Former Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago has penned a new contract with Boca Juniors as they resume their quest for the first division title.
Argentina playmaker Gago, the Boca captain, signed a new contract until 2020 after fears he might follow Carlos Tevez to the football El Dorado in China. Tevez left Boca for Shanghai Shenhua in a reported $87 million move in December.
“Captain Fernando Gago renewed his contract and Boca fans will be able to enjoy his football for another three years,” the club said.
League suspended over referee strike
Mexico’s soccer federation said on Friday the matches scheduled for the country’s top flight soccer championship this weekend have been suspended due to strike action by referees protesting a disciplinary decision by the body.
The Mexican soccer league said the decision had been made because of the “unilateral” strike announced earlier on Friday by the referees, and that the games would be rescheduled.
The referees’ association said it would strike in protest at what it saw as excessively lenient punishments handed out to America defender Pablo Aguilar and Toluca forward Enrique Triverio after the two clashed with referees in midweek games.
Wenger insists fans want video replays
Arsene Wenger believes footballing authorities could face future legal action if they fail to introduce video replays into the game.
Wenger has long-been an advocate for the introduction of measures to assist officials and his argument only gathered steam after a number of high-profile incidents in the last week.
“I’m believing that in the next five years if UEFA does not bring video in they could face legal action from television or from fans because they refuse to progress for the right decisions,” he said.
“The fans and television companies pay a lot of money and they spoil the package because they don’t do the maximum to give a fair spectacle.
“If they don’t go further, that is what will happen because we live in a society that is legalist and what people pay is more and more.”
Pardew in frame for Norwich job
Alan Pardew is in the frame to become Norwich’s new manager.
The former Crystal Palace boss could replace Alex Neil at Carrow Road after the Scot was sacked on Friday, Press Association Sport understands.
Pardew is available after he was dismissed by Palace in December.
The former West Ham chief has promotion pedigree in the Championship having guided the Hammers to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2005.
West Brom eye Terry transfer
West Brom boss Tony Pulis has indicated the club may try to sign John Terry in the summer, having made an enquiry about the Chelsea captain in January.
On Friday The Times reported the 36-year-old defender, whose contract expires at the end of the season, will consider joining another English top-flight side over the summer.
Pulis said: “I’ve always thought Terry was a good player.
“It was just finding out what the situation was and then it was whether we moved on it or we didn’t. “I think he wanted to be there and stay there and be part of going out as a champion.
“If he becomes available in the summer we’ll sit down then and have a little think about what we’ve got and what we haven’t got and then we’ll take it from there.”
No reason to leave Atletico – Griezmann
Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann has said that he has no plans to leave the club and called the constant questioning over whether he will go to Manchester United tiresome.
Although the 25-year-old is under contract at Atletico until 2021, there has been regular speculation that United are among the clubs considering paying the €100 million release clause in his contract.
Griezmann said he is staying right where he is.
“I am always asked the same question and I am pretty sick of it, but like I always say, I am very happy here,” he told Spain’s TVE Telediario de La1. “I have learned a lot over time, I have the best teammates and a top coach. So I am doing very well here and there is no reason to go.”
Aubameyang will stay says Watzke
Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke says he is confident Pierre-Emerick Auba-meyang will stay beyond the summer.
Watzke told Fussball Bild that he is currently “not worried” about the situation, despite the striker telling RMC in January that he was considering an exit.
“There hasn’t been a day where I had the feeling that Auba wants to leave us,” he told reporters.
“I also believe that he knows that this (Dortmund side) could be another great team in the making.”