The Archive

Simon Tyers on how documentaries investigating football’s underworld are flattering to deceive

If making an impression is as much about what you don’t say as what you do, Martin Tyler gave a masterclass after Fernando Torres’ eye-rubbingly bad miss in the Manchester United-Chelsea match on September 18. After an “Oh no!” in the shock of the moment, Tyler couldn’t bring himself to elucidate about what we’d all just seen for a full five seconds. Hardly Pinter length, but by Sky Sports standards it was the sort of delay that would make nervous editors prepare an apology caption. Andy Gray would have shouted all over it. It was quite sweet, really.

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An unlikely agreement in South Yorkshire may benefit both Sheffield clubs, reports Tom Hocking

As the Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday players run out at Bramall Lane this month the rivalry in the stands will be as volatile as ever. United’s directors and executives, however, will be welcoming some familiar faces from across the city, having spent their summers locked in negotiations.

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Pm Doutreligne is proud to support a Brussels club with a singular history, and opposes a merger with local rivals

In August my team, Union Saint-Gilloise, played a pre-season friendly, five miles away at FC Brussels. Although both based in the Belgian capital, the two clubs could hardly be any more different.

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Fans will always moan about their team but Jason McKeown thinks some criticism goes too far

Having minutes earlier scored his second goal of the game to put Bradford City 3-1 up over Barnet, striker James Hanson deserved to feel good about himself. Yet after failing to keep an over-hit pass towards him from going out of play, the Annoying Bloke Behind (ABB) was unsentimental in his response: “Piss off Hanson, you useless prick!”

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Following industrial action Spanish law has changed. Dermot Corrigan hopes the result is more responsible action from clubs

A most welcome wind of change may just be blowing through Spanish football, sparked by a players’ strike before the first round of fixtures. Twenty Primera División and La Segunda matches were postponed in August after the Spanish players’ union (AFE) head José Luis Rubiales led his players out in a dispute over €58 million (£50m) in unpaid wages. This is due to 200 first and second division footballers at seven different clubs.

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