Argentinean legend allowed to coach despite bad book keeping

If a person wishes to become a club director in English football, they must pass a Fit and Proper Persons Test, as stipulated by the FA. Following the decision that Diego Maradona will be put in charge of the Argentinean national side from December, the AFA must be thankful that FIFA do not impose guidelines of a similar nature. We are all aware of the former midfielder’s cheating, doping offences, mental health issues and battles with hard drugs, yet there are some other reasons why it is troubling for Diego and his Godly hand to represent Argentinean football at a managerial level.

Maradona may be extremely passionate about his country, yet he is not the greatest international diplomatist - the man who has tattoos of Castro and Che Guevara was quoted last year as saying: “I hate everything that comes from the United States. I hate it with all my strength.”

Of course, it’s not unusual to dislike America, but what’s more troubling is his disinterest in paying taxes. It was revealed this week that Maradona still owes the Italian government €36m, an outstanding tax bill from his seven years at Napoli. So far, he

Setanta finally strike deal with channel three

Even thoroughly unpopular politician Gordon Brown was disappointed by the lack of England highlights on terrestrial television during the recent World Cup Qualifiers, and it appears that the nation’s prayers have been answered.

Yesterday, it was announced that ITV have struck a ‘£1million-plus’ deal with Setanta to show highlights of the remaining three away World Cup qualifiers in the Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan. With our new-found faith in the national side and the exciting propsect of another Jimmy Bullard call-up, you won’t want to miss them.

Convenient Spoiler reader offer: If you want to watch the England away games in full, in addition to shedloads of live Premier League games, you can subscribe to Setanta and pay just £6.50 for the first two months. Simply click here and quote Spoiler code ‘2650′

Little and large have been vital in England’s modest success

As you probably know by now, Fabio Capello has boldly decided that Theo Walcott and Emile Heskey are more likely to score England goals than Michael Owen and Peter Crouch. It’s unlikely that this brave decision will prove costly against Andorra, it could prove disastrous not having two proven international goalscorers in the squad when England visit Croatia next Wednesday.

Here are some stats that illustrate why Owen and Crouch will be sorely missed, courtesy of our friends at chickendinner:

INTERNATIONAL GOAL PER GAME RATIO
Peter Crouch - 0.5
Michael Owen - 0.45
Wayne Rooney - 0.32
Jermain Defoe - 0.17

Old Italian gent has failed to live up to his fanfare thus far

Last December, we all thought that England had hired a winner. The mood across the nation stood in stark contrast to the underwhelmed vibe that followed the appointment of a man who guided Middlesbrough to 14th in his final Premier League season. In Fabio Capello, England were getting a manager who had won titles in his last three seasons - two of which have since been revoked - and who had been a champion at every club he had managed. Not only that but he was a disciplinarian too. Someone who would do what was best for the team rather than catering for his stars.

Everything was going to plan at first. Capello was taking the job so seriously that he left David Beckham out of the squad for a friendly against Switzerland, a nothing game where Goldenballs was supposed to win his 100th cap, because he wasn’t fit enough. He dropped Michael Owen from the starting line-up and played previous outcast Matthew Upson in defence.

But gradually warning signs became apparent. Despite having already given David James