FIFA pours cold water on Norwegian FA ‘dinner’ talk
November 11 – FIFA have moved quickly to dispel a report that claimed Sepp Blatter believes Qatar will be stripped of hosting the 2022 World Cup.
World Football
Ajax Amsterdam seals €8 million sponsorship deal with Ziggo
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 11 – Ajax Amsterdam has inked a sponsorship deal with local cable and media firm Ziggo. Starting in January 2015, Ziggo will replace insurance and pension firm Aegon as the club’s main sponsor under a deal worth at least €8 million per year, the side said in a statement.
Appeals Committee holds future of Nigerian football in its hands
By Mark Baber
November 11 – The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) Appeals Committee meeting being held today and tomorrow (Tuesday and Wednesday) marks a new crossroads in the power struggle at the summit of Nigerian football. The faction currently exercising executive power will be looking to see the disputed September 30 elections, which brought them to power, given a clean bill of health, whilst the Chris Giwa faction (who did not participate in the elections) and the losing candidates will be hoping the committee shows independence from the current leadership and orders a rerun of the elections on neutral territory.
FIFA bans Oceania’s Bowen for breaking integrity rules
By Andrew Warshaw
Nov 11 – Oceania has been hit with a new footballing scandal after Fifa banned the former head the New Caledonia football federation Edmond Bowen for three years for dishonesty when filling out an integrity questionnaire.
Bowen has been barred because “did not fill out the mandatory declaration of integrity truthfully” when bidding to become a member of Fifa’s disciplinary committee and had therefore breached “general rules of conduct”.
Chilean FA calls for maximum penalty for O’Higgins racism
November 11 – O’Higgins, who won Chile’s Apertura league championship last year, face sanctions after fans made racist chants and gestures during a first division match.
CAF in last minute talks to save 2015 Africa Cup of Nations
By Andrew Warshaw
November 11 – As the Confederation of African Football (CAF) holds last-ditch talks today aimed at resolving the African Cup of Nations hosting crisis, Ghana is the latest country to say it won’t step in to replace Morocco.
France top Brazil in table of exported players to big-5 Euro leagues
By Paul Nicholson
November 11 – There has been a subtle shift in the balance of expatriate players in the big-5 leagues in Europe with a marked increase in the numbers of Europeans moving to leagues outside their home country, with the balance moving away from the exporting South American markets. The overall percentage of ‘foreign’ players in the big-5 leagues continues to rise, hitting a record 45.9%, according to figures from the CIES Football Observatory.
SAFF Women’s Championship to kick off tomorrow despite security concerns
By Mark Baber
November 10 – The 2014 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship kicks off on Tuesday in Islamabad featuring eight women’s national teams including hosts Pakistan, arch-rivals India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Stadium analysis puts D.C. United at heart of regeneration plan
By Ben Nicholson
November 10 – A report has been published in the US detailing a cost-benefit analysis of Washington-based MLS club D.C. United’s proposed soccer specific stadium development. The 406-page report suggests that the benefits will outweigh the costs.
AFCON 2015 under threat as Morocco miss CAF deadline
By Andrew Warshaw
November 10 – The future of January’s African Cup of Nations has been plunged into further jeopardy after Morocco failed to meet Saturday’s deadline to confirm it will host the event.
South Korea and New Zealand add to WADA anti-doping fund as deadline looms
By David Owen
November 9 – Two more countries have made contributions to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) embryonic fund for new anti-doping research, enabling the initiative to creep closer to its $20 million target.
Shakhtar Donetsk owner in talks to buy Lviv Arena in western Ukraine
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
November 7 – Rinat Akhmetov, the owner of Shakhtar Donetsk, is considering buying Arena Lviv, where the Ukrainian club is currently hosting its home matches, according to local authority representatives.
Sportradar expands data gathering with Ukrainian partnership
November 7 – The Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) has signed a data partnership deal with Sportradar taking them to the end of the 2017/18 season.
Call for Ligue 1 boycott as comments reignite French racism row
By Mark Baber
November 7 – Racist comments by Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol have ignited a new row in French football with his remarks being defended in some quarters whilst Pape Diouf, the former president of Olympique de Marseille) called for a boycott of Ligue 1.
Puma extends Elephants deal through to 2015
By Mark Baber
November 7 – German sportswear company Puma has extended its contract with the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) for a further four years from January 2015.