This week in Football Circus we bring you go-go girls, Michael Jackson, fainting players, Andriy Shevchenko but not as you've seen him before and a Rambo-like mission performed by a Genoa coach. So if that's the sort of football news that takes your fancy, let the weirdness begin...
New Fulham Owner Not So Thrill(er)ed about Jacko Statue
Mohammed Al Fayed caused quite a stir when he had a huge Michael Jackson statue erected outside Fulham's Craven Cottage in 2011.
Many fans of the Cottagers were embarrassed by the statue, not just because it looked downright awful, but also because of the fact that they felt their club had little or no affiliation with the late pop star. Al Fayed was defiant however and argued that Jackson, a personal friend of the Harrod's owner, was in fact a Fulham supporter.
Al Fayed sold the club to Shahid Khan this summer though, and it's apparent that Khan feels the statue is BAD for the club's image.
A Fulham spokesperson this week announced:
"The statue is not part of the Riverside development of the stadium and will be returned to the former chairman in due course".
Alves Offered Liver to Abidal
Eric Abidal's battle with a liver tumour was well publicised during his time at Barcelona. The French left back eventually underwent a transplant and this summer moved to Ligue 1 side Monaco.
His support from Barcelona during the ordeal however, never waned. Perhaps the one of the more poignant moments that stood out was the sight of Abidal lifting the Champions League trophy at the end of the 2011-2012 campaign.
What was unknown throughout though, and only came to light this week, was the fact that his Barca teammate Dani Alves had actually offered to donate his liver to Abidal, a man he considered a friend not just on the pitch.
Alves has this season taken the number 22 shirt at Barcelona, following Abidal's departure, as a tribute to his friend.
Abidal was this week told Catlunya Radio:
"My relationship with Dani goes much further than him taking my old No. 22 shirt".
“When I had to undergo surgery, he offered to donate his liver".
“Of course, it’s completely out of the question because he is a professional footballer. Our relationship goes much deeper than friendship”.
All Go-Go at FC Lucerne This Season
Swiss side FC Lucerne may take a rather unusual step this season to fill their stadium and draw in more fans. For their chief investor, Bernard Alpstaeg has suggested employing go-go girls to provide pre-match entertainment.
Lucerne and unbeaten in their first five matches thus far in their league campaign, but Alpstaeg currently appears preoccupied with ensuring the club's coffers remain in a healthy condition.
Not content with a mascot waving to the fans, a display from the local under 7's or a band playing, Alpstaeg has suggested that he prefers the half-naked-dancing-women approach to fan entertainment.
The wealthy businessman told Switzerland's Blick newspaper:
"We have a great team. FCL inspires. FCL is sexy again! But we can be even more attractive".
"I want a show before kick-off. Preferably scantily clad, sexy dancers to entertain fans before the game. The stadium would be full, guaranteed".
Player Faints After Being Shown Red
Heerenveen and Groningen faced off in the Dutch Eredivisie last weekend and it was match that was rife with incidents. It involved six goals (Heerenveen won 4-2) and three sendings off. What was potentially the most shocking incident of the game however, was the aftermath of the sending off of Groningen's Timo Letschert, who fainted after being shown red.
Letschert had been shown a straight red by the referee after what he deemed to be a dangerous challenge. Letschert looked shocked immediately after the decision was made and soon afterwards, fell to the ground. He was stretchered off by medics, with fans unsure as to exactly what had happened to him. It was later revealed that the Heerenveen star had passed out because of the ref's decision.
Letschert was given a three game ban for the tackle, which he has now appealed. Who knows what will happen to him if that doesn't work out...
Sheva's New Clubs
Andriy Shevchenko made the back pages this week, but not for footballing reasons. Not content to be considered one of the best strikers to have worn the red and black of AC Milan, the former footballer has now decided to try his hand at golf.
Sheva made his professional golfing debut this week in the Kharkav Superior Cup in the Ukraine.
Prior to tee off he commented:
"This is the first big event for me and of course it is the first event in Ukraine so it’s a huge event for golf in this country".
"I have played with many good players in pro-ams but this is different. I hope I play well…but I just want to have a good time and enjoy the week".
Unfortunately for Shevchenko, his success on the football field has not been replicated on the golf course, for the moment at least. He failed to make the cut after hitting a second round 86, a whopping 40 shots off the leader.
Italian Football Story of the Week
- Genoa Coach in Rambo Style Spying Mission
Oh Italian football, how we love you. The on pitch performances from Serie A may have garnered a poor reputation in recent years, but off the field things could not be more entertaining.
Sampdoria suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat at home to rivals Genoa this week but the match had quite the back story.
In the week leading upto the game, Sampdoria staff found the goalkeeping coach of one of Genoa's youth team spying on one of their training sessions. The coach in question, Luca De Pra, was found in a bush. Like a rabbit in the headlights, De Pra attempted a getaway after realising he had been spotted.
Sampdoria staff managed to catch the sneaky bugger and in doing so, discovered he had donned full Rambo-esque military attire!
Sampdoria, although possibly aggrieved after the match was played out, released a tongue-in-cheek statement on the incident on their club website following the incident:
"That the derby is a question of nerve, tactics and strategy we already knew, but frankly we could never expect that it could turn into an scene of espionage".
"Like Rambo hidden among the branches on the hill, Luca De Pra, Genoa goalkeeping coach and man of noble footballing ancestry, failed to overcome Sampdoria’s intelligence and counter intelligence operations".
"However, no prisoners were taken, and no blood was shed. Once tracked down and caught red-handed, the opposing side’s soldier was let free to return to base. You should always forgive your enemies, as nothing annoys them more".
Football Recommendation
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2014
Non Football Recommendation
- Crackbird
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