Thursday 30 May 2013

This week there were new European champions crowned, England played Ireland for the first time since 1995 and Neymar finally moved to Barcelona. But here at Football Circus we know you want more hard-hitting football news. Football news that will shake you to your core. News about rainbow coloured smoke bombs, riots, stadiums falling apart and managers threatening to beat people up. 

So for more strange football news than you can shake a stick at, have a read...


Djurgarden Set off Colourful Smoke Bombs...Then Riot

Swedish side Djurgarden's fans displayed an amazing array of smoke bombs prior to the kickoff of the Swedish Cup Final against IFK Goteburg. The multi-coloured display was accompanyed by the message 'The Gold is at the End of the Rainbow'. Aw...

Then the match kicked off.

Djurgarden fought a hard battle and the game finished a 1-1 draw. Penalties followed and Djurgarden lost out 4-2. Goteborg fans stormed the pitch after the last penalty was taken, running towards the Djurgarden fans. Police managed to contain the Djurgarden crowd who remained in their own section. However seats were ripped out and hurled towards the police and stewards alike, many of whom suffered minor injuries.

Any fans convicted of the violence could face a three year match ban.



Angry Stoichkov threatens to Beat Up Bulgarian FA Official

Former Bulgaria and Barcelona striker Hristo Stoichkov is in hot water after threatening to beat up the president of the BFU (Bulgarian FA), Borislav Mihaylov.

Stoichkov is now manager of Bulgarian league side Litex Lovech. Following his team's 2-1 defeat to Lokomotiv Sofia last week, he unleashed an angry tirade against all in sundry...First in the firing line was referee Georgi Yordanov, whom Stoichkov claimed "made fun" of his team. He believed the referee had failed to award his side a penalty which he felt was deserved and been over-zealous in booking the Litex players.

Next on the receiving end was Borislav Mihaylov. Not only is Mihaylov president of the BFU, but he is a former teammate of Stoichkov's, having played in goal for the national side at World Cup '94. Said Stoichkov of Mihaylov: "I'll catch him somewhere and I'll beat him up. This will happen."

Stoichkov was duly fined 7,000 levs for his comments, but this apparently was water off a duck's back for a man who is revered in Bulgaria: "I just don't care about the fines."



Roof Collapses in Salvador's Fonte Nova Stadium

The Fonte Nova Stadium in Salvador, Brazil suffered some serious damage this week as part of the roof collapsed. Heavy rain resulted in one of the 36 panels that cover the stadium, to fall through. 

Under its former guise of 'Estadio Octavio Mangebeira', the stadium fell victim to a disaster in 2007 as part of the upper terraces collapsed, an incident which tragically cost seven people their lives and resulted in injuries to many more. 

After the 2007 tragedy, the stadium was partially demolished and Arena Fonte Nova was built in its place. The construction of the new stadium concluded in April. Rebuilding costs came to a massive $345 million dollars. With a capacity of 60,000 the stadium is to be used during Brazil's hosting of the 2014 World Cup. More pressingly, the stadium is also to be used during June's Confederations Cup for three matches. 

In an effort to alleviate the fears of fans travelling to the stadium next month, the management company for the stadium stated: "Following heavy downpours on Salvador early Monday morning, water accumulated in the 36 panels of the roof’s plastic membrane located in the eastern sector, triggering its collapse. Repair work has already started and will be concluded in time for the Confederations Cup. It's an isolated incident." 

Ah sure that's fine then!


The Magic 8 Ball Transfer Rumour Oracle

Only week 3 of this segment and the Magic 8 Ball already has egg on its fa..self...or something. Last week the 8 Ball brashly dismissed the possibility of Neymar moving to Barcelona, with an “OUTLOOK NOT SO GOOD”. Days later it was announced that Neymar was moving to Barcelona.

Time to turn things around then this week. The Magic 8 Ball's shot at redemption comes in the form of the following rumour:

HULK TO MONACO


Magic 8 Ball Says...

"LOOKING GOOD"


Italian Football Story of the Week 

 - Juve Star Pogba Spills the Beans on United Exit

Juventus midfielder has given a candid interview about his exit from Manchester United which let him to join the Turin giants. He certainly didn't use the opportunity to pay his respects to the now retired Sir Alex Ferguson.

In an interview with France Football, Pogba had the following comments to make about the debacle:
"He shouted. He told me: 'Where are you going? You're going to Juve in Italy, is that it? There's a lot of racism'. I told him: 'It's not a problem, there's racism. He told me: 'The supporters aren't like in England'. I told him: 'I want to play, and it's not for the fans, it's because I want to play to improve and gain experience'. He told me 'okay', and after that, I was never included in the squad."

"I'm impatient. Even if I was quite patient, Alex Ferguson told me: 'You're a whisker away from playing... You're a youngster from the Academy, you're not ready yet. You must be patient. Scholes was, Giggs was'. I'm not Giggs, I'm not Scholes. I really wanted to play".

"I said: 'OK, no problem'. If I'm not ready, perhaps I'll be ready elsewhere. I at least felt ready to have more playing time. He didn't show me enough that he wanted me in his squad. Even if he said some nice things about me, about my potential, if you don't show it, it's all just hot air".

"It all depends on what you have in your head. If you want to play at Manchester just to be able to say 'I play at United', even though you're on the bench, are you happy? I came on a few times, I played in the cups, but I wanted to have more playing time. If I could have played in China, I would have gone to China."

Pogba did not need to go China however. Last summer he joined Juventus and has not looked back. Last season saw him turn out 27 times for the Bianconeri, earning a Serie A winner's medal along the way. He also made his debut for the French national side.

It may not all be a bed of roses for Pogba and Juventus though. Pogba was last month linked with a move to Real Madrid and his agent Mino Raiola did little to pour cold water on the rumours, "To date there is no contract that can shield a champion. Neither (Pogba nor AC Milan striker Niang who was also linked with Real) can be shielded 100% when it is appreciated by everyone". 

Pogba may yet feature in The Magic 8 Ball Transfer Oracle segment this summer. Watch this space...


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