It's a funny old game

The legendary Jimmy Greaves, who played for Chelsea, England and had an unhappy stint with AC Milan, repeats that 'it's a funny old game' when quizzed about football.

Coming from a footballer who had scored more than 100 goals before reaching the age of 21 and was six times top scorer of the senior league between 1958 and 1969, the quote seems more than real.

A few classic examples prove Greaves's point. Reference is made to Fabio Capello and David Beckham's number of England caps. His two minutes in the World Cup qualifier against Belarus earned David Beckham his 107th cap, one more than Bobby Charlton and one fewer than Bobby Moore's total.

It's worth noting that Beckham earned his last four caps by playing a total of 29 minutes, whereas the famous two had always played at least 90 minutes to earn a cap!

Today, we have footballers calling themselves 'athletes of God' and manifest their belief every time they score by looking up and pray.

They are so religious but some are not always exemplary in the way they behave.

The very serious and affable Brazilian wizard Kaka is not the only religious player in top-level football. Others like Juventus defender Nicola Legrottaglie just have the words 'thank you God' written on their undervest.

A selected number join super models on catwalks!

This is the age of tattoos. Most of the performers have one, two or 23 tattoos! Obviously, all of these tattoos have a meaning for the guy who had them printed on his body.

Cagliari's goalie Federico Marchetti went as far as having a whole prayer painted on his right bicep; it is taken from the Zarathustrian religion and is the equivalent of our Hail Mary!

Other goalkeepers are known to carry small holy medals which are covered by bandages on their pulse or sometimes they stick a holy picture onto goalposts!

Then there are managers like Trapattoni, Ancelotti and Mourinho and others who are great believers in prayer and ensure, when on the bench, they have a small bottle of holy water or rosary beads.

Bribery allegations

But then there isn't much fun reading about the former FIFA president Joao Havelange's allegations that the 1966 and 1974 World Cup editions were rigged.

In another recently published book, written by the well-known Argentine sports writer Ricardo Gotta, it is alleged that the government of Jorge Rafael Videla and his dictators fixed the 1978 World Cup semi-final tie between Argentina and Peru.

Gotta adds that two Peruvians were given money to ensure that the Argentines won by more than the four-goal margin to eliminate Brazil on goal difference! They did by winning six nil!

The last World Cup (2006) according to a Canadian writer, Declan Hill, refers to the power of underground betting syndicates.

Several matches were singled out. Of course, one expects a number of legal cases.

After all there have been on-going investigations about corruption, bribes and illegal transfer fees!

The UK tabloids made it known that 'the Premier League is full of stupid players' and even mentioned a number of names and their crazy acts.

They referred to cases of roasting scandals, and when team-mates kick each other during training sessions. What fun!

Indeed, The Beautiful Game is certainly 'A funny old game' (with apologies to Jimmy Greaves.)