The Juventus forward's national team coach has spoken out over the decision to overlook his captain for Best Player and Best Goal Cristiano Ronaldo was the victim of a double injustice at the Best FIFA Football Awards, according to Portugal coach Fernando Santos, after he missed out on both Best Player and Best Goal. Luka Modric became the first player other than Ronaldo or Lionel Messi to win the Best FIFA Footballer of the Year award since Kaka in 2007. The Croatian captained his side to their first ever World Cup final and was voted the tournament’s best player, picking up the Golden Ball. But Santos has spoken out at the decision to give the midfielder the Player of the Year honour over Ronaldo, suggesting his captain and talisman was unfairly beaten into second place. He is quoted in Marca as saying: “If you ask me if Modric is a great player, I answer yes, and that’s why I voted for Modric in second place. Now, if you ask me who is the be...
Clasico conspiracy? The truth on whether Barcelona or Real Madrid receive more red cards. Both Clasico clubs have regularly claimed to have been victimised by officials but do the official stats support either side's case? Clement Lenglet's dismissal for an alleged elbow on Pere Pons in Barcelona's Liga draw with Girona on Sunday caused all sorts of controversy. Even Pons was surprised by referee Gil Manzano's VAR-assisted decision to dismiss Lenglet, with the midfielder admitting afterwards that he thought that he had fouled the French defender. "I took a blow but when I got up, I apologised to Lenglet and shook his hand because I thought it was my fault," he confessed. As bemused Barca boss Ernesto Valverde pointed out afterwards, "It's the first time that the player who is sent off receives an apology from his rival for fouling him!" It was a significant call, too, as Barcelona were leading through a Lionel Messi...