"Go on, touch it. I've put the safety on."Football on a Friday night? It's just not cricket. Perhaps that was the reason for Tottenham's utterly distasteful performance at Vicarage Road as they scraped past a plucky Watford. If you were to believe the general theme of the commentary and post-match media reports, you'd be forgiven for thinking Spurs arrived in north west London, rudely parked their giant team coach wherever they chose, shaped to headbutt anyone and everyone on their way in and spend the entire game cheating and coercing the ref into allowing them victory.

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The aim of the award-winning international soccer blog Pitch Invasion has been to publish thoughtful, long-form writing that digs well below the headlines, and explores the culture of sport, the engagement of fans with the spectacle of world soccer and the game's forgotten history.

LONDON, England A British soccer player is suing Twitter over information published on the messaging website, the BBC reported on Friday, fuelling a growing debate in Britain over the right to privacy and press freedom in the internet age. The unnamed professional player began proceedings at London's High Court this week, accusing the U.

OSLO, Norway — Nearly 100 of Norway's topflight football players went on strike Friday demanding the right to choose their own boots and other equipment. The strike, affecting nine of the league's teams including leader Tromsoe, forced the Norwegian football association to postpone matches scheduled for Sunday and Monday.

LONDON/ZURICH Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president who is standing for re-election admits there is a ground swell of popular support to rehold the 2022 vote won by Qatar The Fifa president Sepp Blatter made the startling disclosure yesterday that he could not rule out a rerun of the voting for the right to host [.

SEATTLE, WA Finalists for the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2011 were announced Thursday by U.S. Soccer. Voting has already begun and continues through March 11. The results will be announced in a few months. Here are the voting rules for the player category as detailed in the USSF press release: The [.

LONDON, England The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice has put forward the view that it is against EU law to stop broadcasters across the continent from showing football matches using foreign decoder cards. Juliane Kokott gave her thoughts to judges at the ECJ, who are expected to deliver their verdict on [.

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands The board of Rotterdam football club Feyenoord has announced the suspension of technical director Leo Beenhakker. General director Eric Gudde said there had been a crisis of trust between Beenhakker and the club. At a press conference last week Beenhakker, who had just learned his contract with Feyenoord would not be extended, [.

DOHA, Qatar — Saudi Arabia fired its second coach this month after closing out a disappointing Asian Cup campaign with a 5-0 loss to Japan. The Saudi Press Agency says Nassir al-Johar was fired and would be replaced by a "high profile" international coach. Al-Johar, who was brought in for his fifth stint with the [.

Why do Spurs have a habit of shooting themselves in the foot? I'm all for positive thinking and the press will always ask you questions like, "do you think you can beat United on Sunday?", but it's how we answer those questions that seem to help opposition managers with their team talks.

I have a pet hate when it comes to Harry Redknapp and that's his inability to keep his mouth shut. However, I'm not stupid enough to assume everything he says are his own opinions, especially when it comes to player signings. I may be completely wrong but judging by the odd comment here and there about what he's allowed to say and what he's not I think it's safe to assume someone within the club briefs him regularly.

DOHA, Qatar — Saudi Arabian football chiefs sacked coach Jose Peseiro on Sunday immediately after his demoralised side slumped to a shock 2-1 defeat at the hands of unfancied Asian Cup outsiders Syria. The 2007 finalists and three-time champions announced that Nasser Al Johar will take over from the 50-year-old Portuguese for the remainder of the [.

LIVERPOOL, England — The Football Association will open an investigation after Liverpool winger Ryan Babel posted a digitally altered picture on Twitter of referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt. Webb awarded a penalty against Liverpool and later sent off its captain Steven Gerrard as Man United won 1-0 in the third round of [.