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Barça players and the International Break: this time we swear in French
Barcelona —
So this is it, boys and girls, the end of international break. Let’s hear that sigh of relief and the raucous celebrations because (with the exception of Touré and Keita leaving for the African Cup), our boys are home to stay until the next year at least.
And what did this day of friendlies and World Cup playoffs leave us? Well, an image I wouldn’t have believed possible, for a start. ...
Europa League Referee System May Have Caught Henry Hand Ball
Goal —
After Thierry Henry’s admitted and blatant hand ball sent France to the World Cup at Ireland’s expense, you have to wonder if an “innovation” being used this season in the Europa League will gain new traction. Video clips and comments, some of them quite rude, have spread around the Internet after Wednesday’s World Cup playoff in Paris. This season in the UEFA Europa League , the second-tier continental competition in Europe, there are two additional officials, one situated on each end line to make calls in the penalty areas. This system, as opposed to using video or electronic goal-line sensors to determine if a ball has crossed the goal line, has long been ...
GL+GS=P
For Girls Who Can't Do Football —
I'm a girl of few failings as you can imagine. One weakness I would have to own in relation to football, however, is a propensity to believe in the equation; "Good Looks (GL) + Good Skills (GS) = Perfection (P)". Somehow I find it harder to notice fault in those with the 'F' factor. It has helped me understand others who sometimes struggle to see what's in front of them. What it means in practice is that whilst the rest of the world is shouting "dirty cheat", I'm falling under his spell. And as I publicly denounce such outrageous behaviour, what I'm secretly thinking is "That ...
Refereeing and What To Do About It
Sounder At Heart —
Referees have once again made their way into the headlines and for once MLS has no apologies to make. In the second leg of a UEFA World Cup Qualification playoff, Thierry Henry made a vital assist, crossing across the face of goal to William Gallas' head to score the tying goal. The goal pulled France level in the match and ahead 2-1 on aggregate. There was a problem, though. See if you can spot it in this video.
You might have noticed the clear handball Henry commits to control the ball before his cross. If you did, you're a step ahead of the match officials, who never saw the offense and therefore ...
