AD Belen had the first word on the team's fight with the Philadelphia Union last week, but it won't have the last word.
Nick Sakiewicz, the Union's Operating Partner and CEO, told the Goalkeeper that the fight was the result of consistent fouling by Belen and that Philadelphia thinks very little of what happened in Costa Rica.
No. I don't think it's a big deal. It was a game that was reffed by a non-accredited referee, and the game got out of hand. We tried to play soccer for 30, 35 minutes, and finally you can only get kicked so many times before you start kicking back. That's what we did. It's not a big deal.
Prior to Sakiewicz's statements to the Goalkeeper, only Belen's official press release on the incident, and a follow up article on Diario Extra, a Costa Rican news outlet, revealed any information about the fight. A heavily edited video of the incident, put out by Belen, was the exclusive source of visual evidence of the scuffle.
Real Madrid will return to Philadelphia this summer, Kerith Gabriel reported on Twitter today. The Philly.com and Philadelphia Daily News Union beat reporter said that "front office types" have confirmed that the La Liga giant is set to play again at Lincoln Financial Field.
The opponent has not been confirmed, leaving it possible that either the Union or Chelsea, also set to play in Philadelphia this summer, could face Madrid.
Chris Albright is not expected to play tonight, due to a left groin strain... Roger Torres did not travel with the team because of ankle injury he suffered in Costa Rica... Futty Danso is out for this game. He scored the only goal in the two game series that the Union and Portland Timbers played last year... Sal Zizzo and Eddie Johnson will also miss the game for Portland...