Most people haven't attended a refereeing course, but we can only assume that Lesson One covers
what to do when a player hits the round thing between the two white posts – or maybe not if
Crystal Palace's recent trip to Bristol City is anything to go by.
It did not take long for the season to witness its first truly calamitous piece of refereeing, or
for those in favour of introducing technology to aid officials to re-issue their orders to drag the
game into the 21st century.
Most people haven't attended a refereeing course, but we can only assume that Lesson One covers
what to do when a player hits the round thing between the two white posts – or maybe not if
Crystal Palace's recent trip to Bristol City is anything to go by.
It did not take long for the season to witness its first truly calamitous piece of refereeing, or
for those in favour of introducing technology to aid officials to re-issue their orders to drag the
game into the 21st century.
A Liverpool legend once sang money cant't buy you love, but there is one man on Merseyside who
would probably disagree.
As Liverpool prepare to face Stoke at Anfield on Wednesday, looking to put their first Premier
League points on the board in the new campaign, manager Rafa Benitez has managed to fit in a spot
of bargain basement shopping to fill a gaping hole in the Reds defence.
A Liverpool legend once sang money cant't buy you love, but there is one man on Merseyside who
would probably disagree.
As Liverpool prepare to face Stoke at Anfield on Wednesday, looking to put their first Premier
League points on the board in the new campaign, manager Rafa Benitez has managed to fit in a spot
of bargain basement shopping to fill a gaping hole in the Reds defence.
This may seem hard to believe, but the Premier League does actually have rules governing who can
gain control of a Premiership football club. You see, not just any Tom, Dick or deposed despot can
put on their wellies, wander into top paddock and milk the premiership cash cow. No, they must
first pass what is known as the ‘fit and proper person test'.
This may seem hard to believe, but the Premier League does actually have rules governing who can
gain control of a Premiership football club. You see, not just any Tom, Dick or deposed despot can
put on their wellies, wander into top paddock and milk the Premiership cash cow. No, they must
first pass what is known as the ‘fit and proper person test'.
If I were the head of the Serbian Football Federation, I'd be worried. The racist chanting by
Serbian fans during their U21 team's final group match against England has really landed them in
it. UEFA don't mess about when it comes to serious matters like this; they operate a policy of
‘zero tolerance'.
Or at least that's what UEFA spokesclown, William Gaillard, would like us to believe.
If I were the head of the Serbian Football Federation, I'd be worried. The racist chanting by
Serbian fans during their U21 team's final group match against England has really landed them in
it. UEFA don't mess about when it comes to serious matters like this; they operate a policy of
‘zero tolerance'.
Following the Champions' league exits of England's top two sides, it seems that it is now
universally accepted that going for victory in all competitions is foolish, it being ‘impossible
to win on all fronts'. In fact, the very use of this terminology – usually found in descriptions
of failed German attempts to conquer Europe – suggests that attempting to win the Champions'
League alongside other domestic competitions is as difficult as taking an army through Russia in
wintertime.
Following the Champions' league exits of England's top two sides, it seems that it is now
universally accepted that going for victory in all competitions is foolish, it being ‘impossible
to win on all fronts'. In fact, the very use of this terminology – usually found in descriptions
of failed German attempts to conquer Europe – suggests that attempting to win the Champions'
League alongside other domestic competitions is as difficult as taking an army through Russia in
wintertime.
It is common for football writers and pundits to heap praise upon players and managers whose media
profile far outweighs their achievements or abilities. It is, however, rare for inappropriate
superlatives to survive the test of time. In a rather strange inversion of a common assumption
regarding the veracity of historical accounts, the more time that separates the lauding of a player
or manager from their heyday, the more accurate the description is likely to be.
It is common for football writers and pundits to heap praise upon players and managers whose media
profile far outweighs their achievements or abilities. It is, however, rare for inappropriate
superlatives to survive the test of time. In a rather strange inversion of a common assumption
regarding the veracity of historical accounts, the more time that separates the lauding of a player
or manager from their heyday, the more accurate the description is likely to be.
It's funny how quickly things can change in football. Until last week, Arsenal were probably the
most stable and well-directed club in the country. The Emirates faithful were not burdened by
concerns about whether or not their owners would be able to cope with the crippling debts they had
secured against the club, or indeed, whether their manager may be sacked in an act of Stalinesque
ruthlessness.
It's funny how quickly things can change in football. Until last week, Arsenal were probably the
most stable and well-directed club in the country. The Emirates faithful were not burdened by
concerns about whether or not their owners would be able to cope with the crippling debts they had
secured against the club, or indeed, whether their manager may be sacked in an act of Stalinesque
ruthlessness.
The most entertaining sports are usually those that allow many and varied approaches to result in
success. Competitions where victory is not solely guaranteed by either the physical, technical, or
tactical elements of the game, but where different combinations of all three can yield rewards have
a greater appeal for one reason or another.
