Inter Milan President elected to key Olympic post
By David Owen
November 8 – The President of three-times European Cup winners Internazionale has been elected chairman of the Indonesian Olympic Committee.
Europe
Kirch cash for Bayern rights lured FIFA voters to German 2006 bid
By Andrew Warshaw
November 8 – Secret documentation obtained by Insideworldfootball appears to contradict the assertion of a senior German 2006 World Cup official that no financial inducements were paid to land the tournament.
Benzema now a formal suspect in sex tape blackmail case
November 6 – Real Madrid’s French international striker Karim Benzema has been placed under formal investigation in connection with a sex tape blackmail plot according to French reports – but his club are standing by him.
Hungary’s MTK launches €20 million stadium project
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 5 – Hungary’s MTK has signed a deal with a construction to build the club’s new stadium under a HUF 6.3 billion (€20 million) project. The Nándor Hidegkuti stadium is to be completed by the end of August 2016, two months later than initially planned.
Orient owner battles Albanian extradition request, denying all charges
By Andrew Warshaw
November 5 – The Italian owner of English fourth-tier club Leyton Orient faces extradition to Albania for alleged fraud and money laundering.
Benzema questioned by police over sex tape blackmail
November 5 – France’s Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been questioned by police in a blackmail case surrounding a sex tape, according to French reports.
Trabzonspor chairman banned for imprisoning ref after failure to win penalty
November 5 – After one of the most unusual and extraordinary cases of misconduct, Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu (pictured), chairman of top-flight Turkish club Trabzonspor, and several of his board members have been given lengthy bans for locking a referee in the dressing room until the early hours of the morning.
China’s Rastar poised to take $20m stake in Espanyol
By David Owen
November 5 – The other club in Barcelona – Espanyol, currently 10th in La Liga – look poised to fall under Chinese control. The Guangdong-based Rastar Group has said its Hong Kong unit is to buy 45%-56% of the club in a deal valued at up to almost $20 million.
German calls for Niersbach to stand down after police raid on DFB
By Andrew Warshaw
November 4 – Pressure is increasing on German Football Association (DFB) chief and FIFA executive committee member Wolfgang Niersbach to stand down following Tuesday’s raid by tax authorities on the DFB’s headquarters as part of an investigation linked to the country’s winning bid for the 2006 World Cup.
More racist comments from Tevacchio, with some homophobia thrown in…
November 3 – First he accused African players of being “banana eaters”, then made disparaging remarks about the sexuality of women footballers. Now the president of Italy’s Football Association Carlo Tevacchio is at it again, this time accused of making anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks.
German tax police raid DFB in probe into €6.7m payment
November 3 – Tax authorities in Germany have raided the headquarters of the German Football Federation (DFB) as part of an investigation into the country’s increasingly suspicious 2006 World Cup bid campaign.
Dutch bank healthy €6.8m but miss out on Euro2016 upside
By Samindra Kunti
November 3 – The Dutch FA KNVB made a profit of €6.8 million during the 2014/15 season. Holland’s absence at Euro2016 will not threaten the financial health of the organisation but will impact future investment.
German pressure mounts on Niersbach to quit over €6.7m ‘loan’
November 2 – As German football authorities continue to come under pressure over the vote-buying slush fund allegations which they have strongly denied, a senior German politician has entered the debate by suggesting DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach should consider resigning.
Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano admits 1.5m euro tax fraud
By Mark Baber
October 30- Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano admitted to two counts of tax fraud totalling 1.5m euros in a five minute hearing on Thursday in Gava near Barcelona.
Table topping Inter Milan break Serie A gate receipt records
October 29 – Rejuvenated Inter Milan who currently top Italy’s Serie A after a 1-0 win over Bologna are reporting chart topping attendance records.