Author Archives: Soccer America

RB New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio has called the ingestion of banned substances by goalkeeper Jon Conway and defender Jeff Parke a “genuine mistake,” and said that he and the team have accepted the apologies offered and the remorse that both players have shown. Parke, who like Conway has been suspended for 10 games, […]

“It was endearing to watch the entire Toronto FC team and front office staff congratulating one another on the field after Saturday’s win over Chicago,” writes Ryan Johnston. “But amid the festivities I held a silent vigil for a season lost.” Johnston says it was “excruciating” to think back on the points that Toronto squandered […]

Grahame L. Jones calls for a change of ownership at the Los Angeles Galaxy after another miserable regular season, with the wannabe Superclub missing the playoffs for the third successive season. Owner AEG’s head man, Galaxy President Tim Leiweke, has “tinkered with [the team] to the point where it now bears not the slightest resemblance […]

“He’s done himself a huge favor the way he’s played the last few games. If players are good enough, I’m not bothered about their age.” Toronto FC coach John Carver talks about the prospects of retaining striker Danny Dichio, 34, for another season. Dichio, who suffered a concussion this season, sounds less sure.

“I don’t know exact details of the accusations being made about that game. But I’ll be 100 percent certain that there’s no-one at Norwich City involved.” Norwich City manager Glenn Roeder is extremely confident that none of his players were involved in game-fixing skullduggery hanging over his side’s game with Derby County earlier this month, […]

Surely the self-described Best League In The World doesn’t need to resort to such base measures! But it’s true — in a bid to boost attendance Bolton Wanderers is offering the first 1,000 fans who show up for Saturday’s game against Blackburn Rovers a free beer and cut-price food. Though to be fair to the […]

“I’m sure most of the team is shocked. We’re seeing how it works itself out. I hope there’s some kind of misunderstanding.” RB New York forward John Wolyniec says he too is “shocked” by the revelation that teammates Jon Conway and Jeff Parke have been banned for 10 games and fined 10 percent of their […]

“If [David] Beckham’s U.S. legacy is to be anything more than that of a glorified jersey salesman, then he had better start paying as much attention to the Galaxy and to MLS as he does to winning caps for England. At least the Galaxy will give him some real playing time.” Grahame L. Jones has […]

Italian defender Andrea Barzagli of Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg has praised the German league as more exciting than the Serie A he left in summer, reflecting what many observers of both leagues have long maintained. “The style of play is more spectacular here than it is in Italy,” Barzagli said. “There’s more goals than in […]

There are several paths to fame or notoriety, but few are as unusual as the path unwittingly chosen by Raul Macias, 55. “Don Raul,” as he is known, has become a major player in Los Angeles politics after building a reputation for lobbying for soccer fields in the city’s northeast, writes Hector Becerra. In the […]

South African Transport Minister Jeff Radebe has said the country is “on track” and within budget to complete all planned transport infrastructure projects in time for the 2010 World Cup, and dismissed fears the country would not be ready to host the tournament. On a tour of Cape Town construction sites Thursday, Radebe said, “We […]

Despite the ongoing world economic crisis, French politicians this week spent much of their time whining about Tunisian fans booing “La Marseillaise” before the France-Tunisia exhibition game in Paris Tuesday. It’s just another example of politicians interfering in the game, writes Brian Homewood, arguing that international soccer would be best served by scrapping the anthems […]

The end to the Major League Soccer season is all about momentum. D.C. United isn't yet in the postseason, and must rely on other teams to fail. Meanwhile, the New England Revolution has already qualified, but is in the midst of a slump in form. The postgame quotes from the Revs 2-1 loss to D.C. […]