June 20, 2022
The brief from today:
Global politics and football
Poland national team coach, Czeslaw Michniewicz, announced today that he wouldn’t be picking Polish defender, Maciej Rybus, for the World Cup squad this November. His reason, Rybus, who was playing for Lokomotiv Moscow for the past five years, recently transferred to fellow Moscow side Spartak. Of course the backdrop of the Russian war with Ukraine is the fundamental issue Michniewicz has with Rybus choosing to continue his playing career in Russia. As a result he informed the player that he wouldn’t be included in the training camp in September, and ultimately the World Cup at the end of the year. Rybus, who is 32 now, has represented Poland 66 times thus far, and only time—and perhaps geopolitics—will determine whether he adds to that tally.
Rybus unlikely to appear for Poland for the foreseeable future
Eto’o pleads guilty
Former Barcelona and Cameroon striker, and current president of the Cameroonian Football Federation—Samuel Eto’o—appeared in Spanish court today regarding a tax fraud case from his playing days. The years in question are from 2006-09, when he was alleged to have failed to declare income from his Barcelona and Puma image rights on his taxes. Rather than pay the income tax rates in Spain, Eto’o transferred his image rights at the time to a company/account established in Hungary where the tax rates are more favorable. Eto’o pleaded guilty and received a 22-month suspended prison sentence. In addition, he will pay roughly €3.8 million in evaded taxes, and an additional €1.8 million fine. Eto’o’s comments regarding the matter laid the blame on his former agent, Jose Maria Mesalles, who allegedly advised him to handle his image rights in such a manner. Mesalles, who was also in court today, received a one year suspended prison sentence, and a €905,155 fine. After Eto’o’s country and federation successfully hosted the AFCON tournament in January/February, qualified for the 2022 World Cup in March, and will take part in the latter competition in November/December, he will be hoping to put this tax case behind him and focus on the football.
Eventful 2022 for Eto’o
South Korea throws their name in the hat
The 2023 Asian Cup, originally scheduled to be hosted by China next summer, has been looking for a new venue since the Chinese stepped down last month due to their ongoing zero-COVID policy. In response, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) stated that all new bids must be submitted by June 30. Today, the Korea Football Association formally submitted their intention to host the 24-team tournament. The other contenders on the shortlist, despite no official bids being made thus far, are: Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.