Football News: Review Of The Day 16th March 2020

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Review of the Day

Transfers

Mexican Liga MX side Club America have released winger Renato Ibarra after he was arrested and jailed for allegedly hitting his wife. The club have also ordered all players to undergo courses about domestic violence. They stated: "America does not tolerate any sort of violence from their fans or players, and they don't approve what Renato Ibarra did to his wife and her sister so he will no longer be a part of our team. Since the trial started last week, new information has been informed of what actually happened, and that is why America decided to release the player after analyzing all the information."

Adam Rooney has joined National League side Solihull Moors from Salford City.

Coronavirus Latest

German side Paderborn 07 have announced that their defender Luca Kilian has tested positive for Covid-19, the first case in the Bundesliga. Three players from the second tier, Hannover 96's Timo Hubers and Jannes Horn and Nurnberg's Fabian Nurnberger, had previously tested positive.

The Canadian Premier League have put pre-season training on hold for 14 days. A league statement read: "The League has made this decision with input from medical experts and health officials to ensure a safe environment for our teams in the wake of COVID 19. We will maintain our consistent dialogue both internally and externally and as more information becomes available, we will continue to provide public updates." It is likely that the league will have to reschedule its opening date of 11th April.

FIFA will not be forcing clubs to release players for the upcoming international windows as a response to the coronavirus. FIFA said: "The situation is rapidly evolving across the world and various international travel restrictions have already been imposed by different public authorities. FIFA understands that to hold the matches under current circumstances might not only present potential health risks to players (and to the general public) but would also, most likely, compromise the sporting integrity of such matches insofar as certain teams may be deprived of their best squads whilst others may not." FIFA has also recommended that the matches scheduled to take place during the window should be postponed.

Morocco has become the latest country to suspend its football. The Moroccan federation (FMRF) have suspended their football indefinitely until further notice.

Three players have now tested positive for Covid-19 at Fiorentina. Serbian forward Dusan Vlahovic was the first to do so, but now Patrick Cutrone, on-loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Argentine defender German Pezzella have both also been found to have the virus. Physiotherapist Stefano Dainelli is also infected by the virus.

The president of the Swiss football federation Dominique Blanc has tested positive for coronavirus. The 70 year old said: "I only feel mild flu symptoms." A federation statement read: "The personnel who were most recently in personal contact with the president have been informed and will take the necessary steps if directed by the federation's medical department."

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is pledging to help Unicef financially. The French World Cup winner said on his 27th birthday on Sunday: "The impact of a large-scale outbreak, especially on poor and vulnerable children, can be immense. It's my birthday and I'm always grateful that me, my family and friends are healthy. Nonetheless, not everybody is in good health right now. At times like this we need to come together." Pogba has set the initial goal his fundraising page at £27,000, to help provide disposable gloves, surgical masks and vented goggles for health workers. Last year on his birthday he raised £7,360 for Charity Water. I am glad he is helping, but £27,000 is less than a week's wages to him, surely he could easily donate much more than this fundraising page?

Gremio players protested about having to play a game on Sunday by wearing masks as they took to the pitch before the game, but removed them to play. The match was played behind closed doors and was won 3-2 by Gremio. Brazilian players and coaches are looking to have the championships halted, rather than played behind closed doors.

Derby County player/coach Wayne Rooney has criticised the FA, Premier League and British government's handling of the coronavirus. Rooney said in his weekly column: "For players, staff and their families it has been a worrying week. One in which you felt a lack of leadership from the government and from the FA and Premier League. The rest of sport - tennis, Formula 1, rugby, golf, football in other countries - was closing down and we were being told to carry on. I think a lot of footballers were wondering, 'Is it something to do with money being involved in this?'. Why did we wait until Friday? Why did it take Mikel Arteta [Arsenal manager] to get ill for the game in England to do the right thing? After the emergency meeting, at last the right decision was made - until then it almost felt like footballers in England were being treated like guinea pigs. I know how I feel. If any of my family get infected through me because I've had to play when it's not safe, and they get seriously ill, I'd have to think hard about ever playing again. I would never forgive the authorities." Rooney also said that players are happy to play until late in the year, if need be, "as long as we know we're safe to play and it's a safe environment for spectators, we'll play".

Five players and staff of Valencia have tested positive for coronavirus. One of the players was Argentine defender Ezequiel Garay who said: "It is clear I have started 2020 with bad luck. I am very well and must obey health authorities and stay isolated."

Dest Reveals Bayern Visit

Ajax's teenage right-back Sergino Dest has confirmed that he was at the Allianz Arena to watch Bayern Munich beat Hoffenheim 4-3. The American international denied he was there to negotiate a transfer or there at the invitation of Bayern. Dest said: "I was there because I have family in Munich. So I thought: If Bayern are interested then I also want to find out a bit about the club. Hence, I thought it would be a good idea to check it all out. But I wasn't invited by Bayern like it was speculated. I wasn't invited by Bayern."

Doctor Gets Ban Over Doping Violation

After admitting a Football Association charge of providing fraudulent information to enable a footballer to use a banned substance, Dr Andrew Johnson has been suspended from all football-related activity. Johnson was working in his role as a club doctor for Bury at the time, though he was also employed as a medical consultant by Manchester City until they became aware of the case, and is suspended until January 2024. Johnson admitted "retrospectively making an application (for a therapeutic use exemption) to cover up" the issue.

Vertonghen's Family Burgled At Knifepoint

While Jan Vertonghen was away playing in the Champions League with Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, his family were held at knifepoint as four men burgled their home. Met Police said: "Police were called to a residential address in NW3 at 7.49pm on 10 March to a report of a burglary. Officers attended. It was reported four men wearing balaclavas, armed with knives, had forced entry to the property and stolen a number of items before leaving. Nobody was injured. The suspects had left the scene before officers arrived. There have been no arrests and inquiries continue." Vertonghen's wife and children were all present during the robbery, which is the latest in a series of raids to target professional footballers.

Written by Tris Burke March 15 2020 19:33:54