Category: Section 2 Around the Net

“Some clubs… persist in the belief that you can fill an atmospheric void with muzak, giant foam hands, comedy hats and the infernal clack-clack of those damned rubber clappers. The self-proclaimed ‘best league in the world’, which prides itself on the authenticity of its unique matchday ‘event,’ is prepared to cheat, to give the level […]

Trinidad & Tobago has called up Sunderland players Dwight Yorke and Carlos Edwards for three games next month, including two World Cup qualifiers. Sunderland manager Roy Keane’s recall of Yorke before the country’s game against the USA in Chicago earlier this month sparked a lively exchange between Keane and FIFA vice president Jack Warner.

“This is a long-term commitment across the game to improve behavior. There is a determination that it won’t be blown off course by individual incidents that are bound to occur in a passionate game like football.” An FA spokesman pledges the English Football Association’s determination to persevere with its Respect for referees campaign, despite a […]

UEFA President Michel Platini has claimed that Arsenal manager and compatriot Arsene Wenger is more interested in business than soccer. Wenger has responded by condemning Platini’s “aggressive outburst.” The Daily Telegraph, among others, has cleverly juxtaposed the two clashing opinions to create a top soccer story, and the anticipation of what will happen next is […]

“Stay grounded and humble as a player and as a person.” Meanwhile, a motivational memo detailing Wenger’s advice to his team on, well, being a team (“Stick together”), has been cruelly leaked to the media.

Concacaf General Secretary and FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer has launched an attack on the world soccer governing body’s handling of the Olympic tournament in China, writes Keir Radnedge. Blazer accused FIFA of “misusing the tools of justice” by having a single judge decide on the Olympic player eligibility issue. The issue went on […]

FIFA is still in a mess for another poorly judged decision after the governing body absolved Qatar of any blame for fielding an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifying game against Iraq. Qatar fielded a naturalized Brazilian named Emerson in the 2-0 win over Iraq in March, a result that eliminated Iraq from qualification […]

U.S. national team striker Clint Dempsey was top scorer last season at English Premier League side Fulham with six goals. This season he's spent the last three games with his rear firmly on the bench, but during the week he's "busting" that same part of his anatomy trying to regain his place on the team. […]

Chaotic scheduling, poor playing surfaces and appalling referees — no, not another article about Major League Soccer. These are just some of the problems facing the Rwandan national league as it shapes up for the new season beginning early next month. The league's governing body, Ferwafa, has only just set the date for the October […]

The Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, encompassing 12,000 people and an area of just over 16 square miles, is lobbying FIFA for full soccer status. Its Prime Minister Apisai Ielemia, and the President of the Tuvalu Football Association, Tapugao Falefou, recently visited FIFA HQ on a detour from Brussels for a chat about its candidature. […]

It’s almost a year and a half too late to save Sheffield United from relegation out of the Premier League, but an English FA arbitration panel has ruled that the club is entitled to compensation from Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez affair. West Ham were already fined over $10 million by the FA for […]

After his scintillating hat trick against D.C. United at the weekend, L.A. Galaxy striker Landon Donovan has Germany on his mind again, writes Andrea Canales. After two unsuccessful spells at Bayer Leverkusen earlier in his career, the U.S. national team's all-time record goalscorer can't help but think that now, at the peak of his career, […]

The Chicago Fire was booed off the field at halftime Sunday when it went in to the locker room 3-0 down at home to FC Dallas. Goalkeeper Jon Busch was no happier with the final 4-1 result than the jeering fans. “If I paid money to go to this game, I would be booing too,” […]

Does David Beckham receive preferential treatment from MLS referees? D.C. United defender Marc Burch seems to think so after being red-carded for kicking Beckham from behind Saturday night in L.A. Referee Terry Vaughn interpreted Burch's challenge, which occurred on the touchline, as "violent conduct." "I swung for the ball and hit the back of his […]

"What must Ukraine do to avoid losing Euro 2012?" Michel Platini asked, repeating a question posed by Simon Kuper. The UEFA President, writes Kuper, "puffs out his cheeks, drums a rhythm on the table with his fingers. What he says next implies that … Uefa may remove Ukraine as co-host of the 2012 European Championships." […]

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has stressed that his club favors long-term sustainability over splashing out cash for huge transfer fees, and said he is "sure" that fans understand not winning the Premier League title if it means the club is kept on a stable financial footing. "We obviously can't compete with the money Manchester City […]

"If the authorities decide a replay is the correct thing to do then I've got no objections whatsoever." Reading manager Steve Coppell will be happy to replay Saturday's 2-2 draw at Watford, when his team was awarded a bizarre "goal" that should have been a corner. But the Football League has already ruled out a […]

“It appears to be an isolated incident but we have launched a full investigation in conjunction with local authorities.” Chelsea FC reacts to the stone reportedly thrown by a Chelsea fan that cracked a window on Manchester United’s team bus as it left Stamford Bridge Sunday.

“The American may possess all manner of foibles we have yet to discover, but for the moment he represents a species thought to be nearing extinction: a football club owner with a positive approval rating.” Nick Townsend lauds Aston Villa’s U.S. owner, Randy Lerner.

Australia’s chances of hosting the 2018 World Cup have been given a boost by the appointment of Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy to the World Cup Organizing Committee. The committee will decide where the 2018 event is held. Not that anyone’s suggesting Mr. Lowy will be anything but objective.

English second-tier club Queens Park Rangers, recently taken over by a consortium of wealthy businessmen, has shocked fans by increasing ticket prices to as high as $91 for games against teams like last year’s Premier League failures Derby County.

There’s an old soccer cliché that there’s no worse time to concede a goal than just before half-time. RB New York coach Juan Carlos Osorio would beg to differ. Conceding a goal just after halftime is much worse, just as his side did 19 seconds after the interval to go 2-1 down to the Columbus […]

As the Seattle Sounders shape up to play their final regular season game in the United Soccer Leagues this weekend, its players have one eye on the move to Major League Soccer in 2009, reports Matt Massey. And they can’t help but notice that so far only two of their players — Sebastien Le Toux […]

The Colorado Rapids’ home record has deteriorated since it moved to its soccer specific stadium in Commerce City from Invesco Field at Mile High two seasons ago. Whisper it quietly so you’re not heard above the murmur of the home fans, but it might be down to a lack of atmosphere.   The Rapids’ English […]

Toronto FC’s GM Mo Johnston recently went to South America and liked what he saw, and is planning to sign some fresh young talent from the continent to bolster the side’s roster for next season. What, no more aging Brits?   “I’m not looking at guys who are 33 or 34,” Johnston said, no doubt […]