English to add goalline technology to its second-tier Championship
February 17 – Clubs in English football’s second-tier Championship clubs have agreed “in principle” to use goalline technology from the start of next season.
News
Ahmad’s CAF campaign for change gathers speed as Nigeria desert Hayatou
By Andrew Warshaw
February 16 – Issa Hayatou’s quest to hang on to power at the helm of African football has taken another jolt with the news that the highly influential Nigerian FA is backing his rival for the leadership.
Gianni jets back into focus with Mutko ‘flight’, pay rises and an emptying of FIFA House
By Paul Nicholson
February 16 – It seems Gianni’s jet fetish may still be alive and kicking despite a FIFA Ethics investigation and reminders on rules about accepting gifts or favours that could prove later to be compromising. The FIFA president took a private jet on November 26, 2016 from Moscow to Kazan, provided by Russian sports minister and FIFA Council candidate Vitaly Mutko.
2026 – Infantino’s caring, sharing and sustainable World Cup blueprint
February 16 – FIFA president Gianni Infantino says multiple hosting of the World Cup can work perfectly well and that 2026, when the process is likely to start, could even be staged by up to four neighbouring countries.
Exclusive: UEFA rules loophole leaves door open to an age-old issue
By Andrew Warshaw
February 16 – One of the longest-serving figures among European football’s old guard elite is exploiting an historic loophole in UEFA’s age restrictions to try and retain a place at the organisation’s top table.
Cost savings help under-pressure English FA back into the black
By David Owen
February 16 – The Football Association, which is facing mounting pressure to reform from British MPs, has released figures detailing cost savings made as a result of an organisational restructure announced in July 2015.
Roma partner with Fnatic and sign pro-team for esports play
February 16 – AS Roma from Italy’s Serie A is the latest to join the esports action, partnering with Fnatic to create the club’s first competitive gaming team. Aman Seddiqi, Sam Carmody and Nicolo Mirra will play as AS Roma at tournaments and events.
Brazil’s Rio 2016 alchemist Micale falls from favour over U20 failure
February 16 – The CBF, the Brazilian Football Confederation, and coach Rogerio Micale are poised to part ways following Brazil’s failure to qualify for the U20 World Cup in South Korea. Micale coached the Brazilians to the gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
FIFA investigators push for life bans for Li and Jimenez
February 16 – FIFA’s ethics committee has opened formal proceedings against two former Central American officials after investigators recommended they be banned for life for alleged corruption.
Exclusive: Olympiacos’s Evangelos Marinakis – Enough with the Mr Bad Guy
By Paul Nicholson
February 15 – Evangelos Marinakis is a big guy. He is physically big, he has a big shipping empire, he has the biggest football club in Greece, Olympiacos, and he is the big player in the social fabric of his home town Piraeus, a district of Athens, Greece.
Council of Europe investigates FIFA as Brasseur says she ‘sees no reform’
By Paul Nicholson
February 15 – The Council of Europe has launched an investigation into FIFA, its business activities and its governance, according to former president Anne Brasseur who said she was “very concerned” at FIFA reform progress.
Chelsea keep up pressure as Leicester high fly with tweets but plummet with new followers
February 15 – Chelsea are maintaining their Twitter surge and are now closing in on 8 million followers. This week they were again fourth in the growth chart with 51,500 new followers, just 3,800 behind Liverpool who they are more than 1.1 million ahead of in terms of overall followers.
Turkey join Germany in race to host Euro 2024 finals
By Andrew Warshaw
February 15 – Two weeks before the deadline for initial expressions of interest, Turkey has announced it is bidding for Euro 2024, hoping to be fourth time lucky.
Facebook Live debuts first major league with 46 Liga MX games on Univision pages
February 15 – Mexico’s Liga MX will hit the Facebook Live platform with Univision this weekend at the start of a new broadcast deal that will see 46 matches, including playoff games, streamed live.
Hayatou under threat as COSAFA mobilise against him for CAF election
By Samindra Kunti and Andrew Warshaw
February 14 – Issa Hayatou’s quest to remain African football’s all-powerful figurehead is heading for open warfare after southern African states announced they were backing his rival for the presidency in defiance of their confederation.