For the second time in two weeks, a Serie A player scored a decisive goal in a game, took his short off to celebrate and was immediately handed his marching orders for a second yellow card. Siena’s Massimo Maccarone scored a sublime free kick in the 80th minute against Tuscan rival Fiorentina and was so [...]

Is Essam El-Hadary going to be our test case for the Webster ruling, or isn’t he? The battle is on. Just last week Daryl was saying that Essam El-Hadary, the African Cup of Nations-winning goalkeeper from Egypt, was going to be the Webster test. Webster, if you remember, is the extremely controversial new ruling [...]

Way back in the summer 2006 of the Selecao were the prohibitive favorites to take home one of sport’s most coveted mantle pieces. It was a little bit of a Tiger Wood complex, in fact. There was Brazil and then there was “The Field”. Any time an interview was taken it was less “who do [...]

Okay, here’s the latest from Italy: Inter Milan have officially been declared 2005/6 Serie A champions. Juventus will appeal against their relegation in civil court, which could delay the start of the season. AC Milan’s Champions League spot isn’t definite. UEFA have the final say, and Lennart Johansson and friends will meet tomorrow (Thursday) to decide.

Fiorentina, Lazio and AC Milan fans will be relieved by their clubs successful appeals, but spare a thought for fans of Lecce, Treviso and Palermo. Lecce and Treviso thought they’d been saved from relegation by Fiorentina and Lazio’s punishment, but that’s no longer the case. They’ll start next season in Serie B. Palermo (pictured) were due [...]

The Italian match-fixing scandal appeal court has spoken: Juventus: still relegated to Serie B, but 2006/7 points penalty reduced from -30 to -17 Lazio: re-instated to Serie A, but will start 2006/7 season with -11 points Fiorentina: re-instated to Serie A, but will start 2006/7 with -19 points AC Milan: 2005/6 point penalty reduced from -44 to -30 (will [...]

counting the days until Premiership kick off...