Bolivia’s footballers have gone on strike and will refuse to take part in a national team training camp next week unless their grievances are resolved, their union Fabol has said.
Bolivia are due to begin their World Cup qualifying campaign in less than one month and the announcement added to the problems in the country, where the head of the football federation has been arrested on graft charges.
Fabol said that the players were protesting over unpaid wages at two first division clubs, Wilstermann and San Jose.
The domestic championship would also be halted, Fabol said.
Galloway to get new Everton contract
Everton plan to reward teenaged defender Brendan Galloway with a new contract after his impressive start to the season, manager Roberto Martinez has confirmed.
Galloway has started four games in the Premier League this season, and also provided an assist in the Toffees’ emphatic 3-1 victory over champions Chelsea on Saturday.
The 19-year-old joined Everton from Championship side Milton Keynes Dons in 2014, and Martinez said he was surprised by the left-back’s rapid progress.
“We always felt that Brendan had that potential – that’s why we made sure we put a lot of effort to bring him into the football club from MK Dons,” Martinez said.
CONMEBOL reform
South America’s troubled soccer confederation CONMEBOL has approved a reform plan after it was caught up in the corruption scandal that has swept the sport and plunged FIFA into crisis.
CONMEBOL said its executive committee had approved a “comprehensive review of the management model and the organisational structure”. Ernst & Young had been called in to implement the reforms.
CONMEBOL is heavily embroiled in the corruption probe led by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation. Of 14 officials indicted in the US in May on bribery, money laundering and wire fraud charges, eight were from South America.
Henderson flies to US for treatment
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is facing an extended spell on the sidelines and has flown to the US for treatment on a foot injury that has ruled him out of the last three games.
The England international injured his heel in the 1-0 win over Bournemouth on Aug. 17 and has not played since.
Liverpool have struggled in his absence, picking up just one point from a run of games that included a 0-0 draw with Arsenal, a 3-0 defeat by West Ham and Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Man. United.
Henderson, 25, would visit orthopaedic surgeon James Cozzarelli for treatment, although he was not expected to face surgery.
Bayern confident over injured Ribery
Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery will return to action this year after fully recovering from a dragging ankle injury, club chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said.
The Frenchman has been out of action since March after being injured in their Champions League game against Shakhtar Donetsk with an initial recovery estimate of a few days.
Six months on and Bayern can still not provide a comeback date for Ribery.
“It is now mid-September and I think that will be the case, that during 2015 he will be a whirling again,” Rummenigge said.
“What was important is to have the right diagnosis and treatment. But he will come back. I am fully convinced of that and that is the key thing.”
Cech wants to beat Chelsea again
Arsenal’s Petr Cech is looking forward to beating Chelsea for the second time when the Gunners visit Cech’s former club in the Premier League on Saturday.
Arsenal defeated the champions in the Community Shield at Wembley – the first time in 14 attempts that Arsene Wenger got the better of Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho.
“Obviously it will be new to play against Chelsea but when you start playing the game the only concern you have is ‘can I play my best game and can we win’?” Cech, who left Chelsea after losing his place in the first team to Thibaut Courtois, was quoted as saying.
“I have never played at Stamford Bridge in the visiting team. I go to a familiar place but most important for me will be to win the game. That’s the way it goes.”
West Brom take Vaz Te on trial
West Brom have taken former West Ham forward Ricardo Vaz Te on trial.
The ex-Bolton man is training with the Baggies as Tony Pulis looks at beefing up his strikeforce, reports said. Vaz Te has been without a club since leaving Turkish side Akhisar Belediyespor in the summer after six months.
He left West Ham in January after three years at Upton Park following 19 goals in 61 games. The 28-year-old also played for Barnsley and Hibernian after moving to Bolton in 2003 from Portuguese side Farense.
Albion have scored just three times this season.