Michael Quinn

We all knew this day would come. For many, it was a long wait endured with increasingly frayed patience. Years of watching Agüero, Silva, De Bruyne and Haaland dismantle defences had left a foul-play-flavoured taste in the collective palate of Premier League fandom. For City fans, judgement day loomed. Doubtless they tried to forget about the 115 charges. Perhaps it would just sort of go away? In fairness, the process dragged on so long they could be forgiven for hoping. But no. Last week,...

The Premier League has returned. For many, this predictable development will bring untold emotion – ecstasy, horror and a glimpse of second-hand glory with a pint in hand. Some, of course, having just got over the disruption of the World Cup, will roll their eyes as the circus continues. But we don't really need to worry about them. So aside from the football itself, what can we expect? Fresh Faces Teams Like the new kids at school, the three promoted teams – Coventry, Hull and Ipswich –...

Football needs its villains. Mourinho, Suarez, Pepe, Terry. The beautiful game is made so, in part, by the dark arts that leave us seething at men hundreds of miles away who will never know our name. The blood boils, then cools. All part of the circus. What's not so grand is when the object of fans' disdain is governing bodies. You'll struggle to find a football lover who accepts corruption as a necessary evil for fiery derby matches. I am, of course, referring to Gianni Infantino, who,...