By Andrew Warshaw
April 15 – Austria’s match-fixing scandal has escalated still further with the news that former players Dominque Taboga (pictured) and Sanel Kuljic and several other unidentified people have now been charged.
April 15 – A Swedish first division game abandoned after a supporter died in clashes before kick-off will not be replayed.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 14 – Two weeks before the deadline for final bid dossiers to be submitted to UEFA, Turkey looks to have cemented its status as favourites to stage the semi finals and final of Euro 2020.
By Mark Baber
April 14 – The Indian Super League (ISL) franchises were announced on Sunday and the winning bids include leading celebrities of Indian film and cricket, much to the delight of promoters IMG Reliance. Even cricket legend and indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar (pictured) got in on the act. Local media and football officials have described the move variously as a big leap forward for Indian football, or marking its doom.
April 14 – Asian football has been rocked by yet another match-fixing scandal, this time involving 11 players of the high-flying Vissai Ninh Binh club.
By Paul Nicholson
April 14 – The Moroccan Royal Football Federation (FRMF) has a new president. Skhirate-Fouzi Lakjaa (pictured second left), the only candidate standing, was elected on Sunday for a four-year term.
By Paul Nicholson
April 14 – Rangers’ financial turmoil has received a much-need positive boost with the announcement of online gaming firm 32Red as its new shirt sponsor. The three-year deal will start next season. 32 Red takes over from Blackthorn cider.
By Paul Nicholson
April 11 – Antiguan clubs are rebelling against their federation, the Antiguan and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA), and calling for FIFA or CONCACAF to step in and take control. They want the ABFA audited and full financial transparency by an independent body.
April 11 – UEFA have issued a warning to Chelsea against trying to seek a fee for loaned out goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois playing them in the Champions League semifinals for Atletico Madrid.
By Mark Baber
April 11 – The ongoing saga of the much-hyped Indian Super League (ISL) begins a new chapter on Sunday as the eight franchises for the new tournament will be unveiled. The organisers including IMG-Reliance, marketing partners of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), are seeking to revolutionise football’s fortunes in the cricket-mad country, whilst the existing Indian clubs are looking on in trepidation, with calls for FIFA to intervene.
By Alexander Krassimirov
April 11 – The Bulgarian Football Union, Bulgarian club Slavia and German investment company IFS have signed a preliminary agreement to build a new national stadium in Sofia. The deal between the three parties was finalised this week.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – The most comprehensive revelations to date into the scale and scope of match-fixing and betting fraud will be unveiled next month. The in-depth assessment is a partnership between the Qatar-based International Centre for Sport Security and the Sorbonne in Paris, with the goal being to influence governments in the fight against corruption in sport.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – A fresh development has emerged in the race for political power within Asian football with the news that Japan’s Tashima Kohzo, Vice President and Executive General Secretary of the Japanese FA, has officially announced he is to seek a seat on the FIFA Executive Committee at regional elections next year.
By Alexander Krassimirov
April 11 – Hakan Sukur’s nameplate in the Istanbul stadium named after him – Sancaktepe Hakan Sukur Stadium – has been removed by municipal workers after he resigned from Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
April 11 – Football will be one of the main beneficiaries from a global growth in advertising rates, and commercial television will be the most dominant medium within that growth. For football’s rights holders that is good news as ad-driven TV stations will be able to afford premium rights, and sponsorship values will continue to grow as mass market audiences are delivered.