UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Aberdeen’s Europa League rivals Shkendija after Dons goalkeeper Danny Ward was targeted with a laser during last week’s clash in Skopje.
The Dons lodged an official complaint with Europe’s governing body following the opening leg of their first qualifying round tie at the National Stadium.
The disciplinary panel’s decision will be announced in the days following the July 23 meeting. Aberdeen will welcome Shkendija to the Granite City on Thursday after last week’s 1-1 draw.
Cuadrado agent cools transfer talk
Juan Cuadrado’s agent insists his client is set to remain at Chelsea despite speculation linking the winger with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
The 27-year-old joined the Blues in winter from Fiorentina but made just four starts.
Cuadrado, who has four years left on his contract, is a reported target of Juventus and Valencia this summer but his agent has denied transfer speculation.
“Much to my amazement, I read in some newspapers about imaginary figures and agents associated with Cuadrado, so I think it is right to clarify the situation,” Alessandro Lucci said.
“Cuadrado is a Chelsea player. I, as his agent, will decide with Juan his future, nobody else will.”
O’Driscoll joins Liverpool staff
Liverpool have confirmed the appointment of Sean O’Driscoll as their new assistant manager.
The former Bournemouth, Doncaster, Crawley, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City boss moves to Anfield after a spell in charge of England Under-19s.
The 58-year-old takes over as Brendan Rodgers’s number two from Colin Pascoe, who was sacked last month following a robust end-of-season review.
Liverpool have also an-nounced that academy boss Pep Lijnders will step up to a newly-created role of first team deve-lopment coach.
Liverpool started pre-season training yesterday.
Cabaye talks
Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish has confirmed the club are in talks to sign Paris SG midfielder Yohan Cabaye.
Former Newcastle man Cabaye is set to move on from the Ligue 1 club after an unspectacular spell since his £19m switch in January 2014 and Palace and Arsenal have been linked with him.
Now Crystal Palace chief Parish has firmed up the interest in the 29-year-old.
“That’s definitely one we would like to do,” Parish said.
“If we can, it will be massive for the club. He’s a seasoned international. That’s definitely one we’re working on. Getting the top players is difficult, it’s a difficult transfer market right now.”
Veteran Klose could return for Germany
Lazio forward Miroslav Klose has not ruled out reversing his decision to retire from international football.
The 37-year-old became the all-time leading goalscorer at World Cup finals last summer when he helped Germany to become world champions. After that event, he announced he was not going to represent his country again.
However, after earning an extension to his contract with Lazio, Germany’s all-time top goalscorer with 71 goals admits he is tempted to pull on his country’s shirt again.
“I spoke with coach Joachim Loew just a few weeks ago,” Klose said.
“It’s not an issue at the moment, but you should never say never.”
Winger Nani makes Man. United exit
Manchester United winger Nani has completed a move to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
Portugal international Nani leaves Old Trafford permanently after spending last season on loan with former club Sporting Lisbon. The 28-year-old underwent a medical in Istanbul at the weekend ahead of the move worth £4.25 million.
Nani won four Premier League titles and the Champions League after joining United in 2007 and scored 41 goals in 230 matches.
He signed a five-year contract in 2013 but then began to fall out of favour and returned to Sporting as part of the deal that took Marcos Rojo in the opposite direction last summer.
Angry fans break security fence
Avai FC fans broke the security fencing surrounding the pitch and forced police to intervene on Sunday after the referee awarded a late penalty to Sport in their 2-2 draw in a Brazilian cham-pionship match.
The spot-kick came in the second minute of injury time and allowed Sport to salvage a point and retain their unbeaten record after 11 games.
“Fans of the Avai Futebol Club broke an acrylic panel used as a fence forcing police to form a barrier as a security measure,” the match referee wrote in his report.
“As we were heading into the tunnel, a battery was thrown at the four officials from the area where Avai fans were located and hit the police shield.”