Pitch Invasion

Whilst MLS tries to expand further within North America, the Premier League is again focused on colonising overseas.

North America

• The MLS All-Stars dispatched West Ham and the ICF 3-2 last night, with the Fire’s Blanco (did you know he’s Mexican? Nice of JP Dellacamera to tell us that at least fourteen times on the ESPN broadcast) playing the starring role. EPL Talk rightly comments that ESPN’s production of the game (especially anything involving Rob Stone) was a severe regression from the standards they set at Euro 2008 back to the bad old days…of 2006 and 2007.
• This is the last time I’m mentioning the Columbus “hooliganism” incident, but Twohundredpercent has a sensible take from England on how MLS can simply nip this in the bud, while Dave’s Football Blog wonders…This wasn’t all a publicity stunt for a movie, was it?
• The Fire and Toronto have finally worked out a deal, it seems, with Brian McBride headed to Chicago. Question for those journalists swallowing the line that Garber didn’t pressure this deal into happening this week (what with the crazy coincidence of the Commish being present in Toronto along with the Fire’s owner, Andrew Hauptman): you’ve been covering MLS for how long?
• MLS will expand by two more teams in 2011, taking the league to 18. Is it finally Portland’s time? Which Canadian city will get the call?

Europe

• Several articles focus on the potential for the Premier League’s growth in India, with Paul Hayward speculating it’ll be the next destination for a Manchester United preseason tour, the Guardian looking at India’s “romance with football”, and The Times suggesting the Premier League’s soap opera would be ideally suited for a country addicted to Bollywood. Last year it was China, this year it’s India.
• Ongoing corruption investigations have delayed the start of the Polish league season.
• Zenit are fined a pitiful $57,980 for the racist behaviour of their fans by UEFA. That’s not going to deter anything.
• The Offside offers “The Enquiring Fan’s Guide to What Those Transfer Rumo(u)rs Really Mean”

Worldwide

• Jennifer Doyle looks at women’s football at the Olympics, highlighting the struggles faced by the Brazilian women who are there, and the English women who are not.
• African Path looks at the continual problems in domestic African football, with dropping crowds attributed to the competition from satellite broadcasts of European football.
• Lagos’ State Governor bankrolled the visit of the youth team Lion 36 to Chicago this weekend for an international tournament, and asked that they set an example with their behaviour. Having seen the kids in action last night, I can inform the Governor they played with passion and dignity, as well as fearsome athleticism and skill for their age. They beat the Fire’s under-15 team handily.
• FIFA.com previews the Mexican Apertura season.

Photo Daily

A little mess was made when Palermo took on Sampdoria earlier this year.

Photo courtesy of crouchy_crouch on Flickr, via the Pitch Invasion photo pool.