By MATT SYPULKOSKI
Borussia Dortmund received a scare on Thursday, when an unexploded bomb from World War II was found just outside the club’s stadium.
As a result, the area was temporarily evacuated and manager Jurgen Klopp was forced to move his press conference to the team’s training facility. But the 550-pound bomb was later defused and this weekend’s derby against Schalke will still be played as scheduled.
The bomb was discovered during a construction project to revamp the VIP seating of the Westfalenstadion. Such discoveries are not uncommon in Germany, as bombs from the 1940s are buried below ground in a number of different cities.
Here are some more of Thursday afternoon’s news and notes:
CHELSEA WARNS FANS AHEAD OF TOTTENHAM MATCH
In the wake of recent racist actions by Chelsea fans, the club has taken a proactive approach entering this weekend’s Capital One Cup final.
The Blues are set to face Tottenham in the final at Wembley on Sunday. Considering Spurs are often the target of anti-Semitic chants, Chelsea issued a warning on Thursday to its supporters that such behavior will not be tolerated.
“If we receive evidence that supporters have engaged in anti-Semitic or any other form of discriminatory chanting or behaviour,” the club said in a statement, “we will take the strongest possible action, including supporting criminal prosecution.
“Recent events in Paris have seen Chelsea fans united in their contempt for a mindless few. Chelsea is proud of the diversity within our club and our vision embraces equality regardless of race, gender, sexuality, disability or religion.”
BRENDAN ROGERS UNHAPPY WITH LIVERPOOL’S EARLY KICKOFF
Liverpool will host Manchester City in the earliest match of the day on Sunday, which has left manager Brendan Rogers none too happy.
Seeing that Liverpool face off against Besiktas in Turkey on Thursday in a Europa League clash, Rogers would have preferred a later kickoff time for the English Premier League fixture to allow his side more rest.
“They will not rest much going back on the plane, with the adrenaline still flowing after a game,” Rogers told The Liverpool Echo. “They will not sleep so well. Friday will be about rest. Then we prepare Saturday, game Sunday.”
Manchester City also played a midweek game, but the Blues were at home against Barcelona on Tuesday, giving them two days extra to prepare and recover ahead of Sunday’s match.
In anticipation of the quick turnaround, Rogers left some of his players – Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson – behind in England.
TYLER BLACKETT EXTENDS CONTRACT WITH MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United has continued to sign its young players to contract extensions.
Tyler Blackett is the latest Manchester United player to extend his stay, as the club announced Thursday that he had signed a new contract that keeps him at Old Trafford until at least June 2017, with an option for an additional year.
The 20-year-old English defender has made 10 appearances since debuting against Swansea on the opening day of this season.
“I am delighted that Tyler has signed a new contract,” manager Louis van Gaal said. “He is another young player that has risen through the Academy system to break into the first-team squad this season. Tyler has great potential and I believe he is at the right club to continue his development and progression to become a great defender.”
Blackett’s extension comes just two weeks after fellow defender Paddy McNair signing a new deal. Left back and midfielder Reece James, who has been playing with the club’s U-21 side, also signed a new deal with Manchester United on Thursday.
QUICK KICKS
Southampton defender Toby Alderweireld is nearing a return from a hamstring injury. (REPORT)
Dunkin’ Donuts has apologized after tweeting an edited version of Liverpool’s club crest. (REPORT)
Nani has not heard from Louis van Gaal and is uncertain about his future at Manchester United after loan spell. (REPORT)
Defender Mamadou Sakho has returned to Liverpool training after hip injury. (REPORT)
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What do you think of Dortmund’s bomb scare? How do you feel about Chelsea’s warning to supporters? Does Rogers have the right to be unhappy with the EPL schedule?
Share your thoughts below.
Chelsea and West Ham disgust me with their anti-Semitism. The ultimate irony is both of their owners are freaking Jewish! How can their owners not stop this
Wow that bomb headline is super misleading given what’s going on in the world today and what actually happened here.
Hopefully people don’t live their lives based on headlines, and instead just read on a little bit more.
It’s a tad sensationalist. The title is already a runon so why not “WWII bomb” or “old bomb” that way I don’t think ISIS or AQ is trying to bomb soccer stadia now. This is more like archaeology than the way we talk about bomb now. Yes, people should read, but what about communicating just the facts?
Kind of like, my local paper does clickbait breaking news emails. They will tell you the verdict is in but not what it was. It might make better business but it is less effective news communication
Why is it misleading? It is factual. Granted, including WW II would have been more descriptive but what actually happened was exactly what I had expected based on the headline.
It makes sense after you read it, but my first thought was terror related.