[REF WATCH] In the wake of the horrific foul by Birmingham defender Martin Taylor that shattered the leg of Arsenal’s Eduardo, which earned Taylor a three-game suspension, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that players guilty of deliberately dangerous tackles should be banned from the game.
Author Archives: Soccer America
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
UEFA Cup Results
Despite a series of strong saves by American goalkeeper Tim Howard, Everton fell at Italian club Fiorentina, 2-0, on a pair of late goals in the first leg of their round-of-16 series on Thursday. Freddy Adu, who is with the U.S. U-23s for the upcoming Olympic qualifying competition, was unavailable for Benfica, which fell at home to Spanish club Getafe, 2-1. The other teams to lose at home were Anderlecht (5-0 to Bayern Munich) and Tottenham (1-0 to PSV). For all the results and goal scorers …
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Dzajic and Serbian soccer chief accused of massive embezzlement
[SERBIA] With millions of dollars exchanging hands on the international transfer market, there’s all kind of opportunities for fraud and embezzlement, as recent cases in Serbia demonstrate.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
International Soccer Weekend TV Schedule
The English FA Cup moves into the quarterfinals with two matches on Saturday and two more on Sunday. In the only game involving Premier League teams, Manchester United hosts Portsmouth on Saturday. Spanish title contenders Barcelona and Villarreal meet on Sunday. French soccer fans can watch Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash between Lyon and Bordeaux. For televised weekend international action …
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Red card for bumping ball boy
[OFF THE POST] Flamengo midfielder Toro was ejected in the Brazilian club’s 3-0 loss to Uruguay’s Nacional in Libertadores Cup play for pushing a ball boy down as he chased the out-of-bounds ball in the 43rd minute. The 13-year-old was cheered by the home crowd for the rest of the game.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“There are gay footballers but they don’t declare it because they think it will not be accepted in these macho organizations. Look at women’s football: homosexuality is more popular there.”
— FIFA President Sepp Blatter. (Telegraph)
Posted inSoccer America Daily, Story
No rooms at the inn for UAE
[OFF THE POST] Lack of lodging for its World Cup qualifying game at Syria has become an issue for the United Arab Emirates national team because all Damascus hotels have been booked up by delegates attending the Arab Summit, which overlaps with the March 26 game.
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U.S. Youth Soccer ODP National Championship Rosters
Play begins Friday in the U.S. Youth Soccer ODP National Championships at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Regional champions will compete in four competitions — 1991 and 1992 boys and girls. Cal South leads all state associations with teams represented in all four competitions. North Texas has three teams entered in the competition. For all rosters …
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Mourinho Hopes to ‘Kill’ Chelsea in CL
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who expects to be coaching in either Spain or Italy next season, says he would relish the opportunity to meet his former club in the Champions League. “If I play them in the Champions League, I want to go there and kill them — that’s my message,” Mourinho told reporters. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Former Revs Midfielder Dorman Impresses in Scotland
Former New England Revolution midfielder Andy Dorman is enjoying a solid start to life in the Scottish Premiership, having firmly established himself in the starting lineup for new club St. Mirren. Since his January arrival, the 25-year-old has bagged some crucial goals, including the winner in a 1-0 win over Dundee United that sent St. […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
RSL the New MLS Dark Horse
Goal.com’s Pat Walsh picks Real Salt Lake as his dark horse for the 2008 MLS season. RSL is the only MLS club to have never made the playoffs. Only once in its short history did RSL finish above last place in the West, and that was 2005, the club’s first season. That year fellow expansion […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Beckham to Earn 100th England Cap
Barring injury, David Beckham is on course to earn his 100th cap for England, national team coach Fabio Capello revealed on Wednesday. “He will get his 100th cap if he is fit and in form,” the England manager said, adding that either he or his assistant Franco Baldini would travel to the U.S. to see […]
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USA to face heavyweights
[U.S. SOCCER] The U.S. men’s national team, which is already scheduled to play Spain June 4, is close to finalizing friendlies against England at Wembley May 28 and Argentina June 8 at Giants Stadium.
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Winter Transfer Moves
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Former Kansas City Wizards reserve keeper Chris Konopka signed with Bohemians of the eircom League, Ireland’s top flight that plays a spring-fall season. For all the winter overseas transfers involving Americans …
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Lineker vs. Gandhi
[OFF THE POST] Controversy has surrounded plans to erect a 12-foot tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the British city of Leicester after a “No Gandhi” campaign was launched by residents who prefer a statue of former England forward Gary Lineker. Now a TV soccer commentator, Lineker began his career at Leicester City, for which he scored 95 goals. Gandhi, who died in 1948, is known as the Father of the Nation of India and the world’s most famous pacifist.
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“I don’t believe any decision will be made on the basis of one game. He may not have had full control of the game but I haven’t heard any complaints about specific decisions.”
— Japanese soccer federation official Hideto Teshima says there won’t be repercussions after referee Masaaki Iemoto‘s performance in the J-League opener between Kashima Antlers and Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Iemoto allowed Hiroshima to retake two missed penalty kicks, showed three red cards and 11 yellow cards, and disallowed two Kashima goals in the Hiroshima win. (Reuters)
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U.S. women stomp on Steel Roses
[ALGARVE CUP] The U.S. women’s national team handed China the worst defeat in their storied rivalry when it opened play at the Algarve Cup with a 4-0 victory Wednesday in Albufeira, Portugal.
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Liverpool Tussle Remains at Stalemate
Liverpool is still the property of Tom Hicks and George Gillett after negotiations between Dubai International Capital and the American owners, lasting well into the night, remained at a stalemate. Sources told BBC News that Gillett was tempted to accept an offer worth $400 million for his 50 percent stake in the English Premier League […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Milan Looks to Summer Transfer Market
Following stern pronouncements in the Italian press that Milan’s current squad is now passed its sell-by date, Football Italia reports that the Rossoneri’s front office is already lining replacements for when the transfer window opens in June. Top of the list for Milan director general Ariedo Braida is Chelsea striker Didier Drogba. The 29-year-old Ivorian […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Italian Press Marks the End of an Era for Milan
“Milan: The End” — the headline from Wednesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport says it all. Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League loss at home to Arsenal certainly signals the end of an era for the Rossoneri. As the Guardian’s Paolo Bandini points out, Milan’s starting XI had an average age of over 30, which means the time is […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Ruiz Hat Trick Leads L.A. to Victory in Shanghai
Carlos Ruiz bagged a hat trick as the Los Angeles Galaxy defeated an East Asian “All-Star” team composed of players from second division club Shanghai Dongya and the Hong Kong national team, 3-0. Goal.com described the Chinese side as “disorganized” and “overmatched” for the MLS team. The Galaxy broke through just before the end of […]
Posted inSection 2 Around the Net, Story
Arena: No Regrets About Red Bulls Stint
In an interview with Goal.com, former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena reflects on his time with the New York Red Bulls, which lasted for little more than a year. Arena complains that Red Bull, the team’s owner, for the most part “didn’t know anything about professional soccer in this country,” and that he inherited […]
Posted inSoccer America Daily, What They're Saying
What They’re Saying
“The doctors had said that he risked injury if he played, and they [the press] pressured us by saying that he always has to play, and now we are all paying for this.”
— Barcelona defender Carles Puyol blames the press for the pulled hamstring Lionel Messi suffered during Barcelona’s Champions League win over Celtic. (Goal.com)
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MLS Offseason Player Moves
Nine MLS teams passed on players in Wednesday’s Waiver Draft before D.C. United picked up the rights to Jeff Curtin. Taken later were Brandon Prideaux (Chicago Fire) and Kyle Brown (Houston Dynamo). For all the team-by-team offseason player moves …
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UEFA Champions League TV Schedule
UEFA Champions League play continues Wednesday with four more games. For all the TV coverage of the midweek action …