Video ref trials continue tonight with Italy vs Germany friendly
November 15 – The use of video replays will be given another trial when Italy take on world champions Germany in tonight’s prestige friendly in Milan.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Revolving door policy: trading trumps stability in European player market
November 15 – German and English clubs are among the most stable workplaces for players in Europe, coming in the top three of a ranking of 31 top division European national leagues.
James Dostoyevsky: Trump’s good deed
On May 27, 2015, in Brooklyn, New York, Loretta Lynch, Attorney-General of the United States, made a media-savvy appearance. Accompanied by her subordinate (“I am honored to be joined today by Director James Comey of the FBI […])” she highlighted a series of charges that put a number of mainly non-US football officials into serious trouble: “[The individuals indicted today] were expected to uphold the rules that keep soccer honest, and to protect the integrity of the game.
FIFA Ethics open formal case on Chirakal’s role in cash paid to football officials
November 15 – FIFA ethics judges have opened formal proceedings against Najeeb Chirakal, a former aide to disgraced ex-Asian football chief Mohamed bin Hammam, based on the final report submitted by ethics investigators who recommended a life ban.
Samoura to drop in on Sierra Leone president to fix football rifts
November 11 – FIFA secretary-general Fatma Samoura is personally intervening to help bring an end to the ongoing dispute between Sierra Leone’s football association (SLFA) and local authorities.
French appoint Boy de la Tour as LFP president to heal club divisions
By Andrew Warshaw
November 14 – The role of women in senior football administration has taken a significant leap with Nathalie Boy de la Tour (pictured) becoming the first female president of the French Professional Football League (LFP), one of the biggest in the European game.
Dvorak’s FIFA exit reveals open wounds of Infantino’s hiring and firing policy
By Andrew Warshaw
November 14 – Any suggestion by the regime of Gianni Infantino that the exit of FIFA’s long-time medical director Jiri Dvorak (pictured) was by mutual consent has been well and truly countered by the Czech-born neurologist’s reaction to leaving the organisation after 22 years.
Twitter stats: big money Man Utd top new followers table for third week running
November 14 – The past week has not been the most productive week for Twitter follower gains in the Premier League with attention focussed on World Cup qualifiers.
FOX strikes Gold Cup deals for 2017 and 2019 US tournaments
By Paul Nicholson
November 14 – FOX Sport in the US have renewed their Gold Cup TV deal with North, Central American and Caribbean confederation CONCACAF. The new deal secures them the rights to the 2017 and 2019 tournaments.
Stoke City aims to be upwardly mobile with new online store launch
November 14 – Premier League Stoke City, who appointed digital agency Rippleffect to lead their online digital development, have unveiled a new online store focused on wireless mobile devices that now account for more than 50% of the clubs online traffic.
AFC bans Wanderley and Al Nasr club over fake passport
November 14 – A bizarre case of deliberate deception has reached its conclusion with Brazil-born forward Santos Monteiro Wanderley receiving a backdated three-month ban and his United Arab Emirates club Al Nasr thrown out of the Asian Champions League for two years after both were found guilty of faking documents so he could play in the tournament.
Politics and football. Tension in Ohio as US and Mexico face off for 2018 Russia spots
November 11 – Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election has provided an “added layer” to today’s eagerly awaited World Cup qualifier between the US against Mexico, according to US captain Michael Bradley.
FIFA museum racks up $30m loss as future debated
November 11 – FIFA’s lavish new museum, which opened earlier this year in Zurich, has already recorded a loss of CHF30 million, according to Swiss reports.
Brazil’s win keeps Argentina outside 2018 World Cup qualifying positions
By Samindra Kunti
November 11 – Neymar and Phillipe Coutinho starred in Brazil’s comprehensive 3-0 win against Argentina in Belo Horizonte. The result leaves Argentina in danger of missing out on Russia 2018.
Passing the Poppy buck: FIFA now say they aren’t banned; disciplinary will decide
By Andrew Warshaw
November 11 – As traditional rivals England and Scotland prepare to defy FIFA when they square off at Wembley for their World Cup qualifier tonight, football’s under-fire world governing body insists it has not banned the display of poppies by players on both sides to mark Armistice Day.