The NCAP Soccerball Thread

[AndyRM]

More from Infantino, who encourages people to "meditate, pray or watch football"...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cz0515973gpo

Although I agree with the sentiment, coming from him? Nah.

"To everyone who missed our beautiful game, the emotions, the celebrations, the laughter, the crying, the deception and the joy. To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents and parents come together for the beautiful game... sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all," Infantino wrote.

"While they celebrated, you were busy planting seeds of hate. Our world needs love, not hate; tolerance, not division; celebration, not mourning.

"To those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions.

"Because only our beautiful game can deliver such an extraordinary show, a show where everyone becomes one and reconnects as humans.

"I am incredibly proud, as Fifa President, to have contributed, even a little, to this show. It's a great feeling."

 

[laurentian]

I didn't realise Infantino was part of the IOC as well as FIFA. I expect the LA Olympics could end up as weirdly warped as certain aspects of the World Cup.

A wee concert before the start of the 100m final perhaps?

Cheerleaders lining the route of the marathon?

Sharks in the swimming pool?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c07rzz54jyro

I'd say two of those three are a distinct possibility

 

[AndyRM]

I'd say two of those three are a distinct possibility

The cheerleader's will be gutted to miss out.

 

[AndyRM]

Things go from bad to worse for the Italian national team with Pirlo out of the running for manager due to ties with Russian gambling mobsters Fonbet. Maldini and Leonardo have resigned too.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ob-but-defends-deal-with-russian-betting-firm

Italian football infrastructure has been sketchy for as long as I've been alive, so this isn't exactly a surprise, but it is a shame to see my favourite European side in total freefall.

 

[FishFright]

Things go from bad to worse for the Italian national team with Pirlo out of the running for manager due to ties with Russian gambling mobsters Fonbet. Maldini and Leonardo have resigned too.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ob-but-defends-deal-with-russian-betting-firm

Italian football infrastructure has been sketchy for as long as I've been alive, so this isn't exactly a surprise, but it is a shame to see my favourite European side in total freefall.

In my opinion sports people should have no links to betting , legit or not.

 

[icowden]

In my opinion sports people should have no links to betting , legit or not.

Are you suggesting that gambling is a bad thing and not the bit of gentle fun we have been led to believe?

 

[Rusty Nails]

Things go from bad to worse for the Italian national team with Pirlo out of the running for manager due to ties with Russian gambling mobsters Fonbet. Maldini and Leonardo have resigned too.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ob-but-defends-deal-with-russian-betting-firm

Italian football infrastructure has been sketchy for as long as I've been alive, so this isn't exactly a surprise, but it is a shame to see my favourite European side in total freefall.

Infantino was born in Italy.

Nice to see the football corruption spreading to the World.

Just saying.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

''Psst, Kuchner, wanna buy football?'' Infantino again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8xng9894z0o

 

[briantrumpet]

''Psst, Kuchner, wanna buy football?'' Infantino again.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8xng9894z0o

That's being talked about on the World Cup thread. But yes. They want to turn it into a US entertainment version of football with permabungs for any Trumps who ask.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

That's being talked about on the World Cup thread. But yes. They want to turn it into a US entertainment version of football with permabungs for any Trumps who ask.

Ah, I was surprised it wasn't being discussed here in connection with Infantino.

 

[Pblakeney]

This thread does make more sense as this story will run. To it’s conclusion which will annoy the fans who still think it is about them.

 

[AndyRM]

Infantino was born in Italy.

Nice to see the football corruption spreading to the World.

Just saying.

He was born in Switzerland. Not far from Blatter as it happens.

 

[AndyRM]

This thread does make more sense as this story will run. To it’s conclusion which will annoy the fans who still think it is about them.

If you're a fan of a "big" club (especially in England) then yes, I feel that fans are often treated as something of an inconvenience.

But beyond that, there are clubs who genuinely go out of their way to help and involve fans.

 

[Pblakeney]

If you're a fan of a "big" club (especially in England) then yes, I feel that fans are often treated as something of an inconvenience.

But beyond that, there are clubs who genuinely go out of their way to help and involve fans.

Yeah. Sorry, my post on the other thread did refer to top tier football.
Top tier football sold its soul decades ago. It's a Faustian tale.

 

[AndyRM]

Yeah. Sorry, my post on the other thread did refer to top tier football.
Top tier football sold its soul decades ago. It's a Faustian tale.

No worries.

Sky has created an absolute monster.

Avarice is a helluva drug.