Nepalese minister Thapa vows to appeal FIFA ban for bribery
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – The crackdown on corruption by FIFA’s ethics investigators has snared another major figure with Nepal’s Ganesh Thapa banned for 10 years for bribery.
France bombings will not stop Euro 2016 finals, say organisers
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – Organisers of next summer’s European Championship finals in France say they will not be deterred by the Paris terrorist onslaught and that the tournament will go ahead and not be re-allocated.
Nakhid takes appeal to CAS in bid to re-enter FIFA election race
November 16 – David Nakhid, the former Trinidad and Tobago midfielder who was excluded from the FIFA presidential campaign on a technicality, has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a final effort to get back in the race.
Maradona recovering after major operation in Venezuela
November 16 – Diego Maradona, one of football’s greatest ever strikers whose career on and off the field has nevertheless been blighted by controversy, is recovering after undergoing a gastric bypass in the western Venezuelan city of Maracaibo over the weekend.
England and France prepare for Wembley demonstration of Liberté, égalité, fraternité
By Andrew Warshaw
November 16 – In an act of collective solidarity and defiance, all 23 players in the French squad to face England in a prestige friendly on Tuesday have agreed to travel.
Brazil’s Del Nero, fearing jail, files for protection
By Samindra Kunti
November 16 – The president of the Brazilian Football Confederation CBF Marco Polo del Nero has submitted a Habeas Corpus request with the Superior Federal Court STF to prevent him from being imprisoned.
David Owen: A TV levy might be the best hope of avoiding a pharmaceutical free-for-all
As regular readers may know, I am sceptical about sport’s ability to bring doping by top-level athletes under anything resembling control. Equally, the spectre of a complete pharmaceutical free-for-all is, in some respects, so disturbing that I would concede we need to be certain we have exhausted all avenues before we all, to borrow a phrase used last week by Independent Commission chair Richard Pound, “go home”.
Twitter activity down, but Man Utd keep chasing Arsenal for top spot
November 13 – Premier League football has mirrored an overall trend of a slight drop in activity in recent weeks. But Man Utd continued their inexhaustible assault on the summit of being the English club with the most twitter followers, having overtaken Chelsea and are now chasing down Arsenal.
Villar fined and promises to co-operate
By Andrew Warshaw
November 13 – After years of evading punishment and blocking reform while others around him were hit hard, Spain’s Fifa vice-president Angel Villar Llona was finally sanctioned today for failing to co-operate with the official investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid process.
Leonardo looking for €8.5 million pay out after punishment for barging referee is rescinded
By Mark Baber
November 13- According to a report in L’Equipe, Leonardo, the former Sporting Director of Paris Saint-Germain, is intending to sue the French Football Federation for €8.5 million in the wake of having had his suspension for barging a referee in the tunnel rescinded.
PSV sign 10-year €22.5m stadium naming deal with Philips
By Samindra Kunti
November 13 – Leading Dutch Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven have agreed a new ten-year sponsorship deal with Philips. The agreement is worth €22.5 million.
Blatter heads home after ‘relaxing’ but promises he will return to fray
November 13 – Suspended FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been discharged from hospital after what was described as a “small emotional breakdown”.
Exclusive: FIFA electoral committee unanimous on vetting decisions
By Andrew Warshaw
November 13 – FIFA’s electoral committee were unanimous in allowing Asian football chief Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa to run for the presidency and in banning Liberia’s Musa Bility from standing, Insideworldfootball has learned.
Carlsberg refreshes the Spurs deal other brewers can’t reach
November 13 – Premier League Tottenham Hotspur have extended their long-term deal with Carlsberg. The brewer will continue as the Club’s Official UK Beer Partner for another three seasons.
Paid patriotism. How MLS clubs earn off the stars and stripes
By Ben Nicholson
November 13 – While FIFA insist that sports and politics are separate, the US has been exposed as using sport to host patriotic displays honoring American soldiers. A government oversight report released information detailing that the Department of justice had paid $6.8 million to sports teams for military tributes.