Maple Lions

According to the Guardian, UEFA has before it a proposal from Michal Listkiewicz, a member of UEFA’s club competitions committee and president of the Polish football federation, to ban players and officials from taking part in the G14’s “super league”.

And the Guardian calls it right on the G14’s “moral high ground”:

Money does, however, appear to be the main motivator of the G14 group of clubs. Their designs call for the “introduction of more reliable criteria for such competitions, allowing [clubs] to effectively plan their sporting and business activity”

No surprise, then, that the G14 are squaring off against FIFA in the Charleroi case, demanding compensation for players injured on international duty.

With each passing day the G14 proves itself to be nothing better than the clear-cut loggers of international football. Time for some good ol’ TR-style trust-busting, I say.

Paul Canniff

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While we all appreciate the entertainment value of a European club championship, one can argue with good reason that the Champions League has become a blight upon European football, parlaying massive wodges of cash into the hands of a select number of teams and thus entrenching their dominance of national leagues. And now. according to a Beeb report, the Bilderberg Group of European football wants control of the CL, their minor protestations notwithstanding.

What else can one make of a string of recommendations that sound more like a casus belli with UEFA than desirable policy? More CL games? Between international duties and the national fixtures, it is hectic enough for players. It strikes me as just an effort to pry more cash from television rights for even more football to be aired.

Let’ hope that UEFA stands its ground against the G14 on their so-called “European Super League”.

Paul Canniff

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Painful as it is for an England supporter to say, but “Forza Juve“. As Francis Urquhart would observe, it had to be done.

And no, Stevie, it will take vastly more bootlicking than this to get an invite to Arsene Wenger’s next swinging absinthe party.

Paul Canniff

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A team from an English division makes it into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. And the only English footballer in the deciding match played for the losing side from Spain.

Chalk up one for the Foreign Legion of the EPL. Then, again, they likely won’t be getting another shot at the Euro brass ring like this for at least one year, if the tables hold up.

“Sacré bleu, we’re going to Euro Disneyland, mon ami!”

Paul Canniff

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I hate the Gooners as much as anyone does. But I also want to see a (nominally) English team prevail in the Champions League, especially against Real F**king Madrid. What to do?

Damian P.

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Not that long ago, gaffers and punters alike berated Chelsea as the Great Satan because they were spending too much money. Now some of them gloat that it may not be enough. If “Law and Order” teaches us anything, it’s that you’ve got to get your story straight way before you go into lockup with Fontana and Green.

Barça won their spot in the next round of the Champions League simply because they played better football. Ronaldinho’s skillful play will stand out long after the turf whining of Carlos Puyol or the melancholy of Mourinho fade from memory. It is a joy when the beautiful game lives up to its name.

So this the end of the silverware road for the Blues?

Paul Canniff

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Chelsea is out of the Champions League, along with Rangers and Werder Bremen. On top of Robben’s four-match ban, this could have a devastating impact on Jose Mourinho’s normally sunny disposition.

Damian P.

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