Paul Nicholson, Author at Inside World Football

CAF seeks ‘hosting agreement’ to keep HQ in Egypt but rival suitors line up

By Osasu Obayiuwana in Cairo, Egypt.

July 11 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF), headquartered in Cairo, is seeking the finalisation of a treaty that gives CAF the official status, with diplomatic rights, of an international sports organisation functioning in the country. CAF has operated in Egypt since 1957, and until 2007 without an official ‘Hosting Agreement’ with the Egyptian government. The 2007 agreement automatically renewed in 2012 for five years but expired in 2017.

FIFA

Draw made and cities named for 2019 U-17 World Cup in Brazil

July 12 – Host nation Brazil will open the U-17 World Cup in October against Canada in Gama, a satellite city of the capital Brasilia. Goias and Cariacica will also be tournament host cities.

Europe

Billion dollar pay days. UEFA details €3.25bn cash breakdown with €100m+ for CL winner

By Paul Nicholson

July 11- If any reminder were needed of where the real balance of power lies in football, it was delivered yesterday by UEFA’s announcement of how its expected €3.25 billion of revenue in the 2019/20 season will be distributed.

Integrity

Mutko wins appeal against Olympic life ban

July 12 – Russia’s deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko, who infamously stepped down from all his footballing roles after having been accused of being involved in state-sponsored doping – allegations he denied – has won his appeal against being banned from the Olympics for life.

Integrity

71% of EFL fans have no issue with gambling sponsorship

July 12 – A Supporters Survey by the English Football League has found that 46% of EFL supporters gambled online during the last 12 months, and that 71% believe gambling sponsorship in football is acceptable.

FIFA

FIFA overhauls disciplinary code and gets tougher on racism

July 11 – FIFA is doubling its minimum ban for racist incidents to 10 games and will in future allow players to make victim statements at disciplinary hearings as part of an overhaul of its disciplinary code – the first for 15 years – taking effect from Monday.

Africa

Burundi VP Habimama arrested over missing player bonus money

July 12 – The vice-president of Burundi’s football federation, Aimable Habimana, has reportedly been detained on issues relating to players bonuses in the latest scandal to rock African football.

Africa

Cairo Stadium out scores Accra counterpart to set new AFCON record

By Abdelaziz Abuhamar

July 12 – The Cairo International Stadium (CIS) has set a new record beating the previous record of hosting 32 AFCON matches by Accra Sports Stadium in Ghana.

Football Marketing

Saints renew Utilita and add Kuflink to sponsor roster

July 12 – Premier League Southampton have renewed Utilita as the club’s Official Energy and Utilities Partner as well as adding Kuflink as the club’s new Official Peer to Peer Investment Partner.

Concacaf

New York court awards Concacaf $79m in Warner case, but extradition still the big issue

By Paul Nicholson

July 11 – A New York judge has awarded a $79 million default judgement against Jack Warner and in favour of Concacaf.

Women

World Cup won, US women now to turn to mediation over equal pay with USSF

By Andrew Warshaw

July 11 – Now that they have captured the hearts of their nation – and millions more fans worldwide – by retaining their World Cup trophy, the US women’s squad are turning their attention back to their potentially far more arduous legal fight for equal pay.

Finance

Pique loses tax appeal leaving him with €2.1m to pay

July 10 – Star Spanish and Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has lost his legal battle with the tax authorities and will have to pay €2.1 million in penalties and back taxes.

Finance

Milan clubs wants new €1.2bn San Siro. Politicians nervous

July 11 – AC and Inter Milan moved plans for a new stadium forward on Wednesday by disclosing a plan to invest more than €1.2 billion in the project.

Football Asia

Gallop to step down as boss of Aussie FA

July 11 – Football Federation Australia chief executive David Gallop has announced he is stepping down on December 31 as the sport prepares to implement far-reaching changes.

Author: Paul Nicholson