Former Italy striker Alessandro del Piero’s four-goal masterclass inspired Sydney FC to a record 7-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix yesterday.
The 38-year-old former Juventus stalwart was involved in all six goals before he was substituted after thoroughly entertaining more than 12,500 fans at the Allianz Stadium.
“I felt free in my mind today, for sure,” Del Piero said after helping his team to jump to sixth place in the 10-team league with their biggest A-League triumph.
“It’s a day from the heavens because when you score four, for sure it’s a great day.
“I’m really happy, not only for the four goals but because we played very good from the first minute.”
Wembley naming rights not for sale
The English FA has insisted it will not sell naming rights to Wembley Stadium.
Wembley is looking for a lead partner and there have been reports it is close to signing a deal with phone giant EE that would see the national stadium renamed ‘Wembley Stadium in association with EE’.
A Football Association spokesman said: “There are no naming rights available for Wembley Stadium and there is nothing to report about any rights deals being signed with any company at present.”
Inter turn down offer for Coutinho
The Italian media reported yesterday that Inter had turned down a €9.5 million offer for their young striker Philippe Coutinho.
The 20-year-old Brazilian has struggled to leave his mark at the San Siro this season after a loan spell with Espanyol.
Aston Villa and Southamton also tried to lure Coutinho from Inter this month but with scant success as the Nerazzurri are determined not to part with their player.
Inter signed Coutinho from Vasco da Gama for €4m as a young teenager, but he has never quite found his ideal position or a consistent run in the team.
Fiorentina bring in Larrondo
Fiorentina have signed Siena striker Marcelo Larrondo on loan until the end of the season, the Serie A club have confirmed.
The 24-year-old Argentinian had been restricted to just three league appearances this term and moves across Tuscany to bolster Fiorentina’s attack, with a view to making the move permanent at the end of the season.
Larrondo, who will wear the no.18 shirt, joined Siena in 2009 and played a key role in helping the Bianconeri to promotion from Serie B in the 2010-11 season.
Allardyce charged with misconduct
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce (picture) has been charged with misconduct by the FA for comments to the media after Wednesday’s FA Cup third-round replay defeat at Manchester United.
Allardyce did not hide his annoyance after his side were not awarded what he considered a penalty while the host team did get a spot-kick, a decision he put down to United enjoying home advantage.
“You see it time and time again at Old Trafford,” Allardyce had said after Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat.
Uruguay enforces football ban
Uruguay began a 10-day ban on football this weekend in response to violence at a match where Nacional goalkeeper Jorge Bava punched a police officer and was promptly arrested.
Uruguayan FA president Sebastian Bauza announced the ban after the incident at the end of Wednesday’s “clasico” bet-ween arch-rivals Penarol and Nacional at the Centenario.
A young man was also still in intensive care after being shot during fighting between the teams’ rival hooligan gangs in a street close to the Centenario in Montevideo before kick-off.
“We have agreed (with the Interior ministry) that we have to take decisions and send out signals that there are limits that must be respected,” Bauza said.
Olivera makes Genoa move
Genoa have signed Fiorentina midfielder Ruben Olivera on loan with a view to completing a permanent deal at the end of the Serie A season.
The Uruguay international has struggled to dislodge David Pizarro and Alberto Aquilani from the Viola midfield this term, with disciplinary issues also restricting the 29-year-old to just four league appearances.
Olivera was handed a retrospective three-match ban last month for stamping on Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic during a 4-2 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico.
Olivera left Danubio to sign for Juventus in 2003 but spent much of his career with the Bianconeri on loan at other clubs, taking in spells with Atletico Madrid, Sampdoria, Penarol and Genoa.