Firms, football hooliganism and middle-aged flab a dying art? Think again!

Football hooliganism has no specific legal definition. The term was created by the media, the tabloid press in particular, in the mid-1960s. Since then, they have been extremely flexible and indeterminate in ascribing the “hooligan” label to different incidents. The perpetuation of football hooliganism can be linked to the high level of drama, aggression and petit mal that overcomes players in the 90 minutes of rigid warfare on the football field.

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Italian striker Mario Balotelli was racially abused by Italian fans as Italy played Romania in an international friendly last night.

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A new look England side lost to Laurent Blanc’s France 1-2 at the Wembley last night.

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Lionel Messi scored a superb goal two minutes into added time to give Argentina a 1-0 win over arch-rivals Brazil in friendly at Qatar’s Khalifa International stadium on Wednesday.

Messi played a one-two in the middle of the pitch with substitute Ezequiel Lavezzi and raced through the Brazil defence cutting across to the left to send a low, diagonal, left-footed shot past the diving Victor into the bottom far corner.

The match, in which Ronaldinho made a promising Brazil comeback, was a first victory for Argentina over their great South American rivals in six meetings since 2005.

Ronaldinho, overlooked for the 2010 World Cup finals, might have scored with a cheeky backheel in the first half but Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero was alert and saved.

Messi’ goal was the first conceded by the new Brazil side coached by Mano Menezes, who had won their three previous friendlies.

Sergio Batista was making his debut as Argentina coach after friendly wins over Ireland and world champions Spain and a defeat away to Japan in an interim capacity.

Click HERE to view the Highlights of the game .

Chelsea defender Alex looks set to miss 6-8 weeks because he needs to undergo knee surgery. The Brazilian defender has withdrawn from the Brazil squad to play Argentina this week.

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Madrid – Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven officially announced on Monday the sale of midfielder Ibrahim Afellay to Spanish champions Barcelona. Affelay, 24 – who was part of the Netherlands squad at the World Cup finals – will be eligible to play for Barca from January 1.

This is the first major deal of the European winter transfer window. According to media reports, Barca will pay PSV around 3 million euros (4.11 million dollars) for the player, who will sign a four-year contract with the Catalan giants.

Not since 2005 have Barca signed a player in winter, unlike profligate rivals Real Madrid. Coach Pep Guardiola appears to have realized that his squad is rather thin, especially now that veteran playmaker Xavi has started to pick and choose his matches due to a chronic Achilles tendon injury.

Arsenal midfielder Samir Nasri has blasted at his former Arsenal team-mate for the accusation he has put on him of wrecking France’s World Cup hopes.

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Paul the ‘psychic’ Octopus has died but his cousin Ollie has replaced him in order to continue the family tradition.

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Halloween has just passed and Football Realm has gathered some of the best hauntedly weird football stuff this time. See below your favourite football icons in shocking costumes and outfits.

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