The return of the NASL

While MLS was preparing for its end-of-season party, a new soccer venture called the North American Soccer League was announcing its formation, following the breakaway of a number of clubs from the United Soccer Leagues. That's right, starting from April 2010, the NASL is back.

Putting aside the decision to name the league after a competition that collapsed as spectacularly as once it flourished, it remains to be seen what impact the NASL will have on the soccer landscape, operating along with USL-1 as a second professional league in the tier below MLS.

One thing is for sure, though. While those behind the NASL have spoken of a desire to pay their "respect to the players, coaches and leaders, who were pioneers for men's professional soccer in North America," Pele is not coming back and nor is Franz Beckenbauer or Johan Cruyff, meaning that only in name is this incarnation reflective of its predecessor.

Not that a lack of glitz and glamour should necessarily be looked upon as a bad thing. The growth of MLS and USL has come about thanks to a pragmatic approach and it is to be hoped that this new kid on the block follows similar methods. Good luck to American soccer's new arrival.

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Iraq To Appeal World Soccer Ban

BAGHDAD -- Iraqi officials say they were not surprised that soccer's world governing body suspended the country from international competition and are working on an appeal, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) reports.


Samir al-Musawi, a member of the executive bureau of Iraq's Olympic Committee (IOC), told RFI that a new committee will be formed to take care of soccer in the country and that lawyers are already working on an appeal to FIFA.


FIFA banned the current Asian champions from international competition on November 20 after the IOC disbanded the governing board of the Iraqi Football Association (IFA) after a yearlong feud between the two organizations.


Al-Musawi blamed IFA's governing board and its former head, Hussain Said, for the latest developments, noting that it was providing FIFA with false information.


Iraqi parliament deputy Jazair al-Sahlani said that the committee has proof of irregularities within the IFA over the past five years and will provide it to FIFA.


Deputy Ahmad Radhi, the head of parliament's Youth and Sport Committee and a former well-known soccer player, criticized both the IFA and the Olympic committee saying that these problems benefit only those who try to profit from them.


Rahdi said he tried to find an agreement between the two bodies and was surprised that the IOC decided to disband IFA's governing board.


New elections for the IFA were to be held on December 23.


It is unclear if they will still be held then.


Iraq surprised many when it won the Asian Cup in 2007.


It also hosted two international matches against Palestine in July -- the first time since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

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Soccer betting probe nets another official

POLICE in eastern China have detained a football club manager in a nationwide crackdown on soccer betting that has involved several executives and officials from the football association.

The man, identified by police only as L, was detained yesterday, one year after he left Hai Li Feng soccer club in Qingdao, Shandong Province. Other club officials are also under investigation, according to Modern Express today.

Hai Li Feng came under the spotlight after a notorious match with a Sichuan team when the club's players attempted several times to score their own goals.

Police said, however, that they are not investigating that match but are focusing on an alleged gambling syndicate that operated in 2005 and 2006, said an anonymous insider quoted by the newspaper.

The insider said Hai Li Feng was considered the top team at the beginning of every season in China's Premier League, yet their performances collapse at the second half in every match.

China Football Association said any clubs involved in any forms of gambling will be relegated, China News Service reported today.

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Laval defeats McGill, wins first ever CIS men's soccer title

Louis-Charles Laliberte capped a quick three-goal explosion with the game-winner as the Laval Rouge et Or rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat McGill 3-2 Sunday and capture their first Canadian Interuniversity Sport men's soccer title.

In the dying moments of first-half injury time, Laliberte put Laval ahead 3-2 with a long free kick. He lobbed a high shot that arced over Redmen goalkeeper Jean-Lou Gosselin and into the top left corner.

"I've been practising that play all season long and scored one like that in our league semifinal game against UQAM," said the native of LaSalle, Que. "If you hit it right, the ball moves in the wind and that makes it hard for the goalkeeper to make the stop."

It marked the first duel between two Quebec-based teams in a CIS final in any sport.

Earlier Sunday, the Trinity Western Spartans beat the Toronto Varsity Blues 2-1 (4-2 in penalty kicks) to take the bronze medal.

McGill, which had lost 3-0 to Laval in the Quebec conference final last week, dominated the first half and jumped into an early 2-0 lead on goals by third-year defender Graeme Tingey of North Vancouver, B.C., and Ottawa's Gareth Pugh.

Laval roared back with three goals in the final four minutes of the half and held on for the victory in the pouring rain.

"To score three times in the last (few) minutes of the half in a championship game is something that I've never seen before," said Laval coach Samir Ghrib, named earlier in the week as the CIS coach of the year. "We were prepared for the scenario of having to come from behind. This is the story of our season. We fight until the (game) is over."

The Redmen were charged with an own goal when Laliberte appeared to take a harmless chip shot that bounced off a McGill player and past Gosselin in the 43rd minute to narrow the gap to 2-1.

"I managed to get between the two defenders and just chipped it (off a player)," said Laliberte.

Less than two minutes later, CIS tournament MVP and second-team all-Canadian Gabriel Moreau of St. Hyacinthe, Que., pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired it past Gosselin to even the score at 2-2. It was Moreau's third goal of the tournament.

Laliberte followed with his winning goal.

"This hurts right now but when we look back on the season in a few weeks time, a silver medal finish is pretty good for a team that wasn't expected to be here," said first-year McGill head coach David Simon. "We exceeded all expectations and I'm proud of what we accomplished this season."

In the bronze-medal game, Trinity Western goalkeeper Andrew Kowan made a diving penalty kick save and defender Cardin Davis from scored the penalty winner as the Spartans beat Toronto.

The Spartans outscored Toronto 4-2 in penalty kicks for their fourth CIS championship medal in the last five years. TWU also won bronze in 2005 and silver in 2008 and 2006.

"There wasn't an issue of motivation when you get to a match like this," said TWU head coach Pat Rohla. "For the four months that we have been together over a month of that has been with the boots on practising so there is no point in getting to a match like this and dropping short."

Nathan Pogue of Seaside, Ore., opened the scoring in the 63rd minute for the Spartans.

Alexander Raphael replied in the 80th minute for the Varsity Blues.

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Coach sees both sides of rough tactics by women's soccer player

Kit Vela, the head coach of the University of New Mexico women's soccer team, left the field after last week's Mountain West Conference semifinal thinking her team had just lost a well-played, hard-fought, rather routine college match — nothing more, nothing less.

She watched her players congratulate their opponents from Brigham Young, which had won 1-0. In particular, she said she noticed starting junior defender Elizabeth Lambert walking from one BYU player to the next, congratulating them, wishing them well. Lambert had received a yellow card near the end of the game for a questionable tackle, just the third yellow card of her career, but from Vela's vantage point, she thought the card "really wasn't for much of anything."

Other than that, Vela thought Lambert had done nothing out of the ordinary, making tackles and plays that were part of "the flow of the game."

Hours later, when watching sports highlights on television, Vela said she was "stunned" to see a very different portrait of Lambert. It was the first time Vela saw the video that millions around the world have now seen, the awful highlight reel showing Lambert kicking, punching and slapping opponents and, worst of all, violently yanking a BYU player's ponytail, causing that player's head to snap back as she fell to the ground.

The seven incidents paint a dreadful picture, the kind of visual compilation that makes one stop and watch, over and over again, as if it's the metaphoric train wreck.

"I wish I had seen it," Vela said Wednesday afternoon, in her first interview since the video of Lambert went viral on the Internet. "If I had seen the hair pull, I would have pulled her off the field, and we wouldn't be sitting here today. … But nobody saw the hair pull in the run of play."

Unfortunately, that includes the referee, the two assistant referees and the alternate referee, all of whom missed what has become the most-watched uncalled red card in the history of women's soccer. For their mistake, perhaps they should be forced to miss something else — a few games by way of suspension.

How did all of these people in positions of authority miss what the cameras so easily caught?

The ponytail play, like several others in the Lambert "highlight" reel, occurred off the ball, away from the game's immediate action. By the time Vela said her eyes went to that spot, the BYU player was on the ground, and the game was moving on.

"We didn't see it," she said. "The refs didn't see it. Believe me, I wish I had."

She also said she missed the other especially offensive hit, Lambert's punch to an opponent's back after that player elbowed Lambert in the sternum.

As for the rest of the fouls, Vela says that Lambert's jousting and sparring looked like the action from just about any other women's college or pro soccer game.

"We could take any game from any school in the country, and take everything … the tackles, the arms in the back … and you'd find much of the same thing, some worse, some not as bad," said Vela, 41, in her ninth season at New Mexico. "But those things happen all the time. It's a 90-minute match, but you're looking at 45 seconds of what they wanted to show on TV. Soccer is a contact sport, and there's a lot of stuff that happens."

This sounds quite brazen, but in some ways, it's the harsh reality of the development of girls and women in sports. Because of Title IX, we've created a generation or two of female athletes who are as tough and fearless as their brothers, with the grass stains and black eyes to prove it. But they, like their brothers, need to know when toughness crosses the line to reckless, outright dangerous play.

The day after the game, Lambert was suspended specifically for the ponytail pull, Vela said. She said she has seen Lambert every day since, and while she won't say when the player's suspension will end, she does hope she comes back to the team.

Just like the guys, she wants her player to have a second chance.

"This is the first time she's done anything even close to this," Vela said. "She lost control in the heat of the moment. Even Liz says, 'In hindsight, I wish (the referee) would have seen this and thrown me out.' It would have been better for all concerned."

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Premier League Betting: Tottenham Hotspur vs. Sunderland

Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland are separated by two points and by three ranking spots. Their close proximity in the Premier League table makes their upcoming clash on the weekend the most compelling and it should live up to the hype. Is understood they will be each looking to win this match, I hope.

Soccer Betting Line:

Tottenham Hotspur -1 -105 -200 3 O +125 U -145 2 O +105 U -125 Draw +285

Sunderland AFC +1 -115 +600 3 O +125 U -145 1 O +105 U -125 Draw +285

Venue: White Hart Lane

Soccer Betting Verdict: Tottenham Hotspur are significantly favoured in this all-important clash, listed at BetUS Sportsbook at -200 to win outright. The Spurs are after back-to-back losses and looking to turn things around. They lost surprisingly 1:0 to Stoke City a fortnight ago at White Hart Lane and most recently, they lost the local derby to Arsenal 3:0 at the Emirates Stadium.

The loss to Arsenal shouldn’t knock a bother out of them though as they have a history of losing to Arsenal, even when in good form. Harry Redknapp and his men will have to put it behind them. No sense in crying over spilt milk.

Sunderland are having a good season and pose a dangerous threat to Tottenham. It is a bit surprising to see they are so disadvantaged in the market, listed at +600 to win outright. Surely, the side that has contributed no less than 20 goals so far and sits eighth in the table would be more vested in the match than that.

The Black Cats are confident after coming back from behind to draw against West Ham United last weekend, playing with 10 men for most of the match. The point was a good result considering the heroics. The Black Cats will be mindful of Spurs’ recent woes as well and looking to capitalize on the negative trend. Spurs have to be ready for this match. If they are not focused, they risk extending the negative trend.

This match should be more open than the money line suggests and the winner a tossup. Certainly, there will be many goals, so perhaps betting on the totals will be the better strategy. However, I like Sunderland in this match.

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Premier League Betting - Liverpool vs. Birmingham City

Liverpool FC are after a 1:1 draw against Lyon in midweek Champions League action. The Champions League attempt came right after a 3:1 to Fulham in Premier League action. Indeed, the Reds are in all sorts of woes right now. And as you might expect their upcoming domestic commitment against Birmingham City is a must-win. Birmingham City are relegation threatened but they are coming off a scoreless draw against Manchester City, which considering the state of their campaign is a good result for them. However, Birmingham City cannot really be overconfident about their chances at Anfield Stadium.

Soccer Betting Line:

Liverpool FC -1½ -115 -325 2½ O -120 U Ev 2 O -120 U Ev Draw +375
Birmingham City +1½ -105 +1200 2½ O -120 U Ev ½ O -130 U +110

Venue: Anfield Stadium

Match Time: 03:00 P.M. Eastern Time Monday November 9, 2009

Soccer Betting Verdict: Liverpool FC were sixth in the table ahead of the weekend, but slipped to seventh when most contested their matches on Saturday and Sunday. As Liverpool and Birmingham close the 12 th cycle, the standings will be adjusted accordingly. Liverpool have a shot to move up to fifth in the League if they take all three points at the expense of Birmingham City.

Birmingham City are currently 15 th in the table on 11 points, at a level with 16 th Bolton and 17 th Hull City. They are at the positive end of the mark on a better goal difference and so long as they don’t lose by a huge margin to Liverpool, they will hold on to their place in the standings.

Liverpool enter this match as the favourites to win outright however, they are listed at rather pricey odds of -325 to win outright. They are expected to win so. But at such a hefty price they are not worth the risk. Birmingham City are unlikely to take anything away from Anfield Stadium so they would be a long shot bet at +1200 to win outright. They have shown some stoicism through the early season and therefore while they are expected to lose they are not expected to capitulate huge. The value in this match is betting on the score. Taking Liverpool to cover the spread at -1 ½ -115. And taking the combined totals at Over 2.5 goals -120, Liverpool to score over 2 goals at -120 and Birmingham City to score at least one goal at Over ½ -130 are some of the better options on offer.

Free Soccer Picks: Liverpool -325 | Liverpool -1 ½ -115 | Over 2.5 -120

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Premier League Betting: Chelsea vs. Manchester United

The clash between league leaders Chelsea FC and second placed Manchester United will be the most compelling clash on Sunday as these two sides are considered the top two contenders for the Premier League title this season. Chelsea, if truth were told, looks like the side to beat in this clash. Manchester United are the reigning champions though and nothing should be put past them, the least of which is showing up the Blues at Stamford Bridge.

Soccer Betting Line:
Chelsea -½ Ev Ev 2½ O +105 U -125 1 O -145 U +125 Draw +225
Venue: Stamford Bridge

Match Time: 11:00 A.M. Eastern Time Sunday November 8, 2009

Soccer Betting Verdict: Chelsea FC are finally looking like a football club and not just a Russian tycoons plaything. Chelsea have not looked this good in a while even though they have continued to be a successful club since Abramovich bought them over. Credit has to be given to Coach Carlo Ancelotti who took an already world class outfit and made them better than they are by transcending individual brilliance and creating a united front. A cohesive team. Together they have a new dimension that was never reached under Scolari or even interim coach Hiddink. The results speak for themselves.

Manchester United have lost some of the spark they had with the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Recently, however, they have picked up pace as Rooney and Berbatov are finally finding their scoring feet on the pitch. It is still not the same Man U of last season or the season before and this is a problem for Sir Alex Fergusson. Moreover, they are not as sound defensively as they used to be. Manchester United very nearly lost to CSKA Moskva in midweek Champions League action, only for a late equalizer that bounced off a CSKA defender did they salvage a point from the match.

Nevertheless, when these two sides collide they know how to raise the level of their games. It is expected that this clash will live up to the billing accordingly. Betting on the winner is a tossup theoretically where these two are concerned but if there were a tipping point, Chelsea’s current form tips the balance in their favour.

At Evens, they are an unappealing bet however. Man United are the more tempting play at +285 and if there were a side capable of rising to the occasion, they have to be considered such a side despite the various niggling problems they are showing. For all these parts, the totals is looking like the wisest strategy to take on this match. Better value for the risk. Taking the over 2.5 goals for combined team totals and the Over 1 goal for each respective side.

Free Soccer Picks: Over 2.5 +105 | Man U Over 1 Even| Chelsea Over 1 -145

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Champions League Betting Group H: Arsenal vs. AZ Alkmaar

Arsenal go into their return tie against AZ Alkmaar with an opportunity to clinch a spot in the knockout stages if they a win at the Emirates Stadium on matchday 4. Arsenal, currently leading Group H with seven points but only a point clear of Olympiacos in second, missed a valuable opportunity to advance their European bid when they settled on a 2:2 draw against AZ Alkmaar a fortnight ago. Not only did Arsenal miss clinching the spot in the knockout rounds then, but they also missed the chance to strengthen their hold on top spot. They have a second chance however to accomplish the feat when they welcome AZ Alkmaar to the Emirates.

AZ Alkmaar are third in the section on two points after two cycles. Another disappointing result would see their European campaign over. But to fancy their chances over Arsenal at the Emirates where the English outfit have been at their best is a bit of a stretch. Surely, even they know it. At best, Alkmaar can hope for a point.

Soccer Betting Line:

Arsenal F.C -2 Ev -550 3 O -130 U +110 2½ O -125 U +105 Draw +550

AZ Alkmaar +2 -120 +1400 3 O -130 U +110 ½ O +110 U -130 Draw +550

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Match Time: 02:45 PM Eastern Time Wednesday November 4, 2009

Soccer Betting Verdict: The Gunners are enjoying a great season so far and things are looking like they might finally be falling into place for Arsene Wenger and his Gunners. All the young talent he has been cultivating for some time now is coming through for him, his stars are producing, his injury list is shortening as more players are returning to health and finding their game fitness; and importantly, together the team is winning convincingly.

Arsenal are currently third in the domestic table on 22 points after ten cycles. They have gone 7-1-2 overall, in Premier League; significantly, they are 5-0-0 at home. Arsenal are in top spot in Group H and their ambition is to not only advance but also secure first place.

AZ Alkmaar are going into this match with very little to hope for in the competition, save for a third place finish and a chance to continue their European campaign at Europa League level. Alkmaar have proven to be weak against the heavyweights in the competition. While they enjoy a measure of success at in the Dutch League, they are simply outclassed at this level.

Alkmaar were frankly lucky to take a point away on matchday 3. Arsenal had one of their rare lapses in concentration and allowed the Dutch back into the match. They will not be so careless at the Emirates before their fans and they will be anxious to make amends for that misfortunate slip up. When better sides have tried to take points at the Emirates and failed, how are Alkmaar, with all their apparent weakness, to enjoy success where better have failed.

Free Soccer Picks: Arsenal -550 | Over 3 -130

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Drogba backed by Platini after ban comes to end

UEFA president Michel Platini believes Chelsea striker Didier Drogba will return to European football "better and stronger" following his three-match ban.

• Paper Round: Who would buy Manchester United or Chelsea?

Drogba is expected to return to line up against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night following his suspension for verbally abusing Norwegian referee Tom Henning Ovrebo at the end of their semi-final defeat at the hands of Barcelona last season. Ovrebo had turned down a string of Chelsea penalty appeals.

"What I saw on TV was the comportment of Didier," added Platini. "All the TV showed the insult of Drogba, not the decisions. I was like Drogba in the past when I saw an injustice as a player. But I don't know Drogba's mind. He took the decision that he felt was right for him. He was alone in thinking that.

"Drogba's a good guy. I know him very well. He understands now that he made a mistake. Everybody does. He will come back better, stronger."

Platini also stressed he is not involved in the process of refereeing appointments and claims he still does not know Ovrebo's identity.

"When I arrive at a stadium, I don't know the name of the referee," said Platini. "That's the decision of the independent committee of referees. I was not there at Chelsea. I didn't know the name of the referee and I still don't.

"I don't know whether the referee made a mistake or not. If it was a mistake, I will say 'it's not a mistake' because I have to defend the referees."

Many Chelsea fans accused UEFA of a conspiracy against them, alleging that Platini wanted Barcelona to reach the final against Manchester United to prevent another all-Premier League showdown with the Blues.

"Do you think I am so stupid as to ask a referee to make Chelsea not get to the final?" said Platini.

"I always respect all the players and clubs. I don't interfere. If two English teams are in the final, I have no problem. If it's two Spanish teams, no problem. It's better if not two from the same country but it's not my problem.

"If they get there, they deserve to be there. It is not because I like Barcelona's system (of fan ownership) that I exempt them to go to the final!"

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