Football Yearender 2021: Messi’s Barca exit, Eriksen’s collapse & Ronaldo’s pitch for water over cola

In sport, as in life, there are occasions inside occasions. Moments that form the second of glory or moments that keep within the thoughts past the runs, wickets, objectives, and trophies. Moments which can be extra imperishable than numbers. As a breathless 12 months of sport ends, and one other sporting 12 months is stressed to unfold, The Indian Express seems to be again at 2021.
Messi leaves Barcelona
Perhaps, it was one thing nobody was ready for. Lionel Messi bid a tearful adieu to Barcelona in 2021 as he left the membership the place he had spent his complete skilled profession to hitch Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in a two-year deal, with an choice for a 3rd 12 months. Messi’s report with Barcelona is unmatched, and goes past the 672 objectives in 778 appearances he has scored, or the 4 Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga titles. If Barcelona went down as one of many biggest sides of all time, Messi was on the coronary heart of it.
Interestingly, Messi scored 28 objectives for Barca in 2021 earlier than his contract expired and he ended up being the membership’s highest scorer by the top of the 12 months as nobody was even remotely near the tally.
While Barcelona followers have been left in tears, there have been contrasting feelings in Paris because the Argentine celebrity was given a hero’s welcome by PSG supporters who had gathered hoping to catch a glimpse of their new signing. Thousands gathered exterior the membership’s Parc des Prince’s house and close to a luxurious resort within the metropolis the place Messi together with spouse Antonella and their three youngsters have been residing.

 
Eriksen collapses throughout a Euro match
Denmark’s Christian Eriksen receives medical consideration (File)
The third match of the Euro 2020 witnessed one of many scariest situations as Danish footballer Christian Eriksen collapsed halfway within the first half throughout his facet’s match in opposition to Finland. Medical groups rushed to the Inter Milan midfielder who was given CPR. The match was instantly paused and later suspended. As Eriksen lay unconscious on the sphere, Denmark group physician Morten Boesen was immediate in his motion. “He was breathing, and I could feel his pulse. But suddenly that changed,” Boesen was quoted as saying by Sky Sports. “And as everyone saw, we started giving him CPR.”
Several medics labored frenetically to provide Eriksen chest compressions whereas his teammates battled tears and shaped a circle across the midfielder to protect the scene from public view. After an evening of misery, there was lastly aid on the finish as Eriksen was secure and speaking. The prayers of followers throughout the globe have been lastly answered.
Racial abuse for lacking spot-kicks
Three Black gamers who missed penalty kicks for England in opposition to Italy within the Euro ultimate have been subjected to racist abuse on-line. Bukayo Saka, 19, was the youngest amongst them whereas Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho additionally missed their spot-kicks. It was England’s third straight failure from the penalty spot within the shootout and denied them a trophy which has eluded them because the 1966 World Cup. The English Football Association did come out and issued an announcement condemning the language used in opposition to the gamers.

This England group need to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media.
Those chargeable for this appalling abuse must be ashamed of themselves.
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) July 12, 2021
Ronaldo and the ‘bottle gate’
Portuguese celebrity Cristiano Ronaldo made headlines after eradicating two coca-cola bottles saved in entrance of him throughout a Euro 2020 press convention and requested individuals to drink water as a substitute. Following Ronaldo’s act, the corporate’s market worth dropped by $4 billion.
However, Ronaldo’s gesture on the Euro 2020, which was popularly deemed as ‘bottle gate’, was adopted by different gamers. While Italy’s Manuel Locatelli eliminated cola bottles similar to Ronaldo, France’s Paul Pogba eliminated a beer bottle throughout his press convention. On the opposite hand, Ukraine skipper Andriy Yarmolenko moved each Coca-Cola and beer bottles nearer, asking the sponsors to get in contact with him.Ironically, Russian head coach Stanislav Cherchesov went the opposite approach spherical and picked up the cola bottle and even took a sip on the press convention.

WATCH: While Cristiano Ronaldo moved apart Coca-Cola bottles, others are embracing the model at #Euro2020 information conferences https://t.co/FKvZwXkiyp pic.twitter.com/yTE5t8FlA9
— Reuters Asia (@ReutersAsia) June 18, 2021
European Super League fiasco
The breakaway league was a proposal by 12 of Europe’s main soccer golf equipment which acknowledged that golf equipment would set up a brand new midweek competitors to rival the UEFA Champions League. Termed because the ‘European Super League’ it was to be ruled by 12 of its ‘founding clubs’ which included the massive six from the Premier League – Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham have been concerned. AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, and Real Madrid have been the others who joined in as ‘Founding Clubs’.
In a nutshell, the ESL was about growing income by way of world enlargement with like-minded invitation-only golf equipment. However, what adopted was a large backlash from followers and former gamers. The widespread anger even led to the UK authorities moving into the act and Boris Johnson promising to “drop a legislative bomb” to thwart the ESL. The Super League collapsed in any case six English golf equipment withdrew from the competitors and left the £4.5bn league useless within the water.

The European Super League can not proceed, Juventus boss Andrea Agnelli advised Reuters as Spain’s Atletico Madrid, Italy’s Inter Milan, and 6 English groups deserted the breakaway soccer competitors after intense criticism. Read extra right here: https://t.co/JXeRSkXnlZ pic.twitter.com/5r4l2AopFC
— Reuters Sports (@ReutersSports) April 21, 2021
Euro 2020: Pre-final drama
The Euro 2020 ultimate at Wembley had its justifiable share of controversies and there was one which occurred earlier than the sport started as supporters of England followers pressured their approach into the stadium with out tickets. According to a report within the Guardian, the numbers may have surpassed in a whole bunch because the hooligans breached safety boundaries and squeezed behind ticket-holders or burst by way of the digital gates that enable entry to the concourses and seats.
The Ballon d’Or ‘farce’
Lionel Messi gained a record-breaking seventh Ballon d’Or whereas Robert Lewandowski gained the very best striker award.
Lionel Messi gained a record-breaking seventh Ballon d’Or however in his speech, the Argentine and Paris Saint-Germain striker made an trustworthy admission and mentioned that it was Robert Lewandowski who deserved the honour. “I would like to mention Robert Lewandowski, it’s been a real honour to compete with you. Everyone knows and we agree that you were the winner last year. I think France Football should award you your 2020 Ballon d’Or – you deserve it and you should have it at home,” he added.
Lewandowski misplaced by a margin of 33 factors and was positioned second. In a mind-blowing season, the Polish striker scored 41 objectives in simply 29 video games and broke Gerd Mueller’s report. Lewandowski was broadly considered because the favorite to win the Ballon d’Or in 2020 however the awards have been cancelled that final 12 months due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The determination was closely criticised, with many calling it a ‘farce’.

When Luis Suarez offers the #ballondor to Messi! pic.twitter.com/uUHhMgtVfR
— Ballon d’Or #ballondor (@francefootball) November 29, 2021
Solskjaer’s sacking
After taking the supervisor’s job in 2018, Solskjaer did make some appreciable progress with the squad however didn’t land any silverware. (File)
Manchester United axed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following a string of poor outcomes the place the Red Devils recorded only one win in seven Premier League matches. While the membership did make it by way of to the knockout levels of the Champions League, what went in opposition to the Norwegian was United’s gradual decline of kind within the home league. Further, key gamers who carried out on the highest stage arrived, lots of his inconsistencies as a coach started rising.
After taking the supervisor’s job in 2018, Solskjaer did make some appreciable progress with the squad however didn’t land any silverware. An embarrassing 4-1 defeat at Watford proved to be the ultimate nail within the coffin for Solskjaer.

Ole’s farewell to Manchester United in his ultimate interview launched by the membership web site. 🔴🇳🇴 #MUFC pic.twitter.com/0edvlvkcS6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 21, 2021
Re-draw of Champions League Round of 16 match-ups
In an unprecedented and weird sequence of occasions, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) was pressured to redo the Champions League Round-of-16 draw after an error surfaced within the authentic process. That first draw got here up with eight matchups which included a dream match-up of PSG vs Manchester United, probably making it a face-off between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, it was scrapped off as a consequence of errors that UEFA blamed on third-party software program.
Teams from the identical group and nation should not permitted to face each other based on event guidelines, however the software program apparently failed to stick to them. UEFA was pressured to acknowledge the consequence as void and order a redraw three hours later.

🎥 Video footage exhibiting that Manchester United’s ball for #UCLdraw — within the second pot from the best, again row — was not included within the Atletico Madrid draw #mufc #mujournal
[@mjcritchley]pic.twitter.com/5NzLxDeGl8
— United Journal (@theutdjournal) December 13, 2021
Newcastle’s Saudi-led takeover
A Saudi Arabian-backed consortium took over English Premier League soccer membership Newcastle United after a prolonged battle surrounding issues about piracy and human rights abuses within the kingdom. The 300-million-pound ($409m) takeover by the Saudi Public Investment Fund had collapsed final 12 months. Amnesty International had issued warnings citing the takeover as a type of ‘sportswashing’ by the Saudi Kingdom. There was robust public opposition, given Saudi Arabia’s human rights report and the homicide of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
PIF then assured publicly that its chairman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, won’t have any management of the working of Newcastle. The takeover introduced a near the 14-year possession by British retail tycoon Mike Ashley.
Newcastle United are but to win silverware since 1955, and followers consider this takeover will lastly finish the drought. In the continued Premier League season, Newcastle is combating a battle within the relegation zone with one victory in 18 video games. They are nineteenth within the desk, solely above Norwich City.

🤝 An funding group led by the Public Investment Fund, and in addition comprising PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media, has accomplished the acquisition of 100% of Newcastle United Limited and Newcastle United Football Club Limited from St. James Holdings Limited.
⚫️⚪️
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) October 7, 2021