Reuters Soccer Blog
World Soccer views and news
Soccer Break Tuesday
Football’s governing bodies are dominating the news on Tuesday as the FIFA presidency candidates hit the campaign trail and the UEFA presidency will be retained by an unopposed Michel Platini.
The sport is more global than ever, highlighted in December when Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup ahead of the United States, Japan, Australia and South Korea despite the fact a Middle Eastern country has never before hosted a major global sporting event.
For Qatar’s Mohamed Bin Hammam is challenging Swiss Sepp Blatter as the head of football’s world governing body later this year. Who would you like in charge? Reports of a divide, or potential one, have been ruled out by the Qatari.
Michel Platini has more football in him having been the architect of France’s 1984 European championships win, but is his re-election as UEFA president necessarily the best thing? Would you prefer someone who hasn’t played the game to come in with an outside view?
from Left field:
The shoot-out where blazing over the bar is a good thing
Major rugby's first shoot-out was followed, almost inevitably, by a tidal wave of complaints about how unfair it all was.
Leicester secured a slot in the final of the Heineken Cup, Europe's premier club competition, after beating Cardiff Blues 7-6 "on penalties" on Sunday.
Wembley Cup final magic diluted by semi-final tasters
“It was always my dream to play in an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley,” just doesn’t quite cut it and fans of teams chasing both domestic cups might struggle to sing: “We’re going to Wembley thrice.”
It’s just not right.
The FA may be contractually committed for the next 30 years to playing both semis as well as the final at their shiny new showpiece arena, but that does not mean we have to like it.
FA Cup response — How much more romantic can you get?
So Kevin Fylan has poured scorn on this season’s FA Cup, saying romance was “the last word” he would choose to describe what’s happening in the competition. Well Kev, as we prepare for this weekend’s semi-finals, let me say I couldn’t disagree more.
I’ll admit I’m something of a footballing Luddite, one of those old-fashioned fans who laments the fact that the days are gone when clubs like Derby County, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Aston Villa won league titles. The days when supporters had a genuine affinity with players. The days when Sunderland, Southampton and West Ham could win the FA Cup.
