South Korea drop K-League Cup in war against match fixing
By David Gold
February 28 – South Korea has dropped the K-League Cup in a bid to clamp down on match fixing in the wake of last year’s scandal.
World Football
German champions announce record revenue
By David Gold
February 28 – German champions Borussia Dortmund have registered revenues of over €100 million (£84 million/$135 million) for the first time in their history.
Agreement with UEFA is major breakthrough, says ECA chair Rummenigge
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Europe’s leading clubs today struck a landmark agreement with UEFA giving them a bigger share of the European Championship pot – but warned their relationship with FIFA was still deadlocked.
Revenues from Egypt friendlies to be donated to Port Said disaster victims
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – The revenues earned by Egypt from three forthcoming friendlies in Qatar will be donated to the victims of the Port Said disaster following direct intervention from national coach Bob Bradley (pictured), the former United States World Cup coach.
Gold Coast United in hot water with refugee supporting slogan
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – An Australian club is on a collision course with its national association, Football Federation Australia (FFA), after sending out its players bearing a slogan supporting the plight of refugees.
Beşiktaş President Demirören named as new TFF chairman
By David Gold
February 27 – The embattled Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has elected Beşiktaş President Yıldırım Demirören (pictured) as their new chairman at a general assembly today.
UEFA President Platini slams goal-line technology as “nonsense”
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – UEFA President Michel Platini (pictured) has racked up the anticipation ahead of next weekend’s International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting by once again slamming the idea of goal-line technology, this time describing it as “nonsense”.
Exclusive: There has been no satisfactory answer to our demands, says ECA vice chair Gandini
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – One of the leading officials driving the campaign by Europe’s top clubs to have a greater say in the way the game is run, Umberto Gandini (pictured), has added his voice to the breakdown in talks with FIFA.
European Clubs Association boycotts talks with FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
February 26 – The European Club Association (ECA), which comprises Europe’s top 200 clubs, is boycotting all further talks with FIFA because of its reluctance to streamline the international match calendar.
Exclusive: Warner seeking “substantial damages” over Haitian earthquake claim
By Duncan Mackay
February 25 – Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner claims he plans to sue a Trinidad newspaper and journalist that he accuses of libel and defamation regarding stories involving funds slated for Haiti reconstruction efforts following the earthquake there.
Amos Adamu loses CAS appeal
By Andrew Warshaw
February 24 – Fifteen months after being banned by FIFA from world football over corruption allegations, Nigeria’s Amos Adamu (pictured) today lost his final attempt to clear his name at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Exclusive: ICSS reveal details of Chris Eaton’s recruitment
By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
February 24 – Fresh details have emerged over the imminent departure from FIFA of its head of security Chris Eaton (pictured), arguably the most important figurehead in the fight against match fixing.
Abedi Pele and Gheorghe Hagi join Blatter’s FIFA Task Force
By Andrew Warshaw
February 24 – Two more footballing icons have joined the star-studded FIFA panel set up to try and make the game more of a spectacle.
Scotland to invest £25 million in National Performance Centre for sport
By David Gold
February 22 – Up to £25 million ($39 million/€30 million) will be invested into the first ever national performance centre for sport in Scotland, it has been announced.
Prime Minister backs FA homophia and transphobia campaign
By David Gold
February 22 – The English Football Association has launched a campaign at Wembley Stadium, “Opening Doors and Joining In”, backed by Prime Minister David Cameron, which aims to tackle homophobia and transphobia.