Mourinho’s Notebook – Mixing Politics And Football
Barcelona Keep Buying Players Coz The Rules Mean Nothing
How do you celebrate a Champions League title? Any damn way you want.
Barcelona did just that after their 3-1 triumph over Juventus in Berlin last week, getting a bit crazy with celebrations and libations. Especially Gerard Pique, the party lad.
Oh, and speaking of Barcelona, they signed a guy. Which is quite unusual for a team currently midway through a complete transfer ban. But then we all know that the rules don’t really apply to teams with lots of money. When they first got dumped with the ban (for illegal youth recruitment), they appealed which delayed the start of the ban. Fair and usual under the justice systems we live under, yet a complete farce in this case because it meant they could go out and buy Luis Suarez and whoever else they needed, effectively stocking up for the winter. So when the ban did start, it hardly mattered.
And now that they have around six months of said ban remaining, it hardly matters either (the bans for two transfer windows, and this is the second). They’ve confirmed the arrival of Aleix Vidal from Sevilla for around £16m, though because of the ban he won’t be allowed to be registered until the January transfer window, so the player is basically sitting out the next six months of football. That’s dedication from the player, you have to say. Vidal’s a Spaniard who can play on the wing but will most likely be used as a right back, competition for the newly re-signed Dani Alves.
Xavi Poses With Every Trophy He Ever Won
Actually, this was taken last week, so you can add another Champions League trophy in there too.
United Passions?
The only passion that this film united people in was disgust.
United Passions is the self-financed film of the story of FIFA. According to IMDb, the film: “Follows the passing of the FIFA baton through three association presidents: Jules Rimet, Joao Havelange, and Sepp Blatter.” It’s basically a PR attempt, which the organisation threw millions of dollars at in order to get the admittedly superb cast of Gérard Depardieu (Jules Rimet), NZ’s own Sam Neill (Joao Havelange) and Tim Roth as Sepp Blatter. It’s believed that Blatter himself personally approved of the script, so there’s your first clue.
It was released in Europe last year, to unanimously appalling reviews, and this past weekend it received limited release in America. Now, limited release, you know that isn’t gonna pile of the profits. But after putting US$22.2m into the film, you’d assume FIFA were hoping for more than a $607 in return.
The timing of the release might well be the dumbest part of the whole thing. If FIFA thought that a film described as “one of the most unwatchable films in recent memory, a dishonest bit of corporate-suite sanitising that’s not good even for laughs” by the New York Times last week would save their faces amidst all the corruption and scandal then perhaps they’re even more delusional than we’re giving them credit for. Which is no empty claim.
Initially it premiered in Cannes, because nothing is sacred, but made just $190,000 in six months in Europe before it was pulled.
Here’s the only 10-star review on IMDb for United Passions:
The story of the Federation International of Football association
What a nice surprise! The history of the creation of the World Cup from the inside with a great cast. I thought I knew football but I learned many things. Some anecdotes are quite incredible and the reconstruction of Maracana is incredible. The film itself is a victory since the story of the Fifa is told over 100 years and managed to explain the takeover of Sep Blatter in way of a mafia movie. The first part of the film, very naive, profits the performance of Gerard Depardieu. He reminds us that it can embody characters with strength when he wants. The rest of the film is carried by the duo Tim Roth / Sam Neil who are always so good. It's very classic but such a good movie. Must see !
Speaking Of FIFA…
Q: The Fifa president, secretary general and communications director are in a car. Who’s driving?
A: The police.
Hahaha. Good joke. But be careful where you tell it, because FIFA’s head of communications told it on Swiss telly and a few days later he suddenly resigned.
Vote Sol, The People’s Defender
Great news for jaded citizens in London, former England centre-back Sol Campbell has announced that he plans to run for the mayoralty of London next year. He’s one of a number of candidates hoping to replace Boris Johnson, though he acknowledges that his near-complete lack pf political experience may be a hurdle.
“But I look at people who have been in politics for five, 10, 15 years, and muck up, you see them muck up and think, ‘you guys are supposed to be pro!’ People that have gone to Oxbridge, had thousands spent on their education, and I mean they are royally mucking up.”
Fair point. Campbell is a member of the conservative party, and has been ever since the proposed ‘Mansion Tax’ – which would have meant higher tax rates for more expensive properties had the British Labour Party been elected.
But Sol might be missing the major flaw in his plan here: Who’s gonna vote for a man who played for both Tottenham AND Arsenal!?
Harry Hotspur, Esquire
“If I need to relax, I take them both out for a walk, or I play a round of golf. I can’t remember the last time I went to a club. Obviously, everyone’s different, but I love just settling down and having a barbecue with my friends at the house.”
That was Harry Kane in Esquire UK magazine. He’s basically Jack Wilshere’s antithesis in every way. Care for a cup of tea?
No More Bus Parking For Jose
That’s because Mr Mourinho, The Special One, has been banned from driving for six months after being found guilty in a London court of speeding. He was gunned doing 60 mph in a 50 zone last September near Chelsea’s training facilities. The suspension came from already having prior points against his license, and came with £1,820 in fines – which was decided upon after considering his substantial income.
Spot The Footballer
Ha! It’s Peter Crouch! In a music video! Playing a thug!
If Only Goals By Spaniards Counted In La Liga
Social Media Stunners
FIFA.com's Women's World Cup match overviews have a few gender issues...
