Football News: Review Of The Day 7th December 2020
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Review of the Day
Contracts
Transfers
Paris Saint-Germain have released Spanish winger Jese. The former Stoke City loanee has suffered with personal issues since leaving Real Madrid to join PSG. The final clincher came when Jese was pictured at a party in Gran Canaria flouting social distancing rules, after a series of scandals involving his on-off affair with a reality TV star had upset club officials for constantly dragging the club's reputation through the mud.
Former Newcastle United midfielder and brother of Luuk, Siem de Jong, has signed for Heerenveen ahead of the January transfer window. The 31 year old was playing in MLS football with FC Cincinnati this year but will join the Dutch side when his contract expires.
Injury Round-Up
Bradford City winger Zeli Ismail has been ruled out for up to 3 months with a ruptured hamstring tendon.
Just for a change, Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele has suffered a hamstring injury. The French starlet has struggled with constant problems with his hamstrings since signing for the Catalans.
Managerial Changes
Sunderland have brought in former Bristol City boss Lee Johnson as their new manager to replace Phil Parkinson. Johnson, who was sacked by Bristol in July, said of his new club: "I can see so much potential and I see it everywhere. I see it in the league and how we can step up. I see it in the facilities, I see it in the community and the passion the people of Sunderland have, and I also see it in the academy. The feeling I got from the ownership group [made this the right club for me]. There was other interest, but that doesn't matter now and I want to be successful and to see a brave new Sunderland."
Disciplinary Charges
Plymouth Argyle manager Ryan Lowe is to complain to the PGMOL over Danny Mayor's sending off against Ipswich Town. Argyle were 1-0 up when Mayor was sent off after 70 minutes and the Tractor Boys ran out 2-1 winners. Lowe's complaints centre around Mayor's first yellow card, which was shown for time wasting at a corner: "They're six or seven yards out, Danny's asking for 10 yards, he's not given it and he's come over and booked Danny. It was a stupid yellow card from the referee's point of view to give to my player, I've just said that to him (the referee). I will be speaking to Mike Jones regarding it because it's cost us all three points."
VfB Stuttgart striker Silas Wamangituka was booked for scoring what has been described as a disrespectful goal. Wamangituka scored both Stuttgart's goals in a 2-1 win over Werder Bremen, the first from the spot, but it was the second one that caused the controversy. A mix up on the edge of the box between defender Omer Toprak and goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka saw him nip in to steal the ball away and head into the box. Noticing no one was chasing him initially, he slowed to a walk until, on reaching the goal-line, he stopped and waited until Pavlenka nearly reached him before smashing it home from less than a yard away. He was booked for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Millwall Fans Boo Taking Knee
As fans return to football there has already been an unsavoury incident at Millwall, something their fans are famous for, as a large number of them booed players from both sides for taking a knee ahead of the match against Derby County. A Millwall statement read: "Millwall Football Club was dismayed and saddened by events which marred Saturday's game against Derby County at the Den. The club has worked tirelessly in recent months to prepare for the return of supporters and what should have been a positive and exciting occasion was completely overshadowed, much to the immense disappointment and upset of those who have contributed to those efforts. The impact of such incidents is felt not just by the players and management, but by those who work throughout the club and in its academy and community trust, where so many staff and volunteers continue passionate endeavours to enhance Millwall's reputation day after day, year after year. The club will not allow their fine work to be in vain. The players are continuing to use the biggest platform they have to support the drive for change, not just in football but in society generally. There is much work to be done and at Millwall everyone is committed to doing all that is possible, both individually and collectively, to be a force for good and to ensure that the club remains at the forefront of football's anti-discrimination efforts." There were also boos for the players taking a knee heard at League Two side Colchester United, who faced Grimsby Town in front of 1,000 spectators.
Written by Tris Burke December 07 2020 05:39:04