Exclusive: D’Hooghe “relieved” at being cleared, backs winter World Cup

Michel-DHooghe415


By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
March 5 – Michel d’Hooghe, FIFA’s longest-standing executive committee member and head of its medical committee, has expressed his relief at being cleared of any misconduct in the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and says he just wants to get on with what he has been doing for the last 27 years.

Read more …

Kenya: FKF and KPL line up for court battle to the death

Kenyan Premier League

By Mark Baber
March 5 – The Football Federation of Kenya (FKF) initiated court case, attempting to put an end to the Kenyan Premier League and replace it with a League made up primarily of what were second tier clubs, looks certain to proceed on toady, despite a High Court Judge on Tuesday giving the two sides 48 hours to try and sort the matter amicably.

Read more …

Debt crisis raises threat of relegation for Red Star Belgrade

Red Star Belgrade

By Jaroslaw Adamowski
March 4 – Red Star Belgrade is being threatened with automatic relegation to the Serbian second tier as a result to its continuing financial woes. Sources close to the club’s management say that such a decision could be taken by the country’s football federation which is monitoring the situation at the club.

Read more …

Russians acknowledge they need to get tougher on racism

Russia 2018 logo1

By Andrew Warshaw
March 4 – One of Russia’s leading football officials has admitted the country must eliminate the “virus” of racism before the 2018 World Cup. With so much focus on Qatar 2022, Russian organisers have managed to escape the same level of scrutiny but comments by FIFA president Sepp Blatter have forced them to concede that considerable effort needs to be made to tackle discrimination.

Read more …