News Roundups are posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning with quick hits on what you may have missed and what is still to come in The Beautiful Game.

Here’s what you may have missed, what is developing, and what is still to come. Here’s to helping bring you, the fan, up to speed, Ahead of the Game, and most importantly, get you over the Wednesday hump.

Wednesday’s News Roundup:

Philadelphia Union

Mandatory Reading

If you haven’t already, make sure to give Matt DeGeorge’s latest article for the Daily Times a read. DeGeorge interviewed the key figures in the Philadelphia Union’s stadium deal in his two-part story.

From the Inbox: Schedule For This Week

Philadelphia Union announced their training schedule for the week. The club is off from MLS play this weekend and will remain in Chester to train. Jim Curtin will take to the podium for his weekly press conference on Thursday, March 8 at 12:30 P.M.

Major League Soccer

Ohio Attorney General, City of Columbus File Suit 

In an effort to keep Columbus Crew SC from relocating to Austin, Texas, the Ohio attorney general and the City of Columbus have filed a lawsuit against Major League Soccer and Crew SC owners Precourt Sports Ventures.

Filed on Monday, the suit cites untested legislation known as the “Modell Law,” which was passed in 1996. Modell was passed in response to former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell moving the franchise to Baltimore.

MLS Miami Suggests Golf Course For Stadium 

Miami’s search for a stadium site has taken a new course.

On Monday, the Miami Herald reported that David Beckham’s ownership group is considering the city-owned Melreese Golf Course as a potential location for an MLS stadium site.

In Form — Barnes’ Matchweek 1 Power Rankings 

Matchweek 1 is in the books. Philly Football Daily MLS contributor Noah Barnes has taken note of results and performances from Opening Weekend, ranking the Matchweek’s Top-10 clubs in his new column, In Form.

Check em: In Form — Barnes’ MLS Power Rankings: Matchweek 1

US Soccer

Gulati Out as Chairman of United Bid Committee

On Tuesday, former United States Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati announced he will be stepping aside as chairman of the United Bid Committee, the joint group working to bring the 2026 World Cup to North America.

Gulati will remain on the United Bid Committee’s board of directors.

Global 

Riccardo Saponara Pens Emotional Letter For Teammate 

Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Saponara wrote a beautiful letter to teammate and club captain Davide Astori, who died Sunday at the age of 31. Saponara posted his heartfelt message in an Instagram post on Monday.

Astori underwent an autopsy on Tuesday, which ruled out manslaughter and confirmed the defender’s death was due to natural causes. It was determined that Astori had an abnormally low-resting heart rate.

O capitano, mio capitano. Perché non sei sceso a fare colazione insieme a tutti noi? Perché non sei passato a riprendere le tue scarpe fuori dalla camera di Marco e non sei venuto a bere la tua solita spremuta d'arancia? Ora ci diranno che la vita scorre, che lo sguardo va puntato in avanti e dovremo rialzarci, ma che sapore avrà la tua assenza? Chi arriverà ogni mattina in mensa a riscaldare l'ambiente con il proprio sorriso? Chi ci chiederà incuriosito ciò che abbiamo fatto la sera precedente per riderci su? Chi sgriderà i più giovani e chi responsabilizzerà i più esperti? Chi formerà il cerchio per giocare a "due tocchi" o chi farà ammattire Marco alla play? Con chi dibatteremo sulle puntate di Masterchef, i ristoranti fiorentini, le serie TV o le partite disputate? Su chi appoggerò la mia spalla a pranzo dopo un allenamento estenuante? Torna dai, devi ancora finire di vedere LaLaLand per poterlo analizzare come ogni film appena uscito. Torna a Firenze, ti attendono in sede per rinnovare il contratto e riconoscerti il bene e la positività che doni quotidianamente a tutti noi. Esci da quella maledetta stanza, ti aspettiamo domani alla ripresa degli allenamenti. Nella vita ci sono persone che conosci da sempre con le quali non legherai mai, poi ci sono i Davide che ti entrano immediatamente dentro con un semplice "Benvenuto a Firenze Ricky". Ovunque tu sia ora, continua a difendere la nostra porta e dalle retrovie illuminaci il giusto cammino. O capitano, mio capitano. Per sempre mio capitano.

A post shared by Riccardo Saponara (@rickinara) on Mar 5, 2018 at 3:35am PST

Here’s the English translation:

Oh captain, my captain. Why did you not come down to have breakfast with us all? Why did you not pick up your shoes from outside of (goalkeeper) Marco Sportiello’s room and then drink your orange juice, as usual?

Now they will tell us that life goes on, that we must look forward and pick ourselves up, but what will your absence taste like? Who will arrive every morning in the cafeteria, warming up everyone with his smile?

Who will ask us about what we did the previous night and have a laugh about it? Who will nurture the youngsters and give a sense of responsibility to the veterans? Who will form the circle to work on our ‘two-touch play’ and who will demolish Marco on the PlayStation?

With whom will we debate about Masterchef, Florence’s restaurants, TV series or games played? Who will I lean on at lunch after a tiring training session? Come on, come back. You still need to finish watching La La Land to analyze like you did with all new movies.

Come back to Florence, they are waiting for you to renew your contract and acknowledge all the good and the positivity that you bring to us on a daily basis. Get out of that damn room, we will be waiting for you tomorrow at training.

In life there are people you’ve known forever but have never bonded with, and then there are the ‘Davides’, who warm to you immediately with a simple ‘Welcome to Florence, Ricky’.

Wherever you are now, keep on defending our goal and enlighten the right path for us from the backline. Oh captain, my captain. Forever, my captain.

PSG to Probe Disturbance at Madrid Hotel

Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly looking into reports of firecrackers being set off outside Real Madrid’s hotel on Monday night ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League match between the two clubs in Paris.

According to Le Parisien, two people were arrested shortly after the incidents that occurred at 1:30 A.M. CET. Chanting and pyrotechnics were conducted outside Madrid’s hotel on the Rue de Courcelles in Paris, apparently in an effort to keep Real players awake.

Madrid won the second leg 2-1 on Tuesday night, with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Casemiro. With the win, Los Blancos sealed their place in the Quarterfinals of the Champions League, advancing 5-2.

Thanks for reading Wednesday’s News Roundup. Check back here, on Friday morning, for the latest happening in The Beautiful Game. Cheers.