Players and coaches at Bulgarian first division club Lokomotiv Plovdiv have been told to take lie detector tests after their surprise 1-0 loss to basement side Botev Vratsa on Saturday stoked concerns about match-fixing.
Lokomotiv suffered their first loss of the season to lowly Botev Vratsa. Lokomotiv’s owner Veselin Mareshki said he had to be sure there were no other factors behind the team’s loss.
“Nobody is insured against defeats but this loss is very strange,” Mareshki said.
“The fair play principle is the most important thing for me and all players and coaches will take lie detector tests.”
Papin says Ibra will score 30 goals
Zlatan Ibrahimovic will become the first player since Jean-Pierre Papin to score at least 30 goals in a French league season, the former France striker predicted.
Ibrahimovic has already netted seven goals in the opening six matches and is on course to break the 30-goal barrier Papin was the last to reach in 1990.
“He is impressive. I think he will beat my record of 30 goals in one season,” Papin, who reached the tally when playing for Marseille, said.
Papin believes, however, that Ibrahimovic will fall short of the record of Josip Skoblar, who netted 44 goals in the 1970/71 season for Marseille.
Del Piero denied build-up match
Alessandro del Piero has been denied the chance to build match fitness ahead of his debut season with Sydney FC after Central Coast Mariners cancelled a pre-season friendly scheduled for tonight.
The Mariners had to pull out of the clash at Sydney Stadium as a result of not having enough fit players left after playing Brisbane Roar at the weekend.
Mariners coach Graham Ar-nold said it was not possible for his depleted side to take the field.
“It was my decision to cancel the game as I don’t want to jeopardise the welfare of any of our players,” Arnold said.
I was close to Spurs says Hazard
Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard has revealed he would likely be playing for Tottenham had they qualified for this season’s Champions League.
The 21-year-old Belgium forward moved to Stamford Bridge from Lille this summer, but could have ended up north rather than west London.
“It’s true that Tottenham tempted me because it was a young team which was third in the league,” Hazard said.
“Unfortunately, the end of the season did not go well and that tipped the balance. Once Chelsea won the Champions League, it was a natural choice.”
Hulk no Messi, says Denisov
Zenit SP midfielder Igor Deni-sov has branded new signing Hulk a second-rate star after being demoted from the first team for speaking out about the Brazilian striker’s lucrative contract.
“I would understand if we got Lionel Messi or Iniesta – they probably deserve any price,” said Denisov.
“Yes, we bought some good players who will clearly help Zenit. But are they really so much better than the current team leaders that they deserve to get three times more?” the 28-year-old midfielder asked.
“Zenit have some great players who have won at least as many titles as the new guys.”
Gerrard defends team-mate Suarez
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has sprung to the defence of Luis Suarez and urged referees not to judge the striker on the reputation he has gained for diving.
The Uruguayan could have had a penalty in the 2-1 defeat to Man. United after a tackle by Jonny Evans. However, his appeals were turned down by referee Mark Halsey and Gerrard believes the 25-year-old is suffering from the label given to him last season.
“I think even when Luis does get blatant penalties now he doesn’t get them,” said Gerrard.
“It is down to refs to not judge him and give what they see – if it’s not a penalty don’t give him one but if it’s clear give it... against United it was a penalty.”
Verratti loss a scandal – Prandelli
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has criticised Serie A clubs for allowing Marco Verratti to move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
The Italy U-21 international was courted by Juventus and Napoli, but instead Pescara eventually agreed a deal with the Ligue 1 big-spenders.
“If we are not competitive on an economical level then we need to be on a technical one,” Prandelli said.
“We have to invest on the future. It is scandalous that a player like Verratti ended up at a foreign club. I called him up when he was at Pescara.
“I repeat – it’s scandalous.”