Money's Too Tight To Mention

International football transfer numbers and player buying fees have fallen sharply worldwide in the past six months, says governing body FIFA. Completed player deals fell by nine per cent in the first six months of 2012, but their total financial value plunged by more than a third, falling by thirty four per cent. Total income from fur thousand nine hundred and seventy three transfers around the globe was five hundred and seventy six million dollars. The drop may be due to continued global economic problems and the forthcoming UEFA financial fair play rules or the fact that many clubs, simply, haven't got a pot to piss in at the moment. Especially Rangers. The data was revealed by FIFA's Transfer Matching System organisation, which uses modern electronic technology with the aim of making international football transfers more transparent and legally compliant. 'We still have to see what happens in July and August, when European transfer windows are open, to see if this [drop] is just a dip or part of a continuing trend,' said Isabelle Solal, head of integrity and compliance at FIFA TMS. However, the economic recession and the impact of the UEFA financial fair play sanctions do seem to be having an effect. 'Clubs are making an effort to balance their books, but things should be clearer by September,' said Solal, speaking to the BBC News website at a World Sports Law Report conference into football player contracts. The figures refer to international transfers and do not cover 'domestic' transfers between two clubs in the same country. The big five European leagues - England, Germany, France, Italy and Spain - have transfer windows that run from 1 July to 31 August. And with most of the deals done in the first half of the year taking place during the January transfer windows in Europe, these are the two months when most global trading for the second half of the year will take place. The financial fair play rules have been introduced by European football's governing body to ensure that clubs only spend cash, including on big-name star signings, from revenues that they have created, rather than through borrowing or handouts from rich owners. The TMS is an online system for registering international transfers and has replaced the old set-up of documents-based on paper. In order for a transfer to be validated, the two clubs involved must enter the relevant information on the deal into the TMS system. However, in the first six months of 2012, the amount of fines that FIFA TMS has imposed on clubs for not complying properly with transfer regulations has almost reached the total for the whole of 2011. 'We are much more effective as a compliance department, and despite the number of transfers being down, we are finding more infringements as we grow into our role,' said Solal. 'We have a big focus on compliance education,' she added. 'We spend a lot of time trying to help clubs and associations understand the transfer market better. We have the technology that allows the information necessary for each transfer to be accessible to both parties, even if they are at other ends of the globe. It is great that sport is using the sort of technology that is widely used in business, and it is enabling us to become even more professional in our operations.'

FIFA president the odious Sepp Blatter - who is not at all corrupt in any way shape or form, just want to make that absolutely clear - says that Frank Lampard's so-called 'ghost' goal at the 2010 World Cup played 'a decisive role' in the introduction of goal-line technology. The International Football Association Board voted unanimously in favour of introducing the technology on Thursday. Blatter said: 'That [Lampard goal] was the moment for me to say, "You can't afford for something similar to happen in the next World Cup." We could say it is a historic day for international football.' Lampard's 'goal' came when England were 2-1 down in the second round against Germany. Fabio Capello's team went on to lose 4-1 and Lampard was so devastated by the whole fiasco than he started going out with odious greed bucket (and drag) Christine Bleakley as a consequence. Horroshow. There have been other similar incidents, most notably last month when Ukraine's Marko Devic was denied a goal against England at Euro 2012. The odious Blatter continued: 'In the autumn of 2010, we started tests and now we are ready. I am a happy man that we did it. The objective is for 2014 but now we have a system which is available for others.' The English Premier League has already said it plans to introduce goal-line technology as soon as possible, maybe at some point during the forthcoming season. However, not everyone is convinced it is a positive step forward. UEFA president, slimy Michel Platini has said that the technology would lead to 'PlayStation football.' Blatter is confident the odious little Frenchman will change his mind. 'He is more afraid that once technology comes in it will go from the goal-line towards the penalty box or whatever,' said Blatter. 'But I am sure with this unanimous decision of the international board that he will follow. He cannot go against history and this is new history. I am sure he is smart enough to realise that something has happened today in football.' England striker Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick as England beat West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final, has spent years answering questions about whether his second goal actually crossed the line. 'It would have shown quite categorically that the ball was quite clearly at least a yard over the line,' he insisted. Which it wasn't, but never mind. 'But had it said it wasn't in, we would have won 3-2. There's still no difference.' Damn straight, Geoff. You stick to that story, mate. 'I am delighted though. I have been a leading advocate of bringing it in and I think it will benefit the game as a whole.'

The Scottish Football League clubs will vote whether to accept Glasgow Rangers at a meeting on 13 July. SFL chief executive David Longmuir confirmed the date after a board gathering at Hampden on Thursday. 'At this point, no decision has been taken by the board of the SFL or by any of our clubs,' said Longmuir. 'I have every faith in the judgement of those clubs to make a considered and reasoned decision which will be in the best interests of the game.' A newco Rangers is applying for SFL membership following the Scottish Premier League's decision to reject their application. The thirty SFL clubs met on Tuesday to discuss a proposal that would see the new Rangers enter Division One rather than starting life in the bottom tier. The SPL are offering a one million smackers payment for TV rights to Rangers games and the introduction of play-offs between the top flight and Division One. And the matter will now go to a ballot. BBC Scotland suggests that Dundee are likely to be invited to replace the old Rangers in the SPL for next season. And the Dens Park club say that they have been advised they will not be allowed to cast a vote on 13 July. 'Scottish Football League clubs are, over the next few days, being asked to make a crucial decision as to whether we are in a position to accommodate Rangers into the SFL,' added Longmuir. 'The time has come for all outside influences and pressures to stop. This is our national game and part of our culture so I ask all other bodies to leave it to those who have been put in this invidious position to make a decision in the best possible interests of our game.' Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan warned the game faced a 'slow, lingering death' if the Ibrox club had to re-start in Division Three. But Cowdenbeath were the twelfth SFL club to go public with their opposition to the idea of Rangers entering Division One, with Stenhousemuir the only club to so far indicate their support. And Charles Green, who purchased Rangers' assets when the old club was consigned to liquidation, said on Wednesday: 'If our application was to be accepted, Rangers will play in whichever division the SFL sees fit and we will move forward from there.' Longmuir explained that the first vote will be on whether the SFL can accommodate Rangers, with a simple majority required. If that vote goes in favour of Rangers, Longmuir said it would be 'supplemented by further resolutions that we would have to implement to change our rules.' He added: 'Our job over the next week or so is to consult with colleagues in both SPL and SFA to make sure that what we're about to do is for the benefit and interests of the game. The SFL clubs clearly have choices but what we plan to do is make the choices very, very clear to them by giving them the right information and to work over the next week to pull together the plan that's going to take the game forward through this mini crisis. Technically, the SFA, as governing body, has the power to influence just about every decision that is taken in the game but I believe that with proper collaboration we can get everybody onside with this.'

Yer actual Keith Telly Topping's beloved (though unsellable) Newcastle are set to add a further promising teenager to their squad, with news that a deal has been agreed for Gael Bigirimana of Coventry City. The Burundi-born midfielder moved to England as a child joining the Sky Blue Academy when aged eleven. Handed his first team debut in August 2011 by Toon old boy Andy Thorn, eighteen year-old Gael went on to make twenty eight appearances in all competitions. News of United's interest first emerged in May, when a bid said to be between five hundred thousand and one million smackers was apparently lodged. A deal for teenage Australian defender Curtis Good has also reportedly been completed by the St James' Park club, but is yet to be formally announced until he returns from international duty. After undergoing fitness testing in the early part of this week, the United squad officially began their pre-season work on Thursday. Some eyebrows were raised when Peter Lovenkrands was sighted at Darsley Park, but it was quickly confirmed that Peter, who was released by the club at the end of last season, is currently training with United until he strikes a deal with a new club. Among those spotted on Wednesday meanwhile were new boy Romain Amalfitano and Demba Ba. As expected, United's trio of Euro 2012 attendees have been given extra time off, with Tim Krul due back on Monday 16 July and Yohan Cabaye and Hatem Ben Arfa returning the following Monday. With the departure of Fraser Forster to Celtic, United will begin their pre-season with Rob Elliot between the posts. Meanwhile, the club have announced that Papiss Cissé and Cheick Tioté won't be expected to return until Monday 9 July following their participation in World Cup qualifiers in June. It remains to be seen though whether the former actually shows up, or will be otherwise engaged in Spain at the Senegal Olympic squad's training camp. Speaking about that on Monday, Alan Pardew said: 'We have to give our permission (for him to play at the Olympics) and we are discussing it. It's awkward because we want to prepare of a difficult season ahead of Europa League and Premier League games.'

The Reign In Spain

Spain sealed their place in history as the first side to win three successive major international football tournaments with a quite stunning victory over Italy in Kiev at the final of Euro 2012. The Spanish were at their scintillating best to make a mockery of some recent - ludicrous - suggestions they are not entertaining to watch. Like this nonsense, for instance. A David Silva header and neat finishes from Jordi Alba and substitutes Fernando Torres and Juan Mata gave La Rojas the win. But the whole team played their part to seal the largest winning margin in a European Championship final. The scoreline was, perhaps, a shade cruel on Italy, who were forced to play the last thirty minutes with ten men following an injury to Thiago Motta shortly after they had made their third and final substitution. However, even when the teams were equal in number, reigning World and European champions Spain dominated and never looked like relinquishing their grip on the Henri Delaunay trophy which they won in Vienna four years ago. Their play sparkled with intelligence, imagination, guile and flair as they wove intricate triangles in and around the Italian box whilst effectively cancelling out the Italian's playmaker, Andrea Pirlo. Their goals owed as much to wonderfully constructed build-ups - in which midfielder's Fabregas, Iniesta and Xavi played prominent parts - as they did to clinical finishing. And, remember, they did all this without Carles Puyol and David Villa. Scary. Albeit, the BBC panel's ludicrous arse-licking superlatives at the end of the game felt a bit over-the-top. As good as Brazil 1970? My arse!

More than thirteen million viewers watched Spain win Euro 2012 on BBC1 – six times the number that watched the tournament climax on ITV. Spain's crushing 4-0 win over Italy averaged 12.3 million viewers on BBC1, with a fifteen-minute peak of 13.3 million on Sunday night. ITV's - genuinely pathetic - coverage of the same match, fronted by odious breakfast TV flop and greed bucket Adrian Chiles, averaged a risible two million viewers, with a fifteen-minute peak of 2.2 million. Overall BBC1's Match of the Day Live: Euro 2012 Final, hosted by yer actual Gary Lineker, pulled in an average audience of 10.2 million viewers across the entire broadcast, a 41.3 per cent share, between 7pm and 10.15pm. ITV's Euro 2012 Final Live, averaged 1.7 million viewers, seven per cent of the audience, between 7pm and 10.15pm. I'll repeat that, seven per cent. The advertising-free BBC traditionally outguns ITV on big sporting occasions such as this but the corporation's six-to-one win over its commercial rival – the BBC had an eight six per cent share of the audience during the game itself – was even more comprehensive than usual. The last time ITV broadcast live coverage of a European Championships final – Greece's win in Euro 2004 – the BBC had just over three times as many viewers as ITV, with 10.9 million viewers against 3.4 million. Such is the BBC's traditional ratings lead that ITV decided not to broadcast live coverage of the Euro 2008 final, also won by Spain. The BBC had a five-to-one lead in the 2010 World Cup final, when it drew fifteen million viewers compared with ITV's 3.3 million. The total audience for live match coverage of the final, at 14.3 million viewers, was up on the 10.6 million who watched in 2008 when it was only broadcast on BBC1, and identical to the 14.3 million who watched Greece's win in Euro 2004. But it was down on the 18.4 million who saw Spain's World Cup win, broadcast live by both channels, two years ago. England's Euro 2012 exit to Italy remained the most-watched match of Euro 2012, with a live match average of 20.34 million viewers on BBC1 on 24 June, with full coverage including pre- and post-match analysis averaging 17.4 million. The quarter final, which England lost on penalties - as usual - had a five-minute peak of 23.2 million viewers, the highest for any programme on any channel since England versus Portugal in Euro 2004. The first hour of ITV's Euro 2012 final coverage also lost out to BBC2's Secrets of our Living Planet. The Chris Packham natural history series picked up 2.1 million viewers between 7pm and 8pm, including BBC HD. Mock the Week's delayed episode - rescheduled from last Thursday - took 1.52m at 10.10pm. The BBC also offered an alternative CBBC commentary of the Euro 2012 final on the Red Button service, featuring channel hosts Chris Johnson and Hacker T Dog in Salford. Their 'offbeat' version, which included unwittingly comparing the Spanish Crown Prince to a member of the Gryffindor house in the Harry Potter books because he was wearing a red-and-yellow scarf, led to CBBC 'trending' on Twitter. Which is 'a thing', apparently.

An unfortunate slip-up by BBC's Match of the Day pundit yer actual Alan Shearer during the Euro 2012 final on Sunday night when he noted how the triumphant Spanish team had enjoyed 'an unbelievable amount of sex.' Lucky old Spainards, I say. That's what comes from winning three major tournaments in a row, presumably. What Shearer actually meant to say – and he quickly corrected himself – was 'success.' Let's hope they don't let it go to their head. Course, yer actual Shearer had a fair bit of sexy success himself. Yer actual Keith Telly Topping really rather enjoyed watching that.

There will be no Scottish or Northern Irish players in the men's British Olympic football squad when it is announced on Monday. BBC Scotland claims to have learned that manager Stuart Pearce will list eighteen players from England and Wales. Fifteen of the squad must be under twenty three, with Ryan Giggs, Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards the three permitted overage players. None of the England players at Euro 2012 were considered for the squad. Four reserve players will also be put on stand-by, should anyone withdraw from the squad. There were Scots, including Steven Fletcher and Barry Bannan, on Pearce's shortlist of thirty five players. The Scottish Football Association, along with their Northern Irish and Welsh counterparts, have taken no direct involvement with Team GB and have made it clear they do not want their players involved for fear of risking their countries' separate identities in world football. But they cannot block any players from participating if they wish to do so. The women's football squad was named earlier this week, with Scottish duo Ifeoma Dieke and Kim Little the only non-English players selected. The men's Team GB were drawn in Group A at London 2012 alongside Senegal, Uruguay and United Arab Emirates. They begin their Olympic campaign against Senegal at Old Trafford on 26 July before facing the United Arab Emirates at Wembley on 29 July, and Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on 1 August.