Football News: Review Of The Day 15th February 2019
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Review of the Day
Contracts
Slovenian midfielder Jasmin Kurtic has extended his contract with Serie A side SPAL, which will now run until 2022.
Barcelona have handed young centre back Jorge Cuenca a new deal. The contract runs until 2021, with a club option for a further 2 years.
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has signed a contract extension tying him to the club until 2022. Simeone is the longest-serving coach in La Liga, taking up the job in 2011.
Transfers
Marek Hamsik has agreed a move from Napoli to Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang for around £13.5m. Hamsik, who was club captain, record goal scorer and record appearance holder, will team up with Yannick Carrasco and Nicolas Gaitan at Dalian Yifang.
Former West Ham United and Manchester United midfielder Ravel Morrison has signed a short term deal with Swedish side Ostersunds FK.
David Stockdale has returned to Birmingham City at the end of his emergency loan spell with Coventry City.
United Post Record Revenues
Manchester United have posted record revenue results of £208.6m for the second quarter, which they needed to cover the £19.6m pay off to Jose Mourinho and his staff. That pay off doubles the amount paid to David Moyes and Louis van Gaal combined. Despite a rising wage bill of £77.9m, an £8.2m increase over the previous year, the club made an operating profit of £44, in the main due to an improved Champions League broadcasting deal.
Gayle Gets Two Match Diving Ban
West Bromwich Albion striker Dwight Gayle has accepted a charge of "successful deception of a match official" and been given a two match ban. The 28 year old forward on loan from Newcastle United dived to win a late penalty which the Baggies scored from to pick up a draw and cheat Nottingham Forest of the 3 points.
Scottish Players Call For Top Flight Artificial Surface Ban
PFA Scotland has said a survey taken of the players at the 9 clubs who play on proper grass pitches has given a 100% response in favour of banning artificial surfaces in the top flight. The chairman of PFA Scotland Liam Craig, St Johnstone midfielder, said: "The ball rolls and bounces differently, which affects a player's decision making. Movements such as running, turning and tackling on the pitch also have a negative impact on the body, which inevitably affects a player's performance. Players often say it takes longer to recover after playing on an artificial pitch. This can not only affect future performances - but also team selection. If a player takes longer to recover, a manager may not select them for games on these surfaces or for a game after playing on them. A decision based on this sees a player suffer financially - the player could not only miss out on bonuses and appearance money but could find themselves out of the team for a longer period purely down to a game being played on an artificial surface."
Coaching Great Harrison Passes Away
Eric Harrison, the man who is credited with the development of Manchester United's 'class of '92', has passed away peacefully at the age of 81. The man Alex Ferguson describes as "one of the greatest coaches of our time" was diagnosed with dementia four years ago. Harrison was named Man Utd's youth team manager in 1981, after a playing career in the lower leagues. Under him, young players were expected to be respectful and he was praised by many, again including Ferguson, for his ability to "make good human beings" out of youngsters.
Bale Could Be Banned
Welsh international Gareth Bale could be facing a ban following his attempt at making an offensive Spanish gesture after scoring for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid. The Spanish league has asked the Spanish Football Federation to take action, with a potential ban of up to 12 games available for inciting fans with a celebration.
Atletico Investigate Academy Founder
Atletico Madrid have launched an investigation into the man who founded their academy, Manuel Brinas, after the 88 year old admitted sexually assaulting a boy at a school where he was working. Atleti have cut ties to a man who was part of their presentation of Alvaro Morata, when the forward signed from Chelsea on loan in January. An Atletico statement read: "We strongly condemn this type of behaviour. We are dismayed because during the years that Manuel Brinas has been linked to our academy there has never been the slightest suspicion about this figure. Atletico Madrid began an internal investigation yesterday through its compliance department to rule out the existence of any such event during the years that he was linked to our club. Although none of the reported facts are related to our club, today, and with the collaboration of our strategic partner Save The Children, we have begun a review of existing protocols in the operation of our lower categories in order to perfect them even more to prevent any risk."
Chile Join World Cup Bid
Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay have now been joined by Chile in a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup. Uruguay hosted the first ever World Cup back in 1930 and are looking to mark the centenary by hosting once more.
Sergio Ramos Facing UEFA Investigation Over Changing Story
After Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, the man who makes cheating seem like second nature, admitted to reporters that he had deliberately picked up a booking late in the Champions League tie with Ajax, he then used social media to lie about saying it. Ramos said, in a quick bit of backtracking after realising he was facing a ban of 2 games, "I want to make it clear that it hurts more than anyone, I have not forced the card, as I did not against Roma in my previous Champions League match." Ramos has been heavily criticised for deliberately picking up bookings in 2010 and 2013 editions of the Champions League, which led in part to UEFA introducing the 2 match ban for the offence.
Written by Tris Burke February 15 2019 05:09:40
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