There's nothing more rancid in sport than the cheat, he ( or she ) who cheats the fans, the fans that work their finger to the bone and spend every penny they have following their team.

Football is more than just a sport, it's a way of life, for some people it's a quasi-religion. Most of us were never capable of having the chance to play for our favourite team but I can speak for everyone and say we would have bust a gut trying every time we stepped on that pitch. Have we not all dreamed of scoring the winning goal? Or making the saving tackle? For most of us it's only a dream, but the reality is that every day we turn to the back pages first, our team, our sport, is more important to us than the boring old political scandals and celebrity guff that pass as news these days.

When we get a chance to take our kids to a game it's a big deal, especially the first game, this is us showing our kids who we are, what we love, the joyful unbridled spirit of sport and success when it comes, loyalty and determination in defeat.......here's the joy of foorball......

I was in Germany in 1990 when they won the World Cup, it was one of the greatest parties of my life......then we have this story.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19818771

and here is the goal.........

What a disgrace of a man, I don't know any Bari supporters personally but I can feel their betrayal, all those days building up to games in anticipation, all the money spent on shirts and tickets, all the emotional capital and effort put in to supporting their team......and this guy shows up and put's the ball through his own net.

Andrea Masiello

You are a disgrace to our sport and to the dreams of every little boy........you and your type steal the one thing that keeps us going back for more even in the bad days, and that thing is faith. Faith in our club, faith in our team, and most of all faith that our players, no matter how limited, will try their best to make our day, and make our dreams come true.

There is no more frustrating figure at a club than a guy who has the talent but won't try a leg, who will shirk a tackle, and lie down when the going get's tough, but that guy can be redeemed, you Mr Masiello, are beyond redemption........

You steal faith.......you steal dreams......and in football terms......you are the scum we fear most, the man who will sell your fans down the river for a few quid.

Fork you Masiello, I hope your next court appearance will be in a bankruptcy court.......that will fit well with the obvious bankruptcy of your soul.

regards

theblether.

Total disgrace and he should be banned for life from football at any level.

Agree 100%. Utterly despicable.

This thread will probably turn into a referees are biased towards United thread and Alex"the Don"Ferguson controls World Football at every level!

This thread will probably turn into a referees are biased towards United thread and Alex"the Don"Ferguson controls World Football at every level!

Theres nothing to suggest ferguson had any involvement in this whatsoever. Don't be silly.

I am sure the lickle spuds or scousers could find a link

I am sure the lickle spuds or scousers could find a link

We beat you on Saturday mate!

Do you remember?

I am sure the lickle spuds or scousers could find a link

I think the fact that it has the word "cheating" in the topic title means anything United related would be on topic

Didn't look deliberate to me. He tried unsuccessfully to trap, or, deflect the ball.......course, I could be wrong.

I am sure the lickle spuds or scousers could find a link

Don't be silly Red...........they don't need to find a link, they'll just make something up like they always do

I am sure the lickle spuds or scousers could find a link

Don't be silly Red...........they don't need to find a link, they'll just make something up like they always do

You lot have a few questions to answer so chop chop lads.

I am sure the lickle spuds or scousers could find a link

Don't be silly Red...........they don't need to find a link, they'll just make something up like they always do

For example?

One lame attempt at racist humour removed

I am sure the lickle spuds or scousers could find a link

I think the fact that it has the word "cheating" in the topic title means anything United related would be on topic

I think "Italian and cheating goes hand in hand as well", so certainly applicable to City :-)

Its our own fault. We football fans are the ones who elevate footballers to the role of gods and who stimulate the kind of inflated egos that puts them in mind that money is everything and convinces them they are above mortal law.

I hope Italy locks em all up, throws away the key and reduces the image of footballers to those of bankers

As an Italian national, i am utterly disgusted at the state of our football, at the point i prefer watching English or Spanish games big time.

That said, there is a very powerful illegal bets cartel in Italy, and obviously the organized criminality seems to be involved too.

As the stadiums get emptier year by year, i am watching Italian football die a slow, agonizing death.

Btw, the footballer cited in the OP, is IMHO just a scapegoat, the dirty game is bigger than the medias want us to believe.

End of the rant.

As an Italian national, i am utterly disgusted at the state of our football, at the point i prefer watching English or Spanish games big time.

That said, there is a very powerful illegal bets cartel in Italy, and obviously the organized criminality seems to be involved too.

As the stadiums get emptier year by year, i am watching Italian football die a slow, agonizing death.

Btw, the footballer cited in the OP, is IMHO just a scapegoat, the dirty game is bigger than the medias want us to believe.

End of the rant.

Throw in racism and hooliganism and that is what happens to the beautiful game,Italy deserves to be banned form international football with the corruption involved there.There are other countries involved also and that Mr Ferguson of Manchester United fame is now being targeted by the bitter clubs of ABUISM in the premier league.

i posted quite a while back about what is happening to our beloved sport,i usually get up 2am if there is football on,real m today ajax vs napoli but when you see the blatent cheating you loose interest then its off to bed.the final straw for me was watching that fantastic footballing nation[brazil] reverting to dirty tricks.as for extra asst.on the goal line thats is a waste of time,its been discussed having a video ref.that is the only way forward,does it hold up the game does it hell,cricket,rugby both codes are reaping the awards just look at the crowds.i wonder who it was that bought a job lot of footballs 2 of which went flat in the real madrid champions league game.

Perhaps send him a personal letter?

Can't understand it... I used to play football, when I stopped I lost interest. Sports are for playing, not for watching... same goes for porno films as far as I am concerned, as well as a lot of other activities. Sorry if I hurt feelings here.

Can't understand it... I used to play football, when I stopped I lost interest. Sports are for playing, not for watching... same goes for porno films as far as I am concerned, as well as a lot of other activities. Sorry if I hurt feelings here.

Then what on earth are you doing on here then?

Can't understand it... I used to play football, when I stopped I lost interest. Sports are for playing, not for watching... same goes for porno films as far as I am concerned, as well as a lot of other activities. Sorry if I hurt feelings here.

Then what on earth are you doing on here then?

Monkey see monkey do me old chum!

One post removed. Banter is one thing but admitting to wanting to come on here and annoy people, isn't acceptable.

Edit:- and a couple of posts removed responding to the post above.

In my defence this is something that has been puzzling me since I was a kid - everyone wants to watch, nobody wants to do it. If you like, the response 'then what are you doing here then' seemed a bit provocative so I provoked back. Sorry. I did apologise in advance.

In my defence this is something that has been puzzling me since I was a kid - everyone wants to watch, nobody wants to do it. If you like, the response 'then what are you doing here then' seemed a bit provocative so I provoked back. Sorry. I did apologise in advance.

decades of spectator sports watched by hundreds of millions of people around the world regardless of nationality, creed, social status or gender would sort of refute your stance though wouldn't it?

you can do both you know. playing sport and watching your team play your favourite game are not mutually exclusive.

In my defence this is something that has been puzzling me since I was a kid - everyone wants to watch, nobody wants to do it. If you like, the response 'then what are you doing here then' seemed a bit provocative so I provoked back. Sorry. I did apologise in advance.

Nay worries. The majotirty of the main posters in here are pretty thick skinned and would have tret your response with a pinch of salt. I just didn't want it going off on one.

This is however, a forum for talking about football, we can't play it on-line

Forget Italian cheats, what about the cheats from Tottenham and Liverpool, who so obviously want out of the Europa league they can barely be bothered to pretend.

Forget Italian cheats, what about the cheats from Tottenham and Liverpool, who so obviously want out of the Europa league they can barely be bothered to pretend.

Can't argue that point after watching the second half last night.

Yes I know. 'Sport' was invented as a spectacle to be watched. The word wasn't used as such in the Middle Ages, people just did it.

Millions of Thais use skin whitening crap and guess why? You were told to like it, so you did. The only sport I watch occasionally is snooker.

Yes I know. 'Sport' was invented as a spectacle to be watched. The word wasn't used as such in the Middle Ages, people just did it.

Millions of Thais use skin whitening crap and guess why? You were told to like it, so you did. The only sport I watch occasionally is snooker.

people don't watch football, or other sports, because they are 'told' to.

and snooker isn't a sport.