MAX SPORTS: U20

Showing posts with label U20. Show all posts

Saturday, 27 September 2025

TANZANIA BEATS ANGOLA 0-3 | U20 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

Tuesday, 2 September 2025

ERIK YEN HAG: EX-MAN UTD BOSS HITS OUT AT BAYER LEVERKUSEN AFTER UNPRECEDENTED EXIT

Leverkusen’s sporting director revealed that the club had concerns as early as preseason.

Erik ten Hag became the quickest departure in Bundesliga history. / Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images

Freshly departed Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag accused the Bundesliga outfit of never offering him any “mutual trust” before he was sacked just two weeks into the new domestic campaign.

Ten Hag was relieved of his duties on Monday morning after collecting one point from his first pair of league games. Never before had a manager from Germany’s flight lasted less than three matches—and Dieter Hecking’s previous record was a positive as he got poached by Hannover 96 after steering Alemannia Aachen to a 3–0 win against his future employers in the third week of the 2006–07 campaign.

The omens were grim for Ten Hag throughout the summer. A humiliating 5–1 loss to Flamengo’s U20 side was sandwiched between an exodus of star figures. By the time Leverkusen had given up a 3–1 lead against 10-man Werder Bremen on Saturday, a game which club captain Robert Andrich described as “misery versus misery,” the writing was on the wall for the former Manchester United boss.

Not that he read the signs. “The decision by Bayer Leverkusen’s management this morning to put me on a leave of absence came as a complete surprise,” Ten Hag wrote in a stinging post on his agency’s Instagram. “To part ways with a coach after just two league matches is unprecedented.

Erik ten Hag only returned to management this summer after his exit from Manchester United. / Christof Koepsel/Getty Images

“This summer, many key players who were part of past successes left the squad. Building a new, cohesive team is a careful process that requires both time and trust. A new coach deserves the space to implement his vision, set the standards, shape the squad and leave his mark on the style of play.

“I started this job with full conviction and energy, but unfortunately the management was not willing to grant me the time and trust I needed, which I deeply regret. I feel this was never a relationship based on mutual trust.”

Those feelings were justified. As Leverkusen sporting director Simons Rolfes sensationally revealed 90 minutes after Ten Hag’s departure, the club had discussed sacking a coach appointed on July 1 before this weekend’s collapse in Bremen. “Before we arrive at the wrong destination, we decided to make the decision early,” was the brutal explanation provided.

“Of course, from the impressions from the preseason, from the first few games, we had the feeling that we had to do it now,” Rolfes damningly admitted.

“Throughout my career, every season I have been able to see through to the end as a coach has brought success,” Ten Hag declared in his bitter farewell. “Clubs that placed their trust in me have been rewarded with success and silverware.

“Finally, I would like to thank the Bayer Leverkusen supporters for their warmth and passion, and I wish the squad and staff every success for the remainder of the season.”

- Grey Whitebloom

Tuesday, 6 May 2025

LATE GOAL GIVES ZAMBIA AN EDGE | #TOTALENERGIESU20

Monday, 5 May 2025

EMMANUEL MENSAH IS THE MAN OF THE MATCH | #TOTALENERGIESAFCONU20

Tuesday, 3 December 2024

VAR COACH CHALLENGES TO BE TRAILED IN NEW COMPETITION

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) on Monday approved expanded trials of Football Video Support (FVS), an alternative VAR system which gives coaches the chance to challenge decisions.

FVS, which was used at the U20 and U17 FIFA Women's World Cups this year, was initially given the green light for testing by the IFAB in March as a cost-effective alternative to VAR.

Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of FIFA's referees' committee, told ESPN last month that he would be making an application at the IFAB's Annual Business Meeting in London to have trials in more competitions.

Rather than reviews being overseen and controlled only by an official acting as a video assistant referee, FVS gives coaches the chance to make up to two challenges per match if they feel an error has been made.

At present, the challenge system is only intended for use in leagues with fewer resources, ideally with no more than four cameras, rather than top divisions like the Premier League. It could be used in a competition like the Women's Super League, which has problems using VAR due to the wide-ranging size and type of stadiums used.

"We are at the beginning of the trial and the experiences at both the U20 and U17 FIFA Women's World Cup will be carefully analysed but so far, we haven't noticed anything unexpected," Collina told ESPN. "Several FIFA member associations already showed the interest to participate to the trial.

"Making clear that FVS is not VAR is critical, in particular in terms of expectation. Because of the limited number of cameras, FVS won't be able to show what VAR can show. Offside is an example: without cameras properly positioned, only clear offside can be spotted. This makes the on-field decision important too.

"FVS is designed to work with a limited camera set up, ideally up to four to five. With more cameras, the process of checking all of the footage and available angles may become very long as, and differently from VAR, there are not any video match officials selecting those clips to be seen by the referee."

With FVS the coach makes a challenge to a decision and the referee then goes to the side of the pitch to view a replay of the incident. Unlike with VAR, there is only a replay operator who cues up the video. The match referee alone then assesses his own decision and isn't told he has made a clear and obvious error in advance.

The IFAB was also presented with update to a trial which addresses goalkeepers holding the ball for too long, and sees the opposition given a corner or throw-in (two separate trials) if it is held for more than eight seconds after they have clear control. Premier League 2, a competition for the 25 clubs with "Category One" academies, has been part of this trial.

Also discussed was the trial which sees only the captain able to speak to the referee, trials involving public announcements after lengthy VAR checks and VAR reviews, developments in relation to semi-automated offside technology and the use of referee body cameras.

The IFAB's Annual General Meeting on March 1 will take the next decisions in relation to these trials, and confirm any amendments to the Laws, to take effect from next July.

- Dale Johnson, General Editor, ESPN FC