General football chat

Anti-mafia investigators in Italy want to interview Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli over a visit he made to a known mafia hot spot in Naples.

Prosecutors say they want to interview him over possible contacts he may have had unwittingly with the Neapolitan mafia, the Camorra, last year.

The move is part of a wider investigation into money laundering.

There is no suggestion Balotelli has committed any crime. He says he is very relaxed about answering any questions.

The investigators' approach comes after Balotelli was photographed in the company of a couple of known Camorra gangsters as he toured one of the most deprived, violent and crime-ridden parts of Naples.

Earlier this week Balotelli was given a hero's welcome when he visited a prison in Florence with other members of the Italy squad.

Born in Italy to Ghanaian parents - but adopted by an Italian family when he was still a child - he is one of the very few black players to have pulled on the famous blue shirt of the Italian national team.

Throughout his playing career in Italy he was consistently the target of racist abuse by a minority of fans.

He is not the first footballer to mingle with the mob.

Arguably the greatest player of all - the Argentinian, Diego Maradona - was well-known for his allegedly close relationship with several Camorra godfathers during his time playing for Napoli in the 1980s.

the lad just attracts controversy

WHAT A FUCKING GOAL THAT WAS LOLLLLLLLL

Thursday, 08 September 2011 16:37

Shamrock Rovers will play our Europa League Group Stages at home in Tallaght Stadium, after the venue was given the go-ahead by UEFA this evening.

Following an inspection of the ground by UEFA officials on Tuesday, the association has today given the Hoops the green light to play at the Tallaght venue.

The first game will take place on Thursday, September 15 against Rubin Kazan, with a 6pm kick-off.

Hoops chairman, Jonathan Roche expressed the club’s delight at the news. He said: “It is wonderful news for us as a club, but also for the Tallaght area. We were pushing hard to have the games played at Tallaght, and are delighted that UEFA have given us the go-ahead.

“We are very grateful to the FAI - particularly chief executive, John Delaney and the licencing department – and to South Dublin County Council, for the great support and assistance they have given us to be able to have these games in Tallaght.”

John Delaney, Chief Executive of the FAI also welcomed the news, saying: “We are delighted to have been able to assist in this process and thank UEFA for this decision which will allow Shamrock Rovers to play their Europa League fixtures at their home venue.”

Ya Heard this.
Does this affect you Bosco

Garry Cook has resigned

Obviously guilty as fuck then.

Ya he admitted it in the end

gobshite

http://mobile.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/ru...icleId=2446150

Cardiff City Football Club were disappointed to read articles in three national tabloid newspapers this week whereby we feel insensitive and unfounded connections were drawn from the tragic events at Wembley Stadium on September 6th 2011.
It is our opinion that The Daily Mirror, The S*n and the Daily Mail have acted insensitively towards the memory of Mike Dye at a time when his family are still in the early stages of mourning their loss.
It is also our view that the tabloid attempts to draw tenuous connections of possible clashes between Cardiff City and Swansea City supporters at the Wales v England match come without any direct evidence or basis for doing so, using this as a means to cite 'Rivalry fury'.
This is something that we consider to be extremely disrespectful to both clubs and supporters following many positive steps being taken between both clubs in recent years, specifically in light of the sympathies being shared by both clubs and all supporters over this tragic incident.
The club have taken this matter up with the Press Complaints Commission and will be contacting the tabloids named directly in due course.
It should also be noted that neither the Daily Mirror or the Daily Mail have made direct requests for their employees to attend the match, while we have requested that The S*n withdraw their request to attend due to the sensitivity of the day. This has been agreed.
On Saturday we will pay respects to Mike Dye as outlined and are sure all supporters will play their part. Thank you.

Well done Cardiff

Galway united have scored

The contract between Sean Connor and Galway United Football Club has been terminated by mutual agreement. Galway United Football Club thanks Sean for his efforts under very difficult circumstances and wishes him the best in the future.

Asamoah Gyan gone on season loan to Al-Ain

Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan is set to sign for United Arab Emirates side Al-Ain on a season-long loan.

The Ghana forward, 25, joined the Black Cats from French club Rennes in August 2010 for £13m.

"I had a conversation with him 48 hours ago and he shook my hand and assured me he wanted to stay at Sunderland," said boss Steve Bruce.

"Within a few hours things changed. It's disappointing and the whole thing has left a bad taste in my mouth."

Bruce was speaking after his team's 2-1 home defeat against Chelsea.

And he added: "I don't really believe Gyan will have a future here.
Continue reading the main story

Anyone who has seen Asamoah play will know that he hasn't been himself in recent months
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce

"It baffles me how he can leave the best league in the world to play in the United Arab Emirates. I'll let people make their own conclusions why."

On Friday Bruce had claimed "parasites" turned Gyan's head after his goal in the 1-1 draw with England at Wembley in March.

And, in a statement released on Saturday morning Bruce said: "Anyone who has seen Asamoah play will know that he hasn't been himself in recent months. This option suits all parties at the present time and the club is well-protected in the deal."

Throughout the transfer window, Gyan was linked with a move to a big European club and Bruce blamed agents for turning Gyan's head.


"Since that game at Wembley, all the parasites, as I call them, hover around," said Bruce.

"People are in his ear constantly trying to engineer a deal for him. Certainly since the England game, when he played at Wembley so well on the night, something has been troubling him.

"It's very difficult, the constant speculation, no matter what you try to quash or quell, and the people around him, the people who want to make a fast buck, and it affects him in the end.

"He was going from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich to Valencia to Atletico Madrid."

Read on the gospel thats twitter that Cleverly's season could be ove and Davies never even went to apologise to him.

aye, he was getting some stick on twitter yesterday

Didn't hear about Cleverly's season though, poor lad

Oh is Torres in trouble

Alleged to have called chelsea's midfield old and slow


Without Stevie you are nothing

Fernando Torres was today being quizzed by Chelsea over an interview in which he appeared to criticise his own team-mates.


Torres spoke to the official website of Spain's Primera Liga last week, with an English translation later appearing on the striker's personal website.

Torres, who has endured a miserable run in front of goal since his £50million move from Liverpool, was quoted as branding Chelsea's "older" players as "very slow", and hailing new team-mate Juan Mata as a necessary signing.

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Manager Andre Villas-Boas sought an explanation from Torres, who claimed his words were not translated accurately on his own website.

Chelsea were today seeking to obtain a copy of the interview in its original Spanish and Villas-Boas revealed he would warn Torres not to speak so candidly about the club in future if the translation did stand up.

He said: "We are going in-depth to regain the tape of that interview.

"We'll see if things play exactly as they are in that interview."

The interview was authorised by Chelsea, otherwise Torres would have been facing a fine.

Asked what action would be taken if the translation proved accurate, the Blues boss said: "We'd just talk. Just talk. To share opinion.

"If it was unauthorised, I'd fine him. Of course."

He added: "Anyhow, it's one player's perspective.

"I don't think it's a perspective that the manager shares. I don't have to share my players' ideas sometimes.

"I think we have competence, apart from the 'age problem', which for me is not a problem.

"Maybe we just have to speak about that situation and he has to see our view as well."

Torres' travails show no sign of abating, the 27-year-old losing his place in the side for Saturday's Barclays Premier League win at Sunderland, having also failed even to make the bench for Spain's European Championship qualifier against Liechtenstein.

Villas-Boas did not offer Torres an explanation, having admitted 48 hours earlier that he would not hesitate to drop the striker if it benefited the team.

"I just made the changes," said Villas-Boas today as he pondered whether to recall Torres for tomorrow's Champions League opener against Bayer Leverkusen.

"I think any player who's not part of the squad or the selected players is not happy.

"I'm glad because maybe you can stimulate them to go one step further, or motivate them a bit more

Joey Barton confirmed as QPR captain for his debut against Newcastle tonight

Re Torres


I hope he did say it

Things not going the way he hoped, hmmmmmmmmmmmm

Even Rafa felt the need to defend him today

Heard that last week

Tottenham's Michael Dawson out for at least 2 months with achilles injury.

GuillemBalague

Cesc has started proceedings to sue Sport magazine in the UK for making up an interview with him where he was supposed to critisize Arsenal

Robbie Keane was yesterday revealed to be the fourth highest-paid player in America's MLS following his transfer to LA Galaxy (Independent)