Beckham’s Miami stadium plans meet renewed local opposition
April 17 – David Beckham’s dreams of starting a new football franchise in the United States have suffered their first wobble.
Concacaf
Warner screams foul as politicians raise alarm bells over Trinidad centre
April 18 – The dispute over the ownership of the Trinidad centre of excellence currently held by former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has become a point of political contention in Trinidad government politics with Warner saying the issue is being driven on to the political agenda by Trinidad’s Attorney General.
NWSL case study shows regional best practice, as the league opens second season
By Paul Nicholson
April 15 – CONCACAF’s Club Licensing Department has published its first Case Study to showcase and promote best practice in the region. The study looks at the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) which is about to start its second season.
Antiguan clubs rebel against ABFA leadership and call for Congress and audit
By Paul Nicholson
April 11 – Antiguan clubs are rebelling against their federation, the Antiguan and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA), and calling for FIFA or CONCACAF to step in and take control. They want the ABFA audited and full financial transparency by an independent body.
The $1m swindle – Antiguan FA begs, borrows and gets into trouble
By Paul Nicholson
April 10 – It has emerged that the Paynters St Georges football ground that is home to the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) has been mortgaged for EC$3 million ($1.1 million) at the Antigua Commercial Bank, where ABFA general secretary and Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Gordon Derrick is vice chairman.
US sack Sermanni ahead of Women’s World Cup finals in Canada
By Andrew Warshaw
April 7 – After just 15 months in the job, Tom Sermanni has been sacked as coach of the United States’ women’s team just a year ahead of the World Cup finals in Canada.
CONCACAF debuts its first Beach Soccer training course
April 7 – CONCACAF is holding its first ever Beach Soccer coaching course starting this week in Fort Lauderdale, Miami. The course is the next extension of the confederation’s development programme led by CONCACAF’s director of development Hugo Salcedo.
Webb and Platini sign for a more co-operative future in Cayman
April 7 – CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb hosted UEFA president Michel Platini in the Cayman Islands this weekend. The two confederation chiefs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) “for mutual co-operation towards the development of the game”.
Costa Rica breaks records with hosting of U-17 Women’s World Cup
By Paul Nicholson
April 4 – The final of FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica takes place tonight with Japan and Spain competing for the top honour. Italy and Venezuela will face off for the bronze medal.
Mexico’s Toluca caught spying on America’s San Jose Earthquakes
By Paul Nicholson
April 3 – In global politics it is normally the all-powerful US that has the ‘Big Brother is watching you’ reputation. But in football it is different. Mexico’s Deportivo Toluca has been handed a $5,000 fine by CONCACAF’s disciplinary committee for spying on a San Jose Earthquakes training session.
Etihad Airways partner MLS as Becks turns up the heat in Miami
By Mark Baber
March 26 – Major League Soccer (MLS) has announced a multi-year partnership deal with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, with Etihad becoming the official airline partner of MLS in the United States.
CONCACAF battles match-fixers with new protocol and educational programme
March 17 – CONCACAF has introduced a set of Competition Integrity Measures to tackle match-fixing. They are now being conducted before every CONCACAF tournament and competition.
CONCACAF appoints its first Diversity Officers
March 13 – CONCACAF has appointed a team of Diversity Officers who will have special responsibility for ensuring that the recently introduced ‘Protocol for Racist Incidents During Matches’ is implemented.
MoneyGram signs on as CONCACAF Champions League sponsor
March 11 – As the quarter finals of the CONCACAF Champions League started last night with Costa Rica’s Alajuelense drawing 0-0 with Arabe Unido in the first leg of their tie, the confederation also announced MoneyGram as a new commercial partner.
ABFA in hot water again as FIFA sanctions raise more ethics questions
By Paul Nicholson
March 6 – Less than a year after FIFA ordered the Antigua and Barbuda FA (ABFA) to re-run its elections, the Caribbean federation has again landed itself in trouble and been sanctioned for financial impropriety. This is not the first time the federation or its officials have found themselves in trouble over money.