We have reached our 60th edition of Football Circus and what better way to celebrate than to regale our beloved readers with some of the most bizarre stories you're likely to come across this week on a football website? What have we got lined up? A fan being killed by a flying toilet; The tale of the German footballer, the kebab and the police; Some casual nepotism and; Anderson getting on the wrong side of Pope Francis. So prepare to be flabergasted and welcome, as always, to Football Circus...
Football Circus Clown Quote of the Week
"I'm as happy as I can be...but I have been happier".
- Ugo Ehiogu
Papa Don't Preach - Because Anderson Won't Listen
Fiorentina loanee Anderson has found himself in a spot of bother after getting a little too snap-happy during a team visit to the Vatican. The Brazilian, on loan from Manchester United, uploaded a photo of Il Papa to his Instagram account last week, along with a video of the interior of the Sistine Chapel.
The side from Florence were in Rome prior to the their Coppa Italia final match with Napoli and the club had treated the team to a Vatican visit and meeting with Pope Francis. Photographing and recording the Pope in the Vatican and indeed, photographing and recording the interior of the Vatican itself, is contrary to Papal law. Regardless of whether or not the midfielder was aware of this, he has not yet removed the photo and recording from his Instagram account.
A number of Anderson's own fans have lambasted him for his actions, while Vatican officials are said to be furious not only with Anderson's rule breaking, but also with the example he is setting.
It would seem any prayers the Fiorentina team said during their trip, failed to pay off, as they lost the match 3-1.
Fan Killed by Flying Toilet
No, you read it right. A fan has been killed by a flying toilet in Brazil, the country that will play host to this year's World Cup.
Parana fan Paulo Ricardo Gomes da Silva died after being hit by a toilet thrown by fans of home team Santa Cruz, during a Brazilian second division match between the two sides.
The Santa Cruz fans had started ripping up the facilities of Estadio do Arruda, then threw them at the Parana fans, who had been leaving the stadium as instructed by the police.
An investigation into the incident is currently underway. Unbelievably however, its not the first time Santa Cruz have been guilty of throwing toilets - they did the same thing earlier this year during their match with rival side Sport.
The Santa Cruz-Parana game finished 1-1, not that anyone appeared to care.
Grosskreutz Embroiled in Kebab Fiasco
Now there's a headline you might expect to see on the news following a team night out during Oktoberfest. There's more to this story than meets the eye though (you'll get that one when you read on). Yes folks, it's not just flying toilets on Football Circus this week, flying kebabs are also a feature, thanks to Borussia Dortmund's Kevin Grosskreutz.
The midfielder is in trouble after a Cologne fan filed a complaint to police that Grosskreutz had thrown a kebab at him, causing his eyes to burn.
To give the story a some context...Grosskreutz had been out with teammate Julian Schieber on Sunday night. Grosskreutz claims that while he and Schieber were outside a kebab shop, the fan, who was wearing a Cologne jersey, approached him and began shouting Grosskreutz's name over and over. In an interview with Bild newspaper, Grosskreutz claims that he threw his kebab on the ground in anger:
"I saw the situation as being offensive and saw my private sphere violated.
"Obviously I should have not thrown the kebab like that on the ground in public".
Grosskreutz's story that he merely threw the kebab on the ground, rather than at the fan, is clearly at odds with that of the fan who see things differently (through a pair of stinging eyes, allegedly).
Cologne police have stated:
Cologne police have stated:
"We have now started an investigation into the claim".
It's a Family Affair as Bosnian Manager Names Nephew in World Cup Sqaud
Bosnia-Herzegovina coach Safet Susic is feeling the wrath of his home country's media and fans alike, having named his nephew, Tino-Sven Susic, in his provisional World Cup squad. He has also come under fire for naming just two strikers in the squad - Man City's Eden Dzeko and Stuttgart's Veded Ibisevic.
With both the English and German leagues still with a weekend of matches to go, Susic is running a serious risk of being left with approximately no strikers for the competition, should Dzeko and Ibisevic both be unfortunate enough to pick up injuries prior to the tournament's kick-off in June.
Of his decision, Susic said:
"I don't really need more than two strikers because we will only start with one in our opening group match against Argentina".
Idiotic? Ballsy? We'll see in June.
On his nephew's inclusion, Susic joked:
"It’s because of his last name. He has a beautiful last name. No, but in all seriousness, Tino is a player we have to count on for the future. He’s a standard player at his club and he’s a good addition to the team. You can disagree with my choices, but I’m in a position to choose".
Despite Susic's whimsical approach to defending his nephew's inclusion, the media of Bosnia-Herzegovina have been shocked. Tino-Sven Susic has just one cap for his country to date.
What's Mad Mario Upto this Week?
It's been another busy week for Mario Balotelli. He took part in the Milan derby on Sunday and was on the winning side as AC ran out 1-0 winners thanks to a Nigel de Jong goal. It wasn't all smiles for Balo though, as he was subjected to racist chants by fans of his former club Inter on as many as five occasions during the match. Inter have subsequently been fined €50,000 for their fans' actions and have had a partial stadium ban imposed upon them for their San Siro encounter with Lazio on Saturday.
Serie A have released a statement, justifying the punishment:
"The Nerazzurri supporters on five occasions during the first half of the game directed chants of racial discrimination at Mario Balotelli.
"The same fans directed anti-Naples chants in the first half".
Perhaps the fans' antics spurred club legend's Javier Zanetti's decision to retire after the match.
Happily, Balo clearly hasn't let the ignorant fans' behaviour weigh on his mind too much as he took to Instagram this week to show off his impressive / bizarre show collection. Judging by the photo, don't be surprised to see a story breaking soon that Balo was actually a benefactor of Michael Jackson's will.
And in some final Balo news this week, former AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus midfielder Edgar Davids, has told Sky Sport Italia that he would like to see Super Mario turn out for the Bianconeri. Davids told the Italian channel:
"I'd love to see Balotelli at Juventus.
"I think he can become the best".
Italian Football Story of the Week
- Zanetti Bids Farewell
Last week it was Rivaldo, this week we have another legend retiring from the football world in Javier Zanetti. Yes, as you may have already gathered from our Balotelli segment this week, Inter Milan's Argentine stalwart Javier Zanetti has finally decided to hang up his boots at forty years of age.
Speaking to La Nacion after Inter's defeat to Milan on Sunday, Zanetti said:
"I feel that now is the right time to do it.
"Football has given me so much and I have enjoyed every moment. Because after the achilles injury last April, I wanted to demonstrate that I could return and be competitive, but I could not.
"I feel complete and have realised that to retire at forty is a priceless feeling. For me it is something that has immense value, and now is the right time. Do I fear life after this? No, there is no fear.
"I dreamed of finishing my career at Inter, in my home, and I have. It was a lifestyle decision to end the career in Italy, and now, in the function of a sporting manager, I will try to be useful to the team away from the field.
"A new world opens for me, and that excites me. There will be a thousand things to do".
Artist's Impression of the Week
- 'Balotelli Proudly Displays Shoe Collection'
Football Recommendation of the Week
- Andrea Pirlo: I Think Therefore I Play; The autobiography of a man hailed by many as one of the best midfielders of his generation. Well worth a read if you're an admirer of football played at its most pure, or indeed epic beards.
Non-Football Recommendation of the Week
- Scaboodle; An incredibly useful app for organising just about any event you want. "Scaboodle lets you easily create and connect with everyone you want at your event. So that means for all 5-a-sides on a Saturday, for all nights out and those sporadic surprise parties, Scaboodle is the only event organising app you will need".
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