The US Olympic Committee’s chief executive hopes to meet with US Soccer this week to discuss why national goalkeeper Hope Solo continues to play although she has been charged with domestic violence.
Solo faces a November trial but has remained in the national squad, a decision that has pulled her sport into the domestic abuse storm that has engulfed the National Football League where players have been suspended until their cases are heard.
The USOC and US Soccer Federation chief Sunil Gulati are facing growing pressure to explain why.
“If Sunil is here I am sure we will be talking about it because it is important to them,” USOC chief Scott Blackmun said after the opening session of the USOC General Assembly.
Suarez included in Uruguay squad
Luis Suarez has been included in a provisional Uruguay squad for next month’s friendlies against Saudi Arabia and Oman.
The controversial Barcelona forward has been banned for four months, plus nine competitive internationals, for the infamous World Cup incident where he bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini.
He can play in friendlies, however, after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) removed a clause which banned him from “any football activity” during his four-month suspension.
Spanish clubs face fixing probe
Real Zaragoza and Levante have distanced themselves from any involvement in match-fixing after summons for questioning were issued relating to a match played three years ago.
Spanish authorities are investigating a match that saw Zaragoza win 2-1 at Levante in 2011.
Gabi Fernandez, the current Atletico Madrid captain, scored twice in the game, with victory for Zaragoza saving the club from relegation to the Segunda Division.
The state prosecutor’s office said that it had “started procedures to investigate match-fixing and has summoned players implicated for questioning on October 2”.
The players who have been asked to appear have not been identified.
Lambert lines up January targets
Boss Paul Lambert is already preparing his January shopping list after holding talks with the Aston Villa hierarchy.
Lambert has spoken to new chief executive Tom Fox about his transfer plans for the New Year.
“I’ve spoken to Tom Fox about January and whether we need to do something. It depends on personnel and injuries and ultimately the decision will come from the chairman,” Lambert said.
“He’s never once said: ‘you can’t do x, y and z’. You put it to him and if he thinks it’s too dear he says no. If he thinks it’s fine then fine.”
Roma will fight till the end – Buffon
Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon (picture) believes it will be harder to win the scudetto this season with Roma having already shown themselves to be title contenders.
The Italian champions are level on 12 points with Roma at the top of the Serie A standings ahead of today’s game at Atalanta.
“It’s going to be very difficult to win the scudetto again against this strong Roma,” Buffon said.
“I know that Roma will fight until the end for the league title.
“They have strengthened their team and have grown in confidence thanks to their good results.”
Karagounis handed Greece team role
Former Greece captain Giorgos Karagounis has agreed to take on a role in the national team set-up, the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) said yesterday.
The 37-year-old midfielder, who was part of the Greek team which won the European championship in 2004, will work alongside recently appointed coach Claudio Ranieri, although full details of his new position are yet to be finalised.
“The board of the Greek Football Federation has unanimously approved the recommendation of the president, George Sarris, to award a two-year contract to Giorgos Karagounis, who will take up a post with the national teams,” EPO said.
“The exact definition of his responsibilities will be decided after a meeting with Claudio Ranieri and he will be officially presented by EPO in the coming days.”
Cellino sacks Leeds consultant
Leeds owner Massimo Cellino has sacked consultant Graham Bean over a row about a rearranged fixture against Reading.
Bean, 53, who ran day-to-day operations at Elland Road, has been dismissed four months after joining the club.
His departure follows a disagreement over the club’s decision to agree to a request from Reading to switch their league game at Leeds next week to Wednesday instead of Tuesday.
Reading asked for the game to be put back 24 hours as their match against Wolves this weekend, to be televised by Sky Sports, has been moved to tomorrow.
Cellino, who was away at the time, was not involved in discussions in July about the rearranged fixture and subsequently terminated Bean’s 12-month contract.