No tricky penalty moves allowed in World Cup

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No tricky penalty moves allowed in World Cup As of today, penalty takers will not be allowed to halt after run-ups in an effort to fool the goalkeeper, after the International Football Association Board determined that it was not proper sporting behaviour, thus making it a yellow card offence ready for when the World Cup begins.

Jerome Valcke, from FIFA stated that while taking a penalty kick players will still be allowed to feint in order to confuse the goalkeeper, but feinting to kick the ball after the run up will be an offence.

If players still attempt to feint nearing the end of their run up and score a goal it will not count and they will have to take the kick over again.

The IFAB also decided this week that the fourth official will have more power on the field and to try a worldwide experiment with goal line officials.

Valcke stated that the fourth official will be able to rule on any incidents that occur on the pitch and that the fourth official is just as important as any other official out there on the field.

Despite the move on fourth officials, the decision to allow assistant referees into a game is still a voluntary decision.

After the trial finishes, federations and football associations around the rule are free to implement the new rules if they like, but are required to at least trial it during the World Cup.

The FA’s director of football services, Jonathon Hall, however stated it is unlikely that it will make it Scotland or England because it is not practical.

Football is a major reason for divorce

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A survey of British households by divorce company divorce-online has found that 10% of people have ended a relationship because of rows about football and 11% of people expect their relationship to become more strained during the World Cup ( this equates to 5.5 million people)

The bad news for women specifically, is that “14% of men agree that football will more important than their partner” during the World Cup and almost a quarter of men believe that TV viewing will revolve around the tournament.

Arsenal fans are the worst!  Arsenal fans are the most likely to have relationship problems because of the World Cup.  They are the most likely to have arguments because of neglect due to the football and they are the most likely supporters to have a strained relationship during the World Cup.  Arsenal fans also agreed that the football is more important than their partner during the World Cup although it is the Newcastle supporter who is most keen to move out during the tournament.

The supporters of other team don’t get away completely free, however, 17% of Manchester United fans have split from a partner because of a football argument and Chelsea fans will be spending the least amount of time with their partner (of the English teams).

The survey was carried out by Opinion Matters on behalf of Divorce-Online.Co.Uk during April 2010 -sample 1701 UK adults.

FA investigate Luton Town riot

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FA investigate Luton Town riot The Football Association is investigating the ugly riots that were incited by Luton Town supporters at a match against York City in which the Luton Town fans rushed the pitch and pelted fans and players of York City with missiles.

During the fracas a handful of police officers were injured and riot police had to be called in before order could be restored.  The violence led to seven arrests, which tainted the victory of York City in the semi-final play off that took place at the Blue Square Premier.

Luton Town may now face charges from the FA after the governing body announced that the incident will be under investigation.  Additionally, a spokesman for the FA warned that any supporter that is found to have contributed to the disorder will not be allowed to attend any future football matches.

A spokesperson from the Bedfordshire Police stated that six out of the seven people who were arrested on suspicion of drunk and disorderly as well as public order offences had been released on bail pending further charges.

The spokesperson also stated that it appeared the trouble began when Luton fans invaded the pitch but did add that both clubs had fans that were focused on injuring each other.

Sophie Hicks, the director for York City, denied the statement and instead said that the dignified behaviour of the York City supporters was a credit to the fine club and that from her point of view the outbreak looked one sided with all aggressive behaviour attributed to the Luton supporters.

Many clubs unhappy about Football League payments

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Many clubs unhappy about Football League payments Some clubs are said to be less than happy with what the football league terms “solidarity payments” or parachute payments amounting to £48 million spread out over a total of four years.

It is said that the football leagues board had also become divided and unhappy over the last couple months regarding the issue and that it may be a huge hurdle for the incoming chairman Greg Clarke, who has yet to meet with all of the 72 representatives of each of the clubs.

He is said to be one of the backers of the new set of proposals which will see in excess of £170 million loss parachute payments dealt out to the clubs. Although this is a considerable increase there are many clubs which include Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Sheffield United who were very dissatisfied with the proposed payments.

According to them and others the way the money will be shared will have a serious effect on the balance of competitive power between the country’s clubs; they believe that it will produce a bigger gap between the major clubs and the more minor, less prosperous, clubs.

They are of the opinion that the new money deal will effectively create a second Premier League which will put money in the pockets of around a dozen clubs but will see others left out in the cold.

They also consider that this new balance of power will mean that many smaller clubs will be totally unable to complete and will never forget the opportunity to move up the English football rankings.

Football fan will go back to Portuguese jail

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Football fan will go back to Portuguese jail So called football fan Gary Mann is due to be shipped out to Portugal today in order to serve out a 24 month prison sentence for his part in a serious riots which took place during the Euro 2004 competition.

The Portuguese prosecutors had originally decided that they would deport Mann back to the UK rather than having to serve out his jail sentence at one of the countries penal facilities. But then back at the beginning of 2009 they opted to put out a European extradition warrant in order to fast track his return to Portugal in order to serve out his original two-year sentence.

Since then Mann has been through a drawn-out extradition battle that finally ended up in Strasbourg at the European Court of human rights, who two days ago completely rejected his appeal fighting the extradition procedure.

Now aged 52, Mann is a former firefighter who was arrested shortly after the Albufeira, Algarve, riot humans taken into custody and then using a fast tracking court procedure set up especially to deal with cases during the football championship was tried and convicted within four hours of his arrest.

12 men were tried at the same time and were represented by two lawyers and one interpreter. In his defence Mann pointed out that a Humberside police officer, Detective Constable Alan Rutter, who was representing the British police and assisting the Portuguese authorities during the championships was present at the trial and later described the process as ‘a farce’

Mann decided that he would accept deportation out of the country in return for a guilty plea, which is what then happened. But following this the then Home Secretary David Blunkett, made his feelings very clear stating that the British government intended to ‘nail’ man for his part in embarrassing the country, some time later the Portuguese authorities mysteriously issued the warrant to bring him back to the country to serve out his sentence.