Pro-TPO lobby complain to EC with super agent Mendes in the vanguard
February 6 – Spain and Portugal have reportedly filed a complaint to the European Commission challenging FIFA’s ban on third party ownership.
World Football
Violence shatters African Cup as home fans run riot in Equatorial Guinea
By Andrew Warshaw
February 6 – Fans of host nation Equatorial Guinea brought shame and disgrace on the Africa Cup of Nations as they forced Thursday’s semifinal to be suspended for more than 30 minutes amid scenes described as a “war zone”.
Exclusive: Salman switches Asian Football Confederation congress to home venue
By Andrew Warshaw
February 5 – Asian football supremo Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa’s control over his huge region has been underlined with the surprise decision to hold this year’s 47-nation Asian Football Confederation congress in his native Bahrain.
Not biased, but AFCON penalty ref gets 6 month ban
February 5 – The referee who awarded the controversial last-gasp penalty decision that helped hosts Equatorial Guinea reach the African Nations Cup semi-finals at the expense of Tunisia has been banned for six months.
Neymar tax fraud lands Barca back in court
February 5 – Neymar’s controversial 2013 transfer to Barcelona is back in the spotlight with the news that Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu is to be questioned over alleged tax fraud in the signing of the Brazilian international striker.
New £5.6m funding for English grass-roots facilities
By David Owen
February 4 – A further 80 English grass-roots football facilities are to get much-needed investment from a recently-established fund that draws on money from the Premier League, the UK Government and the Football Association (FA).
Belarus government to build Dinamo Minsk a new stadium by 2019
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
February 4 – The Belarusian government has said it has earmarked funds to provide Dinamo Minsk with a new stadium by the end of 2019. The new arena will have a capacity of 25,000.
Japan fire coach Aguirre over match-fixing allegations
February 4 – Despite repeated protestations of his innocence and a plea to be allowed to get on with his job, Japan’s Mexican coach Javier Aguirre has been sacked over much-publicised match-fixing allegations covering the period he worked in Spain.
Will Beckham be left high and dry on the Miami waterfront?
By Andrew Warshaw
February 4 – A year after announcing his plans to form a new MLS club in Miami, David Beckham is still searching for a permanent venue amid growing concerns that his dream franchise might be some way off.
Money talks: clubs and leagues slam players’ union over wages complaints
By Andrew Warshaw
February 4 – The war of words between Europe’s clubs and the players’ union FIFPro over reforming the transfer system has been stepped up with another hard-hitting exchange of views.
MLS tools up in the war against match fixing with Sportradar extension
February 4 – Major League Soccer (MLS) has extended its deal with Sportradar Security Services to monitor the global betting market in relation to MLS matches for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.
Premier League remains Europe’s big buyer as season’s transfer spend nears £1bn
By David Owen
February 3 – Premier League clubs continued to outspend their main European rivals during what was a far from record-breaking January transfer window. The £130 million that members of English football’s top flight shelled out was around double the total spent by clubs in the next highest-spending league – Italy’s Serie A, according to analysis by Deloitte, the professional services firm.
Pogba and Jimenez head Europe’s top U23s. The Ox, Kane and Sterling make list
By Mark Baber
February 3 – The dark art of using OPTA in-match statistics to rank players has gained new exponents as members of The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) Football Observatory who have developed key performance algorithms in 6 different areas of play and used them to rank under-23 players across the main European Leagues.
Leaked memo puts heat on Belgian FA money mismanagement
By Samindra Kunti
February 3 – The Belgian FA, the KBVB, is suffering a financial hangover after posting a financial loss of €206,000 in 2014.
Levski Sofia debt threatens to kill its European dreams
By Alexander Krassimirov
February 3 – Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia has announced debts amounting to BGN 1.7 million. (€ 850,000) to December 31, 2014. The amount must to be cleared by March this year, to allow the club to acquire a license for next season and compete in European competition.