Tag Archives: Chelsea

Barcelona ban proves cheats prosper

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Barcelona have just been handed a transfer ban by FIFA for breaking rules on the signing of international players aged under 18. Alongside the ban, they have also been fined £300,000. Whilst the size of the fine is negligible, the ban, if upheld, could be a disaster for the Catalan side, with Victor Valdes and Carlos Puyol both set to leave this summer.

Barcelona were not the only side to hit the headlines this morning for being a little bit naughty. The Dutch FA announced that they were to launch an investigation about the link between Chelsea and Vitesse Arnhem – with former officials of the Dutch club claiming that Chelsea coercing them to not qualify for the Champions League to ensure UEFA rules were not breached.

What does this mean for world football? Well it shows that whilst cheats may get caught, they also prosper.

The Champions League Semi-Final could well line up as:

Barcelona
Real Madrid
Chelsea
Bayern Munich

Barcelona

Real Madrid

  • May 01: Sold training ground to Madrid Regional Council for inflated rate of £170m, allowing them to wipe out all debt.
  • April 2013: European Commission launch investigation into Real Madrid after council paid Real Madrid €22.7m in ‘compensation’.

Chelsea

  • Sept 2005: Forced through a deal to sign John Obi Mikel, despite him already having signed a contract with Manchester United
  • Sept 2009: Banned for 2 transfer windows (later reduced to one) over Gael Kakuta deal.
  • April 2014: Investigated by Dutch over link with Vitesse Arnhem.

Bayern Munich

Despite what you think of Gazidas and Kroenke. At least they are not crooks and cheats. Saying that, with the current song being about ‘doing it The Arsenal Way’ maybe we should get involved in bribes, brown envelopes, et al as we have a good history of that!

Keenos

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to avoid ban

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to avoid ban

It is highly likely that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will avoid a ban for his handball during Saturday’s game against Chelsea.

Whilst it was clearly Oxlade-Chamberlain rather than Kieran Gibbs who made the world class save to deny Eden Hazard, it is likely that Arsenal are going to take advantage of a loophole to ensure he is not banned.

According to FA rule 4. (a) Mistake Identity:

If a Player who has been cautioned or sent off in a FTCM claims that he was the victim of mistaken identity in relation to the imposition of such sanction, he may appeal to The Association. The Club on behalf of the Player must, by 1pm of the next working day DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES 2013-2014 following their game, notify The Association in writing (by fax or e-mail – Fax 0844 980 0626 or e-mail Disciplinary@TheFA.com) of their intention to submit a claim.

This ruling puts it in the clubs hands to appeal against the decision. If they decide to appeal, and it is upheld by the commission, the disciplinary action “is transferred from the record of the Player reported by the Referee to the appropriate identified offender.”

Put simply, if Arsenal chose to not appeal, Kieran Gibbs serves the 1 match ban, leaving Oxlade-Chamberlain free to play.

The decision is up to Arsenal who they wish to serve the ban. With Arsenal having Monreal and Vermaelen both available, they are well covered at full back. Whilst in the middle, it is unlikely Arteta can play twice in such short succession, and with Ramsey, Wilshere, Diaby & Ozil all out, it leaves us with just Flamini, Kallstrom and Cazorla.

It is fairly clear that Arsenal are better off taking the hit on Gibbs to ensure Oxlade-Chamberlain is available to play.

Keenos

Proud to be a Gooner

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Ok, we lost 6-0, more about that another day. It has been done to death by blogs today, and will continue to do so until we spank Swansea 8-0 and everything is sunny in the Arsenal garden again. Yesterday, despite the defeat, I have never been prouder to be a Gooner. Prouder to be an Arsenal fan.

What happened yesterday was a thing of beauty, and you had to be at the stadium to understand it. From the first minute to the last, and beyond, the atmosphere was electric. At 3-0 down to 10 men, the clock turned 30, and it started “49 49 undefeated” and it continued. The noise decibels only reducing for half time.

As the Chelsea goals went in, the singing got louder. A mark of defiance. I remember a few years back when we played Leeds United at Highbury. Leeds lost 5-0. It was Arsenal’s unbeaten season, Leeds went on to be relegated a few weeks later. But their fans did not stop singing. It sent a shiver down my spine, making me realise that ones love for a club is over and above anything. As Leeds fans stood shoulder by shoulder together, I released it was this resilient attitude that allows the UK to be a world power despite its size.

Yesterday was our ‘5-0’. The circumstances might have been slightly different. The score was 6-0, it was all but confirmation of us being out of the title race than being relegated, but the feeling was the same. A feeling of defiance.

Throughout the second half, the majority of fans stayed. And backed the team. No matter opinions on Wenger and the board, there was a realisation, we needed to stand up and be counted, even if the players are management shirked the challenge.

Whilst Chelsea fans sat on their hands, only giving it every now and again (One mug wearing a Sky Blue SuperDry hoodie – you’re 40, stop wearing hoodies, asked the guy sitting next to him “who’s that” when Salah came on, despite ‘giving it large’ to Arsenal fans), Arsenal fans did not stop. Leaving at least something to be proud of despite the scoreline.

Yes, it was not perfect. I saw a couple of Arsenal fans getting attacked for singing ‘One Arsene Wenger’ in response to Chelsea fans singing ‘we want you to stay’. Likewise, chaps who unveiled a small black BSM flag were also abused, showing that there are tossers on both sides of the fence. Overall though, the crowd came together as one against a common enemy.

And it did not stop at the final whistle. Walking down the Fulham Road, Arsenal fans were not quite. On the platform at Fulham Broadway, the noise continued. On the train to Victoria, it was bouncing, and in the Willow Walk after the game, the atmosphere, the defiance, remained. We might have lost the battle on the pitch, but off it, victory was ours.

The men and women at the game yesterday standing side by side, backing the 10 men for 90 minutes, are the real hero’s. They are the ones who would stay with the club throughout all scenarios, through relegation, and who deserve success. They are the fans who I would happily be in the trenches. It makes me very proud to say I was one of those fans. I am a proud Gooner.

Keenos