Category: Section 2 Around the Net

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 […]

Whereas several years ago Major League Soccer had to actively court investors and convince local and state officials that bringing professional soccer to their city was the right move, MLS now finds itself in the nice position of being able to choose “from a variety of solid options” across the U.S. and Canada. “At one […]

The New York Times’ Jack Bell says a player dispute is extending the feud between the New York Red Bulls and the Chicago Fire. The Fire have had a bitter taste in their mouth since losing former coach Juan Carlos Osorio to the Red Bulls at the end of last season, but now, the clubs […]

FIFA mandates that soccer be separate from politics, but Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune argues that “the foreign acquisition of England’s clubs has happened too fast and penetrated too deep for FIFA or UEFA, the governing bodies of world and European soccer, to intervene.” Indeed, in some countries, large investments are sometimes tied […]

Andriy Shevchenko’s career hit a new low on Monday night when the Chelsea striker was picked to play for the club’s reserve team, which means the striker, who cost the club $62 million in the summer of 2006, will not feature at all against Olympiakos in the Champions League second leg at Stamford Bridge on […]

The Guardian claims that a deal would have to be reached by midnight for Dubai International Capital group to assume control of Liverpool Football Club. DIC CEO Sameer Al Ansari confirmed early Tuesday that investment talks with American owners Tom Hicks and George Gilett are ongoing; the Guardian report says a midnight deadline has been […]

Chelsea manager Avram Grant may be living on borrowed time at Stamford Bridge. The Sunday Mirror claims the Israeli coach will become Chelsea’s director of soccer at the beginning of the summer, making way for the arrival of a new coach — who will most likely be Dutch, according to Goal.com, which names Russia’s Guus […]

It was a testy, ugly affair when the New York Red Bulls took on the reserves from sister club Red Bull Salzburg earlier Monday at the Salzburg club’s training center near Red Bull’s corporate home in Fuschl, Austria. “So much for corporate harmony,” writes Jack Bell of the New York Times, who described this friendly […]

As the San Jose Earthquakes prepare to launch for the second time in team history, they face a familiar challenge: to get the city’s considerable Latino population to rally around the local MLS team. But how big a potential fan base are we talking about? If Sunday’s friendly at Oakland Coliseum is any indication, it […]

After 11 months and 31 games without a Serie A defeat, Inter Milan finally succumbed to modest Napoli, 1-0, on Sunday. The result, papers across Italy said, had “officially reopened” the title race. With second-place Roma thumping Parma 4-0 the day before, the loss leaves just Inter six points ahead of the Giallorossi with 12 […]

Texas billionaire Tom Hicks warned Dubai International Capital group that he would block Liverpool co-owner George Gillett from selling his investment in the club to the Arab investment group. Gillett, who recently fell out with Hicks, has been receptive to the prospect of selling his 50 percent stake at a quick profit, but Hicks revealed […]

On the same day that Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra was arrested in his homeland on two counts of corruption, Manager Sven Goran Eriksson was talking about how Shinawatra’s millions could help City become the next Chelsea. Thaksin himself has often spoke of his desire to make City as successful as its neighbor Manchester United. […]

Rob Hughes of the International Herald Tribune reminds points out that if Inter Milan goes on to claim the Serie A Scudetto this season — and following Wednesday’s 1-1 draw versus No. 2 Roma that looks very likely — no one will be allowed to call the Nerazzurri pretenders any longer. Inter was handed the […]

Real Salt Lake signing Kenny Deuchar tells Scottish paper has hopes for his new move to MLS, the striker reveals in an interview with The Daily Record, calling the opportunity “the chance of a lifetime.” Deuchar, a part-time practicing doctor who goes by the nickname “The Good Doctor,”spent four seasons in Scotland with Gretna, helping […]

The David Beckham Road Show has moved on to South Korea where the Los Angeles Galaxy will play Seoul FC on Friday, but several Galaxy players, including Landon Donovan, did not make the trip — some due to injuries, others to be traded, possibly, says the L.A. Times Grahame L. Jones. The club’s roster has […]

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard fired a warning to the club’s management that his patience is running out with Liverpool’s repeated domestic failings, admitting that even if the Anfield club delivered the Champions League, 2008 would still be branded as a failure. In an interview with LFC magazine, Gerrard said, “I have been looking at the […]

The San Jose Earthquakes on Thursday acquired Ronnie O’Brien from Toronto FC in exchange for an undisclosed sum of cash and a first-round draft pick. Before spending last season with the MLS debutant, O’Brien, a former Republic of Ireland international, was twice an MLS All-Star in four seasons with FC Dallas. The right-sided midfielder endured […]

The deal that would make boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya and his business associate Gabriel Brener part-owners of the Houston Dynamo is “essentially done,” according to the Houston Chronicle. The proposed deal was widely reported earlier this week and will be finalized on Friday. De La Hoya and Brener, a Mexican investor partner in […]

Manchester City owner Thaksin Shinawatra was arrested in Bangkok on Thursday upon returning to his homeland for the first time in 17 months. The former Thailand prime minister had been living in London under a self-imposed exile. Shinawatra was taken into custody by police at Thailand’s international airport on charges of corruption. Two warrants for […]

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks was again prompted to respond to allegations that he planned on selling his 50 percent stake in the club to Arab investment group Dubai International Capital. The Texas billionaire called the media speculation “absolutely and categorically false,” although ESPN implies that the statement, issued by Hicks on Tuesday, is a cover-up […]

The Houston Chronicle’s Bernardo Fallas says there are lessons to be learned from the Dynamo’s 6-1 hammering by Gamba Osaka in the Pan-Pacific Championship final. Coach Dominic Kinnear, who’s not used to being beaten so comprehensively, reflected on the blowout loss. “The defeat opened our eyes,” he said. “I don’t think a lot of guys […]

Years of disappointment have left New York Red Bulls fans wondering what’s taking the team so long to fill in the holes left by the off-season departure of so many of its former players. That tension reached a boiling point last week when the Bulls traded defensive midfielder and long time starter Dema Kovalenko to […]

Luis Bueno of the Press Enterprise doesn’t think the Pan Pacific Championship will live past its inaugural season. Not in Hawaii, anyway. While the four-game tournament provided plenty of action and plenty of goals, attendance was abysmal. Saturday’s doubleheader, which pitted David Beckham the L.A. Galaxy against Sydney FC, and J-League cup holder Gamba Osaka […]

ESPN’s Ravi Ubha speaks with Clint Dempsey about the worrying relegation situation at 19th place Fulham FC, which has been nicknamed “Team America” for the five Americans on its roster. Dempsey has been one of the better and more consistent performers at Craven Cottage this season, leading the team in scoring six goals. Nevertheless, a […]

Philadelphia soccer fans will have some choosing to do when MLS announces the City of Brotherly Love as its 16th franchise, as expected on Thursday, says ESPN writer Ives Galarcep. Philadelphia has always been a soccer-rich area, producing such quality players as Reading’s Bobby Convey, New England’s Chris Albright and Jeff Parke and Jon Conway […]