Fiercest football derbies

Derbies have the uncanny ability to generate unrivaled intensity, insane scorelines and enduring memories. Derbies can be outlined through religious, sporting, cultural, along with political and dominance aspects. Here are some derbies sure enough to produce weird and extreme occurrences;

1. Celtic vs. Rangers - The Old Firm Derby not only involves football but religion, politics, ideology and history. In a religious aspect, the clash is/was basically Catholics vs. Protestants. Generally, Celtic fans had Irish roots therefore they were predominantly Catholics. Rangers' fans were native Scottish and hence predominantly Protestants. Politically, Celtic fans often supported the Labour party and ideals of socialism while Rangers' fans formed the bulk of Conservative party. At Ibrox - Rangers' home stadium, the UK flag is hoisted gleefully, whereas at Celtic Park the Irish colors are on display! With such a mix, only the brave would dare visit Glasgow for the derby. Kenny Miller may share an insight about how it feels to play for both teams.

2. Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahce - A thrilling and turbulent affair between Istanbul's finest is further escalated by an intercontinental element - Istanbul lies between Asia and Europe. Actually, Fenerbahce is on the Asian region of the city while Galatasaray is on the European side. Galatasaray faithfuls were historically from the wealthy families and often gave credence to aristocratic traits. Fenerbahce supporters were drawn from the working class populaces hence the club was seen as a common man's entity. Hooliganism in the Turkish football sphere makes the derby one of the most anticipated matches. Istanbul comes to life when the two Super Lig outfits clash in the Kitalararasi derbi. Ironically, there was a proposal to merge both teams before the First World War. Graeme Souness knows the stakes involved - he experienced it first hand.

3. Manchester United vs. Liverpool - The North-West England derby is founded on several aspects. Both teams are the most successful in English football history and the close proximity between them escalates the rivalry further. Both Liverpool and Manchester lay claim to being the ideal industrial hub(s) in the North-West and this spills over to the field. Extreme passion and unmatched rivalry defines the derby. Mancunians would do anything to see off the Merseysiders!

4. AS Roma vs. Lazio - the two Rome clubs share the Stadio Olimpico - an aspect that serves to augment the rivalry. AS Roma was formed after dictator Benito Mussolini ordered teams from the Rome region to craft a single team capable of breaking the monotony of Northern Italy teams - Juventus and AC Milan. However, Lazio defied Mussolini's orders and the rivalry started. Derby Della Capitale is no short of violence.

5. Inter Milan vs. A.C. Milan - Derby Della Madonnina entails prestige and Milan bragging rights. Originally one club founded by English individuals, an issue regarding the signing of foreign players led to the formation of Inter Milan. Despite Rossoneri's success in Europe, Inter relentlessly aim the scalp of their rivals whom they share the San Siro with. Nelson Dida knows the real hate between the two Milan entities. Ronaldo, Hernan Crespo, Andrea Pirlo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Vieira, Robert Baggio, Dario Simic et al have played for both teams

6. Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur - The North London derby captures the hate between the two London outfits - brought about after Arsenal was selected to join English First Division at the expense of the White Hart Lane team. The multi-ethnic aspect of North London adds an interesting twist to the derby. Sol Campbell is a study case as regards the derby. William Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor have as well represented the two teams.

7. Liverpool vs. Everton - The explosive nature of the clash can be underlined via the fact that matches involving the two Merseyside rivals have produced more dismissals than any other match since the inauguration of the Premier League. Whether at Anfield or Goodison Park, family members can be seen supporting opposing sides. The fact that Everton vacated Anfield after a disagreement between the stakeholders and the eventual formation of Liverpool increases the stakes involved. Abel Xavier, Bramble and the likes know the heat associated with playing for both teams.

8. Real Madrid vs. Barcelona - the El Clasico is defined by reasons beyond football. The cultural and political agenda between Catalan and Madrid regions easily shape the clash. The fact that the two teams are the most visible in Spanish football increases the stakes involved. While Real Madrid is viewed as a government team due to nationalist themes after the exploits of Dictator Francesco Franco, Barcelona tries to identify with the Catalan dream of seceding from Spain. Well, Luis Figo knows better about the derby. Ronaldo, Luis Enrique, Michael Laudrup et al as well turned out for both outfits.

9. Manchester United vs. Manchester City - The derby dates back to when both clubs were known as Newton Heath and West Gorton respectively. The clash offers a chance to stake claim at Manchester bragging rights. The red half of Manchester comes up against an intolerant neighbor whose recent silverware make them think of being world class. Whether at Eastlands or Old Trafford, the match offers relentless and unmatched intensity. Carlos Tevez knows the heat associated with both teams.

10. Schalke 04 vs. Borussia Dortmund - the two Ruhr region heavyweights slug it out in the Rivierderby. The derby has previously outlined title-defining moments along with spectacular goals from - even a goalkeeper scored once! The passion, sheer commitment and intensity of the fans make the clash juicier. Both Signal Iduna and Veltins-Arena accommodate the crazy affair.

11. Sevilla vs. Real Betis - The Seville derby outlines real animosity for the fact that both teams were founded as Sevilla FC, but an internal conflict split the team into two - this is how Real Betis was formed. However, both teams have won the Spanish league title once.

12. Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid - The clash between the two teams entails an augmented experience due to the political aspect involved. The Los Blancos are seen as the favored/government team or the wealthy individuals while the Los Indios/rojiblancos are seen as the underprivileged class of the society. Such aspects inflame the El Derbi Madrileno. Hugo Snachez, Luis Aragones and Jose Antonio Reyes graced both the Vicente Calderon and the Bernabeu.

13. Partizan Belgrade vs. Red Star Belgrade - The Serbian clash is perhaps the most turbulent and violent derby of all. Partizan Belgrade was formed as an outfit for the army while Red Star Belgrade was formed as a club for the youth. There have been rampant cases of policemen as well as fans being injured during the clash. This clash is the most astonishing "Eternal Derby" - perhaps the most accurate one. The hostility is further stretched to handball and basketball sessions of the two teams.

14. Olympiakos vs. Panathinaikos - The derby is heavily influenced by political happenings in Greece. Both Athens teams count on their passionate fans, although riots and diverse violent acts underline the real hostility involved. The great Nikopolidis represented both teams as a goalkeeper.

15. River Plate vs. Boca Juniors - The Argentine superclasico have seen fatal tragedies as Buenos Aires finest slug it out. Each set of fans direct expletives towards their rivals, with Boca Juniors' fans branding their nemesis as chickens while River Plate fans referring to them as pigs.

16. Dinamo Bucharest vs. Steaua Bucharest - the clash was basically an affair between the army vs. the police. The clashes between the two Romanian giants have time and again been influenced by the communist policies in the country, along with the input of army generals and prominent politicians. The two teams are basically the most successful in the Romanian football aspect. The clash is also referred to as the "Eternal derby". Visit Bucharest at your own peril when the two giants are playing each other.

17. Athletic Bilbao vs. Real Sociedad - The Basque Derby involves outright egocentric antics of the teams involved. Individuals from the Basque region are extremely proud and the clash between Bizkaia province (Athletic Bilbao) and Gipuzkoa province (Real Sociedad) outlines the unique identity of the region.

18. Sporting Lisbon vs. Benfica - The two Portuguese giants contest in the derby de Lisboa. Traditionally, Benfica fans formed the working class whereas Lisbon fans were from the more affluent populaces. The rivalry started after several Benfica players crossed over to Sporting Lisbon in search of better deals.

19. PSG vs. Olympique Marseille - Le Classique is intensified by the cultural disparities between France's largest cities - Paris and Marseille. Furthermore, the clash is escalated by the fact that the two Ligue 1 outfits are the only French clubs to have won European honors.

20. Ajax Amsterdam vs. Feyenoord - De Klassieker involves Netherlands' most recognizable football brands. Whether at De Kuip stadion in Rotterdam or at the Amsterdam Arena, the clash offers a recipe for chaos involving radicalized Dutch fans. You can tell the rivalry involved as depicted by Johan Cruyff’s transfer from Ajax to Feyenoord.

21. Spartak Moscow vs. CSKA Moscow - Although the rivalry between the two teams came into being recently, the violence and intense nature of the clash underlines the hate between the militarians and the people's team.

22. Legia Warsaw vs. Wisla Krakow - the clash is shaped by the fact that Krakow used to be Poland's capital city, before Warsaw was named as the capital. The historical aspect of the two Polish cities forms a basis for the rivalry.

23. Fluminense vs. Flamengo - The rivalry between the two Rio outfits highlights the fact that the Brazilian league is more than flair. The rivalry started after some players left Fluminense to form Flamengo due to dissatisfaction.

Most intimidating football arenas

Playing in some football cathedrals brings about a feeling of joy and intimidation - depending on whether its the opponent or the host. Opponents feel the heat when playing in these stadiums attributable to the fearsome nature and unfriendly fans. La Bombonera - Boca Juniors' imposing home is a monumental structure that symbolizes football madness. Scenes around the stadium create an intimidating spectacle with passionate football fans filling the stadia. Ali Sami Yen - Welcome to hell! The cheerful fans greet the opposition gleefully with the symbolic utterances and captions - Manchester United found out that indeed the stadium was pure hell. The Turkish monumental structure re-defines the term intimidation. Galatasaray's home houses one of the most passionate fans in Europe - if not the world. Red and orange flares have consistently been flashed by the fans to intimidate the opposition. Estadio Maracana - the stadium although owned by the Brazilian government poses a great hindrance to any opposing team as its terraces are entirely filled to the brim. Feverish utterances, outrageous cheers and extreme noises make the stadium turn into a mini hell for opposing teams. Signal Iduna - The home to Borussia Dortmund not only intimidates the opposition, but as well registers one of the best attendances in Europe. The Westfalenstadion has turned out to be one of the nightmare monuments in Europe. Besides gleeful cheers and waving of black and yellow regalia, confetti is as well used as a mode of intimidation. Turk Telekom - vocal prowess outlines the stadium's modus operandi as thunderous chants intimidate opposing teams. A caged hell on earth, the stadium is not only a fortress in Turkey but in the entire Europe. Loyalty is simply perfected in the imposing stadium through the raucous fans. Anfield - what the venue lacks in capacity is entirely and extremely fulfilled through the fan's passionate chants. A relentless and unforgiving venue, Liverpool's home offers an intimidating spectacle. The Merseyside outfit has a relentless and extremely passionate fan base. San Siro - Inter Milan and A.C. Milan call the fortress home. With a committed and rowdy fan base, the stadium offers a flawless recipe for large scale intimidation. Giuseppe Meazza has a frightening atmosphere backed up by terrifying fans. Both Inter and Milan bank on the two aspects to craft a lethal combination when playing. Allianz Arena - with a standing capacity for the fans, Bayern Munich's stadium is a tough venue for any team aspiring for positive results. The German's have always utilized the vibrant and fearsome nature of the stadium. Despite the venue not being as old as the other grounds, the frenzied nature in is quite sure to offer acres of intimidation. Red Star stadium - Historical purposes outline that opposing teams should play a match in Red Star Belgrade's stadium; however it would be wise to abstain entirely. The intensity in the stadium is simply unmatched and the home team utilizes the aspect to the fullest. As a footballer, expect flares and other thuggish antics by the Serbians. Maracana - With so much history attached to the Brazilian based stadium, it would only be perfect for any opposing team to play. It is a daunting task to play against Flamengo and Botafogo in this football shrine. Camp Nou - The stadium's capacity along with the talents in the Barcelona squad only serve to make the stadium an imposing and feared theater. The loudness emanating from the terraces when Barca is in action is enough to send shivers down the spines of the opponents. Old Trafford - the Manchester United spectacle is known for its capacity and thunderous chants from the fans - sometimes they are capable of taking the noises to insane levels, as the club's fans were said to be the noisiest! A well known slaughter house - especially during European nights, opponents are always scary when visiting the stadium. The Stretford End is a well known section that generates one of the most intimidating scenes. Bernabeu - Home to Real Madrid! The stadium currently houses one of the finest players in the globe. With passionate fans that are known to wave white handkerchiefs when fed up, only giants would dare dream of a win at the stadium. The stadium has witnessed many special moments - both in favor and against the home team. Olympico stadium - the venue was crafted under the initiative of Benito Mussolini and it forms one of the scariest grounds to travel to especially in knock out clashes. The home to Lazio and AS Roma presents one of the hardest venues to play in. The passionate Romans make sure that opposing teams reach for all tricks in a bid to win. Celtic Park - sheer hooliganism and insane antics underlines the nature of the stadium. The abrasive nature of Celtic fans only augments the complex nature of the stadium. Causing an upset in the stadium may sound like a far fetched tale - especially in European matches. The relentless and crazy fans escalate the situation further with unmatched frenzy. Sukru Saracoglu - just as the name suggests, the ground is absolutely complex as regards winning against Fenerbahce. With the terraces and stands close to the filed of play, threats and intimidating gestures are easily belted out to the advantage of the home team. 

Ballon d'Or conspiracies

Ever since Zurich elevated the status of Ballon d'Or to mean the world's best footballer, conspiracy theories and rigging claims have dominated the talk. FIFA supremos have escalated the debate with their usual arrogance as well as utterances that give more credence to the claims. Particularly, Sepp Blatter, Julio Grondana and Michel Platini have on different occasions seemed to legitimize the claims through their actions. The Swiss "legend" and the French "wizard" have time and again derided Cristiano Ronaldo for his "perceived" flashy lifestyle - in a sense, they may be right but again how does that relate to football? FIFA gems offer lectures on desired traits yet they are unable to account for financial misappropriation and World Cup rigging claims as regards hosting rights and bidding! How ironic! Cases of rigging and complex modules of favoritism are vividly etched in our memories. Case study - in 2010, Lionel Messi won the award ahead of Wesley Sneijder. The Dutchman seemed the favorite to land the coveted award given that he won a treble with Inter Milan - Italian Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League. He also guided Oranje to a respectable runners-up position during the 2010 World Cup. The Argentine only won the La Liga title and exited the World Cup stage without scoring. Funny enough, Wesley Sneijder wasn't even on the podium finishes - Messi won the award, Xavi Hernandez scooped second position while Andreas Iniesta came third. Wesley Sneijder would then be labeled as "inconsistent" by sections of the media in a gesture widely seen as PR gimmick on behest of FIFA, by the entire footballing community. The reason given was that the Argentine scored more goals in the domestic campaign. In 2011, FIFA shot themselves on the foot when Lionel Messi won the award again. It was typical double speak perfected by Blatter and his ilk as they disregarded preference on total goals scored. Cristiano Ronaldo was the top scorer in La Liga as well as in Europe - winning the Pichichi and Copa del Rey in the process. Messi won the Ballon d'Or on account that Barcelona won the Champions League and La Liga. Questionably, most goals did not guarantee the award - contradicting their earlier stand! Fair enough - but again, why did they overlook such statistics the previous year when Sneijder would have won it fair and square as he had even achieved more than what Messi had won? Double standards! FIFA's double speak was to be re-defined in 2012 when Messi won the award again. Curiously, Cristiano Ronaldo had won the La Liga, guided Real Madrid to the semi finals of the Champions League as well as almost aiding Spain on a solitary basis during the UEFA Euro championships. Apparently, the reason given was that Messi scored more goals in Europe than Ronaldo! Again, FIFA changed tactics to facilitate the Argentine's win! Shockingly, FIFA din't see anything wrong with their antics and double speak! The process of voting for the best player has time and again been questioned by participants and experts. Several cases of conspiracies and hoodwink have threatened to entirely annul the credibility of the poll. Undeniably, the voting process has been a forum for settling scores - both Ronaldo and Messi have never voted for each other as the best! Their "perceived" friendly captains and coaches around the world slug it out during the voting process! There have been cases of invalidated votes! What a loophole to circumvent the process so as to favor the desired individual! There was an incidence in which Argentina had its first vote listed as invalid after their captain Javier Mascherano stated that he never got a ballot! Mark van Bommel's votes as Nerherland's captain in 2010 were as well annulled for reasons not clear. In 2013, the then Qatar's national team coach stated that he was "firmly ordered" by the country's hierarchy to vote for Cristiano Ronaldo. It was then alleged that the vote was a "gift" to Blatter for two things - making sure that Qatar got the rights to host the 2022 World Cup and also to purify Blatter's image as not one against Ronaldo! Goran Pandev once insisted that he voted for Jose Mourinho as the best manager yet his vote was not counted! In 2013, the then Kuwait's coach claimed that he voted for Zlatan Ibrahimovic despite FIFA claims that he voted for Messi. The then Albania's coach was more precise as he directed tirade towards FIFA for interchanging his first place vote with his third - Ibrahimovic for Ronaldo. Fiji's coach claimed that his third place vote went to Robert Lewandowski despite him not voting for the Polish striker! Uli Hoeness - former Bayern Munich's president, once stated that Franck Ribery's failure to land the award stemmed from the fact that FIFA conspired against him since he wasn't "glamorous enough". Lest we forget, nominations to the FIFPro XI depend on which team the player is from! Expect large scale demonstrations on the streets of Manchester, Lisbon and Madrid if Cristiano Ronaldo does not win the award!

AS Roma vs. Lazio - Calcio's fiercest derby.

Derby Della Capitale like other rivalries can be showcased in a fashion that brings together politics, football, history and lifestyle. The rivalry between AS Roma and Lazio can be linked to Benito Mussolini's desire to end Calcio dominance by teams from the Northern regions of Italy. The dictator ordered teams from the Rome region to fold up and craft a superior team capable of competing with Inter Milan, Juventus and AC Milan - all northern entities. Several teams heeded the call and as a result, AS Roma was formed. However, Lazio refused to fold up and hence the rivalry started. In this regard, Lazio consider themselves the zenith of Rome for the reason that AS Roma was only formed on the behest of Mussolini's efforts years later. The formation of AS Roma was widely interpreted as a government initiative by Lazio fans who read malice on Mussolini's efforts. Lazio quickly became associated with countryside regions while AS Roma was heralded as the perfect capital club. Symbols and mascots of the two clubs signify a story line that offers more significance to political and historical occurrences. AS Roma's uses the wolf as their symbol. This is significant in that the animal is closely linked to Mars or the god of war. It then happens that Mars was the father to both Remus and Romulus - founders of the Rome city. By doing so, AS Roma have successfully etched their works on the city's history hence relegating Lazio to the periphery. Lazio on the other hand utilize the eagle as their mascot. It should be noted that the eagle is a sacred entity of Jupiter. The derby has produced magical moments as well as a fair slice of controversy. Paolo Di Canio - then playing for Lazio, made a fascist salute after scoring against AS Roma. The Italian firebrand would repeat the gesture again when he saluted Livorno fans - a club associated with left-wing politics. The fact that both AS Roma and Lazio occupy top positions in the Italian Serie A only helps to escalate the tempo of today's derby. Today's clash between the two Rome rivals at the Stadio Olimpico presents a glorious chance for brazen arrogance, political ideologies as regards the Italian administration and Roman bragging rights in general. The only aspect that the two teams share is the hate for Northern team - Milan and Juventus, attributable to the perceived annoyance of the two outfits. It is ironic that both teams share the Stadio Olimpico. While AS Roma draws its fan base largely from the popular residences of the capital, Lazio counts on the rich Roman populace. Divergent political opinions between the two Roman powerhouses augment the rivalry to unthinkable proportions. Despite limited success in the Italian league, it was ironic that AS Roma won the championship in 2001 after they wrestled if from Lazio who had won it the previous year. Lazio fans generally prescribed to the right-wing ideals while left-wing ideologies formed the bedrock of AS Roma fans. In this regard, the Eternal City gets divided along diverse fan bases - Giallorosso and Biancoceleste. Although Rudi Garcia will miss the services of Gervinho and Seydou Keita as a result of the AFCON campaign, Miralem Pjanic, Daniele de Rossi, Kevin Strootman and Radja Nainggolan should offer more depth. The Ivorian's absence should benefit Juan Iturbe - the Argentine's heroics with Hellas Verona earned him a move to the capital. Adem Ljajic and Alessandro Florenzi should offer weaponry upfront. Francesco Totti's experience and creativity gives an extra edge to the Giallorosso. On the other hand, Stefano Pioli will miss the precious of Senad Lulic, as the Bosnian faces lengthy periods on the sidelines. However, Felipe Anderson, Antonio Candreva, Ogenyi Onazi, Stefano Mauri, Dusan Basta, Filip Djordjevic and Marco Parolo should make the team. The Aquile hope that Felipe Anderson can continue with his blistering form. Arne Selmosson remains the only player to have scored for both teams against each other. May the best team win the Derby Capitolino!

Most controversial footballers

Football would be boring without some fair share of controversy, however some heavyweights surpass the limits set for such escapades. Funny enough, controversial players are often outrageously talented. Mario Balotelli - The Italian prodigy who happens to trace his roots to Ghana is the SI Unit for controversy. The frequency upon which his name appears in publications - for the wrong reasons, is quite shocking. His arrogant behavior and propensity to cause chaos shadows his immense talent. Super Mario - he believes Mario Gotze, Mario Mandzukic, Mario Gomez et al are amateurs, is the poster boy for controversy! His claim to fame include; throwing darts at fellow players at Manchester City, endlessly annoying Jose Mourinho at Inter Milan, spectacularly falling out with Roberto Mancini, setting his own house on fire, gaining unauthorized access to a women prison etc! He is simply football's box office. Luis Suarez - the Uruguayan assassin has an overall bad reputation. His disciplinary record has surpassed his achievements on the pitch. If he is not biting someone - his latest delicacy is Italian, he is escalating racism. The master of "perfect dives" certainly thinks that FIFA's slogan - "Say no to racism" is just but a gimmick. He was accused of racially abusing the then Manchester United's defender Patrice Evra. The fact that the incidence involved two resident rivals - Manchester United and Liverpool, only eased to escalate matters. Gesturing abusively towards Fulham fans - a middle finger salute to be specific, never helped his reputation either. Branislav Ivanovic, Otman Bakkal and Georgio Chiellini are victims of his biting escapades. His goal line handball incidence against Ghana during the 2010 World Cup din't endear him to Africans, and his celebration after Asamoah Gyan failed to convert the resultant penalty augmented the hate to unimaginable levels. In the EPL, he has kicked Scott Parker and Michael Dawson intentionally - how I wish he could try to do the same to Pepe in La Liga! Eric Cantona - Monsieur Cantona or simply King Eric knows how to instill ethics - the recipients of his actions may be the fans, opposing players, referees or even his teammates. After arriving from Elland Road, King Eric brilliantly showed why Sir Alex Ferguson was so eager to sign him. Flashes of brilliance were then extended even to the dugout and terraces as one Crystal Palace fan found out. Watching Mortal Kombat may be his hobby as the kung-fu kicks demonstrated! Not even the Galatasaray brigade would dampen the fighting spirit - quite literally, of the Frenchman! However, the Frenchman redefined the thin line between insanity and genius. Diego Maradona - If controversy was a multinational company, the Argentine would be the brand ambassador. Maradona's controversy isn't limited to the field of play only. His friends should provide a sneak preview of whom the man really is. While the US administration would categorize Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro as bad influence, Maradona thinks the reverse is true. As an England fan, I wont dwell on the "Hand of God" incidence - how I wish Terry Butcher would have lived up to his second name! The most polarizing figure in global football has dealt with health and addiction issues. He was once banned for months after failing a drug test in Napoli. Tax evasion issues still define the Argentine's restrictions to some Italian parts. It is only Maradona who would make us forget about the exploits of Romario and Roberto Baggio during the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA, via his drug related ban. Interestingly, the Argentine has had the honor of a religion named after him! Paolo Di Canio - The Italian has an amazing knack for courting controversy. Politics ought not mix with the beautiful game, or so should it be - but Paolo Di Canio do not subscribe to such ideals. A loose cannon whose fascist thoughts are best but acknowledged by Lazio fans! His eccentric character made him shove a referee during a match between Sheffield Wednesday and Arsenal. His managerial career as well is awash with headline grabbing moments! Joey Barton - a testament as to why football seriously needs lectures in anger management. Barton is notoriously short tempered. He has achieved all accolades in football - punching his teammates while at Manchester City, promoting dirty tackling, sparking mass brawls, trashing public opinion, fighting with Thai Everton fans, poking teammates with cigars, engaging in online brawls with the likes of Neymar and Thiago Silva et al. As Kevin Keegan - the then Eastlands manager, Barton is purely a negative influence to the football community. Ousmane Dabo and Jamie Tandy know the damage Barton can cause. John Terry - loved and hated in equal measure! The former England captain has done it all - racially abusing Anton Ferdinand - Rio Ferdinand's brother, mocking US tourists in relation to the September 11 attacks, endless nightclub confrontations, abusing Ledley King, translating his captaincy at Chelsea to mean that he could lead matters in Wayne Bridge's - his then teammate, bedroom etc! El-Hadji Diouf - Neil Warnock was right when he referred to the Senegalese as more disgraceful than a sewer rat! Yes, he is. How do you celebrate when an opponent has broken his leg? Apart from celebrating Jamie Mackie's injury, the forward has been charged severally for spitting at rival players. Diouf combines regular transgressions with global "fame" to his advantage. An outright mad player who overestimates his capabilities, Diouf has been a liability to every team he has played for. Spells at Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers underline the summation of his "superior footballing prowess"

Most underrated footballers

Rarely do we applaud the real gems of the beautiful game - strikers and forwards hog all the limelight at the expense of those who really deserve the accolades. It is only when the unappreciated player(s) is out of the field of play that we do notice the huge disparity in terms of the overall team performance. Curiously, midfielders - mostly defensive, form a crucial part of any team yet they are hugely underrated. Most underrated players have a propensity to dictate the game quietly. As a result, their flashier teammates gain acclaim at their expense. Such players may lack the knack for the killer pass or precision but the little things they do on the pitch dictates the eventual outcome of the game. Step up Sergio Busquets - a man loathed by his opponents and loved by Barcelona faithfuls. Yes, he may have a penchant for silly dives but his passing style is elegant - he keeps the ball flowing by mainly intercepting opposition passes. We may harbor disdain for the Spaniard attributable to his comical bouts of simulation, but lets give credit where its due - he is astonishingly a greater interceptor and passer of the ball. His sheer passing is what made him an indispensable component of the Blaugrana as well as the Spanish national team. It is no wonder that Pep Guardiola and Vicente del Bosque remarked that in case of reincarnation, they would fancy coming back in the form of Sergio Busquets. Michael Carrick - The former West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur player sprays crucial passes in unimaginable fashion. At Manchester United, he has proved to be an immensely creative hub, in addition to his holding capabilities. He sometimes tries simple passes, but brilliant ones for that matter. Curiously enough, England preferred other candidates in midfield other than Carrick - the results are as loud! Luka Modric - The Croatian could effortlessly ghost into any team on the Old Continent. With a perfect proficiency, Modric is the dynamo for both Real Madrid and Croatian national team. His ideology revolves along the following; pass, pass and pass more! Criminally underrated in my view. Miralem Pjanic - The Balkan prodigy is a vital component in Rudi Garcia's plans at AS Roma. The Bosnian bragging rights include a fantastic vision and an eye for sumptuous goals. Benat Etxebarria - a true hero in Basque region, the Spaniard calmly dictates the flow of the game deep down the midfield - his style is comparable to Juventus' Andrea Pirlo. Only Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis fans know his true worth. With the unassuming character of a kindergarten teacher, the Spaniard lets his passing accuracy do the talking. Pablo Zabaleta - The Argentine quintessential defender combines skill and passion irrespective of whether he plays at right back or at left back. No complains whatsoever from the South American even if he finds himself on the bench. Combative, committed and passionate, the Argentine has all ingredients needed in football. Gonzalo Higuain - the French-born Argentine international has a fantastic conversion rate. Scoring more than one hundred goals for Real Madrid in less than two hundred appearances - some as a substitute, underline his prowess. Curiously though, as a striker he ought to be getting more acclaim. Surprisingly, he ended up at Napoli as opposed to other "better" sides in the continent. Claude Makelele - An incredibly overlooked player during his reign. The former PSG and Chelsea stalwart fell out with the Real Madrid hierarchy after he asked for a pay rise - the Los Blancos administration really undermined his capabilities. After his departure to Stamford Bridge, it took the Spanish conquerors more than ten years to claim the biggest prize in Europe - the UEFA Champions League. Funny enough, his then teammates - Raul Gonzalez, Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane supported Makelele's quest for a pay rise, as they truly knew his worth. Ironically, Makelele's predecessor - Fernando Redondo, legacy at the Bernabeu is well documented. Michael Laudrup - the Danish have been lavished with praises by the world's best talents - from Romario, Ronaldo, Maradona, Zidane, Pele, Beckenbauer et al. His assists tell a tale any current footballer would aspire to surpass. He was so good that he played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Football warlords - roughest football players

There were times when a simple tackle or aggression in the field would result to fists and prolonged rivalry on and off the pitch - nowadays, dives and simulation take precedence. Gone are the days when footballers reacted like savages - although we do have several prime candidates! The good old days when football careers were defined by the tackles evaded/won as well as the injuries incurred on the opponents! Well, if I was a manager, I would go for such "hard bones" as no team would ever win or keep a clean sheet! Enter Roy Keane! A legend when it comes to fists and bare knuckle bouts. A man rumored to have sent shivers down Fergie's spine severally! Well, if you can terrify the man from Govan, then accolades are in order Keano! The former Republic of Ireland captain was no man to annoy as Mick McCarthy found out during the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan. Keano once broke the leg of Alf Inge Haaland just to satisfy a personal grudge he held against him. The 2001 Manchester derby will forever be etched into the memories of the Scandinavian - to say that Keano literally destroyed his career would be an understatement. To make the story more juicier, Halaand played for both Leeds United and Manchester City - MUFC patented rivals! Keano was also good at expletives - tinker with him at your own peril. Former teammates too can attest to Keano's aggressive nature - apparently he and Peter Schmeichel dint see eye to eye! The less we talk about his endless feuds with Patrick Vieira, the better. Things dint change when he became a manager - he used Clive Clark's heart condition as an excuse to cover up a shoddy performance against Luton. Simply heartless! Truly, there is only one Keano. Step up Pepe! The man with an unequaled magnetism for controversial tackles. The Real Madrid defender is so unpleasant to the extent that he intentionally stamped on Lionel Messi during the El Clasico - an off ball incident! Pepe's list of ferocious tackles rivals the Wall of China lengthwise! Ironically, Pepe is surrounded by too many "glass bones" at Los Blancos. The Portuguese is simply not one to be trifled with. Simply, Pepe is a nasty piece of work. Kevin Muscat - the zenith of savage tackling! The epitome of stone age football. Well, how do you describe a man who amassed more than 120 yellow cards in his careers? Kindly, lets not concentrate on his total tally of red cards. Only the Australian could earn several suspensions - some as long as eight matches ban, for his "heroics" on the field. However, he is still a darling to the fans of dirty play! Gennaro Gattuso - the dad of niggling fouls! The "Lion of San Siro" - as the Rossoneri faithful dearly referred to him, had an insatiable penchant for medieval tackles. Rino was the stuff that could make opposing players feign injuries so as to avoid doing battle with him. The bullish Italian has handed out retributive justice even to other hard characters in the game - he once slapped Zlatan Ibrahimovic at the back! The Italian old warhorse antics craft an image of a great football warlord! None of his actions are saintly! Lee Cattermole - a hardman who has never polarized opinion - he is collectively hated. His modus operandi is simple - win tackles at all costs! Cattermole is the catalyst of various videos sure enough to make one squirm. He is also a master in off field matters - he nearly caused anarchy in Newcastle as they fought with the then Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner. Simply, you cannot celebrate football dark arts without mentioning Lee Cattermole - such a legend in Sunderland, Wigan and Middlesbrough! Nigel de Jong - the grand Dutch kung-fu maestro. Maybe he watched too much Mortal Kombat. Part time footballer, part time thug! His works in the EPL are visible - the horrendous tackle on the then Newcastle United's player Hatem Ben Arfa, plus his ferocious tackling on Bolton Wanderers' Stuart Holden. Well, think about a Dutch lineup incorporating both Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel! Pure anarchy! Joey Barton - A prime candidate for "all-round dirtiest player". His filthy contributions have been enhanced by a well honed personality via Twitter. The resident bully is pretty much the poster boy for cynical fouls. Try to dribble past Barton, and you will be the recipient of some wicked shit! Barton on the field of play is ninety minutes of violence and chaos - if he miraculously plays for that period! The English lad embodies everything that is awful in football. Ohhh, he even beat up Thai Everton fans! His boxing equivalent is Manny Pacquiao! Scary - isn't it? Andoni Goikoetxea - they did not name him "The Butcher of Bilbao" for nothing! A man who viewed tackling as a violent venture. This is a creature that gave no heed to quality man-marking! His transgressions can compile a novel. Streaks of endless and reckless challenges from the Spaniard were the core element in his career! Simply, a menacing nightmare. Shhh, he is a legend at San Mames. Gary Medel - Santiago proudly refers to him as "El Pitbull" - a nickname passed on from Edgar Davids. Well, the Dutch should be proud of his inheritor. It is also terrifying that the entire Chilean populace regards him as the "young Gatusso". Quite troubling! Ron "chopper" Harris - a player who could kick crap out of anyone! The kind of man you wouldn't fancy meeting in a dark alley. With a less-than-stellar disciplinary track record, Ron is among the wickest players as regards fouls. His aggressive and shocking tackles made him become a cult hero at Stamford Bridge. Miguel Angel Nadal - the beast of Barcelona. His dodgy haircut seemed to send a message that he was the cool guy, well forget it as the converse is true of him. The Spaniard was so rash that he could easily have attracted the nickname Voldemort. It is rumored that the only person whom he dint tackle was his grandmother! Robbie Savage - the Welsh lived up to his name, tackling like a savage! With boatloads of cynical fouls and a penchant to annoy fans equally, Robbie was a red card in waiting. His endless antics made him an instant footballing villain. Savage thrived on one aspect - purely dirty football.

Rivalry between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid

The crosstown rivalry that pits Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid can be traced back during dictator Francisco Franco's era. While the Los Colchoneros paraded as Franco's favorite team during early periods of his era, the Los Blancos gradually became the preferred entity as years progressed. For a long time, Real Madrid has been viewed as the "Establishment club" whilst Atletico Madrid has been associated with a rebellion stance. In real sense, Franco only wanted to gain from Real Madrid's European conquest by associating with the club - a move that quickly galvanized Atletico Madrid fans to label their rivals as "darlings of the administration, shame of the country". This coupled with the rise of ultras in football and the fact that Rayo Vallecano - another Madrid based football club, had also adopted a leftist stance, made certain that the Vicente Calderon outfit too instilled a leftist culture in their day to day operations. Simply, its the Vikings - as Real Madrid is known, versus the Indians - as they refer to Atletico Madrid. Lest we forget, Atletico Madrid was formed by Basque students as the capital's branch of Athletic Bilbao - no coincidence that both wear the white and red strip!Atletico Madrid's fan base is hugely drawn from the South of Madrid, whereas Real Madrid boosts of international recognition attributable to their huge resources and rich history. The Copa del Rey clash today between the two Madrid supremos at Vicente Calderon offer a chance for augmentation of the rivalry - augmented by the return of Fernando "El Nino" Torres. Both Diego Simeone and Carlo Ancelotti are aware of the stakes involved - the bragging rights as well as the pride associated with a win for either team. Atletico Madrid will be aiming at Los Blancos' scalp after the occurrences of last year's UEFA Champions League final - heroic acts by Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marcelo and Gareth Bale saw the Santiago Bernabeu outfit triumph in Lisbon. Despite the rivalry, several players have donned the strips of both teams among them Jose Antonio Reyes, Juanfran, Santiago Solari, Luis Aragones, Hugo Sanchez and Bernd Schuster. It should be noted that Raul Gonzalez too joined Real Madrid after Atletico Madrid's academy folded up. The rojiblancos will have to reach for more tricks so as to contain the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez, Isco et al. However, that doesn't mean that Simeone's lads are pushovers either - what with having Diego Godin, Koke, Mario Mandzukic, Antoine Griezmann, Miranda, Arda Turan, Mario Suarez and the likes in one lineup? The clash at Vicente Calderon is likely to provide an impetus for Diego Simeone under the hope that Real Madrid's loss to Valencia at the Mestalla may be a sign of better things - from an Atletico point of view. Over the years, Real Madrid's dominance over Atletico Madrid has considerably waned and that coupled with the return of a prodigal son may be just what the ultras need to belt out anti Real chants with the sole aim of intimidating the players. As opposed to when Fernando Torres was the darling of the Vicente Calderon stadium, the club has now transformed to being serial winners - an action spurred by Torres' former teammate - Diego Simeone. While Ancelotti will be eager to unleash the dreaded "BBC" - a connotation meaning Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Simeone will hope that Mario Mandzukic - a master of set pieces and near post goals, will brighten the mood at Vicente Calderon. Expect endless gloats should the white and red strip win over Real Madrid. In such a derby game, tactics matter less - the end justifies the means! Win ugly, but make sure that you win! In short, Atletico Madrid versus Real Madrid is the populace vs. the power/establishment, loyalty vs. success and humility vs. arrogance! May the best team win - sorry, I meant Hala Madrid! I just let my emotions betray me

Josep Maria Bartomeu's cunning antics at Barcelona

Andoni Zubizarreta's sacking as Blaugrana's director of football underlines the blame games that have been ongoing at Nou Camp. It takes guts to praise Zubizarreta and Josep Maria Bartomeu for the signings of Luis Suarez, Neymar, Marc Andre ter Stegen yet cunningly slaying the former Spanish national team goalkeeper who happens to have also played for Valencia, Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona. For once, lets forget that Zubizarreta hugged a live wire when he signed Thomas Vermaelen - a sick bay Belgian, and Brazilian full back Douglas - he has only started one league game. Zubi's mistake? Well, the imposed ban on the Catalans as regards signings - well, how is Zubizarreta to blame when La Masia has been illegally tapping and purporting to "own" emerging football talents for ages? Maybe its because he is Basque while the club's bigwigs are Catalan. Lets leave the rivalry of the regions as of now. As the man in charge of all the sporting issues, Josep Maria Bartomeu is no free from the accusations that he may as well played a vital role in the various procedures that led to Barca's ban by FIFA - an action that was upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sports. As it stands, Zubizarreta may get all the accusations directed to him - however, lets give credit where its due; he built up a side that may well be envy of many clubs across Europe. Lets not forget that Zubizarreta was Athletic Bilbao's sporting director before he was poached by the Catalan giants. What makes the situation more juicy and highly speculative is the stepping down of Zubizarreta's assistant - Carles Puyol. The former Barca captain stepped down soon after the Catalan giants sanctioned Zubizarreta's dismissal. Well, Puyol has been approved as an ingrained Catalan. That poses the question - did he really work to promote ethics and processes that would lead to Barca's ban? The man believes in Los Cules mission - he once turned down a transfer to Malaga for the long-term aim of making it in the famous Nou Camp strip! And yes, Louis van Gaal was the manager then - its unimaginable turning down the Dutchman's orders and priorities, but again Puyol did it! Back to Josep Maria Bartomeu. Is he really blameless? Lets for once imagine that Zubizarreta is guilty of what he is being accused of. How then did the sporting director achieve all that without the prior knowledge of the club's president? The sacking of Zubizarreta and the stepping down of Carles Puyol may be the first of many signs that depict falling of an empire at Catalunya. Zubizarreta's sacking may be viewed as a clever and well crafted action aimed at making Josep Maria Bartomeu as the most visible candidate in the 2016 Barcelona's presidential elections. The managerial turmoil at Barcelona is likely to have negative implications on Luis Enrique - the current Barca manager, as well as on Lionel Messi - the famed Argentine who solely underlines Barcelona's ideals - for now, lets cunningly put Neymar out of the equation having been bought from Santos! Well, Josep Maria Bartomeu may find it hard to win the presidency again. We all admire the previous holders of the presidency - Sandro Rosell and Joan Laporta. While Sandro Rosell is credited with bringing Ronaldinho at Nou Camp from PSG - an action that was spurred by the failure to land David Beckham, his credibility waned in the wake of Neymar's bizarre transfer fees. It is alleged that Ronaldinho signed for the Blaugrana instead of Manchester United as a result of his friendship with Sandro Rosell, who was a Nike operative in Brazil. During Sandro Rosell's presidency, Barca managed to sign Alexis Sanchez, Cesc Fabregas, Javier Mascherano, Alex Song, Adriano and Jordi Alba. Under Joan Laporta's presidency, we witnessed the hiring of Pep Guardiola as the team's manager - a master stroke!, the arrival of Rijkaard as well as the arrival of Deco, Samuel Eto'o, Edmilson et al. Bottom line: Josep Maria Bartomeu may run but can never hide. His fate will soon be sealed not withstanding the sacrificial efforts of highlighting Zubizarreta in bad light. Bartomeu has to learn from what his friend Sandro Rosell went through. As a direct beneficiary of Sandro Rosell's departure, Bartomeu ought to have known best as regards scandals and controversies. Lets wait for the unofficial Barca's mouthpiece - Johan Cruyff, as regards the current crisis at Catalunya. Until then, lets wait and see what the future holds for Luis Enrique - a man who has been branded as a mole working for the capital club Real, having spent his career playing for the two known rivals. While Blaugrana would want us to believe that the Catalan dream is still on, Real Madrid on the other hand enjoys the proceedings!