Help Football
This is part of our efforts to improve football. In this column we discuss the key issues facing football – using more technology, money in the game, diving / simulation, developing young players and football training in general, changes to rules (governing football and clubs) and a lot more.
Why do Americans hate England?
Without being one of England’s historic sporting rivals like Scotland or Germany, it’s a bit strange that there were some Americans pleased with England’s failure to qualify for Euro 2008. No one doubts that the Americans and the English have a somewhat tenuous history, but as far as recent politics go, things have generally been…
Football Corruption in the English Premier League: The Story So Far
The recent arrests of Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and others have brought the whole investigations scandal of corruption in football back into the frame. The police probe began back on January 11th 2006 after Luton manager Mike Newell highlighted the concerning issue of bungs in football, openly criticising agents and claiming that illegal payments often…
To Do or Not To Do with Referees…
They are the dark men-in-black and they are always at the centre of attention. For every goal conceded and for every goal scored, there is potentially always a referee to blame. The man with the whistle and his fellow scurrying tosspots are always picked on when anything, absolutely anything, goes wrong in a game of…
Terry sets a bad example (video) – Chelsea 1-0 West Ham
Chelsea’s resilience and quality shone through as they stood up to, and then disposed, a spirited West Ham side at Stamford Bridge today. However, this isn’t about the match but a particular incident in the game, in context of how the first half went in terms of petty fouls and late challenges. As the image…
Match Fixing in Football | UEFA and Interpol investigate
Do you think that the results of football matches can be rigged? Match fixing in sporting competitions (thanks to the money involved – welcome to the dark side of sports betting) is not as uncommon as one might think, nor is it as simple as some suggest. Football too has come under scrutiny, with UEFA…
Is Brazil 2014 Going to be Safe?
There have been at least 8 people killed this week-end, towards the end of a league match after part of a Brazilian stadium collapsed. The accident, which took place at the Fonte Nova stadium in Salvador, occurred after some of the concrete stand fell away with 10 minutes remaining in the game between Bahia and Vila…
Player vs. Club: Is the Player Ever Bigger Than the Club He Represents?
Before Tottenham Hotspur star Dimitar Berbatov began to sing Juande Ramos’ praises, the speculation surrounding whether he would stay or go swirled with rumor, one of which was that Manchester United were top of Berbatov’s January transfer window wish list. It’s no contest that this season Manchester United is performing much stronger than Tottenham, and…
10 Rules to Being England’s Manager
It’s all over. After 18 matches, 1620 minutes of football and 457 days of management, Steve McClaren has been hounded out of his cushty job as England manager, and he’s taking a fancy paycheck with him. Did he need more guidance? Maybe. A leaflet or something with some basic pointers should have covered it.
“What Makes a Team What It Is?” An MLS Story…
The following article, written by David Rini, discusses a new marketing initiative the MLS tried during the playoffs and how MLS marketing can or can’t affect the identities of the teams in the league. If you were to go to any home game of Boston’s Major League Soccer team, the New England Revolution, at Gillette…
Interview: Dr. Craig Panther, Fulham’s Medical Officer
Image courtesy of Pure Sports Medicine. The recent debate on player burnout and the need (or lack thereof) for a winter break sparked a flurry of interested in the workload of Premier League players. Two domestic competitions, congested spell of fixtures over Christmas and international football to boot. Does playing consistently at this level put…
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