Oulala debuts its Euro 2016 DFS games as operators battle for punters
June 7 – Oulala.com, the daily fantasy football platform that launched the monetised version of its games in Europe last October, has launched its Euro 2016 game.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Gianni’s jet lands him back in hot water. Can the Pope save him?
By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has come under renewed pressure to explain a series of potentially unlawful manoeuvres that threaten to seriously derail his presidency after 100 days in the job.
Suning pledge €750m to take Inter Milan back to the top of Europe
By Paul Nicholson
June 6 – Serie A giants Inter Milan have completed the sale of a 69% stake in the club to Chinese retail giants Suning Holdings Group, one of the three largest Chinese non-state owned enterprises with close to $50 billion in annual sales.
Infantino makes it personal as he fires all barrels claiming he is the real victim
By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – Gianni Infantino has marked his first 100 days in charge of FIFA with a savage, somewhat unstatesmanlike tirade against his critics as he hit back at those who have accused him of abusing his position with a series of questionable manoeuvres.
US investors take control of Swansea City for £110m
June 6 – Another English Premier League club has been bought by US investors. Welsh club Swansea City, who play in the English league and cup, have completed a sale of what is believed to be 60% of their shareholding for £110 million to US investors Jason Levien (pictured) and Steve Kaplan.
No freedom for Women’s national team in the land of the free
By Paul Nicholson
June 6 – The dispute between the world beating US Women’s national team and the US Soccer Federation over the women’s demands for equal pay for representing their country – they generally earn between 62% and 25% less per match than their male counterparts – took a controversial turn in a Chicago court when a judge ruled they could not take strike action.
Man City get GIPHY – a social media site, not a player
June 6 – Manchester City has launched an official club page on social media site GIPHY, the first English Premier League club to embrace the platform.
Infantino fails to make the list for Olympic Committee membership
By David Owen
June 5 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino will have to wait at least another 15 months before securing membership of sport’s most powerful club.
Infantino orders council tapes destroyed as FIFA’s new culture of cover-up deepens
By Andrew Warshaw
June 3 – Explosive new allegations have emerged of a cover-up orchestrated by FIFA president Gianni Infantino which could push him towards an ethics hearing only three months into the job.
FIFA bosses bagged $80m bonus booty, say US lawyers
By Andrew Warshaw
June 3 – With precision timing just when the organisation’s new president Gianni Infantino was under mounting scrutiny for a raft of allegedly suspect manoeuvres to boost his authority, FIFA’s American lawyers hit back today by revealing that Sepp Blatter, Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner awarded themselves pay rises and bonuses worth $80 million over five years.
Copa Centenario completes one journey and kicks off another. USA vs Colombia
By Paul Nicholson
June 3 – The much-anticipated and often troublesome Copa America Centenario kicks off Saturday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, with the US hosts facing Colombia. The opening match has the potential to spark what could be a celebration of sparkling football which will be in stark contrast (and a relief from) the dark areas of football corruption that this tournament has brought into the light.
Gulf nations set up new regional body to manage their competitions
June 3 – Saudi Arabia and Yemen may have their political differences but football is bringing them together under a new eight-nation regional body that aims to streamline the administration of the sport in the region.
Messi says he knows nothing, he just signed the paperwork
June 3 – Barcelona and Argentina superstar Lionel Messi, on trial for alleged tax fraud in Spain, has told a court he had no involvement in the management of his financial affairs.
Peruvian court agrees to send former FA boss Burga to face US justice
June 3 – Another of the football officials indicted by the US Justice Department in the football corruption investigation has lost his battle against extradition from his home country to the US. A Peruvian court has ruled against former federation boss Manuel Burga’s request to remain in the country.
Belgium labour under €4.5m loss and indifferent pre-Euro form
By Samindra Kunti
June 3 – Belgium may be one of the favorites to win Euro2016, but the Belgian FA, the KBVB, has been suffering from a €4.5 million loss since the 2014 World Cup.