Santos cleared to sit in Portuguese dugout while CAS considers appeal
October 14 – Portuguese national coach Fernando Santos has had his eight match ban suspended while his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is considered.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Lee Wellings: Fishy business for Garcia
It was in the Fishmongers Hall, yes the Fishmongers Hall, chasing investigator Michael Garcia through tables of lunching American lawyers, that the World Cup bid story reached the level of high farce.
Consider the scene. A lawyer who, perhaps advantageously, knew little of football when he took on the independent investigation into the 2018/2022 bid process. Hired, to its credit, by FIFA. Telling his dining peers endearingly that the only live football he had watched was his daughter’s year 12 games.
Shirt off their backs, Premier League rule enough is enough but Reds want more
By Mark Baber
October 13 – A Manchester United proposal to discuss the introduction of sponsorship on the back of replica shirts has been rejected by all the other Premier League clubs, according to reports.
St Petersburg venue announced for 2018 World Cup qualifying draw
October 13 – The march towards the 2018 World Cup is relentless, despite the calls (generally hysterical) off-stage from various US senators for the event to be moved. FIFA and the local Russian organisers have announced the venue and date for the Preliminary Draw for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Cypriot players cross the divide, but route to unification is rocky
By Andrew Warshaw
October 13 – A second Greek Cypriot player is reported to have transferred to the Turkish-controlled north of the divided island in another success for supporters of re-unification.
Mia Hamm joins call for natural surfaces for 2015 women’s World Cup
By David Owen
October 12 – Mia Hamm has added her voice to calls for FIFA to take steps to enable next year’s women’s World Cup in Canada to be played on a natural surface.
Rummenigge casts doubt over whether TPO can be outlawed
By Andrew Warshaw
October 13 – The head of the European Club Association, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (pictured), representing some 200 clubs across the continent has added his voice to the growing concern over Third Party Ownership but says phasing it out of the transfer market will take years and may ultimately prove nigh-on impossible.
AFC heads for May elections with determination to boost competition levels
By Andrew Warshaw
October 13 – Asian football has chosen the first week of May next year for its eagerly anticipated presidential election, ending months of uncertainty about a firm date.
David Owen: Notes from Sportel Monaco: on the hryvnia, Red Bull and tailwind businesses
I have just returned from Monaco and an absorbing few days at the Sportel convention cum media rights bazaar. Boiling it down, I can recollect three moments worth recording for future reference.
Digital drives shift in club revenues beyond the club stadium capacity
By Paul Nicholson
October 10 – Turning connections into cash is the holy grail for most companies in social media. But big numbers of likes and followers are often just that, big numbers. Digital is more than just social media and clubs are increasingly looking for a financial return from their digital investment.
Philadelphia venue for landmark women’s football seminars
October 10 – CONCACAF has announced it will host a two-day women’s football seminar October 25-26, in Philadelphia, coinciding with the semi-finals and final of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
Blatter calls for rethink of away goals rule
October 10 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter has questioned the away goals rule, saying that it was conceived at a time when away games were often an adventure and playing conditions could vary significantly in favour of the home team.
Andrew Warshaw: The (broken?) promises of confidentiality
Publish Michael Garcia’s report or be damned. The clarion call to FIFA from a collective raft of influential football powerbrokers, anti-corruption watchdogs and vast swathes of the media intensifies on an almost daily basis.
Germany’s Freiburg set to invest €70 million into new stadium
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
October 10 – SC Freiburg has unveiled plans to invest €70 million in the construction of a new stadium, which will be co-financed by the city of Freiburg. The Bundesliga club is aiming to launch the project in 2015, it said in a statement.
Red Bulls tax row gets wings as it heads for Supreme Court
By Ben Nicholson
October 10 – The New York Red Bulls have been granted a hearing with the Supreme Court of New Jersey to settle its tax dispute with the Town of Harrison. The club is seeking reimbursement for tax paid on its Red Bull Arena, claiming exemption is statutorily permitted.