TV scheduling row: Game, set and match to FIFA in Wimbledon clash
July 6 – FIFA says it will not back down after scheduling next year’s World Cup final kickoff in Russia on the same afternoon as the Wimbledon men’s tennis final.
News
Toyota race to start line with last-minute Gold Cup sponsorship deal
July 6 – With 48 hours to go before the kick-off of the Gold Cup at The Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, CONCACAF have announced another last-minute sponsorship sale with Toyota coming on board as the Official Motor Vehicle of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Tanzania progress on the pitch success but corruption chaos rages behind the scenes
By Mark Baber
July 5 – Whilst on the pitch Tanzania are playing Zambia this evening in the COSAFA semi-finals, off the pitch the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has been thrown into chaos by last week’s arrest of its president Jamal Malinzi (pictured), secretary general Mwesiga Celestine and accountant Ms Nsiande Mwanga on corruption allegations.
Crystal Palace tackle devil of a grass root problem with garlic
July 5 – If you happen to be in the region of the Crystal Palace stadium in south London over the next few weeks, you may experience a familiar odour.
Paperwork FIFA doesn’t want. Infantino report has not made it to Rojas yet
By Andrew Warshaw
July 4 – Fresh revelations by the German news magazine Der Spiegel have added another layer of intrigue over whether FIFA president Gianni Infantino was under renewed investigation at the time both of FIFA’s two main ethics bosses were relieved of their duties in May.
Premier League pirates. English fans turn to illegal streaming to watch their teams
July 4 – Nearly half of Premier League fans have at some stage streamed a top-flight game online through an unauthorised provider, according to a survey conducted by the BBC.
Spurs join Chelsea on Nike roster in £30m kit deal
By Paul Nicholson
July 4 – Nike have added Premier League Tottenham Hotspur to their club kit supply roster in a multi-year deal that begins next season. The announcement was made formally at the launch of the club’s new playing strip.
Aston Villa bet on Terry to take them up. Unibet wager on Villa to get there
July 4 – He may not be everyone’s cup of tea and has courted controversy throughout his career but former England and Chelsea captain John Terry has resisted the temptation to try and join the exodus to China by signing a one-year deal with second-tier Aston Villa at the age of 36 for one final challenge.
UEFA report blows up dangers of pyrotechnics at 25% of European club games
July 4 – An independent study commissioned by UEFA and Football Supporters Europe has highlighted the health and safety risks of letting off flares and other pyrotechnics in stadiums.
Bavarian brothers: Bayern and Siemens form new technology alliance
July 4 – Munich-based German engineering firm Siemens has been named as the Performance Partner of FC Bayern München in a three-year deal starting with the new season.
Jeff Webb associate Bruce Blake arrested in Cayman on corruption charges
By Paul Nicholson
July 3 – The Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) has been hit by further scandal with the arrest of First Vice-President Bruce Blake (pictured) by the Cayman Islands Anti-Corruption Commission. A second Cayman Island football official is believed to have been arrested but no names have been released.
FIFA insists VAR is ending ‘big’ mistakes. But even when it is ‘clearly wrong’?
By Andrew Warshaw
July 3 – The future of football or an expensive counter-productive exercise? The jury seems very much to still be out when it comes to video technology following the conclusion of the Confederations Cup.
Mutko fury at doping allegations as details of Xenon tests emerge
By Andrew Warshaw
July 3 – The Confederations Cup may be over but the spectre of doping continues to hang over Russian football, a major headache for World Cup chief and deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko.
Confed Cup closes with a German win, a pop at Grindel and praise for Russia – doping apart
By Samindra Kunti in St Petersburg
July 3 – Gianni Infantino praised Russia for its staging of the Confederations Cup, but doping allegations cast a shadow over the tournament’s end. The FIFA president vowed that Russia will face disciplinary proceedings if the doping allegations surrounding their team at the 2014 World Cup are proven.
WARNING: paper cuts can be dangerous in Europe. Just ask Rangers fans
July 3 – Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against Scotland’s Glasgow Rangers after objects were allegedly thrown during their return to European football after a six-year absence.