FIFPro slams Indonesia following death of Paraguayan player
By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – The death from a routine virus of Diego Mendieta, a Paraguayan player based in Indonesia, has outraged the international players’ union, FIFPro.
World Football
Exclusive: Bin Hammam ban ends Friday, investigators need new evidence for further action
By Andrew Warshaw
December 5 – The ongoing probe into alleged malpractice by Asian football powerbroker Mohamed Bin Hammam, which has seriously split his increasingly dysfunctional confederation, reaches a crucial stage within the next 48 hours during which FIFA-appointed United States investigators must decide what action to take against him, if any.
CONCACAF integrity committee starts to right past wrongs
By Andrew Warshaw
December 5 – Two months after its first meeting, the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football’s (CONCACAF) new integrity committee, set up to clean up the body after an unsavoury period of blood-letting, is beginning getting to grips with the misdemeanours of the past.
Dutch youth players beat linesman to death
By Andrew Warshaw
December 5 – Dutch football and society in general has been left shocked and bewildered after a part-time volunteer linesman officiating in a youth league died from severe head injuries apparently sustained while being savagely beaten by a group of teenage players.
Senegal face CAF ban and fine following riot
By Andrew Warshaw
December 4 – Senegal have been banned from using their main stadium in Dakar for African competition for a year following riots in October, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.
Bailey named executive director of new US women’s league
By Andrew Warshaw
December 4 – Former national team general manager Cheryl Bailey has been appointed executive director of the new United States women’s league that begins next spring – the third attempt at trying to create a successful model.
Football officials resume talks on divided Cyprus
By Andrew Warshaw
December 4 – Significant strides have been made to bridge the footballing divide in Cyprus following breakthrough talks between Greek and Turkish representatives – the first since early 2008.
Scottish leagues to be revamped to boost revenue and attendances
By Andrew Warshaw
December 4 – A revolutionary blueprint has been agreed to revive Scottish football and make it more meaningful and competitive.
Eritrean players disappear to seek asylum in Uganda
By Andrew Warshaw
December 4 – As many as 18 Eritrean players are understood to be considering seeking asylum in Uganda after disappearing while playing in a regional tournament.
Park hit with ban and fine following London 2012 political protest
By Andrew Warshaw
December 3 – South Korea’s Park Jong-Woo, whose political protest sparked a diplomatic row with Japan at the London 2012 Olympics, has been banned for two games by FIFA and fined 3,500 Swiss francs (£2,400/$3,800/€2,900), football’s world governing body said today.
Malaga face UEFA sanctions over unpaid players’ wages
By Andrew Warshaw
December 3 – Despite being owned by Qatari investors and performing impressively in the Champions League, Malaga are facing UEFA sanctions for failing to pay millions of euros of players’ wages on time.
Anouma to challenge Hayatou for African football Presidency
By Andrew Warshaw
December 3 – The battle to take control of African football has taken a significant new twist with the announcement that the Ivory Coast is planning to nominate Jacques Anouma to stand against Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou in next March’s elections in Morocco.
Exclusive: AFC officials throw out proposed ethics task force
By Andrew Warshaw
November 30 – Reformers within Asian football have been left shocked and disappointed after their campaign to heal deep-rooted rifts and crack down on corruption was dismissed by the Continent’s top brass.
Zenit St Petersburg take sanction appeal to CAS
By Andrew Warshaw
November 30 – In a rare move, Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg are going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after the Russian Football Union (RFU) turned down their appeal against being punished following serious crowd trouble at the recent domestic fixture at Dynamo Moscow.
Beckham tipped for move to Monaco
By Andrew Warshaw
November 30 – David Beckham, one of the icons of his generation, has been heavily linked with a career-ending move to French club Monaco as he prepares to round off his time with LA Galaxy in the United States.