By Andrew Warshaw
November 21 – Despite being buffeted by all manner of “abuse”, whether over human rights, unproven corruption allegations or the tournament being controversially switched to winter, Qatar’s most senior World Cup official says he has absolutely no regrets in bidding for the 2022 tournament.
November 21 – A Dubai-based financial advisory firm headed by British businesswoman Amanda Staveley is reported to have tabled a formal takeover bid in the region of £300 million for Premier League Newcastle United, one of the most iconic and best supported clubs in English football.
November 21 – A prosecution witness in the increasingly revelatory FIFAGate corruption trial in New York says eight South American officials who received bribes in exchange for broadcasting and sponsorship rights were all given code names relating to different car brands, logged in secret Excel spreadsheets.
November 21 – Days after Mexican broadcaster Televisa was named in the New York corruption trial as paying bribes for World Cup rights, one of its senior executives, Adolfo Lagos Espinosa, was shot dead in Mexico City. It is unclear whether this was related to the courtroom revelation.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 21 – It isn’t every day that the head of a federation resigns as well as the coach following the failure of the national team. But then Italy is not just any team.
November 21 – Atletico Madrid’s new billionaire Israeli shareholder Idan Ofer has has said his €50 million investment in the club is for business reasons and not his love of the game or Atletico.
November 21 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has launched a mobile whistleblower app which will enable fans, players and officials to report suspicious activities or supply information on match-fixing and other forms of corruption in football.
November 21 – England may have had double World Cup success at FIFA U17 and U20 levels but the fears that few of these winning players would be given limited first team opportunity in the Premier League has very quickly become a reality.
November 21 – Manchester United have signed a multi-year partnership with Melitta which will see the brand become the club’s first Official Coffee Partner. No value was announced for the deal which was also announced to Wall Street in the US where the club’s shares are traded.
By Andrew Warshaw
November 20 – “We’re round the corner and watching you, FIFA…” That’s what many may read into a new partnership between the two former heads of FIFA’s ethics department who have gone into business together in Zurich to advise on good governance in sport.
November 20 – The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) is reportedly exploring the idea of hosting a competition featuring countries like their own who missed out on next year’s World Cup in Russia.
November 20 – It was only a matter of time. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Egypt’s Amr Fahmy has been appointed general secretary of the Confederation of African Football in the latest move by the regime of Ahmad Ahmad to bring in his own people.
By Samindra Kunti
November 20 – Defending champions ATK and Kerala Blasters kicked off the new Indian Super League season this weekend, but lingering doubts remain about the league’s blueprint.
By Samindra Kunti
November 20 – Arsenal major shareholder Alisher Usmanov has expressed an interest in acquiring Belgian champions Anderlecht but will be up against Belgian entrepreneurs Paul Gheysens and Wouter Vandenhaute in any bid to take control of the club. The current takeover price is at €80 million for 75% of the club’s shares.
November 20 – The Chinese Football Association have moved to play down an apparent gaffe by national team manager Marcello Lippi after he was quoted as saying the country were making plans to bid for the 2030 World Cup.