Football News: Review Of The Day 24th December 2019

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Review of the Day

Injury Round-Up

Aston Villa's Scottish midfielder John McGinn has been ruled out for up to 3 months with a fractured ankle.

Leyton Orient goalkeeper Dean Brill is possibly out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury that requires surgery.

Leeds United's Pablo Hernandez has been ruled out for a month with a hamstring injury.

SPFL side Aberdeen have lost Greg Leigh and Craig Bryson to injury. Bryson is to have surgery on an ankle problem, while Leigh has a stress fracture of his shin.

CAF Player Of The Year Shortlist Announced

The three man shortlists for the Confederation of African Football 2019 Player, Youth Player and Coach of the Year award have been named.
Men's Player of the Year:
Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Manchester City)
Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
African Youth Player of the Year:
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)
Samuel Chukwueze (Nigeria & Villarreal)
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria & Lille)
African Men's Coach of the Year:
Aliou Cisse (Senegal - Senegal)
Djamel Belmadi (Algeria - Algeria)
Moine Chaabani (Tunisia - Esperance)

Saka Considering International Options

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka is weighing up whether to pledge his future to Nigeria or England. The teenager told the BBC: "I am always thinking about it but I haven't made a decision yet. No-one has been in touch but when I make a decision you will find out." Saka was the first footballer born in 2001 to play in the Premier League and is eligible to play for both Nigeria and England after being born in England to Nigerian parents.

Herr Flick To Remain For Season

Bayern Munich have confirmed Hansi Flick as their interim boss until the end of the season. Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "We are very satisfied with Hansi's work. Under him as head coach, the development has been outstanding."

Pirates Pick Garner

Ben Garner has been chosen to take charge of Bristol Rovers. Garner takes over from Graham Coughlan, who quit to take charge of Mansfield Town last week. Garner has never been in charge before, he was previously first-team coach of West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace having started coaching with Crystal Palace after a career-ending injury. Rovers' chief executive Martyn Starnes said: "Ben was the outstanding candidate for the role and someone who really stood out to us during the interview process. He has a wealth of experience in the game and we look forward to supporting him is his role here at the club. Ben has a great record of working with younger players and we are keen for the close ties between the first-team and academy to be expanded further, showcasing a pathway for young players."

Boro's Head Of Recruitment Leaves

Adrian Bevington, Middlesbrough's head of recruitment operations, is to leave the club at the end of the month. Bevington took the job at Boro after 17 years with the Football Association, including a spell as managing director of Club England.

Cooper Charged

The head coach of Swansea City, Steve Cooper, has been charged by the Football Association due to comments he made following a 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers on 11th December. Cooper had criticised the referee, Jeremy Simpson, for not awarding his team a penalty. An FA statement read: "Steve Cooper has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3. It is alleged that comments made by the Swansea City manager following an EFL Championship fixture against Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday, 11 December 2019 constitute improper conduct in that they question the integrity of the match officials and/or bring the game into disrepute. He has until Friday, 27 December 2019 to provide a response."

Rangers Make Orange Partnership

United States League side Orange County SC have agreed a partnership deal with SPFL club Rangers. As part of the agreement Rangers will send youth players on loan to the American side and the two clubs will share commercial activities. Orange County's managing director Stewart Robertson said: "Rangers already has incredibly strong support across North America. And this relationship will help us engage with our existing fanbase in the United States, attract new fans, and provide exciting commercial opportunities. Rangers Academy should also benefit with exciting new talent from America."

Braga Sack Manager

Braga have sacked their manager, Ricardo Sa Pinto as the team currently sit in eighth place in the Portugese league. Braga have a break until 4th January before their next league match versus Belenenses. Sa Pinto only took charge in July, after his sacking from Legia Warsaw.

Eritreans Go Missing

The end of the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup saw Eritrea finish second before 7 players from their squad went missing when the rest returned home. Five players ran away from their team hotel in the middle of Cecafa's Under-20 Challenge Cup back in October.

Hibs Identify 4 Missile Throwers

Hibernian have revealed that their CCTV footage has "identified four men involved in throwing missiles, including a glass bottle" during their defeat at the hands of Rangers on Friday. The footage has been passed on to Police Scotland. Hibs said: "We will continue to review the footage, and we expect to identify any others involved. Fans must understand that throwing missiles is dangerous for the players and for fellow fans, and it blackens the good name of the club. All supporters identified as taking part in any unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with by the club and by the legal process. We invested in enhanced CCTV cameras to tackle precisely this kind of behaviour, and those who misbehave should know we will leave no stone unturned to identify them and bring them to book."

Freddie Stays With Arsenal

Arsenal's new head coach Mikel Arteta is to keep Freddie Ljungberg on as a member of his backroom staff. Arteta, who replaced caretaker coach Ljungberg, said: "I spoke to Freddie after the [Everton] game. I told him my idea and the people I wanted to bring to form my coaching staff, their roles and responsibilities of each of them. I wanted to know what he was feeling, I wanted to know what he had in mind, what his expectations were. We talked and we made a decision that the best thing was for him to stay with us. I think he knows the players, he knows the situation, he knows the history of where we're coming from and also his knowledge of the game is going to really help us to be better."

Spurs Appeal Son Red Card

Tottenham Hotspur have appealed against the red card that was shown to Son Heung-min during their defeat to Chelsea. Despite footage clearly show Son kick out at Rudiger, Spurs' manager Jose Mourinho said: "I hope Son is not punished five times. One time was the foul that Rudiger did on him. The second is to be sent off. The third would be not to play against Brighton. The fourth not to play against Norwich and the fifth not to play against Southampton. So I hope to be punished twice is enough, he doesn't deserve for the third the fourth or the fifth."

Zlatan Statue Vandalised Again

The statue of Zlatan Ibrahimovic outside Malmo's stadium has been vandalised again after the vandals cut the nose off it. Since Ibrahimovic bought a stake in Malmo's rivals Hammarby vandals have sprayed it with paint, set it on fire, put a toilet seat on its head and over its arm, as well as putting a bag over its head. They had previously attempted to saw through the bronze's statue's legs. Ibrahimovic's house in Stockholm has also had Judas painted on the front door.

Written by Tris Burke December 23 2019 21:57:03