Inside World Football - Page 1301 of 2234 - For the Business of Football

Thinking big. Warner counter sues CONCACAF’s $20m with $40m claim, names Gulati

blazer and warner

By Paul Nicholson

April 26 – Five days after CONCACAF filed a lawsuit in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, claiming $20 million in damages against former executives Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer, Warner has responded by saying he will file a suit against CONCACAF for $40 million claiming “persistent defamation” of character. He also says he is suing US Soccer Federation president and FIFA Council member Sunil Gulati personally.

Integrity

British and French police swoop to arrest tax fraudsters in player transfer scandals

April 26 – Professional football in England and France has been plunged into a tax fraud scandal with a number of arrests following raids linked to alleged transfer activity going back several years.

FIFA

FIFA and Russians say press are free to report Confed Cup without ‘any restrictions’

By Andrew Warshaw

April 26 – FIFA has rejected German accusations that it is restricting press freedom during this summer’s Confederations Cup in Russia, the traditional World Cup warm-up tournament.

Europe

France’s LFP chiefs unveil battle plan to break into Europe’s Big 4

By Paul Nicholson

April 26 – French league president Nathalie Boy de la Tour and general secretary Didier Quillot have unveiled a new strategic plan for the French Football League (LFP) that will take them through to 2022 and close the gap on the English, Spanish, German and Italian leagues.

South America

CONMEBOL find $150m hole in accounts, auditors blame Paraguayan Leoz

Nicolas Leoz

By Samindra Kunti

April 26 – CONMEBOL’s internal audit has revealed an unaccounted gap of $150 million as the organisation seeks to establish the full-scale damage of corruption.

Football Asia

Tension in Hong Kong as Guangzhou fans unveil ‘Annihilate British Dogs’ banner

By Andrew Warshaw

April 26 – One of China’s leading teams, big-spending Guangzhou Evergrande, face an investigation after the club’s fans unfurled a provocative banner in an Asian Champions League match describing Hong Kong’s independence movement as ‘poison’ and carrying the words: ‘Annihilate British Dogs’.

Europe

Ajax to rename Amersterdam ArenaA to celebrate club legend Johan Cruyff

johan cruyff_22-11-111

April 26 – Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam will rename their stadium in honor of their greatest player Johan Cruyff, who died in 2016. Cruyff passed away on March 24 last year following a battle with lung cancer, he would have turned 70 yesterday.

News analysis: Of Qataris, Uncle Toms and Asian do-gooders

FIFA vote counting

By James Dostoyevsky

When Saoud Al-Mohannadi, the Qatari official who was disqualified from standing as an Asian member of FIFA’s ruling Council won a landmark appeal – well timed so that he couldn’t run for office next month – the (football) world was mighty surprised. His was a rare, a very rare, case for the FIFA Appeals Committee to overturn the “independent” FIFA Ethics machine, not merely by reducing a sanction but by vacating it entirely.

Football Marketing

Will Toon Army mobilise on social media or will Man Utd continue to paint it Red?

April 25 – Newcastle United’s re-ascent to the Premier League will immediately catapult the club into ninth place in the Premier League social media rankings, but is it a position that perhaps reflects the under achievement of what is undoubtedly one of England’s most passionately supported clubs?

Finance

Hull still seeking Chinese fortune while Everton ponder loan cash

Hull Tiger

By Paul Nicholson

April 25 – A leading executive of one of Hull City’s suitors for club ownership has been arrested in Hong Kong raising questions over the progress of the sale that has been on-going since the start of the season.

Finance

Multi-club ownership finds new frontiers and strategies for investors

money

By Paul Nicholson

April 25 – Multi-club ownership has gained an increased profile with City Football Group’s (CFG) recent addition of Atlético Torque (Uruguay) to their portfolio, while Atlético de Madrid have invested in Atlético San Luis (Mexico) and AS Monaco have agreed to acquire Cercle Brugge KSV (Belgium). But is it the pathway to financial profit?

Europe

Olympiacos title confirmed as they and AEK appeal closed-door sanctions

April 25 – Olympiacos have had their Greek league title win, the club’s 44th, confirmed after a hearing into reported fan trouble after a Greek Cup semi-final first leg match against AEK Athens resulted in a four game sanction for both clubs to play behind closed doors.

Europe

Bayern call for Merkel to intervene over ‘brutal actions’ of Spanish police

Bayern Munich fans

April 25 – In an unusual move, Bayern Munich have approached the office of German chancellor Angela Merkel to officially request an official explanation from the Spanish authorities for the behaviour of their police during last week’s Champions League quarter-final in Madrid.

Europe

Portuguese police investigate death of Fiorentina fan trying to flee fighting

April 25 – Portuguese authorities have opened an investigation into the death of an Italian supporter caught up in last weekend’s Lisbon derby between Sporting and Benfica.

Football Marketing

BNN boost Man City mobile content in portfolio that includes Arsenal and Barca

April 25 – Manchester City has expanded its partnership with London-listed but China focussed technology, content and services company BNN. The new deal will see the club deliver coaching programmes and unique content via the Xinhua News mobile app.