Football News: Review Of The Day 3rd March 2020

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Review of the Day

Transfers

Gonzalo Higuain's brother Federico has signed for D.C. United on a free transfer as a player/coach.

New York City FC have signed Nicolas Acevedo from Liverpool. The Uruguayan side Liverpool, not the Premier League leaders.

Daniel Sturridge has been released by Trabzonspor after the former England striker was banned.

Free agent full-back Alan Sheehan has signed for Lincoln City.

Injury Round-Up

Atlanta United have lost star forward Josef Martinez in the season opener against Nashville SC. The star striker will have surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee.

Watford's shock win over Premier League leaders Liverpool has come at a cost as Spanish winger Gerard Deulofeu is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The former Barcelona and Everton forward will need surgery after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and tore his meniscus.

Real Madrid star Eden Hazard is to have ankle surgery in Dallas on Thursday.

Managerial Changes

Blackpool have appointed Liverpool's Under-23s head coach Neil Critchley as their new boss. Critchley has impressed over 6 and a half years with Liverpool, after previously being academy director at Crewe Alexandra. Approaches for Swindon Town boss Richie Wellens and Oxford United manager Karl Robinson were rejected before the Tangerines settled on Critchley.

Disciplinary Charges

Southend United are under a transfer embargo by the English Football League. Shrimpers' chairman Ron Martin revealed that an unpaid tax bill of £668,000 and rising has seen the club embargoed until it is paid in full. Martin said: "The EFL won't lift the embargo until we have paid HMRC, which is quick once we have demonstrated to them we are doing so." Southend have Theo Vassell and Emmanuel Osadebe agreed as signings but have been unable to register them to play.

Daniel Sturridge has been banned for four months for breaking betting rules and the former Liverpool striker says he is "devastated". Sturridge has been released by Trabzonspor by mutual consent, rather than being paid while unable to play. Initially an independent commission cleared him of most of the charges and gave him a 6-week ban, 4 of which were suspended and a £75,000 fine. The appeal board, as well as increasing the fine to £150,000, also increased the size of his ban. Sturridge, who does not gamble, was found guilty of passing on information about a potential move to Sevilla (which never happened) to his brother, who then put money on it happening. Sturridge has since said: "I just want to say it's been a very long and drawn out process over the last couple of years and difficult to concentrate on my football. I'm going to continue to campaign for professional footballers to be able to speak to their families and close friends freely, without the real risk of being charged. I feel the betting companies and the practice and process of people placing bets on players moving clubs has to be stopped."

After becoming the first manager to be shown a red card on the pitch in the Premier League, Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has been charged with misconduct. Ancelotti had approached the referee Chris Kavanagh after the final whistle to dispute a VAR call which ruled out a late Everton goal for offside.

UEFA Choose Venues

UEFA have chosen some of the venues for forthcoming European finals in a meeting in Amsterdam. Their executive committee chose three venues and also approved the regulations for next season's competitions.
Europa League final 2022: Puskas Arena, Budapest, Hungary
Super Cup 2022: Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Finland
Super Cup 2023: Kazan Arena, Russia.

Coronavirus Causing Schedule Changes

Serie A postponed a 6th match of the weekend when Sampdoria versus Hellas Verona was postponed on Monday and rescheduled for 13th May, along with the other games which were called off over the last few days. Lecce's game against Atalanta did take place, though Lecce will not be happy about that as they lost 7-2. Spectators entering the stadium were screened for symptoms of the coronavirus, despite it being known that carriers can exhibit no symptoms before passing it on. After one case was confirmed in Scotland, the Scottish FA and SPFL have formed a joint response group to prepare for any issues arising if the virus spreads more widely in the country. The summer International Champions Cup matches scheduled to be played in Asia has been cancelled completely. They are expected to continue with a programme of matches in the USA as usual. In Switzerland the Swiss Football League is on hold until 23rd March after the Swiss government banned events involving more than 1,000 people until 15th March.

Toulouse Captain Slams Toulouse Fans

Toulouse's former Leeds United winger Max Gradel has hit out at the team's fans following the 2-0 defeat to Rennes on Saturday. Gradel said: "We need to see supporters who come to support their team, not Max Gradel or a player. At one point, it feels like playing 13 against 11. Even the players of the opposing team laugh about it. There is a third goal that has been cancelled by VAR, and we have our own supporters who shout 'and 1, and 2, and 3-0'. It's hard to swallow. Since we are in this club, I speak for myself and I assume what I say, I always gave everything. It is clear that they can be disappointed, but we always encourage and if we have our supporters who are against us, it is difficult. I am very frustrated today but frankly, we have the impression that they let us down. And if they do that against the leaders, they must know that it is the players who are the first to be affected because it is us who are on the field and when we hear that, we still have trouble reacting to give 100% of ourselves."

Werner Stirs Up Transfer Speculation

RB Leipzig's 23 year old striker Timo Werner has made his intention to leave clear in the most modern of ways. Werner has unfollowed RBL on social media, which many people are seeing as a response to the club's dig at Liverpool using a GIF of the player looking shocked after Liverpool lost to Watford.

RB Leipzig Apologise To Japanese Spectators

It has not been a good few days for RB Leipzig. Being unfollowed by star forward Timo Werner has been followed by the need for a very public apology after they removed a group of Japanese fans over fears of spreading the coronavirus. The club stated: "Unfortunately, amidst the great uncertainty around this topic, by which we are currently also affected, a mistake was made on our part with respect to our Japanese guests." It is no wonder at least one RBL fan group called it a racist incident.

Written by Tris Burke March 02 2020 23:42:41