By Paul Nicholson
December 21 – FIFA has released more record breaking TV numbers for both for its men’s and women’s world cups – a poignant reminder of the popularity of the world’s favorite event as US justice authorities reiterate their crusade against football corruption on their own continent and their thinly veiled objective of bringing down world governing body FIFA.
As if FIFA didn’t have enough problems at present, the recently-published television audience report for last year’s World Cup in Brazil gives rise to the question, ‘Has the governing body’s flagship tournament plateaued out as a global TV phenomenon?’
December 20 – Players in the top Asian professional leagues are far more likely to have made their debuts at clubs where they came through the youth system, and will be playing along more players from their own country than is the case at clubs in Europe’s Big-5 leagues.
By Ben Nicholson
December 20 – With the 2015 MLS season now over, the time for reflection on the league and its teams are upon us. Moreover, so is the time for commercial reflection. To aid the process, soccer marketing agency, Gilt Edge Soccer, has released its summary report, ‘Soccer in America 2015’.
December 18 – South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) have signed up match-fixing monitoring specialists Sportradar to police the Suzuki Cup which kicks off December 23 in India.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – After the most staggering capitulation in the history of the Premier League, never has the phrase ‘The Special One’ sounded so hollow.
By Mark Baber
December 18 – Tottenham Hotspur have had their plans for a new £400 million stadium approved by Haringey Council paving the way, subject to the Mayor Boris Johnson’s permission, for work to begin on a modern 61,000 seater stadium in spring 2016.
December 18 – The next FIFA president should not be in power for longer than two terms, according to Jordan’s candidate, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, who lost last time to Sepp Blatter.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – FIFA’s interim leadership has called on the organisation’s 209 member nations to approve the recently proposed package of reforms as a result of the corruption crisis “that has shaken global football governance to its core”.
December 18 – The Chinese Football Association (CFA) completes its three day annual conference today in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province. Although the prospect of the country bidding to host the World Cup was not on the agenda for open sessions, it is believed it was discussed in closed meetings.
By Paul Nicholson
December 18 – It has been a tumultuous week for Chelsea and Leicester City. On the pitch Leicester deepened the Blues at Chelsea with a Premier League victory that put them top of the league and eventually pushed Jose Mourinho out of Stamford Bridge. On twitter Leicester had the biggest percentage increase in followers of any Premier League club this week at 4.25% – Chelsea recorded a 0.45% increase.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 18 – It is unlikely to be a particularly restful weekend for Sepp Blatter – or Michel Platini for that matter. After appearing before the very ethics committee he helped create, the FIFA president runs the risk of never being able to return to the building from which he has run world football’s governing body, often controversially, for the best part of 18 years.
December 18 – More American money is joining the Premier League ownership roster with Josh Harris and David Blitzer, owners of NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, spending $100 million to buy a controlling stake in south-east London club.Crystal Palace.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 17 – The Swiss Justice Ministry has frozen millions of Swiss francs related to FIFA as football’s worst ever corruption scandal took another unexpected twist.
By Paul Nicholson
December 17 – Three of the five FIFA presidential hopefuls will parade themselves before a Brussels forum next month to be grilled on their manifestos and plans for football’s world governing body.