It might not be everyone's cup of tea but the Confederations Cup certainly has its worth
Much heat and little light have been expended in recent weeks over the length of the football season, with especial reference to England’s European Championship qualifier against Slovakia on June 11.
John Chapman explains why the Belgian FA is making it tough for clubs
In a country with 18 political parties and three official languages, it’s no surprise the Belgian FA has labyrinthine regulations. Euro 2000 supremo and ex-FA official Alain Courtois once commented: “They’re so complicated, I’m totally lost.” Recently, those same regulations have swung into action as economic realism hit Belgian football with a vengeance.
Thursday 1 The FA is fined £70,000 for the pitch invasion and racist abuse at last month’s Euro 2004 qualifier with Turkey. UEFA also criticises David Beckham for his “provocative” goal celebration. England’s next match, against Slovakia, will not be played behind closed doors, however. Acting joint chief executive David Davies promises action: “We need to take this decision and use it to our benefit. There are people who have shamed this country, we all know that.” UEFA will also be sending a bill to Sir Alex, who’s fined £4,500 for claiming the Champions League draw was fixed. In the Conference play-offs, Dagenham beat Morecambe 2-1 and Doncaster draw 1-1 at Chester. Thierry Henry is named Footballer of the Year to add to the PFA award he won last week.
Closing a ground to England fans would just hurt the wrong people, believes Alan Bailey, who wants a more imaginative penalty imposed: a media blackout
By the time you read this, UEFA should have decided how to punish the attacks, constant racist chanting and pitch invasions which surrounded and intruded upon England’s 2-0 win over Turkey at the Stadium of Light in April. I can’t tell you what was decided on May 1 and what the FA’s response will be. But if the rumours are right it will be both too much and far, far too little.
Simon Inglis mourns the loss of traditional floodlights from the horizon due to the changing trends in stadium construction
We’ve all been there. Driving to a game, negotiating the ring-roads and roundabouts of Awaysville, then growing hotter and more bothered as you realise the back streets in which you’re mired are nowhere near the ground. What’s worse is you’ve never had to look at a map before. All you’ve ever done was take more or less the right turn-off from the motorway and then drive blithely toward that distant set of floodlights on the horizon, like a moth homing in on a night light.