Football News: Review Of The Day 20th March 2020

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Stade Reims winger Nathanael Mbuku has extended his contract until 2023.

Injury Round-Up

Atlanta United's star striker Josef Martinez has had successful surgery to repair his torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Disciplinary Charges

Rafael Leao has reportedly been sentenced to pay a 16.5m euro fine to previous club Sporting Clube de Portugal by the Portugese Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAD). The 20 year old forward terminated his deal with Sporting in 2018 to join LOSC Lille in the midst of a crisis when hooligans attacked players and staff members at the club's training complex in May 2018. He claimed that he feared for his own safety and so terminated his contract, but Sporting protested to FIFA and claimed 45m euros, the amount of his release clause. FIFA referred the case to TAD who ruled that Leao has to pay the 16.5m fine himself, though Sporting were also ordered to pay him 40,000 euros in compensation for the "moral exposure" he underwent. Lille sold the striker to AC Milan in the summer.

Coronavirus Latest

Six players and staff of Espanyol and three Alaves players, as of yet unnamed, have all been revealed to have coronavirus. Added to that Mattia Zaccagni of Hellas Verona and Fabio Depaoli of Sampdoria have been tested positive as well, making it 12 players in Serie A that have contracted the virus.

Borussia Moenchengladbach's players, coaching staff, directors and business executives have refused to take their salaries this month, to ensure the club can afford to pay the other employess.

English football has extended their break until at least the end of April. It was initially suspended until the 3rd April but it has now been postponed for longer. The official announcement read: "We are united in our commitment to finding ways of resuming the 2019/20 football season and ensuring all domestic and European club league and cup matches are played as soon as it is safe and possible to do so." The FA rule that the season has to finish by 1st June has also been agreed to be extended indefinitely in an attempt to ensure the 2019/20 season will be completed. Major League Soccer have also extended their league suspension until 10th May after initially looking to a date of 11th April to resume.

Swiss newspaper Blick are reporting that FC Sion have terminated the contracts of eight of their players without notice. It is believed that the whole first-team squad were given an application for 'short-time working' due to the coronavirus and that those eight players had not completed the application in the time period they were given. The players are said to have been given the document on Wednesday and given until noon that day to respond, with no one available to respond from the club. The Swiss Association of Football Players have filed a protest on behalf of the eight, who are former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alex Song, Pajtim Kasami, club captain Xavier Kouassi, Ermir Lenjani, Seydou Doumbia, Mickael Fecchinetti, Christian Zock and Birama Ndoye.

Chelsea's Brazilian forward Willian has said he would be willing to stay with Chelsea until the season is finished, even if it runs past the end of his current contract on 30th June. Willian said: "My contract really ends I think in July. If I had to play on those dates, in these months, I think it would be no problem for me to end the league in a way which would be loyal to the club, as they always were with me, regardless of a signed paper. It's clear that this is not a certainty, we don't know what can happen. But without a doubt, as always, I will always be ready to give the best to my club regardless of my contract situation."

Rangers are allowing their foreign players to return home to wait out the coronavirus pandemic. A Rangers statement explains: "Some players have decided not to return home and have remained in Glasgow. The club's management are in daily dialogue with each player and are monitoring the ongoing situation regarding the virus. Rangers, like most British clubs, have players on individual programmes. Players from outside the UK have been allowed to return home but are on strict programming including diet recording."

Celtic's chief executive Peter Lawell has said that they want to complete the season if possible. Lawell said: "Our strong preference is, of course, to complete all remaining matches. To date, we have had a magnificent campaign, undefeated in this calendar year, completing 30 league matches already to create a commanding lead and we are now on the cusp of winning our ninth successive title. As many have already said, the season cannot be voided as the consequences of that are so severe. In the event that the matches cannot be completed, then the responsibility to find a fair and reasonable solution for the finalisation of all domestic leagues will be with the Scottish football governing bodies. We hope that the governing bodies are able to provide some clarity to clubs and supporters as soon as possible on the way forward, although we appreciate that this is a hugely demanding time."

Manchester United are to continue to pay casual workers throughout the shutdown due to the coronavirus. Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said: "We rely on our outstanding staff to deliver an exceptional service and experience to fans at Old Trafford. We understand that these are unprecedented circumstances and want to give them security whatever may happen regarding our remaining fixtures this season. We look forward to welcoming back all our supporters - and our colleagues - to Old Trafford as soon as possible." The Red Devils also made a payment of £350 to every supporter who bought a ticket for their Europa League tie against LASK Linz in Austria after the game was moved behind closed doors at short notice.

Southall Refuses To Walk From Addicks

Charlton Athletic's chairman Matt Southall and majority shareholder Tahnoon Nimer have been at loggerheads almost since Southall was appointed. Nimer has twice tried to remove Southall from his position and Southall said after Thursday's attempt to remove him and fellow director Jonathan Heller: "Mr Nimer brought two other men with no standing at Charlton and he and those two men have collectively decided they are the board. Protocol has not been followed and resolutions have been passed which are both invalid and unlawful. Nothing from the board meeting changes the circumstances of my employment or mine or Mr Heller's status as directors of the club. Until such time Mr Nimer fulfils the obligations that he promised when purchasing the club there shall be no discussions about me stepping away from Charlton in my day-to-day capacity or as an owner through my shareholding in East Street Investments. Mr Heller and I both remain committed to the club and securing its long-term future and growth is our priority."

Whittingham Sadly Dies Aged 35

Cardiff City legend and former Aston Villa midfielder Peter Whittingham has died of a head injury. The 35 year old had been in hospital for over a week after a fall in a pub in Barry, South Wales. A Cardiff statement read: "It is with an immeasurable amount of sorrow that we must inform supporters that Peter Whittingham has passed away at the age of 35. We are heartbroken. The news of Peter's sudden and untimely passing has shaken us to our very foundation. Our love goes out to his wife Amanda, their young son and family. They are at the forefront of our thoughts and, on their behalf, we ask for their privacy to be respected at this unfathomably cruel and difficult time. First and foremost, Peter was a family man - and somebody who could light up a room with his sense of humour, warmth and personality. Then, as a professional footballer - as a Bluebird - he excelled with talent, ease, grace and humility. Nobody did it better."

Written by Tris Burke March 19 2020 20:10:23