June 12, 2022

The brief from today:

Pirlo up for some Turkish delight

Andrea Pirlo has resurfaced after one season out of management. After his sacking from Juventus following the 2020/21 season, the former midfield maestro was off the radar for the 2021/22 season. As of today he is the newly appointed coach of Turkish Super Lig side: Fatih Karagumruk. This will be his second position in a fledgling career on the sideline, but he will hope to improve on Karagumruk’s eighth place finish last season. As it stands, Pirlo is on a one year contract with the Istanbul based team, and many are eager to see what he can achieve in that time frame.

How will Pirlo fare in his next role?

Five substitutions to be made permanent

Once COVID hit in 2020, allowances were made to the number of substitutions permitted in official matches, with the number going up from three to five. While many leagues and associations maintained that standard in the ensuing two years since the pandemic commenced, there have been exceptions like the Premier League who resorted back to three. Today, however, it was reported that the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the governors of the rules of the sport, will officially write the five substitutions edict into the laws of the game at a meeting in Doha tomorrow. While leagues will still have autonomy in deciding whether they adopt it, the general sentiment is that making it permanent will sway all parties in line. Even the Premier League has already announced a return to five substitutions starting next season (2022/23).

Toulon tournament concludes

The Toulon tournament, held in France, is a friendly competition comprised of invited national teams, with the age range being 17-23. The official name of the tournament, Tournoi Maurice Revello—named after its founder—is considered one of the most elite friendly competitions where the brightest prospects are discovered. This year’s edition concluded today with hosts, France, defeating Venezuela 2-1 after coming back from an eighth minute goal scored by the South Americans.