so many issues with this whole thing ........ If the UEFA proposal is to be implemented, surely to God the CL-level teams in the UK would have to compensate non-CL clubs for the loss of the League Cup? otherwise I completely agree with the opponents of the proposal - it will eventually kill the game in the UK. I don't know how compensation would work, but perhaps that's why the voting has been delayed, in order to address the issue? the other issue is the workload on players due to the added CL games. they're getting worked into the ground more and more every season. something has to give. then there's this: If the format was being used now, based on the current table it would mean Liverpool would gain a Champions League spot despite being seventh in the Premier League. part of me says "yes!!" but again, is that "fair"? I dunno ...
Just absolutely ridiculous decisions, time and time again, by the money grubbing whores in charge of football competitions.
39-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic and 37-year-old Franck Ribery had never met in a club match before.On Sunday during Fiorentina vs. AC Milan, they finally faced off and each scored a goal 🍷 pic.twitter.com/wLoEvoj9wU— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 22, 2021
this guy needs to be banned from the game ... remember last December 2 match officials in the PSG-Başakşehir game were disciplined for racist comments? well, one of them - Octavian Sovre - asked Haaland to autograph his yellow card after last night's game. and he thinks that's just fine. fukking moron.
Away days are set to return before the end of the Premier League season in a huge boost to fans. Up to 10,000 supporters could return to football stadiums up and down the country for the final two rounds of fixtures. The Times are now reporting that away fans could be included in that number, with up to 500 possibly being allowed. Up to 10,000 people or a quarter of the capacity, whichever is smaller, will be permitted in the largest venues like Wembley when rules are due to be relaxed on May 17. However, smaller stadiums will be limited to either 4,000 people or half of their capacity, whichever is lower. https://talksport.com/football/874238/
or not .... https://talksport.com/football/876403/ The Premier League has confirmed that NO away fans will be allowed to attend matches for the remainder of the season. Up to 10,000 home supporters will be allowed into grounds for round 37 on May 18 and 19 and for round 38 on May 23, provided the government goes ahead with the planned easing of coronavirus restrictions on May 17.
I guess not everyone will think this season has been total crap ... https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/footie-fan-liverpool-scoops-huge-24043034 A football fan scooped a staggering £374,000 from just a £1 stake. The incredible seven-way accumulator bet, placed at a Coral shop in Liverpool, included matches played in England, Italy, Sweden and Portugal. In one of the selected games, Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon scored in the 92nd minute for the match to finish 2-0, the scoreline the punter had predicted would happen. The customer, a man in his 50s who wishes to remain anonymous, said: "After the first two results came in and I realised the bet was still alive, I began to follow the other matches, and it wasn’t easy following the results from around Europe, especially as each one became a winner, I got more and more nervous.
these fukkers. they'd play a WC every month if they could ... https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57205872 World Cup: Fifa to consider holding men's and women's events every two years Football's world governing body Fifa is to launch a feasibility study into holding the men's and women's World Cups every two years instead of four. The proposal, by Saudi Arabia's football federation (SAFF), received backing at Fifa's annual congress. The study will also look at the qualifying competitions for these tournaments. "We believe the future of football is at a critical juncture," said SAFF president Yasser Al-Misehal. "The many issues that football has faced have now been further exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. "It is important to review how the global game is structured, which should include whether the current four-year cycle remains the optimum basis for how football is managed both from a competition and a commercial perspective as well as overall football development. "Having fewer yet more meaningful competitive national team matches could potentially address concerns regarding player welfare whilst at the same time enhancing the value and merit of such competitions." Fifa president Gianni Infantino called it an "eloquent and detailed proposal", with 166 national federations voting in favour with 22 voting against.
the guardian's review of 2020/21 - best signings, best matches, best young players, biggest failures etc. https://www.theguardian.com/football/series/premier-league-2020-21-review-of-the-season
Any idea which federations voted against it? My guess is mostly European ones since the Euro championships are a cash cow for them while the other federations would prefer the exposure of a biennial World Cup. I love the arrogance in the statement saying football is managed on a 4 year cycle, like everything revolves solely around the World Cup. Not once do they discuss the actual players - ie, the people who have to suffer physically for these idiots. The players seriously need to get their sh*t together and put a stop to all of this. This is where they need to take a page from the Lebron's book and let the idiots in charge know that the players are the ones with the power - they should use 2022 as their 'coming out,' saying the human rights abuses in Qatar can't be ignored, we're not playing 8 football matches in 31 days in the desert, international friendlies are exempt from the rules governing suspensions if players refuse to play, we're not playing again for anybody (clubs included) until there is a mandatory 3 week annually to allow for proper rest and recovery, etc. All it would take is Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Salah, and a handful others to lead the charge and most of the other players in the top leagues would go along with them.
the guys who run FIFA are convinced that the most important people in the world of football are the guys who run FIFA.
two of the headlines on today's bbc site: Wales boss and ex-Manchester United player Ryan Giggs will go on trial in January accused of headbutting his ex-girlfriend and controlling her. Nike says it split with Neymar over sexual assault investigation
Football’s five substitute rule has been extended until the end of next year, with the pandemic predicted to disrupt the sport for at least another season. Any competition that is completed before 31 December 2022 - a date which encompasses the Qatar World Cup - will be allowed to implement the rule, football’s lawmaking body, the International Football Association Board, confirmed on Friday. It is up to individual competition organisers to decide whether to implement the rule, with Fifa set to make a call on the World Cup. The Premier League has been the only top-flight European competition not to implement the rule so far https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...tended-due-to-pandemic-until-end-of-next-year
Getting ready to watch the Championship playoff final at 10.00. A couple ex Reds involved, Sergi Canos for Brentford and Yan Dhanda for Swansea.
Well done to Brentford. Swansea just didn't turn up and should have been down to 9 players after a couple of two footed, studs up tackles.
The 2021 Copa America has been left without a host less than two weeks before it starts after Argentina was stripped of the tournament. Argentina was originally set to co-host with Colombia, who were removed on 20 May after protests in the country. The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) said Argentina has been removed because of the "present circumstances". The country is currently experiencing a surge in Covid-19 cases.
South American soccer body CONMEBOL are now actively seeking an alternative host and have said an announcement on a new venue will be made "soon". It is understood the United States could be prepared to step in and take over the hosting of the competition. However, any new host is likely to need extra time to prepare for stepping in at such a late stage, with the tournament slated to begin on June 13. And any delay could impact significantly on Liverpool's pre-season preparations, with Alisson Becker,Roberto Firmino and Fabinho all expected to feature in the Brazil squad for the tournament. The Reds will reconvene for training on July 12, although any player involved in international competition will be given several weeks off after their involvement has been concluded.