Ladies and gentlemen, we present to you a brand new edition of Football Circus. This week featuring homophobia, a prisoner-cum-football coach, riot police and an arguably irrelevant picture of a monkey. Arguably. Oh and Mario Balotelli. Not to mention we have the penultimate Magic 8 Ball Football Oracle transfer prediction. So read on if you can contain your excitement no longer...
Brazilian Footballer Forced to Apologise for Kissing a Man
It's a sorry state of affairs for the sport of football when fans are shown to be so homophobic that a player has to publicly apologise for jokingly kissing a man.
But that is exactly what has happened in Brazil this month, after Corinthians striker Emerson Sheik posted a photo on Instagram of him kissing a friend on the lips.
The 34 year old had been to dinner on Sunday evening with his girlfriend at a restaurant where his friend works as a chef. The photo, which may even have been taken by the striker's girlfriend, was posted on Instagram later that evening.
The next morning, Corinthians fans showed up outside a training session with banners that carried homophobic slurs.
Emerson offered up the following statement thereafter:
"Firstly, the football world is very macho. I want to make it clear that if someone felt disrespected, sorry".
"That was Emerson the person, not the footballer. I have enormous affection for Isaac, who is a very special friend".
"He is married, his wife is nine months pregnant. So the fans took it the wrong way, it was a prejudiced jerk".
"I have enormous respect for the fans. That's me off the field. For me, it is so natural that I do not want to talk about it."
*Since researching this story, Football Circus has also discovered that Emerson Sheik has a pet monkey and has in the past been accused of money laundering. Football Circus potential if ever we heard it.
United Players Star in Another Embarassing Advert
A few weeks ago we reported on Manchester United stars featuring in an incredibly cheesey Japanese ad for a soft drink, while we also harked back to their 2011 ad for Casillero Del Diablo - an ad for United's official wine partners which featured some atrocious acting attempts from Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs.
So it comes as no surprise to us that Casillero Del Diablo's latest effort in conjunction with the Red Devils, is another cringe-inducing spectacle.
Anders Lindegaard, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra (the latter obviously impressing in his last run out), star in the ad which has has been called "Devil’s Goalkeeper – The Duel".
The players take part in a Western / Cowboy themed penalty shootout.
Oscar nominations are unlikely to be a concern of any of the three featured United stars in the near future.
Bayern Munich Take On Day-Release Prisoner
Interesting story from Germany this week. Brazilian defender Breno was signed by Bayern Munich in 2007. In September 2011 the defender was arrested on suspicion of arson (his own villa had been destroyed in a fire). Before a judicial decision was reached, Brazilian side Sao Paolo signed Breno and registered him as a player in 2012 for the 2013 season. However Breno was subsequently sentenced to three years and nine months in prison in July 2012.
This month, Breno has been on day release from prison just thirteen months into his setence. Eager to assist a former player who had fallen on hard times, his former side Bayern Munich have appointed Breno as a coach for their youth and reserve teams.
Appearing alongside Bayern president Uli Hoeness at a press conference this week, Breno stated, "The time in prison has been very hard for me. I have changed as a person and I have learned a lot in there. I am happy to be given this chance by Bayern. It means I can train again and maybe play again later on. That's my dream".
Bayern legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had earlier this year criticised the CBF (Brazilian Football Federation) for neglecting and failing to support Breno during his plight. Breno had struggled with injuries during his time at Bayern and it is thought their toll on his mental health may have had some part in his arson attack.
Schalke Fans Feel Wrath of Police After Infuriating PAOK Fans
Schalke faced off against PAOK in a Champions League qualifier this week and they certainly did not roll out the red carpet when they played host to the Greek side.
Instead, the fans rolled out a red flag during the second half of the match. More specifically, they unfurled the red flag of Macedonia. Neither PAOK nor their fellow Greeks are in fact too keen on Macedonia given a dispute between the two countries regarding Macedonia's name (The dispute has historical and territorial roots which we won't get into because this is Football Circus and not Greek-Macedonian-Political-Relations Circus. If you are so inclined however, have a gander at this link for a background - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_naming_dispute).
The PAOK fans were incensed.
On seeing the flag and the Greek fans' displeasure, riot police in the stadium quickly descended into the section of fans from where it was on display. Using batons and pepper-spray, they took possession of the flag and had, to put it mildly, an over enthusiastic approach to displaying their authority.
The video below depicts exactly why the following statement was later released by the Schalke board:
"This deployment, however, was completely disproportionate. We cannot approve any of this, nor do we have any understanding for it".
Italian Football Story of the Week
- Balotelli Walks on Water
Here at Football Circus we would gladly hold our hands up to accusations of the occasional lauding of a certain Mario Balotelli. Our American friends at Sports Illustrated magazine however, seem to have taken the Balotelli-worshipping to another level.
Their latest edition features an interview with the striker and a topless Balotelli appearing to walk on water has adorned the front cover.
They do not hold back on lavishing the praise and they seem to depict Super Mario as being some sort of, well, superman.
The cover boldly proclaims he is "THE FACE OF AC MILAN", "THE FACE OF THE NEW EUROPE". It also goes on to declare Balotelli is "FRIENDS TO POPES AND PRIME MINISTERS" (We last week reported on how Balotelli along with the rest of the Italian and Argentine national teams met the Pope, the meeting seemingly forming part of the basis for this particular headline).
Perhaps the most noteworthy headline on the magazine cover is that which announces Balo as "THE BEST YOUNG STRIKER IN EUROPE". Far be it for us to deride far-fetched headlines, especially when it comes to Balotelli, but this one seems just a tad over the top even for us.
The full interview, conducted by Grant Wahl, can be read at http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130820/mario-balotelli/
Magic 8 Ball Transfer Oracle
The penultimate transfer prediction by the 8 Ball this week, as we near closer to the transfer window 'slamming' shut. Many teams have been linked with this young French midfielder in recent weeks and the latest is a certain wealthy Ligue 1 side...
Geoffrey Kondogbia to Monaco
(As reported here http://www.crunchsports.com/category/Soccer/Chelsea-FC-Man-Utd-target-Geoffrey-Kondogbia-wont-be-allowed-to-leave-on-the-cheap-201308200015/ and here http://www.football-espana.net/35395/monaco-close-kondogbia)
Magic 8 Ball Says...
"YES"
Football Recommendation
- Fantasy Football Buddy - A decent free app to assist you in managing your Premier League fantasy football side while on the go.
Non-Football Recommendation
- Samsung Galaxy S4
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