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The sporting world had a lot to offer in the festive season with some incredible fixtures and major developments. The footballing world saw the Scottish Premier League postpone multiple key fixtures due to Storm Gerrit while the Congo Republic announced their squad for the African Cup of Nations.
Here are the major updates from the sporting world over the last 24 hours:
SPL to postpone Rangers and Aberdeen's game due to Storm Gerrit
Scottish clubs Rangers and Aberdeen were forced to postpone their Premiership games due to Storm Gerrit in the country. The SPL confirmed the development as Snowfall, rainfall and powerful winds hit the A9 and shut down several sections of Scotland's longest road. Rangers' match against Ross County at Ibrox while Aberdeen's fixture against Motherwell was called off with no new date set.
I must be from a different planet: Sean Dyche reacting to penalty against Man City
Everton manager Sean Dyche was appalled with the penalty decision given in favour of Manchester City in the Premier League. The spot was given after the ball struck Amadou Onana at the hour mark with scores tied at 1-1. "We can debate the penalty all day. It has been by managers on Zoom calls to say it's a farce but that's the way it goes," Dyche told Amazon Prime. "That's completely natural. He's not putting his arm up to save it, he's literally jumping in to try to block the ball. How that is given as a penalty is bizarre in my world but I must be from a different planet."
If we can do business early, it's great for us: Postecoglou on Jan transfer window
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou spoke about the club being active in the January transfer window. "If we can do business early, it's great for us. Not just because of losing Romero but there's a whole month there – why waste it?" Postecoglou told reporters ahead of Thursday's trip to Brighton & Hove Albion. "If you can bring them in early, even if they don't play, you can bed them into training and our style of football because it's not like we're going to sign somebody and they'll hit the ground running.
Democratic Republic of Congo announce squad for African Cup of Nations finals
Chancel Mbemba to lead the Democratic Republic of Congo at the African Cup of Nations finals in January 2024. Congo is placed in Group F with Morocco, Tanzania and Zambia. They play their first match at the finals against Zambia in San Pedro on Jan. 17. Check out the Squad here:
Goalkeepers: Dimitri Bertaud (Montpellier), Lionel Mpasi (Rodez), Baggio Siadi (TP Mazembe)
Defenders: Dylan Batubinsika (Saint Etienne), Brian Bayeye (Ascoli), Rocky Bushiri (Hibernians), Henock Inonga (Simba, Tanzanie), Gedeon Kalulu (Lorient), Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk), Arthur Masuaku (Besiktas), Chancel Mbemba (Marseille)
Midfielders: Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow), Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion), Gael Kakuta (Amiens), Edo Kayembe (Watford), Samuel Moutousamy (Nantes), Charles Pickel (Cremonese), Aaron Tshibola (Al Hatta)
Forwards: Simon Banza (Sporting Braga), Cedric Bakambu (Galatasaray), Meschack Elia (Young Boys Berne), Silas Katompa (VfB Stuttgart), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids), Yoane Wissa (Brentford).
Major footballing results:
Brentford 1 - 4 Wolves
Chelsea 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Everton 1 - 3 Manchester City
Inter Milan on verge of bankruptcy despite Brozovic and Onana transfers: Reports
Inter Milan, who currently sit on the top spot of the Serie A standings with 44 points, are reportedly on the verge of bankruptcy. The Italian football club got into the news when they paid their 10 board members their annual compensation. According to the blog accountant and auditor Luca Marotta, the company cut costs by 11.8% to 465.5 million and recorded a decline in revenues (-3.2%) to around $473 million.
Not only this, but the blog also says that the club is in heavy debt of around $898 million. Although the numbers are less than that of the previous year, which was $980 million. The blog also suggests that the club has continued business in the ongoing year only due to the sales of Marcelo Brozovic to Al Nasr for $20 million and Andre Onana to Manchester United for $ 57 million.
Tennis
It brings a bit more stress: Gael Monfils on playing ASB Classic with wife Elina Svitolina
Gael Monfils opened up on the experience of entering the same tournament with wife Elina Svitolina. The duo will lock horns against ASB Classic in Auckland, starting on January 1. The veteran Frenchman said, “The good part is that we can spend more time together, especially now with our daughter, it’s so much easier. But it brings a bit more stress because we always want the other one to play good, so it’s like you play two matches, instead of one. For both of us, it’s a big help. We have huge support, and we can rely on each other, so that’s a big boost.”
Someone who has never played tennis can admire Rafael Nadal but a tennis player admires him even more - Roberto Bautista Agut
Roberto Bautista Agut recently that those who play tennis admire Rafael Nadal more than those who never played the sport. He said that those who play the sport know the difficulty of what Nadal achieved. Agut told Marca, "By numbers Novak surpasses Nadal. He was talking about it with a friend at the gym. Someone who is not a fan or who has never played tennis can admire Rafa, but a tennis player or a friend of his admires him even more because he knows how complex and difficult it is to achieve everything these people have achieved.”
Novak Djokovic reacts to being named European Sportsperson of the Year
Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic reacted to being named the European Sportsperson of the Year for the record eighth time. The 24 Grand Slam winner was picked from a list with names like Formula One star Max Verstappen and world record-holder pole-vaulter Armand Duplantis. The Serb expressed gratitude for winning the award and took to social media to share the top-10 list with a series of folded-hands emojis. The list is presented annually by the Polish Press Agency. He was honoured with the award in 2011, which was the award’s inaugural edition.
Wrestling
Suspended WFI chief Sanjay Singh refuses to accept ad-hoc committee
Suspended Wrestling Federation of India chief Sanjay Singh refused to accept the ad-hoc committee that was set up by the Indian Olympic Association on December 27, Wednesday. Singh was in a conversation with India Today, where he said, "I don't accept this ad hoc committee I will speak to the minister and if the matter is still not resolved will seek legal opinion.” The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formed a committee of three members for the Wrestling Federation of India after several wrestlers opposed Sanjay’s win in the WFI polls. Bhupendra Singh Bajwa was appointed as the committee Chairman, along with MM Somaya and Manjusha Kanwar as members of the ad-hoc committee. The WFI was suspended by the Sports Ministry, and the new committee will oversee various tasks and activities of the WFI.
