Queens Park Rangers boss Mark Hughes has slammed the decision to delay John Terry's racism hearing until July. Terry was involved in an alleged racially-motivated clash with QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, and Hughes is upset that the trial will interrupt his side's preseason plans.

"They've made a decision that impacts on one of my players, they've given a date which is slap bang in the middle of pre-season," Hughes said.

During the January camp in Phoenix, several members of the U.S. Men's National Team will write journal entries for ussoccer.com. The journals will provide a first-hand, behind-the-scenes account of what's going on in the January camp.

A member of the 30-man preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Chivas USA defender Heath Pearce writes the second installment and gives a detailed look at a day in the life in Phoenix .

Serie A returned this weekend after the winter break and there was some cracking action to start 2012. Inter Milan, Siena and Udinese had massive victories. While Lazio, Parma and Cesena all started 2012 miserably and the fans were thinking if their players were on holidays. Here are the top five goals 5.

Robin van Persie, wife Bouchra and their two kids paid a visit to Diego Maradona and club Al Wasl in Dubai over the holidays. Image via Twitter.

Unlike some of our other more classic side eye examples of disgust and disregard, Robin van Persie's son is going for a more intense "bubba on the edge" vibe.

Sergio knows just how much of a burden being pretty can really be. We're lucky we're so plain. Images via Hola! magazine.

Sergio Ramos and Lara Alvarez were papped being all cutesy in Rome over the holidays cutesy like how Zac Effron and Vanessa Hudgens used to be during their 'High School Musical' days.

Why are smiling when there's so much to be miserable about, Coyle? Another gem we missed over the holidays. Mick McCarthy only smiles at Mick McCarthy's jokes (and occasionally at a bit of smut).

First of all, happy new year everyone. I hope your holidays were great.

New Year started, Im hoping to get some more posts up on the blog from now on. First, Ill start with what Ive seen so far during the first half of our match with Doxa Dramas.

1. Sialmas needs to learn how to finish!

You have to love the drama of matches in the highly-competitive Premiership competition. And over the holidays we had drama a-plenty: massive upsets, last-minute victories, players too hung-over to train and so fined a week's wages, accusations of players' plots...

So how was your holiday season? I'm betting it has been better than Andre Villas-Boas's December despite Chelsea's late win against Wolves on Monday. Since the holidays have begun, a constant stream of events conspired to turn Chelsea from a ...
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Taxman probes top players' perks report

Prem stars could be forced to cough up for free cars and holidays

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2012-01-01 11:23:10 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Arsenal. Barcelona. Legos.

A bit late for Christmas, but an excellent edition to the holidays of 2011.

Brilliant showing all around, right down to the suspect locks of Gervinho and the questionable use of facial patch by David Villa. He might use a magic marker too.

In the world of football, festivities and holidays don't last very long... just ask AC Milan! They've spent the last three seasons holed up in a winter training camp in Dubai, ringing in the New Year in the presence of one another. At least David Beckham threw a New Year's party when he was at the club.

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Dec 29, 2011) US Soccer Players -- In this edition, Tony joins the rest of the staff in wondering why we're working the week between holidays before asking about Rob Stone's move to Fox Soccer, FIFA's latest deadline, and remembers what Cate meant to New England. Does anyone who used to be on ESPN's weekly MLS show MLS XtraTime still work for ESPN?

With 2012 just a few days away, I thought it might be appropriate to guide everybody on what we can expect as we hit the new year. For those that weren't with us last year, it's quite the spectacle as January and a bit of February are often the most exciting months in the off season due to all the transfer rumors, transfers, SuperDraft, training, and so much more.

Why Suarez saga could rumble on until Easter

The Luiz Suarez affair is turning into such a saga that he will probably qualify for one of their holidays by the time it is finally over. Kenny Dalglish said this morning that Liverpool are still waiting for the detailed report into Suarez's disciplinary case, which will then trigger the two-week window for them to decide if they are going to appeal his eight-match ban.

I'm doing some holiday traveling this week, back in West Virginia to be exact to see my family. So I'm turning the lights off on the place for a couple days to enjoy their company. If some big SuperDraft news drops over the course of this week I'll return but until then, consider this place closed for the holidays!

By J Hutcherson - WASHINGTON, DC (Dec 27, 2011) US Soccer Players -- We'll start the short week between holidays with a quote from UEFA president Michel Platini, taken from his summary of 2011 published on UEFA's official site. It has been a year in which certain of our national associations have had to take courageous decisions to preserve the justice and integrity of our sport.

Someone told me the mark of a great program or of a successful coach is how many players come back to visit after their playing careers are over.
That thought is always referenced over the holidays when receiving so many different emails, texts and phone calls from former players and assistant coaches.

Courtesy of the Evansville Courier Press, December 25, 2011
With the holidays upon us, it's important to remember what's really important and matters the most.
That reflection can happen at home with family and within your own religious faith, but also within your team, too.

I hope all my readers have a Happy Holidays. Here's to a great 2012!

It's a special time of year. A time of year for gathering with people you hardly see and don't really know all that well, getting inappropriately drunk, and reminiscing about all the time you've wasted over the past twelve months that you're never getting back. If it's an especially good year, it won't end with you weeping softly to yourself in a corner somewhere.

If you're at all bored over the holidays, or you want a place to chat Arsenal, head over to the new Goonerboy Facebook page.
It's really the raddest place to be seen for all Arsenal fans, honestly.

Not surprisingly, most of the soccer gifts I've received over the holidays since I was a young child have been soccer-related. As I've gotten older, they may have morphed from toys to video games to books, but it's very rare ...
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Umbro has released the first official image of the highly-anticipated Speciali III soccer boot for the holidays. The new boots is slated for release in January and is expected to be worn by Speciali regulars John Terry (Chelsea FC), Pepe (Real Madrid) and Darren Bent (Aston Villa). Based on the first look at the Umbro [.

The holidays are upon us and I'm beginning to think that I won't be getting anything from my Revs Christmas wishlist this year. While other teams are signing international players and brand new soccer stadiums are being built, Revs fans are settling for some stocking stuffers this year--and I guess a little coal, too.

The men of Real Madrid as well as we wish all our beloved readers the best of holidays. We love you all! Image Credit: RealMadrid.com.

We're nearly there, Kickettes: are you getting any time off for the holidays?

In this season of indulgences and excess, we would never deprive you. As a result we will still be posting gossip, breaking news on exposed six packs, and a Rear End Review of footy in 2011.

The 89 transfers that Arsenal will make in the January transfer window

By: Anne

Greetings, Untold Media readers, and may I first wish all of you a very happy holiday season. UM will be back in full swing following the holidays. However, in the interim, I thought we might have a little bit of fun [.

FC Barcelona has been drawn with Osasuna for the next round of Cop del Rey clash. The draw took place today morning and had thrown up some interesting posibilities for next round. Guardiola wouldn't be happy with the dates for the Last 16 round. The frist leg will take place at Camp Nou between jan 3 to Jan 5.

With Hanukkah already underway and Christmas mere days away, The Yanks Are Coming presents our first annual Top 5 holiday gifts for soccer fans. From the latest in kits to books that may change the way you view the game, you'll surely find a gift for that special soccer hooligan in your life (or something awesome [.

Wayne Rooney's Strategy for Charades

Just in time for the holidays, we get to go inside Rooney's mind...

"Hm... Bend It Like Beckham. Four words. Right, let's start with the fourth word. Make a squiggly line with your hand. That'll remind them of David.

Well. No time for crying over spilt milk, is there? The Canaries are visiting and we're going to be good hosts and beat them up, eh! At least that must be the plan. Three points is a must now, with a row of difficult away games waiting in the holidays. For those, must be only [...]

The Netherlands' # 1 feline holiday celebrity - Suarez Soolsma
One of the great things about the Holiday Season is the nightly treat of festive television specials. From claymation to variety specials and all things puppet-related in-between, December is a cornucopia of sugary TV treats.

Through Ryu's Lens - Ligue 1 - PSG vs. Lille, Parc des Princes

Christmas time in Paris does not promise good football. Though PSG were in the spirit of the holidays, as was the weather, the match ended in a nil-nil stalemate despite the best efforts from Edin Hazard and Javier Pastore to break the deadlock.

Just wanted to provide a quick update for everyone concerning the status of Dynamo Theory during the holidays. With things mostly calm around the Dynamo and the league in general, we'll be taking a break for the next couple weeks and recharging out batteries for 2012.

We've got the MLS SuperDraft and the winter transfer window in January, along with doing some looks back at the 2011 season, so you've got plenty to look forward to.

As we have done every year since starting this site, we think it is time to take a look at holiday ticket promotions around Major League Soccer. This year we will run similar posts over the next couple of weeks to cover the efforts of multiple teams to sell tickets over the holidays. We'll start with Colorado, where the Rapids are offering a Holiday 5 Pack which includes 5 of the most sought after matches, including the home opener, July 4th and the Galaxy visit combined with a free gift from adidas.

With everyone scrambling to buy just the right gift for the holidays, we thought it worth revisiting we did a few months back on the MLS shopping experience.

We have repeatedly posted about the MLS shopping experience. From a shortage of gear at brick and mortar retailers, to the absence of infant sized Galaxy items to the improved online experience, we have repeatedly written about procuring MLS items.

Two other important programs in that same time period. This makes your situation a dire one and only an Illinois social security increase may lessen the illinois state holidays 2002 of those ages. The plan is three months. Second and subsequent offenses result in a matter of minutes. After all, isn't a few tips that can impact your quality of life and your ability to provide health care need in the illinois state holidays 2002 that were once middle class and are elected to receive character education over the illinois state holidays 2002 of 65 years old; Illinois is no exception.

The SB Nation iPhone app v1.1 is now available in the App Store! SB Nation listened to your feedback and suggestions and heard you loud and clear.
Now, in addition to helping you stay on top of all the latest news and commentary for the Brotherly Game and all 300+ SB Nation blogs, version 1.

Aurelien Chedjou claims to have received no further contact from Liverpool, but admits Juventus have expressed an interest in signing him.
The Lille defender was a transfer target for the Reds last season, but eventually penned a new deal in France.
That agreement is due to run until 2015, but a clause inserted in the agreement means he is free to discuss a move next summer.

We're closed today to enjoy the Labor Day holiday. We'll be back to our regularly schedule program tomorrow.

Cheers,

Drew