defender Tomas Repka is facing a jail term after being found guilty by a Brno court of placing three fake adverts offering his ex-wife as an escort. His current girlfriend was found to be an accomplice and fined for her part. Repka has admitted the offence and accepted the blame but has appealed the verdict saying, "I wasn't able to see my son, and the situation escalated". What he failed to mention is that he was unable to see his son after failing to pay child support.

Inter Great Joins Argentina Staff

Former Inter Milan defender Walter Samuel has joined the new backroom staff at the Argentine national team. Samuel will be on the technical staff of Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni.

Written by Tris Burke August 25 2018 06:19:33