European Football Thread

[EddieG]

That goal was pretty Nice.

[Baddar]

I'm not Sochaux he'll score a better one.

Metz leave it there.

[Lineker]

What a way to win a game, I honestly thought they were going Toulouse.

[ZJ Penn]

Brest.

[METALMAN]

You guys are all thick as pig shit. I'm not surprised you find these amusing.

[Matt]

I'd be Lyon if I disagreed

[stokeriño]

I'm guessing that reusing the same set of puns that were in the FM thread the other week is supposed to add to the amusement on some level...

[Rich]

I am guessing this Angers you?

[Liam]

Once again, you are all a bunch of Nantes.

[EddieG]

In news that surprises nobody, after Barcelona's appeal for the transfer ban, FIFA have said due to the complexity of the case, they will allow Barcelona to make transfers this summer while they investigate the case further.

[brenchill]

Bwahaha. What a load of shite that is.

[GoN_]

http://vimeo.com/92752588

[Lineker]

No clubs will be kicked out of European competition next season for breaking financial fair play rules, says Uefa president Michel Platini.

UEFA's financial fair play (FFP) policy, designed to stop clubs spending more than they generate, comes into effect next season with a maximum penalty of exclusion from European competition for those failing to comply.

"In effect, the first decisions will be announced at the start of May," Platini told Le Parisien newspaper in an interview published on its website. "But if you are expecting blood and tears, you will be disappointed. There will be some tough things but no exclusions from European competition."

[Colly]

Financial penalties presumably. Good work UEFA.

[TCO]

*Unless you're Barcelona or any of the major players, who cannot be punished even when they're found guilty

[METALMAN]

Tbf quite a lot of continental jurisdictions suspend convictions pending the outcome of an appeal. It's not like the rules are being bent for Barcelona.

[Lineker]

Former Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova, who stepped down from his post in July 2013 due to an ongoing battle with parotid gland cancer, underwent emergency surgery last week and remains hospitalized due to gastric complications.

A beIN Sports report cited Spanish radio station Radio Nacional and newspaper Marca as the first to report Vilanova's condition. According to the reports, Vilanova underwent the procedure Friday after checking into the hospital with discomfort.

Rik Sharma of The Daily Mail says the hospital currently lists the former skipper and longtime Spanish midfielder in critical condition. He has been visited by friends and relatives at the United Kingdom's Chiron Clinic.

Vilanova, 45, has twice been diagnosed with parotid gland cancer. In November 2011, he had his first surgery to remove a malignant tumor, which was thought to have cured the condition, per Sharma. A little more than a year later, however, Vilanova relapsed and underwent another surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Despite his intermittent absences, Barcelona were able to persevere without Vilanova and capture the La Liga title in 2012-13. The club went 32-4-2 during league play, dominating behind a historic season from star Lionel Messi. Vilanova was able to return to the sidelines in time to see his team celebrate the league title, but stepped down last July to commit full-time to defeating the disease.

"Tito will once again win this terrible battle facing him," Andres Iniesta told Spanish newspaper AS at the time (via BBC Sport). "On behalf of the players and everyone, I send him all my love and support. At the end of the day, this is about a person, not a coach."

Gerardo Martino was named as Vilanova's replacement. Long linked to Barca, Vilanova had served as an assistant manager under Pep Guardiola, who stepped down in 2012 for a year-long coaching sabbatical.

Vilanova's managerial career represented something of a full circle of his football life. A Barcelona youth, Vilanova played for the senior club Barcelona B from 1988 to 1990 before embarking in a long and journey-filled career that spanned numerous Spanish divisions. He scored 26 goals across 305 club appearances in a decade-and-a-half career, retiring after a short stint with UDA Gramenet in 2001.

Even though his stay as manager was nearly as short as his playing career with the club, Barcelona are feeling the effects of his absence this season. Atletico Madrid currently hold a four-point lead in the La Liga table, and Real Madrid are primed to take over Barcelona for second place after their next fixture.

Barcelona have also undergone massive internal strife, with FIFA banning the club from making transfers for two straight transfer periods due to widespread financial malfeasance. The ban was lifted by the sport's governing body earlier this week pending the appeals process, but the club is far from out of the woods yet.

However, with Vilanova's condition worsening, Barcelona's status with FIFA is far from the top on their priority list.

---

Marca are reporting that he is said to be gravely ill.The manager has received visits from close friends and family.

[brenchill]

That sucks.

[Hobo]

Barcelona's official twitter has announced that Tito Villanova has died.

[Baddar]