World Soccer - UK (2020-02)

MARSEILLE

The Ligue 1 side, who beat fourth-tier side

Trelissac on penalties, refused to honour a

custom that professional clubs hand over their

proportion of gate receipts to the opposition

when playing an amateur team in the Coupe

de France.

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Criticised for an FA Cup-streaming deal with

betting companies which required fans to

place a bet before they could watch third-

round matches.

HICHAM TIAZI

The referee was suspended for life by the

Royal Moroccan Football Federation after

giving four wrongful penalties in the game

between Olympique Khouribga and

Youssoufia Berrechid.

SAYED BAQER

The Bahrain

defender was

banned for 10

games after he

made slanted-eye

gestures towards

home fans during

November’s World

Cup qualifier in

Hong Kong.

GERMANY

Dortmund win

battle for Haaland

Borussia Dortmund have signed highly rated
19-year-old striker Erling Haaland from Red Bull
Salzburg after paying his €20million release fee.
Son of former Leeds United and Manchester
City defender Alf-Inge Haaland, the teenager
agreed a contract until 2024 after accepting
Dortmund’s argument that they were best placed
to continue his footballing development.
Manchester United, Juventus and RB Leipzig
were all interested in the Norwegian, who scored
16 goals in 14 Austrian Bundesliga games and
eight more in the Champions League this season.
“Despite many offers from absolute top clubs
from all over Europe,
Erling Haaland
decided on the
sporting task at BVB
and the perspective
that we have shown
him,” said Dortmund
chief executive Hans-
Joachim Watzke.
“Our tenacity has
paid off.”

BEN FOSTER

Watford’s goalkeeper pulled an 80-year-old fan

suffering from dementia out of a roadside ditch

after a game. He also invited the supporter to

his home for Christmas dinner and offered to

pay for his next season ticket.

THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Praised for their mental health campaign

as all the FA Cup third-round kick-off times

were delayed by a minute in order to show

a campaign message.

JOKIN APERRIBAY

After his side beat fourth-tier Becerril 8-0 in

the Copa del Rey, Real Sociedad’s president

invited the entire population of the northern

Spanish village to a future match. The 754

villagers, along with Becerril’s players and staff,

will have transport, tickets and dinner paid for

at a top-flight game of their choice at the

Anoeta Stadium.

“I liked how they spoke to me then and that’s

what triggered me. That’s when I felt that me

and Dortmund was a good match”

Erling Haaland reveals why he opted to

join Borussia Dortmund from Red Bull Salzburg

PEDRO ORTIZ

The goalkeeper saved three penalties as Delfin

won their first Ecuadorian title in the club’s

30-year history.

HEROES VILLAINS

Appeal...Mario Balotelli

consults ref Gianluca

Manganiello during

the Lazio game

Choice...Haaland

Ban...Sayed

Baqer

GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

Foster...last-ditch heroics for an elderly Watford fan

No Jokin...Aperribay made offer to an entire village

No giveaway...Marseille’s Nemanja Radonjic