<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/milan/">AC Milan</a> is gearing up to commemorate its&nbsp;125th anniversary, marking over a century of soccer excellence. Founded on December 16, 1899, the Rossoneri have planned a series of grand celebrations, including a star-studded match against Genoa at the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/tears-of-joy-in-my-first-visit-to-san-siro-20231105-WST-466908.html">iconic San Siro stadium</a>. However, while fans anticipate a gathering of legends, the absence of key figures such as&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/paolo-maldini/">Paolo Maldini</a>,&nbsp;Kaka,&nbsp;and Andriy Shevchenko,&nbsp;has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions among supporters.



The festivities include several tributes to Milan’s illustrious history. Players will don a&nbsp;special retro kit, designed to pay homage to the club’s legacy, during the Serie A clash against Genoa. Ahead of the match, a pre-game ceremony is set to feature a host of former stars, including Alessandro Costacurta, Clarence Seedorf, Frank Rijkaard, and Marco van Basten, among others.



The event is expected to be a nostalgic journey for fans, bringing back memories of Milan’s dominance in both Italian and European soccer. As the Italians celebrate their storied past, the club has ensured that fans feel connected to its history by inviting several of its iconic players.



<h2>Notable absences make fans speculate about American ownership</h2>



Despite the excitement surrounding the event, the absence of some of Milan’s greatest legends, particularly Paolo Maldini, has cast a shadow over the celebrations. According to reports from&nbsp;Calciomercato.com, the 56-year-old rejected the club’s invitation to attend the match.



The legendary defender, who holds the record for the most appearances (901) for the Rossoneri, has had a rocky relationship with the club in recent years. After retiring as a player in 2009, Maldini returned in an executive role and played a pivotal part in the Serie A giants’&nbsp;2021-22 Scudetto-winning campaign. However, his tenure ended abruptly in June 2023 when he and sporting director Ricky Massara were dismissed from their roles—a decision that drew sharp criticism from fans and the media. This unresolved tension likely influenced Maldini’s decision to skip the celebration.



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The Milan legends that are expected to attend the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations: Marco van Basten Ruud Gullit Frank Rijkaard Alexandre Pato Clarence Seedorf Filippo Inzaghi Christian Abbiati Pietro Paolo Virdis Filippo Galli Alberico Evani Mauro Tassotti Roberto Donadoni… <a href="https://t.co/YHI7Fa4MCu">pic.twitter.com/YHI7Fa4MCu</a>— Milan Eye (@MilanEye) <a href="https://twitter.com/MilanEye/status/1867882534891119070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 14, 2024</a></blockquote></div>



<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/kaka/">Kaka</a>, another beloved figure in Milan’s history, is also missing from the lineup. According to&nbsp;RadioRossonera, the Brazilian star recently returned from Japan and opted to spend time with his family ahead of Christmas. Meanwhile,&nbsp;Andriy Shevchenko&nbsp;and&nbsp;Franco Baresi, two other icons closely associated with Milan’s glory days, have not been confirmed for the event either. However, since Baresi is an employee of the club, one can safely anticipate his presence.



While fans are thrilled to see a large roster of the Red and Blacks’ greats, the absence of Maldini, Kaka, and others has left many disappointed. Social media platforms are abuzz with speculation and reactions, with some fans expressing sadness over the apparent disconnect between Maldini and his boyhood club. Even worse, American owner Gerry Cardinale will also not be attending the special game. Surely, if he skips it, it will spark even more controversy on social media.



<h2>Night of remembrance</h2>



Despite these absences, Milan’s 125th-anniversary celebration promises to be a memorable affair. With appearances from legends like&nbsp;Ruud Gullit,&nbsp;Filippo Inzaghi, and&nbsp;Roberto Donadoni, and a packed San Siro paying homage to the club’s rich history, the event is set to reinforce Milan’s enduring legacy in world soccer.



Meanwhile, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/christian-pulisic/">Christian Pulisic</a>‘s injury will unfortunately prevent him from participating in the game. The US national team player has given Milan’s offense a spark of inspiration and a new goalscorer. But he won’t be able to play again at least until late December due to a ripped calf muscle he sustained against Atalanta. However, the 26-year-old is <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/who-will-step-up-in-milans-tactical-shift-how-paulo-fonseca-plans-to-replace-christian-pulisic-after-injury/">anticipated to be fit</a> for January 3’s Italian Super Cup quarterfinal vs Juventus.

Trouble at Cristian Pulisic's Milan? Why Maldini, Kaka, and Shevchenko won't attend 125th anniversary celebrations

Trouble at Cristian Pulisic's Milan? Why Maldini, Kaka, and Shevchenko won't attend 125th anniversary celebrations - World Soccer Talk

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Ukrainian hero Andriy Shevchenko has been in the spotlight since becoming President of the Ukraine Football Association in late January. Yet, the former striker is doing more than managing the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/ukraine-national-team-tv-schedule">soccer of Ukraine</a>. He is addressing the long-standing problem of referee prejudice.



Several people felt strongly about the selection of <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/andriy-shevchenko-ex-ukraine-star-plotting-euro-2020-success-as-coach-20210628-CMS-338308.html">Shevchenko</a> as president of the Ukrainian Football Association. The 47-year-old allegedly took over after he tried to have his godfather and predecessor, Pavelko, removed from office.



After just a few months as his replacement, Shevchenko is finally doing something daring to clear Ukrainian domestic soccer of the suspected corruption that has dogged it. To make officiating more open and credible, he is pushing for domestic referees to be subject to lie-detector testing.



“We see the polygraph as an opportunity to obtain clearer information, to understand which referees can do the job and which ones cannot… Information that will help us start from scratch,” he revealed, via <a href="https://www.corriere.it/sport/calcio/24_aprile_17/shevchenko-ucraina-macchina-verita-arbitri-0aa2748c-fcab-11ee-aae1-e680bdf66643_amp.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Corriere</a>.



He went on to say that, going forward, any referees who do not pass the polygraph would not be able to officiate games. <a href="https://theathletic.com/5410934/2024/04/16/ukraine-polygraph-referee-andriy-shevchenko/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Athletic</a> further states that the ex-striker’s novel suggestion goes beyond the use of polygraphs.



The present approach takes into account things like match significance, experience and refereeing abilities. He plans to replace it with a random selection mechanism. He intends to radically alter the referee appointment process.



The ongoing accusations of match-fixing have severely damaged the image of Ukrainian soccer. Thus, this suggested move is a part of Shevchenko’s larger effort to clean up the sport and restore its integrity.



<h2>Shevchenko to save Ukrainian soccer with polygraph tests?</h2>



Given Shevchenko’s unparalleled position in Ukrainian culture and sport, his participation is crucial; especially, in restoring public trust in the country’s corrupt past. Also, the newly appointed chairman of the referee committee for the Ukrainian FA, Kateryna Monzul, is an important person in the field. This group is in charge of the random selection process and the polygraph exams.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240419_WST_502129_Ukraine-referees-1200x670_fb364355.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-502173" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Ukraine-referees-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Ukraine-referees-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Ukraine-referees-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/04/Ukraine-referees.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



Throughout her very successful career as a referee, Monzul was chosen as the top female official in the world in 2015. The first female referee to do so, she presided over three women’s World Cups, the Ukrainian men’s Premier League, men’s <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">World Cup</a> qualifications, Europa League and Nations League matches.



Trust in the esteemed Monzul is rather strong, yet again. She took over for the Italian Luciano Lucci, who had been in charge since 2015.



<h2>Mixed feelings about the idea</h2>



There was considerable resistance to Andriy Shevchenko and his polygraph tests at the notion’s first discussion last year. Volodymyr Sharan, the former manager of FC Minaj in the Ukrainian Premier League, <a href="https://theathletic.com/5410934/2024/04/16/ukraine-polygraph-referee-andriy-shevchenko/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a>: “Well, that’s too much, I’m sorry. This is control.



“The human factor will always be present, there will (always) be some kind of mistake, you can’t get away from this, but there is VAR insurance. Let’s check the football players and team coaches (instead). We will arrive three hours before the game and pass all the lie detector tests.”



On the other hand, others see it as a step in the right direction. 



“It can make refereeing fairer,” former FIFA referee from Ukraine Myroslav Stupar said. “Sometimes arguments can break out between referees and representatives of certain clubs, so it is worth noting that in some games these referees do not judge the matches of the teams with which the conflict arose. I believe that Kateryna Monzul will fix it.”



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

Revolutionary plan to put end to dishonest referees revealed

Referee dishonesty and match-fixing continue to plague Ukrainian soccer, but Andriy Shevchenko wants to use polygraph tests as defense.

<div id="attachment_2007" style="width: 330px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div>Photo courtesy of izalldos</div>
Tuesday and Wednesday brought about Match Day 2 in the UEFA Champions League, and the four representatives from Spain had interesting ties that helped shape their respective groups.&nbsp; On Tuesday, Sevilla FC visited Rangers FC at the Ibrox Stadium, where the European night atmosphere is second to none, buoying their beloved Gers, and FC Barcelona hosted FK Dynamo Kyiv at the Camp Nou, where both teams headed into this clash with undefeated records in both league and in Europe.&nbsp; On Wednesday, Real Madrid faced Olympique de Marseille at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Gabriel Heinze and Fernando Morientes played against their former employers in white, and Atlético Madrid tried to forget their domestic troubles at the Estádio do Dragão against FC Porto.
Rangers knocked Sevilla on their heels in the first half, keeping up with Sevilla’s passing football as well as using their robust style to wear down the opposition.&nbsp; The height of the half culminated in the 36th minute, when Abdoulay Konko tackled Steven Naismith inside the penalty area, and referee Jonas Eriksson continued play.&nbsp; There was little doubt about the legitimacy of Naismith’s claim for a penalty, as Konko made no contact with the ball and clearly took out the ankle of Naismith.
Up to that point, Rangers was even with Sevilla, but a pivotal call, or non-call in this case, changes the momentum of a match, and instead of a likely 1-0 to the home side and an extra boost to an already rapturous Ibrox crowd, Sevilla rode its bit of luck and scored four goals in a span of twenty-four minutes in the second half to secure the three points and seize control of Group G.&nbsp; Rangers would ruin Andrés Palop’s clean sheet in the 88th minute by a Nacho Novo strike, a goal fully deserved for their valiant performance, but Sevilla is the class of this group and should cruise to first place at the end of the group stage.
Even though Barcelona was at home and dominated their five games in La Liga, they were wary of Dynamo Kyiv and their attacking threats of Oleh Husyev, Andriy Shevchenko and Artem Milevskiy.&nbsp; Dynamo remained competitive for the opening fifteen minutes, but eventually the Barcelona Way overshadowed any attempt of Kyiv to produce any significant buildup play.&nbsp; When Dynamo had possession, either Barcelona took it away quickly, or they resorted to long balls.&nbsp; Barcelona forced them out of character, as they do with most teams, and their possession strategy created a plethora of chances, two of which they converted for a simple 2-0 win.&nbsp; The blaugrana will not be amused with their abnormal amount of giveaways or the lack of finishing that could have spelled another two to three goals, but a solid team effort and a comfortable 2-0 win sends Barcelona to the top of the group.
Real Madrid and Manuel Pellegrini tweaked the formation and lineup for Wednesday evening’s fixture with Marseille by forming a three-man front line with the three big signings of the offseason: Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kaká.&nbsp; With Guti behind the three as the roaming creative force, there was no room for Raúl in the starting XI.&nbsp; At the moment, Pellegrini’s rotational policy has not created any problems in the dressing room, and if they continue to win, the players will continue to buy into him.&nbsp; It is clear that Pellegrini does not quite have the grasp of how to shape this Madrid team in the best way possible as of yet, and the first forty-five minutes showed a work in progress despite its blistering start domestically.&nbsp; A combination of Marseille’s work rate and discipline and Real Madrid’s tentativeness and lack of understanding within the attacking trio led to a dull first half.&nbsp; In spite of a 57/43 possession ratio in favor of Los Blancos, Marseille was on equal footing, canceled out Madrid for the most part, and generated chances of their own.
Similar to the Sevilla-Rangers match, where Sevilla changed the momentum in a short time gap, Real Madrid tallied three times in a span of six minutes, including a penalty resulting from a second yellow card for Marseille central defender Souleymane Diawara that sealed any chance for Marseille to play their way back into the match.&nbsp; Replays showed that Diawara made contact with the ball first, but the apparent severity of the challenge on Ronaldo forced referee Martin Hansson to flash the yellow card and send Diawara off.&nbsp; With AC Milan suffering a shock 0-1 defeat at the San Siro by the hands of FC Zürich, Real Madrid has complete control of Group C. &nbsp; This season, Madrid has had a tendency to let the opposition hang around and not step on their throats when they have the chance, but as the chemistry continues to develop and the familiarity increases, expect Real to salt these types of games away sooner and with more verve.
Poor Atlético Madrid.&nbsp; They need some alone time to figure out their problems and deficiencies.&nbsp; In the limelight of the Champions League and La Liga, however, all their frailties are shown for everyone to see, and they cannot hide.&nbsp; Their Champions League matchup with FC Porto could not come at a better time.&nbsp; Already struggling in the league, Atlético saw this match as an opportunity to leave their past troubles behind and start anew.&nbsp; Even though Porto was a quality side who advanced to the quarterfinals of the Champions League last season by defeating Atlético on the away goals rule, a positive result could spark a much-needed boost within the team.
An ominous sign came in the 26th minute when an apparent groin injury to backup goalkeeper Roberto forced manager Abel Resino to substitute in eighteen-year-old Atlético Madrid product David de Gea for his first senior appearance.&nbsp; Through the first 70+ minutes, the match was lively yet scrappy with much congestion in the midfield.&nbsp; Porto had the slight edge, but there was hardly anything between them.&nbsp; Then a slice a magic engineered by Porto swung the match in their favor.
In the 75th minute, Falcao scored an incredible goal to take the 1-0 lead.&nbsp; Raul Meireles started the move with a pinged cross-field ball to Hulk in the box.&nbsp; Hulk then blasted his shot at the right near post but de Gea brushed it aside.&nbsp; The rebound came straight back to Hulk, however, but he completely mishit it.&nbsp; He was able to recover, settle the ball, and square a pass to Falcao, who attempted a daring back heel and converted the shot to take a late 1-0 lead.&nbsp; Los Colchoneros did not convalesce and eventually conceded a second goal to suffer another defeat.&nbsp; Now they have to travel to Stamford Bridge to confront an in-form Chelsea team who will look to secure a likely spot into the knockout stages with a win over Atlético on Match Day 3.&nbsp; Abel Resino did get a public vote of confidence from the Atlético brass, but that kind of endorsement usually means very little, and more results like this will lead to his sacking sooner rather than later.

La Liga in the UEFA Champions League: A Recap - World Soccer Talk

La Liga in the UEFA Champions League: A Recap

Serie A Talk readers have probably noticed the headline change but I’ve changed more than that. After some deliberation I trashed the first post on ‘Shevchenko’s Triumphant Return’ as Andriy hasn’t been triumphant since&nbsp;leaving Milan and it looked likely he wasn’t going to find an opening to return or showed a desire to do so until very recently.
Milan management, in need of striking experience, has helped bring the prodigal son home and that is a much better title, now on to the pictures. I’ve uploaded new pictures as I wasn’t happy with the originals.
Here are several photos made available by&nbsp;AC Milan’s official website, acmilan.com
<a title="sheva-at-milan-airport03" href="http:\/\/www.serieatalk.com/ac-milans-prodigal-son-returns/237/sheva-at-milan-airport03/" rel="attachment wp-att-238"></a><div><figure class="image"><a title="sheva-at-milan-airport03" href="http:\/\/www.serieatalk.com/ac-milans-prodigal-son-returns/237/sheva-at-milan-airport03/" rel="attachment wp-att-238"></a></figure></div>
Training at the Milanello training centre and greeting old teammates, supporters, friends
<a title="shevchenko-welcome (acmilan.com)" href="http:\/\/www.serieatalk.com/ac-milans-prodigal-son-returns/237/shevchenko-welcome-acmilancom/" rel="attachment wp-att-236"></a><div><figure class="image"><a title="shevchenko-welcome (acmilan.com)" href="http:\/\/www.serieatalk.com/ac-milans-prodigal-son-returns/237/shevchenko-welcome-acmilancom/" rel="attachment wp-att-236"><img loading="lazy" style="width: 559px; height: 395px;" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20080829_WST_64000_sheva-welcomed-home.webp&amp;width=535&amp;height=372" alt="shevchenko-welcome (acmilan.com)" width="535" height="372"></a></figure></div>
Hello from Captain <a title="Paolo Maldini - player profile" href="http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Maldini" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paolo Maldini</a>, embrace from Manager <a title="Carlo Ancelotti - manager profile" href="http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Ancelotti" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Carlo Ancelotti</a>
<a title="sheva-milan training with ronaldinho" href="http:\/\/www.serieatalk.com/ac-milans-prodigal-son-returns/237/sheva-milan-training-with-ronaldinho/" rel="attachment wp-att-239"></a><div><figure class="image"><a title="sheva-milan training with ronaldinho" href="http:\/\/www.serieatalk.com/ac-milans-prodigal-son-returns/237/sheva-milan-training-with-ronaldinho/" rel="attachment wp-att-239"><img src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20080829_WST_64000_sheva-milan-training-with-ronaldinho.webp&amp;width=500&amp;height=310" alt="sheva-milan training with ronaldinho"></a></figure></div>
Finally, Andriy meeting new teammate <a title="Ronaldinho - player profile" href="http:\/\/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronaldinho" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ronaldinho</a>
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