Paul Nicholson, Author at Inside World Football - Page 1839 of 1915

Osasu Obayiuwana: Nigerian football totters on the edge

If you’re a coach that recently delivered your country’s first Africa Cup of Nations trophy in nearly 20 years and also happen to be the only living player in the continent with the distinction of captaining your country to the same title, you would think that the least that could be expected is the prompt payment of your wages.

But that is not the case for Stephen Keshi.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has failed to pay his salary for nearly half a year –

Matt Scott

Matt Scott: Cardiff has a certain kind of attraction

At home to Barnsley on April 9 Cardiff City picked up the point that would ultimately guarantee their promotion to the Premier League. But Mehmet Dalman could have been forgiven for sitting out the celebrations with his fellow board members in the Cardiff directors’ box.

Because 125 miles away in London David Green QC, the director of the Serious Fraud Office [SFO], was considering whether allegations over bribery and corruption at Eurasian Natural Resources Corp [ENRC] justified a formal criminal investigation.

Lee Wellings

Lee Wellings: The Disappearing Players

What motivates footballers? Playing or their bank balance?

It’s easy for critics to say footballers are mercenary.

But it’s also easy to trot out the old adage: ‘players just want to play’.

I think we’d agree that for most young players, the chance to earn fortunes while doing what they love is a winning combination. But if one of these pivotal factors is removed, where does that leave a footballer?

Archive

Makudi says promises were broken on AFC vote

makudi

By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – Three months after being well beaten in his campaign to become the new leader of Asian football, FIFA vice-president Worawi Makudi insists he was promised support which never materialised.

Archive

United adds to its Asian roster, Old Trafford MUST stay as home ground

Old Trafford1

By Mark Baber
August 1 – Manchester United and PepsiCo yesterday announced a multi-year regional sponsorship agreement in Asia-Pacific which will see PepsiCo will become the Official Soft Drinks Partner of Manchester United in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.

Archive

Jack is back, in Trinidad parliament with landslide win

jack warner

By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who quit football over the infamous 2011 cash-for-votes scandal during Sepp Blatter’s re-election campaign, has staged a political comeback after winning back his parliamentary seat in his native Trinidad and Tobago.

Archive

Despite conflict and match-fixing scandals, Haidar wins Lebanese vote

Hashem Haidar

By Mark Baber
August 1 – Hashem Haidar was elected to his fourth term as head of the Lebanese Football Federation on Wednesday, winning votes from 49 of the 50 clubs attending. Haiddar’s electoral list, which included 10 other members was elected unopposed so Raymond Semaan will retain his position as first deputy president and Ahmad Qameradine as second deputy.

Archive

Koreans wade into battle over Japanese complaint

Japanese fans

By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – The Korean Football Association (KFA) has defended its supporters for unfurling a politically charged banner in last Sunday’s East Asian Cup final against Japan which prompted a diplomatic spat between the two nations – and says Japan should shoulder some of the blame.

Archive

Tahiti player fails drug test at Confederations Cup

Tahiti players

By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – Tahiti, the smallest nation ever to compete in a senior football tournament and composed almost entirely of amateurs, has been hit by a drugs scandal after FIFA announced one of its players tested positive at the recent Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Mihir Bose

Mihir Bose: Concentrate not on what players say but what they do

On the face of there is nothing in common with sagas of Papiss Cisse and Gareth Bale. The Newcastle player did not want to wear a shirt carrying the logo of Wonga claiming that this was against his Islamic faith which prohibits profiting from money lending. Gareth Bale, by all accounts, merely wants to exercise his right to play for another club. And who can deny this right given how ideal this move must seem to a player at the top of his game?

Archive

Tour de France rights holder ASO gears up for World Cup

ASO

By David Owen
July 31 – The company that promotes the Tour de France bicycle race has been appointed an authorised sales agent for official 2014 FIFA World Cup hospitality packages in Belgium and Luxemburg.

Archive

Dinamo fined and forced to part-close stadium for fans’ racist chanting

Dinamo Zagreb fans

By Mark Baber
July 31 – Dinamo Zagreb have been fined €25,000 and ordered to close the east section of their stadium for their European home game against FC Sheriff for their fans’ racist chanting during a recent qualifier against Luxembourg’s CS Fola Esch.

Archive

English PFA boss says money-grabbing football is losing its soul

Gordon Taylor

By Mark Baber
July 31 – Gordon Taylor, of the Professional Footballers’ Association, speaking at an event to celebrate the first goal in the Football League scored by Kenny Davenport 125 years ago, argued football is in danger of “losing its soul” due to an overemphasis on money.

Archive

Makudi sets the record straight as SAT backs his actions

Worawi Makudi 2

By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
July 31 – After weeks of negative publicity about his role as head of Thai football and his international image, embattled FIFA vice-president Worawi Makudi has come out fighting to defend his conduct and counter what he claims are untruths circulated by his opponents.

Africa

Power stuggle begins for South African federation

SAFA HQ

July 31 – Kirsten Nematandani, the incumbent South African Football Association (SAFA) president, has dismissed suggestions that his position is under threat following the decision by two of his deputies to challenge him in September elections.