News Analysis: Take-over complete, North America calls all the shots
By James Dostoyevsky, Mexico City
CONCACAF’s presidential election in Mexico City yesterday, was always going to be an interesting affair.
World Football
Czechs ban boozed up match officials
May 13 – Two officials who appeared to be drunk during a top-flight domestic game in the Czech Republic, widely seen since on YouTube, have been banned by their national federation.
Copa America Centenario sells out sponsor packages as anticipation builds
By Paul Nicholson
May 12 – From being the competition that opened a gateway to the biggest corruption crisis global football has ever experienced, Copa America Centenario has transformed itself into what could potentially become a gamechanger in terms of international football across the Americas.
AFC schedules Goa Congress as Salman pledges support to on-going reform
May 12 – The Asian Football Confederation have called an Extraordinary Congress to be held in Goa, India, on September 27 to elect its three additional members to the newly established FIFA Council, including the required female representative.
Big league power plays: La Liga targets PL, everyone wants a piece of the US
By Paul Nicholson in Mexico City
May 12 – It was a joke but when MLS Commissioner Don Garber responded to the Premier League’s David Dein on World Cup hosting saying that “if you could host it next week, we could host it tomorrow”, it showed where the real power balance in football lies.
Berlusconi closes in on Chinese sale for AC Milan; Villa seek a saviour
By Paul Nicholson
May 11 – The Berlusconi family, owners of Italy’s AC Milan, have opened exclusive talks for the sale of a majority stake in the club to a group of Chinese investors.
SUM win rights to sell CONCACAF sponsorship to 2021, FIFA releases $10m
By Paul Nicholson in Mexico City
May 11 – The sponsorship rights to CONCACAF events have been awarded to the MLS’s commercial arm, Soccer United Marketing (SUM), who take over from Traffic Sports, the agency that triggered the corruption scandal that lead to the arrest of the confederation’s last two presidents – Jeffrey Webb and Alfredo Hawit.
Romanians suspend ambulance firm as Ekeng autopsy continues
May 10 – Romania’s interior ministry has suspended the licence of a private ambulance company that transported Dinamo Bucharest and Cameroon midfielder Patrick Ekeng to hospital after he collapsed during a match last Friday and died shortly afterwards.
Giwa plans second shot at Glass House occupation as Pinnick heads for Mexico Congress
By Mark Baber
May 10 – The Chris Giwa faction of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), acting in accordance with a widely held interpretation of a recent court ruling, attempted a take-over of the NFF Glass House HQ on Friday, before being asked to help police with their enquiries and then pledging to return on Monday.
Platini forced out of UEFA and banned from running for FIFA in 2019
By Andrew Warshaw
May 8 – European football is looking for a new leader after Michel Platini announced he was stepping down as UEFA president, albeit under protest, after losing his fight to clear his name for breaching FIFA’s ethics rules.
Greek Cup final postponed amid new fears over fan violence
By Matt Scott
May 9 – The Greek Football Cup final scheduled for Saturday was postponed by the government amid safety fears for the match.
Ekeng death triggers criticism of Romanian player safety measures
By Andrew Warshaw
May 9 – Football’s world players’ union FIFPro has raised concern about the level of first-aid treatment for footballers in Romania following the tragic death of Dinamo Bucharest and Cameroon midfielder Patrick Ekeng on Friday.
Klopp won’t be walking alone in Basel as Liverpool head to Europa League final
May 6 – He’s only been there since October but Jurgen Klopp and his improving Liverpool team are 90 minutes away – barring extra time and penalties – from playing Champions League football next season.
Rangers tax case draws calls for independent inquiry into Scottish football
By Matt Scott
May 5 – Glasgow Rangers escaped being stripped of historic league titles by the Scottish Football Association on false pretences, a report by the Tax Justice Network (TJN) has alleged.
Europol say Portuguese raids have clamped down on Russian crime gang
May 5 – European and Portuguese police claim to have put a stop to a mainly Russian criminal gang laundering money through football in Portugal.