June 24, 2022
The brief from today:
Ethiopian Premier League heating up
Today concluded Matchday 28 of the Ethiopian Premier League, with the race at the top intensifying. After league leaders, St. George, dropped points yesterday in their 1-1 draw to Hadiya Hossana, second place, Fasil Kenema, were hoping to narrow the gap. Going into their match today against fourth place Hawassa, Fasil sat on 55 points, four behind table toppers St. George. The match would end with a 1-0 victory for Fasil taking them up to 58 points, making the gap between first and second one point with two rounds remaining. Fasil have the slightly more difficult fixtures remaining on paper, but with 8 straight wins, compared to St. George’s 4—since the beginning of May—the chasers will fancy their odds, and their form, in the final run-in.
Former Real Madrid’s women’s player speaks out
With the Women’s Euro 2022 set to take place in England next month, players are currently at their national team training camps. One of those players, Swedish forward, Kosovare Asllani, held a press conference, and shared her feelings on now former club: Real Madrid. Asllani, 32, originally joined Madrid’s women’s team in 2019 when they were still called CD Tacon, since they hadn’t officially merged with Real Madrid yet. Asllani was very direct with her comments when she called the Spanish side’s culture and environment “unhealthy and dangerous” regarding the treatment of injured players. Speaking on her own experience during injury she said, “I have almost been forced to play injured. The management team has not listened to medical team.” She clearly has an affinity for the club saying, “I care so much about the club”, but her issue is with the powers that be who refuse to listen to the medical staff and injured players, and just sees the latter as “products.” Asllani was the player of the season in 2020/21, but last season she struggled with injuries, which limited her contribution. Her contract ends this month, and she has decided to move on with AC Milan a rumored destination for the former Manchester City, PSG, and now Madrid, player.
Safe to say Asllani won’t be wearing the Madrid jersey again
Saint-Etienne receive their punishment
Saint-Etienne were relegated from Ligue 1 at the end of the 2021/22 season, after they lost their playoff match against Auxerre 4-5 on penalties last month. As soon as the shootout concluded Saint-Etienne fans stormed the pitch and attacked their own players with flares, while also clashing with police and security staff. For the ugly scenes at the State Geoffroy-Guichard, the punishment handed down is that club will play their first four home matches in Ligue 2 behind closed doors, and will also start the season with a three point penalty. The club released a statement saying they wouldn’t appeal the ruling of the Ligue de Football Professionnel.