Scenting blood: FIFA investigators to appeal for longer bans for Blatter and Platini
By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, fighting to clear their names, could end up being banned foreven longer than eight years.
Author: Paul Nicholson
TV presidential debate scrapped as candidates juggle schedules
By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – A proposed live television debate featuring the five FIFA presidential candidates has been scrapped because only two of them were able to accept an invitation to take part.
Chinese show appetite for buying clubs, at home and in Spain
January 12 – La Liga’s Granada has become the latest Spanish club rumoured to be the focus of Chinese investment interest. While back in China, Super League club FC Shijiazhuang Ever Bright has reportedly sold 50% to investment group Hebei Hongsong.
Messi crowned world’s best player, Real and Barca dominate team of year
January 12 – Amidst all the usual glitz and glamour and the emphasis on business as usual, two men were conspicuous by their absence at the annual Ballon d’Or award ceremony on Monday night.
LA’s new MLS franchise shows its new colours and celebrity owners
By Ben Nicholson
January 16 – New MLS franchise LAFC – rising from the ashes of the terminated Chivas USA franchise – has unveiled two new club owners, the club’s logo and colours which will be black and gold, with a splash of red.
EZTrader bets higher with new Spurs partnership
January 12 – Tottenham Hotspur have announced EZTrader as its Official Binary Options Trading Partner. Spurs are the sixth football club partner for the binary options broker.
Time for FIFA to have a black president, says Sexwale
By Andrew Warshaw
January 12 – FIFA presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale says Sepp Blatter’s misconduct should be put into perspective and has praised the work of the outgoing veteran Swiss, currently fighting his eight-year ban.
Spanish giant killers Eibar punch their way into European qualifying position
January 11 – There are underdogs and teams who punch above their weight – and then there is the tiny Basque club of Eibar.
Saudi-Iranian AFC Champions League ties under threat as tensions rise
By Mark Baber
January 11 – Rising tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia following the execution of Shia cleric Nimr al-Nimr, are spilling over into the political arena, with Saudi clubs keen for their fixtures against Iranian clubs in the Asian Champions League to be moved to neutral territory, whilst the Iran Football Federation (IFF) insists their country is safe to host matches and they are happy to play in Saudi Arabia.
FIFA extend Makudi ban, removing him from Thai FA elections
By Andrew Warshaw
January 11 – From day one he has protested his innocence but the net appears to be closing in on Thailand’s controversial former FIFA executive committee member Worawi Makudi.
Real, Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd, Juve and Spurs have most international players
By Paul Nicholson
January 11 – International players account for 90% of the minutes played by Real Madrid last year, compared to a much lower 70% at Barcelona. Europe’s other ‘international’ leaders are predominantly in England with Chelsea, Man City, Man Utd and, perhaps surprisingly, Spurs all at more than 80%.
Wanted: Sales rep. CONCACAF trawl for new rights agency
By Paul Nicholson
January 11 – CONCACAF have issued a request for proposals to agencies to represent their worldwide sponsorship rights. The new agency will take over from disgraced Traffic Sports who held the contract exclusively but whose executives have been at the forefront of paying bribes and kickbacks in the region to secure commercial rights.
UEFA agree HomeAway as vacation rental sponsor for France 2016
January 11 – UEFA and Abritel-HomeAway, a world leader in vacation rentals, are joining forces in the lead up to and during EURO2016 to serve visitors with official fan accommodation for the tournament.
Blatter and Platini start appeals journey; first stop FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
January 11 – Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini have been given the all-clear to launch appeals against their eight-year bans after FIFA’s ethics committee sent them full written reasons for the judgements.
Spanish prosecutors want Neymar in court to face corruption charges
By Samindra Kunti
January 11 – Spanish prosecutors have taken the next steps in their investigation of Brazilian superstar Neymar and requested that legal action be taken against him over alleged fraud and corruption surrounding his transfer to Barcelona in the summer of 2013.