News Archives - Page 1368 of 1743 - Inside World Football

Triple punishment and sinbins on IFAB rule-makers’ agenda in Zurich

FIFA House

By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Two recent controversial Champions League dismissals have refocused attention on the so-called triple punishment – penalty , sending off and subsequent – that continues to cause so much consternation throughout the game. The rule, which has been hotly debated with referees applying different interpretations as to what constitutes a goal-scoring opportunity, comes up for discussion once again at the annual International FA Board meeting in Zurich on Saturday.

Africa

Ghana bank rolls out $10m sponsorship, but one player will certainly miss out

Ghana sponsorship

February 28 – The Ghana Premier League, which has signed Ghana’s First Capital Plus Bank as its headline sponsor, is rolling out a number of marketing initiatives to support the partnership. The bank will pay $10 million in five year deal, easily a record sponsorship for the league.

Archive

Anelka sanctioned for offensive ‘quenelle’ but not found anti-semitic

Nicolas Anelka

By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – In a move that could serve as an important test case for English football’s disciplinary procedures, former French international striker Nicolas Anelka has been banned for five matches and fined £80,000 for his infamous “quenelle” gesture that made worldwide headlines.

Archive

UAE and Czechs renew development co-operation

Yousuf al Serkal

February 28 – The UAE Football Association (UAEFA) and the Czech Republic (FACR) have renewed a signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing the two federations to co-operate and share expertise across a range of football related areas from administration to development and facilities.

Archive

Football as art: LA exhibition showcases the game’s creative side

andy-warhol-athlete-pele1

February 28 – The Beautiful Game is an increasingly overused expression; of course it is beautiful. It has a depth of beauty and meaning to football fans and players that is rarely communicated in words. But can this depth be expressed in art? The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) thinks it can.

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FIFPro turns up pressure to end ‘obscene’ transfer fees and system

Philippe Piat

By Paul Nicholson
February 28 – World players union FIFPro has renewed its vehement criticism of the current transfer system following the latest FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS) data which reported global transfer fees in 2013 of $3.72 billion, an increase of 41% on the previous year.

Archive

UEFA releases Europa League final tickets for international sale

Turin 2014

February 28 – With the UEFA Europa League now entering the last 16 phase of competition, the first round of ticket sales for the final at the Juventus Stadium, Turin, on Wednesday May 14 have opened. Available exclusively on UEFA.com, the sales window will be open until March 25.

Archive

Gamers called to action for CONCACAF Interactive 2014 competition

CONCACAF interactive

February 27 – CONCACAF is building on the success of its interactive Gold Cup last year and has launched the CONCACAF Interactive 2014 (#CI14), calling for fan and gamers across the region to compete for the title of CONCACAF Interactive Champion, as well as an all-expenses-paid trip for two to be guests at the FIFA Interactive World Cup (FIWC) Grand Final 2014 this summer in Rio de Janeiro.

Archive

ICSS warns of phoney fake agents passing off as club officials

By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – Phoney football agents are defrauding young players by demanding huge sums of money for fake trials and contracts at a raft of top clubs, including several in the English Premier League, according to an investigation undertaken by the Qatar-based International Centre for Sport Security.

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Blatter set to run for fifth term as FIFA President

Sepp Blatter 7

By Paul Nicholson
February 27 – FIFA president Sepp Blatter looks increasingly certain to run for another term as president of FIFA. Speaking to Swiss Walliser Bote – a daily that appears in Blatter’s home canton of Valais – he confirmed that he will run for President again in 2015 “if the FIFA Congress so decides”.

Archive

FIFA backs fan fests as Brazil’s cyber warriors declare war

Fan fests

February 27 – FIFA has defended the traditional World Cup fan fests due to take place in the 12 host cities in Brazil after one venue said it was ditching the idea because of expense. “FIFA has worked in close cooperation with the host cities to guarantee that costs will be kept to a minimum,” said Jerome Valcke, FIFA’s secretary general.

Archive

Poland’s Gornik Zabrze signs beer brand Lomza as new main sponsor

Gronik Zabrze

By Jaroslaw Adamowski
February 26 – Gornik Zabrze has signed a sponsorship contract with Browar Lomza, owner of the Lomza beer brand. The company is the new main sponsor of the Polish football club, Gornik said in a statement.

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Leeds takeover stalled as Cellino waits for Football League approval

Leeds United

February 26 – The takeover of Leeds United by controversial Italian agricultural entrepreneur Massimo Cellino has still not been approved by the relevant authorities, it has emerged. The Football League has said it “remains in discussions” with the club even though the 57-year-old Italian businessman exchanged contracts with current owners GFH to buy a 75% stake in the Championship club earlier this month.

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Dortmund bans fan after Nazi outburst during minutes silence

Dortmund fans

February 26 – Borussia Dortmund, last season’s beaten Champions League finalists, have banned a supporter from their stadium until 2020 for shouting “Sieg Heil” during a minute’s silence before last weekend’s game at Hamburg SV.

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Anelka hearing is a ‘test case’ for English fight against racism

Nicolas Anelka

By Andrew Warshaw
February 26 – The hearing into former French international striker Nicolas Anelka’s infamous ‘quenelle’ gesture is reported to have begun at an undisclosed location. Anelka has been charged by the English Football Association for use the reverse Nazi salute, brought to prominence by controversial French comedian Dieudonne M’bala M’bala, as a goal celebration. The much-travelled striker, who faces a minimum five-match ban if found guilty, has denied the charge of making a gesture that was “abusive and/or indecent and/or insulting and/or improper”.