Category: Section 2 Around the Net

“For a semifinal, a spectacle for our national game, to be played on such an appalling playing field was very disappointing. It wasn’t conducive to the type of football that we try to play.” Falkirk defender Steven Pressley criticizes the playing surface at Scotland’s national stadium, Hampden Park, after his team’s 3-0 loss to Glasgow […]

FIFA is no longer worried that the stadiums in South Africa will be ready in time for the 2010 World Cup. Now it’s fretting about whether or not they’ll actually be filled.   “The biggest challenge is in filling the stadiums and we need to teach our people that there’s nothing wrong with buying tickets […]

“The footage of the attack on PC [John] Goodwin is like watching bees around a honey pot. He was repeatedly punched and kicked in a horrendous attack.” Detective Superintendent Geoff Wessell on the public release of 49 photographs of Glasgow Rangers fans the police would like to talk to in connection with various public order […]

“We have no intention of launching a hostile takeover. This is only possible as a friendly deal.” Holger Heims, a German investment manager at Falcon Equity, one of a group of up to eight international investors mulling a bid for Chelsea.

“It is not true a fee has been agreed. We are not close to concluding any transfer; [Andrei] Arshavin or anybody else. At the moment it is all quiet.” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says there is still no deal in the long running quest to sign the Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder.

“Robinho was told my feelings about the situation and the intention is to fine him. But there is a disciplinary procedure that has to be gone through. When that has run its course then Robinho will face some disciplinary measures.” Manchester City manager Mark Hughes denies there will be any special treatment for his Brazilian […]

AC Milan is ready to buy midfielder David Beckham if he can get out of his contract with the L.A. Galaxy, Milan CEO Adriano Galliani said Tuesday. “If the player were free, we’d buy him,” Galliani said. Beckham, he added, “would be overjoyed as well, because he’s back playing with a great club.” Milan, Galliani […]

Banned RB New York goalkeeper Jon Conway has been joining in with preseason practice sessions, even though he still has to serve four games of a 10-game suspension, reports Frank Giase.   The team did its homework and found out that Conway, who was punished along with now departed defender Jeff Parke for violating Major […]

Soccer’s world governing body FIFA has said it may have to ditch Nigeria as host to this fall’s Under-17 World Cup due to a serious lack of preparation.   “FIFA’s executive committee will have to decide next month if it wishes to carry on with Nigeria or move the tournament elsewhere,” spokesman Emmanuel Marades told […]

Steven Goff has “an unsubstantiated hunch … that something is brewing” at D.C. United involving its current and past Argentine playmakers, Marcelo Gallardo, 33, and Christian Gomez, 34, now at the Colorado Rapids.   United’s investors, he writes, “would love to dump Gallardo’s bloated contract” because they realize the player’s “past his prime, underwent additional […]

U.S. midfielder Sacha Kljestan‘s hat trick for the national team against Sweden at the weekend may have actually harmed his chances of moving to Scottish champions Glasgow Celtic, writes Ronnie Cully. In short, the higher the player’s value, the less likely that Celtic can afford him. Kljestan “impressed everyone” during his six-day trial at Celtic […]

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said Monday that he wants on-loan L.A. Galaxy midfielder David Beckham to stay on at the club, and that he will be disappointed when, or if, he returns to California in March. Speaking on Italian radio the day after Beckham scored his first goal for Milan goal in a 4-1 […]

At Toronto FC’s press conference to introduce midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, the P-word was being thrown around by club officials "with reckless abandon," reports Gareth Wheeler. That stands for Playoffs, but Wheeler says that while such confidence is refreshing, another P-word could also be used about expectations: Premature.

Retired French referee Bruno Derrien has published a memoir, “Down With The Referee,” telling how managers and coaches cultivate their relationships with match officials. According to the book, “the canniest coaches manage their relationships with referees as studiously as they do with their players,” writes Ian Hawkey. Derrien tells, for example, how Manchester United manager […]

The English Football Association has called for "the strongest possible sanctions" against Millwall fans found guilty of violence and vandalism during Saturday’s fourth round FA Cup defeat at Hull City. A section of the visiting support ripped out 50 seats, threw missiles, and destroyed toilets before, during and after the game. Police made 12 arrests. […]

"I do like to take chances and be aggressive. I like to score goals. But I like to stay within a system, too. I want every player to have responsibility. I'm not going to be one of these coaches talking about how he's going to play aggressive, attractive soccer and use three or four forwards, […]

“The season hasn’t gone the way everyone expected it to, and it hasn’t gone the way I expected it to. But I came to another very good team with good players. The guys I’ve been competing with have been scoring goals, and when I got my opportunity, I didn’t put the ball in the net […]

"They saw me as that [a leader] in August when they signed me. I wouldn't know any other way to do it, but obviously I'll take as big a role as they want me to take." Seattle Sounder FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller on talk that he's the obvious choice for team captain.  

"We were so close, 45 minutes away from being in [MLS] Cup. We just couldn't quite get over the hump. It's just more motivation for this year. With the same guys returning, we're looking forward to more good times." Chicago Fire midfielder Justin Mapp signals the official opening of Preseason Optimism.  

"With sports you never know what is going to happen. One thing I know I'll always have is my degree." Santa Clara's Jide Ogunbiyi, selected at No. 18 in the 2009 SuperDraft by RB New York, faces the choice of either reporting for training camp immediately, or finishing his final year at college to earn […]

“It’s disappointing to lose Jimmy. We said all along that we’d like to keep all of our players but the possibility of Jimmy leaving has been there all the time. He’s been seeking the type of contract we couldn’t give him.” Fulham manager Roy Hodgson on the departure of midfielder Jimmy Bullard to Hull City. […]

“I’ve kept an eye on Emile’s career and when he’s confident he’s a top player. Something leveled at Emile is that he doesn’t score enough goals and I am sure he probably thinks exactly the same. But it doesn’t mean he hasn’t made a massive difference in other areas.” Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill on […]

D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen has barely kicked a competitive ball in 15 months, but he was back at training Thursday to try and resurrect his playing career, writes Steven Goff. Despite rumors of retirement and persistent pain in his left ankle, Olsen is determined to try and play for at least one more season. […]

San Jose Earthquakes’ midfielder Ronnie O’Brien won’t return to the club, Quakes GM John Doyle said Thursday after the two sides failed to reach a contract deal. O’Brien, who lives in San Jose, wanted to stay, reports Elliott Almond, but the player said “the number they came back with was really low. It wouldn’t have […]

Compared with a deal they had lined up last summer, Liverpool FC’s U.S. owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett will have to settle for a profit reduced by $150 million if they sell the team to Kuwaiti billionaire Nasser al Kharafi. The Kuwaiti approached the Americans last year with a view to sealing a $820 […]