“The song of the future must transcend creed.” E.M. Forster, A Passage to India
In India, some call it Sachinism. The legacy of Sachin Tendulkar, cricket’s greatest batsman ever to emerge from the South Asian sub-continent, is so great that he has achieved the status of a demigod in what is already a pantheistic culture. The doleful impact on popular consciousness there of the day he was run out for 99,
April 16 – Russian Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko, speaking at a meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy, outlined the progress of the stadium build for the FIFA World Cup 2018.
By Alexander Krassimirov
April 16 – Bulgarian football legend Krassimir Balakov is preparing a football academy project inn his name in Sofia. Balakov already has submitted documents in Sofia Municipality with a request for an appropriate site for the Academy.
By Richard van Poortvliet
April 16 – The ‘Fisht’ Stadium in Sochi has been a bit of a lonely place following the conclusion of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. However this should change soon after the news that Sochi Zhemchuzhina are going to get another lease of life.
By Paul Nicholson
April 15 – CONCACAF’s Club Licensing Department has published its first Case Study to showcase and promote best practice in the region. The study looks at the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) which is about to start its second season.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 15 – The UEFA body probing whether Europe’s clubs are complying with financial fair play are meeting today and tomorrow – with those who continue to spend beyond their means likely to be named early next month.
By Tom Parsons
April 15 – Sunday saw a first in football history as Atlético Madrid assistant coach German Burgos used Google Glass to help his team keep their La Liga hopes on the right track with a 2-0 win over Getafe.
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
April 15 – The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) has signed a contract with Russia-based InStat Football for the provision of analytical tools for technical and tactical evaluations of footballers’ performance.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 15 – Austria’s match-fixing scandal has escalated still further with the news that former players Dominque Taboga (pictured) and Sanel Kuljic and several other unidentified people have now been charged.
April 15 – A Swedish first division game abandoned after a supporter died in clashes before kick-off will not be replayed.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 14 – Two weeks before the deadline for final bid dossiers to be submitted to UEFA, Turkey looks to have cemented its status as favourites to stage the semi finals and final of Euro 2020.
Dicono che i momenti di crisi siano quelli che portano alla rinascita. Si spera davvero che per il calcio italiano l’affermazione abbia del fondamento, visto che nel ranking europeo ormai anche il Portogallo – approfittando della nostra debolezza – si sta preparando al sorpasso. Per questo, dopo gestito con poca oculatezza per quasi un ventennio le enormi risorse provenienti dal mercato televisivo, i club italiani provano a mettersi al passo imboccando decisamente la strada virtuosa da tempo intrapresa da Gran Bretagna,
By Mark Baber
April 14 – The Indian Super League (ISL) franchises were announced on Sunday and the winning bids include leading celebrities of Indian film and cricket, much to the delight of promoters IMG Reliance. Even cricket legend and indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar (pictured) got in on the act. Local media and football officials have described the move variously as a big leap forward for Indian football, or marking its doom.
April 14 – Asian football has been rocked by yet another match-fixing scandal, this time involving 11 players of the high-flying Vissai Ninh Binh club.
By Paul Nicholson
April 14 – The Moroccan Royal Football Federation (FRMF) has a new president. Skhirate-Fouzi Lakjaa (pictured second left), the only candidate standing, was elected on Sunday for a four-year term.