The latest addition to the Adidas football range, the ICONS Retro Collection, recreates the classics and emotions of the top clubs.
The ICONS retro collection looks at the 1990s football scene, which set the tone for contemporary sport, and seeks to recreate the unforgettable moments of the greats of the past, breaking the boundaries between football performance and street culture with a retro-chic twist.
The Adidas EQT style was the rage in the early 1990s and this season the ICONS retro collection brings the three stripes back to life. This season’s ICONS retro collection revives the three-striped look with a balance of football and fashion through the use of glossy fabrics, casual silhouettes and eye-catching branding elements.
Based on the rich cultural heritage of the football team, this season’s ICONS retro collection is a nostalgic look at the glory of yesteryear, while also seeking the comfort and athletic performance that modern football values, and is designed for the many fans who appreciate the culture of football and the blood of the green.
The Arsenal ICONS retro jersey features a classic design that recalls the cup memories of the ‘Arsenal’. From the central team crest to the EQT style three stripes on the side, the shirt is a reminder of the ‘Gunners’ of the 1990s. The Adidas Football ICONS retro collection includes retro shirts, shorts, casual jackets and trousers, taking inspiration from the golden age of football, and revisiting the years of football history in a fresh and iconic style.
Football fans across the world were recently surprised to hear news that French striker Wissam Ben Yedder had been found guilty of tax fraud in Spain. The verdict came down from a Spanish court, which gave the AS Monaco player a six-month suspended prison sentence and fined him €133,799 ($145,961).
This case sends a striking message to professional athletes about their obligations when it comes to taxes. Although it is not usual for prison sentences of less than two years for non-violent crimes to require a defendant without prior convictions to serve jail time, this case serves as an example of how seriously tax fraud can be taken by authorities.
At the center of this case is Ben Yedder’s career as a Sevilla player. Reports indicate that during his tenure with the club he failed to declare income stemming from image rights and sponsorship deals. To make matters worse, he also failed to declare capital gains accrued when selling his property. This resulted in more than €1 million being evaded in taxes over three fiscal years.
Ben Yedder was represented by his lawyer before the court, who argued that the player had not intentionally committed fraud but rather misunderstood certain fiscal rules due to his lack of understanding of Spanish law. The court rejected those claims and sentenced Ben Yedder accordingly.
But what does this mean for professional athletes? In short, they must be extra cautious of their financial obligations when playing abroad – even if they are unfamiliar with local laws or regulations concerning tax filing requirements. This case demonstrates how sports can be seen through an economic lens: competiton on the field is one thing but earning money off it requires careful management and compliance with regulations – something Ben Yedder failed to do in this instance wearing the Sevilla jersey.
It is important for professional athletes like Ben Yedder understand that failure to comply with local laws can have serious consequences beyond just financial penalties – even if these consequences never actually result in any jail time served, as was the case here. This means that players must take active measures to ensure they are complying with all applicable laws wherever they are located and playing football at any given time; failing which could lead them into legal trouble with authorities like happened here with Ben Yedder.
On top of this, there are other implications beyond just legal ones: public opinion will almost certainly play a role here too and if an athlete fails to comply with local tax laws or regulations while playing abroad then they may find themselves having difficulty getting other clubs interested in signing them in future transfers windows because few clubs want any sort of controversy attached to their players when it comes down to money matters such as taxes (especially where large sums may be involved).
As such, professional athletes should think carefully about their financial obligations when playing abroad so as avoid similar situations arising again – especially considering how damaging such legal issues can be both financially and reputationally speaking – lest all future transfers windows become closed due them due their past transgressions wearing a Seville jersey or otherwise elsewhere abroad..
Fran Alonso, Celtic Women’s boss, was headbutted by a Rangers coach in the aftermath of their 1-1 draw in the Old Firm derby. The match, held on Monday at Celtic Park, saw Caitlin Hayes score nine minutes into stoppage time to secure a point for her side and keep them a point above their rivals in the Scottish Women’s Premier League table.
The incident happened shortly after the final whistle had been blown, with Alonso reportedly getting into an altercation with a member of the Rangers coaching staff. Reports from witnesses claim that Alonso was struck with a headbutt, leading to his immediate dismissal from the field and subsequent investigation by Police Scotland.
The tense atmosphere was palpable throughout the match and post-match, as Rangers had started out strong but eventually succumbed to the pressure applied by their hosts. Celtic had taken full control of possession right from kick off, but were unable to find a breakthrough until late in stoppage time.
As if that wasn’t enough drama already, things were only just beginning. After Hayes scored what would be the equalizer for Celtic, tensions reached boiling point and spilled over onto the sidelines as well.
Alonso subsequently released a statement condemning any form of violence while also highlighting his commitment to upholding fair play during football matches: “I want to take this opportunity to condemn all forms of violence during football matches and reiterate my commitment to ensuring fair play and respect for both teams”.
It is unclear at this moment what action will be taken against those found guilty of assaulting Fran Alonso after Monday’s match; however it is expected that heavy sanctions will be applied. It is also unknown how this incident will affect Celtic Women’s upcoming fixtures or indeed how it might influence further Old Firm derbies in Scottish Women’s Premier League going forward.
Regardless of what lies ahead, one thing is clear; such unsavoury events should never occur again in any sporting event and should be severely punished when they do. Fran Alonso showed admirable composure under such intense circumstances and thus deserves recognition for standing up for himself despite everything that happened on Monday night. In times like these it is even more important that everyone involved remain professional so that future generations can enjoy spectating or participating in matches without fear of similar outbursts happening again – no matter which jersey they choose to wear.
Olympique Marseille were held to a frustrating 1-1 home draw by Montpellier in Ligue 1 on Friday, unable to make up ground on Paris Saint Germain who still lead the table. The match was characterized by an early goal from Arnaud Nordin, cancelled out by a penalty from Matteo Guendouzi just after the hour mark. Igor Tudor’s side had been trying to close the gap with leaders PSG to four points before their clash with Lyon this Sunday, so the result was a bitter blow for OM as they now trail their rivals by six points.
Olympique Marseille have not won against Montpellier since 2017 and are winless in three meetings between the two teams at Stade Velodrome in that time. Marseille’s performance was lacklustre throughout and only improved slightly when Guendouzi was introduced from the bench in the second half. Despite this, Montpellier goalkeeper Dimitry Bertaud made several impressive saves to keep his side level before Guendouzi eventually scored from 12 yards out. In spite of this late rally, Marseille failed to find an equaliser and were forced to settle for a draw as they slipped further away from PSG’s top spot in Ligue 1.
It wasn’t all bad news for Marseille though, with captain Florian Thauvin making his return to first team action after weeks on the sidelines due to injury. The Frenchman helped provide some much needed spark in attack and showed glimpses of his talent as well as his importance in OM’s attacking options. This could prove crucial going forward if Thauvin can remain fit for the remainder of the season and help drive Marseille back into title contention. The result also marked yet another disappointing evening for coach Igor Tudor who has found wins hard to come by since being appointed last December – having only led OMto victory four times out of 15 matches so far this season.. Despite this, Tudor has shown signs of progress with Olympique de Marseille playing attractive football under him and managing some impressive results against top teams such as Monaco and Paris Saint Germain earlier this season.
As Ligue 1 enters its final stretch it will be interesting to see if Olympique de Marseille can turn their fortunes around and challenge PSG for top spot or if they will have to settle for second place again this year – especially wearing their iconic Olympique de Marseille jersey!
Bayern Munich are pushing ahead with their summer transfer plans and have reportedly set their sights on a striking option in the form of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani. According to Sky Sports Deutschland, the Bundesliga champions feel that 34-year-old striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting is too injury prone and they also believe that 17-year-old Mathys Tel needs time to develop.
The move for Kolo Muani would be a step back in terms of age, as the 19 year old has only made three appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt’s first team since making his debut early last year. However, he has become one of the most sought after young talents in Germany, having scored 15 goals and assisted five more in 24 games for Eintracht Frankfurt U19s. Kolo Muani’s development could be further accelerated by his potential move to Bayern Munich, which is known for developing players with incredible precision and professionalism. With Kingsley Coman, Alphonso Davies and Javi Martinez as proof of what kind of players can come out of their academy system, Kolo Muani joining Bayern Munich could be a spectacular prospect. His physical prowess combined with his technical ability make him an exciting prospect who has certainly caught the eye of many European clubs this season.
The German champions are no strangers to swooping up talent from other clubs either, having signed Manuel Neuer from Schalke in 2011 while poaching David Alaba from Hoffenheim back in 2010. It would not be surprising if Kolo Muani ends up being Bayern Munich’s next great player and it could prove to be a very smart move if they manage to successfully complete the transfer before any other club does. Of course, there are still some obstacles that need to be overcome before any talks between Bayern Munich and Eintracht Frankfurt can begin. Both clubs will need to agree on a fee for the talented youngster first before anything else can happen but it seems like negotiations have already begun between both parties and it may not take long until an agreement is reached over Kolo Muani’s future.
Should everything go according to plan, fans of both teams will look forward to seeing this exciting prospect link up with Bayern Munich at some point next season while donning either a Bayern Munich jersey or an Eintracht Frankfurt jersey depending on where he plays his football next season.
RB Leipzig are looking to sign a replacement for the soon-to-be Chelsea player Christopher Nkunku, and it looks like they have their eyes on Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun. The 20 year old has impressed this season while he has been on loan with Stade de Reims, and now it appears that he could be the man to replace Nkunku at RB Leipzig.
Christopher Nkunku has long been linked with a move to Chelsea, and sources tell us that the club arranged for him to undergo medical tests last September. Since then, the 25 year old striker has shown his quality in front of goal by recording 17 goals and 5 assists in 27 matches across all competitions. This is despite him being hampered by an injury, which prevented him from representing France at the World Cup.
Balogun’s impressive performances this season have caught the eye of many top clubs, not just RB Leipzig. He has scored 10 goals in 28 appearances across all competitions whilst on loan at Reims this campaign, as well as providing 4 assists in Ligue 1 alone. His form earned him interest from AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen but it appears as though RB Leipzig may be favourites to secure his signature.
The young Englishman is said to be keen on a move to Germany’s top tier division due to its reputation for allowing younger players more opportunities than other leagues around Europe – something which could work in his favour when considering a potential switch from Arsenal. He currently does not feature much within Mikel Arteta’s plans at Arsenal and so considering a move away could be beneficial for both parties involved. The way Balogun plays would definitely fit into Julian Nagelsmann’s style of football too; Balogun is known for being direct with his runs forward, quick off the mark and also very clinical in front of goal – these are all qualities which make up an ideal striker within Nagelsmann’s system.
Since joining RB Leipzig two years ago, Nagelsmann hasn’t shied away from investing in young talent either – something which bodes well for Balogun if he were to make the switch there this summer. If the 20 year old were signed by RB Leipzig then he would be put into direct competition with Jesse Marsch’s team who currently sit 2nd in the Bundesliga table behind Bayern Munich – a challenge he will likely relish! Furthermore, if successful he would become one of only five English players to play in Germany’s top division – something which should not go unnoticed amongst fans back home too! It looks like yet another exciting transfer saga involving an up and coming talent could take place this summer; however it remains unclear whether or not Folarin Balogun will don a Chelsea jersey or an RB Leipzig shirt come next season…
When Tottenham Hotspur took on Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday evening, few could have predicted the drama that was to come. The match ended in a 1-1 draw, but it was only after a controversial penalty decision which saw referee Stuart Attwell controversially wave away appeals from the away side.
In the 70th minute with the score 1-1, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma attempted to control a dropping ball inside the area following a corner routine. He appeared to be caught by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg who was wearing his Tottenham Hotspur jersey, and went to ground. Despite vehement appeals for a penalty from Mitchell and his teammates, referee Attwell ignored them and waved play on.
The incident sparked an outburst of anger amongst the Brighton players and manager Graham Potter, who could be heard shouting angrily at Attwell as he walked off the pitch at full-time. Replays showed that Hojbjerg’s challenge had been clumsy and his arm had made contact with Mitoma’s chest; however, it was ultimately judged not to be enough for a penalty to be awarded. This would of course have major implications on how the match would end. Had Brighton been awarded the spot kick they were calling for, there is every chance they could have gone on to win the game 2-1; instead they had to settle for a hard fought draw against one of the top teams in England.
Hojbjerg has since stated that he believes referee Attwell made “the correct decision” in opting not to award a penalty citing that he felt contact between him and Mitoma “was not sufficient enough” In fact it appears that even some of Brighton’s own players did not think they should have got a spot kick either; however this hasn’t quelled their rage over what happened or stopped them from accusing Tottenham Hotspur of benefiting from significant officiating decisions this season. That being said, many pundits believe that there are lessons to be learned from this incident for both sides: for Brighton it is clear that if they continue pushing themselves further upfield then more chances will come their way; while for Spurs it may be wise for them to avoid relying too heavily on big decisions from officials going forward – even if so far these have worked in their favour more often than not!
Ultimately though both teams must accept that referees cannot get every single call right all the time – no matter how hard we try! That is part of what makes football such an exciting sport and why controversies such as these will always remain part of its ever evolving narrative.
