HEROES & VILLAINS
KYRIL LOUIS-DREYFUS
English football’s youngest-ever chairman at the age of 23, Louis-Dreyfus, son of Russianborn Swiss billionaire Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, took charge of Sunderland in February. The Black Cats, one of the biggest clubs outside England’s top tier, were also handed another boost with the news that the salary cap for Leagues One and Two would be scrapped.
RHYAN GRANT
The Sydney FC defender had become one of the A-League’s most distinctive sights due to his flowing mullet. That is until he shaved it off as part of the World’s Greatest Shave, raising over AUS$20,000. Plenty of his fellow players in the league chipped in, including Dylan Wenzel-Halls, the Brisbane Roar striker who notably tugged on Grant’s hair in a past clash.
WIDZEW LODZ FANS
Having gone out of business in 2015, the Polish club have rebuilt, gaining promotion back up to the second tier thanks in large part to their fans. The four-time national champions, who knocked Liverpool out of the 1983 European Cup, recently sold out of season tickets for the rest of the campaign, despite the fact that fans are not yet allowed in stadiums due to COVID.
MICHAEL DOYLE
Notts County feared the worst during their recent National League clash with Dagenham & Redbridge, when goalkeeper Sam Slocombe was shown an 18th-minute red card. With no back-up on the bench, midfielder Doyle stepped in. First, he imitated Bruce Grobelaar’s “wobbly legs” routine for the subsequent penalty, which struck the bar, then the Irishman called upon his Gaelic football experience to keep the ball out his net, helping his side to a 3-1 victory.
RED STAR BELGRADE
Following their Europa League defeat to Milan, the Serbian club were charged by UEFA for “racist behaviour” and “offensive chanting”. A group of fans, who should not have even been inside the Rajko Mitic stadium anyway, were caught directing ethnic slurs at Zlatan Ibrahimovic due to his Bosnian heritage.
JONATHAN SUAREZ
Orlando City terminated Suarez’s contract after less than a month following his arrest in connection with allegations of sexual battery. A club statement read: “Orlando City SC and Major League Soccer have terminated the contract of Jonathan Suarez, with the defender mutually agreeing to the termination in order to focus on the allegations made against him.”
RANGERS RULE-BREAKERS
“It’s taking all my power not to stand here and use expletives whenever I get asked about football,” said Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon after yet another case of Scottish Premiership players breaking COVID rules. This time it was five Rangers players – Bongani Zungu, Nathan Patterson, Calvin Bassey, Dapo Mebude and Brian Kinnear – caught at a house party that was broken up by police.
FENERBAHCE
The Turkish giants were taken to court by beIN Sports after a bizarre campaign against the broadcaster. Fenerbahce’s hierarchy accused the Qatar-based company of being biased against the club and manipulating VAR decisions with their choice of camera angles. Ahead of one fixture, players even wore T-shirts branded with the slogan “beFAIR” using the company’s branding. A Turkish court quickly ruled in beIN’s favour, and ordered the club to cease.