Rangers FC extend partnerships with Coca-Cola and Powerade
By Declan Warrington
December 18 – Glasgow Rangers have extended their drink partnerships with Coca-Cola Enterprises and Powerade for a further two years.
World Football
Head of Swiss FA hits back over FIFA threat to suspend Switzerland from international football
By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – The head of the Swiss Football Association (SFV) has implied that FIFA bullied his federation into an impossible position by threatening a suspension from all international football over the Sion affair.
Switzerland facing international exile because of Sion affair
By Duncan Mackay at the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo
December 17 – Switzerland face the prospect of being banned from world football unless they take action against FC Sion, who have conducted a high-profile legal campaign to oveturn a ban from the Europa League.
Makudi cleared by FIFA over land deal
By Duncan Mackay at the Ritz Carlton in Tokyo
December 17 – FIFA has cleared Executive Committee member Worawi Makudi over a controversial land deal where saw the head of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) accused of benefitting from development funds, Sepp Blatter announced here today.
World Cup organiser Danny Jordaan attacks “arrogant” Barry Rukuro
By Andrew Warshaw
December 16 – Danny Jordaan, the organiser of last year’s World Cup in South Africa, has hit back at what he claims was a personal attack on him following his withdrawal from the race to take over football in Southern Africa.
Exclusive: Ted Howard to replace Chuck Blazer at CONCACAF
By Andrew Warshaw
December 16 – Ted Howard (pictured) is to become the new general secretary of the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) replacing the outgoing Chuck Blazer, insideworldfootball has learned.
Sion lose CAS battle to return to Europa League
By Andrew Warshaw
December 15 – One of the most significant rulings since the Bosman affair went the way of UEFA today when FC Sion lost their fight to be allowed back into the Europa League.
Croatian players and referees convicted in match fixing probe
By Andrew Warshaw
December 15 – Dinamo Zagreb’s stunning 7-1 defeat in the final round of Champions League group games has been brought back into sharp focus after a court in the Croatian capital found 15 players and referees guilty of match fixing and sentenced them to jail terms of up to 10 months.
FIFA Club World Cup rocked by earthquake
By David Gold
December 14 – The Club World Cup in Japan has literally been rocked following an earthquake near Nagoya and the Toyota Stadium where Copa Libertadores champions Santos face local champions Kashiwa Reysol later today.
Rummenigge slams Blatter as slippery “eel” heading up a “dictatorship”
By Andrew Warshaw
December 14 – Not for the first time, European Club Association (ECA) boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (pictured) has had a dig at FIFA President Sepp Blatter, this time describing him as being like a slippery “eel” at the head of a “dictatorship”.
Russian billionaire set to gamble on Monaco
By David Gold
December 14 – Fallen French giants AS Monaco are set to be bought by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev (pictured), the club’s current President Etienne Franzi has said.
Security stepped up at Club World Cup after pitch invasion
By David Gold
December 13 – Following the pitch invasion that marred the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal between Tunisian outfit Esperance and Al Sadd of Qatar in Toyota earlier this week, there will now be an increase in security at the event.
Beckenbauer stands ground against goal-line technology
By Andrew Warshaw
December 13 – German football icon Franz Beckenbauer (pictured) has reiterated his opposition to goal-line technology.
Besiktas coach Tayfor Havutcu released following match fixing scandal
By David Gold
December 13 – Eight suspects, including the Besiktas coach, Tayfur Havutcu (pictured), and the club executive Serdal Adal, have been released by a Turkish court investigating the match fixing scandal which has rocked the country.
Dutch court blocks van Gaal appointment
By David Gold
December 12 – Louis van Gaal’s appointment as a director of Dutch champions Ajax has been suspended by a judge temporarily to give the club’s shareholders a chance to vote on the change.