Photo: Earl Gardner

New security protocol at all MLS venues beginning on Saturday

The Union and MLS have announced new security measures for entrance into Talen Energy Stadium and stadiums throughout the league. Beginning with this Saturday’s game against NYCFC, all visitors will now be screened with a search wand and new bag restrictions have been put into place. As a result, Talen Energy Stadium will now open 90 minutes before kickoff.

While special exemptions will be made for parents caring for infants and people with special medical needs, the new bag restrictions include:

• Large purses
• Coolers
• Briefcases
• Backpacks
• Luggage of any kind
• Computer bags
• Camera bags
• Any bag larger than 14’’x 14’’x 6’’

The new security measures will apply to “all MLS, SUM, and USL games played at MLS venues, including but not limited to MLS League and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup games, friendly matches, and fan events.”

Bottom line: Plan on queueing up to enter Talen Energy Stadium earlier than you have in the past. More at PSP, Brotherly Game, and ESPN.

Philadelphia Union

Jim Curtin’s weekly press conference is scheduled for today at 12:30 pm.

Vote Andre Blake for Save of the Week! (I just noticed it says “You can vote once an hour” on the Full Bracket page but I’m not sure if that only means for the final.)

Blake came in at No. 14 in the top 20 of the latest Audi MLS Player Index.

Power rankings! At MLSsoccer.com, the Union drop one spot to No. 6: “Came close to getting a result after going cross-country and being a down a man. In years past, Union teams might have put up a lesser fight.” At SBI, the Union drops two spots to No. 8: “Consistency has been far from the Union’s strength this season, as a back-and-forth campaign continued with another loss. Roland Alberg’s 53rd-minute red card complicated matters, but, even in defeat, there were positives to take away. Josh Yaro looked good in his debut, and Andre Blake continues to shine for a Union team that just needs to put a string of results together.”

The latest injury report on the league website:

OUT: M Maurice Edu (left tibia stress reaction 3/10, out 3-4 months) – READ
M Ilsinho (left hamstring strain)
D Ken Tribbett (right ankle sprain)

We’ll get an update during Curtin’s weekly presser.

More on Josh Yaro’s MLS debut at Philly Soccer News.

In the latest Inside Doop, Dave Zeitlin looks ahead to Saturday’s game against NYCFC and wonders who will replace the suspended Roland Alberg, and if Ken Tribbett has recovered from the ankle sprain that kept him out of the Seattle game.

At Brotherly Game, Jared Young wonders if the cross-happy days of the Union are now a thing of the past. Young also has his weekly player ratings comparison.

Section 215 says Jim Curtin needs to protect players and the team by subbing them out if they are in danger of receiving a second yellow. “He also needs to have discussions with the entire team in regards to discipline.”

A post at the Union website on the team’s involvement in the inaugural Philadelphia International Unity Cup notes YSC/Union Academy and Philadelphia Union Foundation will also be involved in preparations for the tournament, with YSC/Union Academy hosting a youth all-star game in conjunction with the Philadelphia International Unity Cup final. Said Union CBO Tim McDermott, “When we learned of Mayor Kenney’s intentions, we didn’t hesitate to jump in with both feet to support it. Our entire organization, from our Technical Staff to our front office will be involved, to ensure this first tournament is a great success and becomes an annual event.”

Former Union Man Chris Konopka is on trial with Heart of Midlothian, currently third place in the Scottish Premier League. You will recall Konopka was recently signed to a month-long contract by Ross County, the SPL team whose website was apparently accidentally deleted over the weekend.

Bethlehem Steel FC

Eric Ayuk has been named to USLsoccer.com’s Team of the Week after his one goal and one assist performance in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Richmond Kickers, the team’s first-ever win at Lehigh University’s Goodman Stadium. More at Philadelphia Union.

Derrick Jones’ goal in the win made the league’s highlight reel of the best goals of the week.

At Noise Nation and Unauthorized Bethlehem Steel FC Blog, reports on Sunday’s win. The folks running Bethlehem Steel’s communications and marketing efforts would do well to note the frustration expressed in the Unauthorized Bethlehem Steel FC Blog report and its comments.

Philadelphia Union Academy

Union Academy midfielder Michael Pellegrino has been called up by the US U-16 BNT for the Tournament Delle Nazioni in Italy. With the US in Group C are Croatia (April 25), Slovenia (April 26), and Brazil (April 27). The US won the tournament last year.

Local

Pulisic!

Harrisburg City Islanders midfielder Cardel Benbow has been named to the USLsoccer.com Team of the Week after scoring the gamewinner in the City Islanders’ 1-0 win over Orlando City B on Saturday, the team’s first win of the season. Former Union man Chandler Hoffman was named Player of the Week after scoring a hat trick in Louisville City’s 3-2 comeback win over FC Cincinnati. A goal from Hoffman, as well as a Cincinnati goal from fellow former Union man Austin Berry, made the league’s highlight reel of the best goals of the week.

Also at USLsoccer.com, an article on Bobby Warshaw’s return from playing abroad to play for Harrisburg City Islanders.

Brotherly Game has a recap of last weekend’s road win over Orlando City B.

MLS

Giovani dos Santos was named MLSsoccer.com’s Player of the Week. He scored two goals and an assist in LAG’s 4-1 thumping of Houston.

Colorado’s Marco Pappa is out 2-4 weeks with a MCL sprain. Hey, at least it’s not a stab wound from an ex-beauty queen and Lingerie Football League player.

PRO head Peter Walton tells Orlando Sentinel he’s advocating for video replays to be used in MLS. “I’m for video replay and have been one of the ones banging the drum for it. I think it would make our referees more comfortable and more confident…Soccer has a ways to go to catch up with other major sports around the world.”

At Brotherly Game, Eugene Rupinski on how the CBA is holding back MLS teams from CONCACAF Champions League success.

MLive on scepticism in Detroit about Don Garber including that city in his recent comments about potential MLS expansion cities.

Despite reports to the contrary, sources tell SBI New York Cosmos “are not actively pursuing” Francesco Totti.

At the USL website, a look at the boost in attendance so far this year.

US

Official: The USWNT will host Japan in Cleveland on June 5 (12:30 pm, ESPN2). The 2015 Women’s World Cup finalists will meet before that game at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. on June 2 (9 pm, FS1).

Soccer United Marketing (SUM) president Kathy Carter talks to SportsPro about commercial preparations for the Copa MAerica Centenario.

At SI, another excerpt from American Huckster: How Chuck Blazer Got Rich From—and Sold Out—the Most Powerful Cabal in World Sports. You can read it along with the excerpt Vice Sports posted last Friday.

Elsewhere

The AP reports, “France’s government is calling for a two-month extension of the state of emergency that was declared after the deadly Nov. 13 attacks in Paris to cover the European Championship.” The extension would also cover the Tour de France.

From the AP: “Video replays could be used at the 2018 World Cup, new FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Tuesday.” The AP report includes this curious passage about concerns over “Russia’s law prohibiting gay ‘propaganda'”:

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who was sitting beside Infantino, defended the gay propaganda law, saying that “no one has been persecuted, no one is persecuted.”

Infantino pointed to Mutko and said: “Your answer, straight and direct. Welcome, it’s an open and welcoming country.”

Ahem.

The AP reports, “Turkish authorities on Tuesday detained 38 people suspected of ‘framing’ soccer team Fenerbahce’s players and directors in a match-fixing investigation in 2011, as the government pressed ahead with a crackdown on supporters of a U.S.-based Muslim cleric…Fenerbahce has long maintained that the case was orchestrated by prosecutors and police affiliated with Fethullah Gulen’s moderate Islamic movement as part of an alleged bid to take control of one of Turkey’s top clubs.”