As it's Easter, we found it appropriate that we include a story this week about Il Papa. We also bring you tales of kidnap attempts, partying, cheating and love triangles. None of which have anything to do with Easter but sadly the Easter Bunny hasn't been seen near any football stadiums recently. So onto this week's Football Circus, which we hope keeps your interested in the sordid world of football piqued...
Adriano Released for being Adriano
Earlier this year Football Circus was delighted to report that Adriano looked to have finally veered his footballing career back on track, having signed with Brazilian side Ateltico Paranaense heading into the Copa Libertadores. All was looking very rosey indeed.
That was until last week.
Given his reputation, Paranense naturally felt obliged to include a 'productivity' condition into the former Inter striker's contract when he signed with the team - Should Adriano not fulfil his professional duties, he would be fired. From January right upto April, all was going swimmingly - Adriano had even avoided controversy during carnival season. And then boom...
On two occasions this week, Adriano has been caught out doing exactly what Adriano does best...partying. The man once heralded as the 'new Ronaldo', was caught on camera by a fan in a nightclub on the eve of a training day. A video was posted on Youtube and that ladies and gentlemen, was the end of Adriano's Atletico Paranaense career.
Following his release, Adriano tweeted:
"My time with the club was very gratifying.
"Now I can keep doing what I like doing the most, which is to play football".
Exactly how he plans on doing that without a club will prove interesting.
Former Valencia President attempts to Kidnap Rival
You're an ousted president of one of the biggest football clubs in Spain. Do you a) Stand aside graciously; b) Moan to the press about how the wrong man got the job; or c) Attempt to kidnap the man who succeeded you? If you plumped for option c), your name may indeed be Juan Soler - for that is exactly what the former Valencia president has been arrested on suspicion of this week.
Spanish newspaper AS have reported that Soler is being investigated for planning to kidnap Vicente Soriano, who succeeded him as Valencia president in 2008. While Soriano himself has since been ousted as president, the reports claim that Soler had hired someone (for as much as €100,000) to kidnap him and aimed to intimidate Soriano into paying €59 million worth of debt that he allegedly owed.
Soler was jailed laast Tuesday night before being released on bail.
Ten Hail Marys! Team named in Honour of Pope Francis Ends Inaugaral Match with Nine Men
An Argentine team by the name of 'Papa Francisco' in honour of Pope Francis, has had shame brought upon it by its players as early as their first match.
The club were founded in 2013 after Pope Francis was named as pope. Its founder and president, Jorge Ramirez, has claimed:
"Our motto is no hooligans, no violence and no insults".
Their motto clearly was not adhered to as it took just one match for the team to rack up its first two sendings off. Competing at a semi-professional level in the lower leagues of Argentina, Papa Francisco took on Trefules. It was a game marred with misconduct and both sides had two players sent off. The match finished 2-2.
It may take some divine intervention rather than a motto for Papa Francisco to finish their next game with eleven men if their first is anything to go by.
Iranian Player takes 'Super-Sub' to New Level
Players quite often in their careers earn a reputation as being a 'super-sub'. Take Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during his time at Manchester United or Henrik Larsson at Barcelona. Such a reputation sits better with some than others. But one player in Iran's second division last week was so uncomfortable with being a substitute that he took matters into his own hands.
Shahrdari Yasuj faced Nassaji Mazandaran and their lackluster defending led to an opposition player getting through on goal, looking destined to score, with even the keeper beaten. What happened next was nothing short of bizarre...
A Shahrdari Yasuj substitute who was warming up behind the goal, still wearing a training bib, ran onto the pitch and headed the shot clear. Rather than award a penalty the referee opted to give a free-kick inside the box to Nassji Mazandaran. With their whole team on the goal line, Shardari managed to successfully defend the free kick. Unfortunately for them however, their cheating ways were not enough and Nassji Mazandaran ran out 2-0 winners.
What's Mad Mario Upto this Week?
Balotelli turned out for Milan on Sunday in their 1-0 victory over Catania, though failed to get on the scoresheet. In terms of media coverage, Balo has had a quiet week (something that is becoming a bit of a trend of late - perhaps the impending World Cup has something to do with it). His brother Enoch on the otherhand, gave an interview to Chi magazine and has bemoaned his lack of opportunities, blaming the fact that he is Mario's brother. Enoch told the magazine:
"I am one of missed opportunities, being a brother of Mario is an advantage in life every day , but it is a disadvantage in the world of football. In football, I am and will always remain in the second row.
"I am always in the shadows. I never had the big opportunity, what could change my life will be to accept to play for Padania.
"Mario makes his way and I make mine. I've never been recommended, sometimes when playing people at the stadium insult, or tell me ‘nigger m...’ or ‘go away’. I am black and I'm proud of it. In any case, I pretend not to hear, I do not react".
Italian Football Story of the Week
- No Shake and Make Up for Lopez and Icardi
It's the Italian football love circle that just keeps on giving. Yes, this week we once again bring you news of the quite frankly ludicrous Maxi Lopez-Wanda Nara-Mauro Icardi 'love triangle' fiasco. We may risk sounding like a soap drama here, but if you're not upto speed, here's the lowdown thus far:
- Argentine Lopez married Nara in 2008, fathering her three children
- Icardi arrived in Italy in 2011, signing for Sampdoria (initially on loan). Icardi, only 18 years old at the time, was taken under the wing of Lopez. Lopez befriended his young compatriot and helped him adjust to Italian life. Icardi was regularly spotted in the company of Lopez and his wife Nara
- In 2013 Lopez and Nara's marriage broke up, Nara publicly citing their lack of sex as one of the reasons for their parting of ways
- Not long after Lopez and Nara split up, Icardi declared his love for Nara. Soon afterwards, the pair publicly announced themselves as an 'item'
- Both Icardi and Nara's social media websites are bombarded with photos of the 'happy couple', they tweet about their love for one another. Icardi celebrates goals revealing t-shirts carrying 'Wanda I love you' messages, gets a tattoo of Nara's name on his arm and is photographed acting as a father-figure to Lopez and Nara's children
So there you have it, John Terry ain't got jack on this kid. The latest development came this week when Maxi Lopez's Sampdoria took on Icardi's Inter. In a Terry-Bridge-esque scenario, Lopez refused to shake Icardi's hand before kickoff. Surely, if there was any justice in this world, Lopez would guide Samp to an unlikely victory...
Alas, it was not to be. It really was not to be...Not only did Icardi score and celebrate in front of the Sampdoria fans (an action which was booked for), but Lopez missed a penalty and Inter won the game 4-0. The misery continues for Maxi Lopez.
Artist's Impression of the Week
- 'Lopez Refuses Icardi Handshake'
Football Recommendation of the Week
- The Special One: The Dark Side of Jose Mourinho (Diego Torres); "An explosive and shocking biography of Jose Mourinho - revealing the dark side of 'the special one'".
Non-Football Recommendation of the Week
- 999 Contemporary; From what we can tell (with a lot of help from Google Translate), this is a pretty impressive street-art project going on in Rome. It includes a tribute to Francesco Totti (http://www.999gallery.com/?p=12192) and 'Jumping Wolf', a piece by Belgian graffiti artist ROA (http://www.999gallery.com/?p=12300). Well worth checking out if the website if you can tolerate translating every page. Or speak Italian.
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