World Football Archives - Page 433 of 841

News analysis: Of Qataris, Uncle Toms and Asian do-gooders

By James Dostoyevsky

When Saoud Al-Mohannadi, the Qatari official who was disqualified from standing as an Asian member of FIFA’s ruling Council won a landmark appeal – well timed so that he couldn’t run for office next month – the (football) world was mighty surprised. His was a rare, a very rare, case for the FIFA Appeals Committee to overturn the “independent” FIFA Ethics machine, not merely by reducing a sanction but by vacating it entirely.

Europe

Olympiacos title confirmed as they and AEK appeal closed-door sanctions

April 25 – Olympiacos have had their Greek league title win, the club’s 44th, confirmed after a hearing into reported fan trouble after a Greek Cup semi-final first leg match against AEK Athens resulted in a four game sanction for both clubs to play behind closed doors.

Europe

Bayern call for Merkel to intervene over ‘brutal actions’ of Spanish police

April 25 – In an unusual move, Bayern Munich have approached the office of German chancellor Angela Merkel to officially request an official explanation from the Spanish authorities for the behaviour of their police during last week’s Champions League quarter-final in Madrid.

Europe

Portuguese police investigate death of Fiorentina fan trying to flee fighting

April 25 – Portuguese authorities have opened an investigation into the death of an Italian supporter caught up in last weekend’s Lisbon derby between Sporting and Benfica.

Europe

FIFPro warns players away from Romania as pay situation worsens

April 24 – The international players’ union FIFpro has warned its members against signing for Romanian clubs because of the risk they will not get paid.

Concacaf

Caribbean boss Derrick disappointed at CFU exco resignations

By Paul Nicholson

April 21 – Caribbean Football Union (CFU) president Gordon Derrick has expressed disappointment at the resignation of two of his executive committee members who demanded he should resign after he lost an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over his exclusion from the CONCACAF presidential elections last year.

South America

Sport Recife beats Flamengo to 1987 title after 30-year dispute

April 20 – Talk about extra time! After a bitter 30-year dispute, Brazil’s Supreme Court has finally decided the winner of the 1987 league title: Sport Recife.

Africa

Bility under fire again in Liberia as women walk out over broken cash promises

By Paul Nicholson

April 19 – Controversial Liberian FA president Musa Bility, who failed eligibility tests to stand for the FIFA presidency but who nevertheless engineered a position for himself on CAF’s executive committee, is under renewed pressure in Liberia with the women’s football league clubs pulling out en masse from the current season after multiple promises of financial support for the clubs never materialised.

South America

What crisis? CBF reports record $208m revenues as sponsorship holds strong

By Samindra Kunti

April 19 – The Brazilian FA (CBF) has reported record revenue of $208.1 million for 2016, closing the book year with a surplus of $14.16 million, a drop from the $23.16 million in 2015.

Europe

Gibraltar FA to buy ‘home’ stadium on the Rock for £16.6m

April 19 – One of UEFA’s newest members, the Gibraltar FA, is to buy a stadium within its borders which will enable it to develop a venue where it will be able to host national team fixtures and European club matches.

South America

Police arrest suspects for shooting of Panama’s Henriquez

April 19 – Panamanian authorities say they’ve arrested seven people in connection with the killing of the country’s international midfielder Amilcar Henriquez.

Concacaf

Panama international Henriquez shot dead in Colón

April 18 – Panama international Amilcar Henriquez has been shot and killed outside his home in the country’s Colón province, authorities there have confirmed.

South America

Argentina’s new top brass head for Zurich in bid to get Messi ban halved

April 18 – Lionel Messi could have his four-match international suspension halved at an appeal hearing next month, according to Argentina reports.

Europe

Bastia fans twice invade pitch forcing Lyons match to be abandoned

April 17 – A French Ligue 1 match between Bastia and Lyon was abandoned at the weekend after the Corsican home fans twice invaded the pitch to try and attack opposition players.