Football (Soccer) Thread

[Josquius]

It is really weird there isn't more of a footballing culture in north America considering the history of migration from the British isles.

[Viking]

It is really weird there isn't more of a footballing culture in north America considering the history of migration from the British isles.

Like actual British colonies the US took up Cricket and Rugby rather than soccer. It's just that Doubleday decided that carrying full cricket gear along with his civil war army was a waste of space so they played rounders instead and Heisman though that the only way to keep people from dying from head on collisions was the forward pass after the Americans started wearing protective helmets.

[CountDeMoney]

Le oops.

French TV host apologises to Japanese over Fukushima football joke
Broadcaster expresses regret after attributing Japanese goalkeeper's impressive performance to the 'Fukushima effect'

A French broadcaster has apologised after showing a composite picture of Japan's national football team goalkeeper with four arms, prompting a presenter to attribute the extra limbs to the "Fukushima effect".

France 2 said it regretted using the image, which had been intended to complement Eiji Kawashima's impressive performance in Japan's 1-0 victory over France in a friendly last Friday.

In a statement to the Japanese embassy in Paris, France 2's director, Jean Reveillon, apologised to the Japanese people but said the image had not meant to cause offence to them or those affected by last year's triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

"We are deeply sorry for having hurt your fellow citizens. [The presenter] Laurent Ruquier did not want to be disrespectful to Japan and the Fukushima victims," Reveillon said.

"In this humorous or satirical programme, our presenter was mostly trying to mock the French football team. In any case, given the emotions that this has sparked, France 2 presents its regrets and reaffirms our friendship to the Japanese people."

Japan had lodged a protest over the image, which appeared as Ruquier, the host of a variety show, attributed a string of saves by Kawashima to the "Fukushima effect", prompting laughter and applause in the studio.

The chief cabinet secretary, Osamu Fujimura, called Ruquier's remark "inappropriate, while Japan's education minister, Makiko Tanaka, accused the presenter of "lacking sensitivity". She added: "Many people were hurt in the nuclear crisis. I don't know how people can make fun of it."

The Fukushima nuclear crisis was triggered by last year's magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami along Japan's north-east coast, which killed more than 15,000 people and left almost 3,000 others unaccounted for.

Radiation leaks forced the evacuation of 150,000 people living near the nuclear plant, most of whom are still unable to return home.

The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, repeated the apology during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Koichiro Gemba, in Paris on Tuesday.

Kawashima, who plays for the Belgian club Standard Liege, was targeted for abuse while playing for Lierse SK during a league fixture last year, when opposition fans chanted "Kawashima, Fukushima!"

The referee temporarily halted play following protests from the player, who was reportedly in tears after the match.

[Gups]

It is really weird there isn't more of a footballing culture in north America considering the history of migration from the British isles.

Not really. When Brits were migrating, football wasn't codified at all, every school and village had different rules.

[Josquius]

It is really weird there isn't more of a footballing culture in north America considering the history of migration from the British isles.

Not really. When Brits were migrating, football wasn't codified at all, every school and village had different rules.

The initial ones yes.
But in the late 19th and early 20th centuries a lot of Brits moved to North America too, just as they did to South America.

[Josquius]

The derby was yesterday.
As usual Sunderland didn't turn up. Newcastle got a lucky goal early but then went down to 10 men. Sunderland utterly failed to get a shot on goal and only narrowly drew 1-1. We should be whopping teams like that. Ugh. This season is not going well, despite the addition of Fletcher we just can't score.

[FunkMonk]

Whenever I see Sunderland play I think how disappointed you must be josq. 

[Josquius]

Whenever I see Sunderland play I think how disappointed you must be josq. 

We're very hit and miss.
Sometimes we're utterly crap. Can't pull anything together and struggle against even terrible teams.
When we have our day though we're really one of the best and can give the Man Utds and the Chelseas a very tough game indeed.
Just no consistency.

[FunkMonk]

Whenever I see Sunderland play I think how disappointed you must be josq. 

We're very hit and miss.
Sometimes we're utterly crap. Can't pull anything together and struggle against even terrible teams.
When we have our day though we're really one of the best and can give the Man Utds and the Chelseas a very tough game indeed.
Just no consistency.

Oh yeah. I remember when that Korean you have scored in the last minute or so to beat Manchester City last season. Good game.

[FunkMonk]

Explosives thrown at players on field

[Ed Anger]

Soccer is getting interesting again.

[FunkMonk]

 

[dps]

Le oops.

French TV host apologises to Japanese over Fukushima football joke
Broadcaster expresses regret after attributing Japanese goalkeeper's impressive performance to the 'Fukushima effect'

A French broadcaster has apologised after showing a composite picture of Japan's national football team goalkeeper with four arms, prompting a presenter to attribute the extra limbs to the "Fukushima effect".

France 2 said it regretted using the image, which had been intended to complement Eiji Kawashima's impressive performance in Japan's 1-0 victory over France in a friendly last Friday.

In a statement to the Japanese embassy in Paris, France 2's director, Jean Reveillon, apologised to the Japanese people but said the image had not meant to cause offence to them or those affected by last year's triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

"We are deeply sorry for having hurt your fellow citizens. [The presenter] Laurent Ruquier did not want to be disrespectful to Japan and the Fukushima victims," Reveillon said.

"In this humorous or satirical programme, our presenter was mostly trying to mock the French football team. In any case, given the emotions that this has sparked, France 2 presents its regrets and reaffirms our friendship to the Japanese people."

Japan had lodged a protest over the image, which appeared as Ruquier, the host of a variety show, attributed a string of saves by Kawashima to the "Fukushima effect", prompting laughter and applause in the studio.

The chief cabinet secretary, Osamu Fujimura, called Ruquier's remark "inappropriate, while Japan's education minister, Makiko Tanaka, accused the presenter of "lacking sensitivity". She added: "Many people were hurt in the nuclear crisis. I don't know how people can make fun of it."

The Fukushima nuclear crisis was triggered by last year's magnitude-9 earthquake and tsunami along Japan's north-east coast, which killed more than 15,000 people and left almost 3,000 others unaccounted for.

Radiation leaks forced the evacuation of 150,000 people living near the nuclear plant, most of whom are still unable to return home.

The French foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, repeated the apology during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Koichiro Gemba, in Paris on Tuesday.

Kawashima, who plays for the Belgian club Standard Liege, was targeted for abuse while playing for Lierse SK during a league fixture last year, when opposition fans chanted "Kawashima, Fukushima!"

The referee temporarily halted play following protests from the player, who was reportedly in tears after the match.

You know, Japan protesting the cartoon, and the French government apologizing, is no more appropriate than Arab countries protesting perceived slurs against Islam in cartoons or movies, and a Western government apologizing for those.

[celedhring]

Sunderland are all kinds of awful to watch, despite having a quite decent squad on paper. That's Martin O'Neill though, he would manage to turn Messi into a midfield clogger.

The derby was rather unspectacular, I blame the sending off.

We (Barça) just had the craziest game in a while, winning 4-5 after being up 0-3 at minute 20... No way we're getting anything this season unless we sort out the gaping hole at the back.

[FunkMonk]

What are the chances At. Madrid win the league this year? I see they're even on points with Barcelona.