Football News: Review Of The Day 23rd November 2019

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Atlanta United pair Julian Gressel and Leandro Gonzalez Pirez have new one year deals.

C.J. Sarpong has signed a one year contract with Chicago Fire.

Real Salt Lake City winger Jefferson Savarino has a one year deal as does Brazilian midfielder Everton Luiz.

Toronto FC has given Marky Delgado a new one year contract.

Injury Round-Up

AFC Wimbledon have lost their captain, Will Nightingale, to hip surgery. The 24 year old defender is expected to be out for 3 to 4 months. Manager Glyn Hodges said: "When they operated on it, it was worse than what they suspected. It looks like he could be out for a sustained period, but if he's a quick healer and he gets the right work he can bounce back. Will can come back bigger and stronger as he will have the best possible care thanks to Stuart Douglas and his medical team."

Huddersfield Town's defender Tommy Elphick has been ruled out of action for nine months after knee surgery to repair ligament damage.

Last Job In England Says Jose

Jose Mourinho has said that he hopes the Tottenham Hotspur job is to be his last in England. Mourinho said: "I would love to stay for many years. I say many years but I know realistically how football is. If I could do a Mauricio for five-and-a-half years, it would be amazing. I would be 61 - then 10 more years. Vitória Setúbal in Portugal maybe the last job."

Highest Paid Managers Listed

Sky Sports Italia have listed the 10 highest paid managers:
10. Jurgen Klopp - Liverpool - 8m euros
9. Ernesto Valverde - Barcelona - 9m euros
8. Thomas Tuchel - Paris Saint-Germain 9m euros
7. Antonio Conte - Inter Milan - 11m euros
6. Zinedine Zidane - Real Madrid - 12m euros
5. Fabio Cannavaro - Guangzhou Evergrande - 12m euros
4. Rafael Benitez - Dalian Yifang - 13.5m euros
3. Diego Simeone - Atletico Madrid - 15.4m euros
2. Jose Mourinho - Tottenham Hotspur - 17.5m euros
1. Pep Guardiola - Manchester City - 23m euros

Former Footballer Given Drug-Driving Ban

Jason Dozzell, the former Tottenham Hotspur, Ipswich Town and Colchester United players was given a £440 fine and banned from driving for 14 months after being stopped with cocaine in his system. Dozzell was also not wearing his glasses, a condition of his driving license.

Footballer Banned For Twitter Abuse

League Two side Port Vale's striker Tom Pope has been given a one-game suspension by the Football Association. Port Vale stated: "Port Vale can confirm that Tom Pope has been suspended for one match with immediate effect for breach of FA Rule E3. The club will be making no further comment at this time."

Edwards Suffers Heart Attack

Former Wales international Christian Edwards has been hospitalised after suffering a suspected heart attack. Edwards, who played for Swansea City, Nottingham Forest and Bristol Rovers during his playing career, is now manager of Cardiff Met and a senior lecturer in sports coaching science.

Thistle EuroMillions Takeover Complete

The winner of £161m on the EuroMillions lottery, Colin Weir, has completed his takeover of Partick Thistle and plans to gift ownership to fans next year. 71 year old Weir is a lifelong fan of the Glasgow club and has also bought a holding in land at the club's Firhill Stadium, which he is giving back to the club. His 55% shareholding will be gifted to a fan group being developed along the lines of the Well Society model at Motherwell. He had previously invested £2.5m into the club and set aside £6m for a new training ground. Weir said: "Thistle for Ever planted the thought of fan ownership as a real option in my mind. But this has all happened quicker than anyone might have anticipated. That's why I have offered a three to four month window for fans to get everything in place before handing over shares. They want to get it right and I want to be sure that when the new entity is operational, there is a structure that will allow for a smooth transfer of ownership. This is a major financial commitment on my part as fan owners will not need to repay a penny - but I believe this gives fan ownership the best possible start." Weir also plans to fund the club's youth academy.

Calderon Tells Bale To Go Back To Spurs

Ramon Calderon, the former president of Real Madrid, has said that Gareth Bale should return to Tottenham Hotspur. Calderon told the BBC: "It's true that Mourinho likes the player," Calderon told BBC Radio Wales. "He said that in 2017 when he tried to sign (him) for Manchester United and Real Madrid decided to extend the contract of Gareth Bale. I remember him saying 'if he is by the exit door, I will be waiting on the other side', so maybe it's a solution. We don't if he knew what was on that banner. If he knew, it's clear that this was something childish but maybe he didn't. Maybe he was involved in the celebrations with other team-mates and he did that unwittingly, not trying to offend anyone or disrespect anyone. The problem is that picture has added fuel to the fire. You have to bear in mind that for fans it's a bit weird. They are angry because the player has gone around 50 days without playing for Real Madrid, missing six matches, and then suddenly they have seen him playing for Wales - very well by the way. That's been really the trouble, not just the banner but a combination of things. I am sure when he appears at the Bernabeu on the pitch, there will be people booing him and not accepting what he did. Also the press has been very cruel in some ways, having the front pages on this issue. That is also the problem. He has been shy and introverted, not communicating with the press. The fans haven't been able to know what he thinks because he doesn't speak a single word of Spanish." Zidane is dismissing the flag issue though: "Things can happen outside but we have to look inside the club. What happens outside doesn't bother us. I have spoken to Gareth like I do all players, every day we say hello and we talk if we pass in the club and that's it. I am not interested in talking about what happened outside. He is OK and has trained normally with us and that is that. He is a player who has given lots to the club and I will look only at the sport, not what they say outside because there is a lot said and I am not here for that. I am not interested. It interests a lot of people but not me."

UEFA Charges

The UEFA Europa League group stage match between Malmo and FC Copenhagen has led to Malmo having to close 5,000 seats in their next home match in UEFA competition and being fined 50,000 euros for the setting off of objects and the throwing of objects. The closed seating is suspended for 1 year. They have also been fined 16,000 euros for the blocking of stairways. Copenhagen have also been fined 70,000 euros for the same match for setting off of fireworks and illicit banner.

A Champions League match between Club Brugge and Paris Saint-Germain has seen Brugge fined 14,000 euros for blocked stairways. PSG have been banned from selling tickets to their away support for the next away match in UEFA competition, suspended for 1 year. They have also been fined 50,000 euros for setting off and throwing fireworks.

The UEFA Europa League game between Celtic and Lazio has seen Celtic fined 15,000 euros for an illicit banner and chants. Lazio were fined 10,000 euros for illicit chants.

A UEFA European Qualifiers match between Kosovo and Montenegro has led to a fine of 5,000 euros for Kosovo for the throwing of objects. Montenegro have been fined 15,000 euros for throwing of objects and crowd disturbances.

Fabinho Rejected City, United, PSG And Juve

Fabinho's brother-in-law Ricardo Assis has said that Fabinho rejected a number of clubs to join Liverpool instead. Assis said: "Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Juventus also talked to his agent, but it was Liverpool that made all the effort to sign him. [Jurgen] Klopp showed him videos of the team, explained why he wanted to sign him but he also made it clear that it wouldn't be straightforward for him to be a regular starter from the beginning. Fabinho left the meeting determined to join Liverpool."

PSG Look To Sell Stadium Naming Rights

Paris Saint-Germain have launched a website to try and tempt a company to purchase the naming rights to the Parc des Princes stadium. The website showcases the stadium and the new training centre they are set to open in Poissy. The training complex will house all the PSG teams, which covers sports such as judo and handball, as well as men's and women's football.

Hazard Rejected PSG Repeatedly

Eden Hazard has revealed that he rejected a number of offers to join Paris Saint-Germain from Chelsea, before finally making a move to Real Madrid this summer. Hazard told L'Equipe: "They often tried to recruit me, but I didn't want to return to Ligue 1 unless it was to join Lille. I always said no to them. It was clear in my mind that if I were to return to France it would be with Lille."

Written by Tris Burke November 22 2019 20:51:16