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.

Sports pundits and fans are going full tilt at Thierry Henry calling him a "cheat", "morally reprehensible", "unsportsmanlike", "a snake oil salesman".

Richard Williams crosses that line when as a Brit he forgives Maradona's hand of God goal saying it amounts to breeding.

"To rank the incident in Paris alongside Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" in 1986 is misleading.

The Egyptian ambassador to Algeria was recalled by Cairo as the soccer feud between the two countries has now escalated into a full scale diplomatic row.

It is also believed that Hosni Mubarak himself called the Algerian ambassador, Abdel Qader Hadja hours before the recall of the Egyptian envoy, to voice his grievance over the assaults on Egyptian citizens who went to Khartoum to support the Egyptian team.

Thierry Henry's left forearm makes first contact with the ball but then as the ball bounces off ever so slightly his hand comes up and he steers the ball onto his foot. The first touch was inadvertent but his second touch had clear intent. What is so amazing about this is that the linesman on the opposite side should have seen happened because as far as one can see his vision remains unobstructed with Henry furthest out clear of the Irish defenders and Shay Given.

Naguib Sawiris feels that the match should be postponed

Want an Orascom cell phone?

Egypt's giant telecom company, Orascom had its Algiers compund burned and ransacked by thousands of Algerian fans. Property worth $5m was either destroyed or stolen according to Orascom's CEO Naguib Sawiris.

Doesn't the Iraqi Olympic Committee realize that soccer trumps everything? It brings every Shia, Sunni, Chaldean, and Kurd together.

After all what have they accomplished that can compare to the 2007 Asian Cup win. Now, they are busy trying to lord it over the Iraqi Football Association by dissolving it over '"financial irregularities and failure to hold elections.

Its all pretty confusing but it seems that Raymond Domenech was complaining that they were really playing the English B squad. Or some bowdlerized version which of course even if untrue is used to motivate your players. Which is what got Richard Dunne all bent out of shape. He had been using Domenech as comedy material before the match.

It is hard to see England overcome Brazil even if they were at full strength with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, and Glen Johnson given how the Brazilians moved with ease around the pitch. Meanwhile, the English attack was barely able to make a dent.

Fabio Capello probably knows by now that Brazil is the team to beat.

Sani Abacha stadium in Kano, Nigeria was one of the venues of
the U-17 World Cup.

Why would you name a stadium after a military dictator notorious for the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni activists in 1995 for protesting the exploitation of their land by multinational oil companies?

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'.

As an Arsenal fan, this is disastrous news.

RVP is feared to have torn his ankle ligaments as he went down after a heavy challenge from Giorgio Chiellini in the Italy vs Netherlands friendly. He is undergoing an ankle scan in the Netherlands to ascertain the exact damage.

Wenger must be going out of his mind.

From the NYT's "The Lede"

Coca Cola invokes the infamous 1989 match between Algeria and Egypt as part of their present ad campaign. Its all about marketing emotions and Coca Cola brings it up without any reference to the violent underbelly of that encounter.

The oldest professional football club believe it or not faces the possibility of court proceedings for non-payment of taxes.

Months after a Qadbak Investments, a Middle East company, whose owners remain largely unidentified bought over Notts County, they are faced with a huge tax bill which had accrued under Blenheim 1862, the former parent company.

Arsenal dance with Wolves.

An own goal by Ronald Zubar gets things rolling. A fine steal by Song puts Aaron Ramsey through as he and Eduardo race ahead. Ramsey passes to Eduardo as they cut off Josh Craddock and then waits for the return because of his clear look at goal. Instead, Eduardo chips the ball over and it deflects of Craddock and loops over Wayne Henessey for the second goal.

A temporary reprieve for Chelsea and they will be allowed to sign new players. CAS has yet to render its final verdict. Gael Kakuta four month suspension has also been lifted.

The British Empire fought for this!

The Daily Mail goes patriotic after Jan Moir's homophobic innuendo and their divers perp walk. But it seems a bit fascist in its endeavour. After all, the very people they want to honour fought that scourge in World War II. And yes, it is also true that the British Empire was not welcome in many countries.

The Zapatero government is proposing a tax rate hike from 24% to 43% for overseas players who earn more than 600,000 euros ($884,600) a year. Spain is reeling from the recession with 20% unemployment.

This will effectively end the "Beckham Law", named when the tax rates were amended in 2002 for the English midfielder to make it attractive for him and and other highly sought talent to come to the Liga.

Stan Koenke just bought up 427 more shares. His holding increases to 29.6%, less than a percentage point from the automatic trigger for a full offer for the club.

No knowing if the Denver Nuggets owner is planning a bid. But he still owes £50m for the shares that he bought from Danny Fiszman and the Carr family.

The bad news just keeps getting worse for Liverpool with Torres to join Steven Gerrard as a possible candidate for surgery. He has a hernia which could be cured with a long layoff of a month but if symptoms persist then surgery will be the other alternative.

Rafa has no choice but to play Torres in today's match against Lyon at the Stade de Gerland.

HAMM:
This is not much fun.
(Pause.)
But that's always the way at the end of the day, isn't it, Clov?
CLOV:
Always.
HAMM:
It's the end of the day like any other day, isn't it, Clov?
CLOV:
Looks like it.

Nice bit of stimulus. 65,000 and 100,000 total new jobs would be created in the various host cities during the preparation and operation of the tournament in the year of the event. If the USA does get awarded the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, one of the goal will be to generate immediate tangible effects.

The Seattle Sounders vs Houston Dynamo playoffs got the MLS playoffs to a raucous start with their edge of the seat performances even it ended in a goalless draw. Seattle also boasts the highest home attendances in the MLS. It all looks promising.

Except as this article points out, there is enough deadwood in the MLS.

The Spanish media really want Manuel Pellegrini gone. They are playing up a war of words that Guti appears to have had with the gaffer during the Madrid vs Alcorcon match.

Wenger responds to Adebayor's insinuations and rumour mongering by dismissing them.

Juande Ramos would be forgiven if he suffers panic attacks close to the fourth week of October every year from now on, as almost a year to the day since his dismissal from Spurs, he was once again relieved of his CSKA duties.

This article highlights some similarities between his CSKA departure and the way his days at Spurs came to an end.

Manuel Pellegrini's coaching career at Real is in danger. The shocking defeat at the hands of lowly Alcorcon has sent shock waves through the echelons of the most decorated football club in the world.

Jorge Valdano and Florentino Perez have given the Chilean the Getafe match this weekend and the return match against Milan in the Champions League next week to prove himself.

Matthaus last minute rejection of the Racing Santander job has the club gnashing their teeth. He was supposed to have arrived today to take over the coaching job and help out the beleaguered club but he texted the club saying the deal was off.

Looks like the peripatetic coach developed itchy feet.

Phil Brown, ex manager and current suntan oil salesman?

The Independent says that Adam Pearson's shock arrival from Derby means that current chairman Andy Duffen and Phil Brown's biggest ally might be on his way out. If that happens then Brown's tenure at Hull is in danger. The abrasive Hull coach has had a unsettled relationship with some players and was booed by fans when he took off Stephen Hunt against Portsmouth.

Fran Merida scored with a stinging left footed shot in the 19th minute after Voronin gives it away to Craig Eastmond. It was Merida's first goal as a Gunner as Cesc Fabregas looked on ecstatic at his Spanish teammate's achievement.

Emiliano Insua answered back with an even more impressive dipping shot in the 27th minute which looped over Fabianski's head even with the Arsenal goalie completely extended.

"Dear Leaders"

I think even Kim Jong il woud be envious of the uninterrupted reign of Sepp Blatter.

He and his father, Kim il Sung's combined 37 year rule of North Korea have isolated that country and created an international crisis group that deals with that country's nuclear weapons.

Listen to Emmanuel Petit, David Dein and Lee Dixon during a special programme, Arsene at 60, on BBC Radio 5 live at 2000 BST on Thursday.

I wonder what Dein will have to say. He has had a complex relationship with Wenger, being responsible for his arrival but his business dealings clashed with Wenger's philosophy of developing low budget talent.

Lights! Camera! Action! The second half had it all. Saves, goals, a melee, and a win for beleaguered AC Milan.

Clarence Seedorf showed an exquisite touch chipping the ball to Alexandre Pato who volleyed home the match winner past Iker Casillas. Seedorf was peripatetic, playing with a vigour that put some of the younger players to shame.

Just so bigoted.

Maurice Edu who played so well in his first season with the Gers was the target of racial abuse by his own club supporters as he exited the stadium after the match against Unirea Urziceni.

Edu did not even play as Rangers imploded under a barrage of own goals in a 4-1 loss to Unirea in a CL group stage match.

The draw is in. Eight team compete for the last four spots from the European zone.

France line up against Ireland in a two match playoff next month. In the other head to head, Portugal face Bosnia, Russia play Slovenia, and Greece take on Ukraine.

Raymond Domenech who has survived innumerable calls for his dismissal gets one more chance to silence his critics.

The Alan Wiley drama finally came to a head with the FA charging Sir Alex with improper conduct for questioning Wiley's fitness levels. It could impose a fine and a touchline ban.

"He just wasn't fit enough for a game of that standard," Ferguson said. "The fitness of the players, the pace of the game demanded a referee who was fit.