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Italy's Match Rigging Scandal - How Cheating Didn't Pay for Juventus

2012-02-11T21:45:00.001+07:00

One of the best known football teams in Italy is Juventus, who are based in Turin, but despite of their impressive execution on the pitch the 2006-2007 season has seen them relegated to the Serie B for the first time in their history.

In fact Juventus ended the former season at the top of the Serie A league, their relegation - and a beginning deficit of 9 points - was all due to a scandal that rocked Italian football and saw sanctions applied to a total of 4 first department clubs, although Juventus was hardest hit and the only one to be at last relegated.

Juventus and the other three teams - Ac Milan, Fiorentina, and Lazio - were all found guilty of influencing game in their favour by having favourable referees appointed to foremost matches.

The sentence imposed on the four clubs was draconian to say the least - Juventus, which was hardest hit was stripped of its former 2 league titles, banned from participating in Champions League, relegated to Serie C1 and docked 30 points, while the other teams were relegated to Serie B with fewer points deducted.

On appeal all the teams had their sentences reduced, so that only Juventus was relegated, but to Serie B, and the 30 point penalty was initially reduced to 17 and later only 9 - the equivalent of winning 3 matches with no points awarded.

The relegation saw some players leave Juventus; Emerson and Fabio Cannavaro both moved to Real Madrid, for where the Juventus manager, Fabio Capello, had already departed, while Fc Barcelona signed Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram.

Some players did remain loyal however, and the team's execution in Serie B has been impressive. Although they drew in the first match, Juventus won each of the following eight games with only one goal conceded and they remained undefeated until January.

At the time of writing in mid April, Juventus has only lost 2 matches, drawn 8 and won 22. With 10 more matches to play they are not unbeatable due to their 9-point deficit, but if they continue to accomplish at this level they are sure to re-enter the top department in the 2007-2008 season.

Let us hope that Juventus recaptures its former glory, but possibly more importantly, steers clear of behaviour that is in clear breach of good sporting conduct.

Italy's Match Rigging Scandal - How Cheating Didn't Pay for Juventus

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Spanish Football - Matchday Atletico Madrid in the Vicente Calderon

2012-02-08T18:01:00.001+07:00

It is said that Football in Spain comes a very close second behind Catholicism as the national religion. If this is true then it can be said that, in Madrid, Atletico Madrid come a very close second behind Real Madrid as the capital city´s favourite sporting attraction.

Whilst the history of Real Madrid is one of European championships and domestic domination that of their cross city neighbours Atletico Madrid is one of "nearly men" and barren trophy cabinets. Such has come to be the commonality of spectacular capitulations from winning positions that the club and the fans are known as, "los suffrodores," the sufferers!

If Atletico are that poor on the football field (and there is no evidence to the contrary) what drives 55,000 habitancy to turn up week in, week out, at the traffic congested city centre Vincente Calderon stadium?

The matchday experience!

Take the party atmosphere of the Rio carnival and the passion of a political rally and you still have not arrived at the intensity generated on Atletico Madrid matchdays. From the devout Atletico supporters, known as "Ultras" and who populate the southern end of the stadium, there comes a three hour attack on the senses. The only brief respite from the barrage of noise being when the teams change ends at half time.

Football matches in "la liga", The league, typically start at 1700 on a Sunday afternoon (this is oftentimes changed to meet Tv demands) however the matchday caress starts far earlier at colse to 1300. In the numerous small bars colse to the ground and even up to 3km´s away the Atletico particular are establishment to enjoy one of Spains other great traditions: Lunch!

As in the rest of Spain, Lunch is a two hour marathon of five or six different Spanish dishes accompanied by and washed down with copious amounts of beer or wine while which players of a bygone era are remembered, team selection criticised and games replayed in the minds of those present. Rapidly the Salt, Pepper and Sauce bottles are rearranged as a singular goal or movement is re-enacted to shouts, screams and arguments of those straining their memories of thirty years past.

With the relaxed affair of lunch over by 1500, and notwithstanding the vocal chords being sufficiently lubricated, the crowd begins to move towards the road party building in the neighbourhood immediately surrounding the Vicente Calderon.

Thoroughfares are fulfilled, off by the police as the streets rapidly fill with a sea of singing red and white punctuated only by the sound of drums and horns. This happens every Atletico Madrid matchday and every matchday the staff of the many small bars lining these roads try valiently and fail to serve refreshments to the crowds on their doorstep.

"Atleti! Atleti! Atleti!" Is the dull roar that becomes more distinct as you approach the stadium itself. Having arrived a good thirty minutes before the match is due to start the "Ultras" are beginning to whip up the rest of the crowd so that as kick-off approaches the sound of singing, chanting, drums and trumpets has blurred into one indistinguishable noise. Five minutes before kick off and as the teams are walking out onto the hallowed turf the Pa principles crackles into life and fifty-five thousand voices sing as one the "Atletico Hymn." Should the players have needed reminding how prominent the game is the flowers settled at the side of the projection flag in rememberance of those players who died in the Spanish civil war legitimately brings things into focus.

What follows the referees short blast on the whistle to start the game is 90 minutes of continuous vocal encouragement of those who were the red and white stripes. Well practically continuous as this may be interuppted for the singing of a concentrate of selection songs questioning the origin or the virtues of the referee, the opposition or the other team from up the road (Real Madrid).

Almost as a relief the final whistle blows, as the referee brings proceedings on the field to a halt, however for the Atletico Madrid fans this signals a mad rush to the nearest bars and restaurants to analyize the days doing and to quench those parched throats!

With an atmosphere like this and an enterance price of less than twenty euros it is easy to see why those 55,000 hardy souls are willing to endure a stadium, that is only a quarter covered, to see their team flounder in rain in the middle of December.

Spanish Football - Matchday Atletico Madrid in the Vicente Calderon

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David Beckham in Mls - Good or Bad?

2012-02-05T14:15:00.001+07:00

With the insane number of hype surrounding David Beckham's debut in the Mls and America, every person has been mezmerized by Beckham's international stardom. Furthermore, with his lovely wife, Victoria, by his side, I don't see how whatever could be whatever but ecstatic by their arrival. However, as a supervene of all this, one inquire has been left unanwered, even by the most cynical critics. That inquire is either or not the Mls's inclusion of David Beckham is a good thing. Here's what I think:

For Soccer:

David Beckham arrival to the Mls is great for soccer. Some say that losing such a great player and star will somehow hurt the European soccer scene. But that is not going to happen. Not only is the best soccer still being played in Europe, but also the number of superstars in its respective leagues is rising daily. Yes, Beckham is a force to be reckoned with, on and off the field. But with players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldhino Gaucho, Lionel Messi and Steven Gerrard filling Beckham's shoes, there are still abundance of ability players to captivate the soccer's viewing public. So, no, Europe is not going to suffer. Just think if Barry Bonds left the Mlb. Is he a great player? Of course! But the league wouldn't be all that different if he were to leave. The other superstars would pick up the slack.

On the other hand, the Mls is going to benefit beyond whatever it could maybe imagine. Not only is Beckham a great player on the field, but his rockstar-like popularity off of it will bring hoards of new viewers to the Mls. Opponents of this notion may say that international superstars have come to the Mls in the past, making very little impact on the progress of the Mls in America. Very true. But, commonly international players who make the transition are very much past their prime. Take for instance Youri Djorkaeff, Roberto Donadoni and Lothar Mattheus. Every singular one of these players was a great player in his day. But when they were in the Mls, they were over the hill. None had stellar performances in the Mls and each retired soon after arriving. Conversely, Beckham is still in his prime. Last year, due in large part to his efforts, Real Madrid won the Spanish La Liga championship. Also, in his absence from the English national team, the Three Lions suffered tremendously; something that went away upon Beckham's return. His photo perfect cross to Peter Crouch in England's Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia is a skillful reflection of just how good Beckham still is. You would be hard pressed to find whatever that can deliver a cross like that. So, this move is great for the Mls. They are getting a player with indubitably great skill who will also bolster the league with his fame.

For Beckham:

The Mls is indubitably going to benefit from this move, but will Beckham benefit as well? Well, yes and no. His wallet is without fail not going barren anytime soon, what with the 5-year, 0 million covenant he signed with the La Galaxy (something that has not gone unnoticed by his wife "Posh Spice" who is known for living up to her ritzy name). Moreover, his children will probably benefit as well. While England is by no means a country in dire straits, the Us is the most excellent country in the world and offers its citizens countless opportunities. Growing up in America will allow the Beckham children every occasion they could ever want.

However, in terms of his career, David Beckham made the wrong move. As previously mentioned, Beckham is still as skillful as ever. And let's face it, the Mls is an inferior league to the giants in Europe. So, I feel, as do many serious soccer fans, that Beckham's introduction to the Mls is sort of a slap in the face. It is just sad. He is plainly too good for the Mls. Fantasize if Michael Jordan had left the Nba after his 6th successive Nba title to play in the Italian basketball league. Murmurs of "say it ain't so" would be heard all around the country. A similar situation is unfolding in Europe. European soccer fans cannot believe that Beckham would stoop to the Mls's level. Honestly, it is kind of pathetic.

So, is Beckham in the Mls a good thing or a bad thing? Both. It just depends on how you look at it. It is great for the Mls. And it is even good for Beckham to a confident extent. But, as far as his occupation is concerned, David Beckham's swan song has come prematurely.

David Beckham in Mls - Good or Bad?

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