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Football News: Review Of The Day 21st March 2020

Review Of The Day 21st March 2020
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Review of the Day

 



Transfers

FC Sion have sacked nine players, Alex Song, Christian Zock, Seydou Doumbia, Pajtim Kasami, Johan Djourou, Biram Ndoye, Mickael Facchinetti, Xavier Kouassi and Ermir Lenjani.

Heart of Midlothian's French defender Clevid Dikamona has ended his contract early so he can return home to be with his family in France. Dikoma said on social media: "All clubs are going through a complicated time. I have simply agreed to help the club by adhering to the requests of the owner. And as I have indicated I am also ready to re-sign a contract with the club as soon as the situation will be clear and especially if the club wishes to make me a new contractual proposal. As everyone knows I am attached to this club and Hearts will obviously be my priority for next season. The end of my contract comes now rather than in May simply to allow me to return to France now with my family ... and not in the will to flee my responsibilities with the club. My main concern is the wellbeing of my family and to help the club."

 


Managerial Changes

Tottenham Hotspur's Head of Academy Coaching and Player Development John McDermott is leaving. McDermott is to take a role with the English Football Association as Assistant Technical Director. McDermott said: "After 15 years and so many incredible experiences at Tottenham Hotspur, I've reached the difficult decision to take on a slightly different role and challenge at this period in my career. I am extremely grateful to the Board who have entrusted and supported me and our Academy staff throughout my tenure. Leaving colleagues and players is without doubt the toughest decision I've had to make; the camaraderie across the Club, from the Academy to the First Team, makes working here such a special place. I may be biased, but I doubt that any other club in the country has a sense of purpose and work ethic that the Academy staff, past and present, has shown to our players. It has been a privilege to work alongside some of the best player developers in the country. Our staff have relentlessly modelled and dedicated themselves to igniting and nurturing a passion for football in our young players - and to instil the highest standards of behaviours, competitiveness and style both on and off the pitch. I know through experience of meeting these players when they're older and they return to visit us or even work as staff - those who embraced these standards recognise their importance for their career and life beyond football. I am so incredibly proud of all the young men whose alma mater is Tottenham Hotspur Academy. I leave with wonderful memories, and no doubt Jose and the coaching staff will lead the First Team in bringing the Club even more success - assisted in the future, I'm sure, by many of our current Academy players."

 


Disciplinary Charges

It has been revealed that a player (who has not been named) for Bury was banned from all sport for 1 year after a positive doping test in 2019. The ban expired 31st January 2020. It follows on from Dr Andrew Johnson being suspended from all football-related activity for four years after providing fraudulent information regarding a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for a Bury footballer. UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) explained that the player was given a light punishment due to the fault lying mainly with the doctor, as the player had believed the doctor had applied for the TUE prior to his treatment. UKAD chief executive Nicole Sapstead said: "This is a very unusual case but one that demonstrates how important it is for athletes to take all steps to be personally responsible for their TUE applications. It highlights that an athlete is still ultimately responsible for what they have in their system, even when support staff are involved in their medication or treatment."

 


Coronavirus Latest

UEFA have given clubs more time to meet their Financial Fair Play obligations. The deadline to make all outstanding payments to other clubs, employees and tax agencies has been moved to 30th April.

Bayern Munich duo Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich have set up the 'We kick Corona' initiative and donated 1m euros of their own money to the fund. Goretzka said on social media: "On the pitch, we can beat anyone. But corona, we only beat together. Joshua and I thought about how we could help and contribute our share. We founded a fund-raising campaign named 'We kick Corona', in which you can either apply for donations or become a donator yourself. Both of us lead by example and will donate €1 million together and, of course, we hope that many of you will follow this example. So long, stay at home, stay healthy - and then we will see each other again soon."

Nigeria have become the latest country to suspend its football league. The Nigerian Football Federation has shutdown the league for four weeks. The statement said that "the shutdown affects all on-field activities the various National Teams, the Nigeria Professional Football League, the other Leagues, youth football programmes and even street football."

Grimsby Town manager Ian Holloway believes the season must be completed because too many managers have lost their jobs to just void it. Holloway talked to the BBC about finishing the season: "It should be a priority for us to do that. There is too much to be lost and that has already been lost. Managers have lost their jobs in this season, so how can it not count? Supporters have been waiting years to see their teams do well, Leeds going for promotion from the Championship and Liverpool should get the (Premier League) title. All these things - promotion, relegation - it has to count for something. What is the point other than that? Calling off the Euros was the best thing we could do. That will give us time to somehow squeeze the end of this season in maybe before we start the next one. Even if you go to play Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, clubs have youth policies, so give the young 'uns a chance - you just have to get it done, simple as that. And if that interrupts the timing of, or we have to splice next season in two a little to make it all fit in, we need to do that."

La Liga's president Javier Tebas says that Europe's leagues are looking at resuming play in mid-May. Tebas said: "There are 30 affected leagues, 30 cup tournaments, and we have to co-ordinate each schedule at both a national and international level. In mid-May we should be back with all European competitions. If circumstances permit, we could bring that forward. We need to work together."

Celtic's Celtic FC Foundation has pledged to donate £150,000 to aid NHS staff and vulnerable members of society during the coronavirus pandemic. Celtic are looking to feed 250 people a day at Celtic Park, providing them with 3 meals each day. The foundation's chief executive Tony Hamilton said that the goal is to aid "organisations who care for vulnerable pensioners, the homeless community and those who run Foodbanks. And we will play our part in helping frontline NHS staff who work tirelessly for all of us. This is primarily about helping people with the money we have, it's not about fundraising, although we would clearly like to do more as we could be in this for the long haul. We know that a lot of people who normally help Celtic FC Foundation will not be able to help this time... We are very grateful for anything you can do to help us further protect our vulnerable neighbours through this crisis. Thank you from everyone at the Club and the Foundation." Celtic's ceo Peter Lawell added: "Our club was born to bring comfort to the most vulnerable on our doorstep and we strive to maintain that charitable principle today, through the work of Celtic FC Foundation. The Celtic support have continually epitomised the essence of our Club in their charitable actions and I hope that this Fund will provide a focus for a concerted team effort to provide a lifeline to so many."

 


Olmo Explains RBL Move

RB Leipzig signed Dani Olmo in January, a big surprise as he had interest from many other clubs, including his first team, Barcelona. Olmo said of the move: "I have no regrets. I think it was the best option for me and still is. I had several offers, not just from Spain but also from Italy and England. But RB Leipzig were the team that offered me the most. Their sporting director [Markus Krösche] visited me in Zagreb, and their coach [Julian Nagelsmann] called me and told me that he was interested in having me in his team. That was very important to me. No other team offered me the sort of perspective, Leipzig offered. That was my feeling, and I was determined that this was the best decision. I know what I want to achieve and how I am going to get there." Olmo said of Barca's interest: "I had the sense that they were not seriously interested in me. In November, they talked to my agent like they wanted to get it done quickly, but then all of a sudden it was moved. Then, in January, just as I was going to Leipzig, they asked me to wait. But I had already made a decision. Because I wanted to go to a team that offered me a perspective - Leipzig was able to do that, other teams weren't."

 


Another Pointless List

Transfermarkt are obviously bored in self-isolation as they have released a second list of most valuable players according to them, this time in 2005.
Player Team Value in Euros
1. Ronaldinho Barcelona 50m
2. Thierry Henry Arsenal 45m
3. Ruud van Nistelrooy Manchester United 41.5m
4. Michael Essien Chelsea 38m
5. Andrii Shevchenko AC Milan 38m
6. Wayne Rooney Manchester United 37.5m
7. Michael Ballack Bayern Munich 35m
8. Gianluigi Buffon Juventus 35m
9. Patrick Vieira Juventus 35m
10. Ronaldo Real Madrid 35m
11. Francesco Totti AS Roma 35m
12. Adriano Inter Milan 35m
13. Frank Lampard Chelsea 35m
14. Alessandro Nesta AC Milan 33m
15. Shaun Wright-Phillips Manchester City 31.5m
16. Samuel Eto'o Barcelona 31m
17. Didier Drogba Chelsea 31m
18. Steven Gerrard Liverpool 30m
19. Alberto Gilardino Parma 30m
20. Kaka AC Milan 30m
21. Rio Ferdinand Manchester United 29.5m
22. David Beckham Real Madrid 28m
23. Gianluca Zambrotta Juventus 28m
24. Pavel Nedved Juventus 28m
25. Emerson Juventus 28m

 


Grecians Get New Sponsors

After shirt sponsor Flybe went into administration, Exeter City had been seeking a new shirt sponsor. They have no found one in the shape of Carpetright, whose chief executive Will Walsh is an Exeter season ticket holder. Walsh said: "We're pleased to be sponsoring Exeter City FC and we have committed to supporting them for the next three years. The supporter-owned club plays a vital role in the local community and we're glad to be able to play a part in their continued success."

 


Addicks Battle Takes New Turn

The fight for control of Charlton Athletic has swung the way of majority shareholder Tahnoon Nimer following a board meeting of the company which owns Charlton, East Street Investments. Both chairman Matt Southall and fellow director Jonathan Heller have been removed from the board and replaced by Marian Mihail and Claudiu Florica. Nimer said: "It has been a difficult few weeks for everyone involved at the football club and this is a positive step in the right direction. Our priority now is stabilising the short-term future of the football club in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis and working with the EFL to get the club's transfer embargo lifted to demonstrate our long-term commitment to Charlton Athletic."

 


England Doctor Leaves Under A Cloud

The doctor for the England national team, Rob Chakraverty has left the job after being placed under scrutiny involving his time as a medic with UK Athletics. Dr Chakraverty had been involved in controversy over his decision to give Mo Farah an infusion of the supplement L-Carnitine, despite expressing reservations over possible side effects, according to Farah's coach at the time Alberto Salazar. The infusions were not recorded at the time, though Chakraverty maintains that he kept the volume within WADA's rules. Chakraverty announced: "It has been a privilege to work as the lead doctor to the England men's senior team since joining the FA in 2016. The team and players have been wonderful to work with and the memories of what we achieved together at the World Cup two years ago will stay with me forever. The time is now right to step away from this role and seek new challenges, enabling my successor to establish themselves into the team before the next tournament. I would like to thank my colleagues and the players for their support and wish them every success in achieving their goals in the tournaments to come."

Written by Tris Burke March 20 2020 20:40:37

 

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