August 16, 2017
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane faces fine for criticising Cristiano Ronaldo’s five-match ban
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane faces a fine from the Spanish FA after criticising Cristiano Ronaldo’s five-match ban.
The Real Madrid forward was shown a second yellow card for simulation during Real’s 3-1 Super Copa first-leg win over Barcelona on Sunday night and Manager Zidane has reacted by criticising the spanish over the lenghty ban.
He was subsequently handed a one-match suspension for the red card and another four for his retaliation.
While that punishment was the most lenient he could have received within Spanish FA rules, Zidane appears to feel it was too harsh.
Furthermore, the French coach appeared to suggest there was an underlying anti-Real Madrid conspiracy among Spanish match officials.
“I’m disappointed. All of us are disappointed,” Zidane said ahead of the second leg on Wednesday night.
“As always, I’m not going to get involved with the referees but, when you see everything that happened.
“We are going to talk to the [appeals] committee about this as well. When you think he is not going to play in five games for us, something is up.
“It bothers me and it bothers all of us. It’s a lot of games for him and that’s all I’ll say.”
When asked to clarify his comments, Zidane continued with innuendo.
I’ve been very clear in my answer. What happened, happened,” he added.
“When you study it, at the end of the day, you say they have given Cristiano five matches and that’s a lot.
“I hope the committee look at it. But it bothers me, when I see five matches and what [punishment] they want to give him it bothers me. Cristiano wants to play. When he doesn’t play he’s not happy.
I hope people are conscious of the decisions they make and conscious of the jobs they do but, in the end, five games, it’s not worth five games.”
And it looks as though Zidane ‘s comments could land him in trouble, with Marca reporting that disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Real coach by the Referees Technical Committee and he could be fined.
“His words are being studied and there will possibly be a complaint filed and fine handed out,” a Spanish FA source is quoted as saying.
The appeals committee also upheld Ronaldo’s ban on Wednesday, meaning he will miss the Super Copa return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu as well as league matches against Deportivo, Valencia, Levante and Real Sociedad.
Real Madrid and Barcelona lock horns in the Spanish Super Cup final tonight, any Expectations ?
With Real Madrid 3-1 up on Barcelona from the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup you might think Wednesday’s second leg at the Bernabeu will be an uneventful formality.
Here, Sportsmail picks out five to look out for as Barcelona look to overturn their two-goal deficit in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup final
The day changing at the start of the second half.
Yes that’s right, an 11pm kick-off local time means the first half will be played on Wednesday but the second half will take place on Thursday. And if there’s extra time, by the time he has had his post-match rub-down massage Gareth Bale will be getting to bed about 3am.
Madrid fans are incensed at Cristiano Ronaldo’s five-game ban for getting sent off and pushing the referee in the first game and plan to wave their white handkerchiefs before the match kicks off.
The traditional Spanish protest is not so easy to carry off these days – on account of very few people carrying handkerchiefs – but it has been well advertised by various supporters’ groups so plastic bags and paper tissues at the ready.
#BartomeuDimiteYa (Bartomeu resign now) has become a global trending topic in recent days. Even the 2015 Miss Bumbum winner model Suzy Cortez has got involved by tweeting the hashtag. She’s a big Messi fan apparently.
Barcelona supporters are upset about the sale of Neymar and the failure to make exciting signings. Agusti Benedito is trying to gather the 16k signatures he needs for the vote of confidence that would force a new election.
Meanwhile, Joan Laporta waits in the wings ready to return. A heavy defeat and the Barça supporters inside the stadium will also have the white handkerchiefs out
It was four months ago when Leo Messi scored with the last kick of the game to win the Clasico 3-2.
It was his 500th career goal for Barcelona and the iconic image of him holding his No 10 shirt aloft will live long in the memory. If Barça have any chance of coming back from 3-1 down then he will need to be at his best.
And he’ll need some help from Luis Suarez too. The Uruguayan has just one goal in pre-season but he did win the penalty on Sunday that keeps Barça in this one
There were moments during the first game when tempers flared. Sergio Ramos tried to drag Suarez to his feet after he dived for the penalty, Marcelo clashed with Samuel Umtiti and Isco and Rakitic even had a run-in.
Wednesday night is bound to be feisty. Barça will be spiky if they are getting trounced on aggregate and if they make a comeback then that will bring out the worst in Madrid.
There’s a trophy at stake after all and the Super Cup is taken far more seriously in Spain than the Community Shield in England.
Nigeria international Ogenyi Onazi has been denied a work permit to play for English Championship side Birmingham City.
Jose Mourinho wants Zlatan Ibrahimovic back at Manchester United as a coach
Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be set for a coaching role at Manchester United once his playing career finishes, as the Independent understands the prospect has already been discussed in preliminary talks about a potential new contract.
Ghana’s Kevin-Prince Boateng terminates contract with Las Palmas on ‘personal reasons’
Former Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is once again without a club after ending his contract with Spanish club Las Palmas by mutual consent.
Las Palmas cited “irreversible personal reasons” for Boateng ‘s decision.
The 30-year-old had a contract with the La Liga side until 2020 after signing for them a year ago following a six-month absence from the sport after leaving Italy’s AC Milan.
He scored 10 goals in 28 appearances at Las Palmas including one on his debut.
Boateng has previously played for Hertha Berlin, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund, Portsmouth, Milan, twice, and Schalke.
The former Ghana international said after putting pen to paper on a contract until June 2020 with Las Palmas that he had turned down several offers this summer to remain at the club, where he was “very happy.”
Las Palmas president Ramirez thanked Boateng in May for turning down lucrative offers from other European clubs that would have seen the player move closer to Milan, where his wife and child live.
However, Boateng has now reconsidered that decision.
The statement continued: “The player’s personal situation has precipitated his departure. Boateng will continue his sporting career in a place that will allow him to be closer to his family.
“The club wishes to thank the player for his professionalism during his season with us and especially for the gesture he made when he signed a new contract when he had better financial offers from important European clubs. Las Palmas wishes him success and will always be grateful for the season he had with us.”
EXCLUSIVE: Andrea Belotti still being targeted by Blues amid Diego Costa fiasco
Andrea Belotti is still being targetted and poised to replace the self-exiled striker that has been ordered back to England from his native Brazil.
And Starsport can reveal the champions have not given up on landing Torino ace Belotti.
The Blues have already bought Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid for £70m.
But boss Antonio Conte remains unconvinced by Michy Batshuayi
And with Costa set to stay away with his family in Brazil, Conte feels the club need to boost their strikeforce.
Belotti, 23, banged in 26 goals in 35 Serie A games last season and the champions have been constantly linked with the Italy international all summer.
He has earned comparisons to Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli for his athleticism and powerful style of play, but Torino have been holding out for £80m for the prized asset.
And with Chelsea starting the season so poorly – losing 3-2 at home to Burnley on Saturday a deal could still be struck.
Conte wants a number of reinforcements in this window, with Southampton centre back Virgil van Dijk, Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Drinkwater of Leicester key targets.
Chelsea are also keen on Paris St-Germain right-back Serge Aurier, who is available for £27m, but Tottenham have now joined Manchester United in the hunt.
Despite demanding Costa, who has insisted he only wants to play for Atletico Madrid, returns to training Chelsea are prepared for a stalemate with the Spain striker.
Carlos Tevez spent three months away in Argentina on unauthorised leave from Manchester City back in 2011 and the club continued to fine him for his absence.
Chelsea are understood to plan the same tactic with Costa, fining him his wages for two weeks – £280,000 – every fortnight.
Meanwhile, Eden Hazard returned to full training yesterday having missed most of pre-season with a broken ankle.
He was joined by new midfield signing Tiemoue Bakayoko, who is back after undergoing minor knee surgery in the summer.
But both players are not expected to be fit enough to feature at Tottenham on Sunday
Ilkay Gundogan returns in Manchester City friendly after eight-month injury layoff
Ilkay Gundogan emerged unscathed on his long awaited comeback after nine months out with a cruciate knee ligament injury on Tuesday night as Manchester City were beaten 1-0 in a friendly away to Girona.
The City and Germany midfielder, Ilkay Gundogan has been out of action since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee against Watford last December.
But Gundogan provided City manager Pep Guardiola with a welcome boost when he came on in the second half of the game at the Montilivi Stadium.
Ilkay Gundogan made his first appearance in eight months for Manchester City on Tuesday when he came on as a second-half substitute against Girona in a friendly in Spain.
The German midfielder, who suffered knee ligament damage against Watford last December, could be in contention for a place in the squad for Monday’s home tie against Everton.
Girona beat City 1-0, with the 26-year-old coming on as a substitute in the 71st minute.
City beat promoted Brighton and Hove Albion 2-0 in their Premier League opener on Saturday.