Howard Wells: Why the Brussels summit flails in the face of FIFA basics

Howard Wells

Last week a group led by British politicians announced a one-day forum to be hosted at the European Parliament in Brussels, titled ‘A New FIFA Now’, and promising uncompromising talk of effecting change. In a guest column, Howard Wells, a former national federation CEO and former FIFA insider, argues the meeting is a political vanity project that clouds the debate rather than contributes to it. In the real politik of international football the talk-shop falls at the very first hurdle of failing to understand the basic structure of how football is governed worldwide.

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Champagne loses fizz as he searches for nominations to enter FIFA race

jerome Champagne

By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – Are the cracks beginning to show in Jerome Champagne’s bid for the FIFA presidency? Champagne, the former FIFA deputy general secretary regarded as an outsider even before Prince Ali bin al-Hussein announced his bid to enter the fray – even though he is the only candidate to have issued a firm election manifesto – has admitted for the first time that he may not be able to fulfil the criteria for standing.

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Rangers board rejects £20m buyout from US investor

Rangers

By Paul Nicholson
January 12 – Rangers have turned down a revised bid of £20 million for a majority stake in the Scottish club from American Robert Sarver. The announcement was made to the London Stock Exchange this morning. Sarver had also offered the club an emergency £6.5 million loan as part of the deal.

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