The Archive

Call us negative if you must (no, go on), but we feel obliged to record the worst football feats of the century before it’s over. Cris Freddi opens the series with an assessment of its most heinous fouls

No shortage of material in this category. We've all got our nominations and it becomes a question of which to leave out. One that gets in without much argument was perpetrated in Manchester United’s Champions League match against Feyenoord in 1997, when Paul Bosvelt crashed his studs into Denis Irwin’s calf, a really dangerous foul. Sándor Puhl, who didn’t even show a yellow card, was dropped from the rest of the competition as well as France 98, missing the chance of becoming the first referee to take charge of two World Cup Finals.

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The Scottish Premier League faces reorganisation again, but this time its leaders are determined to make a more permanent mess. Gary Oliver is unimpressed

Saturday afternoon football coverage on BBC Radio Scotland concludes with Off The Ball, a generally frivolous phone-in. Far from jovial, though, was a recent guest appearance by Roger Mitchell, chief executive of the Scottish Premier League.

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Contrary to past belief, it seems these days you never win anything without kids. Matthew Hall questions Leeds’ intentions in Australia

It's usually after about three or four pints down the pub: “With the influx of all these foreigners,” grumbles some old sop, “there’s no future for homegrown talent in the English game any more.” A complete load of crock, of course, as readily demonstrated by most of the big clubs introducing outstanding young players more than capable of holding their own alongside big-money international signings.

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Rotherham thought they had unearthed a great young talent in Stephen Alabi. Then it all got complicated, as Iain Busby explains

Little is written about Rotherham United in the national press. This all changed, however, after January 16th when a Millers fan appeared on Radio Five’s 6.06 programme. The subject under discussion was one Stephen Alabi, Rotherham’s very own “new Michael Owen”. 

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Mike Woitalla reports from the US on how the  MLS has tackled its youth development problem

Imagine this – you're one of the best 17-year-old players in the country. But you’re not so good at maths, or English is your second language, so you score poor­ly on a crucial exam. Your soccer career is over, because the universities don’t want you.

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