http://www.theoffside.com League Football, Soccer News and Views from Around the World Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:55:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://www.theoffside.com/africa/heavy-death-toll-mounting-after-pitch-invasion-in-egypt.html http://www.theoffside.com/africa/heavy-death-toll-mounting-after-pitch-invasion-in-egypt.html#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:21:49 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/africa/heavy-death-toll-mounting-after-pitch-invasion-in-egypt.html The death toll is currently mounting tragically in Egypt after a pitch invasion hit Al Masri’s stadium in Port Said on the back of a massive upset over Al Ahly less than one hour ago. One AP report has it at seven, while another less than 15 minutes later shows it at 35. And yet [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/africa/heavy-death-toll-mounting-after-pitch-invasion-in-egypt.html/feed 2 http://www.theoffside.com/africa/retiring-to-increasingly-strange-lands.html http://www.theoffside.com/africa/retiring-to-increasingly-strange-lands.html#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:32:14 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/africa/retiring-to-increasingly-strange-lands.html The practice of veteran stars seeing out their careers in lesser leagues isn’t exactly new, nor is it rare. The Middle East has been using oil-soaked checks to lure eager foreigners for years. And yet, this weekend might just take the cake for odd locations and trail-blazing new football landscapes. Rivaldo, no stranger to strange [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/africa/retiring-to-increasingly-strange-lands.html/feed 1 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/yaya-toure-african-poy-mystical-magician.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/yaya-toure-african-poy-mystical-magician.html#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:01:23 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/yaya-toure-african-poy-mystical-magician.html Yaya Toure was named the CAF Player of the Year for being awesome in 2011, and rightly so. Possibly for his sartorial abilities. Actually, he showed up in different dress, which makes one think that massive robe is a prize for winning the prize. A prize which immediately turns its wearer into a spiritual healer? Possibly. Once [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/yaya-toure-african-poy-mystical-magician.html/feed 1 http://www.theoffside.com/africa/and-then-there-was-another-worst-ever.html http://www.theoffside.com/africa/and-then-there-was-another-worst-ever.html#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:26:17 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/africa/and-then-there-was-another-worst-ever.html The problem is all of those follies dubbed the ‘worst ever’ seems to have at least a bit of merit. Amir Sayoud of Al Ahly is on the list, and you’re going to see a lot of him in the coming days. Almost all of it will involve the prone position and a meal of [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/africa/and-then-there-was-another-worst-ever.html/feed 3 http://www.theoffside.com/africa/nothing-says-bad-call-like-a-face-full-of-breakfast.html http://www.theoffside.com/africa/nothing-says-bad-call-like-a-face-full-of-breakfast.html#comments Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:30:27 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/africa/nothing-says-bad-call-like-a-face-full-of-breakfast.html On the list of things which have been flung at referees in this, the world of football, we are likely to find a cornucopia of items. Anything, everything and all that lies in between. Probably didn’t expect piping hot porridge, however. Definitely didn’t expect piping hot porridge. Yet in South Africa, a referee found himself wiping [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/africa/nothing-says-bad-call-like-a-face-full-of-breakfast.html/feed 3 http://www.theoffside.com/africa/samuel-etoo-wins-african-poy-enters-rarefied-dress-code-club.html http://www.theoffside.com/africa/samuel-etoo-wins-african-poy-enters-rarefied-dress-code-club.html#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:26:52 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/africa/samuel-etoo-wins-african-poy-enters-rarefied-dress-code-club.html Since this is his historic fourth win, they allowed him to accept the awards in sneakers and a long sleeved polo. Suits and tuxes? Those are for mere three-time winners. You know – the hoi polloi. Next year for number five: undershirt, bathing trunks and espadrilles. ]]> http://www.theoffside.com/africa/samuel-etoo-wins-african-poy-enters-rarefied-dress-code-club.html/feed 1 http://www.theoffside.com/africa/awards-season-bbc-african-footballer-of-the-year-shortlist.html http://www.theoffside.com/africa/awards-season-bbc-african-footballer-of-the-year-shortlist.html#comments Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:48:46 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/africa/awards-season-bbc-african-footballer-of-the-year-shortlist.html ‘Tis the day of award shortlists and internet voting. Hoorah. Whereas the Puskas Award requires but a singular moment of magic, this award goes to those who managed a few more strung out through twelve long months. Therefore the names are all household, with the one having the greatest pull perhaps the clear outsider of the [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/africa/awards-season-bbc-african-footballer-of-the-year-shortlist.html/feed 2 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/tp-mazembe-defends-african-champions-league-title-while-esperance-fans-redecorate.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/tp-mazembe-defends-african-champions-league-title-while-esperance-fans-redecorate.html#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:00:11 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/tp-mazembe-defends-african-champions-league-title-while-esperance-fans-redecorate.html This is what could be described as “the formality leg”. After the first end of the African Champions League final, TP Mazembe was cruising with a 5-0 lead. What you’d have to consider to be typically insurmountable at this stage of a large competition, and lo, it was. A simple 1-1 draw was all they [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/tp-mazembe-defends-african-champions-league-title-while-esperance-fans-redecorate.html/feed 1 http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/howler-files-what-could-have-been.html http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/howler-files-what-could-have-been.html#comments Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:36:16 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/howler-files-what-could-have-been.html YouTube is doing nothing to enhance the reputations of northern African keepers right now. First there was that guy from Morocco, then there was that same guy from Morocco, and now we have Tunisia’s Nadim Thabet doing his utmost to earn howler infamy. Three completely different scenarios, with one sweeping moral: pay attention. It’s just [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/howler-files-what-could-have-been.html/feed 1 http://www.theoffside.com/africa/african-player-of-the-year-all-a-hoax.html http://www.theoffside.com/africa/african-player-of-the-year-all-a-hoax.html#comments Wed, 29 Sep 2010 11:30:00 +0000 chris http://www.theoffside.com/africa/african-player-of-the-year-all-a-hoax.html On the list of things which require a hoax, you’d think the African Footballer of the Year shortlist is pretty low. Unfortunately everything above it has been crossed off with the invention of the internets (rights reserved by Al Gore), so here we are. That Player of the Year shortlist posted a few days back? 100% [...]]]> http://www.theoffside.com/africa/african-player-of-the-year-all-a-hoax.html/feed 6