Poland and Ukraine primed for Euro 2012 kick-off
Editor's note - Pedro Pinto will be interviewing UEFA president Michel Platini on Friday and we want your questions. Whether you want to quiz him on his expectations for Euro 2012 or the quality of this year's Champions League, leave your questions below and we'll put the best to him.
When UEFA picked Poland and Ukraine to co-host Euro 2012, there were those who questioned the decision. After all, Eastern Europe had never organized a tournament of such magnitude and there were concerns the duo would struggle to deliver the necessary infrastructure to make the event a success. FULL POST
Resurgent Federer still hungry for major titles
Think Roger Federer's chances of winning another major title are over? Think again!
The 30-year-old father of two looks ready and raring to go after a fine finish to the 2011 season.
While his main rivals, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, whimpered out of the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London, the Swiss maestro sauntered through his round-robin group, beating Nadal 6-3 6-0 en route, before taking out Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final for the third time in two weeks. FULL POST
AVB job safe despite Chelsea's wobbles
So, the English media has started to speculate about the future of Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas.
Many of the tabloids have already hinted that his job is in jeopardy and that Guus Hiddink is being lined up as a replacement.
Don’t believe the hype. There is no way AVB will be shipped out anytime soon. FULL POST
Pedro Pinto: My crazy day with Sepp Blatter
Wow. What a day. When it started, at 7 a.m. in Zurich, I had no idea our interview would be the most talked about sports news headline of the day.
Last week, we had arranged an interview with FIFA president Sepp Blatter to talk about the new reforms against corruption at football's world governing body and the countdown to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. FULL POST
How should football tackle racism?
Is there racism in football? My first instinct is to say yes, because football is a reflection of society and, unfortunately, racism is present in many societies around the world.
Furthermore, taking into account the various cases where fans have abused players during matches, this is obviously still a serious issue in some parts of the globe.
What really concerns me now, however, is investigating whether there is racism on the field of play. In light of what has happened in England recently and in other nations such as Spain and Portugal, where players have allegedly abused each other, football authorities must step up and take action. FULL POST
Should Djokovic have risked his reputation in Paris?
To play, or not to play, that was the question facing Novak Djokovic – or so some thought!
As World No.1, the Serb was entitled to a $2 million bonus if he played all eight World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments and $1.6 million if he played seven of the eight.
Having already missed the Shanghai tournament because of a back injury, Djokovic had to play in Paris, or else he’d end up with nothing -– but then there was that reoccurrence of a shoulder injury in Basel. . FULL POST
Should 'idiot' caddy be punished for Woods remark?
Tiger Woods' erstwhile bagman, whose brain has clearly not engaged with his mouth since being set free by his old employer, has done it again - but this time it’s way more serious.
It was almost forgivable when caddy Steve Williams lost the plot last August, letting his emotions get the better of him in the aftermath of new boss Adam Scott’s impressive victory at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational. FULL POST
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Posted by Filed under: Golf |
Can football chants ever go too far?
Football stadiums can be more than just arenas for the many who frequent the stands to watch their team. Like a church for believers of the faith, supporters flock to the communal ground of the terrace to cheer on the side, reaffirm identity with their "tribe" and to bond with their brothers in arms through shared experience and song.
The sight of individuals acting as a collective is as awe-inspiring in 2011 as one imagines it was in the Coliseum in Ancient Rome; when 10,000 souls sing in unison it is hard - nigh on impossible - not to be affected.
It is why sport, and football in particular, creates such a compelling spectacle for television - the drama on the pitch and the reaction of the crowd spilling forth from the screen to corrupt and convert the viewer, who may well be on the other side of the planet but can no longer ignore the significance of the event. FULL POST
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Posted by Filed under: Football |
Is Messi only candidate for Ballon d'Or?
There is little doubt in my mind that Leo Messi will be the FIFA Ballon d'Or winner when the award is handed out in Zurich in January of next year. As much as it would be interesting to speculate about who else could win it, there is no point.
Messi heads 2011 FIFA Ballon d'Or shortlist
There are a lot of fantastic footballers in the list of finalists unveiled on Tuesday, but Messi is the master.
This is a man who is head and shoulders above everyone else in the world of football right now. This is someone who is probably, along with Diego Maradona, Pele and Zinedine Zidane, one of the best players who has ever walked the earth. FULL POST
