Mexico Soccer Coach Gets Suspended For 3 Matches

During the game against Panama last Thursday, Mexico coach Javier Aguirre lifted his leg as if he was about to kick Phillips who dribbled close to the sideline. This act triggered Phillips to push Aguirre that later broke into a mass fight.

Joel Aguilar who was the referee for the match evicted Aguirre from the game and gave a red card to Phillips. The match was postponed for 12 minutes because of the incident and some of the fans threw cups of beer and other objects to the field.

CONCACAF disciplinary committee suspended Aguirre for three games due to his “serious irresponsible behavior” and fined the Mexican Football Federation with $25,000. CONCACAF agreed that Aguirre was not trying to harm Phillips and the penalty of suspension was imposed because he prompted the incident.

If Mexico win their other games, Aguirre is expected to return on July 26. However, if they were eliminated before the semifinals, he will not able to be on the team if they play against the United States. He will then miss the Mexico’s World Cup qualifying game that will be held on Aug. 12.

England World Cup Football Test Against Brazil

It has been reported that England and Brazil have agreed to play a friendly game in Qatar this coming November. This event was made possible due to the agreement between the two teams and the Football Association that took place after both teams played the opening match at the new rebuilt Wembley Stadium in 2007.

The game on November 14 will go on as long as England make it through to the World Cup top of their group. Although Premier League clubs have complained about making players travel to the Middle East, the Football Association has defended their decision by pointing out the advantages of playing in Doha compared to playing the game in Brazil. The organization also assured the English clubs that the players will be transported back home the next day.

Everybody involved with the England setup will also be excited to test Fabio Capello’s squad against Brazil, who are considered the best international football team after their recent triumph in the Confederations Cup.

World Cup Final 2010 Test Run Goes Well For South Africa (Sort Of!)

From the time when South Africa was picked to be the venue of 2010 World Cup, the international media had vocally expressed their doubts regarding the success of the event. The media brought some serious issues regarding the deficiency of organization, poor quality of transportation, slow construction of first-rate stadiums, and most importantly the country’s high crime rate.

However, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) President, Joseph “Sepp” Blatter defended FIFA’s decision in granting South Africa’s right to host the 2010 World Cup. He said that he is confident that the upcoming sports event will be a huge success.

Now, based on the outcome of the Confederations Cup where Brazil matched up with the United States in the final, many local and international soccer authorities have perceived the tournament as a great success. Critics observed the games in the past weeks to determine and measure the capacity of the country to host the small tournament. The Confederations Cup served as a test run for the World Cup that will be held on June 2010.

South Africa’s Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chief Executive Officer, Danny Jordan said that they have experienced several challenges during the Confederations Cup and successfully overcome them to guarantee the success of the World Cup. He also told the media that South Africa will be providing tight security for the expected visitors and participants.

Unfortunately, members of the Egypt team were robbed at their hotel rooms last week. This circumstance had a bad effect on the image of South Africa, but their people still believe that their country is ready for the big event next year. Only time will tell.

The David Beckham Scandal, Landon Donovan And The LA Galaxy

Looking at the present situation, David Beckham has a bad image in the American soccer world. After spending time in Milan, he will go back to the MLS and play for the LA Galaxy on July 16. US Soccer President Sunil Gulati alerted him that he will receive negative feedback from the soccer fans and that some people were upset with him and he needs to win their favor.

Furthermore, Beckham also needs to win the trust of his own teammates. Sports Illustrated writer, Grant Wahl is releasing a book entitled “The Beckham Experiment” that presents the failure of Beckham in connecting with his teammates. He also cited some of the personal views and opinions from the players who dislike Beckham and do not want him to be the part of their team. In the upcoming book, Landon Donovan told Wahl that he perceived Beckham as a player who is not committed to his team, and he cited certain instances to prove his allegations.

But despite the negative views about Beckham, there were rumors that his contract with MLS offers a privilege that allows him to depart from the team by the end of 2009 MLS season if he wants to play somewhere else.

Still, there are some who truly believe in Beckham’s abilities as a soccer player. Looking back at his playing history, he usually fights back and rises to the top when he is in a tight spot.

After his controversy in the 1998 World Cup campaign, Beckham did his best to win the treble with Man Utd in the1998/99 season. When he was to be exiled from Real Madrid by Fabio Capello, Beckham earned a place in the team and a La Liga winner’s medal. When Steve McClaren seemingly finished his international career, Beckham managed to fight back and achieve 112 caps for England. Therefore if Beckham really wants to be successful at the LA Galaxy, do not write him off just yet!