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This is a land of natural beauty, of pristine beaches, lush rain forests, active volcanoes and rich biodiversity. The army disbanded 65 years ago. The government boasts the oldest democracy in Latin America.

The national mantra is “Pura Vida” – in essence, pure life.

Costa Rica is the last rest stop before the exit to heaven.

For the U.S. national soccer team, it is pure hell.

Tranquility belies a history of unpleasant visits and masks the fury that awaits the Americans on Friday night at National Stadium for a 2014 World Cup qualifying match.

What is it like to play in San Jose? Picture a Metallica concert wrapped in nationalism fueled by alcohol and pushed along by the lust for a place in the planet’s most popular sporting event next summer in Brazil.

“They are very proud, they are very passionate, they are very intense,” said Juergen Klinsmann, whose U.S. squad has lost six straight in this city. “They live soccer, 24/7. And they dream of the World Cup. You sense that from the moment you put your foot down in those places [in Central America].

“It’s wonderful. It’s another kind of challenge to understand what it means to the people here, to adjust to it and prove yourself in a difficult and different environment.”

Ticos, as the Costa Rican team and population are known, have never lacked motivation in the build-up to an important game. They are further galvanized this time by the previous qualifier between the teams: a 1-0 U.S. victory during a Denver blizzard in March.

Long after FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, upheld the result, Costa Rica continues to howl about the frosty conditions (conveniently forgetting it had just as many quality scoring chances in the surreal setting and several of its players are employed by cold-weather European clubs).

As retribution for the U.S. Soccer Federation’s selection of the Colorado venue, the Costa Ricans have made things more difficult than usual for the visitors:

No special treatment passing through customs and immigration; fans tossing eggs at the team bus outside the airport terminal; owners of three proposed practice facilities denying access until finally a dairy farm offered its field; and drivers conspiring to slow traffic on the bus route between the hotel and stadium on game day.

The Americans have taken the high road, refusing to let gamesmanship affect them.

“It adds to the excitement, the build-up, the hype,” U.S. midfielder Michael Bradley said. “In some ways over the years, it has calmed down a little bit. To now have one that has got cranked back up, it’s exciting.”

The Ticos were not able to implement perhaps their greatest weapon: Saprissa Stadium, an old cauldron where fans are mere feet from the field and the visiting locker room sits a thin layer below the rowdiest supporters’ section. Over the years, U.S. players have been pelted with coins, batteries, beer, bags of urine, even sunglasses.

FIFA has forbidden international matches at Saprissa until the field and lights are upgraded. The Costa Rican federation could not ensure improvements in time for this encounter.

Even when fans were on their best behavior, Saprissa, known as the Monster’s Cave, worked in Costa Rica’s favor because the playing surface is a poor quality of synthetic turf. Several national team players have toiled there for the club of the same name.

The Ticos now play at National Stadium, a two-year-old facility financed and built by China in exchange for Costa Rica dropping relations with Taiwan. The new venue offers natural grass and a running track that serves as a buffer between rabid fans and the field.

“We like our chances playing against this team on a grass field versus turf in a stadium that’s relatively safe versus one that feels relatively unsafe,” U.S. midfielder-forward Landon Donovan said. “In theory, it’s an advantage not to have to play [at Saprissa], but that doesn’t guarantee anything.”

Shenanigans aside, the Ticos see a wonderful opportunity to take a step closer to Brazil. More than halfway through the final round, they are two points behind the first-place United States and in prime position to secure one of the region’s three automatic berths.

The Americans arrived in the Central Valley atop the CONCACAF standings with 13 points from six matches and would secure a spot in the World Cup on Friday with a combination of results: a victory here; a Mexico draw at home against Honduras; and a Panama loss or tie against visiting Jamaica.

With a 12-game winning streak — the longest current run in the world — the Americans are beaming with confidence and do not plan to implement defensive tactics in search of a point on the road.

“We’re not holding back, by any means,” Klinsmann said. “We’ll try to take our game to them and see what they want to do with that. We now have the confidence that, even away from home, that is what we want to do.”



World Cup qualifying: U.S. soccer will have its hands full vs. Costa Rica and its riled-up fans - The Washington Post

U.S. soccer's World Cup Qualifying night started with a last-minute injury to arguably its most important player. It only got worse from there.

The U.S.'s team-record 12-game winning streak was snapped in emphatic fashion by Costa Rica Friday night in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose, 3-1. The U.S. has never won a World Cup Qualifier in Costa Rica, with its record dropping to 0-8-1 all-time.

Clint Dempsey scored the only U.S. goal on first-half penalty kick.

The loss leaves the Americans in second place in the "Hexagonal," the final North American qualifiying group, with 13 points. The Costa Ricans moved into first with 14, with both teams still with three matches to play.

The U.S. hosts Mexico, shock 2-1 losers to Honduras Friday, in Columbus, Ohio this Tuesday. They will do so, however, without striker Jozy Altidore or defenders Matt Besler or Geoff Cameron, all of whom picked up their second yellow cards of the Hexagonal and will be suspended for the Mexico match.

Despite the loss Friday, with the top three teams guaranteed a spot in the World Cup and the fourth-place Mexicans still on 8 points, a win Tuesday would still essentially clinch the U.S.'s seventh consecutive World Cup berth.

But that won't do much to ease the sting of Friday's defeat. The U.S. started on the back foot even before kickoff, as midfielder Michael Bradley injured an ankle during the team's pregame warmups. He was replaced in the starting lineup by Stoke City defender Cameron, but the last-minute personnel switch, the loss of Bradley's steady presence on the ball, and a poor performance from fellow central midfielder Jermaine Jones led to the shakiest possible U.S. start -- and a 2-0 Costa Rica lead within the first 10 minutes.

Johnny Acosta opened the scoring for the hosts after just three minutes, heading home a corner kick from close range. Six minutes later Celso Borges charged into the box to head home a cross from the dangerous Joel Campbell and put the Americans in a deep hole.

The U.S. finally began to settle down and Fabian Johnson produced a stellar save from Costa Rican goalkeeper Keylor Navas with a stinging volley. But the U.S. still needed a heavy dose of good fortune to get on the board, with Navas clumsily fouling Johnson on a bouncing ball inside the penalty area in the 43rd minute. Dempsey's penalty kick was directly at Navas and appeared to have been saved, but instead spun backwards off of Navas and into the net.

The U.S. started the second half the better team, and appeared to be tightening its grip on the game when Costa Rica scored the clincher against the run of play in the 75th minute. A 60-yard pass from the "Ticos'" defense caught the U.S. defense flat-flooted, and Campbell raced past Besler to collect and slot the ball past a curiously stationary Tim Howard.

Landon Donovan performed well in his much-anticipated return to the U.S.'s World Cup Qualifying lineup, Johnson provided several bright moments, and Omar Gonzalez had a quietly productive night in central defense. But of course, in a 3-1 defeat there's more blame than credit to go around. The principal culprits:

Jermaine Jones: The volatile midfielder found any number of ways to give the ball to the Costa Ricans, whether through a brick-footed first touch, sloppy passes in midfield, or low-percentage longballs when a shorter pass -- and game-settling possession -- was desperately needed. With Bradley out, Jones was the player most needed to elevate his game to compensate, and instead he turned in his weakest performance of the Hexagonal to date.

Tim Howard: None of the three Costa Rican goals will go down as "goalkeeper error," but Howard's outing Friday will do nothing to silence the whispers among U.S. fans that the World Cup veteran has been surpassed by understudy Brad Guzan. Howard made little-to-no effort to save Borges' header despite, on replay, it seemingly bouncing within reach; on Campbell's goal he remained on his line rather than attempting to beat Campbell to the ball, and then could not react quickly enough to what might have been another saveable shot. Jurgen Klinsmann has given no indication he's willing to promote Guzan, but expect this to be a hot topic nonetheless as the World Cup draws closer.

Jurgen Klinsmann: The popular German pushed all the right buttons during the winning streak, and the late scratch of Bradley was the kind of headache no coach necessarily has the right answer for. But his decision to start Michael Orozco at right back over Michael Parkhurst (who provided a steady hand during the Gold Cup) or Cameron (who plays right back at Stoke and could have been capably replaced in midfield by Kyle Beckerman or Mix Diskerud) was a head-scratcher. Orozco ultimately failed to repay his coach's faith in him, doing little to hold down the U.S.'s right wing -- though he could have used more help from the surprisingly anonymous Graham Zusi -- and providing even less in attack.

Klinsmann also saw his late substitution of Altidore backfire as the striker picked up a needless yellow card, and arguably shoulders some blame for the U.S.'s panic-stricken response to the Bradley scratch and the opening goal.

But in the end, a loss in Cosa Rica is nothing the U.S. hasn't experienced before; it didn't keep the Americans from qualifying in 1998, or 2002, or 2006, or 2010. And even if the suspensions and Bradley injury keep the U.S. from collecting all three points and punching their ticket to Brazil Tuesday, a home game against sixth-place Jamaica still awaits in October. In the long-term, Friday's loss should be a little more than blip in what's otherwise been a highly successful Hexagonal campaign and sensational 2013 for Klinsmann.

Given the U.S.'s history in Costa Rica, though, Friday was also an opportunity to show that Klinsmann's U.S. has unequivocally turned a corner, a chance to prove that the win streak wasn't merely a product of a kind schedule, a victor

Orlando City Soccer broke an attendance record after over 20,000 fans packed the Citrus Bowl for Saturday night's USL PRO Championship game.

Orlando City beat the Charlotte Eagles in the championship game Saturday evening.

The final score was 7-4.

Hoping to show city and county leaders how much the team's support has grown, officials launched the "Mission 15K" campaign, with a goal to get 15,000 fans at the game. Saturday's game was the soccer club's final match of the 2013 season.

The Orlando City Soccer all-time attendance record was 11,220, which was set at the 2011 USL PRO Championship game. The team easily broke that record Saturday night.

Officials announced Saturday morning that they were opening up several upper level sections of the Citrus Bowl due to a high demand for tickets for the game.

Team leaders hope that a win at the USL Pro Championship will bring them closer to their goal of building a soccer stadium and eventually bringing a Major League Soccer team to Orlando.


Orlando City Soccer breaks record at championship game | www-wftv-com

The lower divisions of Brazil’s professional soccer scene are treasure troves of crazy on-field antics. The latest gem was found on Saturday in a Serie D (fourth division) game between Aparecidence and Tupi. Aparacidence’s masseur, Romildo Fonseca da Silva (also known as “Lefty”), stepped onto the field and prevented Tupi from scoring a goal. This isn’t one of those feel-good stories about an underdog athlete who gets his moment in the sun. Fonseca da Silva simply took it upon himself to jump in goal and make two saves. This understandably enraged Tupi players, who tried to get their hands on the rogue masseur, but Fonseca da Silva once again showed off his athletic talents when he ran for his life. The masseur’s heroics preserved the 2-2 scoreline, as the referee halted the game for 20 minutes but refused to award a goal to Tupi. The result saw Aparacidence advance to the playoff semifinals. Tupi has vowed to challenge the result in court. We can only hope Fonseca da Silva will act as his team’s lead attorney if the case goes to trial. He seems to be good at everything else he does.




Read more at: Brazilian Soccer Masseur Runs Onto Field, Saves Goal Then Himself (Video) | Soccer | NESN-com

Juergen Klinsmann has been in the middle of some of Europe's most storied soccer wars. But it took 15 years of living in the U.S., the last two as coach of the American national team, for him to fully appreciate the intensity of the U.S.-Mexico rivalry.

"Playing Mexico is always special," he said Monday, the eve of the latest clash between the region's traditional soccer powers.

"The passion," U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard said, "is incredible."

That fervor will be turned up a few notches Tuesday given what's at stake when the teams meet in a World Cup qualifier at cozy Columbus Crew Stadium.

A victory by the U.S., combined with a victory or a tie by Honduras against Panama, would make the U.S. the sixth nation to qualify for next summer's World Cup in Brazil. Mexico, on the other hand, is in dire straits, which is why it fired coach Jose Manuel de la Torre on Saturday, hours after a qualifying loss to Honduras.

Another loss for Mexico, combined with a Honduras victory, would virtually eliminate Mexico from contention for one of CONCACAF's three automatic slots in Brazil. That would leave Mexico needing to finish fourth in the six-team qualifying tournament, then win a two-leg November playoff with New Zealand to avoid not playing in the World Cup for the first time since 1990.

"The players know the situation," said new Coach Luis Fernando Tena, who won an Olympic gold medal with Mexico last summer in London but could lose his job after four days without a victory Tuesday. "They're responsible people. They know what they have to do.

"After that we'll see. We're focused only on the game with the United States."

Adding to Mexico's problems is the venue. Mexico hasn't won a qualifier on U.S. soil since 1972 and has never won in Columbus, where the U.S. is unbeaten.

"When I first started out with the national team you'd go to [U.S.] stadiums and it felt like you were playing in another country because there were more fans for the other team than for you. Columbus is one of those venues that have that 12th man," U.S. captain Clint Dempsey said. "The crowd is all behind you. It gives you a little bit more wind in your sails. Also, it puts pressure on the other team.

"They feel the excitement. They're not as confident. They're a little tentative. And I think it plays to our advantage."

Added Howard: "It's one of probably three or four venues in America that we have such an incredible advantage. The place gets rocking. It's hard to hear."

That could help make up for the absence of four key players. Midfielder Michael Bradley is out because of an ankle sprain and forward Jozy Altidore, midfielder Geoff Cameron and defender Matt Besler are suspended for the game after picking up yellow cards in Friday's 3-1 loss to Costa Rica, the U.S. team's first loss in 13 games.

"We know about their situation. They know about our situation," Klinsmann said. "A lot's at stake."



Plenty is at stake in U.S.-Mexico soccer matchup - latimes-com

Needing a victory over Mexico and a little help from Honduras to punch its ticket to next summer's World Cup, the U.S. took care of business Tuesday, riding second-half goals by Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan to a 2-0 victory in front of a raucous 24,584 at Columbus Crew Stadium.

Then the Americans retired to their locker room, where they watched Honduras and Panama play to a 2-2 tie, assuring the U.S. one of CONCACAF's three berths in Brazil. So when the dressing room opened again an hour later, it smelled of champagne.

"Obviously, this is a huge, huge evening for all of us," said Coach Juergen Klinsmann, who emerged wearing a crisp white T-shirt with "Qualified" across the chest. "And they're enjoying the moment. It's a huge milestone when you make it to the World Cup, the biggest event in the sport."

And they made it largely because of Donovan, the Galaxy striker who set up Johnson's goal in the 49th minute then scored 29 minutes later, and goalkeeper Tim Howard, who were playing together for only the second time this year.

Donovan began the current qualifying cycle on the sidelines, sitting out the first six games after taking a three-month winter sabbatical he said he needed to renew his passion for soccer. Howard captained the U.S. at the start of the cycle.

But both men put the team on their backs and carried it over the finish line Tuesday.

"They're experienced players. They've played these games before," Klinsmann said of the two veterans. "They know what it's all about. I told them I expected their leadership."

And he got it.

Howard was brilliant in goal, getting the only score he would need from Johnson, whose header just after intermission was his 12th in 21 World Cup qualifiers. But it wouldn't have happened without Donovan's perfectly placed service, a corner kick that found a leaping Johnson at the edge of the six-yard box.

"When we scored the first goal, you could see it in Mexico's eyes, that they were defeated," said defender Omar Gonzalez, who plays for the Galaxy.

For Donovan, the assist was his 57th for the national team, equaling the combined total of the next three players on the all-time U.S. list. He scored his 57th goal, also best in national team history, in the 78th minute off a nice feed from Mix Diskerud, who had entered the game two minutes earlier in place of Johnson.

The Mexicans, needing a victory under interim Coach Luis Fernando Tena to keep its flickering World Cup hopes alive, played desperately in the first half but Howard frustrated them three times with spectacular saves, stretching out to deflect Christian Gimenez's solid shot from the right wing in the 19th minute, turning away a dangerous chance from Giovani Dos Santos from inside the box late in the half and then, in injury time, pushing away Diego Reyes' try at the far post.

Howard was tested only once in the second half, by Jesus Zavala on a corner kick in the 58th minute. He stopped that one as well, preserving the third shutout in as many games for the U.S. against Mexico. It was also the Americans' fourth consecutive 2-0 victory over Mexico in Columbus.

The loss dropped Mexico to fifth place in the six-team regional qualifier. Only the top three finishers are guaranteed a spot in Brazil, and the U.S. and Costa Rica, which played Jamaica to a 1-1 tie Tuesday, have clinched two of those spots. That leaves Mexico to contemplate the possibility of playing New Zealand in a two-leg playoff to earn one of two play-in berths to the World Cup.




U.S. beats Mexico, 2-0, to qualify for soccer's World Cup - latimes-com

Last night in Columbus, Ohio, the U.S. Men’s National Team TISI +0.08% qualified for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with a stirring win against its archrival, Mexico, combined with a tie in another CONCACAF region match pitting Honduras and Panama. “It’s a huge milestone whenever you make it to a World Cup,” U.S. coach, Jurgen Klinsmann said after qualification became official late last night.

Qualifying for the World Cup, of course, has all sorts of positive implications for the game in the U.S., from its youth leagues all the way up to Major League Soccer. One of the biggest impacts it will have is on the country’s soccer finances.

According to a report in the UK newspaper, the Daily Telegraph, a World Cup participant in 2014 will be guaranteed a payout of $12.5 million—the minimum given to a team that’s knocked out in the group stage. That money goes up to $25 million for a side that reaches the quarterfinals.

In NFL terms, that money is a pittance. But to the U.S. Soccer Federation—the national governing body of the sport—it would qualify as a bonanza. In 2012, the USSF had total revenues of $60 million, down from $66 million in 2011. That $12.5 million would be a huge boost.

Then there’s the marketing side. The USSF entered an agreement with something called Soccer United Marketing (SUM) back in 2004. Basically, it’s a vehicle for licensing, television, royalty and sponsorship revenues (excluding their deal with Nike). Among those on the USSF sponsor roster are Pepsi, AT&T T 0% and McDonald’s. SUM’s revenues for 2012 were $8.5 million. The agreement ends on the last day of 2014. A good showing at the World Cup would presumably up some of those sponsorship fees in a new agreement.

And then you have Nike, which is the official kit sponsor of the national team. That revenue reached $12.6 million in 2012. The Nike agreement also ends after 2014. One can presume here as well that a solid World Cup showing would help if Nike were to re-up on its agreement.




What Qualifying For The 2014 World Cup Means For U.S. Soccer Financially - Forbes

Thiago Silva and Neymar scored first-half goals to propel Brazil to a 3-1 victory over Portugal in a friendly match before 62,310 at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday night.

Jo also scored for the Confederations Cup champions and 2014 World Cup hosts, who improved to 13-4-3 all time against Portugal.

Portugal was without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who was sidelined with tendinitis.

Raul Meireles gave Portugal a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute when he intercepted a misplayed header and slipped the ball past goalkeeper Julio Cesar.

Brazil answered in the 24th when Neymar's corner kick found the head of Silva, who drove the ball past keeper Rui Patricio.

Neymar put Brazil in front for good in the 34th, dribbling through the Portugal defense before sending a shot into the left side of the net. Jo capped the scoring in the 49th minute.
Spain, Chile settle for draw

Goals by Roberto Soldado and Jesus Navas helped world champion Spain to come from behind twice and draw 2-2 against Chile in a friendly on Tuesday.

Chile applied pressure in midfield right from the beginning, challenging aggressively and continually surging forward.

Eduardo Vargas beat the offside trap and fired home a stinging shot for Chile's opening goal in the fifth minute.

Soldado met an overhead cross by Pedro Hernandez to equalize with a header in the 38th minute.

Vargas doubled his tally in the 44th after racing through, leaving Spanish defenders Alvaro Arbeloa and Raul Albiol behind.

Navas levelled in injury time, finishing off a three-man move after Alvaro Negredo picked out Pedro, who steered an inviting ball across the goalmouth.



Neymar leads Brazil past Portugal in soccer friendly

A convicted armed robber and drug dealer serving time at South Australia's most notorious prison is suing the government for injuries suffered during a jailhouse soccer game brawl. Allen Kenneth McFarlane, 51, claims a broken cheekbone and an initially undiagnosed hemorrhage "tipped him over the edge", Adelaide Now reports.

"Me and this other fellow had words and he hit me, (then) I hit him back," McFarlane said, referring to a dispute at Yatala Labour Prison in 2005.

McFarlane was transferred from the Prison Medical Clinic to Royal Adelaide Hospital where his broken cheekbone was operated on.

After being discharged, the prisoner returned to hospital two weeks later for a CAT scan that revealed he had also suffered a brain hemorrhage, which was then removed.

The imbalance and difficulties he suffers from will inhibit him from finding fishing and construction work after his release, he claims.

He is also seeking compensation for medical and domestic care expenses.

During his District Court trial, his lawyer Michael Doyle told Judge Michael Boylen that McFarlane "still has a lot of his life to go".

But Sam Doyle, SC, for the Crown, told the court there was no liability because McFarlane's "symptoms were essentially headaches with some minor variations".

Judge Boylen has reserved his judgment to a future date.

McFarlane has convictions for trafficking cannabis, bank robbery and two pharmacy hold-ups, dating back to 1980.



SA prisoner sues over soccer brawl injury

With a new major sponsor on board, the Wellington Phoenix management now have to find a way to bring the punters through the gates at the Cake Tin this season.

Huawei, the world's largest telecoms equipment supplier, which partners 45 of the world's top 50 operators, were unveiled today as the new principal sponsor of the Phoenix.

They've penned a three-year agreement with New Zealand's only professional football side after foundation sponsor, Sony, announced earlier this month they would scale back their involvement with the Wellingtonians.

Phoenix general manager David Dome couldn't talk specifics but said the deal with Huawei was a great outcome for the club.

"It's a more comprehensive deal [than what we had with Sony] so it'll now allow us to go in to different areas,'' Dome said.

"But certainly in terms of deals it gives us a little bit of security with that three years.''

The Phoenix have a licence in the A-League for another three years and Dome said they were working with the FFA around an extension and if that was to fall in to place, Huawei may look to sign on for longer.

Now the big challenge will be inspiring the club's fanbase, who were put through torturous times last season as the Phoenix picked up the wooden spoon, to head through the turnstiles.

"It's only part of the puzzle,'' Dome said of the new sponsor. "That's our principal partner, our cornerstone is now ticked. We still have to get that 10,000 in the crowd at each game to make sure the financials always stack up.''

When the Welnix group took over the Phoenix two years ago they preached sustainability after the club had bled money under former owner Terry Serepisos.

The Phoenix averaged just under 7000 for their home fixtures last summer - including their matches in Auckland and Dunedin - and finding a way to boost that figure by more than 3000 will be a tough ask.

"There's no doubt that winning is all part of that and we are extremely confident with Ernie Merrick on board that he is doing the best he can in that area and that we are giving ourselves every opportunity to have a winning team with Ernie on board,'' Dome said.

New coach Merrick has injected a dose of enthusiasm among the playing group, while there is a renewed optimism among the fans that the former Melbourne Victory mentor may be able to give the club something extra.

Merrick has signed a string of young players and there's no denying the Phoenix will have a green look to them this season.

The Phoenix beat a lower North Island, Central League selection 2-1 in Kapiti yesterday via a double to the free-scoring Jeremy Brockie.

Merrick's side will meet New Zealand A, Auckland City and a Wellington-based side during the final weeks of their pre-season campaign before the season proper gets underway on October 13 against the Brisbane Roar at Westpac Stadium.



Soccer: Phoenix sign new sponsor, now need fans - Sport - NZ Herald News

Such betting football shirt sponsorship will impact you?

SIX men have been charged in relation to Australia's largest match-fixing scandal, including the coach, a goalkeeper and a Malaysian national who's been remanded in custody for allegedly helping run the scam.

The charges relate to an alleged match-fixing ring estimated to have reaped more than $2 million of betting winnings, mainly overseas, from manipulating scores of the bottom-placed Southern Stars in the Victorian Premier League.

It follows a Victoria Police investigation that began last month on information from Swiss-based sports and betting data intelligence agency Sportradar, which was passed on by Football Federation Australia.

Gerry Gsubramaniam, 45, of Clayton South, is accused of acting as a contact point for players in the Southern Stars team.

He faces 10 charges including five counts of engaging in conduct that corrupts or could corrupt the outcome of a betting event, and five charges of facilitating conduct that corrupts or could corrupt the outcome of a betting event.

Mr Gsubramaniam, a Malaysian citizen, appeared before an out of sessions hearing late last night, where he requested bail.

Detective acting senior sergeant Scott Poynder told the hearing Mr Gsubramaniam had received payment for giving Southern Stars players information on how games were to unfold.

“He is the contact point,” Poynder said.

“He receives phone calls.

“He is given advice on how the Southern Stars players are to perform.”

Sgt Poynder told the hearing at least five games had been identified by Sportradar as being “highly suspicious”.

He opposed bail and Mr Gsubramaniam was remanded to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates today.

“Video showed some of the players were doing some unusually poor play,” Sgt Poynder said.

“For that work (Gsubramaniam) received payment.

“Some of the bets are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Goalkeeper Joe Wooley, 23, a UK citizen currently residing in Preston, faces eight charges, including four counts of engaging in conduct that could corrupt the outcome of a betting event, and four charges of facilitating conduct that could corrupt the outcome of a betting event.

Reiss Noel, 24, also a player for the Southern Stars currently residing in Preston, faces the same charges.

Both were released on bail.

A further three men, including the team's 36-year-old coach from Wantirna South, were bailed to appear before the Melbourne Magistrates court to face the same set of charges as Noel and Wooley.

More charges are expected to be laid in coming days.

Four other men arrested yesterday morning were released pending further inquiries.

Earlier yesterday, Southern Stars FC president Ercan Cicek said many of the players arrested were from the UK and were playing in Australia in their off-season.

Mr Cicek said five players from England joined the southeast Melbourne-based Stars at the start of the season, at the instigation of a man who also offered to organise sponsorship.

He said the man, whose full name he was unable to provide, first contacted him in 2012 about providing players to the club without paying.

“Our committee members are thinking, `Oh beautiful, five players for free, we're not going to pay anything, it's a big big bonus',” he said.

Mr Cicek said the Stars' coach also gave his services for free this season, telling the club he just wanted a chance at Premier League level.

But Mr Cicek added the prospect of match-fixing never occurred to Stars officials.

“We (were) never thinking about (the) betting side or the other side, (that) he's going to take money somewhere,” Mr Cicek said.

“We don't know. We were thinking about only our club, what's the advantage for our club?”

The Stars have played 21 games this season, losing 16 and drawing four.

Their only win was a 1-0 victory over top side Northcote City on August 18.

The Stars had lost their previous four matches, conceding a total of 13 goals and not scoring any.

FFA chief executive David Gallop welcomed the work of the police and Sportradar.

“This highlights the fact that lower league games, which aren't under the scrutiny of things like TV broadcasts, are potentially more susceptible to this kind of activity,” Mr Gallop said.

“What we can say is the detection measures that we've had in place have worked, and that is a sign we're working in the right direction.”


- See more at: Cookies must be enabled. | The Australian

Two of the world’s most valuable sports brands–Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo–have come to terms on a five-year, $206 million contract that will keep the Portuguese striker with the Spanish soccer team through the 2020 season.

In our most recent take on the world’s most valuable sports brands, the Real Madrid brand value–the portion of the team’s enterprise value not attributable to the size of or demographic of its market, or to league-shared revenue–was $255 million, third among all sports teams. Ronaldo’s brand–endorsement income less average of the endorsement income of the top 10 soccer players–was worth $11 million. According to Goal, the Ronaldo wanted to earn $20 million a season net of Spain’s 52% tax rate when his current contract expires after the 2015 season. During the past year Ronaldo earned a total of $44 million.

Half of Ronaldo’s earnings were from sponsors, including $9 million from Nike. One reason sponsors love Ronaldo: He is the world’s most popular athlete on Facebook FB -4.03% with 60 million followers. Ronaldo’s new contract with Real Madrid is richer than the one recently given to Barcelona rival Lionel Messi, and assuming his endorsement income remains the same, will boost his total earnings to about $67 million in two years, all but insuring he will maintain his spot as the world’s top paid soccer player for several more years.

Most important for Real Madrid supporters, Los Blancos are making a statement that as the world’s most valuable sports team, they are willing to support their brand by spending on talent. Two weeks ago Real Madrid paid a record $132 million transfer fee for 24 year old Wales International midfielder Gareth Bale.

Real Madrid’s financial performance has clearly benefited by having Ronaldo. The team recently posted record revenue, increasing its value by $100 million, to $3.4 billion. Ronaldo first joined Real Madrid for the 2009-10 season and the team has made the Champions League semi-finals each of the past three years, raking in a small fortune due to their performance on the pitch. And the star has also helped his team and Barcelona account for 50% of La Liga’s television revenue.

Ronaldo’s new contract will not make his brand more valuable trough the boost in endorsement income that will surely come from his extended stay at one of the best and most recognizable soccer teams in the world.

Real Madrid and Ronaldo: two great brands that make each other more prosperous.


Real Madrid Makes Ronaldo Highest Paid Soccer Player With $200 Million Deal - Forbes

The president of a semi-professional Queensland soccer team says he hasn't been contacted as part of a police investigation into match-fixing that is believed to have been expanded to include his club.

Two soccer players are being investigated over an alleged multi-million dollar match-fixing operation involving Victorian Premier League club Southern Stars.

The duo is also believed to have played for Albany Creek in the Brisbane Premier League this year.

Victorian and Queensland police have declined to confirm reports that an investigation into match-fixing has expanded to include the Albany Creek Excelsior club in Brisbane's north.

Albany Creek Excelsior president Claude Sorbello says he's shocked to hear his club's name in the news.

"We haven't been contacted officially by anybody," he told AAP.

"All I've heard is from the news that two players involved in some illegal betting once played for our club.

"Our club is a great club and is not involved in anything stupid like that."

The two English players under investigation first played for Albany Creek Excelsior on June 29 in the Brisbane Premier League clash against the University of Queensland.

One of the players, a former England under-19 international, who was once at ex-English Premier League club Charlton, scored three goals in his seven appearances for Albany Creek.

The other player, 24, trialled with English giants Arsenal as a junior player and featured in eight games in Brisbane.
Albany Creek won just two of their games involving the duo as they went on to finish ninth in the 12-team league.



Brisbane soccer team caught in scandal - Yahoo!7

There are two things I cannot stand in this world—people who don’t tolerate other people’s cultures, and this Dutch soccer flop.

This latest atrocity in soccer drama is brought to us courtesy of Sports Grid's Rick Chandler, who noticed a player in the Eredivisie—the Netherlands’ premier soccer league—fake a fainting spell after receiving a red card.

The player in question was FC Groningen defender Timo Letschert, who was recently tossed from a game after kamikaze-sliding into the body of an opposing forward from SC Heerenveen.

It was a wild and poorly executed attempt at a challenge, and Letschert ended up headbutting the forward in the knee.

The Dutch defender popped up frantically when he saw the referee draw a red card, clutching his head and motioning to the sideline in disbelief. Put simply, Letschert was blown away by the call—so much so that by the time the camera panned to him after the replay, he was on the ground in a “semiconscious” state.

This is ridiculous, even by soccer’s standards. We've seen players slap themselves in the face with their opponent’s limbs before, but pretending to faint because you want to make the referee feel bad? That’s just baby-town frolics.

Fortunately, the league isn’t giving Letschert and his daytime-drama routine a pass and has hit him with a three-game ban for his charades.

Is three games justice? Maybe, maybe not.

All I know is that if soccer doesn’t set a harsh precedent when it comes to fake-fainting in sports, we’ll be seeing it in the NBA and the NFL sometime in the near future.



Dutch Soccer Player Pretends to Faint After Receiving a Red Card | Bleacher Report

It’s Saturday morning at Deportes Prieto in Boyle Heights, an Eastside sporting goods mecca that was built on soccer, or fútbol, as it's known in the Spanish-speaking world. Many customers arriving to pick up team jerseys and other supplies have one thing on their minds: The unthinkable.

For the first time in more than 20 years, Mexico's national soccer team might not make it to next year's World Cup competition.

Fans are reeling from last week, when the U.S. team beat Mexico 2-0, making it a strong possibility that Mexico could be eliminated. At the venerated sporting goods store on First Avenue, where a display of green Mexico soccer jerseys sits near the counter, the mood Saturday alternated between gloom, denial and downright optimism.

"If they don't make it, it's going to be a national disaster," said Pedro Prieto, whose father opened the store in 1974. "But I think, I'm confident, that they will make it." When he talks about a national disaster, Prieto is referring to what might happen on Mexican soil if the team fails to qualify. Affectionately known as “El Tri,” for the tricolor Mexican flag, the team must win upcoming matches with Panama and Costa Rica to move forward as a wild card contender. A new coach was appointed last week, but at this point it's going to take a near miracle for Mexico to make it to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

If the team doesn't qualify, Southern California will undoubtedly share the pain. Some business analysts predict TV ratings will slip, merchandise sales will plummet, and legions of fans will stay home from restaurants and sports bars airing World Cup matches.

Meanwhile, after beating Mexico last week in Columbus, Ohio, the U.S. team is heading to Brazil. Which makes things a little awkward for Mexico fans in the U.S.

Luis Figueroa of Bell, who was born and raised in the U.S. said without Mexico in the lineup, "they might as well not even show the World Cup over here, because half the people here in California won’t even see it.”

Figueroa, 33, grew up watching soccer with his Mexican immigrant dad. He likes and supports the U.S. team, he said, but cheering for the Mexican team has always been a family thing.

“I support the U.S. and I support Mexico, being that I come from a Mexican family and I was born in the U.S. So you know, hard divides," he said. "But yeah, you still have the pressure in our house, you always have to see Mexico. The U.S. team is fun to see right now, but it doesn’t give you that emotion."

Sports treason

Sports treason? Not really, says Armando Vazquez-Ramos, who teaches Chicano studies at Cal State Long Beach. A Mexico soccer fan himself, he knows a thing or two about divided loyalties. While many Mexican Americans support the U.S. team, there are powerful emotions surrounding family and tradition that come with rooting for Mexico.

There's something else about El Tri's appeal to immigrants and their families.

“We have a syndrome called “el ya merito” – almost, we almost made it – a 'we could have been a contender’ type of mentality," Vazquez-Ramos said. " I think it has to do with our own identity, with an underclass, an immigrant population that has now grown to become the largest ethnic minority in the United States. There has always been this identification with the underdog."

Still,Vazquez-Ramos predicts many Mexican Americans will root for the U.S. if Mexico fails to qualify, even though he says there’s something missing for fans, because soccer is experienced differently in the United States.

Kids in the U.S. play on well-equipped AYSO teams, not in the street or on dirt lots with whatever equipment they can scrape together. Sure, soccer has become more popular here in recent decades. But it still doesn’t ignite the same kind of passion that it does in Latin America. The yearning to cheer for a team that reflects their own soccer experience may make some older, first–generation immigrants more inclined to support another Latin American teams, like Brazil, or even Argentina.

At Deportes Prieto, Manuel "Meño" Moran shops for a Mexico team jersey - a birthday present for his brother. Moran is a first–generation immigrant. But he says if Mexico doesn't make it, he'll throw his support behind the U.S. He sees it as a matter of civic duty to root for his adopted country's home team.

"I think I need to - how do you say 'apoyar?' - support the USA," Moran said. "It is the second house for Mexicans."

But if Mexico is absent, Moran says he won’t be going out to watch the games: "I don’t know, I need to stay home and see the TV."

El Tri gets its next chance for redemption on October 11, when the Mexican national team plays Panama on its own home turf, in Mexico City.




World Cup soccer 2014: Who will fans cheer if Mexico is eliminated? (Poll) | Multi-American | 89.3 KPCC

El Salvador has banned 14 players for life for their respective roles in a match-fixing scandal dating back to 2010.

According to the Associated Press, the bans in question occurred in four matches, including games with Mexico and the United States.

The USMNT defeated El Salvador 2-1 in 2010, and Mexico defeated them 5-0 in the 2011 Gold Cup.

El Salvador's football federation suspended 22 players last month when the investigation began before handing down the lifetime bans Thursday.

San Diego State junior Henrik Synnes scored a goal in the 106th minute to lift the San Diego State men's soccer team to a hard-fought road victory over Air Force, 1-0, in double overtime on Friday night.

The Aztecs (3-3) have now won two of their last three matches, and picked up their second victory away from Montezuma Road this season. The win was SDSU's first on the road since defeating Clemson, 1-0, in overtime on Oct. 19, 2012.

Synnes' goal came on a rebound after a shot from senior Blake Wise was saved and knocked up into the air by Air Force goalkeeper Jake Schenk. The 6-foot-5 Vigra, Norway native took advantage, heading the ball into the net for the game-winning Golden Goal. The score was Synnes' second of the season, while Wise, who was credited with the assist, recorded his second helper of the season.

San Diego State had a 20-15 edge in shots taken and kept the pressure on the Falcons throughout the match, proven by its 12-4 advantage in corner kicks. SDSU also had one shot hit the crossbar.

Wise led SDSU with five shots, two on goal, while senior goalkeeper Blake Hylen played all 106 minutes in net and finished with four saves. Senior Casey Meuser also played all 106 minutes for the Aztecs, as did freshman defender August Wangberg.

Air Force falls to 0-6 and still has scored just one goal this season. The Falcons' lone score of the 2013 campaign came in their season-opening loss at Saint Mary's, 3-1.

San Diego State senior Kevin Bick got the Aztecs' offense rolling early, getting off a shot in only the third minute of the match. In the 32nd minute, Bick's shot ricocheted off the crossbar, and his shot in the 35th minute was saved by Schenk. Freshman Casey Macias got off a shot at the end of regulation in the 89th minute that was also saved by Schenk.

The Aztecs resume action on this weekend's two-match road trip on Sunday, Sept. 22, when they take on Denver. The match is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. MT.

Man of the Match: Henrik Synnes (Vigra, Norway) was named Man of the Match on Friday night. The junior midfielder took two shots in 44 minutes of action, including the game-winning Golden Goal in the 106th minute.



M. Soccer Knocks off Air Force, 1-0 - San Diego State Official Athletic Site

REAL Madrid has cancelled a soccer-themed resort planned for the United Arab Emirates after the project's organiser defaulted on payments. The club said last year that it was lending its name to a resort that includes a 10,000-seat stadium, a marina, homes, a shopping mall, a football training academy and a five-star hotel.

The development was set to be completed by 2015 on the 99-acre artificial Marjan Island in the UAE.

The 22-year licensing deal with Luxembourg organisers RAK Marjan Island Football has now been scrapped, after RAK defaulted on payments and "didn't provide guarantees", according to Real.

The soccer club added that it had not assumed any financial risks for the project and said it would continue looking for projects in the UAE.

A husband, a father, an IMPD officer, an animal-lover, and also a referee. Those who knew Officer Rod Bradway say he was all of those things, and more.

Monday evening, Bradway was scheduled to ref the boys varsity soccer match at Decatur Central High School.

He'd refereed for the district for the past couple years, and the Decatur Central High School Athletic Department decided to dedicate the game to Officer Bradway.

They held a moment of silence before the game, all players wore a black band on their arms. Bradway's fellow refs also wore a black band across their badge.

"Since he is a resident of our township, his kids go to our school, we wanted to do something," said Kelly McWilliams, Decatur Central High School Athletic Director. "To make sure someone else is safe, to put yourself in harms way, that is the ultimate act of bravery, and we're very proud of Officer Bradway and his entire family."

David L. Kinsey is the Chief of Decatur Township School Police. He served for IMPD for nearly 30 years.

"It's harder when we lose one, especially when you know him," he said. "When he was around here on the soccer field, he always had a smile on, was just happy."

"He was one of those, you could tell cared about the sport and cared about the kids," added McWilliams.

The athletic director plans to donate what Bradway would have made Monday to the FOP for the family.

They also collected donations for the family as well. In just a few minutes, they collected $350 dollars for the family's fund. The school plans to match that.

If you want to donate to the family fund, you can drop off donations at the Professional Police Officers Credit Union at 1502 East Washington Street, or call 327-2600.