Football News: Review Of The Day 26th October 2020

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Review of the Day

Contracts

Adel Taarabt, the former Tottenham Hotspur and QPR enfant terrible has signed a new 3 year contract with Benfica.

Transfers

Cagliari midfielder Filip Bradaric has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Ain on loan.

Werder Bremen have signed free agent midfielder Philipp Bargfrede.

Injury Round-Up

Three players from Standard Liege have tested positive. Maxime Lestienne, Eden Shamir and Abdoul Fessal Tapsoba will all miss out on facing Benfica next week in the Europa League.

Bayern Munich have been hit by an injury to flying left-back Alphonso Davies. The Canadian is facing two months on the sidelines after tearing ankle ligaments in just the second minute of the match. Munich head coach Hansi Flick said: "He has injured ligaments - one is torn, one is partially torn. We expect him to be out for six to eight weeks. If a player of this quality drops out, it hurts."

Barcelona's Brazilian former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho is set to miss out on the Champions League clash with Juventus on Wednesday with a left hamstring injury.

Managerial Changes

Disciplinary Charges

Evans Criticises EFL Over Covid Dereliction

Gillingham manager Steve Evans is upset with the English Football League after Fleetwood Town's players and staff were not tested for CV-19 despite playing Accrington Stanley just 4 days before they faced the Gills. Following the match with Stanley, 8 players from the Accrington team tested positive. Evans told the BBC: "You cannot send them (Fleetwood) from a tier three area without a test and put hotels and everyone on that pitch at risk. That's why the benches were separated, because I insisted on it. Everyone was at risk in this stadium today. In my opinion, and the professional medical opinion at the club, there would have been Covid off that team coach today or a probability of it. If any Fleetwood players test positive in the next three or four days, people on the Football League board should resign immediately. We've had the Accrington situation on Tuesday. The league could have done something about it. What did they do? Absolutely nothing. Fleetwood and Joey have a responsibility (to get their players tested). We don't get tested any more. We've not been tested, other than individual players when they've got symptoms, since the Thursday before the start of the season. That's neglect of duty from the Football League. I hope I'm not coughing and spluttering on Monday because I'm the person in the ground with the biggest problem - nearly 60 and overweight."

Leeds Match Squad Donation

Leeds United's captain Liam Cooper revealed that the club's players had donated £25,000 to Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford's free school meals during the holidays campaign, saying on social media: "Let's do this Leeds! No children should ever go hungry. £25k guaranteed from the lufc squad. We stand with you Marcus Rashford. Me and the players are really fortunate and we are in a position to help. Therefore we are delighted to support the campaign from Leeds City Council, inspired by Marcus. No kids should go to bed hungry." The club itself has now responded by matching the donation, tweeting: "MarcusRashford We all stand united at this time, #LUFC will match the £25,000 donated by our players."

EFL Unhappy With Lack Of Fans

An English Football League statement has criticised the government for not allowing fans into stadiums to watch football. The statement read: "Our members, who contribute almost £500m annually to the exchequer, has had its core income stream of ticket sales turned off indefinitely without any indication of a roadmap that will allow the safe return of supporters to stadiums, despite other sectors being able to welcome people through their doors. They are also continuing to meet their financial obligations in the absence of similar levels of support being afforded to other industries. The inconsistency is frustrating and perplexing."

Ajax Set New Record

Ajax have bounced back quickly from their defeat to Liverpool in the Champions League by setting a new record for the biggest win in Eredivisie history. VVV-Venlo were the whipping boys on the other end of a 13-0 hammering. Ajax were already 4-0 up in the second half when Venlo's veteran defender Christian Kim was sent off and the floodgates opened.

Koeman Slams VAR

Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has claimed that VAR is "only used to make decisions against Barca" after a penalty was awarded to Real Madrid during El Clasico on Saturday. Barca lost 3-1 and had two penalty appeals rejected and it led to Koeman saying: "I don't understand VAR, I think it is only used to make decisions against Barca. You always get shirt tugs like that in the area and I think Ramos makes a foul on Lenglet first. There's a tug of the shirt, but not enough to make him fall behind as he did. For me it's not a penalty. We have had five matches and [VAR] has only been used to go against Barca. It's never gone our way. The decision had a big influence on the final result, because we were playing well up to the penalty."

Written by Tris Burke October 25 2020 19:54:56