The Croatian Football Federation has been fined a second time for Racial Crowd Abuse, just months after FIFA disciplined and fined them over fans action during the 2008 Euro Quarterfinal match with Turkey for the same.

With Emile Heskey being subjected to Monkey Chants after being booked during Englands 4 - 1 romp at the Maksimir Stadium in Zagreb, FIFA slapped a whopping 14,920k Pound fine on the CFF.

While FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee has warned Croatia that another issue will lead to “more severe actions”, you have to wonder when is enough enough.  Wouldn’t a more suitable action be to force Croatia to play Qualifiers in an empty stadium or at a neutral ground rather than a small slap on the wrist for a second offense just months after their first?

A FIFA statement read: “The FIFA disciplinary committee has fined the Croatia Football Federation CHF 30,000 (£14,920) for the racist behavior of some of their supporters at the 10 September 2008 Croatia v England preliminary competition match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

“The Croatian Football Federation was found guilty of a violation of article 58, paragraph 2 of the FIFA disciplinary code, and received a warning regarding its future conduct according to article 13.

“Further infringements of article 58 would lead to more severe sanctions by the FIFA disciplinary committee.”

image via TheSun

I think Theo Walcott is going to be OK. First you put three into the back of the net against Croatia, and then you get in your Ferrari or Bentley or Mercedes and then go home and score a couple of more times with this.

Say Hello to Melanie Slade… (more…)

One hell of a performance for the sometime Arsenal starter.

Wonder if Fabio Capello’s faith in the young player at the International Stage will in any way influence Arsene “The Voyeur” Wenger into giving Walcott more starts in the Arsenal side?

A bit of a surprise in Fabio Capello’s 23 man roster that will face Andorra and Croatia in World Cup Qualifiers was the first time inclusion of Fulham’s 29 year old midfielder Jimmy Bullard.

Bullard’s inclusion into the Full National Team completes a remarkable recovery from a career-threatening ACL injury that he suffered almost exactly two years ago and was out injured for 15 months before returning to play a crucial part in Fulham’s Premier League survival last season.

Capello has left out Michael Owen, Peter Crouch and Jonathan Woodgate while Michael Carrick, Owen Hargreaves and Steven Gerrard will miss out due to injury.

England play Andorra in Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday evening (September 6th) and then travel to Zagreb for their second qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday, 10 September.

Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Blackburn), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham)Defenders: Joleon Lescott (Everton), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Matthew Upson (West Ham)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Jimmy Bullard (Fulham), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), David Bentley (Tottenham), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham)

Forwards: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth), Emile Heskey (Wigan).

image via Yimg

Despite the fact that Scottish gaffer Sir Alex Ferguson looks set to boss a Great Britain Olympic soccer team at London 2012, Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond isn’t impressed. “The whole concept’s ridiculous and only could be put forward by somebody who’s seriously out of touch with Scotland. Who on earth would really want to jeopardize or sacrifice the future of Scotland as an international football country so we could have a couple of players in an under-23 team in four years’ time?”

This story seems to be getting bigger, and everyone is chiming in with an opinion, from PM Gordon Brown (pro), to David Beckham (pro) to Sir Sean Connery (against) and Sepp Blatter (changes daily).

Image via CTV

Love the Brit papers…they pull no punches…

“Just in case we were in any danger of getting carried away by Team GB’s heroics, Team Fabio reminded us last night what English sport looks like when the wheels really do come off. It could have been a Steve McClaren tribute night at Wembley: a wretched performance in the rain and booing on the final whistle from an England support who have had a gutful of insipid football….”

Brian Barwick, Head of the English FA, ousted!

More Headlines

Image via Flickr

The wait is over as England head coach Fabio Capello has officially named Chelsea’s John Terry as his and England’s permanent Captain ahead of their Friendly against the Czech Republic at Wembley.

Terry (who led England out against the United States earlier this year), originally named Captain by then dodgy manager Steve McClaren after the Los Angeles Galaxy’s David Beckham handed back the armband following the conclusion of the 2006 World Cup, retains his role following the Captain auditions of Steven Gerrard versus Switzerland, Rio Ferdinand versus France and David Beckham versus Trinidad and Tobago.

While many thought that Rio Ferdinand would be Terry’s main competition for the most honored role in English Football, Fabio Capello did name Ferdinand his Vice - Captain.

“It means the world to me to retain the armband, especially with the players we have in the squad who have achieved so much in the last couple of years,” he said on Sky Sports News.

“To get the armband back is a huge achievement for me and makes me very proud once again.

“The manager called everyone together and told the squad as a whole.

“I was a little bit shocked. Rio has been in awesome form for Manchester United so for me to get the armband ahead of everyone in the squad is a massive achievement.

Jonathan Woodgate was the only player missing from training today (most likely because of his injury history) as Fabio Capello’s English National Team started preparations ahead of their friendly clash with the Czech Republic on Wednesday at Wembley Stadium.

Manchester United’s Michael Carrick had to pull out of the squad after suffering an ankle injury against Newcastle United on Sunday, with Tottenham’s Jermain Jenas drafted in as his replacement.

image via Soccer_Heaven

Fabio Capello has named his squad for England’s friendly against the Czech Republic.

No Dean Ashton, no Peter Crouch and surprisingly no Darren Bent, while Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry was named despite all the confusion over his on again / off again move to Liverpool.

Goalkeepers:

David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Blackburn), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders:

Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham), Matthew Upson (West Ham)

Midfielders:

Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), David Bentley (Tottenham),

Strikers:

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth), Emile Heskey (Wigan)

Fabio Capello is set to name his England Captain in a meeting two days before next weeks friendly match against the Czech Republic.

“I will announce the captain two days before the game,” said the Italian.  “I will speak with the captain just a moment before I tell the rest of the squad, then everyone else will find out.”

image via DailyMail