Tag: football

Rome flooded with tears after Francesco Totti plays his final match

The Stadio Olimpico is now the world’s third largest body of salt water

Roma ended their season by beating Genoa 3–2 on a Diego Perotti goal in the 90th minute that secured second place in Serie A and a Champions League place next season. But the joy of this success was completely overshadowed by the sadness of Francesco Totti’s farewell after 25 years with his hometown club.

Totti came on in the 54th minute and would’ve scored if Daniele De Rossi didn’t edge him out to the ball in the 74th minute. After the match, there was a special ceremony where Totti symbolically passed his captain’s armband to Mattia Almaviva, the youngest captain in Roma’s youth academy. Mattia was born in 2006, when Totti was already 14 years into his professional career.

Totti was presented with a framed shirt inscribed with a heartfelt message.

And his teammates tossed him in the air one last time.

All the while, everyone in the stadium was crying as if they were living out the ending of Old Yeller.

Totti retires with 706 appearances and 307 goals for Roma across all competitions. He won Serie A in 2001 (and was a runner-up eight times, including this season), the Coppa Italia twice, and the World Cup in 2006 with Italy. He led all of Europe in scoring in 2006/07, and led Serie A in assists three times.

Before his final match, Totti wrote a letter to Roma fans, which was published on the club’s website.

Thank you, Rome.

Thank you to my mother and father, my brother, my relatives and my friends.

Thank you to my wife and to my three children.

I wanted to start from the end — from the goodbyes — because I don’t know if I’ll be able to read these lines.

It is impossible to sum up 28 years in a few sentences.

I’d like to do so with a song or poem, but I can’t write any.

Over the years, I’ve tried to express myself through my feet, which have made everything simpler for me ever since I was a child.

Speaking of childhood, can you guess what my favourite toy was? A football, of course! And it still is today.

At some point in life, you grow up — that’s what I’ve been told and that’s what time has decided.

Damned time.

Back on 17 June 2001, we all wanted time to pass a little more quickly.

We couldn’t wait to hear the referee blow the final whistle.

I still get goose bumps now when I think back to it.

Today, time has come to tap me on the shoulder and say:

‘We have to grow up. As of tomorrow, you’ll be an adult. Take off those shorts and boots because starting today, you are a man. You can no longer enjoy the smell of the grass, the sun on your face as you bear down on the opposition’s goal, the adrenaline consuming you, the joy of celebrating.’

Over the past few months, I’ve asked myself why I’m being awoken from this dream.

Imagine you’re a child having a good dream… and your mother wakes you up to go to school.

You want to keep dreaming… you try to slip back into the dream but you never can.

This time, it’s not a dream, but reality.

And I can no longer slip back in.

I want to dedicate this letter to all of you — to all the children that have supported me.

To the children of yesterday, who have grown up and become parents and to the children of today, who perhaps shout ‘Tottigol’.

I’d like to think that for you, my career has become a fairytale for you to pass on.

It’s really over now.

I’m taking off that jersey for the final time.

I’ll fold it away, even though I’m not ready to say ‘enough’ and perhaps I never will be.

Forgive me for not giving interviews and clarifying my thoughts, but it’s not easy to turn out the light.

I’m afraid. It’s not the same fear you feel when you’re standing in front of the goal, about to take a penalty.

This time, I can’t see what the future looks like through the holes of the net.

Allow me to be afraid.

This time, it’s me who needs you and the love that you’ve always shown me.

With your support, I will succeed in turning the page and throwing myself into a new adventure.

Now, it’s time for me to thank all of the team-mates, coaches, directors, presidents and everyone who has worked alongside me during this time.

To the fans and the Curva Sud, a guiding light for all Romans and Romanisti.

Being born Roman and Romanisti is a privilege.

Being the captain of this team is an honour.

You are — and will always be — my life. I will no longer entertain you with my feet, but my heart will always be there with you.

Now, I will go down the stairs and enter the dressing room that welcomed me as a child and that I now leave as a man.

I’m proud and happy to have given you 28 years of love.

I love you.

Great, now I’m crying, too.

Francesco Totti sits atop his throne at launch of gold 25th anniversary boots

Rosario Central fans throw dolls on pitch, forcing match to be halted

When football matches turn into horror movies

Lots of strange things have been thrown on the pitch during matches this season alone. Toy pigs, dead rats, a severed bull’s head—but the dozens of plastic dolls Rosario Central fans threw on the pitch during their match against Racing might be the creepiest yet.

Last week, Rosario Central beat their rivals, Newell’s Old Boys, in the Rosario derby. So in their next match, they decided to throw dolls dressed in Newell’s colors onto the pitch midway through the first half of their match against Racing. Because why not?

As a result, it looked like it was raining human babies. Naturally, match officials were forced to halt the match while the dolls were cleared off and everyone received mental health treatment for witnessing this unsettling display.

Anyway, this must have quadrupled the sales of Argentina’s Creepy Generic Baby Doll Company. Congrats to them.

Dirty Tackle podcast

Dirty Tackle podcast

Football. Culture. Nonsense.

This sport takes itself too seriously. Everything from pre-match handshakes to the very name of the game (soccer? football? futbol? calcio?) gets scrutinized and debated. We’re here to pop that balloon and give the beautiful game the podcast that it truly deserves: One that’s childish, nonsensical, and occasionally funny. Hear weird news, comedy sketches, infighting, and merciless takedowns from the writers and editor of the award-winning blog DirtyTackle.net.

Help support the show by contributing at Patreon.com/dirtytackle and contact us at dirtytackle[at]gmail.com.

Scroll down to listen.

June 2, 2017

This week’s episode includes discussion on the Champions League final, transfer rumors, and pornstar footballers. Are Real Madrid coffins a real thing? Is Jimmy Bullard still alive? Did Ryan like Francesco Totti’s farewell more than John Terry’s? What about Arsene Wenger’s new contract? All that and more, brought to you by the Huddersfield Tourism Board!

Check out our Patreon page for an extended version of the show!

May 26, 2017

Sponsored by José Mourinho’s new fragrance, episode six begins with a discussion on Man United’s “Treble of Disappointment,” which they capped off by winning their first-ever Europa League title. It also includes dirty tackles for Liverpool’s travel agent and La Liga’s trophy procrastination, another round of “True Are Ya?”, plus rulings on John Terry’s grandiose farewell and Leroy Sané’s tattoo.

May 18, 2017

While keeping an eye out for Diego Costa’s Chelsea championship rampage, we have dirty tackles for Jose Mourinho, bagel deniers, and Ezequiel Lavezzi. We get to the bottom of whether Edinson Cavani has ever eaten a pizza in his life, and we make rulings on Spurs’ stadium farewell ceremony, Inter fans’ protest, and Benfica’s championship scooter.

May 11, 2017

On this week’s episode,we learn some new words. What are “Champagne Wars” and how does one engage in them? It’s debated in “True Are Ya?” along with Arsene Wenger’s attempts at sarcasm. In the Dirty Tackles of the week, Leo Messi is somehow on the receiving end, and in Life Ref, puking linesmen, shirt-tearing managers, and footballer doppelgängers are all scrutinized.

May 4, 2017

On this week’s episode, hear EXCLUSIVE entries from the diary of tortured Man United defender Luke Shaw, plus our Dirty Tackles of the Week (we’re coming for you and your overpriced parking, Philadelphia Union owners), another round of True Are Ya? (Has Paulo Dybala really never been to a movie theater in his life?), binding decisions are made in Life Ref, and we advertise questionable products from Bayern Munich and Francesco Totti.

April 28, 2017

Episode two opens with an important, but very unhygienic, blood drive for Lionel Messi, then we share our Dirty Tackles of the Week (1/1 odds on this segment including Joey Barton), consider the facts and fiction of “True Are Ya?” (did Real Madrid ban their own fans after El Clasico?), and announce our rulings in Life Ref (is video review bad for the game?).

March 23, 2017

In our big debut, Ryan Bailey, Theo Messi, and myself sort through real and fake news (Manuel Pellegrini on dancing with the stars? Arsene Wenger’s parrots? Coutinho’s Mickey Mouse tattoo?) in “True Are Ya?”, offer up our Dirty Tackles of the Week as retribution for improper conduct in the football world, and give our rulings on hot button topics like plane banners, sleeve sponsors, and Cristiano Ronaldo Airport in “Life Ref” (which has an amazing theme song, by the way). Plus hear totally not made up ads for the outrageously priced Miami Clasico and new technology to get you through the international break.

Jose Mourinho changes his tune on Arsene Wenger for maximum condescension

Mou knows how to make the most of a loss

Arsenal’s 2–0 win over Man United on Sunday not only ended the Red Devils’ 25-match unbeaten streak that could best be described as “an orgy of draws,” it also marked Arsene Wenger’s first win against Jose Mourinho in 13 attempts over his career.

As their personal rivalry has grown, Mourinho has reveled in his record against a man he once called a “specialist in failure.” But after Sunday’s match, Mourinho had very different things to say about Arsenal and Wenger. Things that might have sounded complimentary on the surface, but served a very specific purpose.

Mourinho said:

“The Arsenal fans, they are happy and I am happy for them.”

That’s so nice! Maybe this loss has finally humbled Jose Mourinho and convinced him that it’s time to make peace with his enemies. But wait, there’s more..

“It’s the first time I leave Highbury or the Emirates and they are happy. I left Highbury, they were crying. I left Emirates, they were crying. They were walking the streets with their heads low, so finally, today, they sing, the scarves, you know, it’s nice for them. It’s nice for them. Honestly. It’s nice for them.”

OK, now he’s starting to sound like a guy who just lost a Mario Kart race to a toddler who doesn’t know what any of the buttons do and can’t handle it.

“It’s a big club. It’s a big club. You think I enjoy the fact that a big club like Arsenal is not winning big trophies?”

Yes.

“I’m not enjoying that. Honestly.”

No one believes that, Jose. No one.

“Arsene Wenger is not a…a…small manager.”

The fact that he had to pause and build up the will to say that is telling.

“He’s a big manager.”

I’m 99% certain he’s referring to Wenger’s height here.

“So to have that record of winning so many matches, it’s something that is not normal. That’s not normal. Normal is win, lose, draw. It’s not normal.”

Translation: “One match doesn’t change the fact that I’ve beaten Wenger an abnormal amount of times.”

“And I really don’t care about it. I really don’t care about it.”

“I’m fine,” say the man with blood pouring from his nose.

“And today, there were no problems. We shook hands before the game, we shook hands after the game, and during the game I didn’t like what I never like: he puts too much pressure on the fourth official all the time. [Man United press officer ends press conference]”

And there it is. All that to work up to a parting shot about Wenger harassing the fourth official. He’s too afraid to go for a win against a top opponent away from home, but he still tries to take the high ground after losing. Truly a master at work.

Linesman vomits during Scottish Premier League match, gets shown red card by ref

Evidence that you need to watch much more or far less Scottish football

You’re a linesman working a match between Dundee and Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premier League. You’ve been running up and down the pitch all day. Suddenly, as Kilmarnock prepared to take a corner kick, you feel a worrying rumble in your belly. Whether it was too much exposure to the sun and Scottish football or too much boozing the previous night, something’s gone rotten and you know it’s going to get much worse before it gets better.

Seeing your clear distress, the Kilmarnock player about to take the corner kick puts a hand on your shoulder and tells the referee something is wrong. That’s when a wave of puke rises up through your system like a rancid tidal wave and escapes onto the grass. The crowd cheers. The ref shows you a red card. The crowd cheers again. You turn around and puke again.

Leo Messi has puked on the pitch many times, but he’s never been shown a red card for it. This decision will likely be overturned on appeal, assuming the linesman doesn’t puke during his hearing, too.

Scottish football, pukey hell!

Francesco Totti sits atop his throne at launch of gold 25th anniversary boots

A perfect celebration of Il Capitano’s 25 seasons with Roma

(AS Roma)

Francesco Totti is celebrating his 25th season with his beloved Roma and to mark the occasion, Nike released gorgeous limited-edition gold Tiempos ahead of Sunday’s Rome derby.

(Nike)

But the launch event in Rome was equally fitting, as Totti was given a proper throne to sit on while looking out over his adoring subjects. Each step leading up to Totti bore the name of previous ruler of Rome, with his own at the top.

Though his playing time has dwindled, Totti’s love of Roma has not diminished over the years. From Reuters:

“Rome is the most beautiful city in the world,” he added. “From one moment to the next, it takes your breath away with narrow streets and stunning scenery.

“Sure, I might have won more trophies elsewhere but my loyalty to Roma was like winning the Champions League to me.”

Here’s to another 25.

PSV goalkeeper angry at goal-line technology for catching his own goal

Rage against the machine, Eredivisie style


PSV, winners of the last two consecutive Eredivisie titles, suffered the ice-cold wrath of goal-line technology on one of the most painful own goals in recent memory during their 2–1 loss to Feyenoord. PSV keeper Jeroen Zoet made a save right on the line, but when he picked up the ball, he inadvertently pulled it over the line, causing the Hawk-Eye system to signal a goal had been scored on the referee’s watch.

To fully illustrate the fine margins at work here, take a look at the Hawk-Eye illustration:


The loss leaves PSV 11 points adrift of first-place Feyenoord with 10 matches left to play and Zoet decided to direct his fury at an inanimate object.

From the Guardian:

“This is seriously fucked up,” Zoet told the Dutch broadcaster NOS. “The goal-line technology made the difference and things could have been different if it had not.

“He went only by his watch. If that had not happened, I think he would have said no goal. You should always keep believing in things, but the title is very far away. [It’s] a serious blow.”

He later told PSV TV: “I did everything I could to prevent the ball crossing the line. According to the system, it was one millimetre over the line.”

“Why can’t we go back to a time when things were wrong?!” Zoet is basically saying. And I get that it’s hard to come to terms with situations like this, but…come on. It’s not the technology’s fault that you pulled the ball over the line yourself.

Anyway, Zoet almost certainly went home and smashed his iPhone with a hammer after this.


https://upscri.be/16bb19/