Real Madrid top ManUtd on Forbes rich list
By Mark Baber
April 18 – Real Madrid has displaced Manchester United as the world’s most valuable soccer club in the new Forbes list.
World Football
Kuwaitis declare support for Salman candidacy
By Andrew Warshaw
April 18 – Kuwait has wasted no time in publicly announcing that it will back Asian Football Confederation presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of Bahrain in next month’s election.
Emirates close to landing Real Madrid shirt deal
By Andrew Warshaw
April 18 – Emirates Airlines is on the verge of capturing its most prestigious shirt sponsorship deal to date by agreeing a partnership with Real Madrid believed to be worth up to €30m a year, according to reports in Spain.
Valencia crisis deepens as Foundation President resigns over battle for control
By Gareth Messenger
April 18 -The chaos at Valencia is continuing to cause doubt among players, the coaching staff and supporters, after the club’s Foundation President Francisco Varona resigned.
Sheikh Salman calls for new faces and change, but blanks key issues
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
April 17 – The frontrunner in the race to become the most powerful man in Asian football has ducked questions about his alleged implication in a vote-buying scandal and about widespread human rights abuses in his native Bahrain.
ASEAN Super League plans unveiled
By Mark Baber
April 17 – The establishment of an ASEAN Super League took a step closer as senior figures within the Asean Football Federation (AFF) briefed the media on the project which was discussed at a separate AFF briefing on April 3.
Fluminense looks to expand in US with a club buy
By Mark Baber
April 17 – Peter Siemsen, president of Brazil’s Fluminense Football Club, said the Brazilian champions are looking to buy a team in the US.
Italian clubs want increased competition for their reserve teams
April 17 – In order to develop more young talent, Serie A clubs in Italy want their reserve teams to be allowed to play in the country’s lower leagues.
NBC stakes its claim for the US football TV market
By Tom Parsons
April 17 – NBC sports group will air all 380 Barclays Premier League games during the 2013/14 season live on its networks. The US broadcaster will present the games across their platforms as well as streaming them live via NBC’s Sport live extra service on desktop, mobile and tablets.
Polish club crisis sees latest casualty Lodz dropped two divisions
By Krzysztof Baranowski
17 April – LKS Lodz, one of Poland’s oldest league clubs with a proud 105-year tradition, has declared itself bankrupt and unable to pay money owed to former players and coaches.
Women call for inclusion in FIFA 14 virtual world
By Mark Baber
April 16 – As EA Sports prepares to unveil its plans for the launch of FIFA 14, evidence suggests Brazilian 2nd division sides will be included in the new game, speculation has renewed over when women will be included.
Qatar and Germany to strengthen ties in World Cup build up
By Mark Baber
April 16 – Angela Merkel yesterday urged Qatar to ensure transparency and reliability in the bidding for World Cup 2022 projects.
Trinidad woe for Warner over missing football cash claims
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has described himself as “incorruptible” following explosive new revelations about alleged serious financial foul play.
AFC frontrunner Salman accused of vote buying and human rights abuses
By Paul Nicholson and Mark Baber
April 16 – The leading candidate for the presidency of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, has been implicated in a series of human rights abuses in his home country of Bahrain where he is a member of the ruling Royal family. Insideworldfootball has also been provided with information allegedly linking him to a vote buying scandal orchestrated by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in 2009 when he ran for AFC election to the FIFA executive committee against Mohamed Bin Hammam.
Exclusive: Al Medlej says he may be the last man standing, unless he stands down himself
By John Duerden
April 16 – Hafez Al Medlej may be the forgotten candidate for the upcoming Asian Football Confederation presidential election but the Saudi appears to believe he could end up becoming the sole contender from West Asia at the May 2 ballot.