According to Football Italia, Samuel Eto'o has cemented his reputation as the Oprah Winfrey of footballers by giving each and every member of the Cameroon national team, which he captains, a £30,000 watch simply because they qualified for the World Cup.

Meanwhile, every other national team captain is cursing his name for making them look bad.

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Ah, to be a fly on the wall.

Diego Armando Maradona, coach of the Argentine National team, and all around deity, graced FIFA's Zurich based home to answer questions on his media outburst nearly one month ago. In typical Maradona fashion, he arrived 50 minutes late to his scheduled hearing, with an envoy of limousines following him, wearing a track suit and sunglasses.

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As coaching goes, Fabio Capello and Diego Maradona could not be more different. In short one is brilliant, the other is not. However, they do have quite a few similarities:

- Both are hated by many.
- Both were accomplished footballers.
- Both love spas.
- Both draw the consistent ire of the Italian tax authorities.

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West Brom striker, erm, grasses up Eagles Roman Bednar has been having a bit of a moan about cruel-hearted Crystal Palace players who allegedly called him a drug dealer during their recent match against West Brom. The Czech striker is just returning from a three-month suspension after being caught buying cocaine and cannabis by the News of [. Click to continue reading...

Adrian Mutu takes some time off cocaine to sniff out these links One less fat bastard for football. Are you watching Sepp Blatter? [Chelsea FC] The boyhood teams of some the game's biggest names [The Spoiler] Besiktas fans are no joke [The Original Winger] How Dunga finally got his team right [See The Cup] The Mirror's own version of alternative [. Click to continue reading...

More salsa than an Ol Del Paso sex party, it's Spanish football. This week's results (So far)...

Sevilla 4 1 Zaragoza
Espanyol 0 3 Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid 1 1 Racing Santander
Getafe C.F 0 2 Barcelona
Espanyol 0 3 Real Madrid
A solid performance from Real here.

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Fiorentina forward Adrian Mutu has offered to make a huge donation to charity if his former employer's Chelsea are prepared to waive his 17million euro fine. Mutu was handed the huge fine by Fifa for breaching his contract at Stamford Bridge after he tested positive for cocaine in 2004.

Mutu took his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) but they upheld Fifa's ruling.

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I know there is much more salacious and highly-anticipated news out there in MLSland to talk about today but I like to avoid the obvious if at all possible. So let's talk about the Luis Angel Landin signing. Just for a minute. Then I'm going back to chopping out this pineapple I bought at the farmer's market (I'm hooked on pineapples at the moment; it works well with alcohol and grilled meats so it's basically the perfect summer food. Click to continue reading...

If you think Real Madrid are dominating the shirt sales racket with their new roster of Galacticos, you are apparently wrong. According to Flamengo chief Ricardo Hinrichsen, his club have that title firmly in hand thanks to the ungodly rate their Adriano-approved garments are getting sucked out of their club shop.

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Exposing Bath's drug shame - Times Online
While Bath City's new campaign has started off with a delightful six points out of a possible nine, the bigger sports club in town is facing up to a real catastrophe. Bath Rugby is in the midst of a drug taking scandal of the likes of which have never been seen before in British rugby. Click to continue reading...

This week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Adrian Mutu's appeal against an order to pay Chelsea damages after his sacking in 2004 for riding the white horse.

Having a snowcone. Dating the peruvian lady. Taking a sleigh ride. You get the idea.

Mutu, who was with the Blues for one season (03-04), now must cough up £14.

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Drugs in sports is a big topic at the moment, but the news that Adrian Mutu must pay Chelsea 17million euros in damages for breach of contract due to a failed drug test, has to send shock waves throughout sports.

Adrian Mutu was signed by Chelsea in 2003 for £15m. A year later he tested positive for cocaine and was given a seven-month worldwide football ban.

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Adrian Mutu was fined $17.2 million euros today after a long dispute between him and his former club. It was supposed to be one of Cheslea's best additions to their team but things quickly went sour.

Adrian Mutu

Mutu used to play for Chelsea back in 2003 but was suspended after he tested positive for cocaine.

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Adrian Mutu is ordered by the Court of Arbritation for Sport to pay Chelsea £14.63m after losing his appeal against a FIFA ruling for a breach of contract. Mutu was sacked in 2004 after he tested positive for cocaine and given a seven-month ban, he cost Chelsea £15m in 2003. That's probably the most expensive line [. Click to continue reading...

Well, it's official: Adrian Mutu must pay Chelsea FC €17m, so says the Court for Arbitration of Sport. The ruling was handed down awhile ago, sometime last year to be not quite precise, but Adrian went through the various appeals process with little success. In fact he probably wishes he'd kept his big bazzoo shut, [. Click to continue reading...

Adrian Mutu is facing a bill in excess of £14.6m after a Fifa compensation award to Chelsea was upheld by sport's highest court. The sum was for Mutu's breach of contract relating to his having tested positive for using cocaine in September 2004. Click to continue reading...

Peter Crouch has proposed to his girlfriend, Abigail Clancy. During their recent holiday in Sardinia, he popped the question - and of course, she said yes.

Peter and Abbey have been dating for 3 years.

The early part of their relationship was a little hectic, with the two breaking up after Abbey's cocaine scandal and some sort of drama with another bloke.

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Peter Crouch has proposed to his girlfriend, Abigail Clancy. During their recent holiday in Sardinia, he popped the question - and of course, she said yes.

Peter and Abbey have been dating for 3 years.

The early part of their relationship was a little hectic, with the two breaking up after Abbey's cocaine scandal and some sort of drama with another bloke.

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Poor ex-samples
19 Players That Failed Drugs Tests
1. Frank de Boer
Former Dutch international defender. Tested positive for nandrolone while playing for Barcelona in 1994. Joined Rangers in 2004.
2. Lee Bowyer
Formerly of Leeds, Newcastle and West Ham. Tested positive for cannabis in 1995 and banned for several months. Click to continue reading...

West Brom striker tries to avoid football ban with possible jail-time Roman Bednar looks to be in it up to his neck after the News of the World ran a story which seemingly caught the Czech striker buying cocaine and cannabis outside his home. The 26-year-old has been suspended by West Brom for allegedly purchasing the [. Click to continue reading...

News leaking this afternoon, and it has been alledged that the West Brom striker, Roman Bednar, bought cocaine and cannabis hours after a Premier League game.

Reports from the News-of-the-World newspaper, suggest Bednar bought drugs from a car outside his home in Sutton Coldfield, hours after West Brom beat Wigan in the Premier League, where Bednar was an unused sub.

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Not the best way to prepare for a must win encounter! West Bromwich Albion have suspended Roman Bednar following allegations that the striker bought cocaine and cannabis hours after a Premier League match. According to the News of the World, the 26-year-old purchased drugs from a car outside his house in Sutton . Click to continue reading...

Getting the right to young soccer prodigies is a science for top clubs. Apparently some don't like the way Arsene Wenger goes about the business.
Some have gone so far as to compare it to "child trafficking" and "kidnapping."
A bit extreme I think. Just a little.
Now the links:

• What is up with Sacha K.

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Brazil great claims wayward stars are on drugs Pele has used a court case involving his cocaine-addict son, Edinho, to voice allegations that modern day Brazilian stars Ronaldo and Robinho are both drug users. In a statement read to the court, he said: #8220;It is unfair to talk about drugs in football because of just one [. Click to continue reading...

Something to read while you learn that good choreography has a price... What's on your football bucket list? (Weekend Warrior Offside) "Landy flows how Landy's gotta flow" (Dirty Tackle) A very accidental one-two (101 GG)* Pop quiz: Can you spot the Englishman? (England WCB) Assenal join Livelpool in the Shadow Premier League (Unprofessional Foul) 55,000 football fans congregate in Montreal. Click to continue reading...

Controversies and scandals and shame! Oh my! You guys did a great job of naming our bad boys of the week. Not a one went unguessed. And you even came up with some new scandals I didn't know/hadn't thought about! Congrats once again to "Eros, juve," this week doing business as "eros [...] Click to continue reading...

Stuff to read while you buy cocaine from your priest........ Someone who isn't a fan of Vinnie Jones' movie career. (Guardian Unlimited) An interview with Darren Huckerby. (Unprofessional Foul) Zola must achieve the highest highs to stick on at Upton Park. (Soccer Advise) Newcastle fans: In need of an owner & spelling lessons. Click to continue reading...

Ramon Calderon is a man who has serious problems with putting his finger on reality. It could be that the pressure of presidency at the greatest club in the world is getting to him. Or it could be the age. Or the cocaine... In any case, he's been speaking to the press again (what with the [...] Click to continue reading...

At the time, somehow it slipped quite under the radar that back in June the FIFA powers-that-be ruled that Adrian Mutu owed Chelsea the princely sum of £9.6million for the whole cocaine debacle that led to the termination of his contract and subsequent free move abroad to Juventus. Now though, after a further two months of appeals, FIFA's pompously-titled Disputes Resolution Chamber has decided that close to £10million was clearly just a ridiculous sum for an individual to pay, even a footballer. Click to continue reading...

And with the season upon us, it's time for more predictions which will almost certainly not come true because my crystal ball is dirty and unreliable. Just like Man City's ownership. The Big Four.....will stay the Big Four. Every year someone is supposed to crack through and break the big moneyed foursome clotting the top of [. Click to continue reading...

It wasn't widely report at the time, but back in June FIFA decided that Adrian Mutu owed Chelsea €12 million (£9.6 million) compensation. Why? For putting some special Colombian powder up his nostrils, getting his contract terminated and then signing for Juventus on a free transfer before moving on to current club Fiorentina. Click to continue reading...

I'm very proud to announce that we are a team that can now string together 2 wins in a row! The first time for 16 months!
We beat Stockport 1 - 0 Tuesday night in the League Cup. On Saturday we play ... er ... Stockport again in the League. At their gaff this time.
And good old Luton beat Plymouth 2 - 0 in the same competition. Click to continue reading...

Modern football guarantees that silly season is always on, 12 months out of 12. Former Chelsea striker Adrian Mutu was sacked in 2004 after failing a drug test for cocaine. After a four delay (in claims, counter-claims, appeals, etc), Fifa's Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) awarded Chelsea a hefty compensation. Click to continue reading...

What? You thought I forgot there was a little three decade-long grudge match tonight? Blogger please. I will not rest until I get a call from FSC's Mitch Peacock himself saying "you can stop now, we really don't have the bandwidth for an audience this size." Until then, I'm going to keep reminding you to do whatever you have to do to watch the game on FSC at 11pmEST. Click to continue reading...

If you're overweight and bankrupt, then what better solution than a return to professional football? You get lots of exercise, and the money's pretty damn good. Even in the A-League. Ex-Villa, Man Utd and Chelsea keeper (and, we might add, ex-cocaine fiend) Mark Bosnich tried the big comeback last season at 35 years old, but his [. Click to continue reading...