By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – In an unusual case that once again highlights the sensitivity surrounding Qatar winning the right to stage the 2022 World Cup, officials of the Gulf state are suing former FIFA executive committee member Theo Zwanziger for referring to them as a “cancerous growth on world football” .
January 27 – Doyen Sports, one of the main companies cited as practising Third Party Ownership (TPO), which is banned by FIFA and UEFA, has attempted to justify its conduct by rejecting that it in any way owns players and insisting it uses an alternative model of TPI (third party investment) that ensures financial transparency.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 26 – Amid confusion, contradictions and hints of buck-passing and election games, a planned televised debate involving three of the five FIFA presidential candidates has been scrapped after two of them withdrew with just 48 hours’ notice.
January 26 – Amidst burgeoning scandals in both football and athletics, the role of the International Centre for Sport Security in combating the scourge of corruption has been given further recognition by the Commonwealth Games Federation in order to enhance good governance across its various sports.
By Samindra Kunti
January 26 – Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam are restricting their spending during the transfer window to minimise the risks of a financial pitfall, despite the club’s finances being in a good position.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 25 – A number of European federations want more time before committing themselves to UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino’s bid to succeed Sepp Blatter at next month’s FIFA presidential election, Insideworldfootball has learned.
By Samindra Kunti
January 25 – When wealthy Chinese businessman Wang Hui (pictured) took over Dutch club Ado Den Haag last year there were promises of substantial investment and new sporting glory. But the promises have gone unfulfilled.
January 25 – Bulgarian club Litex Lovech’s entire results for the season have been scrapped as punishment for its players walking off in protest at refereeing decisions in a match at Levski Sofia last month.
January 25 – In a move that could have a radical impact on viewership, Germany’s Federal Cartel Office wants to introduce a “no single buyer” rule when it awards broadcasting rights for the 2017/18 Bundesliga football season, according to local reports.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 22 – European football will have no leader for the foreseeable future after UEFA today ruled out electing a successor to Michel Platini until the case against its banned president is resolved one way or the other.
By Paul Nicholson
January 22 – Cracks are beginning to appear over UEFA’s supposedly unified stance behind Gianni Infantino’s bid to become FIFA president as a result of his €500,000 campaign fund – understood to be hard cash budgeted for his political push that doesn’t include other costs for campaign services provided by UEFA.
January 22 – Almost half of the top 20 highest-earning football clubs in the world play in the Premier League, further evidence – if ever it was needed – of where the commercial clout lies.
By David Owen
January 22 – England’s Football Association (FA) has reported a loss and a reduction in turnover for its financial year ended July 31. The £9.3 million pre-tax loss was attributable partly to £10.4 million of restructuring/reorganisation costs, which in turn included £6.7 million of redundancy costs.
January 21 – The tax trial of world player of the year Lionel Messi and his father has been set for May 31-June 3 but clashes with the start of the centennial Copa America taking place in the United States with the strong possibility that Argentina’s Barcelona star may not make it in time for his country’s opening game.
By Andrew Warshaw
January 21 – UEFA’s refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina has given his personal backing for using goal-line technology in European competitions, starting with next summer’s Euros.