From the BBC, clicking the link gives video footage of the match.
Rival political leaders in Lebanon have marked the 35th anniversary of the outbreak of the civil war with a football match to show their unity.
Prime Minister Saad Hariri captained his team against a side led by an MP from the Shia Hezbollah movement.
Commentators had to stifle their laughter as the unfit politicians quickly ran out of breath.
A unity government was formed by Mr Hariri's majority coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition in November.
The agreement ended five months of deadlock following June's general election which had threatened Lebanon's stability.
"We are one team" was the slogan for the 30-minute friendly played by ministers and MPs to commemorate the bloody 1975-1990 civil war, which left more than 150,000 people dead.
Mr Hariri, the Western-backed prime minister, was the captain of the team in red. Their rivals - wearing white - were led by Ali Ammar of Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran and Syria.
Both teams were mixed, with representatives of almost all of Lebanon's rival political camps.
"In Lebanon, polemics is the national sport, and now we are using real sport to overcome differences. It's important to show that not everything has to be politicised," said one of the players, Information Minister Tarek Mitri.
"I haven't played football since I was 17," he added.
Almost immediately, the 30-minute match revealed that fitness was not one of the strengths of Lebanon's current crop of politicians.
The game was broadcast live by several national television channels.
Some of the commentators had to stop themselves from laughing at the sight of their pot-bellied leaders running after the ball and, very quickly, running out of breath in the curtailed match.
"They hit the ground more often than the ball," was how one of country's news sites described the action.
It was not until the end of the match that the goals came - two from 29-year-old MP Sami Gemayal, the youngest member of Mr Hariri's team.
"It's cute and very funny," said Chantal Bassil, the wife of Lebanon's energy minister, who was watching on the sidelines.
"They are not very professional, but they don't get much time to practice so they are doing alright," she added.
Mrs Bassil was among a handful of spectators - most of them diplomats and politicians, including President Michel Suleiman - who were allowed to attend the game, which was held at Beirut's main stadium.
Like all football matches in Lebanon, it was not open to the public.
Sectarian and political divisions in Lebanon remain so deep and tensions are so high that football fans are not allowed to attend matches.
The authorities fear that clashes between supporters of opposing teams could spill onto the streets and soon escalate.
The rival political leaders, some of whom met on the pitch, have failed to deal with the tensions and allowed them to cripple recent governments.
And this is one of the reasons why some people in the capital said they felt Tuesday's football match was hypocritical, even offensive.
"They are capable of having a laugh but they are not capable of solving our problems. By playing this ridiculous game they are laughing at us," said Roula, a 21-year-old biology student.
From endless problems in healthcare and education, to erratic electricity supplies and failure to agree on foreign and defense policies, disagreements between politicians affect all aspects of life in Lebanon.
And few here believe any of these problems can be solved on a football pitch.
Wednesday, 14 April 2010
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
The Bulgarian Transfer That Never Was
Taken from ESPN Soccernet.
For many years, people have known that anything is possible in Bulgarian football. The sport been haunted by corruption for many years and, judging from the events in the 'A Grupa' (first division), the administrative skills within clubs still leave much room for improvement.
On February 24, Botev Plovdiv were expelled from the first division for non-payment of debts and failure to register enough players. It is a case that dates back to September 2009, though, that has dominated the domestic headlines and left the Bulgarian police bewildered over bogus transfers, odd results, betting gangsters and a football culture lacking political transparency.
Back in September, the two big clubs in Sofia - Levski and CSKA - were preparing for their first derby of the season. But the day before the big clash, four of the Levski players jumped on a plane bound for Moscow to sign for last year's Russian title winners, Rubin Kazan.
Along with three club representatives, Bulgaria international right-back Zhivko Milanov, Morocco central defender Youssef Rabeh, Macedonia midfielder Darko Tasevski and Brazilian winger Ze Soares made the near 1,500 km trip to Kazan International Airport. On arrival, they were met by Rubin Kazan 'representatives', who accompanied them to the Sheraton hotel, where they passed medicals. So far so good.
However, the next day, the Bulgarian players were told that the deal had fallen through. There were no documents, no contracts and a broken phone-line for the Rubin Kazan 'representatives'. The Levski delegation had no other choice than to make their way home, with the players arriving back in Sofia too late to take part in a game CSKA won 2-0. Unsurprisingly, the Sofia sports reporters were full of questions following the deal that never was.
For example, how could it be that, several rounds before the end of the Russian championship, Rubin needed four players from a mediocre Levski side? How exactly would it have been possible for such a deal to go through outside of UEFA's official transfer windows? Why did the Russians pull out of the contract negotiations and why were the transfers scheduled for the eve of one of their biggest games of the season?
There is apparently no doubt that the fax inviting the four players was authentic and sent from Rubin Kazan's offices. Yet Mircho Dimitrov, a Bulgarian football agent who has worked in Russia for many years, said: "I spoke with the executive director of the club and with the coach of Rubin, Kurban Berdiyev. They said: 'We don't know anything. We don't want players from Levski because we don't need them.'"
"I can't explain this," Levski president Todor Batkov said. "I didn't meet any representatives beforehand or receive an official confirmation from Rubin's president. Maybe this was a very well-executed scam. Seven people [from Levski] were met with expensive Mercedes cars and accommodated in a very expensive hotel. I did have doubts and my plan was, if there was any problem, for the four players to return to Sofia before the match with CSKA. I checked UEFA's rules [on transfer windows] and felt we had a right for extraordinary transfers [said to be because of swine flu].
"For all four players, the price was to be €4 million (£3.53 million) and the Russians told me that the money was in Sofia in a concrete bank, even in a concrete safe. Their representatives met each of the players and I have given names, descriptions, photos and phone numbers to Interpol. Maybe this whole thing is an attack against Levski, or me. I was threatened over the phone by a Russian who advised me to stop the investigation."
Batkov later admitted that he had deposited £179,000 with a man called Artur Oganesyan.
The problem is, however, that the Bulgarian police have had massive problems trying to track down the mysterious Mr Artur Oganesyan, which has led the Bulgarian media to accuse Batkov of betting £895,000 on CSKA to beat Levski. Batkov himself pointed the finger at Dimitar Borissov and Ivo Ivanov - the owners of CSKA, who were under investigation for having "fixed" the Europa League fourth qualifying round game in which CSKA won 2-1 away to Dinamo Moscow.
The Bulgarian Police are left with a long list of suspects but hardly any pieces of evidence in the farce concerning the false Rubin Kazan representatives. The case is, however, far from closed as the Levski results took a very strange turn in the weeks after 'The Eternal Derby' against CSKA. A 0-1 reverse to Chernomorets Burgas, a 2-2 draw with Lokomotiv Plovdiv and a 0-1 defeat to Beroe followed - all rare defeats against weak opponents, which strengthened the suspicion of foul play.
One of the theories of a conspiracy is that major Levski shareholder Mickael Chernoy, who is very close to the bosses of Rubin Kazan and has a tempestuous relationship with Batkov, may have been involved in an attempt to drive the share price down ahead of a bid to buy the club.
The theory may seem somewhat creative and out of touch with reality, but Bulgarians are generally not unaccustomed to these scenarios. As such, Hristo Kovatjki, a business tycoon, politician and football investor was last year arrested for embezzlement. And Kovaltjki isn't just anybody. He is the second richest person in Bulgaria and a symbol for a small group of the population who, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, have gained massive financial as well as political power in the poor country.
Kovatjki's story is only one of many. Bulgarian football has for years and years fought to hold off betting-gangsters. The best league in the country - 'A Professional Football Group' - is allegedly a preferred target for organised crime and match-fixing due to the low wages in the league.
And methods are brutal. During the last 20 years, four presidents from the club Lokomotiv Plovdiv have been murdered. The latest incident came in 2005 when the 39-year old Georgi Iliev - allegedly deeply involved in a struggle between two criminal organisations - was shot dead in a bar at the holiday resort Sunny Beach. Whether the Rubin Kazan affair will develop in a similarly violent way is doubtful, as is the Bulgarian Police's ability to find the villain in the case. Is it Levski president Batkov? Is it the Russians? CSKA? Or the mafia?
Whoever is responsible, the pressure from the media became a bit too much for Serbian coach Ratko Dostanic, who was replaced by sporting director Georgi Ivanov after a shock 1-0 home defeat by Beroe. This was fifth coach to take over Levski in 18 months and the fans' patience with president Batkov is wearing thin in the wake of the Rubin Kazan affair.
The supporters feel he has made the club look like the idiots of Europe. Whatever your feelings on Bulgarian football, it is certainly never dull.
For many years, people have known that anything is possible in Bulgarian football. The sport been haunted by corruption for many years and, judging from the events in the 'A Grupa' (first division), the administrative skills within clubs still leave much room for improvement.
On February 24, Botev Plovdiv were expelled from the first division for non-payment of debts and failure to register enough players. It is a case that dates back to September 2009, though, that has dominated the domestic headlines and left the Bulgarian police bewildered over bogus transfers, odd results, betting gangsters and a football culture lacking political transparency.
Back in September, the two big clubs in Sofia - Levski and CSKA - were preparing for their first derby of the season. But the day before the big clash, four of the Levski players jumped on a plane bound for Moscow to sign for last year's Russian title winners, Rubin Kazan.
Along with three club representatives, Bulgaria international right-back Zhivko Milanov, Morocco central defender Youssef Rabeh, Macedonia midfielder Darko Tasevski and Brazilian winger Ze Soares made the near 1,500 km trip to Kazan International Airport. On arrival, they were met by Rubin Kazan 'representatives', who accompanied them to the Sheraton hotel, where they passed medicals. So far so good.
However, the next day, the Bulgarian players were told that the deal had fallen through. There were no documents, no contracts and a broken phone-line for the Rubin Kazan 'representatives'. The Levski delegation had no other choice than to make their way home, with the players arriving back in Sofia too late to take part in a game CSKA won 2-0. Unsurprisingly, the Sofia sports reporters were full of questions following the deal that never was.
For example, how could it be that, several rounds before the end of the Russian championship, Rubin needed four players from a mediocre Levski side? How exactly would it have been possible for such a deal to go through outside of UEFA's official transfer windows? Why did the Russians pull out of the contract negotiations and why were the transfers scheduled for the eve of one of their biggest games of the season?
There is apparently no doubt that the fax inviting the four players was authentic and sent from Rubin Kazan's offices. Yet Mircho Dimitrov, a Bulgarian football agent who has worked in Russia for many years, said: "I spoke with the executive director of the club and with the coach of Rubin, Kurban Berdiyev. They said: 'We don't know anything. We don't want players from Levski because we don't need them.'"
"I can't explain this," Levski president Todor Batkov said. "I didn't meet any representatives beforehand or receive an official confirmation from Rubin's president. Maybe this was a very well-executed scam. Seven people [from Levski] were met with expensive Mercedes cars and accommodated in a very expensive hotel. I did have doubts and my plan was, if there was any problem, for the four players to return to Sofia before the match with CSKA. I checked UEFA's rules [on transfer windows] and felt we had a right for extraordinary transfers [said to be because of swine flu].
"For all four players, the price was to be €4 million (£3.53 million) and the Russians told me that the money was in Sofia in a concrete bank, even in a concrete safe. Their representatives met each of the players and I have given names, descriptions, photos and phone numbers to Interpol. Maybe this whole thing is an attack against Levski, or me. I was threatened over the phone by a Russian who advised me to stop the investigation."
Batkov later admitted that he had deposited £179,000 with a man called Artur Oganesyan.
The problem is, however, that the Bulgarian police have had massive problems trying to track down the mysterious Mr Artur Oganesyan, which has led the Bulgarian media to accuse Batkov of betting £895,000 on CSKA to beat Levski. Batkov himself pointed the finger at Dimitar Borissov and Ivo Ivanov - the owners of CSKA, who were under investigation for having "fixed" the Europa League fourth qualifying round game in which CSKA won 2-1 away to Dinamo Moscow.
The Bulgarian Police are left with a long list of suspects but hardly any pieces of evidence in the farce concerning the false Rubin Kazan representatives. The case is, however, far from closed as the Levski results took a very strange turn in the weeks after 'The Eternal Derby' against CSKA. A 0-1 reverse to Chernomorets Burgas, a 2-2 draw with Lokomotiv Plovdiv and a 0-1 defeat to Beroe followed - all rare defeats against weak opponents, which strengthened the suspicion of foul play.
One of the theories of a conspiracy is that major Levski shareholder Mickael Chernoy, who is very close to the bosses of Rubin Kazan and has a tempestuous relationship with Batkov, may have been involved in an attempt to drive the share price down ahead of a bid to buy the club.
The theory may seem somewhat creative and out of touch with reality, but Bulgarians are generally not unaccustomed to these scenarios. As such, Hristo Kovatjki, a business tycoon, politician and football investor was last year arrested for embezzlement. And Kovaltjki isn't just anybody. He is the second richest person in Bulgaria and a symbol for a small group of the population who, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, have gained massive financial as well as political power in the poor country.
Kovatjki's story is only one of many. Bulgarian football has for years and years fought to hold off betting-gangsters. The best league in the country - 'A Professional Football Group' - is allegedly a preferred target for organised crime and match-fixing due to the low wages in the league.
And methods are brutal. During the last 20 years, four presidents from the club Lokomotiv Plovdiv have been murdered. The latest incident came in 2005 when the 39-year old Georgi Iliev - allegedly deeply involved in a struggle between two criminal organisations - was shot dead in a bar at the holiday resort Sunny Beach. Whether the Rubin Kazan affair will develop in a similarly violent way is doubtful, as is the Bulgarian Police's ability to find the villain in the case. Is it Levski president Batkov? Is it the Russians? CSKA? Or the mafia?
Whoever is responsible, the pressure from the media became a bit too much for Serbian coach Ratko Dostanic, who was replaced by sporting director Georgi Ivanov after a shock 1-0 home defeat by Beroe. This was fifth coach to take over Levski in 18 months and the fans' patience with president Batkov is wearing thin in the wake of the Rubin Kazan affair.
The supporters feel he has made the club look like the idiots of Europe. Whatever your feelings on Bulgarian football, it is certainly never dull.
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