Mourinho's Notebook - Dollar Bills, Dress Codes & The Fizzer
When is a Resignation Not a Resignation?
When it was Sepp Blatter’s resignation.
The Dr Evil of FIFA made headlines this week after a comedian threw stacks of fake bills all over him at a press conference, which made for an incredible image. It also distracted from yet another #DumbFIFA move.
It’s been announced that the next presidential elections for the football governance will be held on February 26, 2016. Blatter resigned on June 2. Opponents within FIFA had been fighting for a December election, though had thought they'd found a January compromise. Nope.
February 26 happens to be a milestone date for Blatter, it'll mark 40 years since his first official involvement with FIFA. Even when he resigns he still calls the shots.
Blatter’s been messing around ever since, backtracking on his comments and clinging to the power he so reluctantly released. Obviously he’d be pretty happy to stand again at the extraordinary congress, though FIFA have a better PR team than that and have consistently denied any chance of that. Blatter, to his credit, appears to have accepted that, but there are reasons to be sceptical of the change that's been demanded.
Prince Ali bin Al Hussein is doing his best to call out Blatter on every little misstep to ensure that he’s nowhere near the election process when it finally happens, the Prince was the man controversially defeated by Blatter in the voting at the last elections. Candidates must have declared themselves by October 26 to be eligible. Michel Platini, former French star and current boss of UEFA, is the early favourite.
Tidy Up, Messi!
Lil Lionel’s come under some criticism for his dress code of all things, after the Barcelona and Argentinian legend visited the President of Gabon in a t-shirt, jean shorts and sneakers.
The leader of the opposition in the African west coast nation then blasted him to world media, declaring his attire to reflect a “lack of respect for standards and principles”.
The statement from the Union du Peuple Gabonais party (translated by ESPN FC):
"The messiah of football arrived in Gabon like he were going to a zoo: dirty, unshaven and his hands in his pockets, looking for peanuts to throw to them!
When you're called Lionel Messi and you're a multi-billionaire, you don't have the right to present yourself to officials of a republic, even a banana one, with your hands in the pockets of a ripped, tattered pair of shorts.
Gabon isn't a zoo. We don't know what the Argentine came to Gabon for, but we at least have the right to denounce his negligence and his lack of respect for standards and principles. We are uneasy with Messi's attitude and his attire. Only for these reasons, linked to respect for the host country, do we condemn the footballer's indelicateness, to say the least!"
Messy Messi was in Gabon on the first leg of a five-day tour of Africa. He chilled with President Bongo (real name) as the President personally drove him around the capital city of Libreville, before Lionel laid the first brick on the site of what is to become the host stadium of the 2017 African Cup of Nations final. Samuel Eto'o reportedly introduced Messi to Bongo.
Number One Villain
Fabian Delph – 11 July 2015
“I’m aware there has been intense media speculation surrounding my future in the last 24 hours and I want to set the record straight. I’m not leaving. I’m staying at the football club and I can’t wait for the start of the season and captaining this great football club.”
Fabian Delph – 17 July 2015
They Don’t Call Him Fizzer For Nothing!
Phil Neville is now a coach at Spanish side Valencia. Yes, that Phil Neville, last heard as one of the more boring commentators in a while (though it’s better to be boring than stupid, at least). Phil had a go on David Moyes’ coaching staff for Manchester United a year but that didn’t go so well for those involved. He replaces Ian Cathro who’s joining Steve McClaren’s lot at Newcastle.
Anyway, Phil’s been working on his Spanish to fit in, translating his own tweets. Unfortunately there are a few little intricacies that he’s yet to pick up about his new tongue.
Like the fact that ‘corrida’, while it does mean ‘run’, also happens to be a slang alternative for ‘ejaculation’.
Whoops.
This Guy...
- Scores a ripping goal.
- Proposes to his girlfriend as a celebration.
Social Media Stunners
Harry Redknapp’s Weekly Pearl of Wisdom
Kyle Walker? Really!?