Photo: Daniel Gajdamowicz

Philadelphia Union

Several Union players talk about preseason training at YSC SPorts last week. The team landed in Orlando on Sunday.

Danny Califf, acknowledging that only he and Brian Carroll are the only players remaining on the Union who are older than 27, tells MLSsoccer.

We thought it'd be appropriate to spend a few minutes of today to send our thoughts and prayers out to the families of Egypt's football tragedy last night. Contrary to popular beliefs, we all know that football shouldn't be a matter of life and death. Lives can't be taken away out of one's anger at the scoreline of a match.

It's hard to take Pele seriously these days with the quality of stories he's been sharing with the children at your local playground. The Brazilian legend who hates Maradona and would never give him a "lift on a rainy day" (thankfully Kun's got that problem sorted) has attempted to go back on the "Cuando Messi" saga.

I arrived tonight in Vancouver, B.C., for the FIFA/CONCACAF Conference on the FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany 2011. After looking through my brochure, I'm excited to see that many coaches, instructors and staff from FIFA projects I've worked on previously, and many of my fellow Americans, will be here.

And so the roulette wheel continues to spin.

Paris St.-Germain have pulled out of talks with Manchester City to sign striker Carlos Tevez. The Ligue 1 leaders were considered the front-runners after talks with AC Milan broke down last week. PSG's sporting director Leonardo and new manager Carlo Ancelotti met with Tevez's advisers but couldn't come to terms

"There was an opportunity, we have studied it, we made a good offer but failed to agree a deal," Leonardo told L'Equipe.

Not the NY Cosmos MLS bid here...

-

Imagine a world where Sepp Blatter and Jack Warner's shady dealings weren't illuminated...to all?

Or better? That Lionel Messi's brilliance wasn't on display for the world prostrate.

(Our two cents: SOPA was never going to come to be both politically and technically.

Philadelphia Union

Are the Union shopping Danny Mwanga, as was reported by Ives Galarcep on Wednesday? "For the record we are not shopping Danny Mwanga," Diego Gutierrez tells Kerith Gabriel. "A lot of teams are finding themselves in a tough spot in the market and are looking within the league to supplement.

The hips don't lie, but he does Not happy with simply annoying almost everyone in football with his views from the dark agaes on racism and women's football, Sepp Blatter did his best to make everyone wretch at the Ballon d'or awards on Monday night. As he entered the stage with Shakira, Blatter wiggled his [.

What is the term for a male cougar, someone who preys on markedly younger women? A 'guy'? Is there a term? Is it worth a foray into the bowels of Urban Dictionary?

Whatever it is, Sepp qualifies, if only for the soundtrack which accompanies his little dance for Shakira.

Or maybe he's just a creep.

Forget Lionel Messi, it was all about Homare Sawa's kimono (traditional Japanese costume) at the FIFA Ballon D'or awards in Zurich last night! The captain of the Japanese women's team and winner of the FIFA Women's Ballon d'Or lit up the stage with that outfit which should make her countrymen and women extremely proud today.

Once again, sorry for the lack of activity on this blog. I'm still looking to hire some full time writers so bare with me on this one. Secondly, apologies is this post has a rather sombre tone it just feels as if, maybe especially towards the latter end of the year, that its not been a great year for football in general.

Luis Suárez's racism conviction gets no comment from Uefa and Fifa

• International governing bodies keep out of domestic cases • Possible Liverpool appeal means Suárez case is not over Fifa and Uefa will not comment on Luis Suárez being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra by the Football Association, the governing bodies told the Guardian on Wednesday morning.

Photo: Nicolae Stoian

There's only one piece of soccer news that really matters to American soccer fans today, and no, Eli, it's not that Philadelphia Union signed a deal with Rosenberg's Peanut Chews, which apparently are a source of some great conflict among the PSP staff.

Yep, it's Landon Donovan going to Everton.

About time, in my book, but then I'm an embittered Englishman (you'll recall the robbery that happened to the nation at the last World Cup): BERLIN (MCT) -- World soccer chief Sepp Blatter expects goal-line technology to be introduced next season, and it also should be featured at the next

Philadelphia Union

John Hackworth explains what the Union is looking for going into the 2012 season. "When you're retooling, you have to make sure you're managing the roster and the salary cap. We're not necessarily trying to get younger; we're trying to get better. And we're going to look at every avenue do that.

A new video from the excellent FitbaThatba documenting how Carlos Tevez saved Christmas from Sepp Blatter. It's A Christmas Carol for the Premier League age.

The Los Angeles Galaxy made it 3-for-3 on their Asia Pacific tour, defeating the Melbourne Victory in a penalty shootout, 4-3, after the teams played to a 2-2 draw in regulation.

The Galaxy trailed, 2-0, but Robbie Keane twice converted penalty kicks to pull the MLS Cup champions level.

Considering the fact that Sepp Blatter has been working for FIFA for the best part of 40 years, it is remarkable just how good he's gotten at annoying football fans, or should I say English football fans.

Now if any other 75 year old man with a degree in business and economics (and has never played professional football) walked into your local and started spouting their nonsense opinions about how issues such as racism in football can be solved with a handshake, I'm sure he would be told to pipe down and get out with some colourful language thrown in for good measure.

Photo of Taylor Twellman at Union's 2011 home opener by Earl Gardner.

Philadelphia Union

Deportivo Saprissa president Juan Carlos Rojas has confirmed in an interview with a Costa Rican radio station that the Union has been in contact with the club about Josue Martinez, saying "I would not go into much detail but there has been interest from Philadelphia [in Martinez].

Morning all. Have you ever wandered across these humble pages and thought 'Y'know what, this is an alright website and all that but what I'd really like to see is the chance to win some free stuff - a competition, perhaps'? You have! Well, that's frighteningly convenient as The Boys From White Hart Lane has joined forces with the wonderfully creative gang at Philosophy Football and guess what?

Morning. I'll do my best to squeeze out some Europa themed brain dribbles later in the day (sorry if that sounded facetious- I'm actually quite looking forward to it) but first news from our old pals at Philosophy Football. You may remember these sartorial whizzes- amongst other iconic football t-shirts- as the ones behind those rather delightful Danny Blanchflower numbers I was seen to be pedalling on here a few months back.

It's time black players took a stand against racism in football Carla Palmer Footballspeak.com.

With all the furore kicked up by FIFA President Sepp Blatter a couple of weeks ago regarding his stupid and senseless comments regarding racism in football, needless to say that subject has grabbed the headlines back again in the blogosphere.

It was a busy week in European football so Richard and Ginge have lots to cover on this week's episode. We have domestic results from Germany and England of note, an exciting fifth match round of Champions League action and Sepp Blatter being stupid yet again. CSRN MEDIA PLAYER

Slim soccer news pickings from the Thanksgiving holiday. Checkout our Thanksgiving Day news roundup for extensive coverage of reaction to the Expansion Draft and more.

Union

Union Dues says Justin Mapp "has won himself into the 'Do Not Boo' list" and looks forward "to welcoming Mapp and his new team to PPL for the first time.

Slim soccer news pickings from the Thanksgiving holiday. Checkout our Thanksgiving Day news roundup for extensive coverage of reaction to the Expansion Draft and more.

Union

Union Dues says Justin Mapp "has won himself into the 'Do Not Boo' list" and looks forward "to welcoming Mapp and his new team to PPL for the first time.

BBC Sport Premier League could use goal-line technology in 2012-13 season.

When I first saw the headline this morning, I had to stop and take a second look at why suddenly, this venturethe idea of goal-line technology has suddenly gone from the back burner to possible usage next season in the top football League in the world, the English Premier League.

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Union

Y0u can watch a live stream of today's Expansion Draft the French Canadian way from 3pm on the Montreal Impact website. (It's supposed to be on the MLS site too but, as of this writing, they haven't put the link up yet.)

Montreal Impact head coach Jesse Marsch is among those who noticed Freddy Adu was left unprotected by the Philadelphia Union ahead of today's Expansion Draft.

Their Words It would be better for US Soccer, and specifically also for the National Team. And the popularity inside the country. FIFA president Sepp Blatter telling Fox Soccer's Eric Wynalda that he believes MLS should adopt the traditional season schedule. Other Sources Dynamo soar into offseason with optimism - from The Houston Chronicle's Jose De Jesus Ortiz: "On the field, it's very bright.

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Galaxy for winning MLS Cup. There I said it. Can we just move on already?

For those of you who watched the game, I'm sorry. It wasn't exactly an enthralling game was it? Of course most MLS Cup matches aren't so I suppose it really was no surprise. Still, Beckham has his trophy, LA finally proved they can win the big enchilada so good for them.

It was a minor exchange among ‘readers' comments' in Bournemouth's Daily Echo newspaper. But it summed up much about AFC Bournemouth under current chairman Eddie Mitchell. The exchange concerned the relationship between parent company, AFC Bournemouth Limited, and a company set up by Mitchell, AFCB's then-largest individual shareholder, called Black Label Events (BLE), which runs catering and conferencing at Bournemouth's Seward Stadium.

Photo: Courtesy MLS Soccer

MLS

LA Galaxy defeated Houston Dynamo 1–0 to win the MLS Cup. Landon Donovan scored the lone goal and was named MVP. Player ratings are here.

All teams must submit their protected list to the league for Tuesday's Expansion Draft by 5pm today.

The league made two big announcements on Sunday, one concerning the shift to a conference-based schedule, the about changes to the playoff format aimed a rewarding those teams with better regular season records.

Earlier this week, FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, caused a stir in the football world, by intimating that racial abuse on the pitch could be fixed in the same way as a foul or a shove; with a simple handshake. Blatter's comments suggested a naivety – or even an outright ignorance to the effects of racism – that prompted calls for his resignation.

I'm nervous. You should be too. More, after the jump:

Oh, the hair ..

Welcome back. It's quite possible many of you fell asleep during this snooze-fest of an international break. And here's the deal- I honestly tried to give a shit about the matches over the last two weeks.

Excellent work from Tony, Walter and other valued contributors have kept Untold ticking over during the barren wasteland that is the international break. Well them, and Sepp Blatter who said some very foolish things and rightly got taken to task by Rio Ferdinand on twitter, of all places. Not that anyone English can be on [.

Welcome back to TGIF, just a short blog today, having just finished work. The wires are humming with the Blatter story and I make no apologies for joining the outcry calling for Blatter to resign. He has become the unacceptable face of apologism for heinous attitudes. His comments on Homosexuals going to Quatar, wanting Women to wear seductive football strips and finally that players experiencing racist abuse from their opponents should just accept it and shake hands indicate that not only is this man out of touch, but those who refuse to condemn this man unequivocally and fail to demand his resignation need understand that they themselves will have their motives questioned.

Photo: Courtesy Matt Riley/University of Delaware

Local

University of Delaware upset No. 20 ranked University of Virginia with a 1–0 double overtime win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night. Sophomore John Dineen headed the winner with 4:14 remaining the the second overtime period.

Racism in football has never, and will never, be eradicated.

As social culture has changed, racism in society has become so much rarer, and where it does exist the views are expressed much more privately meaning the rest of society can get on with their lives without having to listen to such pig-ignorant and historic views.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has made another brilliant comment, this time about the scourge of racism in football, saying that on-the-pitch racism is inexistant.Already Mr. Blatter has been harshly criticised, but I would like to give my support to the FIFA President by reminding him of other things that do not exist in football: HomophobiaMatch fixingDopingSexismCorruptionBad language and

By CALEB SONNELAND

FC Anzhi Makhachkala are plotting yet another transfer to shock the soccer world, and this time, Dimitar Berbatov is the man set in its sights.

Enjoying its glut of cash from its new owner, Suleyman Kerimov, the Russian club is looking to prise Berbatov, now 30, away from Premier League champions Manchester United.

The internet is abuzz. And it's always abuzz, as that's sort of the point and overall identity of the internet.

Nonetheless, Sepp Blatter. Racism as a non-concept. It's everywhere. And FIFA did some PR damage control by posting a picture of Sepp with an anti-apartheid activist who happens to be black.