Football News: CONCACAF Dismiss Match Fixing Claims While Arsenal Look To Make Signing Before The Weekend And More News

1. Wolfsburg suffer Bas Dost setback
VFL Wolfsburg are currently in Lagos for their winter training camp, but they have suffered an injury setback after Netherlands international Bas Dost was involved in a tackle with Brazilian defender Dante. Tests have shown that Dost has broken his metatarsal in the challenge and will have to undergo surgery to repair the injury. Dost is set to be out for six to eight weeks, which makes him a doubt for the forthcoming Champions League last 16 match against Gent. Dost is Wolfsburg's top scorer with seven goals this season.

2. Transfer round up
Jonathan Parr Ipswich Town to Stromsgodset free
Conor McGrandles Norwich City to Falkirk on loan
Jack Hunt Crystal Palace to Sheffield Wednesday undisclosed fee
Craig Halkett Rangers to Livingston
Alessandro Diamanti Watford to Atalanta on loan
Stephen Bywater signs for Burton Albion

 

3. CONCACAF dismisses match fixing claims at Gold Cup
The CONCACAF Gold Cup was mired by a series of controversial (read awful) refereeing decisions, which led to accusations of match fixing. Despite a slew of them going in Mexico's favour, helping them to lift the trophy in July, CONCACAF have released a statement saying they found "no clear or convincing evidence of match fixing". The acting general secretary, Tim Howard, has said that CONCACAF will restructure their referee department following the review. "CONCACAF's referees are critical to our organization's mission, and we are proud to have dedicated officials working to ensure that the confederation's tournaments are officiated with integrity," Howard said in a news release. "We are committed to making the necessary improvements to our referee department to ensure that it operates effectively. These changes will provide our referees, officials and assessors with the proper structure, training and support to carry out their responsibilities on the field, while acting in the best interests of the game." The match fixing fears were mainly sparked by Mexico's 2-1 extra time victory over Panama in the semi-final. Panama led going into the final stages of the match, despite an extremely debatable red card given to Luis Tejada in the first half, when the referee, American Mark Geiger, awarded Mexico a soft penalty for a handball. The penalty award caused the game to have a lengthy display as players protested and fans threw objects onto the pitch. Eventually the Mexico captain, Andres Guardado, was able to step up and score a goal that he later said he considered deliberately missing in the name of sportsmanship! This win came on the back of Mexico progressing through the quarter final match with Costa Rica, with a similarly controversial last gasp penalty. "Each of the decisions during the quarterfinals and semifinals of the Gold Cup 2015 could be attributed to simple mistakes, errors in positioning, and/or lack of concentration," the CONCACAF news release said. "Based on interviews and statements from referees, it is possible that a number of external circumstances, most notably recent labor disputes by the referee group and internal disputes, were an unnecessary distraction for the referees at a critical time. In interviews, the referees admitted personal errors and apologized for them."

4. Courtois blames West Brom for trying to provoke Chelsea
A fiery 2-2 draw between reigning Premier League champions Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion led to claims from Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois about how the Baggies players were deliberately trying to provoke the Chelsea players. "It's disappointing," Courtois told Premier League Productions. "It was a tough game with them playing the long ball and, second ball, trying to provoke players." While it is difficult to argue with the Belgian keeper, as we all know Tony Pulis sends his players out to intimidate, antagonise and bully, in fact any tactic possible in the hope of preventing a football match breaking out, as Pulis clearly knows nothing about the actual game other than how to stop it taking place, Courtois should remember that his own team are not averse to using those same tactics themselves. Last season Diego Costa was a master at it, Jose Mourinho has always been happy to indulge in those kind of tactics, so they should have been able to cope when it was turned on them. Though he is right, it is about time the refs started to crack down on it, so we get more games like the recent 3-3 draws between Newcastle United and Manchester United and Liverpool and Arsenal. Fast, furious, exciting football, rather than the dross Pulis' teams serve up on a weekly basis.

 

5. Nice Rabona by Bacca
Though I have to ask why he could not just have put it in with his left foot? Anyway, still a good finish for AC Milan by their summer signing Carlos Bacca.

6. Packet of refreshers scores a cracker v Stoke
Remember Refreshers? The fizzy round sweets that came in a stick packet? Is it just me that thinks this hideous Norwich City kit looks like they do? Anyway a good finish by Jonny Howson versus Stoke City last night, despite the kit.

 

7. Wenger reveals touchline chat with Klopp
Arsene Wenger and Jurgen Klopp had a friendly chat on the sidelines, during Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Arsenal at Anfield, and now Wenger has revealed the details. "I told him 'calm down because they will send you into the stands here," said Wenger. "At Liverpool, it is very tight - you are very close to each other. He had a little problem with the fourth official that he will explain much better than I can because I don't know why. It was alright, there was no bad feelings at all." Not sure why anyone would feel Klopp needs to calm down though, he seems calm to me:

8. Arsenal hope to have Elneny ready to face Stoke
Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the Gunners are closing in on the signing of Mohamed Elneny, and he hopes that the midfielder could be ready to face Stoke City in the Premier League on Sunday. Speaking in the post match press conference, following Liverpool making Arsenal's midfield look anonymous for large periods of the game, Wenger said: "Elneny will join us. We will see if he can qualify for Sunday."

 

9. Sirigu dismisses exit rumours
Paris Saint-Germain keeper Salvatore Sirigu has been linked with a number of clubs in the January transfer window, since the Italian international has lost his place in the starting line-up for the French champions. Sirigu has been relegated to back up with PSG, mainly playing cup games this season, as summer signing Kevin Trapp has pushed him out of the number one spot. Sirigu has denied that he is about to leave in January. "I asked my agent to talk to me only if something serious is coming. For now there is nothing," he told reporters. "I am a PSG player until they kick me out. I stay here. If a team has a big offer, I'll make a decision but I have to think about everything."

10. Charlton owner backs down from managerial appointment
Charlton Athletic are currently struggling under the interim leadership of Karel Freye, with the club's fans staging protests against the ownership of billionaire Belgian owner Roland Duchatelet. Duchatelet was set to appoint a manager currently in charge of one of his other clubs, Hungarian team Ujpest, in the form of Nebojsa Vignjevic, but has now stepped back from his plan amid fears over the fans' reaction. Duchatelet is now expected to search for a boss that is used to British football, rather than bringing in another unknown from the continent, in an attempt to appease the fans.

Written by Tris Burke January 14 2016 10:13:17