Football News: Review Of The Day 6th November 2018
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Review of the Day
Sane Laughs Off Man Utd Rumours
Manchester City winger Leroy Sane has been linked with a move to Manchester United in recent rumours after a bookmaker (probably looking for some free publicity) cut the odds drastically on the possibility of him making the move. Sane has dismissed the rumours as nonsense saying: "That won't happen! That won't happen! That won't happen at all. I am really happy here and I'm on the right side."
Serero Gets SA Recall
South Africa's head coach Stuart Baxter has handed a recall to Vitesse Arnhem midfielder Thulani Serero, despite the 28 year old saying he does not want to be picked unless he is going to play.
South Africa squad:
Goalkeepers: Darren Keet (Bidvest Wits), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United),
Defenders: Thulani Hlatshwayo, Sifiso Hlanti (both BidVest Wits), Motjeka Madisha (Mamelodi Sundowns), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates), Thamsanqa Mkhize (Cape Town City), Buhle Mkhwanazi (BidVest Wits), Ramahlwe Mphahlele (Kaizer Chiefs), Siyanda Xulu (Maritzburg United)
Midfielders: Hlompho Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Lebohang Maboe, Tiyani Mabunda (Mamelodi Sundowns), Fortune Makaringe (Maritzburg United), Teboho Mokoena (SuperSport United), Vincent Pule (Orlando Pirates), Thulani Serero (Vitesse Arnhem, Netherlands), Themba Zwane (Mamelodi Sundowns)
Strikers: Lebo Mothiba (Racing Strasbourg, France), Dino Ndlovu (Hangzhou Greentown, China), Percy Tau (Royal Union St Gilloise, Belgium)
Fenlon Returns To Linfield
Former Linfield midfielder Pat Fenlon has returned to the club as general manager. The 49 year old has been managing since 2002 but his new role puts him into a different role, taking charge of the club's off-field activities at both their Windsor Park stadium and the Midgeley Park training facility.
McClean Upset By FA Warning
Stoke winger James McClean has been warned by the Football Association after he used an offensive word in a social media post about the abuse he has been taking from Stoke City fans after he chose not to wear a poppy. McClean replied to the FA with: "Week in, week out for the past seven years I get constant sectarian abuse, death threats, objects being thrown, chanting which is heard loud and clear every week which my family, wife and kids have to listen to. They turn a blind eye and not a single word or condemnation of any sort."
Another Bizarre Statue Unveiled
Either sculptors have no idea what footballers look like or they are deliberately messing up sculptures of footballers for some publicity, as yet another ridiculous sculpture of a footballer is unveiled. This time it is Mo Salah who has had an unflattering and, quite frankly, bizarre sculpture of him. There is no way on earth you would be able to guess who it was meant to be if you had not been told beforehand!
14 Year Old Scores In Paraguay's Biggest Professional Game
Fernando Ovelar has become the youngest player to score, as well as play, in Paraguay's top flight a week after making his debut. He is still 2 months away from his 15th birthday but scored for his team Cerro Porteno against arch rivals Olimpia. However he is still too old to be the youngest ever professional footballer, as Mauricio Baldevieso played in Bolivia's top flight aged just 12!
PSG Appeal To CAS Over FFP Investigation
I am not sure why Paris Saint-Germain are complaining about UEFA reopening their investigation into the French club's finances, unless they have something to hide, but they are complaining anyway. Their finances were cleared in June but the investigation was reopened in September.
Der Spiegel Make Claims Of Financial Doping Against Man City
German magazine Der Spiegel, working with the Football Leaks website, have claimed that they have seen internal documents that prove that Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour supplemented sponsors to get more money invested in the club from them. Der Spiegel claim Etihad (the Abu Dhabi-based airline), Aabar (an investment company which invests at the behest of the Abu Dhabi government) and the Abu Dhabi tourism authority were all paying just a percentage of their sponsorship deals, with the rest paid by the Sheikh. According to Der Spiegel, a City executive sent an internal email saying: "As we discussed, the annual direct obligation for Aabar is £3million. The remaining £12m will come from alternative sources provided by His Highness." They also claim that the sponsors were given more cash for sponsorship to pay for a £9.9m shortfall caused by the sacking of Roberto Mancini, according to a quoted internal email from Man City's CFO Jorge Chumillas: "We will have a shortfall of £9.9m in order to comply with Uefa FFP this season. The deficit is due to RM termination. I think that the only solution left would be an additional amount of AD sponsorship revenues that covers this gap." These accusations have been made in the past by La Liga president Javier Tebas. Despite the accusations UEFA are not investigating.
Shaqiri Left Behind As Liverpool Head To Serbia
Liverpool have left their Switzerland international Xherdan Shaqiri out of the squad to face Red Star Belgrade tonight as they look to avoid 'distractions' caused by his Albanian heritage. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: "We have heard and read the speculation and talk about what kind of reception Shaq would receive and although we have no idea what would happen, we want to go there and be focused 100% on football and not have to think about anything else. We are keen to be respectful and keen to avoid any distractions. So, for that reason, Shaq is not involved and he accepts and understands this."
Matic Explains Poppy Refusal
Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic has explained why he is choosing not to wear a poppy on his shirt this year. The 30 year old said on social media: "I recognise fully why people wear poppies, I totally respect everyone's right to do so and I have total sympathy for anyone who has lost loved ones due to conflict. However, for me it is only a reminder of an attack that I felt personally as a young, frightened 12-year old boy living in Vrelo, as my country was devastated by the bombing of Serbia in 1999. Whilst I have done so previously, on reflection I now don't feel it is right for me to wear the poppy on my shirt. I do not want to undermine the poppy as a symbol of pride within Britain or offend anyone, however, we are all a product of our own upbringing and this is a personal choice for the reasons outlined. I hope everyone understands my reasons now that I have explained them and I can concentrate on helping the team in the games that lie ahead."
Written by Tris Burke November 06 2018 04:51:11
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