Dirty Uncle MSI

April 17-2007

With fanatical support comes the threat of fanatical protest. And so it was that Corinthians supporters (armed with cleaning products, brooms, and mops) stormed club headquarters last week in an effort to “clean up the club.” A worthy cause, perhaps, but mostly they just broke stuff and scared the crap out of the players.   Â

So what’s so dirty about Corinthians? They, you’ll remember, were fondled by Media Sports Investment (MSI), the international fund which reportedly manages the capital of everyone from Persian playboys to Russian arms-dealers. MSI purchased a controlling stake in Corinthians in 2004, dumped cash and players into the operation, then extracted both in a series of bizarrely executed deals (chief among these being the Tevez-Mascherano West Ham clusterhump).  The club’s fortunes have plummeted, and supporters are starting to react to the smell of the rotting Corinthian carcass.

We West Ham fans can identify with this feeling: the MSI stench continues to linger over East London in the form of an impending points deduction for the Argentine deal. Lately, speculation has it that the deduction will be minor and would not likely seal the fate of the Hammer’s bid to stay in the Premiership. Of course, the Sheffield United loss on the weekend makes the argument all but moot.Â

At any rate, you have to admire the Brazilian spirit of support-with-consequences. And though I’d like to see the English equivalent, I can’t really imagine a bunch of thuggish looking bald guys charging the Upton Park gates wielding Swifters. Â