By Andrew Warshaw
August 9 – The traditional curtain-raiser to the English Premier League season, the Community Shield, is being switched to Villa Park from Wembley this Sunday as the national stadium will not be ready to host the event.
The Premier League champions, Manchester City, face the winners of the FA Cup, Chelsea, on Sunday (August 12) but Wembley staff will not have enough time to prepare the stadium after the final of the 2012 Olympic Games men’s tournament played the previous afternoon.
Brazil’s presence in the Olympic final, against Mexico, means that Chelsea fans will be denied a sight of one of their new signings, Oscar (pictured below, left, playing in the London 2012 Brazil v South Korea match), who completed his transfer from Internacional of Porto Alegre during the Games.
Surprisingly perhaps, City have yet to add to their star-studded roster during the close season while Chelsea, in addition to Oscar, have bought Belgian star Eden Hazard from Lille for £32 million ($50 million/€40 million).
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734851823labto1734851823ofdlr1734851823owedi1734851823sni@w1734851823ahsra1734851823w.wer1734851823dna1734851823