Gaal to stay on as United boss
London, Jan. 26: Louis van Gaal did not offer to resign after watching his team’s latest home defeat at the hands of Southampton at the weekend, sources close to Manchester United said on Tuesday.
Britain’s Guardian newspaper earlier reported that the club’s executive vice-chairman, Ed Woodward, had persuaded the Dutchman to stay following the 0-1 defeat which resulted in fans booing the team and Van Gaal off the pitch.
Woodward told Van Gaal to speak to his family before making a decision over his future, the newspaper said. The Dutchman flew to the Netherlands on Sunday for his daughter’s birthday.
Van Gaal is expected to hold fresh talks with United’s hierarchy on Tuesday when he takes first-team training.
The loss to Southampton left United in fifth place in the league table, trailing leaders Leicester City by 10 points and five points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur.
The defeat also marked the first time this season that the increasingly impatient fans showed open dissent against the manager. — Reuters Madrid, Jan. 26: Atletico Madrid lodged an appeal on Monday against a one-year transfer ban imposed by Fifa over their dealing in under-age players.
The ban starts from the July transfer window this year and finishes with the January transfer market in 2017.
Real Madrid were hit with the same punishment.
Atletico were also fined 900,000 Swiss francs (820,000 euros) and Real 360,000 (330,000 euros). However, both clubs are still allowed to sign players until the end of the month.
Atletico in a statement announced that they had lodged an appeal against Fifa’s disciplinary commission.
Fifa said the alarm was raised over the two clubs by Transfer Matching System and its committee completed the inquiry. — AFP