Gareth Thomas states his support for gay footballers

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Gareth Thomas states his support for gay footballers Gareth Thomas, the previous captain of the Welsh rugby team has made a public statement about his support for gay footballers and his desires for the breakdown of prejudices that he has seen towards homosexual people in the sport.

He is regarded as the most high-profile sportsmen in the UK who is openly gay and he has recently made his remarks in a BBC documentary. He stated that many talented players are being turned off the sport because of its homophobic nature.

In the documentary he commented, “If the Football Association were to issue a statement saying that they would take a hard line on any homophobic behaviour in the game then more talented footballers would join in the sport.”

The documentary has recently aired on BBC3 and is presented by Amal Fashanu. Amal Fashanu’s uncle is Justin Fashanu, who was an openly gay footballer. After he came out he received a lot of abuse for being gay and ultimately committed suicide in the late 1990s. In the documentary Ms Fashanu confronts her father who was hostile to his brother after he revealed that he was gay.

The documentary features an interview with her father, John Fashanu, where he states, “I’m sick of the scandals that I hear day after day, I have a name to protect and my brother is tarnishing it. I wouldn’t even like to get changed in the same room as my brother, and I’m fairly sure the rest of the football world feels exactly the same way.”

Justin at the time commented about his brother’s remarks, “I thought he was a more tolerant man and I am disappointed that he feels this way.” In the documentary John says that he has certain regrets about his behaviour about his brother’s homosexuality and his reaction to it.

Al-Ahly fans bring Cairo to a standstill

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Al-Ahly fans bring Cairo to a standstill Thousands have marched from all over Cairo in support of al-Ahly and they all congregated in the capital centre, Tahrir Square. Fans within the city had already taken care to set up barriers that blocked off the square so that they could all meet up.

Once most had arrived the large group headed towards the interior ministry and surrounded it chanting out to the leaders demanding their rights and threatening that if they do not receive any rights then they will use their own methods to get them. They added that martyrs are loved by God, insinuating that there is little that would stop them.

The crowd was mostly younger men although during the march many women also joined in carrying al-Ahly and Egyptian flags. While the main goal of the gathering seemed to be to demand freedom, each different marchers had their own particular messages to convey.

While some choose to express anger at the governors of the Port Said, some at the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, some at the interior minister, and just in general to the police that were monitoring the event. Despite what many thought, the event was planned and not as a result of the violence that caused the death of 70 people at the Port Said football match this week.

Supporters did however bring up the violence that occurred at the game stating that the Scaf is the reason why these disasters continue to occur with one supporter at the rally explaining that if the Scaf is not able to make a football match safe to attend it is impossible to imagine that they could bring stability and security to the entire country. Others are asking that the Scaf and police be held responsible at trials to bring honor to the martyrs that gave their lives for the cause.

Premiership’s manliest footballer is Wayne Rooney

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It’s now official, England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has edged out his teammate Ryan Giggs to take the coveted title of the manliest footballer in the Premier league, with Ashley Cole being named as the least manly in the public vote Leading UK grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge organised the survey, which saw 26 year old Rooney pick up 20% of the public’s votes.

Ryan Giggs was placed second with 18% of the vote, and Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Chelsea and England player Frank Lampard tied for third place with 10%. Other players who made the manly top ten included Joey Barton, Nemanja Vidic and John Terry.

Nick Gibbens, spokesperson for The Bluebeards Revenge, said: “When he’s on the pitch, Wayne is certainly what you would describe as a ‘real man’ and is a deserving winner of the title ‘Premiership’s manliest footballer’.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve, never pulls out of a tackle and always puts his body on the line for his team, qualities that make a man a ‘real man’. Wayne also has the recent addition of a full head of hair, and I’m guessing this could have secured him a few extra votes.”

Chelsea and England left back Ashley Cole was voted least manly Premiership footballer, picking up nearly a quarter (24%) of the public vote.

Spanish forward Fernando Torres, a teammate of Cole at Chelsea, came second in the least “manly” category on 21%. Peter Crouch was third on 14%, former Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri took fourth spot with 11% and Manchester United winger Nani finished fifth on 5%.

The Bluebeards Revenge, dubbed the “world’s manliest grooming brand”, also asked participants who they thought was the manliest Premiership team and the league’s manliest manager.

Stoke City, famous for their physical and no-nonsense approach, topped this list on 23%, with Manchester United second on 16% and Liverpool third on 15%.

Arsenal, renowned for their pretty passing game, were judged to be the ‘least manly’ Premiership side, closely followed by their North London rivals Tottenham.

Chelsea’s rugged boss Andre Billas-Boas took the accolade for manliest Premiership manager, with a whopping 49% of the vote, followed by Martin Jol (7%) in second and Roberto Mancini (6%) in third.

Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger scooped the honour for the least manly Premiership manager.

The Bluebeards Revenge, a shaving range that can actually reduce stubble by up to 40% over a 60-day period, surveyed 1,835 people via email in December 2011.

Please see attached spreadsheet for full survey results.

 

Jeff Stelling Soccer Anyday Live

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With Sky Sports presenters Matt Le Tissier, Paul Merson, Phil Thompson, Charlie Nicholas, plus special guest Chris Kamara!

 19 March 2012 – 8th June 2012

BOURNEMOUTH, LONDON, LIVERPOOL, NEWCASTLE & BIRMINGHAM

Following on from their Saturday afternoon success where they entertain millions of viewers every week, Jeff Stelling and the rest of the Sky Sports gang on going on their first ever tour. The popular UK football show is embarking in a 5 date tour of UK arenas that sees them visiting Birmingham, Bournemouth, Liverpool, London and Newcastle between the 19th March and 8th June 2012.

Tickets for the events go on general sale on 27th January via the website www.livenation.co.uk. Spending a Saturday afternoon in the company of Jeff Stelling, Paul Merson, Matt Le Tissier, Chris Kamara, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas is a must for millions of footie fans across the UK. To meet the demands of those fans who want to get up close and personal with their heroes, Soccer Anyday has been developed.

Football fans can join Jeff, Charlie, Kammy, Merse, Le Tiss and Thommo as they look back over their careers and their favourite footie escapades. The lads will also be revealing some of the exploits that go on behind the scenes and entertain the audiences with footie stories from both the past and the present.

In this hilarious and engaging roller-coaster ride of an evening, the panel will reveal personal anecdotes from their footballing and TV careers, from the ultimate highs to the crucifying lows and everything in between. Brimming with anecdotes and rare footage, the evening with will give a frank and rare insight into the crazy world of football.

The brilliant Jeff Stelling will anchor what promises to be a superb night. During the evening Jeff will reveal how he keeps the show together with consummate ease despite the frenzied action on the pitch. Fans will also find out why he knows so many obscure facts about Scottish Football.

The show will also reveal why Charlie Nicholas was called Champagne Charlie and why he constantly fell-out with the Scottish National team. Paul Merson will talk frankly and honestly about the highs and lows of an amazing career and his personal battles with addiction.

Phil Thompson will tell fans what it is like to win every honour in the game and disclose his undying passion for Liverpool FC.  Matthew Le Tissier, one of the most gifted players of all time, will reveal the ups and downs of playing for Southampton and why he didn’t play for England more.  Finally Kammy, one of the most loved pundits on TV will re-live some his most comical gaffes. He will also reveal how he comes up with such unusual sayings and catchphrases such as “Unbelievable Jeff” and “As calm as a cumber”!

Audience members will become part of the action directly posing questions to the panel. After fans have been entertained by the team, Kammy will get down amongst the audience and take questions to the panel. Fans can ask the panel anything they like about the football world including current team exploits. Brave attendees can even try to catch Jeff out with obscure facts and figures.

For six hours every Saturday, Jeff Stelling and his studio guests preside over the afternoon’s football with expert analysis of the goals, bookings, sending-offs and incidents as fly in. The format is engrossing, engaging and jam packed with explosive action and hilarious gags.  “An extraordinary TV concept ….absolutely spell-binding” as the Guardian puts it.

“Soccer Anyday” is a unique opportunity for fans to get directly involved in the action.

Jeff Stelling commented;

“This is a unique opportunity for us to engage directly with our audience. Performing in a live setting will be incredibly exhilarating. It’s a brilliant opportunity to get up close and personal with fans of the show.”

“To perform at Wembley is dream come true, especially as it is the last show at the venue before the Olympics. Finally I will be able to join the same ranks as my footballing companions!”

Jeff added;

“Trying to anchor a live show with Kammy, Charlie, Thommo, Merse and Le Tiss could be impossible but probably great fun. Who knows what might happen?”

Matthew LeTissier concluded;

“To be given the opportunity to perform in arenas makes us feel like the ultimate rock stars!  It’s even more exciting and nerve-wracking than walking out on the pitch in front of thousands of people as we get to directly interact with the audience. It’s so exciting! We just can’t wait to get on the road.”

2012 TOUR DATES:

Monday 19 March – Bournemouth BIC
Monday 30 April – Wembley Arena
Monday 14 May – Liverpool Echo Arena
Monday 28 May – Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Friday 8 June – Birmingham NIA

Tickets for the tour go on general sale on Friday 27th January from 9am priced at £29.50 for Bournemouth, Liverpool, Newcastle and Birmingham and £32.50 for London-available via www.livenation.co.uk

Just another incident in the crazy life of Mario Balotelli.

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Just another incident in the crazy life of Mario Balotelli. It is just another incident in the crazy life of Mario Balotelli. At least this time it is occurring on the football pitch rather than off it. Harry Redknapp had demanded that the FA take action against Balotelli for kicking Scott Parker in the head while he lay on the floor.

It was Balotelli who scored the fifth and final goal in Manchester City’s victory over Tottenham, but in Redknapp’s view he should not have been on the pitch. In the 84th minute Parker put his body in the way of Balotelli’s shot, landing on the floor in the process. In regaining his balance, Mario Balotelli clattered Parker’s head with his boots. The question is whether or not it was done deliberately.

Having been sent off earlier in the season, against Liverpool at Anfield, if the FA do decide to penalise the player, it will be a four match ban that rules him out of games until the end of February. Redknapp does not question the penalty decision, but maintains that the player should not have been available to put it into the net. Scott Parker had to get stitches in his head for the gash above his eye.

In another incident, Joleon Lescott could also have seen red when he appeared to hit Younes Kaboul with his forearm when challenging for the ball. If Howard Webb saw the Balotelli incident, then Redknapp suggests he shouldn’t be in charge of any football match, never mind a World Cup final, as it is clearly a red card offence. He does concede the possibility that Webb did not see the incident.

Team coach for Manchester City, David Platt, said that he hadn’t seen the incident, and wouldn’t comment until he had seen it. However, he did mention that last month it was shown that different angles revealed different ‘facts’. Balotelli had nothing to say on the matter. Drawn to talk on his penalty he said that he was calm, just like every other time he took a penalty.

Some see the man as a ‘lovable eccentric’ thanks to his many public antics such as: throwing darts at a work experience student, letting off fireworks in his bathroom, attempting to score with a back heel during a friendly pre-season game, using school bathrooms in Manchester and driving into a women’s prison in Italy ‘to look around’.

Redknapp clearly does not agree with this assessment. He couldn’t see any reason for Balotelli’s actions, and can’t see how it could possibly be an accident. He believes that Balotelli was reacting to Parker’s challenge, but that there had been nothing wrong with what Parker did.

Redknapp was not alone in his views. Graham Souness echoed the sentiment on Sky Sports, saying the Balotelli knew exactly what he did, and that rather than bringing his right leg forward he pushed backwards in order to hurt Parker.

About his own side, Harry Redknapp was effusive, congratulating his team on their efforts. Had Jermain Defore been able to stretch an inch further to make contact with the ball from Gareth Bale in the dying moments, then it could have been Tottenham that walked away with the points, and the title would have been very open. Instead City have stretched their lead to 8 points over the London club.