By Chris Wright

This is a real stinker to start the morning but, as was reported at half-time during last night’s Final Score, 74 people are known to have died and at least 1,000 have been injured in a mass pitch invasion during the Egyptian league game between rival sides Al-Masry and Al Ahli in the city of Port Said.

Most of the deaths were caused by the ensuing crush of people attempting to flee the stadium as fans fought inside, with people bottle-necking through exit gates and being flung from terraces.

The violence broke out at the end of the match, which Al-Masry won 3-1, though the tension was rising throughout the game as both sets of fans taunted one-another with banners and chants, before the home supporters charged onto the pitch at the final whistle and began attacking Al-Ahly players and fans as fires were started in the stands.

“This is not football. This is a war and people are dying in front of us,” Al-Ahly player Mohamed Abo Treika said afterwards.

Given the state of flux the country finds itself in at the moment, there were, of course, political undertones to the violence that ensued arising from unrest caused by Egypt’s military government – though we don’t want to get bogged down in the intricacies, as it would take someone a damn sight more qualified than I to accurately relay the ‘whys’ and ‘wherefores’ that bought about the tragic scenes in Port Said last night (try the Guardian’s live feed for starters).

It has since been announced that a minute’s silence will be observed before each of this weekend’s African Cup of Nations quarter-final matches as a mark of respect for those 74 people who went out to watch a football match last night and never came home.

                          

By Chris Wright

“Well Nick, you’ve got to hold and give, but do it at the right time…”

English rugby is pretty much in the doledrums following a World Cup campaign that can best be described as a ‘fiasco’, in which the Rugby Football Union leaked on players, the players leaked on each other and Mike Tindall did a bad thing with a blonde lady in a Queensland bar – or so is my limited understanding on the matter.

In short, it needs fixing. Fixing by someone. A hero. A heroic someone. There’s only one logical choice: Gary Alexander Neville.

According to the BBC, the new England coach Stuart Lancaster has flashed the Nev Signal across the night sky of Gotham City and asked Neville to deliver a motivational speech to his squad this very afternoon ahead of the Six Nations getting underway next month.

Neville  - along with some cricketer and an injured soldier – has apparently been asked to address the concept of ‘playing and fighting for your country’, drawing on his experiences with England at Euro 96 for inspiration.

Said Lancaster:

“Gary never turned down playing for his country. He is one of the most capped England players ever. He was frustrated, because he never felt he achieved with England what he wanted to achieve.

“He wants to help the players understand that, when you are playing for your country and you get it right, like England did at Euro 96, how powerful that is, to get the nation behind you.

“The ‘Three Lions on the shirt’ – we all felt that. Gary wants to help our team get that feeling. His message is good. He is not doing this for any other reason than he wants to try to help.

“When I asked him to speak, he said it was an honour to do it. When Gary Neville says it is an honour, it is an honour – and if the players can understand that, then you get more responsible behaviour as well.”

Just a thought, but maybe Neville could dredge up and rehash some of his old motivational speeches to show just what an honour it was to ‘play and fight’ for his country, like this chest-swelling gem from August of 2011:

“There have been times when I’ve reflected on my international career and just thought: ‘Well that was a massive waste of time.’

“The whole lot of us got it in the neck at times. Playing for England was like one long roller-coaster where you’re not really sure if you’re enjoying the ride.”

And did those feet in ancient time…

                          

By Chris Wright

You may remember, not so very long ago, when the KNVB Cup match between Ajax and Alkmaar had to be abandoned after just 38 minutes when Alkmaar ‘keeper Esteban Alvarado was red-carded (it was later rescinded) for knocking a drunken pitch-invader on his arse and then belting the living daylights out of the 19-year old hoodlum as he sprawled on the turf.

Well, the Dutch FA have confirmed that the match will be replayed on January 19th, but with one stipulation – that the Amsterdam Arena is closed to anyone over the age of 13.

Ajax were initially ordered to replay the game ‘behind closed doors’ in an empty stadium, but the club appealed to the Dutch FA to allow women and children to attend as a compromise.

However, the KNVB ruled that adults with lady parts would not be allowed to attend due to a national equality law in the Netherlands which states that men and women are to be treated comparably at all times.

Therefore, in a move similar to the Turkish FA’s decision to only allow women into a Fenerbache match to punish their male fans for being boisterous dickheads, tickets for the game will be provided free of charge for youth football clubs and primary schools for children aged under 13 – with one adult teacher/supervisor allowed in to look after every six kids.

How lovely. One gold star for the Dutch FA – though we don’t envy the Ajax grounds staff. That’s a whole lot of sticky fingerprints and spilt Vimto that’s going to need cleaning up afterwards.

                          

By Chris Wright

He’s already tried (and sadly failed) to bring about the demise of Western Capitalism by imploring people to protest the global financial crisis and boycott the banking sector by keeping all their money in biscuit tins under the bed, but now Eric Cantona has his hirsute, charismatically dishevelled sights set on total political reform in his native land – announcing his decision to officially run for the French Presidency.

In an open letter, published in Liberation, Cantona outlined his manifesto:

“I am an attentive citizen of our era, of the opportunities it offers to young people—(which are) too limited—of the injustices it generates—too many, too violent, too systematic.

“I am a committed citizen. This engagement obliges me to speak up, more seriously than usual, but also with a keen sense of my responsibility, at a time when our country is faced with difficult choices.”

Cantona is hoping to run in this year’s presidential election and needs the support and signatures of 500 local mayors by the end of February to compete in a first round ballot in late April – with the two biggest vote-winners going through into a second round of voting in early May. Come on Mayors of France, you know what you have to do.

However, it’s perhaps worth pointing out that, even if Eric pulls in the 500 squiggles required, it’s still highly unlikely that he’ll be able to reach the second round without the backing of a political party. were able to get 500 signatures, a difficult task without the backing of an established party.

That said, this is Eric Cantona we’re talking about here. Nothing makes sense in the King’s realm.

UPDATE: Forget all of that. It was a PR stunt on Cantona’s part to draw attention to the housing crisis in France. The big, hairy, monobrowed, conscientious, socially aware, Gallic bastard.

                          

Just a little heads-up to let you know that I’m not going to be around until the New Year as I’m away recharging my batteries for a few days after Christmas.

Therefore, Pies will be slowing down a little bit until early January. That said, Alan’s still going to be around to keep the ship afloat with the odd post hither and thither, so we’re we’re not going to be totally silent over the post-festive phase.

Thank you all for a great 2011 – we’d be nowt but a page of pointless pixels without your discerning eye and impeccable taste in football blogs, so we really do appreciate your continued interest and input. Much, much love.

I’ll see you all again in January – rejuiced, rejigged and at least one waist size bigger if everything goes to plan.

A very Merry Christmas from Pies!

                          

Sponsored post from Schwartz

Christmas is a family party that usually includes the traditional Christmas meal. It is the time of year when people around the world meet and keep long-standing traditions alive. These traditions will vary between areas but one universal tradition is that of food. Whilst the types of food eaten and the time when it is consumed may vary, food is an integral part of this international celebration.

One of the main problems faced by some families is the choice over turkey and ham. For some families, these are the only two options when it comes to a traditional holiday feast and many will cook book instead of making this difficult decision. For other families, dishes can be varied enough to include ribs, duck and even Indian recipes.

No food is considered off limits at Christmas, whatever the preference of your family is. However, if you are thinking about changing the main course in the big dinner this year, you may want to check the preferences of those who will be in attendance. Chinese recipes which use duck have become increasingly popular over recent years and could prove to be a popular alternative.

During the holiday season, many homes are filled with the aroma of holiday baked goods. Some people make a huge batch of sugar cookie dough to roll and cut with cookie cutters. This creates fantastic seasonal treats shaped like Christmas trees, Santa, stars and angels – perfect for kids.

Decorating these cookies with coloured icing and sparkles is a tradition that screams family fun and can be undertaken by children of all ages.
Other sweet items such as fudge and sugared almonds are also popular over the Christmas season. These are typically store bought and make great additions to Christmas stockings.

Perhaps the main baked goods which people make over the festive period is that of Christmas cake. This traditional cake is a dense fruit sponge filled with a variety of dried fruits like raisins, cherries, pineapple and apricots.

In general, this fruit cake is made with alcohol that help to preserve it. Many commercial fruit cakes are packaged or readymade but individuals can always find great recipes to make their own. Alongside this, a number of companies will provide pre packaged ingredients suitable for making these sorts of dishes. Taking a look at the range of pre-packaged goods by manufacturers such as Schwartz can help you to get all of your favourite Christmas recipes made quickly and easily.

For those who want to escape the cold winter climate, hot chocolate or spiced apple cider is a good way to warm up. Hot drinks are always popular at this time of year so have fun making your own. Try adding festive ingredients to popular drinks and see what you can create – you never know you might just end up starting your own Christmas tradition!

                          

By Alan Duffy

Alex Horne, with a little Madonna-esque microphone

FA big-wig Alex Horne believes that the much-debated goal-line technology could finally be introduced into top level football as early as next season. Horne says that if one of the current systems which are being tested is found to work reliably, then the technology is likely to be introduced.

“I think goal-line technology would be a huge boost for the game,” said Horne. ”For years we’ve thought this was a good addition to referees’ armoury. It’s possible we could see (goal-line technology) in the Premier League as early as 2012-13.”

“It’s easy to make mistakes and we’ve all seen examples where the referee and assistant referee can’t see if a ball has crossed the line or not. We need to support them in decision-making, ” explained Horne.

The International Football Association Board, which is the game’s law-making body, will meet in London in March to assess the latest testing phase of the technology. Then the IFAB will meet again in July 2012 when a decision will be made on whether or not to utilise the new system.

The organisation itself is made up of the FA, Irish FA, Welsh FA and Scottish FA – who all receive one vote, while FIFA, acting on behalf of the rest of the world, have four votes. With any decision needing three-quarters of the members to approve it, FIFA’s approval will be needed if the law is to change, which may prove to be a stumbling block.

So what do you think – is goal-line technology really a good idea or will it only be the first step in replacing the judgement of referees altogether, with video evidence used for fouls, dives and everything else?

Still, I bet Pedro Mendes wish it had been introduced back in 2005…

                          

I have absolutely no idea who these teams are or indeed where they hail from, but I just love this photo of amateur football at it’s most endearing and figured that you may get a simple kick out of it too…

That’s one f**king awesome tunnel!

(Spotted over on the wonderful 500 Reasons To Love Football)

                          

Buying gifts for men can be a tricky thing to get just right. If you believe the conventional – and possibly comedic – thinking, then you might decide to stick to practical things like DIY trinkets. However, you might feel that is lacking a bit in imagination and stereotypical to say the least.

And what if you can’t bear to buy the obvious safe options – such as endless socks or ties – but don’t want to risk wasting your money on more unusual gifts which may end up never leaving the box, then what options are left? You could try giving him an unforgettable day out as a gift, with packages available to suit all tastes.

Drive time

If the man in question has a real passion for cars, and fancies himself as a budding expert behind the wheel, then he may well appreciate a driving session at a famous UK race track in a thoroughbred supercar. If it’s always been his dream to get behind the wheel of a Ferrari, Lamborghini or an Aston Martin and take a spin around a proper racing circuit then this could be the perfect gift. Not only can it be an exhilarating experience, but it also allows them to test their driving skills and pick up top tips from professionals.

If all of that sounds a little too civilised, you could give the gift of a challenging day out in the countryside at the helm of a 4×4. Off-road adventuring gives drivers the chance to mud-plug across a range of terrain, including bumping across rocks, cresting hillocks and ploughing through water – and you don’t have to wash the car at the end of the session.

Flying high

If it’s a milestone birthday and you’re keen to make sure it’s one they won’t forget, then you might want to consider a slightly more extreme day out… If you think your man has the stomach, the general fitness and a very courageous spirit then you could try sending him into the heavens to with a jaunt in a Tiger Moth biplane. Goggles and flying jackets are very much the order of the day in a Tiger Moth, which needs to be started by hand. While time in the air is likely to be just a few minutes, he’ll get the chance to take the controls – all under the watchful eyes of an instructor, of course!

For a real wind-in-the-hair experience, you could try gifting sky-diving – or the indoor version, at least. Floating in a wind tunnel, he’ll be able to recreate the free-fall experience, but without needing training – or to confront the potential fear that jumping out of an aeroplane can bring.

Alternative sports

For something completely different – and you’d have to be fairly sure that the recipient would be game for anything – you could try giving a spin at aqua sphering. Said to be akin to being put through the rinse cycle in a washing machine, he’ll bounce down the hillside – unharnessed – inside a giant plastic ball, surrounded by 30 litres of water.
But if you think that is a little tame, then perhaps the ‘Awesome Foursome’ packs the present punch you are looking for. This offers four indoor extreme sports packed into a four-hour visit, including a zip wire, abseil, parachuting simulator and bungee jump.

Traditional gent?

Of course, not everyone is cut out for high-octane thrills or hi-energy rushes. If you think a more sedate experience is in order, then how about a golf lesson with a PGA pro, learning how to fine tune your game? Or, to really kick back and relax, you could gift a wet shave experience package, featuring a haircut, classic hot towel shave with a cut-throat razor, along with a scalp massage.

And while the price of experience days varies – depending on quite how specialised a package you go for – one convenient way to pay could be by credit card, especially if you’ve got one of the 0% APR credit cards that offers a 0% period on purchases, or one that rewards your spend.

Issued by Sainsbury’s Finance

Sainsbury’s Finance is a trading name of Sainsbury’s Bank plc. All information correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change. Any views or opinions expressed in this article are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any part of the Sainsbury’s Group of companies.

Sainsbury’s Finance is a financial services provider engaged in savings accounts, credit cards, and personal loans. It also supplies insurance services in car insurance, home insurance, life insurance, pet insurance and travel insurance as well as being a provider of travel money services.

                          

By Chris Wright

“Another wee dram Colonel?”

You’ll be glad to know that Paul Gascoigne is not dead…yet, and that he’s also been reminiscing with Piers Morgan (for the ruddy-faced bounder’s tear-milking Life Stories television show) about the time he visited Libya, snooted enough fluff to down a Stegosaurus and then took the fruits of Colonel Gaddafi’s loins out on the lash around gay Tripoli:

“I went to Libya when I played for Middlesbrough and took Gaddafi’s two sons out and got them absolutely lamped. I also signed this thing in his compound. I think it was a bomb!

“At my worst I had 16 lines of coke a day. I was on four bottles of whisky a day for three months. I mean, it took two bottles just to stop the shakes.”

Gazza also regaled the tale of the time he was allowed to take the controls of the private jet carrying England’s 1990 World Cup squad to Naples, thus putting them and possibly the rest of human kind in mortal danger:

“I asked if I could sit in the cockpit. Then I asked the pilot if I could have a go at the controls. I gave it a turn and I must have sent the jet three miles off track.”

All jest and hyperbole aside, we all could have died that day.

You can’t help but feel that the most worrying aspect about all of Gascoigne’s hazy, addled mumblings is that absolutely none of it is the least bit surprising in any way, shape or form.