Football (Soccer) Thread

[Liep]

Lord Bendtner to Nottingham Forest.

That's quite a drop from playing for Wolfsburg... although there's so much money in English football nowadays that he might be making more cash now. 

He hasn't had a club since July so it's up from that at least.

[Josquius]

It'll be interesting to read bendtners autobiography when he gets to it.

[Gups]

Lord Bendtner to Nottingham Forest.

That's quite a drop from playing for Wolfsburg... although there's so much money in English football nowadays that he might be making more cash now. 

Only in the PL. Championship clubs aren't doing nearly as well.

[The Larch]

Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid have both had their signing bans upholded by FIFA and won't be able to sign new players until January 2018. It can still be appealed but it's unlikely to be overturned.

[Josquius]

Man utd vs man city yesterday was interesting. City totally outplayed united. Though their new keeper sucks

[Syt]

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/09/07/football/chad-fc-metz-ligue-1/

So, one of the poorest countries is now being advertised on on the jerseys of a team in France's top league. Not sure the comparisons with Azerbaijan and Qatar are valid - those countries, at least, have a lot of oil money to launder waste invest.

Chad seeks salvation through soccer

(CNN)The Central African state of Chad is suffering through a steep economic decline and a grueling fight against terrorism.

But the government believes that soccer can help to revive the nation's fortunes.

A new sponsorship deal between state officials, Pan-African media group LC2, and FC Metz will see the French team play with the message "Chad: Oasis of the Sahel" on their shirts, and participate in joint initiatives to develop soccer in Chad.

It is hoped that the partnership will improve the nation's reputation abroad and encourage tourism.

"This is part of a strategic partnership," says Betel Miarom, minister of culture, youth, and sport. "The Chadian tourist office, LC2 Group, and FC Metz have forged an agreement for the promotion of Chad's international image through sports."

FC Metz was promoted this year to Ligue 1, the top division in French football, and required a new sponsor after a previous deal expired.

The first contact came from LC2 Group, which recently launched a new channel in Chad, and proposed to broker a deal on behalf of the Chadian government. FC Metz President Bernard Serin required further assurance.

"I wanted to be sure that the government was fully part of the agreement," says Serin. "For that reason we postponed until government representatives came to Metz and showed the commitment and engagement of the country."

Miarom, along with several more government officials, made the trip to northern France in late August, and the deal was swiftly struck.

Serin was surprised at the identity of the new sponsors, but notes that the club has strong connections with Africa, having established the "Generation Foot" academy in Senegal in 2000, which produced stars such as Liverpool's Sadio Mane. His new partners will now have access to the facility.

"This agreement will help young players of Chad come to our academy, which is one of the best in Africa," says Serin.

The president adds that FC Metz will send a delegation to meet soccer officials in Chad to provide guidance in developing the game, which is the nation's most popular sport.

The agreement has proved controversial, drawing fierce criticism from Chadian analysts.

Blogger Senior Mbary described the deal as "fraud" and an "opportunity to pillage the meager resources of Chad."

France-based journalist Ahmat Zeidane Bichara also attacked the agreement, questioning the value of promoting tourism at a time when many Western governments have issued warnings against travel to Chad due to terror fears.

"Is it not money thrown out the window?" wrote Bichara, contrasting the deal with neglect of emergencies such as widespread water shortages.

Bichara estimated the sponsorship would cost Chad 2-4 million euros ($2.25-$4.5m) a year, a figure widely circulated following the deal.

But Miarom denies this, insisting that LC2 Group is covering all expenses.

"The partnership was finalized by LC2 and Chad has not spent a single penny," he says.

The minister further claims that the deal supports rather than detracts from core commitments.

"The Government has been engaged in a vast battle against poverty," says Miarom. "The President of the Republic has initiated a plan for the emergence of Chad in 2030. And in this Chad we want in 2030, sport occupies a prominent place."

Sponsorship deals between countries and soccer clubs are increasingly common, such as Azerbaijan's sponsorship of Atletico Madrid and Qatar's deal with Barcelona.

Matthew Glendinning, editor of Sports Sponsorship Insider, believes that clubs such as FC Metz are being forced to consider unusual partnerships.

"The switch to Chad as a country sponsor is surprising, but it is not unusual for lower-tier Ligue 1 clubs to struggle to find commercially-based sponsors," he says.

Glendinning can also see the appeal for sponsors, as soccer offers excellent exposure.

"Chad has a pressing need to promote its tourism industry," he says. "Football, as the most popular sport in the country, would be considered an attractive medium."

With Ligue 1 being broadcast in over 100 countries, the message of Chad will certainly reach a global audience.

But whether the deal is remembered as an inspired decision or a regrettable folly remains to be seen.

[Liep]

Barcelona.

[Liep]

That last Suarez goal rivals the 2nd goal for tonight's best.

[celedhring]

That was better. The SPL is a pub league nowadays, though, Celtic were a bit of a joke.

[FunkMonk]

That was better. The SPL is a pub league nowadays, though, Celtic were a bit of a joke.

Never forget https://youtu.be/qFvHYqrU40Y?t=30s

[Liep]

Porto 1 - 1 FCK

[The Larch]

So, a Slovenian totally unknown guy has been elected new head of UEFA replacing Platini. Who knows how he will turn out to be? Mildly corrupt? Plenty corrupt? Somewhere in between?

[Duque de Bragança]

There was an article in the Norwegian press saying he was basically Gianni Infantino's yes man. So corrupt enough I'd say.  If Gianni Infantino maneuvered in the back scene to get Ceferin elected there has to be a reason. But then, even the scandi federations went along with it

As for Porto, stopping to play when leading 1-0, and not scoring again when playing 11 vs 10

[Liep]

There was an article in the Norwegian press saying he was basically Gianni Infantino's yes man. So corrupt enough I'd say.  If Gianni Infantino maneuvered in the back scene to get Ceferin elected there has to be a reason. But then, even the scandi federations went along with it

As for Porto, stopping to play when leading 1-0, and not scoring again when playing 11 vs 10

Scandi anti-corruption cannot handle sports federations so I wouldnt see that as an approval of the slovenian.

[The Larch]

Apparently for the first time ever a Spanish first division team has played with 11 foreign starters. The honour goes to Sevilla yesterday, as it started with 4 Argentinians, 3 French and 1 Italian, Japanese, Brazilian and Portuguese. The 3 players he brought from the bench during the game were all Spanish.