David Owen: Is Spain signposting the way to a European Superleague?

Carlo Ancelotti may be about to inherit a problem.

The former Chelsea manager is, as I write this, prohibitive odds-on favourite to succeed the new Chelsea manager José Mourinho in the hot seat at Real Madrid.

If he does, the Italian will be looked to by the Spanish club’s fans to deliver a 10th European Cup to the Bernabéu’s church-like trophy-room – and the first for more than a decade.

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John Yan: 足球考也要开始考级? Football As An Examination?

应试教育和考级模式,在中国社会当中的魔力有多大,足协领导们恐怕有着至深感受。在六一儿童节的校园足球推广活动上,体育总局副局长蔡振华和足管中心党委书记魏吉祥来到北京三高基地,关于校园足球的话题,在一个看似转暖的足球环境中,再度进入公共视野。

蔡振华的谈话内容,主要是正面集中于改善校园足球状况,包括六一节过后就将和包括教育部内在的相关部委进行沟通,为校园足球中体育教师、足球教练解决一些具体问题。并且”逐步形成和完善全国校园足球四级联赛”。这些肯定是校园足球的当务之急。足球专业出身的魏吉祥在座谈会上讲话,则吸引了更多媒体的关注。

在魏吉祥看来,校园足球的发展,需要在训练体系、宣教以及等级考试制度的建立有所突破,尤其是”等级考试的制度”。他想表达的意思,是让孩子们踢球也有奋斗目标,”像学习钢琴一样去学习踢球”。他的原话为:”是不是可以让孩子像学习音乐那样,建立一些等级考试制度,评分制度建立起来后,孩子有阶段性奋斗的目标……如果能从一级级的往上考,颠球20个一个级别,30个一个级别,虽然这样的评价机制不一定是专业的,但是可以促使孩子朝着更高阶段去奋斗,家长也会去支持一级级的系统化训练。”

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Lee Wellings: Summer loving for the Premier League

You’ve got to feel sorry for cricket. And golf. Tennis too. In fact any sport that isn’t football, and more specifically, the unstoppable English Premier League.

We are in the summer break in European football, where other sports usually enjoy their time in the sun, something that didn’t happen as normal last year when the London Olympics dominated in this part of the world.

But this time, the feverish anticipation of a new English Premier League (EPL) season is creating the headlines and the interest.

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Jordanians make complaint over detention at Aussie border control

Adnan hamad

By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – Jordan are planning a formal complaint to FIFA after national team coach, Iraqi Adnan Hamad (pictured), was detained for questioning by Australian immigration authorities for more than four hours when the team flew into Melbourne – and into an international storm – ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifier on June 11.

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Premier League revenues set to surge beyond £3 billion

premier league2

By David Owen
June 6 – Aggregate revenue at English Premier League clubs is projected to surge through the £3 billion barrier next season, on the back of the league’s new broadcast deals, according to the latest report by professional services firm Deloitte. The 22nd Annual Review of Football Finance compiled by Deloitte’s Sports Business Group says that Premier League clubs’ revenues nudged up 4% in 2011-12 to a record £2.36 billion.

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Andrew Warshaw: Are the old perceptions still the reality?

When Sepp Blatter praised FIFA’s ship for emerging from troubled waters as the waves lapped gently against the shores of Mauritius last week, cynical heads turned away in barely suppressed mirth. “How many times have we heard that before?” was their silent refrain.

As self-proclaimed “captain” of that ship, Blatter was in congratulatory mood as he cajoled his audience to show their appreciation of past misdemeanours being replaced by a new era of transparency with a collective round of applause.

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