Cardiff have confirmed that their chairman Mehmet Dalman has been in contact with the Premier League over an incident arising from last Saturday’s clash against Crystal Palace.
It is understood that Cardiff have complained that their starting line-up was leaked to Palace ahead of the relegation encounter, which the London club won 3-0.
Palace sporting director Iain Moody worked for Cardiff until earlier this season. He took up a post at Palace last November.
Moody, though, has refuted the allegations: “That is incredibly, untrue. That is untrue, completely untrue,” he said.
Chiellini hits out at Juventus fans
Juve defender Giorgio Chiellini criticised the fans at the Juventus Stadium on Thursday night following their reactions during the match against Lyon.
Juve won 2-1 to reach the Europa League semi-finals but Chiellini said the team expected more backing from the crowd.
“At times people take Juventus success for granted, but we saw that over two legs Lyon played to the death and it becomes difficult in those circumstances,” he said.
“As soon as Lyon’s goal went in, they started grumbling and that can really hurt confidence, create frustration and prompt us to lose our sharpness.”
Liverpool’s Suarez has ‘God’ on his side
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler admits even he cannot fail to be impressed by the exploits of Luis Suarez.
The Toxteth-born forward is still a Kop idol after two spells at the club in which he scored 183 goals in 369 appearances.
Suarez’s strike-rate of 80 in 128 is even better but it is the way he has done it which has impressed Fowler, nicknamed ‘God’ by Liverpool fans, who has backed the Uruguayan to sweep up all the end-of-season awards.
“Luis should win everything, he has been that good,” said Fowler.
“Suarez is up there. He excites the crowd and when he is on the ball it lifts the place.”
Slomka’s ‘return’
Hamburg coach Mirko Slomka returns to the club where he made history today, insisting he is looking to the future and not the past.
The former Schalke boss became Hanover’s longest-serving coach before being sacked last December.
He led the club into the Europa League two years in a row but that will count for nothing this weekend when he returns needing points for current club Hamburg.
“I know the lads there and spent four years with them, so of course it’s a special game for me, but it’s not a meeting among friends,” Slomka said.
“We’re not going to be meeting up for beer and red wine.”
Dortmund to use option for Sahin
Borussia Dortmund will make use of an option to buy on-loan midfielder Nuri Sahin from Real Madrid, making his return to last season’s Champions League runners-up permanent.
Turkey international Sahin, a product of Dortmund’s youth system, joined Real in 2011 but after failing to hold down a starting spot was loaned out to Liverpool.
He returned, again on loan, to Dortmund in January 2013 for an 18-month spell with an option for the German club to buy him.
“We informed Real officials on the sidelines of our Champions League game (on Tuesday) that we will make use of this option,” club CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told reporters.
Sahin’s loan period officially ends on June 30.
Del Piero set for A-League farewell
Former Italy and Juventus great Alessandro Del Piero could play his last match for Sydney FC, and potentially his career, this weekend as the A-League regular season comes to a climax with the play-off picture far from clear.
Del Piero, whose two-year contract expires at the end of the season, is hoping to lead the Sky Blues to a win, or at least a draw, against Perth Glory at the Sydney Football Stadium (SFS) tomorrow that would earn them a spot in the post-season.
The Italian is 40 in November and although his impact on the league’s profile has been immense since his arrival in 2012, the Sydney glamour club look unlikely to shell out $1.88 million for another year of his services.
Roma to play Orlando in May
Roma will be playing an end-of-season friendly against Orlando City Soccer Club, in Florida, on May 23.
The Serie A club announced they will be returning to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex between May 22 and 25 to play Orlando.
It was also confirmed that Roma will be playing Liverpool on July 23 (Boston), Manchester United on July 26 (Denver), Real Madrid on July 29 (Dallas) and Inter on August 2 (Philadelphia) during their summer tour in the United States.