By FRANCO PANIZO
It appears as if corruption is in style this summer.
Amidst the scandals surrounding FIFA and CONCACAF, K-League, South Korea's top soccer league, is dealing with match-fixing and bribery issues of its own. Six players belonging to K-League clubs have already been arrested for receiving money in exchange for trying to fix the outcomes of games, and a former star from the league linked to the scandal was found dead last week after an apparent suicide.
In an attempt to regain the trust of fans, the Korean federation is going to receive assistance from FIFA to help fix its current situation. The Korean federation also said it will establish a committee made up of officials that will serve as a permanent anti-corruption unit.
Here are more stories to get your Friday going:
Backe chosen as All-Star coach
Hans Backe will lead the MLS All-Star team against Manchester United, MLS announced. Backe was chosen for the July 27 game because it is being played at Red Bull Arena, and as a result he will not have to travel. The change in format prevents the other MLS coaches from missing any training sessions with their teams.
McLeish linked with Fulham job
You can now add Alex McLeish to list of candidates for Fulham's vacant managerial position. The Birmingham manager is considered to be a possible replacement for Mark Hughes after the latter left Fulham on Thursday. McLeish's future with Birmingham has also been in question for some time due to his strained relations with the club's board.
Messi swung at by fan
Lionel Messi is accustomed to being hacked at during games, but the Barcelona superstar probably didn't expect what came to him in Argentina on Thursday. Messi had a punch thrown at him by a rival fan outside of a restaurant in his hometown. Messi was not injured, and he downplayed the incident afterwards.
Fire loan Watson-Sirboe to FC Tampa
The Chicago Fire has loaned out defender Kwame Watson-Sirboe to FC Tampa Bay, pending league and USSF approval. The loan deal is for the remainder of the 2011 NASL season. Sirboe is expected to be available for Tampa's match against Carolina on Saturday.
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What do you think of Korea's corruption scandal? Should someone else be coaching the MLS All-Star team? Think Messi's assaulter was actually Jose Mourinho in disguise?
Share your thoughts below.
No, he didn’t say he doesn’t care about winning the MLS Cup, he said the Supporters Shield is the more important goal. I’m sure he would love to win both.
And who cares about winning any All Star game in any sport? It’s an exhibition for the fans.
the 2nd one is good.
Perfect photo for a caption! “Behind me is photo of my true identity.”
Backe says he doesnt care about winning the MLS Cup and then MLS appoints him manager of the All-Star team. If he doesnt care about the MLS Cup WTF would he care about winning the All-Star game? MLS is bascially saying, “thank you sir may I have another”
Agreed, the Bulls have to travel to London the following day for the Emirates Cup
“Sepp Blatter shares a photograph of when he was a confused twelve year-old boy, shuffling from clown college to clown college in search of meaning and purpose. ‘I will return to that life some day,’ he said. ‘It was invaluable in preparing me to lead FIFA into the twenty-first century.’ ”
Little-known fact: there is a primary school named after Sepp Blatter in Sion, Switzerland. Couldn’t believe it when I saw it. What has Swiss education become?
(1) “Using his awesome mental powers, Sepp Blatter projected an image of his own psyche onto the screen.”
(2)”Sepp Blatter presented a photo of the person who will lead his promised investigation into corruption in FIFA.”
Jumping ship, I suppose.
If I were Backe I would have less incentive to start him since it is just extra wear and tear for his starting CB.
I guess this means Ream is starting at the all-star game
“In an attempt to regain the trust of fans, the Korean federation is going to receive assistance from FIFA to help fix its current situation.”
made me spew my morning coffee. are they serious? this is a joke, right? turning to FIFA for anti-corruption guidance? OR are they turning to FIFA to better understand how to get away with being corrupt? that makes more sense to me.
Agreed Bayou Bengal.
What’s Martin O’Neil up to these days?
My thinking exactly.
“In an attempt to regain the trust of fans, the Korean federation is going to receive assistance from FIFA to help fix its current situation.”
Oh, that’ll help a lot. Who’s going to lead the effort for FIFA, Jack Warner?
Perfect picture choice!
So wait, let me get this straight, Fulham is looking into hiring a coach whose current team was recently relegated from the league? From what I recall, this sort of thing worked out just great for West Ham and Avram Grant.