Football News: Review Of The Day 26th February 2018

Image from: lavahotsprings.com

Review of the Day

Pep Continues To Ignore FA

Man City manager Pep Guardiola continues to flout FA regulations as he once again wore his yellow ribbon pitchside for the Carabao Cup Final as his team dominated a lacklustre Arsenal side. Having been charged on Friday regarding his wearing of the ribbon amid its political connotations, Pep is sure to have upset the FA with his defiance. "They know I will wear it always," the City boss said. "I can wear it somewhere else (on my person). UEFA have another opinion - they say you can wear it as long as it's with respect, here it's different apparently. I accept the fine if I broke the rules. But I am a human being and this is for humanity."

Juve-Atalanta Called Off Because Of Snow

A Serie A match between Juventus and Atalanta was called off on Sunday after heavy snowfall in Turin. Initial pitch inspections had thought it might be possible to play the game delayed by a few hours but it was soon decided that would not be happening.

Nasri Set For Doping Ban

Free agent Samir Nasri is set to be banned for 6 months from football, his lawyer confirmed. The French midfielder was on loan from Manchester City to Sevilla at the time the offence occured in 2016. Nasri received a drip treatment in Los Angeles, even posing for pictures publicising the company, but he took ten time the infusion allowance set by WADA. Active athletes are allowed 50ml per six hour period, but Nasri was given a dosage of 500ml in one sitting. After finding out that he had broken WADA regulations, Sevilla attempted to get a retroactive therapeutic use exemption (TUE) that most cyclists, tennis players etc seem to be able to use at will to avoid WADA rules. Unfortunately for Nasri the request was refused by UEFA and upheld by CAS.

Posh Manager Sacked After Winless Run

Peterborough United have sacked manager Grant McCann after a run of seven games without a win, the final straw being a 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon on Saturday. McCann is a former club captain of Posh and took charge in May 2016. "I love Grant, he is a legend of this football club and always will be," said chairman Darragh MacAnthony. "But it has not quite happened in management for him here and it was the right time to part ways. I thank him for all his efforts and wish him and his family the very best in the future." McCann was Peterborough's second longest serving manager, at 22 months in charge, under MacAnthony, with only Darren Ferguson, in 2 separate spells, lasting longer.

Neymar Jr Goes Off On A Stretcher

With just 9 days left until PSG face the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Real Madrid they have got an injury worry over Neymar. The world record signing was carried off on a stretcher after appearing to hurt his ankle in the 80th minute with Paris Saint-Germain having already made all 3 substitutions. PSG eased to a 3-0 victory over Marseille, despite having to play the final minutes with just 10 men.

Poch Defends 'Divey Alli'

As Dele Alli once again threw himself to the floor under the slightest contact or under contact he himself initiated, pundits were queueing up to have a pop at the Spurs youngster, including Gary Lineker who labelled him 'Divey Alli'. Tottenham's manager Mauricio Pochettino has jumped to Alli's defence though: "He is an easy target for everyone. We need to stop saying too much about him to stop helping people, the fans, creating this reputation. He's so competitive and played very well but Dele is an easy target. Dele is such a special kid. He's going to play. He's going to show his quality. He won't worry what people are saying about him." Sometimes you wonder why people defend the indefensible, Alli is an easy target because of his actions. He is earning a deserved reputation and it will end up with him not getting decisions he deserves to get and will only have himself to blame.

Lewandowski Dismisses Madrid Rumours

Following Bayern Munich goal machine Robert Lewandowski's change of agent to Pini Zahavi, speculation has ramped up linking the Polish striker with a big move to Real Madrid. However the 29 year old has denied talk that the change of agent was done with a move to Spain in mind: "No, that [agent change] has nothing to do with this speculation. I haven't heard anything from Real Madrid, I don't know whether my agent has and people will write what they want, but it doesn't interest me."

Tah Extends Leverkusen Contract

German centre back Jonathan Tah has extended his contract with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen until 2023. Tah was signed from Hamburg in 2015 and have since gone on to notch 69 appearances in the league and the 22 year old has attracted attention from all over Europe.

Stenhousemuir Invite Fans To Buy Shares In The Club

Scottish football club Stenhousemuir have become a Community Interest Company, the first in Scotland, and probably the UK, to do so. As a CIC shareholders have a big say in the running of the club, which already boasts a supporters trust with a 20% holding in the club, The Warriors Sports Society. They are now inviting more supporters to get involved by buying a share, each priced at £37.50.

Written by Tris Burke February 26 2018 06:12:27