News of all that's transpired on and off the football field over the weekend
The referee took over five minutes to award Inter Milan a penalty after consulting with the video assistant (VAR) in their 2-0 win over SPAL in Italy's Serie A on Sunday.
Inter midfielder Joao Mario went down on the edge of the penalty area under a challenge from Francesco Vicari in the 22nd minute and referee Claudio Gavillucci quickly called for the video replay.
After a lengthy consultation, the official finally awarded a penalty and Inter captain Mauro Icardi sent Alfred Gomis the wrong way for his fifth goal in three games, officially recorded as being scored in the 27th minute.
Ivan Perisic completed Inter's win with a thumping volley in the 87th minute to leave his side with nine points from their opening three games and hand SPAL a first defeat of the season.
In between, Milan Skriniar crashed a long-range effort against the crossbar after spotting Gomis off his line.
SPAL, who have returned to the top flight after a 49-year absence, were far from outclassed and created several dangerous situations.
Serie A is one of several national leagues trialling the VAR system before soccer's rule-making body IFAB decides whether to permit their use on a permanent basis.
FIFA are hoping to use VARs at next year's World Cup.
El Clasico match to be hosted by Mumbai postponed
The much-hyped El Clasico match between Real Madrid and Barcelona, slated to be held in Mumbai on September 15, has been postponed due to unavailability of some players, the organisers said on Sunday.
"There has been some availability issues with the players, so as of now it's not happening on September 15. It will now be held tentatively in first week of October ahead of the World Cup," one of the organisers said, according to PTI.
However, there is a huge uncertainty over the match taking place in the near future, a Mumbai-based official said on condition of anonymity.
"It's World Cup time in October and there's little chance of the match happening now," he said.
"It's World Cup time in October and there's little chance of the match happening now," one of the organisers told PTI.
Legends of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid were to play an exhibition match in memory of Dutch legend and Barcelona star Johan Cryuff, it was announced by Football Next Foundation in a statement in May.
An agreement was signed at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home of Real Madrid, and former India forward Dipendu Biswas was named the brand ambassador.
Biswas however said he was not aware of the latest development.
"The match was to be held in Mumbai on September 15 but I'm not aware that it's not happening as per schedule. I'm busy with Mohammedan Sporting Club right now," Biswas said.
It was reported that the likes of Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Nicolas Anelka, Luis Figo, Carles Puyol, Simao, Fernando Morientes and Michel Salgado were to participate in the match, which was shifted to Mumbai from Kolkata because of logistical problems.
Kolkata is gearing up to host the final of the Under-17 World Cup on October 28.
Bayern beaten by Hoffenheim
Hoffenheim striker Mark Uth scored twice to hand champions Bayern Munich their first league defeat of the season on Saturday while Borussia Dortmund dropped their first points against gallant 10-man Freiburg.
Both games involved controversy as Bayern protested angrily about Uth's first goal in Hoffenheim's 2-0 win, claiming that two balls were on the pitch at the time, while Freiburg had Yoric Revet dismissed after 29 minutes of their 0-0 draw when the referee changed his mind on the advice of the video assistant.
Hoffenheim took the lead against the champions in the 27th minute when Andre Kramaric caught Bayern unawares with a quick throw-in to Uth who scored from the edge of the area.
Bayern protested that a second ball, which their defender Mats Hummels had hoofed upfield after it went out of play for the throw-in, was on the pitch at the time, albeit down the other end.
Uth struck again early in the second half, firing a left-foot shot past Manuel Neuer from Steven Zuber's pass to complete an unhappy evening for the Bavarians.
Dortmund looked set to chalk up their 13th successive win over Freiburg after the Black Forest team had attacking midfielder Ravet sent off 29 minutes into his debut for a tackle from behind on Marcel Schmelzer, who had to go off injured.
Referee Benjamin Cortus initially gave Ravet a yellow card but changed it to a red after consulting video assistant referee Guenter Perl, infuriating the Schwarzwald stadium crowd.
But despite spending most of the remaining hour camped in the Freiburg half, Peter Bosz’s side were unable to find a way past the well-drilled hosts who themselves remained winless after three games.
Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had the ball in the net in the second half but the referee had already blown for a free kick for the visitors.
Until the red card, Freiburg had looked slightly more dangerous and striker Tim Kleindienst missed the best chance of the game when he was put clean through but shot straight at Roman Buerki.
“A draw was too little, considering the quality in our team,” said Bosz. Dortmund, who have still not conceded a goal this season, and Hoffenheim have seven points from three games, alongside Hanover 96, who drew 1-1 away to VfL Wolfsburg, while RB Leipzig, Bayern and Hamburg SV have six.
Daniel Didavi gave Wolfsburg the lead early in the second half but Martin Harnik levelled for Hanover.
Alfred Finnbogason scored a hat-trick, including a penalty, to give Augsburg a 3-0 win over Cologne who slumped to their third straight defeat.
He became the third Icelandic player to score a Bundesliga hat-trick after Atli Edvaldsson and Eyjolfur Sverrisson.
Kevin-Prince Boateng's goal gave Eintracht Frankfurt a 1-0 win at Borussia Moenchengladbach although the former Ghana international went off injured early in the second half.
Mainz 05 beat Leverkusen 3-1 to pick up their first win of the season -- their first under new coach Sandro Schwarz.
Allegri hails Dybala as Juve continue perfect start
Juventus maintained their perfect start to the new Serie A campaign with a 3-0 home win over Chievo on Saturday capped by a superb individual goal from Paulo Dybala.
The 23-year-old also set up Juve's second goal for Gonzalo Higuain after he came on as a second-half substitute and his performance earned glowing praise from coach Massimiliano Allegri.
"Dybala keeps getting better, both physically and technically, and he has all it takes to became the best in the world alongside Neymar when Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo stop playing," Allegri told reporters.
The Turin side have taken nine points from their opening three games as they chase a seventh successive title, although Allegri warned there was a long road ahead.
"There are so many teams battling for the Scudetto that it will be really difficult and finely balanced," he said.
The team known as the Flying Donkeys gave Juventus a helping hand when Perparim Hetemaj inadvertently headed Miralem Pjanic's free kick into his own goal at the near post after 17 minutes. New Juventus signings Wojciech Szczesny, Blaise Matuidi and Douglas Costa were given their first starts as Allegri rotated his team ahead of Tuesday's Champions League visit to Barcelona.
However, Juventus did not have it all their own way. Chievo's Ivan Radovanovic forced a last-ditch save from Szczesny with a fierce drive and the visitors also made a bright start to the second half until Dybala entered the fray.
The Argentine quickly inspired the hosts as he combined with Pjanic to set up Gonzalo Higuain for the second in the 58th minute. Dybala then provided the highlight of the match as he collected the ball near the edge of the penalty area, skipped past two defenders and slipped the ball through a forest of Chievo legs into the net.
The other game due to be played on Saturday, between Sampdoria and AS Roma, was postponed on Friday due to warnings of torrential rain in Genoa.
