Former Australia defender Robbie Hooker has slammed the national federation as “hypocritical” after he was sanctioned for betting on domestic league matches when playing as an amateur in an over-35’s league.

Hooker, a former assistant coach of the Socceroos, was given a suspended A$1,000 ($770) fine by Football Federation Australia for breaching the national code of conduct.

Hooker, 48, said he would spend A$500 to lodge an appeal to clear his name.

“Everyone knows (betting) is going on among amateurs... it is in our culture,” he said.

“If all amateur players were to cease betting, the operators would probably lose 50 per cent of their revenue.”

Roma interested in striker Bacca

Roma have joined Liverpool and Milan in the race to sign Sevilla forward Carlos Bacca.

Bacca, who is under contract with Sevilla until June 2018, has attracted the attention of top European clubs after his heroics inspired Sevilla to their second successive Europa League crown this season.

Roma have reportedly made a 25 million euro bid to acquire the Colombia international.

“We want Bacca,” Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini said.

“But at the moment I cannot say anything more.”

Roma, who finished runners-up to Juventus in Serie A this season, are looking to strengthen their attacking line and Bacca is considered their top target this summer.

Atletico to buy Martinez – agent

Atletico Madrid have agreed to buy Colombia striker Jackson Martinez from Porto, the player’s agent said yesterday.

“It was sealed today,” Luiz Henrique Pompeo said, adding that Milan were also chasing the 28-year-old forward.

“It (Atletico) is a very big club which has had a lot of success in Spain and Europe and Jackson is going there full of desire to do great things,” Pompeo added.

Martinez signed a contract with Porto until the end of the 2016-17 season and reports said Atletico had agreed to pay his buyout clause worth €35m.

Gladbach snap up teenager Elvedi

Borussia Moenchengladbach, who will be playing in the Champions League next season, have agreed with Swiss youth international Nico Elvedi on a four-year contract.

Defender Elvedi made his Zurich debut as a 17-year-old last year and has also played 23 games for Switzerland’s youth teams. He will sign his contract to 2019 after his medical.

Gladbach finished third in the Bundesliga last season, reaching the Champions League group stage for the first time.

Juve make Pereyra move permanent

Juventus have exercised the option to buy Argentinian midfielder Roberto Pereyra from Udinese.

Pereyra joined Juve last summer on loan from Udinese and enjoyed an impressive campaign, scoring four goals and setting up three more in 35 league appearances to help the Turin club win the scudetto.

The 24-year-old has signed a four-year contract with Juventus.

A statement from the Turin club read: “Juventus Football Club can announce that Roberto Maximiliano Pereyra has joined the club on a permanent basis from Udinese, with the pre-arranged fee of 14 million euro to be paid over the course of the next three years.”

Antalyaspor close in on Eto’o signing

Newly-promoted Turkish Super League club Antalyaspor are confident of securing the services of Cameroon forward Samuel Eto’o this summer.

Eto’o, who is under contract with Serie A side Sampdoria until June 2018, is reportedly in talks to terminate his contract with the Genoa outfit in order to complete his transfer.

A statement from Antalyaspor read: “We have an agreement with Eto’o but there are still some problems relating to the player’s image rights in Italy, but we will resolve them as soon as possible.”

Eto’o, 34, joined Sampdoria from Everton in January but the former Inter player failed to im-press, scoring just two goals in 18 league appearances.

Arda Turan targets transfer to England

Atletico Madrid midfielder Arda Turan wants a move to the Premier League this summer and has three offers from top English clubs, according to his agent.

The Turkey international has two years left on his contract with the Spanish outfit and has been strongly linked with a move away from the Vicente Calderon stadium this summer.

“His intention is to leave Spain this summer,” Turan’s agent Ahmet Bulut said.

“His will is to leave and to play in the Premier League, that is the path he would like to take to continue his career.

“We are currently in talks with three teams but I cannot reveal the names of the clubs. However, I can tell you that they are the best in England and in European football.”

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.