Organizers at FIFA headquarters have decided to snub the Los Angeles All-Star soccer event that was to be held last weekend. Everything was in place to host the U.S. MLS All-Star team crew who were to play against a select group of world soccer stars.

France's Patrick Viera in action during the international friendly match, France vs Argentina at the stade de France, in Saint-Denis, near Paris on February 7, 2007.

Players on the opposing team included Italy’s Marco Materazzi and Mauro Camoranesi, France’s Patrick Viera, Spain’s Fernando Morrientes and the Netherlands’ Edgar Davids.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was already reserved for the event and everything was in place before FIFA pulled the plug on everything. No explanation was given and no one was prepared to comment to an angry mob of reporters and fans.

Sounds to me like another successful attempt at stifling the progression of soccer in North America.

Image: Newscom

Zidane was going to cancel his game in Vancouver after a back injury on Canada Day, but I guess sympathy for the fans kicked in and he rescheduled it.

Zidane walking with Canadian charity soccer organizers in Montreal, Quebec

The game was supposed to be played at the 59,000 indoor seat B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, but has now been postponed to the smaller 5,000 seat Swangard Stadium for next Saturday July 11, 2009.

8,000 tickets were sold out to the first Vancouver charity match so I’m not sure how they all plan on getting into the smaller stadium. In addition to that little problem, many of Zidane’s players have already told him that they are not able to wait in Vancouver for a week for the game to happen. Others on the team are just taking their time to enjoy the sights. There are lots of places to go and see in Vancouver.

Image: Newscom.com

FIFA President Sepp Blatter had a few words of advice for the MLS this week. He complained that other professional players will now follow David Beckham into the MLS because of the timing of its seasons.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter

Beckham who knew that he wanted to be in top shape to play for England in the World Cup, had to skip over to AC Milan. This is because there were too many months of inactivity before the World Cup Qualifying matches. The regular European season for soccer begins in August and ends in May. The MLS on the other hand starts in March and finishes in October. Blatter stated that until the MLS changes to adapt their schedule to the standard international playing seasons players will not play in their league like they wish.

The MLS have stated that they understand the challenges they face, but unlike the Europeans, North America doesn’t have the best playing weather during the cold winter months. Fans find it hard going to an outdoor stadium in feets of snow. Plus, there are still a few clubs who share their playing arenas with the NFL so they have to work around their schedule since they have the priority.

Image: TSN.ca

It’s a rare event to see a big soccer club like AC Milan in North American but it was confirmed today that they will be in Toronto August 7th, 2009. They will be taking on the Toronto FC, Canada’s Premiere soccer club and member of the MLS.

They will be playing at the humble BMO fields located in Toronto. A small stadium compared to the giant one’s they are used to playing at in Milan. It will definitely be a different kind of atmosphere than what AC Milan are used to.

The BMO Fields need to have a little makeover though before they agreed to play there. Most soccer clubs and players for that matter hate the new fake turf that was installed in Toronto. So they will be covering the pitch with temporary grass to appeal to AC Milan. In Toronto’s defense the turf was installed because it promised to be more durable and be the same as playing on real grass. Despite the hype, professional players still seems to prefer the real thing.

Image: Toronto FC

The Montreal Impact are not currently included in the MLS but they are a team to be reckoned with. Now they will be able to add host to French League Season opener to their repertoire.

The Impact have been notified by the Ligue de Football Professionnel that their city and venue will play host to the leagues 2010 season opening games next on July 26. Though no details have been really ironed out yet, Montrealer’s and soccer fans are overall excited by the announcement.

Image: TheTruthAbout

Toronto FC defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 1-0 in the opening Nutrilite Canadian Championship games. Toronto had allot to prove as they are currently the only Canadian team in the coveted MLS. Vancouver will be joining in 2011 but the Montreal Impact will have to wait their turn.

Montreal won the Canadian Championship last year with Toronto barely defeating Vancouver for the send spot. With only three teams competing for the title that’s a huge deal. The next Nutrilite Canadian Championship game will be on May 27th in Vancouver (Whitecaps FC-Impact), June 2nd in Vancouver (Whitecaps FC-Toronto FC), and June 18th in Montréal (Impact-Toronto FC).

Check out CanadaSoccer.com for more information.

Image: TSN.ca

It’s not often that the Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps get to play each other. But with the Whitecaps entry into the MLS by 2012 the two rival Canadian teams will get to face off once again. For Canada however the two teams have been matched again for the Nutrilite Canadian Championship games.

Toronto midfielder LAURENT ROBERT, right, is clipped by a falling Justin Moose of the Whitecaps yesterday. Vancouver won the game 1-0 on a penalty kick.

Last year Toronto FC won with Montreal Impact in second and the Vancouver Whitecaps trailing in third. Having beaten Montreal for the 2012 MLS bid they have allot to prove. Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto are the only three teams to compete in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship.

For those of you planning to watch the game kickoff begins tonight May 6.

Image: Newscom

The head coach of the MLS team Toronto FC, has quit today over what he says are personal reasons. Coach John Carver resignation is effective immediately though nothing will be announced until after Toronto’s game against the Kansas City Wizards on Sunday.

Carver was known as a passionate coach who was openly upset with the MLS for not running a proper soccer league. He once told reporters…

“I’m a very passionate guy and I love the game. And that’s the way I am. And apparently they don’t want that in the MLS. They don’t want passionate people. They don’t want people who care for the game and wear their heart on the sleeve. They want me to sit down on the chair, in the dugout with my arms folded, my legs crossed and just be a nice little boy and get a suntan. Well, no. If that’s what they want to get, I’ll get on a plane and fly home again.”

He was also fined $750 last week by referees at a game against Dallas when he objected against a penalty call.

Read the complete article at TSN.ca

Image: TSN.ca

It looks as if AC Milan will have to pay dearly for the extended loan of David Beckham. The MLS have asked for $10 million in compensation for the use of Beckham after the agreed upon terms. Beckham was supposed to return to his home team of LA Galaxy when the season began in March.

Beckham may even be paying the fine partly out of his own pocket, unusual for a player to be paying to play soccer instead of the other way around. Though he must return to the MLS on July 1st and play till the end of the MLS season. In 2010 Beckham’s contract will be up and he will once again be free to sign with another club. I doubt though that too many other clubs will seriously consider him knowing now what a flip-flopper he has become.

Read the complete article at Goal.com

Image: Newscom

Montreal Impact are looking for $25 million to help build a new stadium. The government of Canada and Quebec are being asked to split the burden.

With government spending being spent frivolously for Vancouver’s Winter Olympics, there’s no surprise that they won the 2011 MLS bid. The Vancouver Whitecaps will be the second Canadian team to join the Major League Soccer association. Understandably, the Montreal Impact are a little jealous and want a fair chance for a future MLS bid.

The problem is that the economy is not doing so good and $25 million is allot of paper to be spending on an obscure team. The Impact, on the other hand are a really good team. They have proven in past friendly games, that they can hold their own against any MLS team. Hopefully in the future they’ll be able to show their skill.

Image: TSN.ca