Peace out until Monday, Kickettes. Image: The Telegraph.

Xavi appeared in his panties after El Clasico.

We're sure some other stuff happened too, but nothing else was as important or fascinating as that.

GOOD WEEK

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By Tony Attwood

According to reports Tom Adeyemi who plays for Oldham, on loan from Norwich City, was racially abused by one or more Liverpool fans at the Anfield ground last night. He gave a statement to Merseyside Police in which it is understood he claimed to have been racially abused twice by a supporter.

Liverpool's reds and blues supporters plan a joint Football Quarter

Will it be second time lucky for detailed proposals to spread the success of Liverpool and Everton FCs into their needy surroundings? Supporters of Liverpool's rival clubs are having a second go at a joint attempt to create a 'Football Quarter' between their famous stadia at Anfield and Goodison Park.

Bill's Sports Maps returns to Pitch Invasion, with all the details you could possibly want on Argentina's Primera División for the 2012 Clausura. Bill was assisted by our old friend Sam Kelly of Hasta El Gol Siempre, so you know the details should be spot-on. Click on the map for the full-size version!

It was only a tiny step forward, but those that have been campaigning for the return of terraces in the form of safe standing had a rare reason to be cheerful yesterday with an announcement from north of the border, that the Scottish Premier League is to trial a pilot that may see the return of standing at matches in the near future.

The world of football has changed in so many ways since first I clambered up the steps at Highbury and looked down in awe at the scene before me; an oblong of green set at the bottom of a man made bowl, the concrete sides towering above it. There it was the home of my schoolboy dreams, the canvass on which I had for all my growing years drawn in my mind's eye the daring deeds which I, "Roy of the Arsenal" had performed heroically, defeating all and sundry with magical skills and wondrous last minute goals.

The world of football has changed in so many ways since first I clambered up the steps at Highbury and looked down in awe at the scene before me; an oblong of green set at the bottom of a man made bowl, the concrete sides towering above it. There it was the home of my schoolboy dreams, the canvass on which I had for all my growing years drawn in my mind's eye the daring deeds which I, "Roy of the Arsenal" had performed heroically, defeating all and sundry with magical skills and wondrous last minute goals.

@OrtizKicks @ChrisCanetti told Sports Authority the Dynamo is close to announcing 10-year naming rights deal for new stadium.

Is it just me or is anyone else a tiny bit trepidacious about the impending naming rights deal? I know this is reality and that it was always going to happen.

By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Dec 1, 2011) US Soccer Players -- In today's edition, Tony finds it's a tough time to be an experienced MLS goalkeeper, looks at the going rate for luxury suites in not-even-built MLS stadia, asks about an opportunity for FIFA reform, and examines the zen of home openers.

The chief of the Royal Grenadian Police Band was immediately relieved of his duties. His musical troupe had made a major diplomatic gaffe: at the grand opening ceremony for the Caribbean island nation's rebuilt national cricket stadium, they had played the National Anthem of the Republic of China, to the considerable discomfort of the dignitaries present who hailed not from the Republic of China (Taiwan) but from the People's Republic of China.

It's estimated that by 2031 100,000 people living in Scotland will suffer from dementia. Alzheimer Scotland exists to help dementia sufferers and their carers. A bit of help - whatever you can manage - can help them do that massively important work.
Thanks to @sliderulepass and @mightjustget for combining to get this one started.

By Tony Attwood

We've talked a lot off and on about the Olympic stadium a stadium which by the EPL's own rules can only go to The Orient, since they are the local team (and before you ask, no, such rules did not exist when Woolwich Arsenal moved from Plumstead to Highbury).

But Tottenham, [.

People talk to me about Barcelona's current team as the greatest ever. I even hear stories about the Ajax side that had Johan Cruyff. The AC Milan side with the Dutch trio of Riijkaart, Van Basten and Gullit is always mentioned as well. Hell, even United's 1999 treble team has been dubbed as one of the best.

People talk to me about Barcelona's current team as the greatest ever. I even hear stories about the Ajax side that had Johan Cruyff. The AC Milan side with the Dutch trio of Riijkaart, Van Basten and Gullit is always mentioned as well. Hell, even United's 1999 treble team has been dubbed as one of the best.

A lot has and will be said about Fergie's winning mentality this week. It's at milestones such as these (and let's face it, SAF's had a few) that well worn phrases are paraded about like leathery skinned ex-pros at identikit stadia they never graced. "Never knows he's beaten", "obsession with winning" and "addicted to success" are all old favourites.

U.S. Major League Soccer has eclipsed both the NBA and the National Hockey League in terms of average attendance at games — a feat that explains why Fox and Telemundo just paid an incredible $1 billion for the rights to broadcast the Word Cup in 2018 and 2022.
That price was more than twice what ESPN and Univision paid to broadcast the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.

Yeah, my power's been out. Curse you, October blizzard.

Remember when I said attendance was good this year? I was wrong. It was great. Record shattering, in fact. Enough to surpass the NBA and NHL, in fact. Seriously. After sixteen years, we have beaten not only our own record set in 1996, but those of other leagues against whom we're compared.

Everton's Chief Executive Officer Robert Elstone has slammed UEFA's "Financial Fair Play" rules, pointing out that it only serves the establishments of Europe's biggest clubs.

Despite seeing his own side struggle to compete financially, Elstone believes that owners should be able to invest how they want, giving smaller clubs the opportunity to compete with the traditional giants of football.

The Christmas gift for the Arsenal fan with (almost) everything By Tony Attwood I recently stumbled across The Olympic Stadium Fiasco A Spurs Fan's Perspective by Gigwise. It popped up on my radar because it contained the hallowed words "Woolwich Arsenal", with the phrase "This is the original North London side, the only North [.

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Michel Platini has said he is at last confident Ukraine can host Euro 2012.
After several 'last chance' warnings over the past three years, the UEFA boss can tear a few fewer hairs out now the four stadia do seem to be on track for next summer.
"A year ago, we were deciding whether to leave four or two cities," Platini told reporters on a tour of Kharkiv.

No Portland Timbers game this weekend on account of the fact that it's a FIFA designated international weekend. This means that nations from all voer the world will be playig in either friendlies (like the USA vs. Costa Rica match) or qualifiers for their various continental division championship tournaments.

If it were not already apparent, success of the modern game is dependent on corporate funding and owner investments.
The growth of the game would be quite different if not for sponsors and external funding. From the naming rights of many stadia to the field boards and club kits, the branding from corporations is near impossible to ignore.

[Trying something new here with this piece below, not sure it works. Let us know.]

John, headed that-a-way... (you may have to adjust your computer for the pointing to work)

FC Dallas prized centerback George John will soon be playing (red) Rover in Lancashire under the ownership of Blackburn FC of the English Premier League.

If you follow the Pitch Invasion twitter account, you might have seen mention of a new side-project: Stadium Porn, a site all about stadiums, not porn. So far, we have lasciviously looked at the Amex in Brighton, England; Estadio de Fútbol Monterrey in Mexico; Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; and Stadio di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.

In our latest column from Kirkby, reserve team head coach Rodolfo Borrell looks ahead to a European encounter against a side he regards as one of the finest in world football.
We kick off our first ever match in the NextGen Series against Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night and I have to admit I can't wait for the new campaign to get underway.

Untold Arsenal on Twitter @UntoldArsenal By Walter Broeckx Some people who are not happy with the current way of things over the last seasons dismiss sometimes the impact of the new stadium on Arsenal. They use lines like: "we are Arsenal so we are entitled to win things" and that is the end of it. [.

The real party, of course, was on Saturday. Brighton & Hove Albion marked their arrival at The Amex Community Stadium with a late, late win against Doncaster Rovers, but the celebrations continued this evening with a narrow win against Gillingham of League Two. After fourteen years waiting, though, could the new stadium possibly live up to expectations?

As you've probably heard, it's a very sad day here in the Netherlands. The video is from this morning, here's the latest. Obviously, the thoughts at NSC and here in Amsterdam go out to those involved in the tragedy, their families and the entire FC Twente kin.Casualties in Dutch stadium roof collapse door itnnews- Greg Seltzer

UEFA has confirmed eleven stadia as venues for the 2016 European Championship.

The French Football Federation have finalised the following as host cities:
Paris - Stade de France 81,000, Parc des Princes 51,000
Marseilles - 67,000
Lyon - 51,000
Toulouse - 41,000
Saint Etienne - 41,000
Bordeaux - 42,000
Lens - 45,000
Lille - 50,000
Nancy - 35,000
Nice - 35.

Regular readers of these pages will know that we embrace tradition. Identikit all seater stadia and the "it began in 1992" mentality are not for us. As far as kits are concerned, West Bromwich Albion's current neglect of the green and yellow stripes offends, and Manchester City should always sport Milanese style away from home.

Well, it's official, the Portland Timbers are now on a losing streak. The longest they've had yet this season, in fact. While Saturday's game was a better, stronger, and more coordinated effort than games prior it simply wasn't enough to keep the team from losing it's third straight game in a row.

By all accounts Phil Jones is expected to sign for Manchester United after snubbing Arsenal. This despite having a cup of tea and a personal chat with Arsene Wenger.
Well, sometimes that's the way the cookie crumbles I suppose!
Don't get me wrong, its gutting that one of our targets has opted to move elsewhere but at least it shows that Wenger is actually acting on signing players.

In an area already rich in history, the U.S. team has added a tiny chapter to the success story here. Since 1990, the USA has posted a combined 16-1-5 record at Foxboro and Gillette stadia. What's more, a total of 15 matches have been in official competitions between World Cup qualifying and the Gold Cup (seven and eight, respectively).

Congratulations to AFC Wimbledon who have today been promoted to the Football League. Whenever I think of Wimbledon, I always remember this quote:

'It should be in the interests of football as a whole that major new stadia are encouraged where there is an untapped demand for major league football, such as in new towns.

Qatar may lose the World Cup.

A Fifa inquiry into persistent claims of corruption during the bidding process could lead to the FIFA executive committee making the unprecedented move of redoing the vote that gave Qatar the victory.

Blatter,who has his beady eyes firmly fixed on being reelected to the the post of FIFA president said.

KOTA BHARU (20 May 2011) – Malaysia Cup champions Kelantan will finally have a new stadium with a capacity of 40,000 – following the approvals from the state government to build the new facility in Pasir Puteh to the tune of RM159 million (USD 52.4 million).

Chief Minister of Kelantan Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said that the stadium will be built within a sports complex which will also have other sporting venues including a swimming pool.

Tomorrow is the draw for next season's CONCACAF Champions League. There are some changes in the composition of teams in the upcoming tournament. The first, not unexpected news, is that Belize has once again been excluded from the Champions League due to a lack of Champions League caliber stadia. As Honduras has been the highest ranked Central American league in CONCACAF competition last season, Olimpia has been awarded a place in the Champions League.

Written by Harry

{What if Wenger says ‘Cela, Je Pars', that's it I am leaving}

It's August 2015, 4 seasons since Wenger was hounded out of his beloved Arsenal, by the Black Scarf Brigade, after falling short of another trophy in a 6 year continual spell.

Playoff action continues throughout the region as league finals start in Costa Rica and Honduras and finalists are decided everywhere else. Here is a roundup of Central American action: BELIZE Events have turned even more bizarre and ad-hoc in Belize's BPFL Cup. In the previous roundup, the competition committee had decided to scrap the triple round-robin format (which was three-quarters complete) and proceed straight to a semifinal two-leg series.