Category: Section 2 Around the Net

“Not all of our supporters are pulling in the right direction and they give the media it [bad publicity] on a plate.” Glasgow Rangers’ Chairman David Murray wants the club to get rid of a bigoted minority of fans spouting sectarian “bile” in stadiums and on the Internet.

“Our debt is not external, we don’t owe it to a bank or an insurance company, we owe it to the owner of the club who is a committed investor in the club.” Chelsea Chairman Bruce Buck denies that the club’s estimated $1.27 billion debt could jeopardize its future, citing CFC’s “unique ownership model.”

“In an ideal world, the representatives of club and country would sit down and work out a Europe-wide plan with no League Cups, all top flights reduced to 18 teams, streamlined European club competitions, and no more than six qualifiers for World Cups and European Championships.” Journalist currently of this parish outlines idealistic, no-hope plan […]

UEFA General Secretary David Taylor warned Wednesday that soccer clubs with heavy debts could be excluded from future European competitions. Speaking at the Leaders In Football conference in London, Taylor said there would be plenty of warnings and reprimands, but that the exclusion from European competition of clubs heavily in debt “is absolutely possible.” On […]

Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has criticized soccer’s world governing body FIFA for being all talk and little action when it comes to clamping down on racism. He said that the $26,000 fine imposed on Croatia after its fans hurled racist abuse at England striker Emile Heskey during a World Cup qualifier in […]

There he goes again: “We believe there is a future for clubs playing matches abroad. Audiences abroad are very sophisticated and know a lot about our clubs.” English Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore can’t let go of his reviled ’39th Game’ plan to play EPL fixtures abroad.

“We have a multicultural city and many, many people come from countries where they have a really strong soccer culture.” Vancouver’s outgoing mayor Sam Sullivan, in New York to meet MLS Commissioner Don Garber and President Mark Abbott to lobby for an MLS franchise.

That all-important FIFA monthly table with the latest world rankings has seen the U.S. climb seven spots to 21st. Mexico is three places lower at 24. The U.S. women are still ranked No. 1.

With AC Milan, Valencia, Galatasaray, Sevilla, Hamburg, Benfica, Schalke 04, Manchester City and Ajax Amsterdam still in the competition, the UEFA Cup group phase has a reasonable allure this year.

“I certainly understood coming in this would be a challenge, and six weeks later I realize it is a challenge,” L.A. Galaxy coach Bruce Arena told Mark Zeigler before a weekend that could see his side eliminated from playoff contention. “And it’s every bit a challenge as I anticipated. There is a lot of work […]

Merritt Paulson submitted his bid Tuesday to Major League Soccer to bring a franchise to Oregon. “I feel like I’m creating an opportunity for the city,” he told Ryan Frank and Mark Larabee. “It’s not easy, but I think it makes sense for Portland on a number of levels. For us to be ambitious as […]

Mexican giant Pachuca may choose the Phoenix area for a United Soccer Leagues expansion franchise as early as Wednesday, reports Jose E Garcia. Senior officials from the team are in the Valley for a meeting with the mayors of Tolleson and Mesa, both possible venues for the team, which according to the business plan of […]

It’s fall, which in New Jersey usually means two things: red and golden leaves on the trees, and the Red Bulls are struggling. Despite its habitual failure during this season, writes Frank Giase, the players in the New York locker room after Saturday’s defeat at home to Toronto FC seemed surprisingly stunned, with most of […]

Juergen Klinsmann has been coach of Bayern Munich for 100 days, with decidedly mixed results so far from his California-influenced reforms. But despite the German giant’s mid-standings position and ropey league form (nine points from seven games), including a 5-2 home shellacking by Werder Bremen, Klinsmann’s job has been guaranteed until the end of the […]

David Beckham picked up his fifth yellow card of the season at the Columbus Crew Saturday and will be suspended for the team's penultimate game, a road trip to Houston. The midfielder, who has five goals and nine assists in 24 starts this season, will also miss this coming weekend's home game against the Colorado […]

The U.S. national team returns to the nation’s capital and the aging Robert F Kennedy stadium this weekend after a four-year absence for the World Cup qualifier against Cuba. Players and coach alike are pleased to be there, reports Steven Goff. “My main memory is just that it always feels like a real soccer facility,” […]

Seattle Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer is on the short list of candidates to coach the team in its debut Major League Soccer season in 2009 as Sounders FC. Jose Miguel Romero went in search of players who’ve been under his charge over the past few years to see if they think he’s up to the […]

“There are so many that I will propose to the executive committee that we shall open the bid for 2018 and 2022 and try to channel the different bidders,” FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who said he wants to avoid the World Cup staying in the Americas after Brazil stages it in 2014, which would mean […]

“We are in a very much more volatile position, in which debt is not only a problem in terms of volume, it’s a problem because those who own the debt are themselves now often in serious problems.” English FA Chairman Lord Triesman warns that English clubs are $5.3 billion in debt, and that clubs could […]

“Traveling is physically tiring. Mentally the guys were sharp all the way through, which is really what carried us. Their attitude was the reason why we were successful during this road trip.” Houston Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear praises his team for achieving three ties and a win in four games over 11 days in four […]

“The biggest thing for me is to get sharp. I think we’ve gotten over the fatigue of the crazy stretch that we had. We’ve kind of got our legs back, but the one thing we’re still missing is the sharpness that we had early in the season and in SuperLiga.” Steve Nicol on what the […]

“It’s still a game played on a green surface — grass, in this case — with white lines, and the ball’s still round and the same size. So we’ve got to control our emotions and keep them in check.” Real Salt Lake coach Jason Kreis needs his side to concentrate on the game and forget […]

“Tonight [Saturday] was just so pleasing because I think it all came together. Unfortunately, it might just be too little, too late, but we’ve given ourselves a great opportunity.” Toronto FC coach John Carver stays optimistic until the end after his side’s 3-1 win at New York.

“I think what we’ve run into today are the champions. They’ve shown championship quality. They have extremely good players in most areas of the pitch. What they also do is make very, very good decisions on the ball. They don’t give it away cheaply [and] they punish you for your own mistakes.” Colorado Rapids’ coach […]

“The only thing about a tie is you just inch along. We needed the full three points, but we’re not out of it by any stretch.” Kansas City Wizards’ captain Jimmy Conrad after his side’s 1-1 tie with the Chicago Fire Sunday.