Fresh FIFA warning to Tanzania over government interference
March 13 – Tanzania has again been warned by FIFA that it will be suspended if the government interferes in the administration of the sport.
Author: Paul Nicholson
Hungary lose appeal to CAS over spectator ban for World Cup qualifier
By Mark Baber
March 13 – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeal against the spectator ban imposed on Hungary for its March 22 World Cup qualifier against Romania.
Osasu Obayiuwana: CAF’s conspiracy of silence is holding Africa back
But for the incontrovertible geographical fact that Marrakech is in Morocco, I would have argued, to the death, that the just concluded Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which I attended, took place in Kim Jong Il’s Pyongyang, North Korea.
Speech after speech at the Palais De Congres eulogised its president, Cameroonian Issa Hayatou, who enjoyed the anniversary of his 25th year in power on Sunday, by securing a record seventh four-year term in office.
Beach soccer heads to Caribbean for Bahamas World Cup qualifier
By Andrew Warshaw
March 13 – Caribbean football, striving to enhance its image since the 2011 cash-for-votes scandal, at last has some good news, no doubt in part due to the efforts of Jeffrey Webb, president of CONCACAF which covers the region.
Rosell under pressure over Brazil friendly promotion
By Andrew Warshaw
March 13 – Just as his club were staging one of their greatest comebacks to take their customary place in the Champions League quarterfinals, Barcelona president Sandro Rosell (pictured) found himself at the centre of possible fraud charges in Brazil.
Spanish ‘soccer bubble’ faces EC scrutiny over loans
By Mark Baber
March 12 – The European Commission has opened a formal investigation into the financial affairs of Valencia, Hércules and Elche after their recent bail-outs from local government.
Rio’s Maracana will be ready for test, say organisers
By Andrew Warshaw
March 12 – Local officials insist that Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana stadium, still worrying FIFA more than any other venue in the run-up to the Confederations Cup in June, will be ready to stage a test event next month.
Celebrity powers to the top of player Rich List
March 12 – The power of Brand Beckham was never more evident than in a Rich List just published by Goal.com, the football web site owned by Perform.
Garcia speaks on his role at FIFA, and says the time to step forward is now
By Paul Nicholson
March 12 – Michael Garcia, the American lawyer charged with investigating corruption in football, has given a very clear message to administrators and officials throughout the game: if you have information and “you want to talk, come and talk to me now. I am under orders from no-one.
Champagne muses on FIFA and his future
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 12 – Former FIFA administrator Jerome Champagne has not ruled out running for President if, as expected, Sepp Blatter steps down in two years’ time. Since leaving FIFA under a cloud in 2010 after 11 years, the multi-lingual former French diplomat has been primarily working as an international football consultant in the field of development as he considers his next heavyweight move.
David Owen: An Irish team that deserves to be remembered
The island of Ireland is a place where history casts a particularly long shadow.
So perhaps I shouldn’t be as surprised as I am that so few people seem to know about a proud episode in the island’s footballing history that took place 99 years ago.
I first stumbled upon this years ago during one of my periodic trawls through the pages of an old Rothmans football yearbook.
With the centenary approaching,
Sri Lanka’s Fernando suspended by FIFA’s investigators
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 11 – Another leading FIFA administrator was dramatically suspended today when Sri Lanka’s Vernon Manilal Fernando (pictured) was provisionally banned from any football activity for 90 days as part of an ongoing investigation by corruption busters.
John Yan: 中超打不过《泰囧》CSL can’t match ‘Journey to the West’
新增三个赞助商，中超的市场经营板块，在新赛季开始前要好看许多了。打开中超官网，首页下方滚动的几个logo分别是：万达广场、耐克、三星、山东临工和雷曼光电。打开内页，会有哈尔滨啤酒、全体育传媒、CCTV5、新浪体育、体奥动力和五大连池等logo。三星之外，在联赛新赛季开赛前一周，还有华视传媒和神州租车两个新的市场和作者加盟。这样一个市场经营版图，至少logo数量，较前几年丰富了许多。
虽然中超的整体市场经营架构，仍然显得相对杂乱，CCTV5、新浪体育、全体育传媒这样的媒体合作伙伴，与其他市场商业合作伙伴，被混为一谈，但中超的市场号召力，连续三年逐年上升，是显而易见的事实。三星在春节之前已经明确赞助中超，传言为3年6000万人民币，之后还有在公交地铁等户外数字电视平台运营代理权的华视传媒，以及提供用车的神州租车。
League plays on as violence flares again in Egypt
By Paul Nicholson
March 11 – Violence erupted in Egypt again over the weekend and the Egyptian FA headquarters were burned down after fans rioted after the second court ruling following the Port Said disaster in February 2012 handed down sentences to a further 54 people and confirmed the 21 death sentences already passed last month.
‘Football Diplomacy’ around Asian Cup to bring Australia and Asia closer
By Mark Baber
March 11 – Influential Australian think-tank, the Lowy Institute, has published a new report examining how football diplomacy around the 2015 Asian Cup will provide opportunities for government, business and community groups to strengthen their engagement with Asia.