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Bayern’s poor performance in their match against Real Madrid this past week allowed Real to take a 1-0 semifinal lead over them. Madrid had most of the ball possession throughout the game, however a majority of the shots taken by Madrid were not on target. Another disappointing match of of this past week was the one between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid. Limited effort was put forth by both teams with Atletico having an advantage in the second leg.

Many followers of the Champions League are predicting that this year’s final will be Chelsea vs Real Madrid. That match up should be interesting considering the fact that former Real Madrid manager, Jose Mourinho, now holds a position as Chelsea’s coach. Ironically, Real Madrid’s current manger, Carlo Ancelotti, was a former Chelsea coach.

The next Champions League match will be Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid at 2:45pm this Tuesday.

After Man U coach–Sir Alex Ferguson–retired last year, Former Everton boss– David Moyes–came into the picture and took a stab at filling the legendary coach’s shoes.

Manchester United saw incredible success under the authority of Sir Alex Ferguson. The club won 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, and numerous F.A. and League cups.

For the first time in almost 20 years, the club is on track to miss out on qualifying for the Champions League. Clearly, Moyes’s first and last (as of this past Tuesday) season with Manchester United has been incredibly frustrating for fans and most likely for himself as well.

Unsurprisingly, Manchester United has decided to let Moyes go this past Tuesday–10 months after he replaced Sir Alex Ferguson, the teams most winning coach ever. A statement Manchester United made in a brief statement on Tuesday: “The club would like to place on record its thanks for the hard work, honesty and integrity he (Moyes) brought to the role,” The dismissal followed a meeting with Ed Woodward, the club’s executive vice chairman, at the side’s training ground outside Manchester.

Ryan Giggs has been named interim manager until a permanent replacement is found.

Exaggerated flops by professional soccer players is one of the main reasons why soccer sometimes gets a bad rep.

The Columbus Crew and San Jose Earthquakes were tied 0-0 in the second minute of stoppage time. Columbus Crew defender, Giancarlo Gonzalez, delivered a clearly deliberate elbow into the side of San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski. Wondolowski popped right back up and looked to remain in the play. He grazed Gonzalez who then busted out in a ridiculous flop. One of the most theatrical flops I have ever seen.

Neither player was punished (though Gonzalez clearly should have earned a straight red for the elbow, and at least a yellow for the flop), and the game ended 1-1.

The MLS Disciplinary Committee later fined Columbus Crew Gonzalez an undisclosed amount for his embellishment during the game. Many critics of the disciplinary committee point out that minor repercussions, such as the fine, do not do enough to denounce this type of behavior.

Video of the flop: http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2014/04/15/giancarlo-gonzalez-incident-vs-san-jose-earthquakes-disciplinary-committee-action?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=webvid&utm_campaign=Paid

The crew finished April  in second place in the Eastern conference.  Playing against the New York red bulls it will be a challenging game.  They  currently have an 2  game unbeaten strike and they hope to continue with the same momentum.  The crew must keep this exciting form in order to avoid a repeat of last season.

http://www.thecrew.com/match/columbus-crew-vs-new-york-red-bulls-april-26-2014

Hull City Striker, Yannick Sagbo has been fined and ordered to complete a compulsory education course by an FA panel for a comment made on social media supporting Nicolas Anelka over the ‘quenelle’ controversy.

Sagbo does not understand the basis upon which he is being fined and explained that he posted the tweet “Because he’s [Nicolas] been the best French striker we’ve ever had”. In his eyes, Anelka has been the best striker. He’s referring to Nicolas Anelka, not the gesture.

It is ridiculous, in my opinion, that he is being fined by the FA after they, themselves, had a hearing and came to the conclusion that the gesture was not anti-semitic.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2610367/Yannick-Sagbo-fined-FA-panel-support-Nicolas-Anelka-quenelle-controversy.html#ixzz2zw3F7Mfu

Chelsea has ruled out two important players as the Liverpool match day approaches . Hazard and Terry are going to benched due to injuries. This will give Liverpool an advantage as they play their great rivals.  This match will truly be an interesting game given that Jose Mourinho is known to have a cocky and negative attitude. The “chosen one” does not anticipate to lose the game. He is also link with a move to Manchester United for next season , which seems to occupy his mind before an important game.

Tuesday Yannick Sagbo, a player from the Ivory Coast for Britain’s Hull City team, was fined. He was fined $25,000 by the Football Association for posting a comment that supported Nicolas Anelka’s gesture. The gesture was in reference to anti-Semitic sentiments. The reason for the fine was he discussed matters which took place in an Independent Regulatory Commission Hearing. This was a breach of the league’s Rule E3. The rule states that players are restricted from making indecent and insulting comments. Yannick made reference in his comment about Nicolas’ race and or religious background and beliefs. As a result Sagbo is now taking an educational course to reeducate him about the issue with his actions. He has also been banned from five matches.

http://forward.com/articles/196938/soccer-stars-pal-gets-fine-for-quenelle-support/?

French footballer, Nicolas Anelka made a celebratory hand gesture after scoring a goal against West Ham in December of this year. The hand gesture, apparently known as the ‘quenelle’ has been regarded by some as anti-semitic. Anelka was at the epicenter of widespread condemnation even after he responded, clarifying that the gesture is anti-establishment and has nothing to do with anti-semitism. An FA disciplinary hearing was issued regarding the issue. It was established that Anelka was not anti-semitic and had not intended for the hand gesture surrounding the controversy to promote or express anti-semitism. Despite this outcome, Anelka was banned for 5 games and West Bromwich Albion suspended him and later gave him notice of his termination from the due his, along with the club’s, inability to come to terms over the conditions required for the suspension by the club to be lifted.

Anelka made a few comments on twitter about the situation explaining the meaning of the gesture and posted a picture of a Obama, Jay Z, Beyonce and another individual making the same gesture with the opposite hand. Translation of the top tweet: “Quenelle meaning: anti-system. I do not know what the word religion has to do with this story!”

Milan High School fields will be hosting the new adult recreational Summer Soccer League.  The league will provide expanded opportunities for individuals to participate in soccer matches. The Summer League’s age range consists of eighteen years old to ninety-nine year olds and is open to both genders. The Milan Boys Soccer teams needs to raise an estimated $4,500 for this year’s new Adidas uniforms. The remainder of the proceeds will go towards assisting the Milan High School Boys and Girls Soccer teams. The league being so open enables individuals to create up their own fourteen player teams.  The league’s games are planned to be played Thursday nights on the fields from June 19^th to August 7^th. The game consists of 2 twenty-five minute halves. The number of players that will be able to play on the field at a designated time will be seven and all participants will receive a T-shirt.

http://www.heritage.com/articles/2014/04/24/milan_news_leader/news/doc53556d8271721367463370.txt

As the result of Hapeol Petah Tikva (Team) losing many players during the World Cup qualifiers the founder, Rafi Subra has decide to resolve the issue by recruiting from the Arab villages in northern Israel. This decision has enabled suppressed Arab Israelis to participate in the rare Israeli Women’s Premier League.  The team as a result has since added five Arab-Israeli women and the transition has been seamless.  The Arab community is a minority in Israel and thus experience discrimination, the soccer field included.  The Jewish and Arab players alike have explained that the diversity has created a positive environment and is encouraging that they are getting along so well. They have also experienced a fairly decent record consisting of 5-2-7 . Hopefully in the future they will continually be supported and gaining successes. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/arab-israeli-women-break-ground-pro-soccer-team-23449745