Barcelona have such limited cash funds that the Spanish giants can only afford to take Robinho on loan and have been forced to ditch their interest in Javier Mascherano, according to a source close to the club.

ESPN Soccernet have been told the facts behind why Robinho’s potential move from Manchester City has stalled, and will now not happen, and why Liverpool and Argentina star Mascherano will definitely not be heading the Camp Nou. Barca spent € 66 million and lost the services of Samuel Eto’o in signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the summer. (more…)

Gilberto Madail, left, and Angel Maria Villar, presidents of the Portuguese and Spanish soccer federations, pose following a news conference to unveil the two countries joint bid to host the 2018 and 2022 soccer World Cups, Thursday, Oct. 29 2009, at the federation headquarters in Lisbon.

Portuguese politicians have reacted angrily to the news their country will play second fiddle to Spain in a joint Iberian bid to host the 2018 World Cup. Last week Portuguese Football Association (FPF) president Gilberto Madail revealed his country would be a junior partner in the bid to co-host the 2018 finals with Spain. (more…)

FRom BBC News:

Catalonia has banned happy hour promotional gimmicks to help curb excessive drinking among young people, the regional government said. Violators in the region, which includes the city of Barcelona, could face fines of up to £6,000 ($9,000).

The measure is part of a new regional health bill approved on Wednesday. (more…)

From LA Times:

It reads like an innocuous letter from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, explaining why he vetoed a wonky piece of legislation that would have made changes to “infrastructure financing districts.”

But hidden in Schwarzenegger’s text is another message: an obscene phrase apparently directed at the bill’s author, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), who ridiculed the governor earlier this month. The phrase, “F— You,”  is spelled out by the first letter of seven consecutive lines along the left margin. (more…)

Hear the shout around the 1:20 mark

It’s official. President Obama has accepted Representative Joe Wilson’s apology.

“Yes I do,’’ Mr. Obama said, in response to a question from reporters during a meeting with his Cabinet Thursday morning. “I’m a big believer that we all make mistakes. He apologized quickly and without equivocation and I’m appreciative of that.’’ (more…)

Doing his part for international diplomacy, Becks met with journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee after the Galaxy’s win over Chivas USA this weekend at L.A.’s Home Depot Center. 

Ling and Lee were held in captivity for 140 days in North Korea, before their release was secured by former president Bill Clinton.

Image and story via E Online

Sen. Ted Kennedy died shortly before midnight Tuesday at his home in Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 77.

Iraq’s Mahdi Karim, in green, attempts to score during a friendly soccer match in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, July 13, 2009. Iraq defeated Palestine by 4-0 in a friendly football match in Baghdad, triggering wild celebrations among Iraqis who were unable to watch their national sports teams during years of war.

Iraq hopes to convince FIFA the country is safe enough to host official soccer matches again.

(more…)