Assistant referee who asked for Erling Haaland signature banned as UEFA chief complains

The linesman who asked Erling Haaland to sign yellow and red cards at Manchester City has been banned from officiating in Romania’s top tier.

Uefa blasted Octavian Sovre’s “unacceptable” action in getting the Dortmund striker’s autograph after City’s 2-1 Champions League win.

Cameras spotted Tuesday’s controversial tunnel exchange, which ended with City transfer target Haaland putting his arm around Romanian Sovre.

It has since been reported that Sovre has collected star players’ autographs over the past five years for an autism charity to auction off.

But that cause has not helped the assistant referee from a tough sanction in his home country and an indirect blasting from Europe’s football chiefs. Sport.ro say the Romanian Referee’s Committee have temporarily suspended him from officiating in top-flight matches.

Sovre will now miss this weekend’s final round of matches in Liga 1. It follows UEFA’s chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti response of telling refereeing teams not to ask players for autographs.

El Clasico: (Video) Toni Kroos scores! 28’… Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona

Toni Kroos scores from the free-kick!

At least, the German will claim the goal, but he’s been ably assisted by the Barcelona defence.

Kroos’ powerful effort struck the back of the jumping Sergino Dest to deceive Marc-Andre ter Stegen. On the line, it looked as though Jordi Alba had it covered, but the left-back was slow to react and instead could only help it into the net with his head.

It’s a huge mountain for Barcelona to climb now.

(Video) Karim Benzema scores! 13′ Real Madrid 1-0 Barcelona

What a goal! What a move!

Federico Valverde bursts forward from the right, and takes advantage of Jordi Alba selling himself short to move into space.

The Uruguayan then picks out the run of Lucas Vazquez down the wing, and the right-back obliges with a lovely first time cross towards the near post.

Arriving ahead of Clement Lenglet is Karim Benzema, who reacts with a wonderful back-heeled flick that beats Marc-Andre ter Stegen to find the corner.

The deadlock has been broken in El Clasico in scintillating style!

Photo Credit: realmadrid/Twitter

(Video) Pulisic nets brace! 78’… Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea

Chelsea have four and Pulisic has finally got his brace!

James, newly introduced from the bench, was heavily involved and drilled in a cross which deflected.

The ball then fell kindly for Pulisic at the far post, and the wideman tucked home simply.

Photo Credit: premierleague/Twitter

(Video) Kurt Zouma scores! 31’…Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Mount swung in the dead ball from the free-kick and Zouma, who has netted so many this season, rose highest to nod in again.

It was the current Chelsea centre back up against the former Chelsea centre back in Cahill, but Zouma clambered high above him.

Photo Credit: ChelseaFC/Twitter

(Video) Christian Pulisic scores! 10’… Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

It’s a quickfire double for Chelsea! Pulisic is on target now after smashing high into the roof of the net.

What a start for them. They haven’t put a foot wrong at all.

Some more one-touching passing released Havertz into the box on the right, and he in turn laid off to Pulisic.

The tight angle didn’t fave him, and before Guaita could even react, the ball was hammered in emphatically.

(Video) Kai Havertz scores! 8’… Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea

The dominance has paid off! It’s Kai Havertz who has netted the opener with a lovely, collected finish.

Eze surrendered the ball away far too easily on the left of the box, and the ball was worked for Havertz.

The playmaker set himself, jinked slightly to create the space and then rolled into the far corner with aplomb.

Crystal Palace, Chelsea name their line-ups: Tuchel makes three changes, while Hodgson retains same team that featured against Everton

Roy Hodgson has decided to stick with exactly the same team who managed to scramble out of Goodison Park with a point against Everton last weekend.

Cahill and Kouyate are the centre-back pairing with Van Aanholt and Joel Ward either side of them.

Jordan Ayew and Eze are left to occupy the flanks leaving the skipper Milivojevic and Riedwald to mop up in the middle.

And up front is the dynamic duo of Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha.

31 Guaita, 2 Ward, 24 Cahill, 8 Kouyate, 3 Van Aanholt, 9 Ayew, 4 Milivojevic, 44 Riedewald, 25 Eze, 11 Zaha, 20 Benteke

With possibly one eye on their Champions League second leg quarter-final tie on Tuesday, the Chelsea gaffer has decided to make three changes for this evenings encounter against Crystal Palace.

Kurt Zouma replaces Andreas Christensen in the defence.

Callum Hudson-Odoi slots into the midfield instead of Reece James and Christian Pulisic gets the nod ahead of Timo Werner who has struggled this season.

16 Mendy, 28 Azpilicueta, 15 Zouma, 2 Rudiger, 20 Hudson-Odoi, 5 Jorginho, 17 Kovacic, 21 Chilwell, 10 Pulisic, 29 Havertz, 19 Mount

Frank Lampard confirms receiving “flattering offers after leaving Chelsea

Frank Lampard revealed he has received some ‘flattering’ offers to return to management – but ‘they were not quite right’ for the Blues legend.

But 18 months later and he was forced to clear out his locker as Chelsea’s form suffered, leading to his firing.

Lampard, who was replaced by German Thomas Tuchel, has now spoken out for the first time since being sacked by Blues owner Roman Abramovich.

Speaking at a Q&A hosted by the London Football Awards in aid of the Willow Foundation, he said: “Football has consumed my life firstly as a player and then as a manager.

“Nobody wants to lose their job. But when you go into this career, it can happen, no matter how good you think you are.

“It’s given me a lot more time to be at home. It’s been great to be around the family. I’ve had some opportunities that have come up in the last six weeks, two months, that have been flattering, but not the right thing. They were not quite right.”

Thomas Tuchel told what to do about Timo Werner

Thomas Tuchel has been told to consider dropping Timo Werner after a lacklustre display against Porto.

Former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison said: “Chelsea have got other attacking options – it just depends on how long Tuchel wants to stick with Timo Werner.

“Listen, Werner is not a bad player. You don’t become a bad player overnight.

“It’s just at the moment, he’s getting into positions and not being clinical.

“Maybe he needs a bit of time out of the team and he can make an impact coming off the bench.”