A Spanish judge has ordered Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu, his predecessor Sandro Rosell and the club to stand trial on charges they committed tax fraud in the signing of Brazil forward Neymar.
Judge Jose de la Mata has given the defendants, who deny any wrongdoing, 10 days in which to present their defence in writing.
Bartomeu was a vice president under Rosell when Neymar was signed from Santos in 2013 in a complex deal involving multiple contracts with the player and his father.
In total, Bartomeu, Rosell, who resigned over the allegations, and the club have been accused of defrauding the tax office of nearly €13 million.
Hiddink laments Robben loss
The Netherlands will be a much weaker force without an injured Arjen Robben when they play Latvia in a key UEFA 2016 qualifier next month, coach Guus Hiddink said.
“With the absence of Arjen Robben, the team will lose 30 to 40 per cent of its quality and production. That’s the impact he has shown over the last year and a half,” he said.
“It’s a loss for the Dutch national team, but also very annoying for him and Bayern Munich. I can complain about it long and hard, but that will not help. We must go on.”
Robben recently recovered from an abdominal muscle injury only to suffer a calf tear, which has ended his season.
Bony urges Toure to stay put
Yaya Toure was greeted on his 32nd birthday by a message from team-mate Wilfried Bony urging him not to leave Manchester City.
Toure’s future has again been the subject of speculation following comments from his outspoken agent Dimitri Seluk claiming he is “90 per cent certain” to move on this summer.
Bony said: “I talk to him about it all the time. He knows what I think. He brought me here so he needs to stay.
“For sure everyone wants to keep him here. He’s a legend for this club for sure, he always will be. We hope he stays, he’s a big player here and we know everything he is doing for the club.”
Palermo’s Bolzoni out of season run-in
Palermo midfielder Francesco Bolzoni will miss the final three games
after sustaining an Achilles tendon injury in his right leg.
A statement from Palermo read: “Francesco Bolzoni underwent tests which revealed a sub-total lesion in his right Achilles tendon.
“The player will undergo an operation on Thursday (today).”
Bolzoni, who has made 24 league appearances this season, is sidelined for six months.
Cole backs Falcao to find form
Andy Cole expects Radamel Falcao to return to his prolific best next year – whether that be at Man. United or elsewhere.
United thought they had pulled off one of the biggest coups of the summer transfer window last year when they beat stiff competition to sign Falcao from Monaco on a season-long loan, with the option of a £43.2million permanent deal at the end of it.
But this season he has found the net on four occasions in 28 appearances for United.
“I look at Falcao and I still think he is a quality player,” he said. “If you look at his movement and what he has done for his national team, you know he scores goals.
“I don’t know whether United will keep him. If he doesn’t stay here next year and he goes somewhere else, he will score goals.”
Gerrard farewell tickets costly
Tickets for Steven Gerrard’s Anfield farewell are being sold for more than £1,200.
On Tuesday evening the price of tickets for Liverpool’s home match with Crystal Palace on Saturday ranged from £179.01 to £1,258.63 on www.ticketbis.net.
Reds skipper Gerrard will bring the curtain down on his 17-year career with the club at the end of the season ahead of a move to Major League Soccer with Los Angeles Galaxy.
The Palace game is classed as a ‘Category C’ fixture and adult tickets normally cost between £37 and £49.
Gerrard is set to play his final game for Liverpool away to Stoke the following weekend.
SPFL lands record sponsorship deal
The Scottish Professional Football League has announced a record sponsorship deal with Ladbrokes after several years without a main backer.
The betting firm has signed a two-year contract from next season to sponsor all four divisions, with the top flight set to be called the Ladbrokes Premiership.
The SPFL described the deal as the “biggest ever of its kind in Scottish football”. The exact financial details have not been disclosed. Clydesdale Bank formerly sponsored the top division for £2 million per year.
The league has been without a sponsor for the past two seasons as Clydesdale’s extended deal ran out in the summer of 2013, when the SPL and SFL merged.