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Monday Kickoff: Messi wins Golden Boot, EPL ref facing racism accusations, and more

By FRANCO PANIZO

Leo Messi can add yet another piece of hardware to his stacked trophy case.

Messi was presented with his second Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals in a European league last season. The 25-year-old scored a La Liga-record 50 goals for Barcelona in 2011-2012, which was four more than Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Argentine striker won his first Golden Boot in 2010 following his 34-goal season that helped Barcelona win the La Liga title that year and he is among the favorites to win the 2012 Ballon d’Or.

Messi currently has 13 goals in nine games for first-place Barcelona this season.

Here are more stories from around the world of soccer:

EPL REF FACING RACISM CLAIMS

Referee Mark Clattenburg may have sent off two of Chelsea’s players in their 3-2 loss to Manchester United this weekend, but that is not the biggest talking point surrounding him right now.

Clattenburg is set to be investigated by the FA after Chelsea accused him of using ‘inappropriate language’ towards two of their players in Sunday’s game. Clattenburg is being accused of making racist remarks at multiple Chelsea players, but he is expected to cooperate with any investigation into his conduct.

LATE EQUALIZER SEES BOCA JUNIORS TIE RIVER PLATE

Boca Juniors left it until late, but they grabbed a dramatic equalizer in the final moments of their match again rivals River Plate on Sunday. Walter Erviti netted the tying goal almost at the death, helping Boca Juniors earn a 2-2 draw against River Plate in the South American Superclasico played in River’s Monumental. The goal capped a Boca Juniors rally that started with a 76th minute penalty kick from Santiago Silva.

BUFFON NEARS NEW JUVENTUS DEAL

Gianluigi Buffon will be be playing with Juventus for the foreseeable future. The Italian goalkeeper is expected to sign a contract extension that will keep him at the club until 2016. The 34-year-old World Cup winner has been with Juventus for more than a decade, having joined from Parma in 2001.

GERRARD BLAST LINESMAN FOR BOTCHED CALL

Liverpool settling for a 2-2 draw against rivals Everton after being up 2-0 is almost as bad as it can get for the Reds, and Steven Gerrard made his unhappiness about the result known by criticizing a linesman. Gerrard blasted the assistant referee who called off what would’ve likely been a Luis Suarez winner for offside despite replays showing the Liverpool striker was well on. Gerrard also criticized the head match official for Liverpool not earning a throw-in prior to the Toffes’ equalizing goal.

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What do you think of Messi winning the Golden Boot? Shocked by the Clattenburg-Chelsea situation? Impressed with Boca Juniors’ 2-2 draw with River Plate? Do you see Buffon ending his career at Juventus?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Two botched calls this weekend, one in the Merseyside Derby and one in the ManU Chelsea match. Both made a difference in the match result. The EPL needs to take a page out of the American sports playbook and institute instant replay. It’s a dead ball either way, so why not?

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  2. He may have won the award but is that seriously what they look like? I wouldn’t be hanging that anywhere people would see looks like acceptable art for the bathroom.

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  3. I find it so hard to believe that a referee who deals with angry people and defusing tense situations for a living would get drawn into making a racist comment. I’ll be interested to see exactly what he is alleged to have said.

    If Clattenburg used some profanity toward the players that is not grounded in race, I think I will applaud him. I’m so tired of the wild-eyed abuse some of these players dish out.

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