The Big Dance

The number and statistics obsessed guys at The Best Eleven put together this great visual. Here are your final 32 contenders, gents.

Biggest Match Fixing Probe in European History

So far, 15 suspects have been arrested, 50 raids carried out producing €1m in cash, with over €10m ($15m) in illegal betting proceeds, and a total of 200 matches around Europe suspected of fixing including 3 Champions League fixtures.

The Financial Times has this,

"This is without a doubt the biggest fraud scandal to ever hit European football,” said Peter Limacher of the Union of European Football Associations. “We are deeply shocked."

All of these numbers have just been released, but police from four different countries are already involved with more suspects and illegal money still expected. This is turning into the kind of criminal gang ring you see in movies.

The game is dirty folks, that's just how it is. But if UEFA and FIFA can handle this the right way, it would be a huge statement for other organizing bodies that match-fixing can be taken care of.

Placenta Cream, Now Available for Your Local Physio

This stuff works?

This isn't just a passing fad in football, apparently this stuff actually helps players through injury. Liverpoogle bossman Benitez vouches for it.

"Glen Johnson, Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun, and Albert Riera have all visited the Belgrade clinic run by physiotherapist Mariana Kovacevic, having previous been ruled out for up to a month with calf and hamstring injuries.

Following a massage with the placenta cream, all four have returned to full training and are in line for Saturday's vital home Premier League clash with Manchester City, with a Champions League trip to Hungary to face Debrecen on Tuesday and the Merseyside derby at Everton next Sunday."

I guess when you are as desperate as Benitez, any miracle cure looks good.

But my question is why has this been a secret until now then? I mean, if it really does work for the prissy, overpaid celebrity star, when will we see a market movement for placenta creams at our local pharmacys? Perhaps if somehow after this treatment Liverpool win the league and Robin van Persie takes the Golden Boot...

Backwards Pass: Van Persie

Ehh WHAT

"Van Persie will fly to Serbia to have the treatment, performed by a female doctor, following a recommendation from PSV Eindhoven striker Danko Lazovic.

Van Persie was stretchered off in the 10th minute of Holland's goalless friendly encounter with Italy after a challenge from Giorgio Chiellini.

"She is vague about her methods but I know she massages you using fluid from a placenta.

"I'm going to try. It cannot hurt and if it helps, it helps."

No, RVP, you're only kind of right actually. If it doesn't hurt, it's still fucking creepy as hell.

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Irish Hospitality - Diplomatic Beef

The following images have reportedly been leaked from the Irish government office, and contain correspondence between French and Irish officials ahead of the upcoming World Cup playoff.

Not so secretly, I am praying that this is real. And simply because of this, I cannot wait until Ireland take on France at Croke Park.

Follow the jump and enjoy.

Another motor accident

Tottenham keep Carlo Cudicini was reported to have been in a motorcycle crash, fracturing both his wrists and pelvis.

For the sake of goalies everywhere, can they not try to be safer? Keepers are already not the most readily available players.

Loss for Words

Don't really know what to say about this, but Robert Enke was found dead today after being hit by a train. For one, I don't want to contemplate whether it was suicide or not, but he was definitely a talented keeper and was expected to go to South Africa with the German national team.

The general consensus is that Enke was a good bloke, but this is grim news for football.