Soccer/Football - Part 3

[Lois Gilbert]

Part Trois

[Uli]

[ran]

8 fucking games. The F.A. along with FIFA and the UEFA need to get this house in order. I don't want to start an if and what would have happened scenario , this is a very serious matter. But I truly think that this is a bit of overkill. It's so subjective and if this is what they want to go by and set an example with. Are the powers to be ready to make the English Captain another example of this type of punishment ?

In so far as Suarez not playing , I would love to see it happen , at most any cost , especially when it comes time to play against United.

There is no room for being a racist in this game or any place. But what's happened here what with all the ambiguity's and again I'm not trying to sugar coat this , I don't see how this works for the betterment of the game.

8 fucking games. I can't see them doing this to John Terry.

What's interesting to note was Dalglish's objections of the F.A. appealing Rooney's ban in Europe. I agreed with his position last week , but he must have known what was going to happen here.

8 fucking games , if it's so bad why stop at 8 ?

[Monte Smith]

It's an extraordinary ban, one that seems ridiculous to this outsider. England or English football seems to be in a frenzy, it happens at times in all countries. Find a problem and declare it an emergency, deal harshly with it. I am astonished that the papers are unanimous in support of the FA's judgement. The Daily Express calls it Solomonic. The Times says, "...surely none of us is left thinking that eight games for racially abusing an opponent is too harsh...." Yes, but it is unprecedented and what would be too harsh? A lifetime ban? Force Suarez to play in the MLS? Eight games, jeez. You are right ran, what now becomes of the other diabolical racist, Terry? Is he to be treated as badly as the foreign-born Suarez? And what, also, is to become of Suarez's middle digit? Remember he hoisted it at opposing fans the other week--some of those fans are of a darker complexion than him, one suppose--is it to be eight weeks for the finger, too? Surely none of us is left thinking that eight games is too harsh for a racist's finger. The Daily Mirror says the "Suarez case was a hugely tough one for the FA and the three-man commission asked to rule on nuance and culture as much as facts...." Therein lies the problem. I wouldn't take the next step and congratulate the FA on a job well done.

[Uli]

You are right ran, what now becomes of the other diabolical racist, Terry? Is he to be treated as badly as the foreign-born Suarez?.

Yes, it has to be transparent that he does not get a different treatment just because he is English.

[Monte Smith]

Yes, it has to be transparent that he does not get a different treatment just because he is English.

Is the FA even involved in that case, still? I've read headlines that "evidence" has been turned over to Crown prosecutors, so that's a legal case. Shall Terry do time? Is he good enough to walk into the Wormwood Scrubs starting XI?

[Monte Smith]

Terry's been charged with an offense against public order and faces a maximum (improbable) sentence of 2 years in prison. Government speech laws are so foreign to Americans. Here, the guilty party would have faced opprobrium and a sanction from his team or league. The sentence would have been a recorded Public Service Announcement about how racism is wrong and a four-weekend forced volunteerism with school kids. Plus whatever additional penance is decided by the player's PR team. But racist language won't get you far in the NFL or NBA, anyway. You are better off deploying homophobic slurs.

[Uli]

the FA apparently has it still on hold

John Terry to face criminal charges over alleged racist abuse
John Terry will fight "tooth and nail" to clear his name after the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed their intention to prosecute the England captain over an alleged racist slur made towards the Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.

The Chelsea centre-half, who denies any wrongdoing, will appear before West London magistrates' court on 1 February charged with a racially aggravated public order offence made during an altercation with Ferdinand in the derby with QPR at Loftus Road on 23 October.

The 31-year-old's club manager, André Villas-Boas, has reiterated he will benefit from Chelsea's full support, with Terry set to start in Thursday's Premier League game at Tottenham Hotspur.

"I am disappointed with the decision to charge me and hope to be given the chance to clear my name as quickly as possible," said Terry. "I have never aimed a racist remark at anyone and count people from all races and creeds among my closest friends. I will fight tooth and nail to prove my innocence. I have campaigned against racism and believe there is no place for it in society."

Terry was caught on camera confronting Ferdinand six minutes from time in Chelsea's 1-0 defeat. The Football Association initiated an inquiry into the incident following a complaint from QPR, with the Metropolitan police following suit in response to an emailed complaint from a member of the public.

The CPS have subsequently confirmed that additional evidence, thought to be new video footage of the incident that was not broadcast at the time, had come to light.

Terry was visited by police at his house in Surrey at around 1pm on Wednesday and was told he has been charged with using "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress which was racially aggravated in accordance with section 28 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998".

Alison Saunders, the chief crown prosecutor for London, said: "I have today advised the Metropolitan Police Service that John Terry should be prosecuted for a racially aggravated public order offence following comments allegedly made during a Premier League football match between Queens Park Rangers and Chelsea on 23 October 2011.

"The decision was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and after careful consideration of all the evidence I am satisfied there is sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and it is in the public interest to prosecute this case. Mr Terry will appear before West London magistrates' court on 1 February, 2012. He is now summonsed with a criminal offence and has the right to a fair trial."

Villas-Boas said Terry, who was reappointed as England's captain earlier this year, will be able to handle the pressure of playing at White Hart Lane.

"He has my full support, and the club's full support," said the Portuguese. "He represents this club to a maximum level and we're very grateful to have a player of his quality in our team, in what he represents in terms of history and achievements within the club. We know exactly his human values and his personality. For me they are never in doubt, so I will support him whatever the outcome. He is fit and available (to play)."

If found guilty, Terry would face a maximum fine of £2,500, though there would be serious implications over his captaincy of the national team. The FA, whose own inquiry into the incident has been put on hold until the conclusion of the criminal investigation, have yet to comment on the issue, though Chelsea added in a statement: "The club finds all forms of discrimination abhorrent and we are proud of the work we undertake campaigning on this important issue."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...acism-case-cps

[Monte Smith]

Sadly, Terry doesn't have a leg to stand on. The record is clear: he never got a team mate's black girlfriend pregnant. Racist.

[Monte Smith]

It was a nice start to the festive season today, watching United put 5 past Fulham, which has been something of a bogie team over the past few seasons. Lindegaard looked good in goal, too, when Fulham came to life (mildly) in the second half. Fine work by Nani.

Hey! I thought of a great upside to the Suarez/Terry controversy, which is that maybe the FA will come in hard for technology in the game. Never mind the unimportant, merely sporting details like did the ball cross the line or was that penalty called correctly: how about instant racism review? Say a diminutive French back is called something other than diminutive and French. He can complain to the official and a team of lip-reading experts and cultural contextualists will leap into action on the sidelines, reviewing tape and handing out cards, bans, and fines.

[Richard Pinnell]

I am totally behind the FA's stance regarding Suarez, and, once the criminal case against Terry has been completed, if he is found guilty I am in no doubt they will absolutely throw the book at him with an even bigger suspension and will remove the England captaincy from him.

In recent months there has been a lot of commentary about racism in the game. Much of this has of course been media fuelled but that still doesn't mean that it should be ignored. If somebody makes a comment to another player that references their colour in a derogatory manner then that is utterly despicable and a massive ban should be issued. The same should be said about homophobic comments and moronic sectarian slurs. Football is a game, it has no level of importance when compared to these issues, and yet it has such a power to set precedents, lead by example and have an impact on how younger generations behave. These people are getting paid ridiculous amounts of money. With that extraordinary wage packet should come extraordinary responsibility and accountability. If Terry is found guilty in court but then given anything less than a twelve game ban then that will be an outrage.

[Richard Pinnell]

Now I have to figure a way to offload Suarez out of my woefully unlucky fantasy team... Grrr

[ran]

I swore off discussing racism of the internet along time ago. I don't have the facilities to express my self clearly and well enough not to be misunderstood.

This much I do understand. There is a serious difference on how Europe and the USA , deal with it. I'm not sure if there is a right or wrong way. But my sense of justice and fairness make me feel what this boy is going through is a bit misplaced. This is so much bigger then the game and this is a bad example of how to deal with a serious issue. The whole process stinks. And if I'm not mistaken the F.A. is not calling him a racist. Why don't they just put soap in his mouth , that's probably going to do him more good then this penalty.

As an example. If two English players are overheard calling each other something that might be offensive to an Italian , does the Italian player then have the right to go to the F.A. and make claims that he "Heard" something that wasn't directed at him in anyway but that he found offensive and racist ? It's a bad policy and it's not really changing anything other then to sweep the problem under the rug.

This is not drug testing and it can't be dealt with in this manner.

[Monte Smith]

ran is right that Americans and Europeans view this differently. As an outsider, I am appalled by speech laws as much as racism, but I do get that the majority of English people don't agree.

[Joshua]

A year ago Rooney was suspended for a couple of matches for saying fuck into a tv camera. I am not offended, but the FA needs to put the brakes on that. That's a pretty clear precedent that FA might give an 8 game suspension for the use of a clearly offensive racial epithet on the pitch. There's no room on the pitch for that behavior. I think the Sepp Blatter doctrine, just slap'em on their hand, is woefully naive. (In the USA, we have the Jerry Sandusky punishment of just smackin'em on their butt. That may be a little more effective.)

The FA and everybody else seems to be throwing the book at Terry. I can't helping laughing though, Terry may be a millionaire, but that poor fucker can't buy a break. He's just an ongoing train wreck. He's the greatest thing in England since Ozzy.

[Monte Smith]

Looks like that wiley septuagenarian (today, happy birthday SAF) has gainsaid you, ran. MUFC today did not win the game they were expected to win. 2-3 against lowly Blackburn. Ay carumba. I blame unusually intense flare activity on the surface of the sun.

[Joshua]

I blame MU's pathetic defense.

[Monte Smith]

I blame MU's pathetic defense.

That's not a crazy postulation. With Vidic, Rio, Smalling, and Evans out it was all deputies back there. It was Berbatov responsible for the penalty. Nice to see the Bulgarian get a run out and score goals. Bad to see him defend.

[Uli]

Congrats, JC socceroos!

[ran]

The phone conversation between Martin O'Neil and SAF:

SAF: Martin it's Sir Alex , give me a bd. present and beat City.

Alex: Sir Alex , you know I'll do my best.

SAF: Now Martin , I know you've had eyes to become manager here at Manchester United. If you know what's good for you, you'll make sure it happens. After all half of your team are former United players.

What a result.

[Monte Smith]

Happy belated birthday, SAF. And United chilluns everywhere!

[Richard Pinnell]

From the perspective of someone who has no real preferences amongst the top teams in the premier league, it must be said that this year is really proving to be entertaining.

I don't usually watch matches on TV, but yesterday's game between Sunderland and Citeh was a lot of fun, the classic modern premier league game in many ways, one team constantly under siege but fighting every ball, the other team not living up to their wage packets, and a hilarious twist right at the end. I spewed tea right across the room when the Sunderland goal went in. It was clearly offside by the way, but I wouldn't have wanted to have been the linesman stood in front of that crowd if he had put his flag up.

Regarding Man Yoo, they struck me as somewhat complacent against Blackburn. Nani couldn't be bothered, Hernandez barely broke into a run, and what is it with Fergy's current infatuation for playing perfectly good players in the wrong position? He had a winger playing at full back, a centre half in midfield and a midfielder at centre half. Certainly they have a bit of an injury list right now, but if you just moved about the names already on the team sheet they would have been set up better.

[Uli]

From the perspective of someone who has no real preferences amongst the top teams in the premier league, it must be said that this year is really proving to be entertaining.

I am new to the premier league and I agree it is quite entertaining. I am leaning a bit towards City and Tottenham.

[Richard Pinnell]

I am new to the premier league and I agree it is quite entertaining. I am leaning a bit towards City and Tottenham.

Why City? No self respecting football fan should follow City, unless you are one of the unfortunate ones who followed the team before the money and have had their team ripped from under them by the Qatari investment.

Tottenham are my favourite team in the Premier league this year because of the way they are playing football, but I like Swansea a lot as well.

[Uli]

Why City? .

They're a w s o m e. Mario, Micah, Vincent, Pablo, Sergio, Samir. David....

and Mancini

[Joshua]

Tomorrow is a big day for me. Barca v Madrid again on ESPND! I wish ESPN 2 would take a chance on televising this rivalry. I hope you can watch the Spanish Copa del Rey tomorrow afternoon. I don't know if I have ever seen better soccer when these two meet despite Barca's dominance at the midfield. It's a bloody affair. This is mean spirited of me, but I am glad David Villa is out with a broken leg. His repeated dives are a black spot on these matches for me.

[Monte Smith]

Garbage football from United today.

[Richard Pinnell]

Garbage football from United today.

Agreed. The only slight hint at class came from Giggs but they just cannot rely on him at that age.

Buy Fergy, buy!

[Monte Smith]

I know it was twenty years ago, but surely there are a couple more of Fergie's Fledglings in a freezer somewhere that could be thawed out and put in place of Giggs and Neville and Scholes. Why don't players like that grow on trees?

[Monte Smith]

Hey, good goal by Tim Howard!