UEFA to probe Real Madrid for deliberate reds

I guess I'm missing the point here.... who cares if they miss the next match? What's the big deal?

It's actually kinda genius and funny when you read it, it's even more hilarious when you see it on video, then again, maybe it's the music selection that adds to the "drama" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt9n81L-_Tk)...Xabi is the most underrated current player in/on the Spanish MNT and RM.

Be very careful UEFA, this is a slippery slope. As long as you have the accumulation rule, teams will look to protect themselves going forward. The alternative is that you encourage players to intentionally make rash challenges to pick up that second yellow. This isn't me being a homer here, just a pragmatist, but let's be real here, the team wrapped up the group a game early and rather than risk losing these two in a meaningless game, they had two players get tossed for time wasting rather than going studs up in to someone's sack. Where exactly is the problem?

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Originally posted by

I totally agree, I wouldn't put it passed TSO. How can UEFA prove he told them to do it? They are not going to roll over on their coach and rat him out.

Even if TSO did tell them to do it, they're serving their suspension and no one got hurt. Better than the alternative, no? The announcers yesterday were acting like some crime against humanity was comitted. No one's escaping justice here.

MLS insider Jonah Freedman attempts to translate all the Don Garberian speak that bubbled out of Don Garber's mouth at halftime and before and after the MLS Finals. Simulated promotion and relegation? Simulated? What the hell does that mean?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxCjBugq4xc

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Originally posted by

They want to miss the next match so it clears their yellow card accumulation. Otherwise, if they were to receive a yellow in the first knock-out round first leg, they would miss the second leg. This way they start back at zero.

Got it. Thanks!

Champs League tonight:

Rubin v. Kobenhavn
Inter v. Twente
Bale v. Bremen
Schalke v. Lyon
Tel Aviv v. Benfica
Rangers v. United
Valencia v. Bursaspor
Panathinaikos v. Barca

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Originally posted by

It could be real. Who gets two players sent off for time wasting when you're 4-0 up? Would be stupid.

Or brilliant. ;-)

UEFA, quit messing with the Special One and his special decisions. His specialness is second only to his most Garethness Bale.

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Originally posted by

Anyone else watch the Arsenal game? Not only did we get robbed of a PK that would have changed the game. Fab and Eboue get hurt. It was bad all the way around. IMO if that PK was given Arsenal is up 1-0 with under 20 mins to go. No way they lose that game. I mean it's not like they had a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Vela definitely got fouled.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 09:20 AM ET  11.24 by LetsPlay2

Bale v. Bremen

Come on you Bale!

As for the topic at hand... this has been going on forever. I don't see the big deal.

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Originally posted by

I'm with you Pootie. I'm sure this is not the first time it has happened. It's just the first time TSO has been involved so that makes it big news.

I guess it's may be different if a coach actually tells them to do it, usually the players just do it on their own, but it has still been going on forever in any tournaments where accumulation exists.

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 09:23 AM ET  11.24 by Crosscountrycpjon

Garethness Bale.

That sounds like the most glorious beer.

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Originally posted by

Anyone else watch the Arsenal game? Not only did we get robbed of a PK that would have changed the game. Fab and Eboue get hurt. It was bad all the way around. IMO if that PK was given Arsenal is up 1-0 with under 20 mins to go. No way they lose that game. I mean it's not like they had a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

Want some cheese with that whine? Arsenal should qualify easily as they take on a team with 0 pts in CL. Arsenal got the easiest group stage draw in the Champions League.

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Originally posted 09:24 AM ET  11.24 by MessiEsDios

As for the topic at hand... this has been going on forever. I don't see the big deal.

MED, last year leading up to the 2nd Clasico, didn't both Madrid and Barca intentionally get two players each sent off two matches prior? I'm thinking ours were the same two and yours were Pique and Alves if memory serves.

Maybe a bit of sour grapes, but I like his bluntness. I am sure Bayern will agree with the last statement:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=845775&sec=england& ;cc=5901&DFh

Former West Ham assistant boss Zeljko Petrovic has hit out at the Premier League after he was sacked by the club on Tuesday, claiming that the English top flight is ''crap''. "The Premier League is a crap league, it is nothing,'' he told the Sun. ''In truth the level is shocking. Every team has just three good players. If you take those players out of the teams then there are only players left who would not be playing in the bottom team in Holland. The Bundesliga is far better."

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Originally posted 09:32 AM ET  11.24 by PootieTang.

MED, last year leading up to the 2nd Clasico, didn't both Madrid and Barca intentionally get two players each sent off two matches prior? I'm thinking ours were the same two and yours were Pique and Alves if memory serves.

I believe you may be right. I don't remember exact scenarios but I do remember that it happens all too often on the second to last matchday of the group stage in the Champions just about every year.

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Originally posted by

German press ran headline predicting, "Bale will devour Bremen".I am not joking.

Awesome.

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Originally posted by

German press ran headline predicting, "Bale will devour Bremen".I am not joking.

Well, not if he isn't fit:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=845481&sec=uefachampio nsleague&cc=5901

Van der Vaart has been in sparkling form since his deadline day switch from Real Madrid but has struggled with a succession of injuries. The Dutchman failed to train on Tuesday morning and was sent for a scan on an ankle knock.

Fellow midfielder Bale, whose Champions League exploits this season have made him one of the most talked-about players on the planet, is suffering with a shoulder injury picked up in Saturday's north London derby.

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Originally posted by

Oh man, too funny. We need an internal probe and a full UEFA investigation. Would not put it past Jose at all.

When I saw this happen yesterday, and realized that they were both riding a yellow- the first thing I thought of what "how ****' cheap of them!"

Jose is a smart guy, and hopefully UEFA can come up with some sort of way to punish this if it is the case.

The problem is... How do they prove it?

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 09:20 AM ET  11.24 by LetsPlay2

Rangers v. United

So do you think Rangers will allow any of their 11 outside of their goal box this time around?