From pariah to messiah. Allardyce is forgiven but not forgotten by Crystal Palace
December 28 – He may have only been England manager for 67 days but he was only out of the game thereafter for less than three months.
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Steaua Bucharest under fire after court rules its name belongs to the army
December 23 – One of European football’s famous names could disappear entirely from the professional game after Romania’s defence ministry won a court case against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday.
Beckenbauer: ‘Germany did not buy the World Cup’
By Andrew Warshaw
December 22 – After keeping a low profile for several weeks in the wake of the potentially highly damaging probe into his alleged role in the 2006 World Cup bid scandal, Franz Beckenbauer (pictured with Wolfgang Niersbach), Germany’s most revered footballing figure, has re-iterated that his country did not buy the tournament.
Deloitte report spotlights why Julius Baer became FIFA’s favourite banker
December 22 – A report into the practices of Swiss bank Julius Baer by accountancy and financial consultancy specialist Deloitte has found a catalogue of mal-practice and poor governance.
Pogba, di Maria and Pastore caught up in French tax fraud probe
December 21 – French authorities have opened a preliminary inquiry into tax fraud and money laundering in the wake of the ‘Football Leaks’ revelations which claimed a raft of players and coaches were using tax havens to stash away undeclared funds.
CAS halves Real Madrid transfer ban to one window only
December 21 – In what FIFA will surely consider a blow to their efforts to stamp out under-age players moving overseas prematurely, Real Madrid have had their ban on transfer signings reduced to one window following a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Suspended Niersbach resigns seats at FIFA and UEFA top tables
By Andrew Warshaw
December 19 – Former German football supremo Wolfgang Niersbach has conceded defeat by agreeing to step down from his senior posts at FIFA and UEFA after failing to win his appeal against his one-year ban.
World Cup TV corruption puts Televisa affiliate in the frame
December 19 – Court papers filed by prosecutors in the US allege that an affiliate of a major broadcasting company in Latin America paid millions of dollars in bribes to obtain the rights for the next four World Cup tournaments in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.
FIFA wins CAS appeal to secure 4-year ban for Saudi star Noor
December 16 – Former Saudi Arabia international Mohammed Noor, one of his country’s most successful players, has been handed a four-year ban for doping by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Barca internal probe clears Bartomeu and Rosell of Neymar transfer fraud
December 15 – Barcelona have disclosed that proceedings brought against the club regarding the signing of Neymar from Santos in 2013 have now been closed.
Child trafficking? England dominate market in transfer of minors
By Paul Nicholson
December 12 – Barcelona were sanctioned for the ‘irregular’ movement of players under the age of 18 and questions have been raised over the Real Madrid academy system as regards transfer of minors. But England is by far the most active in the international recruitment of minors.
Argentina’s TyC agrees $112.8m deal to settle US corruption case
December 14 – The US-led probe into widespread football corruption has been marked by another significant development with an Argentine sports media company caught up the scandal agreeing to pay about $112.8 million as part of a deal to resolve charges stemming from the investigation, according to court documents.
Scottish FA sets up ‘review’ panel to examine child sex abuse allegations
December 14 – The Scottish Football Association is to set up an “independent review” of child abuse allegations in football as part of the growing scandal that has rocked the game throughout Britain.
English civil war: former FA gurus say it is just the Premier League’s puppet
December 12 – The English Football Association, already buffeted by the sex abuse scandal that has rocked the sport, has come under further attack after five of its most senior former executives wrote a damning letter to Parliament saying the organisation was unfit for purpose, self-serving and consumed by vested interests.
Match-fixing: FIFA ban former SAFA boss Nematandani and two federation fixers
By Andrew Warshaw
December 9 – Former South African Football Association (SAFA) president Kirsten Nematandani (pictured) has been banned for five years by FIFA’s ethics committee in connection with a match-fixing scandal involving the national team in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup which it hosted.