The France-Ireland match and the aftermath have been extremely emotional for all involved.

The Match

France humiliated themselves with a pathetic performance, arguably the worst of the Domenech era, which is saying something.

Ireland played very well, but blew multiple goal-scoring chances that would have booked their spot in the World Cup.

Click to continue reading...

The Egyptians summon the Algerian envoy twice, recall their envoy from Algiers. Sudan summons the Egyptian envoy in Khartoum. The Algerian embassy is currently under siege in Cairo with thousands of fans trying to storm their compound. It's all happening in rapid succession.

Now Egypt has upped the ante threatening to pull out of football for two years in protest of what happened to fans, sports officials, and players in Sudan.

Click to continue reading...

So, in the sober light of day, a few things I feel need to be said. Traditionally when people get hot and bothered about something in football, I try and keep my distance. I didn't this morning, and so I want to add a few things to my little two-cents.
First, I don't buy the whole "poetry of the injustice of life reflected in sport" business, that soccer, indeed all of sport, has always been this way, with dives, fouls, goals not given, twas ever thus and ever shall be, world without end, amen. Click to continue reading...

The Head Man at Manchester United, Gary Neville, had what I would call a "well-intentioned" idea about officiating in the Premier League that has a snowball's-chance-in-hell of happening.� Neville wants the Premier League to come up with a "pool" of good officials to officiate the most important and biggest Premier League matches.

Click to continue reading...

Birmingham City left Anfield seething with injustice last night after being denied victory over Liverpool because of a controversial penalty won by David Ngog, who they accused of "an embarrassing case of cheating".
Liverpool were trailing when Ngog went down in the penalty area under a challenge by Lee Carsley. Click to continue reading...

It has been a long and sometimes unforgiving decade for the Bulls. They played in the highest of highs (an MLS Cup Appearance) and the lowest of the lows (2009), suffered extreme anguish over injustice (Diallo, Petke is still gunning for you), and extreme ecstasy (Mathis - those 5 goals were a thing of beauty).

Click to continue reading...

Terry deals with his demons as Chelsea get lucky. Things you should have noticed from Sunday's big encounter:

Ain't that just the way that life goes down down down

Well, it was bound to happen. As sure as eggs is eggs, the sky is blue and that Mrs. Marlon King will be enjoying a nice relaxing few months, John Terry was bound to score the winner against Man Utd sooner or later.

Click to continue reading...

In this new series, I'll be looking back at some of Liverpool's FC's most demoralizing football moments - incidents and games that left fans in a state of shock for weeks – and sometimes months – afterwards. I'll start off with an infamous game from January 1999 that sent Gerard Houllier's team into freefall and arguably ended the club's season: The soul-destroying FA Cup 4th round defeat to Manchester United. Click to continue reading...

Today is your lucky day we've got two dirty tackles in one clip for you. That's right, go eat some expired cheese, because you can't lose!

Anyway, in the first clip young Mr. Joey Richmond gets thrown to the ground (0:30; keep your eyes on the background in front of the goal) while waiting for a free kick to be taken.

Click to continue reading...

Pardon the overly extreme headline and this will be a short one, I promise but it's things like these that rub bloggers or independent reporters the wrong way. You would expect the mainstream media to follow basic journalistic etiquette; if it's a quote you attribute the source, or give credit where it's due.

Click to continue reading...

"owww!"

Wasn't expecting that. Not at all. Well. Ok, maybe from watching the game you could argue that after Defoe took his goal with a bicycle kick, (something that would cause the majority of Spurs fans to erupt in one way or another); the fact that Berbatov had obviously dived to gain the free kick that Giggs slotted home was a trifle unfair.

Click to continue reading...

I'd like to thank every reader, especially the many non-Liverpool fans, who have written to me with their support for Michael Shields during the past four years.
Hundreds of you got in touch to express your disgust at his treatment and to pass on your support to his family. I did, and they passed it on to him. Click to continue reading...

Showing off our link-up play Glenn Hoddle on the injustice of the Hand of God. He must have sinned in a previous life. [Channel Bee] The latest editon of the often hilarious and always disturbing Artur Boruc's Friday Rage List [Dirty Tackle] A decent long-range strike was one of six goals Germany's women put past England to win [. Click to continue reading...

I haven't had the best of days, although I won't bore you with the details.
But as I was driving home listening to Talk Sport I heard some news that lifted my spirits and made my own silly little troubles pale into insignificance.
Remember this story?
Well if you had not heard already, Michael Sheilds has been released today with a full royal pardon. Click to continue reading...

Today a four year legal battle that has dominated the national and international news has come to an end, Michael Shields has been pardoned by the British government following his conviction for attempted murder in a Bulgarian court. After serving time in both Bulgarian and British prisons Michael Shields will be freed in the coming days a thought that must have seemed a long way off following his conviction and 10 year sentence four years ago.

Click to continue reading...

It seemed strangely correct to somehow correct the the injustice Ronaldo may have served upon himself by way of excessive eating by showing you a compilation displaying the immense talent the former Barcelona, Real Madrid and Inter Milan striker did possess.

Don't forget to check out Online Football Manager!

Click to continue reading...

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has been compared to the Argentinian legend 'El Diego' throughout their career. Messi has been brought up as the natural heir to Maradona's throne, while Ronaldo has always maintained the view that he is above all in the world. As far as I am concerned these comparisions are futile and I have stated the same many times earlier. Click to continue reading...

In a moment of astonishingly ill-advised candour, UEFA President Michel Platini has offered a disturbing insight into the cheating mindset of footballers.
Speaking in response to the recent Eduardo dive, Platini, for some inexplicable reason, dropped this bombshell:
"I know why players dive. Click to continue reading...

I hate that I am becoming the new "Takedown-meister" here on BS, but this comment on Ed's US-Mexico recap has set me off.
Quote: Originally Posted by FijiUnited Americans have always been change agents. If anyone can change the referee problem in CONCACAF, its us. Click to continue reading...

OK, so watch carefully as an inept linesman fails to rule out Goran Pandev's goals as way way offside, I mean criminally offside, very dubious. Clearly riled by this injustice fight back from two goals down. Fernando Torres puts away a header early in the second half and former Man United man Gerard Pique scores after good work from Arsenal magician Cesc Fabregas.

Click to continue reading...

At the behest of some friends who found this story first, we're passing along this story of what looks like a miscarriage of justice against UC-Santa Barbara ace Eric Frimpong.
Its shameful that in 2009 on America's birthday, such things are still happening in this country.
Read, make up your own mind, and if you think its as unjust as the rest of us do, please offer your support. Click to continue reading...

Strange goings on in Indonesia as Sriwijaya FC are crowned Champions of the Copa Indonesia on Sunday after opponents Persipura walked out of the match.
Sriwijaya were announced as winners by the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI), because Persipura players had refused to return to the field to continue the match. Click to continue reading...

Word on the street is that the City of Carson is going to try and crack down on the beloved Home Depot Center Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog Vendors and take all the carts away!

This is a total injustice and straight up B.S.! The Bacon Dogs are part of the Home Depot Center Soccer experience and have become quite famous as an after game treat.

Click to continue reading...

Hello and welcome to my final betting preview of the season as we look forward to the three play-off finals, with a particular focus on the Championship Play-Off Final I correctly predicted that it would be Burnley and Sheffield United who would meet at Wembley this Monday, to contest the £60 million prize that awaits the winners. Click to continue reading...

More midweek madness in the Tippeliga as Molde try to keep up with Rosenborg, Mad Martin tries to hold on to his job for a few more days, Lyn try to keep the derby-ghost alive and Viking try to be less terrible at football.

Thursday

Molde (2nd) - Tromsø (12th)

The whole Tore Reginiussen-situation is growing increasingly bizarre.

Click to continue reading...

So Manchester United are champions again. Congratulations to Fergie & Co. They did the minimum, and still retained the title for the third consecutive year. Better that than a Liverpool commencement. I assume you'd agree.

On to the week's main event, a home date with Blackburn Rovers. On the surface, it appears a pushover.

Click to continue reading...

I sailed an ocean, unsettled ocean
Through restful waters and deep commotion
Often frightened, unenlightened
Sail on, sail on, sailor

Maybe it's just natural to feel sympathy for these slighted creatures. To see the anguish on their faces as the referee penalises them for reasons they can't fathom; to see the disbelief register on their tormented visages as a penalty appeal is dismissed; to see one slam the turf with open palms, enraged that the contact that sent him to the floor was not deemed sufficient for censure.

Click to continue reading...

Hands up if you wanted to see a Barcelona v. Manchester United final.
Sorry Chelsea fans but it really is the final everyone wanted to see.
As the final whistle blew at Stamford Bridge last night I couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice for Chelsea, however that feeling of injustice was quickly replaced by a feeling of anticipation. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has been criticized by the Sporting Director at former club Atletico Madrid after walking out on the Primera Division side to fulfill his potential in the Premier League.
The 25-year-old spent six years at the Vicente Calderon stadium and earned heroic status amongst the fans before departing for Merseyside in 2007 in a deal worth around £20m. Click to continue reading...

Chelsea's No.1 celebrity fan rages at the injustice of it all Immediately after Chelsea were knocked out by Barcelona, Tim Lovejoy posted up a video blog of his thoughts on the game (watch it here). Here are some things that...

Click to continue reading...

A stoppage time equalizer by Barcelona's Andres Iniesta sealed the deal at Stamford Bridge, giving us a Man United - Barca Champions League finale in three weeks' time. Chelsea led most of the match and even had a man advantage after a somewhat harsh red card to Eric Abidal. Blues had plenty of chances to put the game to bed as well. Click to continue reading...

No, not Depeche Mode. I'm talking about that silence, that precious silence I'm going to enjoy well, all Chelsea fans are going to enjoy after the final whistle blows today.

You know, the one that confirms our second consecutive appearance in the Champions League final.

No more "Good vs.

Click to continue reading...

Rosenborg and Molde are still going strong, but NFN takes time out to salute the efforts of this years promoted teams, who have all been superb so far. Other notable events this weekend include the continuing struggles of Stabæk, Viking possibly turning some kind of corner and renewed calls for Mad Martin to go away.

Click to continue reading...

Hull City manager Phil Brown feels his side could have got something from their match against Liverpool, had it not been for the poor refereeing of Martin Atkinson.
The away side opened the scoring when Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso's thunderous strike found the net on 45 minutes.
The home side were then reduced to ten men after Caleb Folan was giving his marching orders for kicking out at Martin Skrtel. Click to continue reading...

Even the famous German sense of humour struggles to cope with injustice of Bayer's defeat to the league leaders, while Stuttgart's fine form continues at Köln.
Leverkusen miss the joke as Wolfsburg benefit from ref's comedy routine.
Nº Team GP W D L Pts1. Click to continue reading...