Stories about Sport from December, 2012
Lebanon's National Football Team Scandal
“If it’s true that there are many players involved in match-fixing, of which 9 players are in the National Team, then you can kiss Football goodbye in Lebanon.” This is how Blog Baladi summed up his response to reports about the match-fixing scandal that has been going on for years and...
Copa Sudamericana Final Ends in Violence
The heated final match of the Copa Sudamericana on the 12th December 2012 at the Morumbi Stadium in São Paulo, between Brazilian team São Paulo FC and Club Atletico Tigre, from Argentina, ended unexpectedly. And violently, too. A fight between the players spilled over to the changing rooms, where the Argentinian team claims to have suffered aggression from the Military Police and São Paulo security staff.
Football: Who Holds the Record, Argentina's Messi or Zambia's Chitalu?
Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi has broken most footballing records including the number of goals scored in a season, or has he? An unlikely challenger to Messi's record, who is a marvel to watch when he turns up for his Spanish la Liga team FC Barcelona, has emerged in Zambia - in the form of a footballer who died nearly 20 years ago.
Football Players Protest Against the European Under-21 Championship Being Held in Israel
Pambazuka.org published a letter [fr] from players addressed to the president of FIFA, Joseph S. Blatter : Some sixty professional footballers, for the most part African, wrote a letter to UEFA in protest at the decision to entrust Israel with the organisation of the European Under-21 Football Championship (June 5-18,...
‘Fuleco’ the Mascot Divides Brazil
After a public vote, it was decided that the FIFA World Cup's mascot in Brazil will be called "Fuleco". But many Brazilian internet users are now claiming it is an inappropriate choice, since fuleco in Brazilian slang also means "anus". More than 39,000 signatures have already been gathered in a petition.
Striker's ‘Scorpion Kick’ Goal Makes Bolivian Football History
Gastón Mealla, a 24 year-old Bolivian striker, made an improbable heel volley, a 'scorpion kick', scoring from outside the box during a local first-division match. FIFA nominated the goal to the 2012 Puskás Award. Despite not making the top 3 goals of the year, Gastón Mealla's astonishing scorpion kick will remain as one of the most spectacular goals of Bolivian football history.
Death of Colombian Football Player Miguel Calero Shakes Mexico
Mexicans expressed their support and solidarity on Twitter after learning that Colombian and former football player Miguel Calero had been declared brain dead. Hours after this post was published in Spanish, the Pachuca Football Club announced Calero had passed away.
