Having mastered the art of kicking teammates, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has now moved on to slapping opponents. Zlatan was sent off in the 64th minute of Milan's 0-0 draw against Napoli for reaching around teammate Antonio Nocerino to slap Salvatore Aronica in the face. If the slap is ruled to be a violent gesture, then Ibra will have to serve a three-match ban.

Besides the human loss, it is sad that the attention of the world on African football during a great tournament as the African Cup of Nations, is drawn away by the game, to the catastrophe that happened in Egypt.I am certain that this is not what Egypt is about, with its great people and fans, and it is not what African football is about.

Two years ago it was Cristiano Ronaldo gazing into a hand mirror, Last year it was Jose Mourinho kicking Pep Guardiola in the junk, but at midnight this March 19 Valencia's Las Fallas festival will stay with that Jose-on-Barca violence by burning a giant paper mache version of Mourinho poking Tito Vilanova in the eyeball.

The violence at Port Said last night has generated enormous commentary on twitter, and a beginning of media coverage of varying quality. One of the best summaries came last night at The Lede blog of New York Times it's quality largely due to the fact that it is composed of the tweets and videos generated on the ground in Egypt.

No doubt you've already seen the horrendous footage of Al Masry fans storming the pitch to attack Al Ahly players and supporters. In case you haven't, it's in the video above. Absolute carnage broke out when Al Masry secured a 3-1 victory over their fierce rivals. The home fans many of them armed [.

At least 73 people have been killed and over 1,000 injured after violence erupted at the final whistle of an Egyptian Premier League game between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly.

"This is not football. This is a war and people are dying in front of us. There is no movement and no security and no ambulances," Ahli player and Egypt star Mohamed Abou Treika told his club's television channel.

Tragic news is coming out of Egypt following today's match between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly in Port Said, Egypt. After Al-Masry won the match, 3-1, its fans invaded the pitch, forcing Al-Ahly players to flee to the locker room, where they became trapped. Apparently, Al-Ahly Ultras took to the pitch too, and the long, violent history between the two clubs was extended.

When pre-match handshakes become the subject of fervent debate and garner more analysis and predictions than the actual football match that tends to follow them, something has gone wrong. So in an attempt to help sidestep half the day's racial tensions, the FA decided that QPR and Chelsea should just avoid hand shaking situations at all costs.

The Empty Newspaper that Promoted Peace in Peruvian Futbol

Violence was rampant. The government wanted to have matches played in empty stadiums after a fan was killed. Instead, the Peruvian Primera Division chose to suspend league fixtures. You know how it is in a country that loves its sport.

Defend the referee or defend AZ Alkmaar keeper Esteban?

In case you missed it, things got pretty heated at the Amsterdam ArenA last night. In the 37th minute, when Ajax were up 1-nil in the Dutch Cup, an Ajax fan ran on to the pitch and attacked AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban. The Costa Rican keeper, seeing the threat of a 19-year-old hooligan coming his way, retaliated.

Defend the referee or defend AZ Alkmaar keeper Esteban?

In case you missed it, things got pretty heated at the Amsterdam ArenA last night. In the 37th minute, when Ajax were up 1-nil in the Dutch Cup, an Ajax fan ran on to the pitch and attacked AZ Alkmaar goalkeeper Esteban. The Costa Rican keeper, seeing the threat of a 19-year-old hooligan coming his way, retaliated.

Wayne Rooney's Strategy for Charades

Just in time for the holidays, we get to go inside Rooney's mind...

"Hm... Bend It Like Beckham. Four words. Right, let's start with the fourth word. Make a squiggly line with your hand. That'll remind them of David.

Week after week, planet football delivers magic moments that deserve a wider audience. Prior to the invention of YouTube, those wonderous nuggets would have been lost in time, remembered only by those brave souls who attend matches in the violence-blighted Argentinian Fourth Division. But not any more and this week is no exception.

Innovator, moderniser, father-figure, leader... and a bit of a bully too: Oliver Holt on Fergie's 25 years at United

A few days before the start of the 1997-98 season, I drove to The Cliff, Manchester United's old training ground, to ­interview Roy Keane. Keane had just been appointed United skipper but his reputation for aggressive unpredictability was already well ­established.

Sampdoria thought it had left the Wild West of Campania behind when the players boarded the plane to Liguria; the in-flight meal a digestion of the 4-2 thrashing meted out by Nocerina. But after arrival, when passing through the Christopher Columbus Airport they were met not by smiling wives and girlfriends, but an aggressive mob intent on violence.

Out of their legendary academy and youth setup comes Ajax's D1 team, which is comprised of those with a birth year of 1999. So in the general vicinity of 12 years old, says the trusty abacus. Which means...

They're probably too young to be scoring goals like this beauty.

Probably a little bit early for machine gun celebrations too.

While one of the great things about football is the role that club supporters can play during matches: songs, chants, and visual displays can sometimes inspire their club to find that next goal or not give up the lead during a match. Unfortunately, this past weekend some fans of Petrolul Ploiești in Romania took things a step further when one fan, Dragos Petrut Enache, sucker punched a Steaua București defender, George Galamaz.

Of all the moments in the surreal, simultaneously compelling and slightly sickening Manchester City vs. Manchester United game today, there is one that will probably stay rooted in our imaginations for at least a little while: Balotelli's cheeky question: "Why Always Me?" after his first goal. Like the most conversation-worthy and striking moments in football, this one is fascinating because it seems at once funny and irritating, appropriate and trangressive.

I undertsand that times are tough, that there are many people with serious frustrations & emotional needs to belong. Sports is traditionally a "release button" of emotions which eases the five-six days of "pain". However, when the "frustration" gets mixed up with twisted illusions & many times "intoxicated" minds we sadly get events that occured at the ATLETICO DE MADRID "Vicente Calderon"

Derby clashes are always fiercely contested affairs but when violence hits heir a non contest. Argntina's volatile Avellaneda derby between Racing Club and Independiente was one such contest after a fan was shot during fighting between rival fans which got out of hand. The match ended 1-1, but with 1,200 Police officers needed and no doubt more Hospital staff, it would make you wonder 'Is it all worth it'?

ZURICH - FIFA has kicked Myanmar out of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup as punishment for crowd violence at a 2014 qualifier in July.
Fans threw stones and water bottles onto the field during Myanamar's game against Oman on July 28, forcing the referee to abandon the match.
Oman was leading 2-0 at the time and was awarded the victory by that score.

Brazilian football legend, Marta, was in Sierra Leone in the last two days to promote women's empowerment. The UNDP Goodwill Ambassador met with university students, footballers, advocates and students. Marta also told them the story of how she overcame a difficult childhood to become the best female football player in the world.

I just got the following e-mail from the American Outlaws, a group I wholeheartedly endorse, and I think it would be the basis for some serious discussion of what we all would like to hear at Dynamo Park. (See, I've already made the transition away from this year.)

AO Nation,

US Soccer is asking American Outlaws for help in giving U.

The e-mail account of Spanish Football Sports is almost collapsed by readers around the World asking why I am not posting on the after shock-wave effects, or stating an opinion about the FC BARCELONA - REAL MADRID brawl & Mourinho "eye-poke" incident during the Spanish Super Cup last week. Why? Because everyone has already voiced an opinion, the majority from their own "coloured" glasses

UPDATED: 8/22/2011 at 5:36 am central time
Although they may not dwell on it, most citizens of the United States and Europe are familiar with the violence in Mexico connected to the drug trade. This violence has permeated much of everyday life in Mexico, especially in the big cities and along the borders.

Although they may not dwell on it, most citizens of the United States and Europe are familiar with the violence in Mexico connected to the drug trade. This violence has permeated much of everyday life in Mexico, especially in the big cities and along the borders. The one refuge, the one safe place to get away from the senseless bloodshed in Mexico has been the football stadiums, but today even that safety was shattered as a firefight erupted outside of the Territorio Santos Modelo in Torreon, Mexico, bringing a scary and abrupt end to the Santos - Morelia match.

Last nights Spanish Super Cup Final has given me two startling empirical results from the same unique experiment . Apart from the intense level of play, the Football, the aggressiveness, the tackles, the violence, the unfortunate & inexcusable actions of some on both teams, along with the out of order comments & controversy, what has been branded in my mind is the following outcome test result &

The Colombian national coach, Hernán Darío Gómez, has come into controversy in his country after he was caught beating up a lady in a nightclub in Bogotá last week. He has offered to step down after the scandal, but incredibly as it may sound, many people want him to stay on as coach.Before I want to give my suggestions for what excuses this guy could use to get away with such a crime, I must say

Check the contents I have to report that Trading Standards have been round to examine the current article to assess the football content. Football blogs are no different to sausages apparently,. There has to be a certain level of football and, or meat content. Fellow Bloggers you have been warned. Any more of this looting, arson , vandalism and socio economic special pleading malarkey will

There's been more player on referee violence down in Argentina again, this time in a 5th Division match between Union San Guillermo and Atletico Tostado, this time the referee made the smart choice of running off the pitch and scaling a fence. Considering that I'm posting this on the eve of a new English Premier League season, makes me wonder whatever became of the England FA's respect campaign.

There's been more player on referee violence down in Argentina again, this time in a 5th Division match between Union San Guillermo and Atletico Tostado, this time the referee made the smart choice of running off the pitch and scaling a fence. Considering that I'm posting this on the eve of a new English Premier League season, makes me wonder whatever became of the England FA's respect campaign.

Mexico's 1978 World Cup defender Ignacio Flores was gunned down last night after a truck in which he was travelling in was shot at near Cuernavaca in Mexico.

Flores (58) was also part of the great 1970′s Cruz Azul team which won five Mexican League Titles and his brother Luis also played pro-soccer with the Puma's Unam's and Mexico.

By now you most surely have seen or heard about the riots in England, but as bad as the situation is, only one match on opening weekend of the Premier League has been postponed.

The Tottenham-Everton game scheduled to be played on Saturday has been pushed back to a further date yet unknown.

Really can't say that this was not coming. However, there is a good chance the rest of the fixtures will start on time.

Here is football's role in quelling the orgy of violence and looting. I think the stars on each football team and their managers should come out with public service announcements appealing for calm.

Riots have broken out throughout UK with looting and violence, yet Eltham hasn't been touched and it's not by luck. Millwall fans have long been known for their hooliganism and... Read more »

In the midst of this week's chaos and rioting around England, one good samaritan on Twitter is urging people to stop the violence and help out.

Twitter account @Riotcleanup was started by Dan Thompson, who used the medium to encourage "proud Londoners" to get out and help "reclaim their streets.

Tragic of The Cup BFC Dynamo 0-3 FC Kaiserslautern (30:08:11) An eyewitness account of shocking scenes of football hooliganism from our undercover reporter in Germany.... Last Saturday, the first round of the German Cup was marred by some disgusting scenes of violence, the like of which we haven't experienced over here for a long time.

When I started following English football in earnest a few years ago, it opened up a whole new world of teams, history, events and the cast of characters that made up them. Coming from the U.S., I found it fascinating to not only experience a wholly unique sport, but to learn about a brand new set of athletes and how they were viewed and were covered by the media and the general public.

When I started following English football in earnest a few years ago, it opened up a whole new world of teams, history, events and the cast of characters that made up them. Coming from the U.S., I found it fascinating to not only experience a wholly unique sport, but to learn about a brand new set of athletes and how they were viewed and were covered by the media and the general public.

The insult to the core fanbase of our club from management's disrespect towards the Open Cup warrants strong measures. We need to communicate to the front office how much the competition means to us. The unified statement from the leadership of the three main supporters clubs was much needed and powerfully phrased.