By JOHN BOSCHINI
The long-standing rivalry between Celtic and Rangers in the Scottish Premier League has always been one of the most bitter and dangerous in all of sports but the threat went to a new level yesterday when it was discovered that the bombs sent to the Celtic manager and two supporters were active.
Glasgow police have described the bombs sent to manager Neil Lennon and two supporters as live and designed to cause “significant harm” had they been opened. Four packages, two targeting Lennon, were intercepted at sorting offices on dates ranging from March 9 to earlier this week.
“What is required here is all people, particularly those that love the game of football, unite to condemn such actions and unite to condemn those who abuse football for their pathetic and dangerous prejudices,” Scotland’s first minister Alex Salmond told the BBC.
This follows an incident from earlier this year in which Lennon and two Celtic players received bullets in the mail.
Here are some more stories to keep your Wednesday going.
NEUER REFUSES SCHALKE EXTENSION
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will not extend his contract with Schalke, the club confirmed today. Neuer’s contract is up in 2012 and 25-year-old has confirmed that Bayern Munich is interested. Manchester United is also reportedly interested as Edwin van der Sar is retiring at the end of the season.
Schalke, who currently sit 10thin the Bundesliga table, will face Manchester United in the semifinals of the Champions League. Neuer said consistent Champions League play was a factor in his decision.
NO BAN FOR INIESTA
UEFA has ruled that Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta will not be banned for an additional game and is free to face Real Madrid. The Spanish international was booked in the first leg of Barcelona’s quarterfinal matchup with Shakhtar Donetsk, leading to suspicion that it was an intentional move to clear his record ahead of the semifinals. Barcelona faces Real Madrid in the first leg of the semifinals on April 27.
DUBAI GROUP ANNOUNCES GETAFE PURCHASE
A Dubai-based firm is close to securing a purchase of La Liga side Getafe, making it the third La Liga team to be sold to foreign ownership in the past year. The Royal Emirates Group, headed by Sheikh Butti Bin Suhail Al Maktoum, will name Getafe “Team Dubai” but it is unclear whether or not that will become the official name of the squad. Getafe currently sits 14thin the La Liga table and is flirting with relegation.
SUNDERLAND’S CAMPBELL TO UNDERGO SURGERY
Sunderland’s growing striking concern grew today with the news that Fraizer Campbell will be out for most of next season after undergoing knee surgery. The 23-year-old missed most of this season due to injury. Sunderland will also be without keeper Craig Gordon for up to six months with a knee problem of his own.
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What do you think of today's stories? What can be done to curb the violence in Glasgow? Where would you like the see Neuer end up? Will "Team Dubai" be good for Spanish soccer?
I’ll make a mental note and see what happens in 7 to 10 years. Very cool though
Kc ripped off the name? from who? How many sportings are there again Dam you DC for ripping of United then
Newcastle got ripped off or is it ManU
2+2=7 is HoboMike.
Also, HoboMike/2+2, you don’t make sense either. Even if you understand those teams moved, it doesn’t make your point any more relevant. Those teams had those names at their original location (NO and Minn) and new ownership decided not to change the name in order to offer some sort of olive branch to the already existing fanbase.
On a more strange note, Real Salt Lake was a new franchise where ownership just decided to put European names on a pedestal instead of staying true to their own culture
So where’s the comparision to Chicago?
Seems like you “unfairly” characterized/associated a city with this tragic terroist attempt.
Strikes me as flirting with hypocrisy.
Horrible reading comprehension. You’re not doing so hot, thus far. (I’m still reading down so you very may well have more dumb responses in store for me).
The fact that HoboMike cited: “birthplace of Jazz” & “10,000” lakes very easily indentifies his understanding the franchise moved.
I’m sorry but please do more research. There wasn’t any “lore or great history” at the time of these franchise moving. The names, even today, make as much sense given their geography as “Real” does for Salt Lake.
Btw, “Sporting” isn’t unique to just Spanish clubs, nor has it been for around 80-100 years. Can’t really rip off an adjective as sporting describes the association.
Please, do some more research before posting and learn the history of how football clubs were actually started.
It was a combination of Second City’s post, where he unfairly bashes an entire country (“Stay classy, Scotland”) because of the actions of a few crazy people. His emblem is of the Chicago Fire, so I assume he’s from and/or lives in Chicago.
Then HoboMike throws in the race part, even though it’s irrelevant to the Lennon incident, so I pointed out Chicago (or any city) is not impervious to racial issues.
I wouldn’t call it an “anti-semitic” bombing attempt. None of the party involved (as would-be victims) are Jewish are they? I could be wrong. I assumed it was because of his association with Northern Ireland and his religion.
Obviously, attempting to kill someone for their religion or for anything is wrong and should be dealt with. But it doesn’t mean Scotland is the second coming of Hell either.
Obviously Team Dubai isn’t their first option Unfortunately, Team Edward was already taken.
“Because Chicago’s never had race riots before…-Zach”
Please enlighten us and connect the dots, good sir.
After all, not all of us are as wise as you to miss the obvious connection between the anti-semitic bombing attempt on Neil Lennon & company with the city of Chicago.
Well played sir.
Although to be fair, the issue of this thread is based on religious intolerance (why Lennon was bombed, or why people tried to bomb him), not racial intolerance.
Not in 2011.
Horrendous example of your point. You’re on fire so far (I’m still reading down so you very well may have more dumb comments in store for me).
Used to be New Orleans Jazz and Minnesota Lakers, at least those names made sense originally. Real Salt Lake makes ZERO sense and is a blatant rip off of Real Madrid, Real Zaragoza, et al, to appeal to fans of European / Spanish soccer. Sporting Kansas City? While cooler than Real Salt Lake, still just a ripoff.
Because Chicago’s never had race riots before…
You know that both of those teams moved… right?
I’d love to know what Getafe’s fans think about this.
Ben Lederman if anyone is interested. He played a big part in the 10 year old team that traveled to Spain and beat the Barcelona 10 year old academy team 4-1.
And I didn’t know that Utah was the birthplace of jazz music, or Los Angeles had 10,000 lakes. If you want to bash names, don’t just stop at soccer.
Chris Baird from Fulham had his house in Northern Ireland burned because he’s a Catholic, plays for NI instead of the Republic, and a lot of the NI supporters don’t want him on the team because of his religion.
Lennon resigned from being captain of Northern Ireland after receiving death threats for being Catholic and playing for the NI side.
No news about the 10 year old American that signed with Barcelona’s academy this week!?
Cap him now.
Well said Patrick – “Sporting” KC… “Real” Salt Lake. I didn’t know Salt Lake was a royal city.
I want MLS to succeed, I do. But the league is downright embarrassing at times.
Or New York Red Bulls
I understand people get really into the game and its rivalries, but sending bombs? Jesus.
just because Getafe is being bought and MIGHT change their name doesnt change anything about the ridiculousness of some of the MLS names. They still sound silly, just like “Team Dubai” will, if it sticks (which it wont)
As if having racial slurs hurled at you every match and cars firebombed wasn’t enough (I know that was Beas, but still).
+2
So all the annoying people who make fun of MLS for Real Salt Lake and Sporting Kansas City… what do you think of La Liga now?
Team Dubai? That’s a stupid name for a team. Almost like naming a team Chivas USA…. wait…
Guzan to Sunderland? That should work. El Guzano has got to get out of Aston Villa and away from Houllier.
lol, “Team Dubai”! They must be kidding, right?
Stay classy, Scotland.
P.S. Memo to Maurice Edu: bounce, asap.