footballcircus: The not so Bee-autiful Game

"Football Circus, what hilarious, absurd and downright nonsensical football stories have you got for us this week?", we hear you cry. Oh none of interest really, only ruddy reports on RACISM, SWEARING, MASS BRAWLS AND MASCOTS BEING SENT OFF! So don your reading spectacles and prepare to shake your head at the ugly world of football.

Frimpong in a Serious Story. No, Really

Emmanuel Frimpong has become somewhat of a regular feature on Football Circus, with stories related to his uploaded Instagram photos often creating a cause for laughter. This week however, he has made the back page of an English red top, for a more serious reason. Frimpong this week tweeted "Sometimes I wish I was white and English #realtalk". The tweet was deleted not long after it had been posted.

The Sun, of all newspapers, has chosen to use the tweet to stir up some controversy and has equated the tweet to Frimpong's lack of playing time, suggesting that the young Frenchman has decided Arsene Wenger's selection policy is based on race and nationality. Granted, Frimpong had previously been tweeted the question "Why aren't you in the squad for tomorrow's game?". Frimpong has moved to quash the Sun's suggestion, with some follow up tweets. The first stated, "Not every tweet is football related". The second tweet read: "Look what ever you read tomorrow has majorly been twisted. Is a joke what people will do to start controversy goodnight people".

Frimpong was, as it happened, dropped for the match in question - Arsenal's Capital One Cup encounter with London rivals Chelsea. Arsene Wenger put Frimpong's omission down to the midfielder being "short of competition".

Madrid Players Real Mad according to Lip Reading Experts

Not only did Real Madrid's stars suffer the ignominy of a Classico defeat last weekend, they also subsequently discovered that the match was subject to intense scrutiny from lip reading experts - and they did not fare well in the media as a result.

Barcelona fans came under fire for abuse directed at the Madrid players, with one particular fan shouting "You have no shame, son of a Portuguese bitch and retard, die" at Cristiano Ronaldo. Sergio Ramos was called an "illiterate, disgusting Cordobes piece of s***", while Pepe was deemed a "piece of s*** assassin".

Poor ickle Ronaldo was not without fault though. For starters, lip reading experts exposed him as having called the referee a "piece of shit". To add further insult, the Portuguese star was caught arguing with Sergio Ramos during the first half, declaring, "We're s***".

Pepe was later shown asking Ramos if he wanted to swap positions. Ramos had been started in midfield by Carlo Ancelotti and did not have the best of games. Pepe, who has some experience of playing further up the pitch, presumably had taken pity on his teammate. Unfortunately his generosity was used by the media to highlight the flaws of the Madrid team, who lie third in La Liga behind both Barcelona and city rivals Atletico.

Five Players Sent Off in Argentine Game

If the Classico was thought to have been a controversial affair, it was as timid as a mouse in comparison to the match between Arsenal Sarandi and Gimnasia La Plata in Argentina last weekend in the Primera Division.

For a game that finished just one a piece, it was not without its talking points. At the end of the game a mass brawl broke out over the condition of the match ball and supposed delaying tactics employed by Gimnasia. Matters so seemingly trivial would not usually give rise to a mass brawl, but this is Argentina where mass brawls appear to be the match-ending du jour (Boca Juniors and Godoy Cruz experienced a similar brawl last week).

Almost every player on the pitch got involved in the brawl, as did a number of substitutes and it took the interjection of riot police to defuse the situation. A total of five players were sent off during and after the melee.

Hefty fines are likely to imposed upon both clubs involved and the sendings off will do little to help Arsenal Sarandi's title battle with Newell's Old Boys.

UnBEElievable - Burnley Mascot Sent Off

Usually referees reserve red cards for players or occasionally substitutes or even managers. Mascots generally tend to escape the ire of the man who holds the cards. Not Burnley mascot Bertie Bee though.

Bertie was sent off on Saturday during Burnley's Championship match at Turf Moor against QPR. With just fifteen minutes on the clock, the mascot jokingly produced a pair of glasses for the assistant referee. While the home crowd were entertained, there was a sting in the tail for Bertie as referee Simon Hooper failed to see the funny side of it and showed Bertie a straight red card.

Burnley went on to win 2-0 but Bertie sadly was seemingly unable to witness the victory, as he tweeted a photo of himself in a cell.

Italian Football Story of the Week

- Ancelotti to Release Tactics Book

Carlo Ancelotti and Sir Alex Ferguson have a lot in common. Both have lifted the European Cup twice, won numerous domestic titles and more poigniantly, both have released books this autumn. While Fergie has released a tell-all book in which he looks back at his career however, Ancelotti's book is unlikely to cause as much fuss amongst the media. It is entitled 'Il mio Albero di Natale' ('My Christmas Tree') and is centred around the tactics the Italian has used during his career.

The 'Christmas Tree' title alludes to the 4-2-3-1 formation that Ancelotti has implemented during his stints at Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid.

One similarity that Ancelotti's book shares with Fergie's, is that David Beckham features. While Fergie's book paints Beckham in a not so flattering light, the former England midfielder actually writes the foreword of Ancelotti's book.

The book sees Ancelotti look back over ten standout games where he was in charge - including both Milan's Champions League Final victories.

Il mio Albero di Natale is due for release in Italy on November 6th.