CONCACAF debut goalkeeping course in St Kitts
April 8 – CONCACAF continued with the development of their coaching courses, holding their first Goalkeeping course at the end of last month in St Kitts & Nevis.
Insulting banners force Serie A to close part of Roma’s Stadio Olimpico
April 8 – Roma have been ordered to close part of their stadium at their next home game after fans displayed banners mocking the mother of a Napoli fan who died following clashes between rival supporters last year.
John Yan: When Team China meets the Voice of China 当中国之队遇上”中国好声音”
When a huge volume of capital enters an industry, the impact can be overwhelming, the industry can be changed from top to bottom. At least this is what football fans in China would expect to happen, as capital is changing the outlook of football, particularly under the big change in circumstances for the game as it becomes a hot area in Chinese society.
Man Utd team with Aon for affinity product into Pakistan market
April 8 – Manchester United have extended their partnership with insurance giant Aon into the Pakistan market with an insurance affinity programme, the first in the region.
Prince Ali launches his manifesto insisting he is in it to win it
By Andrew Warshaw
April 7 – FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein insists the race for the top job in world football will be a far closer affair than most observers believe as he issued a hard-hitting manifesto in which he all but accused Sepp Blatter of running the organisation far too autonomously.
Indonesia Super League kicks off but sports ministry threatens closure
By Mark Baber
April 7 – After weeks of delay, the Indonesia Super League (ISL) finally kicked off this weekend, but faces an uncertain future as the Professional Sports Agency of Indonesia (BOPI) warned that the PT Liga Indonesia could have its licence to operate the ISL revoked if it continues to ignore official recommendations.
SNCF arrives on time for Euro 2016 sponsorship
By David Owen
April 7 – SNCF, the French national railway company, has signed up as a sponsor of the Euro 2016 football tournament to be played in the country next year. The group has become the competition’s official national transport partner and its fourth official national sponsor.
Second Romanian club owner jailed, leaving team on financial knife-edge
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
April 7 – Romanian billionaire Ioan Niculae (pictured), who owns top flight club Astra Giurgiu, has been sentenced to two years and six months in jail for his participation in the illegal financing of the presidential campaign of Mircea Geoana who ran for Romania’s top office in 2009. Niculae cannot appeal the decision.
Focus turns to Africa as Blatter set to address his core constituency
By Andrew Warshaw
April 7 – After enduring a collective assault on his presidency by the three men bidding to unseat him, Sepp Blatter was doubtless feeling far more comfortable today as the election campaign switched from UEFA to the Confederation of African Football Congress (CAF).
Turks suspend league after gun attack on Fenerbahce team bus
April 7 – Turkey’s top division and domestic cup matches have been suspended for one week following a chilling and unprovoked gun attack on the Fenerbahce team bus at the weekend which left the driver seriously injured but the players unharmed.
Spurs add Malaysian date to end of season tour
April 7 – Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur have added a fixture in Malaysia as part of the their end of season two-match tour which will also see them play in Australia.
Blatter to meet Rajoub as Palestinians push for Israeli expulsion from FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
April 7 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter is set to meet Palestinian football leader Jirbril Rajoub today to try and stave off a bid to suspend Israel from football’s world governing body.
Rangers find Easter heart despite having their stock market eggs in the wrong basket
August 6 – It has been a mixed Easter holiday for Scottish giants Rangers. The Championship side are battling a long period of boardroom instability and shareholder infighting, while at the same time being embroiled in a dogfight for a return to the Scottish Premier League – and what would be their third promotion in three seasons.
UEFA holds steady banking €1.7bn with 2016 payday looming
By David Owen
April 5 – UEFA, the European football body, generated revenue of €1.73 billion in its latest financial year to the end of June. The figure was marginally up on the prior year’s total of €1.7 billion.
David Owen: Gillespie to Rummenigge – the next stage of Club vs. Country
It was interesting to read the recent report to the effect that European Club Association (ECA) head Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes that football’s perennial club-versus-country tug of war is now receding.