Fernando Torres, Andy Carroll and This Week's World Football Scandals
It's been a crazy week in the football world, and much of it has been rife with scandal and intrigue. From Fernando Torres' snipes back at Liverpool to Andy Carroll possibly being forced out of Newcastle to possible government intervention in England, things were even wilder than usual during the transfer window's final days.
We're bringing you the 10 biggest scandals of the week in the football world and breaking down what you need to know about these controversies.
Let's get rolling, shall we?
FIFA's Corruption Hearings Get Underway
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The appeals hearings regarding a pair of FIFA officials brought up on corruption charges got underway today.
Both Reynald Temarii and Amos Adamu were suspended from the FIFA executive committee prior to voting due to allegations of accepting bribes.
Both Temarii and Adamu have claimed they did nothing of the sort, and Temarii, a Fijian representative, says he has a letter from FIFA denying he did anything wrong.
The hearings are set to extend over two days and could see both men kicked off the executive committee for good.
Real Madrid
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Things have been tense for La Liga juggernaut Real Madrid all season long, particularly off the pitch.
After all, when your manager (Jose Mourinho) and club president (Jorge Valdano) are engulfed in rumors that they don't get along, that tends to happen.
Apparently, things could be much more than tense, according to former team president Ramon Calderon.
“Real Madrid looks like a powderkeg that is ready to blow up," he told COMRadio.
“The situation is a revolt, and there are unnecessary confrontations. The current president’s policy, to prove that he is smarter, taller and more handsome than anyone else, brings problems."
Calderon's statement must be taken with a grain of salt. He is running to be re-elected as club president, after all. But given the rumors surrounding the club, perhaps he's right.
Madrid Players Engage In Practice Pitch Scuffle
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Given the events of the last few days, the boardroom may not be the only place Madrid is feeling strife.
Fernando Gago and Pedro Leon, a pair of midfielders for the Spanish juggernauts, got into a bit of a scuffle after Gago took Leon down with a tackle during a practice match.
The pair exchanged heated words, but practice continued as usual.
However, both players were left off the roster for Madrid's Copa Del Rey clash with Sevilla as a direct result of the scuffle, and it's becoming clear there's plenty going on under the surface at the Bernabeu.
Wojciech Szczesny Didn't Mean to Hurt Lukasz Fabianski, Did He?
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When Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski went down with an injury warming up for a clash with Manchester City, most people didn't think much of it.
But when they found out he hurt himself trying to save a shot from fellow Gunners keeper Wojciech Szczesny, eyebrows were raised. Did Szczesny try to injure his compatriot on purpose?
The Polish keeper says no.
"I was warming Fabian [Lukasz Fabianski] up before the game with Manchester City, and I took a very powerful shot," Szczesny said.
"He made a beautiful save but also got an injury. I didn't do it on purpose, I was just doing my job. I feel stupid about it. I even told him it would have been better if he didn't save that shot. I take advantage of my team-mate's misfortunes."
While this isn't the most convincing piece of evidence we've ever seen, the odds of Szczesny trying to injure his teammate on purpose and succeeding are slim.
Chalk this one up to a fluke.
Did Cesc Really Say What David Moyes Claims?
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Arsenal playmaker Cesc Fabregas found himself at the center of some referee intrigue this week, after the Gunners' forward was accused of verbally assualting official Lee Mason at halftime of last weekend's Arsenal-Everton clash.
Everton manager David Moyes claimed Fabregas berated Mason in the tunnel at halftime, with the Gunners down 1-0, and he told the press he felt the Spaniard deserved a sending off for his comments.
However, the FA has investigated Moyes' claims and have found that Fabregas did nothing wrong, given Mason's lack of comment on the matter in his report.
Fabregas further rebutted Moyes' claims by saying he treats all officials with respect.
Andy Gray, Richard Keys Fired For Sexist Rant
6 of 10World famous football announcers Andy Gray and Richard Keys were fired by Sky Sports last week following comments the dynamic duo made on air about female line judge Sian Massey prior to the Liverpool-Wolverhampton match they were set to broadcast.
Both Keys and Gray used plenty of derogatory language towards Massey and West Ham president Karren Brady, saying someone needed to explain the offsides rule to them.
If that weren't enough, Gray was caught insulting Massey during a sideline interview prior to the game, as well.
The self-proclaimed "Kings of Football Analysis" were two of the best known commentators in the world prior to their dismissal but should struggle to find new jobs in a sport anxious to distance itself from claims of sexism.
Andy Carroll Forced Out at Newcastle?
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22-year-old striker Andy Carroll was one of the biggest names on the move this transfer window deadline day, having been sent to Liverpool for £35 million.
But according to the former Newcastle man, he may not have gone of his own free will. Carroll claims he was told to submit a transfer request because team owner Mike Ashley wanted the transfer fee more than he wanted Carroll, even though the promising goal scorer didn't want to leave St. James Park.
"I'm gutted that I wasn't wanted at my home team after everything I have done and the progress I have made. I didn't want to leave at all. Make sure they know I didn't want to leave. The players, staff and fans were fantastic.''
Manager Alan Pardew (shockingly) denied the claims, but given Newcastle's history of taking the money and running, is it really all that shocking?
Fernando Torres Lashes Out at Liverpool
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Fernando Torres may have left a string of broken hearts when he departed Liverpool for Chelsea, but the Spanish international is leaving something else behind: a parting salvo.
Torres told Chelsea TV the Blues were the kind of club where he feels he can play "at the level I am supposed to" at the "kind of team I like to play for."
This comes days after Torres, long rumored to be unhappy at Anfield, was sent to Stamford bridge for £50 million.
While this is an intriguing match regardless, it bears mentioning that Liverpool and Chelsea are set to square off come Sunday in what is sure to be one of the most emotional matches of the season.
Arsene Wenger Blasts Chelsea's Spending Spree
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has opened fire on Chelsea today, after the Blues spent close to £72 million on striker Fernando Torres and defender David Luiz.
"Chelsea supported UEFA's financial fair-play proposals but in the morning they announced a £70 million loss and in the afternoon they buy £75m worth of players. Where's the logic in that?" Wenger said.
Wenger was his usual frugal self during the transfer window, failing to make any significant changes to a team in the Premiership title hunt.
While some of Wenger's claims can be dismissed as jealousy, the Frenchman does have a point about the odd timing of the moves given the recent announcement of losses.
Could The British Government Intervene With The Premiership's Finances?
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Professional Footballers Association chairman Gordon Taylor told ESPNSoccernet yesterday that he believes professional football could be heading into some seriously troubling financial waters in the near future.
Taylor told Soccernet that the British government, which was already monitoring the financial state of the game, could make a move to enforce more stringent financial constraints on teams after the Premiership's £200 million spending spree in the January transfer window.
Taylor also called on clubs not to offset player wage increases with ticket price hikes and said he feared that if clubs didn't curb spending and abide by UEFA's fair play act, the government may take steps to ensure they do.
While we knew the British government was monitoring the spending situation, the idea that they could enforce strict financial restrictions on the sport is a whole different concept and one that is surely less appealing to clubs.
