Lion Links: 8/25/20

Happy Tuesday, everyone. Orlando City’s game over the weekend might not have gone the way we were hoping for, but at least the Lions will get a chance to right the ship sooner rather than later. The team is back in action at home tomorrow against new kids on the block Nashville SC, so hopefully the boys can get back to winning ways. There’s lots to talk about today so let’s hop right in.

Austin Signs First DP

Austin FC has announced the signing of its first Designated Player. The team from Texas has signed Paraguayan international Cecilio Dominguez from Independiente in Argentina. Dominguez is a 26-year-old attacker who primarily plays on the wing. Aside from a two-year stint at Club America in Mexico and his most recent one-year stint in Argentina, he spent the early years of his career playing for various teams in Paraguay. He’s won 11 caps for the Paraguayan national team and is Austin’s second signing from the country after Rodney Redes. He will spend the rest of 2020 on loan, and will join his teammates at the start of 2021.

NWSL May Play Games This Fall

Reports are starting to pop up about a National Women’s Soccer League announcement in the coming days regarding the league’s fall plans. Specifically, the league is said to be announcing three pods each with three teams, and friendlies that will start the first weekend of September and run to the middle of October. According to Steven Goff of the Washington Post, the Orlando Pride’s pod will also include the North Carolina Courage and the Houston Dash. There isn’t any word on how many games each team would get to play, but with plenty of big-name players (especially for the Pride) out on loan overseas, the main point of the friendlies seems to be for the benefit of younger players who need minutes to develop.

FIFA Changes International Window Rules

FIFA has changed its rules regarding whether or not clubs need to release players for international duty during the upcoming September window. Under the altered rules clubs will not be obligated to release a player to represent their country if doing so would require a mandatory self-isolation period of five days or longer. The rule applies whether the isolation would have to occur in the country of origin or the country to where the player is traveling. UEFA has both international friendlies and Nation’s League matches scheduled for the upcoming window, and with European leagues kicking off their seasons shortly or having already done so, FIFA felt the rules needed to be changed. The revised rules apply from Aug. 31 to Sept. 8 for the men and Sept. 14-22 for the women.

PSG Fans Clash With Police

Paris Saint-Germain fans came into conflict with riot police in the French capitol after PSG lost the UEFA Champions League final 1-0 to Bayern Munich. Riot police entered a bar to remove people not wearing masks or social distancing, while tear gas was also used to disperse a crowd that had gathered near the Parc des Princes. On the other hand, fans in Marseille celebrated PSG’s loss, as it means they remain the only French club to have ever won the biggest trophy in European club football. Fans set off fireworks and did plenty of cheering at their rivals’ expense.

Free Kicks

• If you’re planning on attending the first Orlando City home game since February tomorrow make sure to familiarize yourself with all of the new stadium procedures.

• Orlando City B dropped to the lowest spot in the USL League One power rankings. Conceding seven times over the course of two losses will do that to you.
• Orlando City new boy Matheus Aias will apparently wear the no. 99.

• Orlando Pride fullback Ali Riley scored her first goal on loan for Rosengard, while Emily Sonnett was on the losing side in the same match.

• Speaking of players who are across the pond, you can now make your very own transfer rumor regarding which NWSL player will be decamping to Europe! I got Abby Erceg to Barcelona on a permanent transfer.

• New England Revolution Head Coach Bruce Arena was given two additional games to his suspension and fined $15,000 for his confrontation with match officials in the Round of 16 of the MLS is Back tournament. MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced the extra punishment last night.

That’ll do it for me today. Y’all stay safe out there.