Pele too ‘embarrassed’ by ill health to make public appearances
February 11 – The world’s most famous footballer, Pele, has become a virtual recluse according to his son because he cannot walk unaided.
Author: Paul Nicholson
CAF audit: Former finance boss disputes PwC’s ‘vague assumptions’ on 2015 accounts
By Osasu Obayiuwana
February 10 – Suketu Patel, who was CAF’s first Vice-President and the Chairman of the body’s Finance Committee in 2015, says Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) did not contact him, concerning its recent forensic audit of the African football governing body’s accounts and professional practices.
CAF in crisis: PwC audit report finds financial records ‘untrustworthy’ and full of holes
By Osasu Obayiuwana
February 10 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is said to have financial records that are “unreliable and not trustworthy” by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), the international accounting and management consulting firm, which completed its forensic audit of African football’s governing body in November 2019.
The ‘looting’ of CAF: PwC audit shows ‘daylight robbery’ and ‘crimes against humanity’, says Bility
By Paul Nicholson
February 8 – Early reports of the independent audit of Confederation of African Football (CAF) finances for the period 2017 to 2019 looks likely to be the long overdue dynamite that explodes both the term of CAF president Ahmad Ahmad, as well as many of his most trusted and protected lieutenants.
Richarlison sale and ‘dispute’ settlement help Watford to post £10m profit
By David Owen
February 10 – Watford, the Premier League club based in London’s commuter-belt and controlled by Gino Pozzo, have bounced back into profit after a 2018-19 season that saw them finish safely in mid-table and reach the final of the FA Cup.
Flamengo shuts victims’ families out of remembrance events
February 10 – On Saturday, on the first anniversary of the fatal fire at Flamengo’s training complex that killed 10 youth players, the Rio club excluded families of the victims from participating in remembrance events. Flamengo fans today will protest at the club’s headquarter to express their disapproval.
Premier League would be a poorer place with fewer overseas players, says Masters
February 10 – The new boss of the English Premier League has warned against cutting the number of overseas players as discussions begin to build over how Brexit will affect English professional football.
Infantino says English needs to get to grips with VAR
February 10 – The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system is not being used properly in some countries according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Brazil squeeze through qualifiers to defend Olympic title in Japan
February 10 – Defending champions Brazil have qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer after overcoming rivals Argentina 3-0 in a crunch qualifier. The Argentineans had already booked their ticket.
Portuguese police probe Mendes for tax fraud, say reports
February 10 – Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes (pictured), who represents some of football’s biggest names, is among a number high-profile figures being investigated in his homeland for alleged tax fraud and money laundering according to Portuguese publication Sabado.
FA drops Spygate probe leaving Liverpool unpunished after Man City scouting hack
February 10 – The English FA has closed its investigation into the hacking of Manchester City’s scouting database by Liverpool.
Premier League clubs unite to make ‘abusive’ fan bans league-wide
February 7 – In the latest crackdown on resurging racial abuse, all 20 English Premier League clubs have agreed to extend any bans on fans watching their team at home to the entire league.
Flamengo’s grieving families go uncompensated as club rakes in record revenues
By Samindra Kunti
February 7 – A year after the fatal fire at the Ninho do Urubu, Flamengo’s training centre, the families of seven victims remain entangled in a legal battle over compensation.
Silva loses at CAS in bid to force US to end closed league MLS structure
February 7 – US club owner and former sports media agency entrepreneur Riccardo Silva has lost his appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to force US Soccer to adopt promotion and relegation in their top tier leagues.
World’s oldest boys plot a new beginning and a match before Austria vs England Euro warm-up
February 7 – English and Austrian fans will be able to warm-up for the 2020 Euros warm-up game on June 1 by watching two of the oldest clubs in the world – they have 287 years of history between them.