PSG vs Barça ignites Parisian ticket frenzy
By Tom Parsons
March 22 – Paris St Germain has received record ticket requests in anticipation of their mouth watering Champions League quarter-final tie against Spanish giants Barcelona on April 2.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Fernando’s foundations crumble as Swiss firm fires him
March 22 – Suspended FIFA executive committee member Vernon Manilal Fernando’s world appears to be closing in on him. The Swiss cement giant he works for, Holcim, has revealed he is being fired following breaches of company rules and regulations.
David Owen: Why Valcke can breathe again – but not China
Here are a few preliminary thoughts on the reform proposals approved yesterday by FIFA’s Executive Committee.
1. Jérôme Valcke can breathe again.
The third of the 10 points indicates that the ExCo has headed off a proposal put forward recently by the 53 European FIFA member associations that could, I think, have excluded FIFA’s general secretary from running for the FIFA Presidency.
Hammers finally nail deal on Olympic Stadium move
March 22 – Football’s use of the state-of-the-art London 2012 Olympic stadium has at last been resolved after the government agreed to put in an extra £25m towards the costs of converting the venue, allowing Premier League West Ham United to take over.
Greek crisis deepens as AEK Athens president arrested over club’s unpaid taxes
By Mark Baber
March 22 – AEK Athens president Andreas Dimitrelos (pictured) has been arrested over €170 million in taxes owed by the Greek top flight club.
News Analysis: the perception and reality of FIFA reform
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 22 – It was the briefest of interventions but it provided a telling insight into the tensions of the previous two days and the current state of play.
Hull fan drops case, but anti-police demo to still go ahead
By Mark Baber
March 22 – The legal action brought by 15 year old Louis Cooper over restrictions placed on fans has been dropped after agreement with West Yorkshire police on a new set of conditions which improve fans’ access to the Huddersfield Town v Hull City football match on 30 March 2013.
Boateng; ‘There is no vaccine to fight racism, no anti-biotics to take’
By Andrew Warshaw
March 22 – Kevin-Prince Boateng, the Italian-based footballer who made headlines by famously taking his AC Milan teammates off the pitch in protest at racism, has described it a “dangerous disease” with no easy cure.
Mihir Bose: Don’t blame Ferdinand blame the structure of football
The Rio Ferdinand saga has once again raised the hoary old question of club versus country, always a potent question in international football, particularly the English game. Over the years this has generated much heat, except in the case of Ferdinand this old story has taken a very modern, and it must be said, fascinating twist.
In the classic battles between club and country the story often went as follows. A player would be called up to play for England.
Dyke back in the spotlight with headlining role at the FA
By Andrew Warshaw
March 21 – Greg Dyke, a former BBC director general known for his direct and passionate views, will be the new chairman of the English Football Association in succession to David Bernstein who steps down in July. His appointment is still subject to approval from the full FA council.
2022 Qatar World Cup is still a summer event, no change, says Blatter
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 21 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter today gave his most unequivocal statement to date that the 2022 Qatar World Cup will be staged in summer – as per the terms of the original bid process.
7UP fizzes in for Gold Cup sponsorship
By Mark Baber
21 March – CONCACAF has agreed a new deal with soft drinks manufacturer Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) for 7UP to be the Official Soft Drink of the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The sponsorship will almost certainly add fuel to the debate over soccer’s role in public health.
International day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
By Mark Baber
March 21 – Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This year the theme, chosen by the UN Human Rights Office, is racism in sports.
‘Enough is enough…’, racism must stop and punishment get tougher
Exclusive: By Osasu Obayiuwana
March 21 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter has told InsideWorldFootball that confronting the growing scourge of racism in the sport is one of the last major challenges confronting his presidency. “I am going to tackle this with all my tenacity, my fighting character,” Blatter said, on the eve of the CAF Congress in Morocco earlier this month.
Report shows how the big stay big, and the power of money
March 21 – A CIES Football Observatory report, released today, highlights the issues of player hoarding and how this creates and sustains a competitive imbalance in European football.