From Fox Sports:
'Victory skipper Kevin Muscat refused to shake hands with Brisbane rival Matt McKay after the match. "It's the first time I've ever refused to shake hands with a player after a game,'' said Muscat. "I won't go into details why, but he and I both know what he did. "I'm a great believer in what happens out there should stay out there. Click to continue reading...

My my, The Figos look absolutely perfeito in that photo snapped in Paris last week! In many ways, it's good that the Portuguese midfielder decided to retire from football completely... He could teach dear Guti below a thing or two about wearing proper pants.

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Over the weekend, Nani was keen to stress that his outburst against Sir Alex Ferguson last week did not constitute a ‘bust up' with his boss.

Speaking in a Portuguese newspaper, he was quoted as saying:-

"Ferguson is a very complicated man. He's tough. If things are all right, then they are all right.

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Class Act FIFA has banned Argentina Manager Diego Maradona from football from Nov 15- Jan 15 following his outburst post 1-0 victory over Uruguay last month. The stress of World Cup Qualification proved a bit much for Diego and although his nation had just won their spot in South Africa, he opened up in a lewd tirade [. Click to continue reading...

Big Story

While FIFA's decision to seed the European group playoff match-ups—basically a mulligan for underachieving powerhouses Portugal, France and Russia—worked according to plan, along came Egypt to remind us all why football is a sport like no other.

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There's never a dull moment in the life of Diego Armando Maradona. Following last month's crunch World Cup qualifying victory over Uruguay, guaranteeing his side's passage to next summer's Finals, the current Argentina coach unleashed an almighty, foul-mouthed tirade at journalists and critics.

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For his potty mouthed outburst following Argentina's win over Uruguay. (translation)

Here is an even more graphic video.

Till three weeks ago, Maradona remained unrepentant.

"I was getting it off my chest, and I don't regret it," Maradona said. "I gave my mother a kiss on the forehead and told her: 'If I was wrong I ask your forgiveness, but nobody else'.

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Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has stoked up the mounting pressure on himself by incredibly insisting: "I don't have to win a trophy."
The Reds' title dreams have been hit by FIVE League defeats already this season; they crashed out of the Carling Cup at Arsenal in midweek and their Champions League dreams will be in tatters if they lose Wednesday's crucial Group E clash in Lyon. Click to continue reading...

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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2 days. That's the time Fergie took to seal the fate of Nani. Recently, Nani had a stupid public outburst against Sir Alex Ferguson and it is rumoured that the Portuguese may be on his way to Italy. The Portuguese winger did not mince his words in an interview with a newspaper and that has probably left Ferguson furious. Click to continue reading...

Sad news out of Germany yesterday, as it appears star goalkeeper Robert Enke took his own life.
The 32 year old was apparently struck by a train. He is survived by his wife and their adopted daughter.
The impact of this one will be felt a while over there.
Now to some links:

• Irish dude rips Raymond Domenech.

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FC Barcelona easily advanced to the fifth round of the Spanish Copa del Rey tournament last night with a 5-0 win over Cultural Leonesa. Bojan Krkic scored a brace for FCB while Pedro Rodriguez, Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernandez added goals in a second-half outburst that saw the Catalan club beat its third-division opponent 7-0 overall. Click to continue reading...

The clubs at the top of the table keep crawling along. The clubs at the bottom keep sinking. Referees had a forgettable weekend and in between a player and a coach dropped bombshells.

Philipp Lahm. Bayern's disappointing draw at home against Schalke. Robben's moment of madness for which he should have seen a red card.

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If he were an opera star, he would be il divo.� If he were an American sports star, he would be called a prima dona (yes, Americans don't speak other languages well) and be compared to Terrell Owens or various NBA figures.� If he was a politician, he would rise to stratospheric heights only to quickly fall to the ground.

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I think I may have discovered what West Ham's problem is.
Their poor results may indeed be symptomatic of some problems with the manager, who some are suggesting is a leading contender for the sack race.
I think it is likely to have more to do with where the club focuses its attention, which it has to be said does not appear to feature football that predominantly. Click to continue reading...

So firstly, a few interesting happenings this week. Number one is that Matildas star Lisa de Vanna has been suspended for her little outburst last weekend. From the AAP report, De Vanna was angry at being substituted in the 31st minute of the Glory's 1-0 win over Adelaide on Saturday. She swore at coaching staff and a fourth official and also raised her middle finger towards members of the crowd as she went down the tunnel. Click to continue reading...

Jozy Altidore made headlines last week for the wrong reasons with his Twitter outburst after inexplicably showing up late to a match. This saw the striker, who is on his fourth club in fifteen months, suspended.

Altidore's skill set may be impressive but his body of work both at the club level and as an international is hardly Premiership caliber, at this point.

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On the most emotional night in Argentinian football history, Diego Maradona celebrated Argentina's direct qualification for South Africa World Cup Finals 2010 with a sexually provocative and profanity loaded outburst towards media critics and doubters alike.
This is what Maradona let fly during that now-famous TV interview,

"To those who did not believe in us, and I apologise in advance to the ladies present, they can go and suck my c*** and they can keep sucking it," he said.

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The visitors at Old Trafford this Saturday are local rivals Bolton Wanderers.� United got the better of the Wanderers last season with a 2-0 win, though there was a bit of controversy over the penalty decision that led to United's first goal, and they'll be looking for three points today after drawing with Sunderland last week.

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Diego Maradona's outburst leads to FIFA hearing

By Jerome Pugmire, AP Sports Writer

CAIRO — FIFA president Sepp Blatter says Diego Maradona's profanity-filled tirade on live television after Argentina qualified for next year's World Cup will lead the organization's disciplinary committee to open a case against the former great.

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The disgusting phrase that Maradona used in last night's press conference towards his critics in the Argentine media has now, sadly, taken on a life of its own.

Besides all the Argentine and international media coverage of Maradona's foul outburst, which has become the main headline and overshadowed Argentina's WC qualification and historic win in Montevideo, a website has been created "in honor" of Maradona's remark.

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Unless you've been living under a a rock, you'll no doubt be aware that the FA have a campaign called Respect aimed at encouraging players, staff and fans to be respectful to match day officials.

The problem is, as been stated many times, respect is a two way thing. You cannot simply demand respect and show contempt at the same time.

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Morning Insiders'� we have taken the best bits from todays papers. The usual suspects are there with the Fabregas Barcelona stories.

The Sun -� � Barcelona eye Rob & Fab� BARCELONA have admitted both Robinho AND Cesc Fabregas are top of their January shopping list.

Asked about Barca's interest in Manchester City's Brazilian striker Robinho, Barca sporting director Txiki Begiristain said: "He is a very interesting footballer and could play for us in the Champions League.

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Alex Ferguson has issued an apology over comments made about Alan Wiley's fitness following United's disappointing 2-2 draw with Sunderland.

United salvaged a point from the match thanks to an injury time own goal from Anton Ferdinand but rather than point the spotlight at his own players, Ferguson let rip at Alan Wiley claiming he was ‘unfit' and questioned the referee's timekeeping.

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According to the official F.A website over 7000 referees quit football every year because of the abuse they receive from players and from the sideline.� The Respect campaign was launched in an attempt to provide a safe and positive environment for players and referees to enjoy the game from grassroots to elite football.

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I've deliberately avoided all the post World Cup qualification hooplah. Mostly because the usual questions: "Can we win it this time?" etc, make me want to stab myself in the leg with a pencil. And anyone who uses the phrase "Can England win it? Yes. Will they win it? No." should be reminded that
a) It's not clever or original if a thousand other people have already said it first, and
b) You deserve to be stabbed in the leg with a pencil.

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The Manchester derby was a joy to behold for football fans around the globe, but in the aftermath of the match all of the focus is on Craig Bellamy and his violent outburst.

Pictures prove that Bellamy punched a spectator that entered the field, and there is no covering up his blemish.

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Roo's rages No one likes being subbed, particularly after a poor performance. I recall once being hauled off with ten minutes left in a cup semi final; I'd just stuck a one-on-one wide and was not in the best of moods. Like the Manchester United striker I chucked my boots off in disgust. This outburst was [. Click to continue reading...

When Cristiano Ronaldo left Manchester United over the summer, questions were asked about who would replace the ever-present match winner in Sir Alex Ferguson's side. Wayne Rooney has thus far proven the man to replace the world's greatest player, and Tuesday night against Besiktas he took that to a whole new level.

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The red mist descended around Wayne Rooney last night as he was substituted for Michael Owen in the 64th minute in the 1 – 0 win away to Besiktas. At the time, the game was tied at 0-0 and Rooney, playing as a lone striker, although working hard, had been relatively ineffective.

Prior to the game, Rooney was one of just three players to have started all six of our games this season (Evra and Foster are the other two) and Ferguson always planned to bring the England international off; no doubt with an eye on derby day this Sunday.

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The fly on the wall in Rafa Benitez's office at Melwood on Thursday will certainly have a story to tell.
Ryan Babel had some serious explaining to do following his return from international duty.
The Dutchman's outburst while he was away with his national side was as ill advised as it was nonsensical. Click to continue reading...

Arsene Wenger's slide into dementia continues after an outrageous attack on Manchester United midfielder, Darren Fletcher. The Arsenal creche manager claimed that United only play Fletcher in order for him to commit fouls on the pitch and play "anti-football." Wenger's outburst was in response� to answering questions about his teams recent defeat to United, where he said [. Click to continue reading...

Liverpool could have to pay more than £1million to sign teenager Max Clayton after complaints about an unofficial approach from his club Crewe.
The Anfield side are the latest Premier League giants to come under scrutiny for their behaviour in recruiting top young talent from smaller teams, after a passionate outburst from Gresty Road director of football Dario Gradi. Click to continue reading...

In� the US Open Cup final earlier this week, I (and plenty of other soccer fans) witnessed one of the dirtiest plays in soccer� since the� last World Cup.� Although this play was not as legendary as the infamous Zidane headbutt or even the classic Wayne Rooney stomp of Christiano Ronaldo's family jewels, it was still shocking to see.

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Big losses to Spurs and Villa are not what Rafa Benitez had in mind when the season began. The pundits were pegging Liverpool to win the Premiership. The stuttering start has taken its toll and there are rumours that the Reds dressing room atmosphere is less salubrious nowadays.

Rafa had gotten into a well publicized spat before with Steven Gerrard who looked like a shadow of himself in the Spurs match but it is Ryan Babel who is getting the business end of the stick and was singled out for the team's pathetic display.

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