I Have Respect For Cristiano Ronaldo But We Are Not Friends - Lionel Messi

Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi has air his mind about Real Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo.The Argentina footballer said that he has alot of respect for the Portugal captain but were are not friends.Messi has scored 16 league goal is behind Ronaldo who is currently on 23 goals

 Ronaldo and Messi have each shared the Ballon D'or Award since 2007 and both superstar footballers play for Spain's two most powerful clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona, leading to suggestions of intense rivalry between the pair.

But speaking to Argentine newspaper El Grafico, Messi said it's only mutual respect that exists between them not hate or love.

"We are professionals that defend our teams, and rivals in this game, nothing more than that. Sometimes it happens that we win or that we lose. There has always been respect and nothing more."

However, the Barcelona star made it clear that his ambitions rest on more silverware, not individual prizes.

"I prefer to win something with the national team," he said. "I am not interested in records. They are there, but that does not make you win titles."

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Too bad!!! Two Real Madrid Fans Die In Lagos

It's a shame we allow our love for football get the better of us. Football is a game and in games people lose or win and it's high time Nigerian football fans get use to this. Many fans around the world definitely were in high spirit celebrating the victory of Real Madrid as the winner of 2014 UEFA Champions League having beaten Atletico Madrid with the score 4-1 on May 24, Saturday, but some fans were not so lucky to be part of the jubilation.

Two fans of Real Madrid identified as 39-year-old Olusoga Ogunbanjo and 42-year-old Bambo Sholeye died over the weekend at Lagos Island area of the state, as a result of the club not being able to equalise early against Athletico Madrid who had scored a goal in the first half .

Olusoga Ogunbanjo populary called Soga, a refrigerator technician who resided at 23A, Smith Street, off Evan Street who was said to have gone to a barber's shop to have a hair cut decided to stay back watch the match alongside other football fans reportedly slumped after some of his friends were said to have started making jest of the club’s fans.

Soga was said to have been quickly rushed to the emergency unit of Island General Hospital where he was confirmed dead.Meanwhile Bambo Sholeye, said to be a staff of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority ,LAWMA, who resided at 49/51 Apatira Street, off Olushi Street who also went to a shop to watch the match, was said to have stormed out in frustration before the regulation time. Unfortunately he reportedly slumped in front of his house where he sat lamenting about the club's failure to equalise the one goal scored by Atiletico Madrid in the first half.

Efforts to revive him in a private hospital proved futile as he was later confirmed dead.

It was gathered that their remains were buried yesterday morning at a public burial ground on the Island. culled

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football fans fled carrying dead bodies into team's dressing room after 'covert attack by Egyptian security forces' left 74 dead and 1,000 injured (photos)

Security forces loyal to ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak have been blamed for sparking the football riot which killed 74 people and left more than 1,000 injured. Violence flared in the Mediterranean city of Port Said last night after local team Al-Masry beat Cairo's Al-Ahly - the country's most successful club - 3-1. 

The final whistle prompted more than 13,000 home fans, armed with knives, iron bars and machetes, to storm the pitch and attack rival players and their 1,200 supporters. Police and stadium security staff looked nonchalantly on as rioters fired flares into the stands and fans were flung off their seats onto the pitch. 

One officer was filmed as people poured onto the field, talking on a mobile phone. Stones, fireworks and bottles were thrown - sparking a devastating stampede where many were crushed to death. 

 Some fans were cornered in the stadium as parts of it were set on fire - others joined Al-Ahly players in fleeing to their dressing room where they locked themselves in for safety. Egyptian soldiers were later airlifted in by helicopter to rescue stranded players who became trapped in the changing rooms. As the trouble unfolded in Port Said, a stadium in Cairo was also set on fire by fans after a referee cancelled a match.

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Otumukpor? Drogba’s Mom Cooks for Supporters

The mother of Cote d’Ivoire international, Didier Drogba has been cooking for the national team supporters at a makeshift restaurant she set up near the fans’ village in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, where the Elephants are playing their Group B games.

Clotilde Drogba, who personally does the traditional home cooking of fried plantain chips, pepper soup, white rice, tomato sauce and attieke, said it was her contribution to nation at the tournament by feeding the supporters so they could have enough strength to cheer the team to final victory, reports AFP.

Every match day, some 60 members of the national committee of the Elephants supporters (CNSE) queue up with empty bowls to collect food free off charge from the mother of the most influential Ivorian player, before heading to the stands to sing and clap.

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A Nigerian footballer breaks down in tears after 'racist abuse from crowd'

Racism in football reared its ugly head again last night as a young soccer star was so badly abused by the crowd in an FA Cup match that he broke down in tears.

Oldham defender Tom Adeyemi became upset after becoming the target of a section of the crowd at the famous Kop end at Anfield during Liverpool's tie with Oldham.

Police are investigating after fans allegedly called the youngster 'a f****** black b******' during their team's 5-1 victory over their lower league opposition.

It is understood that Adeyemi, 20, has given a statement to police in which he claimed he was the victim of a racist attack.

The event will undoubtedly mar the club's reputation following the recent suspension handed out to striker Luis Suarez for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.

It was near the end of the FA Cup 3rd round match at Anfield that last night's ugly incident took place.

Abuse seemed to emanate from the famous Kop end of the ground where, according to witnesses, fans were seen wearing Luis Suárez T-shirts and brandishing scarves bearing the player's name.

Adeyemi turned to confront his abuser, becoming visibly upset. Players from both sides intervened with Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and striker Dirk Kuyt among those attempting to reassure the Oldham player.

As players from both teams tried to calm down Adeyemi, fans in Liverpool's stands then began singing the name of Suárez, upsetting the young player even more. He appeared to be in tears as he lifted his shirt to wipe his face.

A witness who gave evidence to Liverpool officials and the police was quoted by the Guardian as saying: 'I was to the right of the Kop and the No11 turned to walk away after a tackle.

'I heard a single voice shout, "You f****** black *******." He spun round with shock on his face and started pointing at the crowd, from where the shout had come.'

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17 Years Old Angolan Kills His Father After El-Clasico Row

An Angolan teenager allegedly shot and killed his father after a row about this weekend's Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, the Angolan state news agency, Angop, has reported.

The 17-year-old and his 48-year-old father had argued about Spanish football and Angolan music on Thursday in the capital Luanda and the discussion ended in violence, the report said.

"That led to both parties losing control," Angop quoted Carlos Andre, an officer with the criminal investigation police, as saying. "They started a big fight in the area. The youngster picked up a firearm in the yard of their house and shot twice at his father," he added.

The police officer said the father died at the scene, while the teenager escaped with the firearm and is still on the run.

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