Bulgarian football players on lie detector after lost match

There is no end for the bizarre things that occur in world of football. And this time, bizarrnes is going to be solved with the best weapon possible - a lie detector.
Newest scenario involving doubts around sport betting comes from the Balkans, in the Bulgarian First Football League. On first sight, there's nothing strange, a football match, win for the home team with score 1-0. But the strange thing in the whole situation is that the home team is Botev Vraca, and the away team is Lokomitv Plovdiv.
For those who don't follow Bulgarian Championship, Lokomotiv Plovdiv is former Bulgarian champion from 2004, and by this match, had no defeats in the first 5 legs of the season. And things to be more odd, Botev Vraca had 5 defeats in 5 five matches with goal difference 1-15 and is last on the league table!
Suspecting that the match might be sold for the benefit of sport betting, Veselin Mareshki, the owner of Lokomotiv, in a an angry statement said that he is going to put every football player and the coach on a lie detector, just to make sure that there is no black scenario behind the result, even though he is quite aware that wins and losses are part of sport.
But the question here is - how is a loss part of sport, when the odds in sport bets for win of Botev was 15?! 

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Posted in: Football,Scandals and Rumors

Punishment comes for Camoranesi after 18 years!

Crime never pays off. That's the case in the criminal waters, alluding that the punishment for the crimes always reaches the criminals in the end. 

But this may refer to the football waters as well. Although not committing a crime against the law, a sentence for ex Juventus player, Mauro German Camoranesi, is announced a few days back by the Argentinian court, for a tackle slide that Camoranesi made against opponent player 18 years ago, in the far 1994.

The story begins many years back, when Camoranesi played in Argentinian Mar de Plata league for the team of Aldosivi. In a game against the team of Alvarado, Camoranesi made a brutal start over the opponent player Roberto Pizzo, which resulted in a heavy knee injury. 35% of Pizzo's knee had to be reconstructed, and in end it cost him the career, ending the professional playing. 

In a unbelievable court procedure that lasted 18 years, the sentence for this "crime" of Camoranesi was announced on Tuesday by Buenos Aires Supreme Court, with the decision Mauro Camoranesi to pay Roberto Pizzo €50.000 plus interest, as а compensation for the horror he had to live through. 

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Posted in: Camoranesi,Football,Scandals and Rumors

Sport is painful

We all remember greatest moments in sports that made sport history. But very few of us are aware of the pain some experienced doing what they do best. Painful pictures, but it's the reality ..

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Posted in: Pictures,sport injuries

Marouane Fellaini between Manchester United and Chelsea?

Short time after Everton's midfielder Marouane Fellaini made a statement through his FB profile that he doesn't know for how long he would be an Everton player, rumors about his future shirt in the Premier League start to rise on the surface. 

Fellaini used the well-known recipe to attract major clubs attention, saying that he might wear Everton shirt only till Januar, when the winter transfer period opens. It was a reason all by itself for the big club names in England to promote their interest for the services of the 24-year Belgian who has found himself playing in defensive midfield roles as well as offensive. 

Although he is the richest club in the Premier League, Manchester City is not one of the names that's mentioned in the race (not yet). But two other top clubs are included, Manchester United and the Champions League winner Chelsea.

People following the FA Premier League are more than familiar with the midfield situation of these two clubs. Chelsea has the names of Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel for the midfield, but things are not going in the direction that is set from Roberto Di Mateo, due to the lack of connection with the strikers. And only with the name of Oscar as a substitute and Chelsea's tendency of always bringing new names in the squad, it's unlikely that they will not offer a significant amount to see Fellaini in Chelsea's shirt already in January. Rumors go as far as £30 million offer from Chelsea.

As far is Manchester United concerned, their situation in the midfield is just as thin as it's for Chelsea. With the name of Paul Scholes as their best midfielder, the need for another midfield solution is already on the table, and the player who scored the only goal in the first match of the season against United seems like an excellent solution for Alex Ferguson, who always has the ability to recognize what United needs at the moment. 

Rumors are heating, the outcome is set for the winter transfer period. 

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Posted in: Fellaini,Football

How Ronaldo "Fenomeno" looks after finishing his career

We all remember Brazilian football superstar Ronaldo in the shirts of Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, Milan, Brazilian national team, filling our hearts with performances and goals that we'll remember as long as we live .. 

.. but, have you ever wandered how he looks today, after finishing his professional career? You might be amazed with these pictures, but that's the reality ..

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Posted in: Pictures,Ronaldo "Fenomeno"

Tracy McGrady's return to Knicks on sight?

With new season already on the corner, rumors regarding future of some of NBA veterans are starting to rise. 

Limited with the salary cup rule, NBA teams are limited in the choice of players they can afford in their teams, ultimately rising the need to satisfy the shortage in team positions with "cast bronze" a.k.a. NBA veterans. 

Newest rumors coming from the East Conference is that one of the top teams ad former NBA champion - New York Knicks, could sign their old and well-known veteran, Tracy McGrady, that way filling the gap in their team and the bench. This is an excellent best-outcome both for Knicks and McGrady, due to the fact that McGrady is one of the best players of the league coming from the bench, which will possibly mean that the Knicks can promote themselves as a serious candidate for the title. 
The 33-year old player, who was 9th pick of the Draft in 1997, played for Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons and Atlanta Hawks, and has average point career of 19 points per game. 

Will this be the saving point for McGrady and NY Knicks, we should find out soon.

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Posted in: Basketball,NY Knicks,Tracy McGrady

Victims of Djokovic's anger

We all know Novak Djokovic in his winning performances. But what happens when things aren't going according to Novak's plan? Take a look and find out ..

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Posted in: Novak Djokovic,Pictures

Bolt leads the stars in Brussels

Samsung Diamond League reached her end. Final meeting for this season will be held in Brussels on Friday evening. We may have the opportunity to see world class athletes for the last time this season, until preparations and indoor meetings in a few months from now. 

Unlike other Diamond meetings, we'll be shorten for the presence of some world and Olympic champions, but the list of stars assures us that we can expect high performance events. Of course, the main star of the evening will be the world's fastest man - Usain Bolt.

In men's events, excitements can be expected in 100 and 200 meters events. List of stars for the 100 meters event is lead by Usain Bolt, then Carter Nesta (JAM), Ryan Bailey (USA) and former world champion Kim Kollins (SKN). The 200 meters event will have Bolt's training partner Yohan Blake as first favourite, then Christophe Lemaitre (FRA), Warren Weir (JAM), Nickel Ashmeade (JAM) and Jason Young (JAM). 

In 110 meters hurdles, three athletes will face for the first place - Jason Richardson, David Oliver and Arries Merritt (all USA). 400 meters event will have the presence of Belgium twin brothers Kevin and Jonathan Borlee, Angelo Taylor (USA) and Lalonde Gordon (TRI).
Asbel Kiprop (KEN) will be the favourite in 1500 meters, facing Kiplimo Chepceba (KEN) and Matthew Centrowitz (USA). 3000 meters steeplechase excitements are set for Kenyan athletes, as Kipsiele Koech will face Kiprop Kipruto and Kiprop Mutai, while 10.000 meters will have its favourite in the name of Patrick Komon (KEN).
In technical events, Greg Rutherford will be the favourite in long jump, and Virgilijus Alekna in the discuss throw.

Women's events will be shorten for the presence of some top class athletes, so we can not expect spectacular results. In 200 meters events, Aleksandra Fedoriva will be the main favourite, followed by Bianca Knight (USA) and Charonda Williams (USA). Jerkemoi Cheruiyot (KEN) is the favourite in 5000 meters along with Gelete Burka (ETH), while Jelimo Pamela (KEN) will face Mariya Savinova (RUS) in the 800 meters event. 

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Posted in: Athletics,Brussels,Lausanne Samsung Diamond League

Usain Bolt's debut in Man Utd's shirt on the horizont

United's fans could very soon see the King of the Sprint in Manchester United's shirt, according to the statements of United's first man in charge - Sir Alex Ferguson.

In a interview published in the magazine "Inside United", Ferguson announced that Bolt's debut in Red Devil's shirt is very likely to happen very soon, saying that Bolt is an incredible character and that he is seriously considering of satisfying Bolt's biggest wish of playing for United. Long waited debut for Bolt could happen very next year, on 3 June 2013 at "Old Trafford", in a charity match set against Real Madrid. 

It's not a secret that 100 and 200 meters world record holder is a huge fan of Manchester United and that he was asking United's fans in several occasions to help him in persuading Sir Alex Ferguson to include him in United's squad. Bolt was a guest of Ferguson in United's last month 3:2 victory over Fulham, where he again proclaimed his serious ambitions of playing for United, saying he would never considered such thing if he didn't believe in his football abilities. 

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Posted in: Bolt,Football,United

Manchester City with a €120 million offer for Christiano Ronaldo?

Just as anyone could expected - two days after Christiano Ronaldo didn't celebrate his two goals in Real Madrid's shirt against Granada on Sunday, and after his statements that he is not happy in the Royal Club, rumors about his destiny are starting to rise. 

Newest rumor coming from football gossiping is that the richest club in Premier League - Manchester City is preparing an offer for the football megastar of incredible €120 million (£95 million) to get him in their squad. 

This transfer in unlikely to happen until the winter transfer period of the season 2012/13, but it would mean that Real will have to satisfy with much less than Ronaldo's buy-out clause of 1 billion euros. For now, rumors say that City is working on a plan to offer a four year contract to the star, a plan that inevitably would mean selling some of City's present stars in order to make space for the arrival of Ronaldo.

Will this be another shocking transfer in world of football? We can all agree that with Ronaldo saying that he is sad in the club and the rumors that there is some impatience with Iker Casillas, we might witness another sensational transfer. After all, there are few clubs in the world that can pay Christiano Ronaldo's week pay of £250.000 and City is one of them. 

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Posted in: Football,Man City,Ronaldo,transfer

Zenit signed Hulk and Witsel for 40 million euros each!

Although Chelsea was seriously warmed up this summer for the services of the Brazilian 26 year old striker Hulk, in the end, he was signed by the Russian giant Zenit from St. Petersburg, using the russian transfer period which remains open one more week. 

Brazilian striker came to St. Petersburg from the former Champions League Champion - Porto, signing a five year contract with the Russian team for astonishing amount of 40 million euros. Hulk is the first of the two new signings for Zenit, and his new teammate is now Alex Witsal, the 23 year old Belgium player from the midfield, arriving from the other Portuguese giant - Benfica. Same as Hulk, Witsal signed a five year contract with Zenit, with a transfer fee of 40 million euros. 

Signing of Hulk and Witsal should be Zenit's main weapon for making through the group stage in the Champions League into the knock-out phase, in which they have to face Milan, Anderlecht and Malaga. 

In his career Hulk has 14 games for the Brazilian national team in which he scored 5 goals, while Witsel has 30 games for the Belgium national team. 

With a month away from the first match in the Champions League, Zenit is setting his ambitions to a higher level.  

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Posted in: Football,Hulk,Witsel,Zenit

Christiano Ronaldo is leaving Real?

Newest rumors in football world say that Real's megastar Christiano Ronaldo could leave the club in a very short period of time, due to his own personal reasons regarding his happiness in the club.

Non-celebrating even one of the two goals he scored on Sunday against Granada, was a clear sign that things are not going in the right direction for "Los Blancos" club. This was confirmed with Ronaldo's statement that he is sad, and that the club knows it, and that's why he didn't celebrate the goals.

Spanish media are speculating that Ronaldo is not in the best relations with Real's capiten, Iker Casillas, and that's maybe the main reason why he want's out.

With the transfer market now closed, the earliest e can be sold is the next transfer period, in 2013. That is if some club in the world has the necessary courage to pay Ronaldo's buyout clause of 1 billion euro.

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Posted in: Football,leaving,Real Madrid,Ronaldo

Champions League Draw, season 2012/13

The draw on Thursday set the groups for this year's Champions League, in which 32 teams from the Old Continent will be divided in 8 groups, with one "Group of Death".

Here are the groups:

Group A: Paris Saint-Germain, Dynamo Kiev, Porto, Dinamo Zagreb

Group B: Arsenal, Olympiacos, Shalke 04, Montpellier

Group C: AC Milan, Anderlecht, Zenit, Malaga

Group D: Real Madrid, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Ajax

Group E: Chelsea, Juventus, Shakhtar Donetsk, Nordsjaelland

Group F: Bayern Munich, Lille, Valencia, Bate Borisov

Group G: Barcelona, Celtic, Benfica, Spartak Moskva

Group H: Manchester United, Galatasaray, Braga, CFR Cluj

According to the Schedule, first matches are set for September 18/19.

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Posted in: Champions League,draw,Football,groups

Maicon moves to Manchester City

Drama regarding Douglas Maicon's destiny in Inter is finally over. The 31-old right back from Brazil today sign a contract with the richer club from Manchester - City, and that way ending the saga over Maicon's future in the black and blue shirt of Inter, previously linked with a transfer in Real Madrid. 

Maicon was one of Roberto Mancini's biggest wishes, with whom he previously worked when he was head coach in Inter, for a two year period of time between 2006 and 2008. 

Maicon had 235 matches for Inter in which he scored 20 goals and has 66 matches for the Brazilian national team. 

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Posted in: Football,Maicon,Man City,transfer

Athletics: Results from Zurich Samsung Diamond League

Another beautiful night in world of athletics, all thanks to top-class athletes who gave us another enjoyable meeting, with top performance results and few surprises.

Greatest surprise of the evening was that Olympic and world record holder at 800 meters, David Rudisha, was defeated by Ethiopian Mohammed Aman, setting a new national record of 1:42,53, while Rudisha ended with 1:42,81.

World fastest man, Usain Bolt, showed his dominance in the 200 meters again, giving the crowd a high performance race that ended with a meeting record of 19.66, finishing before Nickel Ashmeade with a PB of 19.85 and Jason Young with 20.08, all from Jamaica.

His training partner, Yohan Blake, won again in the 100 meters mark, as well as Bolt, setting a new meeting record of 9.76, before Nesta Carter's season best of 9.95 and Ryan Bailey of USA with 9.97, while USA's Tyson Gay was disqualified after a bad reaction from the starting block.

In the women's 100 meters event, Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce won with 10.83 before USA's Carmelita Jeter with 10.97 and Allyson Felix with 11.02, while in the 400 meters, Sanja Richards-Ross showed her dominance again with winning time of 50.21 finishing before Amantle Montsho with 50.33 and Rosemarie Whyte with 50.41.

Felix Sanchez didn't make it to give himself a birthday gift with winning his fifth victory in Zurich, settling for fourth place with 48.82, while first place went into the hands of USA's Angelo Taylor with 48.29 before Omar Cisneros with 48.34 and Jehue Gordon with 48.40.

Men's 5000 meters brought a lot of excitement, where African runners showed their dominance, with Kenyan Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa winning the race with 12:59,24, before Bernard Lagat's season best of 12:59,2 and Dejen Gebremeskel with 13:00,83, Tariku Bekele finished sixth, while 10.000 meters vice-champion from London, Gullen Rup finished ninth.

In man's technical events, Ivan Urkhov (RUS) won the high jump with 2.31, Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) won the pole vault with 5.70, Tero Pitkamaki (FIN) won the javelin throw with 85.27, Fabrizio Donato (ITA) won the triple jumple with 17.29. In women's technical events, Yelena Sokolova (RUS) won the long jump with 6.92, Perkovic Sandra (CRO) won the discus throw with 63.97, while Valerie Adams (NZL) set a new meeting record in the shot put with 20.81.

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Posted in: Athletics,Results,Zurich