What Man City’s European ban means for the rest of the Premier League

Here’s a look at what football fans from around the world have been talking about on Twitter over the last few days.

1) Heroes to zeroes?

Manchester City have received a two-year ban from European football for breaching Uefa's financial fair play rules. There are rumours growing about further consequences, including that the back-to-back champions could be facing a points deduction and could even be forced to drop down to League Two.

Never ones to overreact, some fans are already anticipating City’s collapse down the football pyramid.

2) Fifth is the new fourth

City’s ban suddenly changes the complexion of the league, with fifth place likely enough to secure a spot in next year’s Champions League, a fact that makes Liverpool’s return to the competition even more of a sure thing than it already was.

With many of the so-called big clubs struggling this season, the door is open for a surprise inclusion among Europe’s elite in 2020/21. 

Spurs have since overtaken Sheffield United in the race for fifth, leaving the Blades in control of the first Europa League spot.

3) Stockport country

Every football fan likes to think they are committed to their club but few can rival Akito Aoki, Japan’s premier Stockport County fan. 

Akito travelled over 9,000km to watch his team beat Bromley 1-0 in the fifth tier of English football on Saturday after discovering the club on FIFA nine years ago. 

4) Be my valentine

Friday was the most romantic day of the year, as people all over the globe searched for the right words to tell that special someone they care. 

5) Say my name

Everyone loves a good nickname, but sometimes football gives us something even better - a player whose entire name must be spoken every time they are mentioned, like a reverse Voldemort.  

6) Bad words, good tweets

It can be difficult to keep your emotions in check when your team scores a late equaliser, so fair play to Hearts for keeping their celebrations relatively family-friendly when Craig Halkett scored late to complete the comeback against Hamilton. 

Hamilton, on the other hand, won’t be so pleased with the result as 17-year-old Jamie Hamilton picked up his third red card of the season. He’s really making a name for himself. 

7) Not so subtle

Not every club’s social media manager has quite the same level of restraint - as Nottingham Forest showed when their frustrations with the referee boiled over ever so subtly during their 2-2 draw with West Brom on Saturday. 

8) Sunday funday

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring for Arsenal as they recorded a 4-0 drubbing of Newcastle United at the Emirates over the weekend.  

It appears that new boss Mikel Arteta has cracked the code to getting Aubameyang on the scoresheet: make sure Arsenal only play on Sundays. 

The Gunners will no doubt be hoping their clash with Aston Villa in May can be moved to a Sunday.

9) Help wanted

Matej Vydra bagged his first goal of the season in spectacular fashion as he sealed all three points for Burnley against Southampton. 

And the Clarets are hoping to find the supporter who was canny enough to catch the magical moment from the best possible angle.

10) Stuck in the muddle

As far as assists go, we doubt you’ll see a stranger one than this. 

Chris Lavery saved Adam Salley’s blushes as he slotted him after the Portadown forward’s strike was saved by a patch of mud in front of the Queen’s University goal. 

Don’t feel too bad for Salley, however, as he still managed to bag a hat-trick as Portadown ran out 7-1 winners.

11) The more things change...

In a world constantly changing, it’s reassuring to know that some things will seemingly always be there. 

Buffon's Juventus were playing Zlatan's AC Milan. At the end of the game, Buffon collected Daniel Maldini's shirt. He now has shirts for Maldini and son, Thuram and son, Weah and son and Chiesa and son.

12) Football philosophy 

It was a busy day for Bjorn Engels on Sunday as the Belgian was involved in several key moments during Aston Villa’s defeat to Spurs.

First he handed Tottenham a penalty as he took down Steve Bergwijn in the box before equalising in the second half.

It looked as if that would be enough to earn Villa a point before Engels failed to control a straightforward ball to allow Son Heung-min in to score the injury time winner.