Firearm in the stadium. The referee goes with it!

If you play in the Romanian Liga IV (8 groups, 48 teams) a Regional derby defending Conpet from Ştefan cel Mare colours against Unirea Dragalina and the referee decides that your goal- that could define a 2-2 draw - is invalidated…

Please, shut up! Or you can have problems with the referee. Like the Far West…

UEFA Champions League Schedule: quarterfinals and semifinals confirmed

Quarterfinals

7th April

Villarreal v Arsenal
Manchester United v Porto

8th April

Liverpool v Chelsea
Barcelona v Bayern Munich

14th April

Bayern Munich v Barcelona
Chelsea v Liverpool

15th April

Arsenal v Villarreal
Porto v Manchester United

Semifinals: 28-29 April and 5-6 May

Manchester United or Porto v Villarreal or Arsenal
Barcelona or Bayern Munich v Liverpool or Chelsea

UEFA Cup schedule: quarterfinals and semifinals confirmed

Quarterfinals: April 9th and 16th

Hamburgo (GER) - Manchester City (ING)
Paris Saint Germain (FRA) - Dinamo Kiev (UKR)
Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) - Olympique Marseille (FRA)
Werder Bremen (GER) - Udinese (ITA)

Semifinals: April 30th and May 7th

Werder Bremen or Udinese vs Hamburgo or Manchester City
París Saint Germain or Dinamo Kiev vs Ganador Shakhtar-Olympique Marseille

Final

Sukru Saracoglu Stadium 20.45

Liverpool – Aston Villa preview: the match of the week

On Sunday, Aston Villa travel to Liverpool to take on the Reds. Manager Martin O’Neill has not won a Premier League match in March as Villa’s manager. His side has drawn five and lost six of 11 PL matches in the month of March since he took over at the club.

According to Infostrada, his last victory as a PL manager in this month came nine years ago when he won with Leicester City 2-1 at home against Leeds United on 26 March 2000.

Martin O’Neill’s Premier League record with Aston Villa in March
Season Played Won Drawn Lost Goals for Goals against Points

2008-2009 3 0 1 2 3 6 1
2007-2008 5 0 2 3 2 9 2
2006-2007 3 0 2 1 1 2 2
Total 11 0 5 6 6 17 5

Arsenal: the FA King

On Tuesday, Arsenal reached the semifinals of the FA Cup for a record ninth time since the introduction of the Premier League in 1992/1993. Nasri and company go for the 10th FA Cup in the history.

Chelsea and Ronaldo's United are in the semifinals for the eighth time and other semifinalist Everton are in their second appearance in the last four since 1992/1993.

Clubs with most FA Cup semifinal appearances – since 1992/1993
# Club Years

9 Arsenal 1993, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009
8 Manchester United 1994, 1995, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009
8 Chelsea 1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2009
4 Tottenham Hotspur 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001
4 Newcastle United 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005
3 Sheffield United 1993, 1998, 2003
3 Liverpool 1996, 2001, 2006
3 Middlesbrough 1997, 2002, 2006
2 Aston Villa 1996, 2000
2 Watford 2003, 2007
2 Blackburn Rovers 2005, 2007
2 Everton 1995, 2009

European Super League: UEFA prepared to discuss it

UEFA is prepared to discuss plans from European teams to create a continental league to replace the Champions League and UEFA Cup, according the French media reports. It is believed that UEFA president Michel Platini is prepared to work with clubs in the European Club Association (ECA) to get plans for an elite three-tiered ‘Super League’ off the ground.

Platini told France Football: "Everybody knows my philosophy about European competitions...but the world is changing and we must be careful about that."

"If it was up to me, I would revert to European Cups as they were at the beginning, with just knockout rounds. But we must listen carefully to any suggestion. If (clubs) come and talk to us, we would listen to them and then decide."

According to SportBusiness it is believed the ECA - which represents 137 leading teams including Manchester United and Real Madrid – discussed the plan during a meeting last week in Nyon, Switzerland.

The proposed Super League would be made up of three divisions with 20 to 22 clubs in each tier, and promotion and relegation would occur between the divisions each season.

UEFA eager to help Liverpool

Michel Platini has promised Liverpool that UEFA are keen to avoid forcing the club to play the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.

The anniversary falls on April 15, which is one of the two dates set aside for the second legs of the quarter-finals, the other being the previous day.

UEFA president Platini has not guaranteed Liverpool will not be asked to play on April 15 but pledged that European's governing body would "do our utmost" to avoid the scenario. UEFA have issued a statement reacting to reports claiming they had rejected an appeal by Liverpool to avoid playing on the anniversary date.

According The Press Association, Platini said: "We are aware of the huge significance of the April 15 date for both Liverpool FC and their fans, and that is why we will do our utmost to make sure that the club does not have to play its UEFA Champions League second leg quarter-final match on that day.

"I have been in regular correspondence with Liverpool FC on this matter for some time now and fully sympathise with the club's feelings as to the importance of respecting the date of April 15 for those who lost their lives at Hillsborough.

"This being the 20th anniversary of that tragic disaster in 1989 makes it even more relevant and we will take this into account."

Ninety six people died when Liverpool supporters were crushed at the Leppings Lane end of Hillsborough on April 15, 1989, as they attended their team's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

A cousin of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was among the dead, and the England midfielder has urged UEFA to be sympathetic to the club.

Gerrard said at the weekend: "We're still waiting to see whether UEFA will make us play on the day. That would be far from ideal given all the emotion that always surrounds the club on that day."

Giovani do Santos! Where are you going?

What’s up with this guy?

From Barcelona to Tottenham. Result: twelve matches, one goal. From Tottenham to Ipswich Town... What team will be the next one?

Are you happy Gio?

Giovani dos Santos Ramírez memories (only memories) … next.

Wayne censured!: “I hate Liverpool”

Manchester United were forced last night to remove comments on their website in which Wayne Rooney, the United and former Everton forward, claimed that he “hates” Liverpool.

Rooney, who grew up supporting Everton, claimed that he would love nothing more than to prolong Liverpool’s 19-year wait for the league championship. “We’re in pole position in the title race and we know if we can beat Liverpool then that’ll more or less end their chances of winning the league,” Rooney said. “I’m very excited about the game because I grew up as an Everton fan hating Liverpool — and that hasn’t changed.”

On Saturday, Liverpool travel to Old Trafford to take on Premiership table leaders Manchester United, having beaten the Red Devils earlier this season 2-1 at Anfield Road. Liverpool can join Arsenal as the only team that has completed three double victories over Man Utd in the Premiership era.

Winning home and away against Manchester United within Premier League season (since 1992/1993)

Season Club Home Away

2007/2008 Manchester City 1-0 1-2
2006/2007 West Ham United 1-0 0-1
2006/2007 Arsenal 2-1 0-1
2005/2006 Blackburn Rovers 4-3 1-2
2004/2005 Chelsea 1-0 1-3
2001/2002 Arsenal 3-1 0-1
2001/2002 Liverpool 3-1 0-1
2000/2001 Liverpool 2-0 0-1
1997/1998 Arsenal 3-2 0-1
1993/1994 Chelsea 1-0 0-1

More Info: Times Online

Bayern Munich history has another page

On Tuesday, Bayern Munich beat Sporting Lisboa 7-1 after having won the first leg 5-0. The aggregate goal difference of 11 goals is the biggest margin in the knockout phase of the Champions League.

The previous record was held by Olympique Lyon when they knocked out Werder Bremen by an aggregate score of 10-2. Liverpool beat Real Madrid by an aggregate score of 5-0 and this is listed joint fourth on the all-time CL list, according to Infostrada.

Biggest aggregate score in CL knock-out phase
# Score First leg Second leg

11 12-1 Sporting CP - Bayern Munich (25 Feb 2009) 0-5

Bayern Munich - Sporting CP (10 Mar 2009) 7-1

8 10-2 Werder Bremen - Olympique Lyon (23 Feb 2005) 0-3

Olympique Lyon - Werder Bremen (08 Mar 2005) 7-2

6 6-0 Bayern Munich - 1.FC Kaiserslautern (03 Mar 1999) 2-0

1.FC Kaiserslautern - Bayern Munich (17 Mar 1999) 0-4

5 8-3 AS Roma - Manchester United (04 Apr 2007) 2-1

Manchester United - AS Roma (10 Apr 2007) 7-1

5 5-0 AC Milan - Internazionale (06 Apr 2005) 2-0

Internazionale - AC Milan (12 Apr 2005) 0-3

5 5-0 PSV - Olympique Lyon (21 Feb 2006) 0-1

Olympique Lyon - PSV (08 Mar 2006) 4-0

5 5-0 Real Madrid - Liverpool (25 Feb 2009) 0-1

Liverpool - Real Madrid (10 Mar 2009) 4-0

FC Barcelona vs Lyon preview

On Wednesday, 11 March, FC Barcelona host Olympique Lyon in the Champions League. Barça striker Thierry Henry is one goal short of equalling Alfredo Di Stéfano’s career total of 49 Champions Cup/Champions League goals.

Moreover Henry needs to score twice to reach 50 Champions Cup/Champions League goals. He can become the fourth player to reach this milestone.

Real Madrid’s Raúl holds the record with 64 goals in Champions Cup/Champions League competition.

Most goals in Champions Cup/Champions League
Goals Player Nation CL CL Qual. CC Matches

64 Raúl ESP 64 0 0 124
60 Ruud van Nistelrooy NED 56 4 0 80
56 Andri Shevchenko UKR 47 9 0 105
49 Alfredo di Stéfano ARG, ESP 0 0 49 58
48 Thierry Henry FRA 47 1 0 104
46 Eusébio POR 0 0 46 64
46 Filippo Inzaghi ITA 42 4 0 75
43 Alessandro Del Piero ITA 41 2 0 89
39 Fernando Morientes ESP 33 6 0 100
36 Ferenc Puskas HUN, ESP 0 0 36 41
35 Gerd Müller GER 0 0 35 35

Real Madrid – Atlético Madrid: the match of the week

On Saturday, Real Madrid aim to continue their 10 match winning streak in La Liga, when they host city rivals Atlético Madrid in the Madrid city derby.

The last time Real Madrid failed to win a league match was on 13 December when they lost 2-0 at FC Barcelona.

Only four longer winning streaks have ever been recorded in the Spanish top flight.
According to Infostrada, the last one came in the 2005/2006 season when FC Barcelona won 14 straight league matches.

Real Madrid holds the all-time record, winning 15 successive league matches in 1960/1961. Earlier this season, between November and February, FC Barcelona also recorded 10 successive wins in La Liga.

Atlético Madrid can’t defeat Real Madrid since 1999. In that occasion, Atlético won 3-1 in Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, twice, and José Mari scored. Michel Salgado, Raúl, Guti and Iker Casillas were part of the loser team. Thanks to Migue who reminds us that this streak reach home and away matches.

However, Merengues are very far away for this historical record.

Most consecutive wins in La Liga
# Club Start date Match that ended streak

15 Real Madrid 27 Nov 1960 Real Oviedo - Real Madrid (19 Mar 1961) 0-0
14 FC Barcelona 22 Oct 2005 FC Barcelona - Atlético Madrid (05 Feb 2006) 1-3
11 Real Madrid 06 Jan 1963 Real Zaragoza CD - Real Madrid (24 Mar 1963) 1-0
11 FC Barcelona 25 Mar 1984 CR Murcia - FC Barcelona (12 Oct 1984) 1-1
10 Real Madrid 20 Dec 2008 Still running
10 CF Barcelona 01 Jan 1956 Sevilla CF - CF Barcelona (11 Mar 1956) 0-0
10 Atlético Madrid 20 Mar 1983 Athletic Bilbao - Atlético Madrid (01 Oct 1983) 2-2
10 FC Barcelona 29 Nov 2008 Real Betis - FC Barcelona (14 Feb 2009) 2-2

Last matches in Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

1999/00 Real Madrid - Atlético 1-3
2002/03 Real Madrid - Atlético 2-2
2003/04 Real Madrid - Atlético 2-0
2004/05 Real Madrid - Atlético 0-0
2005/06 Real Madrid - Atlético 2-1
2006/07 Real Madrid - Atlético 1-1
2007/08 Real Madrid - Atlético 2-1

The Russian Premier League Comes to North America on Setanta Sports

In March, the Russian Premier League will be available for the first time to Setanta Sports viewers in the United States and Canada. Setanta will offer 60 league fixtures live and delayed. The opening matches of the 2009-10 season will commence the weekend of March 13th.

Despite a lack of previous exposure to the North American audience, the Russian Premier League has become one of the most prominent leagues under the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). With Zenit St. Petersburg and CSKA Moscow winning the UEFA Cup in 2005 and 2008, Russian clubs are amongst the most competitive and skilled in Europe. Additionally, Russian-born players Andrei Arshavin and Roman Pavlyuchenko have joined Barclays Premier League teams Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur.

The Russian Premier League joins Setanta's elite soccer programming roster, which includes the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup, 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Scottish Premier League, Le Championnat and other tournaments and highlights shows. Available in more places than ever, Setanta is available on RCN, Verizon FiOS TV, Dish Network, Dish Latino, Dish International, AT&T U-verse, WorldDirect, DIRECTV, WorldTV and in various locations on Cox and Comcast.

"We are very proud to include the Russian Premier League to our sports line-up," commented Shane O'Rourke, President of North American and Australian Operations. "With a list of leading teams, top players and a season that runs from March to November, we can provide our viewers with world-class programming all throughout the year.

To learn how to subscribe to Setanta, visit www.setanta.com/us/How-To-Subscribe

Setanta Sports operates the only dedicated international sports channel in America. In 2008, the 24-hour TV network aired more than 1,000 live events, including European and international soccer, such as the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, World Cup Qualifiers and the Carling Cup plus world-class rugby and other sports programming designed to meet the growing demands of international sports fans. Setanta Sports is owned by Dublin-based Setanta Sports Holdings, a leading international pay television broadcaster in the UK, providing top sports leagues and events to more than 100 million digital television homes globally and to commercial venues in six countries. www.setanta.com/us

Website: http://www.setanta.com/us