Blatter issues ‘calm’ warning over Brazil 2014 security
April 25 – Sepp Blatter is downplaying security concerns at the World Cup despite more street protests in Rio de Janeiro and, earlier this month, a surge in violent crime in Salvador.
A Twitter month in the life of David Moyes
By Tom Parsons
April 25 – A year ago today, David Moyes was celebrating his 50th birthday at Goodison Park with a birthday cake presented to him by his Evertonian staff. This year things might be a bit different in the Moyes household and the celebrations a bit more subdued.
Politics, business or posturing? Schalke’s Russian invite draws fire in Germany
April 25 – An unusual spat has broken out in Germany after leading club Schalke 04, sponsored by Russian energy giant Gazprom, was criticised for considering visiting Russia amid increasing tensions with the west over the crisis in Ukraine.
German investment group eyes up acquisition of Korona Kielce
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
April 25 – German investment group HFK is considering buying trouble Polish club Korona Kielce. The club is owned by the city of Kielce whose authorities are currently negotiating the potential sale.
Bidders declare as midnight deadline closes in for Euro 2020 host city pitches
By Andrew Warshaw
April 25 – Prospective Euro 2020 host cities were putting the finishing touches to their bid dossiers today as UEFA prepared to unveil the names of candidates in the frame to stage the pan-European tournament.
Platini pulls back from harsh sanctions of FFP rule-breaking clubs
By Andrew Warshaw
April 25 – Europe’s loss-making clubs will be breathing a sigh of relief after UEFA president Michel Platini confirmed that none of them will face the ultimate sanction of competition bans for breaching financial fair play regulations.
Osasu Obayiuwana: The big questions need an honest answer
When Liberia’s George Weah became the first African to win the FIFA World Player of the Year title, in 1995, many thought that it was going to be the first of many for the continent’s players.
With their ascendance and growing impact in European club football – which, fairly or unfairly, remains the yardstick for picking the best on the planet – it was taken as a given at the time.
But nearly 20 years have passed since the former AC Milan forward earned the game’s top individual award and it does not appear that another African will be following in Weah’s footsteps anytime soon.
Japanese FA chief clears the air and offers full support to Qatar for 2022
By Andrew Warshaw
April 24 – The head of Japanese football has been forced into an embarrassing apology to the Qataris for suggesting his country could step in as replacement host for the 2002 World Cup.
Pieth’s parting shots call for Garcia to keep investigating
By Andrew Warshaw
April 24 – Mark Pieth, the Swiss governance expert appointed by FIFA to propose recommendations for change following the worst corruption-tainted period in its history, says the organisation must allow an ongoing investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup ballots to take its course if it wants to retain any sense of credibility.
Barca ban suspended allowing club to join the summer transfer merry-go-round
April 24 – Barcelona have appealed their two-transfer window ban and been granted a suspension while the appeals process works through FIFA and ultimately any further appeal to the court of arbitration for sport.
Manchester United starlet Januzaj opts for Belgium
April 24 – Belgium’s already powerful World Cup squad has been boosted even more after Manchester United starlet Adnan Januzaj opted to play for them rather than a string of other countries including newly developing Kosovo.
Match-fixer Perumal caught in Finland and faces extradition to Singapore
April 24 – Wilson Raj Perumal, renowned as one of the world’s most notorious and elusive matchfixers, has been arrested yet again in Finland on an international arrest warrant, two years after the Singaporean was jailed there for fixing domestic league games.
Euro 2020 hosting: Czechs and Poles pull out but Scots poised to announce
By Andrew Warshaw
April 24 – Twenty four hours before the deadline for final bid submissions, Poland and the Czech Republic have pulled out of the race to stage Euro 2020 while Scotland prepared to officially launch its campaign.
Doyen takes a strategic stake in social media entrant Squawka
By Paul Nicholson
April 24 – Sports group Doyen Global has invested in Squawka, the social media-driven sports app. Doyen principals Simon Oliveira and Matt Kay will both join the Squawka board.
Mihir Bose: Managing change is United’s biggest failure this season
Fifteen years seems a long enough time to prepare for an event you know will happen. That is double the time countries hosting the World Cup or the Olympics get. But despite knowing about it for so long, and supposedly preparing for it, the fact that Manchester United has failed to manage the transition into the post Alex Ferguson age raises serious questions of how it went about this, arguably, the most crucial job the United management has faced since the 1960s.