14 May 2018

Couple of countries wants EURO 2024

On the last Tuesday in April, one of the favorites to host this event - Germany submit its bid to the European football organization. However, two days later, another country that spreads on two continents has done the same. And both candidates gave all documentations for the EURO 2024 deadline which was on 27 April.
Turkey has never staged European championship finals and now the country is ready to welcome the best 24 teams in six years time. In the papers it was introduced 10 stadiums, out of which 2 of them will be built from scratch. On the first day of this month all these sports arenas have revealed images of the designs from whom the inspirations came from traditional Turkish hats and artwork. At the most populated city of the continent - Istanbul, games are going to be played on 2 football grounds. There are also proposed that duels will be staged in 8 other towns across the country. The vice president of its federation Servet Yardimci said that this is 'a historic day for Turkish football' and 'it is now the time for Turkey to host its first-ever tournament'.
Final winner for the 2024 edition is going to be made in Nyon on 27 September.

13 May 2018

Harsh punishment

It all started with fouling a player, which afterwards the whistle remained silent while he was lying on the grass. Then 'our hero' started problems with: spitting the lines-man as well as the fourth referee, and soon after followed curses, attacks, physical threats...thus at the end, normally, received a red card.
This is the story of Arda Turan, a Basaksehir player who was removed from the game against Sivasspor at the ninety fourth minute played on 04 May. After the duel everyone expected that the midfielder will get fewer matches off the pitch, but instead it was quite severe with a double figure: the former Turkish international was banned for 16 games. To be more precise, the 31-year-old got: 10 matches for attacking the officials and with 3 each for insults and threats, plus a financial penalty. On Thursday the federation fined him with 39.000 Turkish lira (7.636 euros). As local media reported, in football this is far the biggest punishment for one player in the country.
Yesterday night the club has won its first duel without him, so now there is 15 left...

12 May 2018

Same rivals - foreign referees

AEK and PAOK are going to meet again, but this time on another tournament in Greece. These two teams are going to face each other again after the suspended game, which hapenned in March that saw the Super league championship got abandoned due to chaotic scenes on the pitch in Thessaloniki. On Saturday, 12 May from 19.30 CET the derby will be anewed at the Cup final in Athens. In order not to have the same repetition from two months ago and to prevent further trouble the federation took a different approach.
Because local referees are often the target in home games plus there is a suspicion of corruption in past years, on Thursday it was announced that David Borbalan is going to lead this duel. The 44-year-old Spanish official will be helped by Raul Cabanero Martinez with Jose Manuel Caballero as assistants together with Jesus Gil Manzano and Carlos del Cerro Grande who will stand near both goals. Last non Greek referee which led the match at the same final was in 1975.

11 May 2018

Advanced payment

African quintet which qualified for the World Cup finals, who is starting next month across Russia, are getting a financial boost. To have better preparations for the event, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia are being awarded 1.648.470 euros each. This was announced from FIFA in the last day of April, while CAF president Ahmad Ahmad immediately praised the decision saying that the world football organization was not that generous in past editions (continent is receiving less money than others) which 'affected badly the image of African football'.

10 May 2018

Ousted on couple of years

For failure to report on illegal activities an ex El Salvador trainer is removed from this sport on two years. Ramon Maradiaga forgot to mention to the world football organization an agreed result before it even played, thus seven days ago he is punished from football on 24 months. The 63-year-old failed to point out a known result to FIFA from 2016, when his team played a World Cup qualifying match against Canada, in which a third party has offered 'financial compensation' for the fixed outcome.