I'm not sure that the controversy surrounding the Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton could have happened anywhere else in the world. Only in England would Barton be rated a good enough player to be earning an incredible $140,000 a week, only in England would the coaches and clubs have put up with his incredibly violent anti-social behavior.

There was good news and there was not-so-good news to report from the MLS All-Star Game. Mostly it was good news. The soccer was good -- attractive, attacking stuff, with five goals to show for it -- and the sunshine, the color and the lively fans produced a terrific atmosphere. Everything combined to give -- at least visually -- a sparkling telecast.

Just think about this. Only a few weeks ago, peace broke out between FIFA and the rich European clubs, the G-14 group as they called themselves. The clubs decided to greatly expand their membership up to over 100 clubs, now including a whole bunch of not-so-rich clubs (thus countering the persistent charges of elitism), and changed the name to the European Club Association.

It would be quite superfluous for me to add my congratulations to USSF for the success of its Development Academy program. They themselves, during some 16 hours of television exposure over the weekend, spent quite a lot of time patting themselves on the back, bringing up numerous positives, finding no negatives.

What a shame that Claudio Reyna's splendid career should end in anticlimax. The final stage of that career, his signing with the Red Bulls in January 2007, proved to be one step too many.

A rather misleading statement has been released by UEFA. Actually, it was not released, it escaped: the London Sunday Telegraph got hold of what it described as the "confidential document," designed apparently for the big-shot politicians of the European Union.

Sepp Blatter, smiling blithely in all directions, as is his wont, is beginning to feel the pressure. Criticism of South Africa as the venue for the next World Cup is mounting.

Can David Beckham work his soccer magic only when he's operating out on the right flank? Is that the only area of the field in which he's effective?

Can David Beckham work his soccer magic only when he's operating out on the right flank? Is that the only area of the field in which he's effective?

After the excitement of Euro 2008, came the drama of the Libertadores Cup. The second leg of the final, played last night, between Fluminense of Brazil and LDU of Ecuador, promised much. A jammed Maracana Stadium, LDU surprisingly leading, 4-2, from the first leg -- and so there was to be expected the thrill of an all-out attacking game from Fluminense.