UEFA’s decision to punish Atletico Madrid for racism and disorganisation during their Champions League match with Marseille last month was all very well and good. However, by opting to immediately apply a three-match stadium ban, they confirmed their complete detachment from the reality of ordinary fandom.
Who exactly in UEFA thought it acceptable to move a [...]
Entries from October 2008
October 20, 2008
UEFA: Detached From Ordinary Fans
October 12, 2008
Football DVD: Campionato Io Ti Amo – 1985/86
Gazzetta Dello Sport recently released a 30-disc celebration of “the most beautiful championship in the world”. Campionato Io Ti Amo celebrates Italian football from 1978 to the current day with a disc for each season charting a somewhat poignant journey in Italian and European football.
Serie A opened the door to foreigners in 1980 and soon [...]
October 12, 2008
Jürgen Klinsmann: The Emperor’s New Clothes
Here’s more from June, 2005 when I wrote for GOAL.com. I was in Germany at the time and covered the Confederations Cup. My opinion of Klinsmann is looking ever more sound in the light of current events in Bavaria…
Behind The Wall: The Emperor’s New Clothes
So that’s it for another two year’s then. The Confederations’ Cup [...]
October 12, 2008
Jürgen Klinsmann: Quelle Surprise!
Jürgen Klinsmann has had a rotten start as new Bayern Munich coach. Those of you familiar with my opinion of the man during my time in Germany as GOAL.com Bundesliga correspondent won’t be surprised that I’m not. Here’s an article I wrote for my Behind The Wall column on June 22, 2005 when Klinsmann was [...]
October 12, 2008
Ballon D’Or 2008: A Messi Case
The European Footballer of the Year award will be fitting reward for the coruscating brilliance of Lionel Messi.
