Inquiry opened into Luis Suárez's Italian language test Burkina Faso striker Traore leaves Lyon for Aston Villa

Authorities are investigating whether Barcelona striker Luis Suárez was illegally helped to pass an Italian language exam last week in order to receive a European passport that could help him transfer to a new club. While Suárez is not under investigation, the director and general director of the Perugia university where the Uruguay forward took the exam are being investigated for allegedly helping him pass the test, Italian reports said Tuesday.

Suárez had been linked with a possible move to Italian champion Juventus. Suárez's test grade was allegedly fixed before he took the test. Suarez is from Uruguay but has Italian ancestors. If he can obtain Italian citizenship, he wouldn't have to occupy a non-EU spot with a new club.

Roma handed 3-0 loss for using ineligible player

Roma was issued a 3-0 loss to Hellas Verona by Serie A's disciplinary judge on Tuesday for using an ineligible player. The match -- the league opener for both teams -- ended 0-0 on Saturday. Midfielder Amadou Diawara started the match but was not listed on Roma's 25-man team list. Diawara, who turned 23 in July, was no longer eligible for Roma Under-22s like last season. The game was Roma's first under new owners, after the Texas-based Friedkin Group took control of the club from fellow American James Pallotta last month. Also, Verona coach Ivan Jurić was fined 5,000 euros (nearly $6,000) for having "inferred directions to his team on multiple occasions" even though he was suspended for the match.

Monfils out, Bautista through in 1st round in Hamburg

Third-seeded Gael Monfils was eliminated in the first round of the Hamburg European Open on Tuesday, losing 6-4, 6-3 to 103rd-ranked Yannick Hanfmann. Hanfmann needed just 1 hour, 13 minutes to wrap up the win and the German will next face Cristian Garin, who swept past Kei Nishikori 6-0, 6-3. Fourth-seeded Roberto Bautista-Agut won 6-4, 6-3 against Nikoloz Basilashvili to set up a second-round meeting with Dominik Koepfer. Fabio Fognini built up momentum after a slow start to oust Philipp Kohlschreiber 4-6, 6-1, 7-5. The sixth-seeded Italian will play either Casper Ruud or Benoit Paire in the second round.

Aston Villa has signed Burkina Faso forward Bertrand Traore from French top-flight club Lyon subject to international clearance, the Premier League club announced on Saturday. Lyon said the fee was 18.4 million euros (around 17 million pounds/$21.9 million), with an additional 2.2 million euros (2 million pounds/$2.6 million) in bonuses and the club receiving 15% of a profitable future sale. "We're delighted that Bertrand has chosen to come to Villa," manager Dean Smith said. "He's a player with immense talent who will really enhance our attacking options." Traore began his career with Villa's Premier League rivals Chelsea and has also had loan spells with Dutch clubs Vitesse Arnhem and Ajax.