Toulon Tournament: England hit Guinea for 7 to top group B
May 24 – The Toulon U23 tournament became a goal fiesta last night as England’s Under 21s hammered seven past Guinea to top their group above Paraguay on goal difference.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Italian police swoop in Naples to arrest 10 in match-fixing probe
May 24 – Efforts to crack down on match-fixing in Italy have been stepped up with the arrest in Naples of 10 people who, according to the authorities, conspired to alter the results of two matches in Serie B in 2014.
It’s official, van Gaal is leaving Man Utd, and Jose is heading north
By Andrew Warshaw
May 24 – Manchester United have finally confirmed what the world has been reporting for 48 hours by announcing that Louis van Gaal has been sacked as manager, a sorry end to a saga that has left a sour taste in the mouth despite a massively under-achieving league season.
Czechs and French get a group grip in Toulon, England expects…
May 23 – As the half way stage of the group matches at the Toulon Tournament nears, the European nations are dominating, the Czech Republic and France looking almost certain to qualify for the final four.
Leicester show ‘value’ transfers can win; Real and Barca just splash the cash
May 23 – Big money transfer spending does not necessarily bring success, as Louis van Gaal found out to his personal cost at Manchester United this season. The CIES Football Observatory has ranked clubs in the Big 5 Leagues according to the average transfer cost per player fielded.
Mourinho, last seen on FIFA legends duty, proves to be cuckoo in Van Gaal’s nest
By Andrew Warshaw
May 23 – He had apparently said goodbye to his staff without even having been told officially by his employers that he is surplus to requirements and is being replaced by the self-styled Special One. But according to the BBC, it is now official. Louis Van Gaal is leaving Manchester United after two years of a three-year contract and is currently discussing severance terms.
French Cup chaos as PSG run out winners and Marseilles fans run riot
By Samindra Kunti in Paris
May 23 – Paris Saint-Germain and a departing Zlatan Ibrahimovic won a 10th French Cup against Marseille at the Stade de France in a final that descended into ugly scenes after the final whistle as Marseilles fans stormed the pitch and set fires in the stands.
Scottish cup final chaos as fans invade pitch
May 23 – Scottish football authorities have launched an urgent inquiry into Saturday’s mass pitch invasion that marred Hibernian’s first Scottish cup triumph for 114 years.
Liverpool and Sevilla UEFA sanctions after Europa Cup final ‘disturbances’
May 23 – UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Liverpool and Sevilla for “crowd disturbances” at last week’s Europa League final.
ICSS links with US health dept, SIGA set to join the party
May 23 – The International Centre for Sport Security Europe (ICSS Europe) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the US Department of Health and Human Services Partners to promote healthy sport across the globe. The US.
Qatar 2022 chief questions why US bid not under scrutiny and says Kafala is ending
By Andrew Warshaw
May 20 – Sepp Blatter’s support for the United States’ 2022 World Cup bid has been largely ignored and should face more scrutiny, according to the head of Qatar’s much-maligned winning bid.
England and France open with wins in Toulon as nations search for stars
May 20 – With league seasons over in Europe and Cup finals being played, attention is rapidly switching to the big international tournaments of the 2016 Euros, Copa America Centenario and the Olympic Games in Rio. One tournament that kicked off in Euros host nation France this week was the 2016 Toulon Tournament.
Infantino hustles to explain power grab was mission crucial and that money is no issue
By Andrew Warshaw
May 20 – In a trouble-shooting exercise to offset the resignation of one of his most important anti-corruption watchdogs, FIFA president Gianni Infantino has sought to claim the moral high ground by denouncing what he described as “premature conclusions and speculation”.
FIFA ethics calls for 2-year ban for Niersbach over Germany 2006 bid
By Andrew Warshaw
May 20 – The career of Wolfgang Niersbach (pictured), for so long the rising star of German football administration who was touted as a potential leader of UEFA, has suffered a potentially fatal blow with FIFA’s ethics committee recommending a two-year ban and a SFr30,000 fine be imposed on him following an investigation of Germany’s 2006 World Cup bid.
English Football League proposes revamp with fifth professional division
May 20 – The biggest shake-up in the English professional football pyramid since the Premier League was set up in 1992 has been proposed, with a new fifth division of 20 clubs from 2019-20.