In an extract from his new history of German football, Tor!, Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger recalls the sensation of the 1971 Bundesliga bribery scandal
Despite his name, the German-born Spaniard Horst Gregorio Canellas was not a Cosa Nostra don but an importer of bananas. Legend has it he supplied the DFB (German FA) headquarters. He had a raspy voice worthy of Al Pacino and was a chain-smoker, despite persistent asthma problems. He had also been the president of Kickers Offenbach since 1964.
Alan Moore explains why the Gulf kingdom is unlikely to spring many surprises at this year's World Cup, not to attract any high profile foreign players
Saudi Arabia arrived on the international scene with one of the greatest goals in World Cup history. Saed Al Owarain’s mazy run and shot against Belgium in 1994 lit the fuse for a footballing explosion in one of the most private and secretive countries on earth. But despite another World Cup qualification this time around, their third in a row, Saudi football has been in steady decline for some time.
Plymouth Argyle fan Rob Synnott looks at his clubs fortunes, the current crop and rivalries
What are the main reasons why Argyle have under-achieved over the years ?
Certainly the club has been left behind in terms of infrastructure, especially with the stadium, although that would now appear to be a thing of the past. Equally, the geographical position of Plymouth has dissuaded many would-be players from joining the club. Stories abound of prospective signings having to be offered sweeteners to even consider travelling this far south-west. The upshot has been that it has proved frustratingly difficult to attract the calibre of player and staff necessary to improve the club.
Dear WSC
Wasn’t it nice to see Peter Ridsdale go behind the goal to speak to his fans at the recent Everton v Leeds game? If only more chairmen would show this sort of passion and interest in their fans.
Paul Weaver, Cardiff
Small may not be all that beautiful in Scottish football, but it is no less intense. Geoff Leonard investigates the neglected passions of Dumfries and Galloway
Inter-city rivalries sound like fun, where the proximity of large conurbations lends an edge to clashes between clubs such as Newcastle and Sunderland. City ones look even better – Dundee’s clubs divided by a street, Liverpool’s by a park and Glasgow’s by centuries of intolerance.