Football News: Review Of The Day 25th February 2020

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Sheffield United's Scottish midfielder John Fleck has signed a new 2 and a half year deal.

Hakim Ziyech has agreed terms on a 5 year contract with Chelsea ahead of a summer move to the Blues from Ajax.

Juventus have taken up the option for another year of French midfielder Blaise Matuidi.

Transfers

Stoke City have released flop midfielder Giannelli Imbula despite there still being 18 months on his contract.

Chicago Fire have signed midfielder Gaston Gimenez as a Designated Player from Atletico Velez Sarsfield, pending a medical.

Brighton & Hove Albion have taken teenage Hamilton Academical defender Jamie Hamilton on trial for 3 days.

Injury Round-Up

Cardiff City midfielder Lee Tomlin has been ruled out for six to eight weeks after suffering a serious knee in jury in training.

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian star Thiago Silva has reportedly been ruled out for 3 weeks with "a lesion to the femoral biceps to the right thigh".

Bayer Leverkusen striker Kevin Volland has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a torn ankle ligament, suffered against Porto in the Europa League.

Eden Hazard's bad luck with injuries since joining Real Madrid has struck again. The 29 year old suffered another fractured ankle, just a week after returning from 3 months out with a similar injury. A Madrid statement read: "Following tests, Hazard has been diagnosed with a fracture to his right distal fibula. His recovery will continue to be assessed."

Disciplinary Charges

Bradford City's former Arsenal player Tyrell Robinson has been sacked by the club after he was charged by police with engaging in sexual activity with a child, one count of making an indecent image of a child and two counts of distributing an indecent image of a child.

Neymar's sending off on Sunday has once again allowed the Brazilian to attend the Rio Carnival. He has not missed one since 2014, as 'injury' or suspension has ruled him out of games around the time of the carnival. Convenient how he managed to pick up a needless second booking in injury time.

Napoli boss Gennaro Gattuso has revealed that star defender Kalidou Koulibaly will not be fit to face Barcelona. Gattuso said: "Koulibaly against Barcelona? He still has swelling, I prefer to stop him for 7-10 days and then evaluate how he feels physically."

Italy Postpone Matches

A number of matches in Italy have been postponed in an attempt to avoid spreading the coronavirus. A Serie B match between Cremonese and Ascoli, as well as a Serie C game. A number of Serie D games and amateur and youth matches in the Lombardy and Veneto regions have also been postponed. More games were postponed on Sunday, including Serie A matches between Inter Milan and Sampdoria. Torino against Parma, Hellas Verona v Cagliari and Atalanta v Sassuolo were also called off. There are now doubts over Inter's Europa League game against Ludogorets due to be played on Thursday.

Saints Need To Cut Wage Bill

SPFL side St Johnstone have spent too much and need to trim their wages bill chairman Steve Brown has admitted. The club were heavily criticised for giving Rangers and Celtic fans three stands at McDiarmid Park, when they play against them. However Brown claims that the club's heavy losses have forced him to, in essence, give up home advantage to fill the seats. Brown told the BBC: "We're in danger of being hypocrites because we have been outspoken in living within your means. This year we're not going to do that, which is disappointing to say the least. I think our wage bill is the sixth in the league, which is far too high. We can't sustain that. We went for it at the start of the season - we thought we could get into the top six and have a cup run but we just haven't performed and that leaves a huge financial gap and concerns. We have got reserves, so unfortunately this year we will be hitting them in a big way and posting heavy losses, which is not good."

Allen Backs Chester For Return To Wales

Joe Allen has called for Wales to recall his new Stoke City team-mate James Chester for their Euro 2020 squad. Allen said: "He is looking as good as ever, which is good news all round. It's a big boost for Stoke - he has come in and helped us massively - and we are giving him the chance to play regularly, which gives him a big boost on the international side. I was thrilled when we were able to sign him. He has had a tough year, but to be back playing regularly and as well as he is, it's a huge boost for Welsh football and he is more than putting himself in contention for the games in March. He played more games last week than I think he had in a year. He has been tested to the max and come through it."

Man Utd Fans Complain About Bruges Treatment

Manchester United Supporters Trust (MUST) have written an open letter of complaint after "the worst experience of a European away game they'd had for many years". The letter hit out at their "deplorable treatment" and claimed that "fans were in genuine fear for their safety". There were also claims that police kept taxis away from the stadium and told them not to pick up United fans, despite that leaving the fans to make "a long walk in horrendous weather conditions". The police also used water cannons and barbed wire barriers, sent fans on deliberately long detours, as well as reacted with hostility when asked for assistance or directions. There were also claims that exit gates at the stadium were "locked leading to the build up of crowds and the risk of a crush developing".

Serie A Games Could Be Played Behind Closed Doors

Italy's football federation (FIGC) has proposed to play Serie A matches hit by the coronavirus outbreak behind closed doors. Four top flight matches were called off on Sunday and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said: "For our Serie A championship we have planned for and asked to play the games behind closed doors. That could happen as early as Sunday." The virus has also forced Juventus to suspend all activity of its youth teams up to the under-17 age group.

Failure No Barrier To FIFA Referee List

Premier League referee duo David Coote and Andy Madley have been added to the FIFA International List. The pair will now be able to officiate in European and international games. This is despite Coote's complete inability to see a clear stamp by Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso on Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta at the weekend. Somehow, after looking at the incident over and over, he still could not see the foul. To compound matters he then decided in two identical incidents in the Leicester City v Manchester City match to give different decisions.

Written by Tris Burke February 24 2020 23:38:43