Foul!

For the first time since Forbes began ranking the world’s most valuable soccer teams a decade ago, two Spanish teams, Real Madrid and Barcelona, have grabbed the top two spots. During the 2012-13 season Real Madrid generated revenue of $675 million–the most of any team in history in any sport–and are now worth $3.44 billion, 4% more than a year ago. Barcelona posted the second-most revenue ($627 million) and are worth $3.2 billion, up 23% from last year. Neither Real Madrid or Barcelona have peaked due to their consistently great play on the pitch–both domestically and in the lucrative Champions League –and commercial success. Led on the pitch by Cristiano Ronaldo , Real Madrid is in this year’s Champions League final after trouncing last year’s winner, Bayern Munich, in the semi-finals by an aggregate of 5-0. As a result, Real Madrid’s Champions League bounty will surpass the $62 million they took home last year when they were eliminated in the semi-finals by Bo...

Haresh Says, as published in Mailsport today. HE  spoke about security in the region and strengthening bilateral ties between both nations. Barack Obama was even asked about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, insisting US was not bullying Malaysia. And during the press conference at Seri Perdana in Putrajaya on Sunday, Obama joined a string of politicians and athletes as he condemned the racist remarks which were apparently uttered by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. Obama called the remarks “incredibly offensive”. “When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t really have to do anything, you just let them talk. That’s what happened here,” he said. The basketball tycoon hogged the limelight for the wrong reason over the weekend after news website TMZ posted a 10-minute recording of what is claimed to be a conversation between Sterling and his girlfriend Vanessa Stiviano, 38. Sterling had apparently said: “It both...

I received several phone calls yesterday regarding the backpage report ' Match or player agent? ' that appeared in The Malay Mail. One woke me up by raising his voice and telling me never to contact him again. Several others called me to justify the roles played by the FA of Malaysia (FAM), BSC Soccer Sdn Bhd and event management company Fat Boys. None, however, answered my question - who was the link between Barcelona and Kuala Lumpur? Here are the questions which I hope will be answered either through the documents which the Sports Commissioner Office will receive today or at the FAM Congress at the Royal Chulan Hotel. 1. Who brought FC Barcelona to KL since FAM were unaware of their trip to KL in the beginning?     Note: Sinar Harian report (March 6, 2013)     Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) kurang berpuas hati dengan tindakan wakil Barcelona FC yang menghebahkan kedatangan kelab bola sepak Sepanyol itu tanpa merujuk kepada mereka terl...

More doubts are cast over the Malaysia-FC Barcelona match held last Saturday which could see Fifa’s intervention over the fiasco. It remains unclear as to who was authorised to bring the team to Kuala Lumpur. Checks on Fifa’s website revealed only three registered match agents — Miroslav Bozik, E.R. Subramaniam and Abdul Razak Salam Salah — are based in Malaysia. Apparently, BSC Soccer Malaysia Sdn Bhd were named “exclusive promoters” for the Spanish giant’s tour in Malaysia by the club. The letter was signed off by FC Barcelona marketing commercial-area director Laurent Colette. BSC Soccer managing director Effendi Jagan is a Fifa registered player’s agent and not a match agent. His name is only registered with Fifa as a players agent. According to Fifa’s regulations, a team must be brought into the country by a match-agent while a player’s agent is responsible for the transfer of players between clubs. However, a foreign based match agent is allowed to bring the...

"Take my number down. We can meet outside. I’m not scared.” That was not a scene from the famous gangster Tamil movie 'Pudhupettai' nor was it a conversation overheard outside a pub. Those were the words of a security personnel manning the VIP lift entrance at the Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday. Mr Moustache, who spewed such rudeness, went on to push fans and members of the Press into an already packed small lobby area at the ground floor. His colleague, a scrawny young chap who folded up his short sleeved T-shirt presumably to show off his minute tattoo on his upper arm, joined in to mock fans and members of the Press. KLFA president Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz witnessed it first hand. The former Setiawangsa MP, who is also the FA of Malaysia (FAM) referee committee chairman, had to raise his voice against the security detail before he was allowed out. Clearly frustrated, he described the whole episode as “stupid”. Read all about the Barca saga in Haresh Says today. Her...

Barcelona, without its famous Lionel Messi, defeated Malaysia 3-1 in an exhibition match at the Shah Alam Stadium yesterday. Some paid RM688 to watch the Spanish team play as Messi, who is reportedly "nursing an injury" sat by the sidelines. Several interesting incidents happened throughout the run-up to the match and on match day. Share your 'valuable' experience - may it be the "polite" conversation you had with the security folks, if getting to Shah Alam, instead of Bukit Jalil after being told at the 11th hour, was an "enjoyable" experience, if any Barcelona players waved at you or if you paid top Ringgit but "preferred" to stand throughout the match - all for the love of Barcelona FC. Would LOVE to hear from the Barcelona fans out there. HD says: Barcelona is a fun city.

UPDATE 9.06am :Paralympic athlete Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli won the gold medal in the men's shot put (F20) final of the IPC World Athletics Championships. ----   National divers Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee ensured a podium finish in the women's 10m platfom synchronised at the World Aquatics Championship in Barcelona early this morning. Pandelela and Mun Yee bagged the bronze medal in the Spanish city known for its football team while the famous La Sagrada Família serves as the backdrop for the world competition. China pair Chen Ruolin-Liu Hui Xia won the gold medal while Canadians Meaghan Benfeito-Roseline Filion were placed second. The Malaysian duo repeated their efforts in 2009 when they also won the bronze medal in the same event then. The other two Asian teams who made it to the finals are the divers from North Korea (placed 9th overall) and neighbours South Korea (11th). On Monday, the national archers came in second after losing 209-203 to Mexico in t...

UPDATE March 8, 2013 (9.36am) : Here is an email by FC Barcelona about the matter -   Dear Sir, Thanks a lot for your communication and for  your interest in our club with regards to our visit to Malaysia this summer. Briefly we will do the official announcement of the match and then we will take the opportunity to give all the details around this visit. We thanks again for your interest and we remain at your disposal for further enquires. Best Regards Chemi Terés International Communications Press and Communications Department --------- It is supposed to be the most anticipated visit. Spanish giants Barcelona are set to play in Malaysia on August 10 as published on the official website . Malaysia will be their final leg of the Asian Tour as the Catalans visit China on August 3 and Thailand four days later. Here's the twist. FA of Malaysia (FAM) were earlier clueless about Barcelona's visit to the country.  Yesterday, the national ...

Or not? The Star's Eric Samuel - a respected journo in football - had revealed in an exclusive on Thursday that Barcelona are set to visit Malaysia in August . The FA of Malaysia, however, seemed clueless about the Spanish giants heading to our shores as reported by Bernama . While the arrival of Lionel Messi and David Villa to Malaysia is unclear, Chelsea have confirmed their pre-season Asia Tour dates which will include a match against the Malaysian Selection on July 21 at the Shah Alam Stadium.      HD says: Would love to see Barcelona in Malaysia....

There are efforts to get Spanish giants Barcelona FC and Manchester United to play in KL. I was reliably informed that verbal discussions have been made about Barca and Manchester United - as reported in today's Mailsport . However, a source said the discussions are too "pre-mature" and nothing has been finalised. The possibility of Man Utd playing in KL is better though. Apparently, Barcelona are looking at an Asian Tour this year with China and maybe Indonesia, Malaysia or India as their destinations. The Spanish team held talks with government officials in China and closed a deal with an Internet giant there recently. They were also in India last year to toy with the idea of tapping into the Indian market. The Red Devils, meanwhile, last visited KL in 2009 and registered 3-2 and 2-0 wins over the Malaysian selection. It will certainly be a treat for football fans after KL host three EPL clubs - Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea - back to back at the National Stadium in ...