Football News: ADO Den Haag Ban 22 Over Racist Abuse, Chelsea Snake Steward Sacked Plus More

1. Chelsea duo fit to face Arsenal
Last season's Premier League champions Chelsea have been boosted by a couple of injury returns, as they prepare to face this season's Premier League leaders, Arsenal, on Sunday at the Emirates Stadium. Interim manager Guus Hiddink will be able to pick Eden Hazard for the first time since he picked up a groin injury against Crystal Palace. Hiddink told his pre-match press conference: "The last two days he (Hazard) was in full commitment with first-team training, so he is available. We have to be careful, because he has fallen into some injuries recently. I'm not sure whether he can play a full 90 minutes yet. We have to consider whether it's best (for him) to start or to come in." Striker Diego Costa will also be available despite being forced off with an injury against Everton last weekend. Hiddink added: "He (Costa) was in yesterday. He was in today. So he will be available as well."

2. Newcastle do want Sylla
Jordi Alburquerque, the agent of Espanyol forward Mamadou Sylla, has confirmed that Newcastle United are interested in signing his client in the January transfer window. Reports had circulated earlier this month of a bid, and Alburquerque confirmed it would be a dream for the youngster to move to English football. He also confirmed that the signing would be one for the future, with Sylla loaned out for the rest of the season to a Championship side, if a deal is agreed with Espanyol. "A group of intermediaries contacted me to let me know about Newcastle interest in securing his services. They said that Newcastle are willing to pay £1m to sign him but it is unclear if it will be to play for the fist team or to loan him straight away to a Championship side," Alburquerque said to IBTimes UK. "They want him as a prospect for the future but I have not had direct contact with Newcastle yet. I have done previous deals with this group and I know that the Newcastle interest is strong but I do not know if there has already been a formal offer to Espanyol." He added that Sylla would love to play in England: "Yes, Mamadou's dream has always been to play in the Premier League. He has always said that his priority is to go to England, even if he has to start with a loan to a Championship side. He also has other offers from some in Belgium and Holland but right now his priority is to go to England. The problem is that Espanyol want a loan deal with no option for the other club to get his services permanently. We recently signed a new deal at the club with a release clause of €18m and is complicated. Let's see what happens. I'll have a meeting to Espanyol but selling for £1m is not an easy situation."

 

3. Arsenal midfielder returns to his roots
Southend United have moved to clinch the loan signing of an 'old boy' from Premier League side Arsenal. Glen Kamara joined Arsenal from Southend's youth academy back in 2012, and manager Phil Brown has long been an admirer. Brown has moved to bring the 20 year old back on a loan for the rest of the season. Brown said: "We have been chasing Glen for about six weeks now and I'm very pleased to have got the deal done." He added: "It stopped for a little while when Ben Coker got injured and we had to concentrate on bringing in a left-back. But the opportunity presented itself yesterday to get the deal done and, just like the others players we have brought in, I think it will help us improve significantly."

4. ADO Den Haag ban 22 fans for racist chants
After a match between ADO Den Haag and Ajax was marred by racist chants aimed at Ajax midfielder Riechedly Bazoer, ADO have moved swiftly to try and ensure it does not happen again. 22 fans have been banned by the club, who has also informed them that they will be held liable for any financial damages the club suffers as a result.

 

5. Souare agrees Eagles contract extension
With the focus on new signings, one of the best bits of business in the window has potentially been done by Crystal Palace, as they tied down left back Papa Souare to a new 3 and a half year deal. With Souare combining well this season with the players in front of him going forward, and showing the desire and ability to get back too, it allows Palace manager to build a foundation for the side. The 25 year old Senegalese has made 23 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles this season.

6. Former Geordie signs for the Mackems
Long serving Newcastle United stalwart Steve Harper has signed a short term deal with local rivals Sunderland. The 40 year old had been without a club since leaving Hull City at the end of last season, he will now provide cover at Sunderland for the rest of the season. Harper spent 20 seasons on Tyneside.

Sunderland have signed veteran 'keeper Steve Harper on a short-term deal - https://t.co/oXeDipLCbi pic.twitter.com/q1mJXeyouS

— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) January 22, 2016

 

7. Steward sacked for insulting Fabregas
A Chelsea steward has been sacked after video footage emerged of him calling Cesc Fabregas a snake. The video was filmed earlier this season, but it has only gone viral over the past few days and Chelsea have taken the step of firing the steward. Fabregas was previously captain of Arsenal, before joining Barcelona and the steward was filmed saying, "you're a snake, you're Arsenal."

8. Neymar to miss Malaga match
Barcelona will have to do without one third of their powerhouse attacking trio through injury, which has become known as MSN. While the M part, Lionel Messi, has recovered from a hamstring injury to be fit for the match, the N part, Neymar Jr., has not recovered sufficiently from his hamstring problem and will not be risked. Barca will also have to do without Gerard Pique, who is suspended, and Jordi Alba and Rafinha, who are both injured. They are currently two points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid with a game in hand.

 

9. Kobe Bryant talks about Messi
Kobe Bryant, known as the 'Black Mamba', is a legend in basketball circles, one of the greatest players of all time, and is set to retire at the end of the current NBA season and is currently performing for the LA Lakers in what could arguably considered little more than a goodbye tour, as the Lakers are struggling badly. Bryant though, is more and more talking about another sport that he loves, football, as he grew up in Italy as a youngster. He has now told the tale of how Ronaldinho introduced him to Lionel Messi, who was just 17 at the time, telling him that Messi would go on to become the greatest of all time:

10. Infantino confident of becoming FIFA president
UEFA's general secretary, Gianni Infantino, has insisted he is confident in his chances of winning the vote for the next FIFA president. The current frontrunner, Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa, who is the Bahraini president of the Asian Football Confederation, has been accused of using his position, while president of the Bahraini FA, to provide political support to the regime there during an attempted popular uprising. Not just was Sheikh Salman said to be involved with fining, docking points and even relegating teams who had players involved in supporting the uprising, but he is also accused of being involved with the detention and torture of players involved. Infantino believes that he will have the backing of UEFA and that will be enough to secure him the role. "There is no question of any deals. I am a candidate for the Fifa presidency until the end. But it is not a Uefa diktat or a Uefa decision," he said. Going on FIFA's track record, you would have to question his chances of beating Sheikh Salman, who seems to fit the profile established by the last two FIFA presidents to a tee.....

Written by Tris Burke January 22 2016 19:31:43