Football News: Review Of The Day 1st March 2019

Image from: freelargeimages.com

Review of the Day

Contracts

Former Sunderland flop Jozy Altidore has signed a new contract with Toronto FC of Major League Soccer. The 29 year old USA international is now set to stay until the end of 2022.

Barcelona left-back Jordi Alba has a new contract with the club which runs until 2024 with a monster release clause of 500m euro.

Sheffield United centre back Jack O'Connell has signed a new deal with runs until 2023.

Transfers

Former Bolton Wanderers forward Ricardo Vaz Te has dropped out of the Chinese Super League into their second tier competition. The 32 year old Portugese has been signed on a free transfer by Qingdao Huanghai from Henan Jianye.

Chicago Fire have signed Argentine winger Nico Gaitan from Dalian Yifang.

Forest Announce Plans To Increase Capacity

Championship club Nottingham Forest have announced plans to increase the capacity of their City Ground stadium to 38,000. The plans come on the back of a new lease agreement with Nottingham City Council, which extends their stay on the banks of the River Trent. The proposals include knocking down the Peter Taylor stand and replacing it with a brand new 10,000 seat stand which will host a museum, club shop and massively improve facilities for the disabled.

Bolton Once More Fail To Pay Salaries

Bolton Wanderers manager Phil Parkinson admits that unpaid wages are making his job more difficult, as he tries to keep the club in the Championship. Staff at the club, both on the playing side and non-playing side, have not been paid in February and the club faces a winding-up order in court on the 20th March. Parkinson said: "From my own point of view it really frustrates me. When I came in this morning, and we organised everything we had to do for the preparation, half the talk is about the wages and the club. You try not to let it detract but it does because that's what everyone wants to talk about. It's not just myself and the players, it's the kitman or the people who look after the pitches for us, the chef and everybody. They're concerned because mortgages come out today or tomorrow and that is a worry for people."

King Out For Rest Of Season

Leicester City's on loan midfielder Andy King has been ruled out for the rest of the season. The Welsh international limped out of loaning club Derby County's derby day defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday night. King had made just 5 appearances after joining Frank Lampard's Rams in January, who have suddenly lost form and are slipping down the table fast.

Leeds Fan Investigated Over Racial Abuse

Leeds United and the FA are investigating after a fan was filmed using racist language and gestures towards QPR supporters on Tuesday. Both Leeds and QPR have stated that anyone found guilty of racism will be banned from their grounds indefinitely.

Police Investigate Sectarian Singing And Coin Throwing

Police Scotland are warning of an increase in "sectarianism and consistently thuggish behaviour" as they investigate yet another alleged incidence of sectarian chanting during the Hearts v Celtic SPFL match on Wednesday. They are also looking into reports of coins thrown from the Celtic end, as footage showed an object just missing Hearts keeper Zdenek Zlamal.

Tansey Appeal Fails

St Mirren midfielder Greg Tansey will miss 2 matches after losing his appeal against a charge of serious foul play. The 30 year old was booked for his tackle on Hearts' Clevid Dikamona on Saturday.

Motherwell To Pay For Their Fans To Attend Rearranged Match

Motherwell have said they will cover the £5 fee that Kilmarnock are to charge fans to attend the rearranged match v Kilmarnock on Saturday. Fans at the game were given vouchers but Killie have now declared those void, so Motherwell have offered to pay for their supporters who choose to attend.

Cisse Looks To Youth

Senegal manager Aliou Cisse, the former Birmingham City player, has called up four youngsters for the first time. Senegal have an upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar on the 23rd March, followed by a friendly with Mali.
Senegal Squad:
Goalkeepers: Dialy Kobaly Ndiaye (Cayor Foot), Alfred Gomis (SPAL), Edouard Mendy (Stade de Reims)
Defenders: Moussa Wague (FC Barcelona), Lamine Gassama (Goztepe Spor Kulubu), Salif Sane (Schalke), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Cheikh Kouyate (Crystal Palace), Djibril Diaw (Angers), Youssouf Sabaly (Bordeaux)
Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Alfred Ndiaye (Malaga), Pape Alioune Ndiaye (Galatasaray), Cheikh Ndoye (Angers), Mamadou Loum Ndiaye (FC Porto), Krepin Diatta (Club Bruge), Santy Ngom (Nancy)
Forwards: Ismaila Sarr (Stade Rennais), Keita Balde (Inter Milan), Sada Thioub (Nimes), Moussa Konate (Amiens), Sadio Mane (Liverpool), Mbaye Niang (Stade Rennais), Mbaye Diagne (Galatasaray), Pape Abdou Cisse (Olympiacos)

City Sign Massive Puma Deal

Manchester City have signed a massive new long-term kit deal with Puma, to replace outgoing kit manufacturers Nike. Puma have refused to reveal the exact amount the deal was worth, but have confirmed it is the biggest deal the company had ever done. The deal includes the whole City group stable of clubs and a royalty element based on sales made. The deal comes into effect from July.

Kane Faces No Punishment

Unsurprisingly England captain Harry Kane will face no punishment for his incident with Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta, in which Kane clearly makes a motion to head butt Azpilicueta, though makes little if any contact. Kane was not punished at the time and no further action will be taken as the officials said they saw the incident. Amazing how England captains always seem to avoid being investigated for head butts or stamps by the English FA....Though it probably was not really worthy of anything more than a yellow, if that, this silly rule about officials seeing it at the time needs to be changed.

Fulham Sack Ranieri

Former club captain Scott Parker will take temporary charge at Fulham after manager Claudio Ranieri was sacked for failing to provide a miracle recovery from their position at the foot of the table. The Italian took over in November following the sacking of Slavisa Jokanovic, in what was described as a "risk-free" appointment at the time, but was unable to turn results around with a team that has a defence with no players that can actually defend.

Ramos Gets 2 Match Ban

Sergio Ramos has been handed a 2 match ban for deliberately being booked against Ajax, in one of the most protracted open and shut cases in history. Despite Ramos publicly admitting picking up the booking deliberately after the game, UEFA did not initially charge him with the offence, as he then tried to cover up his honesty with one of those embarrassingly convoluted and clearly ridiculous excuses that people concoct when they are caught out by their own actions. Though it has been bettered this season by Wayne Hennessey and his Nazi salute excuse and following appeal against his punishment.

Written by Tris Burke March 01 2019 06:31:28