Football News: Review Of The Day 22nd November 2020

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Transfers

Injury Round-Up

13 players and staff from Scotland's U21 team have gone into self-isolation after a trio of their players tested CV positive. Celtic's David Turnbull, Livingston's Robby McCrorie and his brother Ross McCrorie, the Aberdeen player, have returned positive results following their international duty. Ross McCrorie previously tested positive in March while on loan with Portsmouth.

Inter Miami are short of three players in their squad for their first-ever Major League Soccer Cup Playoff game. Former Real Madrid, Juventus and Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain and his brother Federico plus defender Leandro Gonzalez Pirez have all stayed behind while the squad traveled to Nashville. The trio are out due to a positive covid test, meaning the playoffs will launch without 3 of its 5 biggest star players due to the virus as league MVP Diego Rossi, of Los Angeles FC, has also been ruled out due to a positive test.

Managerial Changes

Tranmere Rovers have appointed Keith Hill as their new manager. Hill has a good record at League Two record having delivered, at the very least, a play-off place every full season he has managed there.

Disciplinary Charges

Tenerife have begun an internal investigation after two of its players were caught in a raid of a 'gentleman's club' on the island. Alberto Jimenez and Javi Alonso were among 26 people evicted from inside a club that was failing to meet health regulations with regard to CV.

Latics Takeover Given More Time

The Spanish consortium trying to buy Wigan Athletic have been given more time to finalise the takeover. This is the second time their exclusivity period has been extended as they await the English Football League confirming that the purchasers pass their Owners and Directors' Test. Wigan's administrators stated: "Further discussions have taken place between the EFL, the bidder and ourselves and, in our opinion, all information requested of the bidders has been supplied including, but not limited to, proof of funds for the next two seasons. In the light of this progress, the exclusivity period, which expires today, has been extended. We now await a final answer from the EFL and no further comment will be made until that is received."

Rangers Accounts Released

Scottish Premiership leaders Rangers have released their accounts for the year ending 30th June, with losses up by £4.3m to £15.9m. With the "economic storm" of the pandemic badly affecting finances for all clubs, Rangers are admitting to a need for £23.2m in fresh funding by the end of next season. However chairman Douglas Park and director John Bennett are to cover the shortfall with loans in the meantime. Despite the increased losses and lack of income from fans at the ground, revenue was 11% to £59m, in large part due to the £20.7m they received for reaching the final 16 in the Europa League. Club chairman Park said: "When I returned to Ibrox in March 2015, I advised my fellow shareholders and directors that I believed it could take us a decade to restore our beloved club to where it belonged, both on and off the field. I think we are in a somewhat better position today than I had envisaged but there is much work to do. The financial year under review is unlike any other, no matter the business or walk of life. The impact of Covid-19 will have far reaching consequences for our economy and society. Rangers is not immune to the severe effects of this unprecedented challenge. Our club continues to attract investment from across the world, and I believe this will grow further as our resurgence builds momentum."

Man Utd Hit By Cyber Attack

Clearly Manchester United's cyber defence is not led by the computer operating equivalent of Harry Maguire as the club claim that there was no breach of personal data after they were hit by a "sophisticated" cyber attack (is anyone else imagining a Sean Connery as James Bondesque hacker?). A club statement read: "The club has taken swift action to contain the attack and is working with expert advisers to investigate the incident. Our cyber defences identified the attack and shut down affected systems to contain the damage and protect data. We are not currently aware of any breach of personal data associated with our fans and customers. All critical systems required for matches to take place at Old Trafford remain secure and operational."

Haaland New Golden Boy

Borussia Dortmund's goalscoring phenomenon Erling Braut Haaland has been chosen as the 2020 Golden Boy, the award given to the best under-21 player playing in a European country's top division according to football journalists around Europe.

Written by Tris Burke November 22 2020 06:20:59