David Beckham remains soccer’s highest earning player, according to Forbes. Of the $40 million he earned in 2009, nearly $33 million came from endorsements. But the fading star maysoon be replaced at the top of the list. Cristiano Ronaldo, ranked second behind Beckham in earnings last year with $30 million in salary and endorsements. The […]
international
MLS is maxing out on parity
By Paul Gardner The complaint, often heard these days from Europe, is that the major leagues there are becoming too predictable. This is hardly a new gripe, but we getto hear much more of it lately because of the English Premier League. In Spain and Italy this is an old problem. Looking only at the […]
The Shattering of the Beckham Fairy Tale
By Paul Gardner Suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, the soccer gods turned on David Beckham, and cut him down while he was doing the very thing at which he wassupposed to be divinely inspired: playing soccer. In a flash, the Beckham myth crumpled. Done in by the greatest mythical figure the Greeks had, […]
Rule-makers take us down the rabbit hole
By Paul Gardner It’s gratifying to see that the International Board (IFAB) has not let us down. It has shored up its reputation for avoiding serious issues bypostponing action on a couple of tricky matters that were included on its agenda for last week’s meeting. Both came under the heading “Items for Discussion and Decision.” […]
Woman charged with manslaughter in ex-Socceroo's death
A 22-year-old woman was arrested and charged with manslaughter in the death of former Australian international Ian Gray on Monday. Sherryn Davis is accused of supplying heroin to Gray and stealing $3,000 worth of his property, including his laptop, camera and clothing. Gray’s mother, Georgina, believes her son, the coaching director at the Maccabi Hakoah […]
USA to get sendoff against Czech Republic and Turkey
[DATEBOOK] The USA will face 2006 World Cup opponent Czech Republic and Turkey in its two final warmup matches before heading to South Africa for the World Cup.The Czech Republic game will be played May 25 at a site to be announced — Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., has been mentioned as a possible […]
Bayern fortunate to beat Fiorentina
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] All signs pointed to a Bayern Munich victory, but the German club needed a late goal from MiroslavKlose — scoring in an offside position — to beat 10-man Fiorentina in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 series on Wednesday. Klose, who scored on a headerin the 89th minute after […]
Fabianski goat in Arsenal loss [VIDEO]
[UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] Rarely has a goalkeeper been so solely responsible for his team’s loss in the Champions League. Arsenal understudy Lukasz Fabianski, pressed into service by the finger injury to Manuel Almunia, palmed a cross from Silvestre Varela into his own goal and was called for picking up a back pass from teammate Sol […]
Adu makes it two goals in two starts [VIDEO]
[AMERICANS ABROAD] Freddy Adu made it two goals in two starts for Greek club Aris, scoring in its 3-0 win over Xanthi inthe replay of their Greek Cup match on Wednesday. Adu slotted a cross from Toni Calvo home from close range for the second goal and set up another Spaniard. Sergio Koke, for the third goal.
Death-threat chanting Serb fans charged
Six Partizan Belgrade fans among the thousands who chanted death threats and insults at B92 reporter Brankica Stankovic during a match in December between Partizan Belgrade andUkrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk have been charged by Serbia’s state prosecuto. They also tossed around and punctured an inflatable rubber effigy of her. A recent TV documentary by Stankovicfound […]
