This picture should really have Sepp Blatter's foot in his mouth. The head of FIFA said "I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere." He went on to say he sympathized with Ronaldo, and criticized the Premiership's plans for a 39th game that would be played overseas. After his 6+5 proposal was rejected he is obviously lashing out and acting like someone 1/24th his age(he's 72). Since the Premiership is the wealthiest league and Manchester United won the Champions League last year they make an easy target. The Premiership has imported more foreign players than any other league and Blatter, among others, doesn't like so much talent being concentrated in one league. Ronaldo said he agreed that players should be allowed to go where they want, but maintains that he does not have a deal with Real Madrid. At this point it seems like Man U is trying to stop a boulder from rolling down a hill. Make that a mountain. Reports suggest he could be out for 12 weeks following his ankle surgery, but that doesn't seem to be holding Madrid back. Michel Platini(head of UEFA) defended the clubs today saying that wages have spiraled out of control and that players have too much power. It does seem that contracts no longer matter and when a player has made up his mind to move it usually comes true. Ask Mr. Wenger.
In other news it appears that Joan Laporta may not have survived the challenge to his presidency after all. Eight out of 17 board members resigned, including first Vice-President Albert Vicens. They didn't seem to feel that the 39.4% of the vote that Laporta garnered was enough. Laporta's future is now in the hand of the roughly 3,000 club delegates. The delegates, who represent the tens of thousands of club members, will meet in September. Without the support of the board or the delegates it will be incredibly difficult for Laporta to keep his job. It should be remembered that he won back to back La Liga titles in '05 and '06 and won the Champions League in '06, but the club went trophy less the last two seasons. If only we could run politics this way.In a not very new development Rafa Benitez has expressed his displeasure with the funds available for him during the transfer window. It's no secret that American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have not gotten along with each other and Hicks has not been supportive of Benitez. The two are also having financial trouble, who knew mortgage defaulting in Florida would affect Liverpool, and are not prepared to give Rafa the same money that some of the other coaches at the top of the table are privy to. Rafa has expressed his interest in David Villa and Gareth Barry, but so far they have both been out of his price range. Selling Riise and Crouch will help fund Barry's move, but Villa seems out of reach. It appears that Robbie Keane is the spendthrift substitute, though Ramos does not want to let go of the Irish striker. Ramos is close to signing Luis Garcia from Espanyol, so we'll see if that makes Keane-o easier to part with.
One Liners
- Inter says Lampard wants to join, everyone in world says shutup already
- Hleb close to 15 million pound deal with Barca, I'll believe it when I see it
- Inter sign Mancini from Roma, no word when they'll acquire the Boom-Boom
- Scolari to trim Chelsea squad, Hilario no longer laughing
- Villa make 10 million pound bid for Bentley, we all know he's already a Villain
- Marseille fans to buy Drogba, cheaper than caviar on toast they usually enjoy at game
