The English Premiership

[ACMILAN1983]

It depends on how you perceive it whether or not you consider it dangerous, but ultimately Hazard intentionally kicked out in the direction of the ball boy (whether his intention was the ball or not becomes irrelavent at this point), which is considered violent conduct and an automatic red card. As Reza said, had it been another player, it would have been red anyway.

This doesn't mean anyone is feeling sorry for the ball boy, I actually feel more sorry for Hazard ironically.

[xudong]

me too. I feel sorry for Hazard. the ball boy is just a douchebag, nothing less. he is the son of the high-ranked executive of Swansea, I believe.

The real hazard (pun intended) associated with this incident is setting very bad precedence. Obviously, with the red card and potentially harsh ban, I believe that before they kick any other ball boy, :d any player in the future will think twice (other than Joey Barton who suggests that "Hazard only crime is he hasn't kicked him hard enough... ) If Charlie Morgan (the "boy") however gets away with a slap on the wrist or nothing, then I can see ball boy, water boy, you name it, become part of a football game. Diving is atrocious, and it is now happening off the pitch. This is disgusting.

[reza]

Check this site, such a cool way to see how the season has progressed

http://www.leagueslider.com/

[xudong]

It is very cool. Is there a 'replay' button other than the 'refresh' on IE browser?

[reza]

Don't think there is one

[xudong]

I doubt there is one for Serie A? Would be neat to see how Milan moves relative to other teams.

[xudong]

League agrees nets will get extra big - in extra time

BORING periods of extra-time will be banished from next season’s Capital One Cup.

SunSport can reveal The Football League has approved a controversial plan proposed by sponsors Capital One, aimed at increasing entertainment.

From next season all Capital One Cup matches will feature extendible goals, which increase in size when teams are level after 90 minutes.

It is hoped the move will encourage more attacking football during extra time, when players are affected by fatigue and the threat of an impending penalty shoot-out.

A similar sponsor-led campaign for bigger goalposts gained some support ahead of the 1994 World cup in the United States, before FIFA eventually rejected it under pressure from traditionalists.

However, League bosses and Capital One have solved the problem by guaranteeing the controversial goalposts will only be wheeled out for extra-time.

Under new competition rules, the goal posts will be extended by 50 per cent immediately after the full-time whistle.

If no goal has been scored after the first period of extra time, then they will be extended further until double the original size.

Football League bosses sanctioned the new goalposts for next season, at the request of US-based competition sponsors Capital One.

Executives at the credit card company were bowled over by the success of the first season of the cup but wanted the tournament to follow other US-based sports, which avoid ties at all costs.

A Football League spokesman said: “We feel this is a really exciting innovation, and are delighted to be able to make this happen in the Capital One Cup next season.”

However the new rules have not been welcomed by some players.Bradford’s Matt Duke, who faced more periods of extra-time than any other player last year, was the first to try out the new goals.

But the 6ft 5in keeper gave the giant posts a MASSIVE thumbs down. The hero of Bradford’s epic Wembley cup adventure rapped: “It’s yet another rule-change designed to make life tougher for goalies.

“First they banned us from picking up backpasses and made us use our feet!

“Then it was match-balls, as light as beach balls, which swerve all over the place.

“Now they want to tamper with the size of the goalposts. It’s a joke!

“Imagine the damage Robin van Persie is going to do if he has a 16-yard goal to aim at!

“Under test conditions I was diving at full stretch in the 50 per cent bigger posts and the ball was still beating me... by yards.

“In the double-sized goals it was farcical. I couldn’t have reached the majority of shots if I’d been on roller-skates!

“It borders on being anti-goalie and I think it’s shocking they’re pushing this through so soon.

“They say it’s only going to be for the Capital One Cup competition. But how long before we see it introduced to the World Cup finals?”

Michael Woodburn of Capital One said:“We look forward to seeing the new goal posts in operation during the first round in August.”

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/spo...-time.html



There is even a video in that article to make it believable.

Didn't know how to link the video here. Found it on Youtube.

[nefremo]

haha that is ridiculous!

Just go straight to PKs if you don't want to go through extra time. Or just have the captains fight to the death in the centre circle if they want extra entertainment.

Unbelievable what people come up with. This in IMO is the stupidest idea ever.

Instead of fixing football (introducing video replays/banning people that fake injuries and that require medical attention every time they go down/banning divers/etc, etc) they want to put circus goals on the field.

[xudong]

You fell for it?

[reza]

lol