This week's Football Circus is here and we bring you all the important football stories of the week, including: Batman antagonising a bull in Spain; a pitch-invading chicken; a 28 match mega-ban; and record-breaking Olypmic sprinters playing for their national team. Because when it comes to Football news, we know what matters.
What a Load of Bull! Illarramendi fined after Batman Escapades
Real Madrid midfielder Asier Illarramendi was in trouble this week after being caught on camera running in front of bull at a Basque festival, whilst dressed in a Batman costume.
The 23 year old was celebrating at the festival on Sunday and part of the festivities involved running in front of the bull in fancy dress.
Illarramendi, who scored his first goal for the La Liga side last month, may have believed his partying would go under the radar, however footage of him was leaked to the media and his club have apparently seen fit to fine him.
Not overly-perturbed by the incident, manager Carlo Ancelotti told the press:
"We have an internal rule designed to prevent players going skiing and other dangerous things but I have never known it applied to bull fighting.
"He has apologised and that’s that".
Vietnamese Player Banned for 28 Games
Vietnam centre-back Tran Dinh Dong has been given a massive 28 game ban by his country's football governing body, the VFF (Vietnam Football Federation) after a horror challenge during a domestic league encounter left an opponent with a broken leg.
The tackle took place during a game between Dong's side Song Lam Nghe An and Hung Vuong An Giang. The tackle, which was made late on in the game which Song Lam Nghe An won 1-0, has ruled Nguyen Anh Hung out of action for around a year.
Dong has now been ordered by the VFF to pay for Nguyen's medical expenses and hit with the enormous ban. It is believed the VFF wish to make an example of Nguyen as they seek to erradicate such violent onfield behaviour and they have released the following statement:
"The punishment is meant to be a warning to players throughout the nation, where violent behaviour on the field has gradually become more popular".
Clearly not one of the view that the punishment fits the crime, Song Lam Nghe An manager Nguyen Huu Thang has reacted angrily to the ban and told the media:
"I will fine him if he does wrong. I think the VFF issued the fine under pressure from public opinion, not based on reality.
"We will appeal because his absence would strongly affect our name and V-League results".
What the Cluck? Chicken runs onto Pitch at Ewood Park
On-pitch appearances by four-legged furballs at football matches is becoming less and less of a novelty with dogs and cats often managing to sneak onto football fields for their five minutes of fame. However the fact that for the second time in three weeks, we are reporting on a chicken stopping play during a match, is nothing short of absurd.
Last weekend's match between Blackburn Rovers and Burnley at Ewood Park saw Burnley fans take the proverbial out of their Venky's-owned East Lancashire rivals.
One fan donned a full chicken costume, while a live chicken with what appeared to be a Blackburn flag attached to it, was released onto the pitch, causing the referee to call halt to proceedings as officials attempted to remove the feathered fan.
It is in fact the third time a chicken has made its way onto the pitch during a Blackburn game since Venky's took over ownership of the club.
Usain Bolt to play Football? Ja'maican Me Crazy!
The world's fastest man Usain Bolt is a reknowned football fan and has often, perhaps jokingly, suggested that he may one day turn out for his favourite side Manchester United. Last week though, a future in football looked slightly more plausible for the Olympic 100m and 200m champion, as Jamaican national team manager Wilfried Schaefer told newspaper The Gleaner:
"I read about Usain Bolt saying he wants to play football, and he wants to play in Manchester.
"He’s a Jamaican, and I want him to be on our team.
“When he has good training with our team here in Jamaica, we can make him a very good player. He’s very fast, that’s clear, but when he learns with the ball then he’ll be one of the best players.
"I want him on the national team... Maybe after the Olympics in Brazil , I want to see him in our team.
"I hope he wants to play for his country. He’s a hero here in Jamaica, and I think when he learns how to play with the ball and know what he has to do he’ll be much better. Football is easy, and I know he played many times in joke match or match for charity. But when he plays professional, and I’m his coach, we can make him very good; maybe the best player for counter-attack, nobody can stop him".
Bolt has done little to downplay the story, taking to Twitter and Instagram to express and interest in the possibility of changing sports.
What's Mad Mario Upto this Week?
Balotelli has this week been bizarely connected to the the Malaysia Airlines flight which went missing last Saturday. Speaking to the press about two passengers who had travelled on the flight with fake passports, Malaysia civil Aviation chief Azharuddin Abdul Rahman was asked whether the two passengers "looked Asian". Rather absurdly, he responded:
“It is confirmed now that they are not Asian looking men.
"Do you know a footballer by the name of Balotelli? He's an Italian. Do you know what he looks like? Balotelli".
If being likened to a couple of potential flight hijackers was not enough, poor Mario's week only got worse as, after a spell on the sidelines due to injury, his first game back in action for AC Milan was their 4-1 defeat (5-1 on aggregate) against Atletico Madrid which sent them crashing out of the Champions League.
Balotelli himself seemed to be made a scapegoat for the defeat by the Italian press. The Gazzetta dello Sport lead with the headline:
"Balotelli remains switched off".
The Corriere dello Sport also singled out Balotelli for criticism:
"Terrible performance by the Rossoneri. Kaka goal, Balotelli disaster".
If nothing else, Balo did manage to take out Atletico star Diego Costa with a free kick, hitting him right where the sun don't shine...
Happier times - Balotelli tweeted this photo of himself on the plane to Madrid before Milan's Champions League clash
Italian Football Story of the Week
- Spalletti to stay in Russia
Former Roma manager Luciano Spalletti was fired by Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg this week, following a run of poor results which culminated in the side's Champions League exit at the hands of Borussia Dortmund. But rather than throw in the towel and return to Italy, the Coppa Italia and Russian Premier League winning manager wants to stay in Russia and says he now considers St. Petersburg his home.
Spalletti declared on his official website:
"I spent four wonderful years in St. Petersburg.
"I shared with my players, with the whole friendly staff at Udelny Park, with our supporters, unforgettable victories, great joys and some sadness that I’ll keep with me forever.
"I received so much love that I became a citizen of St. Petersburg. Matilde was born here. Federico found his world here. Peter is my home and I will live here. Like every citizen I support Zenit and I will be happy for every success we will get.
"Thanks to FC Zenit. Thanks to Aleksej Miller, who wanted me here and let me live this great experience into the delightful and historical St. Petersburg. I’m sure this team has important skills and Semak will be able to make it show them. Vpered Zenit!".
Football Recommendation of the Week
- The RTE Soccer Panel; Possibly the most entertaining football panel in, dare we say it, the world, the RTE soccer panel consisting of Bill O'Herlihy, Eamon Dunphy ("He's fat and a clown Bill. A fat clown for all to see"), John Giles and Liam Brady is both beloved and outspoken in equal measure.
Non Football Recommendation of the Week
- The Story of the Web; With the web turning 25 this week, this website does an impressive job of summising its history
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