footballcircus: Game Over for Super Mario

A sad week here at Football Circus as our hero Mario Balotelli has been slain by his own social media sword (or idiotic brain). Yes Balo, as you will read, has been a bit foolish. But he's not the only one who has had a rough week: Albert Riera has been fired by Udinese after missing a match for a poker game; Emmanuel Adebeyor's family woes go on; and a Turkish amateur player has been playing with weapons. Wolves star Bakary Sako meanwhile, has been enjoying his new Swarovski boots. So without further ado, get stuck into the first Football Circus of the festive season...

Football Circus Clown Quote of the Week

"They're fighting like beavers, Jeff".

- The one and only, Chris Kamara.

Sparkle Sparkle - Wolves Winger Has Swarovski Encrusted Boots made for 100th Appearance

You might want to be near a bathroom for this story or you may indeed get sick on yourself. Wolves winger Bakary Sako had a pair of Swarovski crystal encrusted Nike boots made for his 100th appearance for the club last weekend. The glamourous opposition for the occasion were none other than...Brentford. Brentford certainly weren't overawed by either the occasion or the blindingly tacky boots though, as they hammered Sako's team 4-0.

Sake had the footwear designed by a company called Orravan Design. However despite likely having paid an absolute fortune for the ridiculous looking brogues, Sako did not in fact play in them (we can only imagine this was for safety reasons - we may or may not have taken a little sadistic pleasure if we were reporting an injury as a result of a flying Swarovski crystal this week).

Sako's Instagram post regarding the boots would suggest that his money have been better invested in English lessons.

Turkish Player Tries Making a Point by Bringing Knife onto Pitch

Turkish amateur footballer Hamza Sari stunned onlookers and fellow players alike last weekend when, after being sent off, he returned to the pitch brandishing a knife!

Sari had featured in his team Sakaraya's encounter with Kuzulukspor and was quite unhappy with the referee's decision to show him the red card with ten minutes of play remaining. So unhappy in fact that he remained on the pitch for a number of minutes protesting his dismissal. Eventually, he left, though his absence wouldn't last long. He emerged shortly afterwards with a knife in hand.

The incensed (and possibly clinically insane) Sari, was somehow subdued by three security guards who stopped him from doing something that he and everyone else present would regret. He was later taken to a police station to explain his actions and was released, astoundingly, unpunished. His side lost the match 4-3.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riFdrm1FSJE#t=35

Sadebeyors - Broken Adebeyor Family's Spat Rages On

Last week we informed our readers of Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebeyor's family troubles: How he had allegedly kicked his mother out of the family home after he claimed she used 'juju' / witchcraft to sabbotage his career. Well this week, there have been developments. The Togo international's brother has spoken out on the matter and he believes Adebeyor has been "brainwashed" by Islamic spiritual leaders.

Kola Adebeyor has told the Sun on Sunday:

"Emmanuel has been brainwashed by these Muslim alfas - spiritual men - who prophesise when he scores goals and why he is not playing well.

"They have convinced him his sister and mother put juju curses on him. My mother is very sad. Every day she is crying. I just talked to her on the phone and she was crying again.

"My family is Christian but it is not unusual to visit Muslim spiritual healers. He is seeing bad alfas and they are manipulating him.

"If you are really a man of God then you have to catch our mother and prove she is a witch, otherwise you are just lying to Emmanuel and taking his money".

So now we've have Adebeyor, his brother and his sister all speak out on his feud with his mother. Tune in next week to find out what cousin John Adebeyor has to say on the matter.

Joker in the Pack - Riera Sacked by Udinese for Skipping Match to Play Poker?

Former Liverpool winger Albert Riera has allegedly been sacked by his club Udinese after skipping their fixture against Chievo on November 23rd in order to play in poker tournament in Slovenia.

Spaniard Riera, who has sixteen caps for his national team, ended up finishing second in the tournament and pocketed €3,750 for his efforts. However, in spite of the rumours that he was sacked, Udinese have been holding their cards close to their chest on the matter, stating that the player's contract was terminated 'by mutual consent'.

A statement on the club's official website read:

"Udinese Calcio announces that the contract with the footballer Albert Ortega Riera has been terminated by mutual consent.

"Udinese Calcio wishes the footballer all the best for his future career".

Riera appeared to be at pains to deny the allegations that he was sacked, tweeting:

"To clarify, the termination of the contract (is) by mutual agreement, not due to reasons outside the football".

"That bulls*** you hear, neither case was heard, but it is unfortunate only to post lies".

Prior to being 'released by mutual consent', Riera had tweeted that Udinese were the "worst club (he) ever played for". Needless to say the tweet was quickly deleted, although obviously not quick enough.

What's Mad Mario Upto this Week?

Poor old Mario. Or stupid old Mario. Whichever way you look at it, Mario Balotelli is in trouble this week after an Instagram picture he posted has been interpreted as being anti-semitic. Ironically, the post had been intended as an anti-racism message, however it has not been well received.

The picture shows Super Mario (the original version) and comes with a "Don't be racist" caption, followed by a description of the character which encompasses a number of nationalities. However the message ends by claiming that Mario "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a jew".

He was quickly criticised for the post and initially lashed out at those who had complained about the post, assuming they were simply Balotelli-detractors. He tweeted:

"I just know that Those are trying to kill me for my Unlucky moment they ll need to stick with their plan even when i ll be back scoring gols".

That particular tweet was then deleted (perhaps on foot of some well founded legal advice). He then backtracked with the "But my (insert one from family member / friend / goldfish) is (insert race / nationality / religion / sexuality / gender / whatever person has been accused of being against)" defence, with the following tweet:

Finally, Balo then conceded that maybe posting the Instagram picture wasn't his wisest move, with this tweet:

The Instagram post is now being investigated by the FA and a Liverpool spokesperson has told BBC Sport:

"We are aware of the posting which has since been promptly deleted by the player.

"We will be speaking to the player about the issue".

Italian Football Story of the Week

- De Rossi's Ex Arrested for Kidnapping

Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi may feel he dodged a bullet when he discovered this week that his ex-wife, Tamara Pisnoli, has been arrested for kidnapping.

Miss Pisnoli and some cohorts were arrested after kidnapping a businessman and holding him to ransom for €200,000. He was taken from a bar and then moved onto a safe house where he was allegedly tortured.

De Rossi has a daughter named Gaia with the 31 year old, to whom he was married between 2006 and 2009, though Pisnoli has since remarried.

Perhaps most shocking of all was the fact that following her arrest, she then tweeted a photograph of herself and another suspect wearing handcuffs.

However she did move to deny any involvement in the kidnapping, stating:

"I do not have anything to do with this story, I have not done anything".

Her lawyer also stated:

"My client was involved in an investment from a manager but does not know the other parties involved".

Surely if she was in it for the money she could have just stayed married to De Rossi?

Artist's Impression of the Week

- 'Poker Face'; Riera misses Udinese match for poker game.

Football Recommendation of the Week

- Team 33; Having started life as a World Cup podcast, Team 33 is now a fully fledged football podcast and provides us with two episodes a week - well worth a listen.

http://www.newstalk.com/team33