World Football Archives - Page 571 of 840 - Inside World Football

Football restarts in Liberia as Ebola infection rates fall

Musa Bility

By Mark Baber
January 8 – As the numbers of new Ebola patients falls off dramatically in Liberia, with just eight new infections reported in 29 December to January 4 reporting period, the Liberian Football Federation has announced the resumption of competitive matches “with immediate effect,” marking a major milestone in the impoverished country’s struggle against the deadly disease which has killed at least 3,471 people in Liberia.

Archive

No Barca panic over Messi, he is staying, but Bartomeu might not

Lionel Messi2

January 8 – Barcelona have been quick to dispel reports that Lionel Messi is unhappy with the way the club is being run and could be on his way out of the Nou Camp.

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Convicted rapist Evans poised to sign new deal despite public outrage

Ched Evans

January 8 – Despite fierce opposition from fans and the general public and a number of sponsors threatening to pull out in protest, an English lower-league club appears on the verge of offering a contract to a convicted rapist who has served a jail sentence.

Archive

Bulgarian football chief accused of tax crimes and issuing a death threat

grisha ganchev

By Alexander Krassimirov
January 8 – Grisha Ganchev (pictured), a member of the Bulgarian Football Union executive committee and owner of Bulgaria’s Litex Lovech is facing court charges, one of which names him as the leader of an organised crime syndicate.

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Tavecchio pushes proposal to reduce Italy’s Serie A and B to 18 clubs

Carlo Tavecchio

By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 7 – Carlo Tavecchio, the president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), has continued to promote his plans for a reformed Italian league structure that would see both Serie A and B decrease from 20 to 18 teams.

Archive

Ticket sell out for the Cup game that never was

Accrington Stanley

January 7 – The tickets were quickly snapped up but the game never took place. When tiny Accrington Stanley, dubbed in England as the club that would never die after being saved from extinction, had a chance to play mighty Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup, tickets sold out in 36 hours.

Archive

Rangers cash crisis worsens but club rejects £18m US buyout offer

robert sarver

January 7 – Scottish giants Rangers, striving to edge slowly back to the top flight of domestic football after being totally revamped and starting again in the lower leagues because of soaring debts, have assured the authorities and their followers that they are not heading back into the abyss despite ongoing financial troubles.

Africa

Ghana positive ahead of AFCON 2015 as GN Bank adds to sponsorship roster

Ghana fans

By Mark Baber
January 7 – Ahead of the African Cup of Nations a sense of optimism prevails in Ghana as Ghana National Bank (GN Bank) confirms a new sponsorship deal with the Ghana Football Association, national team manager Avram Grant professes satisfaction with the squad’s preparations and the players insist rows over bonus payments are in the past, with the team “willing to die” for the cause.

Archive

Turks relax foreign quotas to take heat out of soaring fees for local players

Duygun Yarsuvat Galatasary

January 7 – In a move that will re-ignite the club versus country debate and be monitored with interest across Europe, Turkish football authorities have radically reduced limits on overseas imports and will soon allow teams to play with entirely foreign line-ups.

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FIFA takes its 2016 Congress to Mexico

Justino Compean

January 7 – Mexico will host the 2016 FIFA Congress in a year which is increasingly becoming of huge importance for the country and its regional confederation CONCACAF.

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OFC votes in Chung who immediately sets sights on a full World Cup berth

David Chung

January 7 – Oceania Football Confederation President David Chung says obtaining direct entry into the World Cup instead of his region being forced every time into an intercontinental playoff will be a major priority after he was re-elected unopposed to run FIFA’s smallest regional bloc, in terms of footballing stature at least.

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NWSL appoints Plush to lead expansion as league preps for 3rd season

Jeff Plush

By Paul Nicholson
January 7 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the US has appointed Jeff Plush as its new Commissioner. Plush has a background in soccer having been managing director of Colorado Rapids in the MLS from 2006 to 2011 and a board director of English Premier League club Arsenal with specific overview of the global media business.

Archive

Messi tops CIES transfer value list, Real Madrid have most valuable squad

January 6 – With the January transfer window starting to warm-up the player market, the CIES Football Observatory has released its latest ranking of the 120 big-5 league players with the highest transfer values.

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Heat controversy ignites after Aussie A-League match temps hit 39º

Perth Glory vs Adelaide Utd

January 6 – An A-League clash between Perth Glory and Adelaide United, which reportedly left a number of players suffering the symptoms of heat stroke, has reignited the debate over the temperatures it should be considered acceptable for matches to be played and whether player welfare is being sacrificed in the interests of television.

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VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 renew kit deals with Puma, Jako

VfB Stuttgart shirt

By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 6 – German football clubs VfB Stuttgart and Hannover 96 have extended their technical sponsorship deals with sports apparel makers Puma and Jako, respectively.