European leagues break spending record
PARIS: Europe’s big five leagues spent a record $4.21 billion (~30,309.76 crore) in the summer transfer window, according to a study published by FIFA on Wednesday.
The total amount of money spent by clubs in England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France was up 6.6 percent on the $3.95 billion spent in the same transfer window last year.
The English Premier League unsurprisingly contributed more than any other league, but while its 20 clubs spent a combined $1.44 billion, the increase in spending was greatest in Italy, where it was up almost 75 per cent.
That was fuelled to a large extent by Cristiano Ronaldo’s 100 million-euro move from Real Madrid to Juventus, while spending by clubs in Spain’s La Liga rose 42.2 per cent.
LLORIS AVOIDS JAIL
LONDON: France’s World Cupwinning captain Hugo Lloris avoided jail but received a 20-month driving ban and $65,000 fine on Wednesday for drinkdriving in central London.
The Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper had earlier called his behaviour “unacceptable” and received a lighter sentence.
ENGLAND WIN 1-0
LONDON: England’s players did not hold back from criticising each other at half time following a bad start to Tuesday’s friendly against Switzerland and defender Danny Rose believes the exchange helped them improve and seal a 1-0 victory.
“We could have been two or three-nil down at halftime,” Tottenham Hotspur’s Rose told BBC Radio 5 live. “It’s great we can all shout at each other and tell each other to improve like we did.”
ARGENTINA DRAW
NEWJERSEY:ARGENTINA and Colombia drew 0-0 in a friendly in New Jersey on Tuesday in a game that did little to cheer fans of either side hoping for a boost after disappointing World Cup showings.
Argentina, who were without Lionel Messi, fielded a young side and they were unable to make much headway against the more experienced Colombians.