Pull your finger out, lad! Werder Bremen midfielder Carlos Alberto, currently on-loan at Brazilian outfit Botafogo, has picked up an eight-match ban for this loving caress of a Gremio player's rump. Quite why he decided to run his finger the length of an opponent's crack is up for debate, but the Brazilian authorities have deemed it [. Click to continue reading...

Well, at least the slap, and it looks like a little tickle is attempted, making it as good a theory as any. Carlos Alberto, enfant terrible for Werder Bremen currently on loan to Botafogo, was banned eight games (8!) for inappropriate activities with an opponent's bottom. And not "I'm going to teach you a lesson" [. Click to continue reading...

Now that South Africa have been eliminated from playing in the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Angola ahead of hosting the 2010 World Cup, many in the nation are blaming the South African Football Association (Safa) for their football development programs.

Safa chief Raymond Hack doesn't respond kindly to these critics, calling them "idiots who do not know what development is. Click to continue reading...

Before everyone moves forward with the Bruce Arena Era, I thought about trying to put some perspective with Ruud Gullit and his time with the Galaxy. I was actually considering writing a column on this but Arena's taken over so there goes that.

I wanted to compare Ruud with other big-name foreign coaches who failed in MLS. Click to continue reading...

ESTADIO AZTECA HISTORIA AEREA
Originally uploaded by djmfuentes Siempre lo he prensado y hoy la FIFA lo confirma, el Estadio Azteca es mitico y sin duda el de los mejores recuerdos, simplemente vean el curriculum del estadio , el coloso de Santa Ursula, al cual he podido asistir en algunas ocasiones. Click to continue reading...

Alright, we do, but still.  Kevin McCarra in the Guardian says: The competition, on the whole, was sterile territory for strikers. It now seems midfielders, in one guise or another, are expected to excel. Jonathan Wilson says something similar in this piece. Five years ago, at the coaching conference he hosts in Rio de Janeiro, Carlos Alberto Parreira [. Click to continue reading...

This season's Bundesliga has certainly provided its fair share of excitement and tension, even if the favourites did rather run away with the title leading from the front from day one. Mad4football takes a moment to look at some of the ‘Tops' and ‘Flops' of the past season. Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

Its been a while because of the international break. I have no beef with the German national side personally but, as an Englishman, I've been too preoccupied to think about other nations. I do intend to blog during the summer when Euro 2008 starts and believe it will be a fantastic tournament. Anyhoo, by way of a preview to this weekend's action, here is a bit of news. Click to continue reading...

Werder's midfielder Carlos Alberto who has been failing to adapt in Germany, is probable to return to his native Fluminense. He is supposed to be loaned for one year. Click to continue reading...