Swiss ref falls foul of language barrier and faces federation censure
April 29 – A Swiss referee is in hot water after using an expletive towards a player during a top-flight league match at the weekend.
World Football
Birmingham City owner Yeung says a fair trial is impossible
By Andrew Warshaw
April 29 – Birmingham City owner Carson Yeung pleaded not guilty to charges of money laundering today as his legal team called for the case to be thrown out.
Row over OCA involvement in AFC elections hots up
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
April 29 – The acrimonious war of words in the build-up to this week’s eagerly awaited Presidential election for the most powerful man in Asian football has intensified with the Kuwaiti Football Association denouncing Yousuf al-Serkal of the United Arab Emirates for comments he made regarding interference by the Olympic Council of Asia, run by Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah.
Relief for Deportivo as judge releases €9m TV rights cash
By Monica Villar
April 29 – After months of waiting and legal wrangling Spanish Primera club Deportivo at last have access to the funds they say they need to maintain operations.
Divided AFC delegates gather in KL for king-maker Congress
By John Duerden in Kuala Lumpur
April 29 – It is somewhat ironic for an election in which transparency and unity are the major issues that so much of the lobbying and campaigning has been played out almost entirely behind closed doors amid ever increasing divisions. But this is football politics, Asian style.
Spanish Government set to drop age law for pro-contracts
By Gareth Messenger
April 26 – Spanish government officials are looking changing the law which states that a footballer has to turn 18 before his club offers him a professional contract.
Sri Lanka looks forward to rebuilding with FIFA support
By Mark Baber
April 26 – Sri Lankan FA president Ranjith Rodrigo (pictured) met with FIFA president Sepp Blatter to discuss Sri Lanka’s reconstruction efforts after years of conflict and the 2004 tsunami.
Al-Thawadi unveils his manifesto for Asia in bid for FIFA exco seat
By Andrew Warshaw
April 26 – Hassan Al-Thawadi, the face of Qatar’s 2022 World Cup campaign who has kept an unusually low media profile as he seeks a place on the top table at FIFA, has finally unveiled his reasons for being elected to its executive committee next week.
Warner fallout catches Sheikh Salman in the after shock
April 26 – The shockwaves from Jack Warner’s ‘Straight Talk’ public meeting last night have reached as far as under-fire AFC presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa.
Warner straight talks his way out of parliament dropping bombs on CONCACAF and FIFA on the way
By Andrew Warshaw
April 26 – Embattled former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, renowned for his often outrageous rants during a scandal-tarnished career in football, launched one final no-holds-barred attack on his critics Thursday as he reluctantly stepped down as a politician in his native Trinidad and Tobago.
Man City favourites to take their Blue Moon to New York and the MLS
April 26 – Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has said the league is hoping to announce a second franchise in New York in the next four to six weeks. That team will not be the New York Cosmos.
Bahrain human rights group asks FIFA to withdraw Salman from AFC elections
By Mark Baber
April 25 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter has been urged by two human rights organisations to step in and prevent Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa of Bahrain (pictured) from running next week for President of the Asian Football Confederation and a position on FIFA’s all-powerful executive committee.
Exclusive: Time running out for AFC west Asian presidential contenders over who should stand down
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
April 26 – The three West Asian contenders fighting to become the next head of Asian football have failed to reach a consensus on putting forward one sole candidate for next week’s presidential election but are set to hold further private talks in the build-up to the vote.
Welsh clubs plan to build on their success
By Tom Parsons
April 25 – Cardiff City are looking to expand their 26,828 all-seated stadium to a 35,000 all-seater – and it could be ready in time for the 2014/15 season.
Exclusive: Makudi says he can win AFC race and has the support of his friends
By John Duerden
April 25 – Worawi Makudi, one of four candidates in the running to become the president of the Asian Football Confederation in next Thursday’s election, has told Inside World Football that he has enough support to win.