Dyke to quit English FA after failure to win unanimous backing for reforms
January 29 – English football’s outspoken chairman Greg Dyke will not seek re-election when his current term ends in June because of a battle over proposed reforms.
World Football
AFC powers up its war on match-fixing with expanded Sportradar deal
January 28 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has beefed up its agreement with betting fraud prevention and detection specialists Sportradar, singing a two-year deal that will increase the number of games monitored to more than 4,500, a huge increase on the 300 games in the previous deal.
Mutko straightens RFU finances with new sponsors and help of falling rouble
By Mark Baber
January 28 – Vitaly Mutko, the Russian Sports Minister and Russian Football Union (RFU) President, has said a new $2.5-3.8 million sponsorship contract is about to be signed for the cash-strapped RFU, and that the union is now getting its finances in order.
Italian police swoop on agents, players and 35 clubs, seizing €12m
January 28 – Italian police have seized assets from 58 players, agents and club executives worth more than €12 million as part of huge crackdown into alleged systematic tax evasion in the country’s top two divisions.
Euro politicos get shirty after FIFA candidates refuse to dance to their tune
By Andrew Warshaw
January 28 – European parliamentarians have accused FIFA’s presidential candidates of scoring a spectacular own goal after four of them declined to take part in Wednesday’s planned televised debate in Brussels which ultimately collapsed.
Confusion steals podium as Brussels ‘forum’ debates its purpose
By Andrew Warshaw
January 27 – In what can only be described as a state of utter confusion, a planned debate on the future of FIFA, which had already descended into farce, was watered down still further today just hours before it was due to take place.
Paraguyan Dominguez takes the hottest seat in football as president of CONMEBOL
By Mark Baber
January 27 – Alejandro Dominguez of Paraguay was elected unopposed as president of CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American football, after Wilmar Valdez of Uruguay withdrew his candidacy.
Qatar sues Zwanziger over ‘cancerous’ comment
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” .
Doyen chief claims a difference between ‘ownership’ and ‘investment’
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.
CONCACAF reform proposals pave way for root and branch changes in power base
By Paul Nicholson
January 26 – CONCACAF has released details of its proposed reform measures to its member federations, at the centre of which would be the replacement of the executive committee with a CONCACAF Council.
Brussels talk shop descends into farce as Prince Ali, Sexwale and ESPN pull out
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.
ICSS links with Commonwealth Games Association for integrity audit
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.
Ajax keep purse strings tight in transfer window
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.
Central American bloc opts to support Infantino
January 26 – Gianni Infantino’s bid to squeeze over the line in next month’s FIFA presidential election has been given impetus after he received the bloc support of the central American Football Union (UNCAF), which carries seven votes in next month’s ballot.
Warner stays anchored in Trinidad as judge grants extradition stay
By Mark Baber
January 26 – Jack Warner’s solicitors have won a victory in their battle to prevent, or at least delay, their client’s extradition from Trinidad and Tobago to face charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money-laundering in the US.