Football Focus

[Narnia]

I wouldn't be surprised if Russia got it thanks to the corruption you mentioned. The Spain bid is a joint one with Portugal who thumped them last week 4-0 in a friendly.

You may not have seen this clip..........

Ronaldo's disallowed goal.........thanks to Nani

[Jah Lush]

What Quids said.

Just had my ticket confirmed for Sunday's game against Liverpool. I know Annasfield's going, anyone else?

[matthew123]

Going to watch it at home with central heating switched on >:D<

I am predicting a 2-1 win to the Reds.

[Mick Mac]

Arsenal 2 up at half time. Thats game over.

Robert Pires apparently lives in London and plays for Villa. He apparently (radio 5) gets a chauffeur driven car 250 miles every day to training.

[Ladygooner]

Pires was training with Arsenal for the last 2 months and he has a flat at the old Highbury ground - No 7! Nervy last 5 mins........

[Ladygooner]

Phew! Top of the league for a couple of hours anyway

[Mick Mac]

Hugh bites the dust. Along with a couple of others.

Hugh Dallas tenders resignation as head of the referee development department

Celtic brought down their first high profile target in their ongoing war with the Scottish Football Association on Friday night when Hugh Dallas tendered his resignation as head of the referee development department. The price paid by Dallas, 53, is even greater because by parting company with the SFA he will also lose his much-prized place on Uefa's referee committee

Dallas's departure came as a consequence of his involvement in the circulation of a satirical email which referred to the Pope and the recent child abuse scandals within the Roman Catholic Church, whose Scottish spokesman called this week for the SFA to state that Dallas would lose his job if he was found to be complicit in the affair.

The Telegraph also understands that another four employees were dismissed and that a group of juniors was given a formal warning. All staff members who have been sacked have the right of appeal and if they choose to do so they will have their cases heard by a committee headed by the SFA President, George Peat.

For Celtic, Dallas represents a much prized scalp and will be regarded both by the club's board and its support as vindication of their vocal campaign against perceived cronyism and cover-ups within the SFA, although some fans extend the indictment to allegations of institutional bias against their club.

[kpc]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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>

> Robert Pires apparently lives in London and plays

> for Villa. He apparently (radio 5) gets a

> chauffeur driven car 250 miles every day to

> training.

And was rejected by Blues after a week on trial for lack of fitness a month prior to joining the V*le.

[Ladymuck]

Nice day today innit? he heB)

[????]

Feel sorry for Torquay fans. FA Cup gane at Hartlepool called off 90 mins before Kick Off!

[matthew123]

Very impressive first half from Liverpool, best football away from home for a very long time without bursting a blood vessel. Should really have another goal but either way going to be a tough second half as I'd expect Spurs to up their game.

[matthew123]

Sucker punch but still great game.

[Ladygooner]

and now Liverpool have Manu away in the FA cup!

[kpc]

Millwall away! Couldn't be easier to get to. Getting back may be a bit trickier though.

[Mick Mac]

matthew123 Wrote:

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> Very impressive first half from Liverpool, best

> football away from home for a very long time

> without bursting a blood vessel. Should really

> have another goal but either way going to be a

> tough second half as I'd expect Spurs to up their

> game.

You were right there Matt. Harry wins the battle of the half time team talks again.

[matthew123]

I remember when Liverpool played Millwall in League Cup in 2004. The Police locked us in at final whistle for own safety! Hundreds of riot police to escort everyone safely back to London Bridge by train... eventually leaving about 20 or 30 Reds still at South Bermondsey station waiting to get first south bound train with a handful of geriatric officers. Then in distance outside station saw an angry mob of Millwall yobbos trying to break Police ranks to also catch train. Train pulled in with a panic stricken Police announcement, 'everyone must get on this train where ever they are going!!'

[Mick Mac]

Scottish referee Dougie McDonald finally takes his punishment. Why he was not sacked is a mystery to me.

I don't really care about McDonald apart from he should have gone immediately but I'm pleased that Hugh Dallas has gone as I have never been convinced of his independence.

Referees sending anti catholic emails aroung their little group was spectacularly stupid bearing in mind the position they are in and the underlying issues in Scottish football. It seems that the SFA Chief Executive Stewart Regan

has taken decisive action.

All of these resignations are justified purely on the basis of the actions of the individuals concerned.

[SCSB79]

Dear Mr Mick Mac,

You are clearly a man of honour, and this is a quality I admire in decent people. I find it admirable that you agree that McDonald should fall on his sword. He is a liar by admission and justice has prevailed.

Now that we agree that lying really is the lowest of the low, I thought we may try and bridge the sectarian divide by engaging in some common sense by expanding on this common ground we hold.

1. Dr Reid stated that "every member of the green brigade who were involved in the recent poppy outrage would be banned from parkhead", since nothing has happened - I think we can agree that Mr Reid is a liar.

2. Stewart Regan lied to foreign referees because his job was on the line, he stated as much on tv. I think we can agree Mr Regan is a liar and that he should resign.

3. How was it an anti-catholic e-mail? The Vatican has shelled out hundreds of millions to victims of child abuse at the hands of their own, and it still continues to this day, ergo the email was factually correct.

4. Why, if Celtc are an all-encompassing club, who are not the bigots (its those nasty Proddies), would they be bothered about an e-mail with reference to catholics anyway?

5. Who are you going to blame now for poor results in Scotland, a la ICT at home yesterday?

6. The issue that sparked this mess was a referee making the correct decision.

7. Do you think Peter Lawwell should also be sacked for telling numerous lies? Such as a mystery trip to Japan at the end of the 07/08 campaign, and more recently for promising to ban the Green Brigade for their poppy protest. Do you think Lennon should have been thrown out of Scottish football for this sectarian rant

After it's all done and dusted, what your club has achieved is petty, deflectionary antics. The Rangers are still Champions, still top of the league and you still have a p*ss poor squad and an incompetent hooligan for a manager.

Kind Regards,

SCSB79.

[Narnia]

And this coming from a man who supports a club who would never sign a catholic because of his religion. I thought you were going to keep your crap out of this thread? Obviously not.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Did I imagine Mo Johnston (who wasn't the first btw)?

[SCSB79]

Narnia Wrote:

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> And this coming from a man who supports a club who

> would never sign a catholic because of his

> religion. I thought you were going to keep your

> crap out of this thread? Obviously not.

My crap??! Er.... Didn't I REPLY to someone else's post with genuine facts and questions? No crap in there. And as PGC quite rightly pointed out, we've had Catholics playing for us for years and years. Long before Mo Jo. This is a football thread and like it or not, this is a football topic being discussed. I doubt MM will reply though as I'm still waiting for his response to another message requesting answers!! Ain't that right MM? ;-)

[Mick Mac]

referees should not lie in their official capacity. Neither should the head of referees get involved in sectarian 'humour'. Thats the issue.

I dont get involved in slagging off rangers or celtic.im sure both clubs have their issues and its a wasteful discussion.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Totally agree Mick Mac. When are we having that drink?

[Keef]

Fair play Mick, i've no opinion on this subject really, I just don't think it belongs here.

[Mick Mac]

Peckhamgatecrasher Wrote:

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> Totally agree Mick Mac. When are we having that

> drink?

Im saving up my pennies. I have lost count of my whiskey mac indebtedness :)