Inside World Football - Page 1322 of 2233 - For the Business of Football

Exclusive: Call for forensic audit of Liberian FA accounts exposes Infantino ally Bility

Musa Bility

By Paul Nicholson

March 1 – Controversial Liberian FA president Musa Bility (pictured), excluded from the FIFA presidential race after failing integrity tests, is being accused by a former Liberian FA executive committee member of misappropriating FIFA financial assistance money of more than $1 million. Amongst a raft of claims of financial embezzlement, he is also accused of taking $50,000 of Ebola relief money sent to the Liberian FA and sharing it between committee members.

Football Asia

AFC waits for integrity tests as trust in Infantino’s motives fades further

Infantino and Salman

By Paul Nicholson

March 1 – Delays by FIFA on clearing candidates to stand in the AFC elections for its Council is causing mounting concern amongst Asian member associations that FIFA’s executive function is operating in a far from independent manner.

FIFA

AFC calls on FIFA to urgently rule on Israel-Palestine dispute

Israel vs Palestine flags

By Andrew Warshaw

March 1 – Asian football’s governing body has urged FIFA to urgently resolve the festering dispute in the Middle East amid speculation that a call for Israel to be thrown out of world football will be revived in May.

FIFA

FIFA bans Adamu for further two years over unnamed 2010 event conflict

Amos_Adamu

By Andrew Warshaw

March 1 – Amos Adamu (pictured), one of Africa’s most notorious footballing figures, has been banned for a second time by FIFA’s Ethics Committee for unethical conduct, almost certainly bringing the curtain down on a career that has long been shrouded in controversy.

FIFA

German power players Rummenigge and Grindel slam Infantino presidency

March 1 – German football supremos Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Reinhard Grindel have given a firm thumbs down to Gianni Infantino’s first year as FIFA president.

Football Marketing

Man Utd rubs its deal lamp and pulls out Aladdin partnership

March 1 – Manchester United has signed a global partnership deal with Malaysian-based e-commerce group Aladdin Group. The online trader will use the club as part of the global launch marketing of its aladdinstreet.com marketplace.

Africa

CECAFA get behind Hayatou for another term as CAF president

Issa Hayatou3

By Andrew Warshaw

March 1 – The regional factions lining up behind the two rival camps in this month’s Confederation of African Football (CAF) presidential election are taking shape with the Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) endorsing Issa Hayatou for an unprecedented eighth term of office.

FIFA

2026 World Cup bids: Morocco to join with Spain and Portugal?

world cup

March 1 – Morocco is reportedly considering a new strategy to challenge north America for the 2026 World Cup, almost certainly the first edition to involve 48 teams.

Football Marketing

Bundesliga builds Chinese footprint with Baidu partnership

March 1 – Germany’s Bundesliga has partnered with Chinese internet giant Baidu to become the web company’s first European league to have an official web presence on its platform.

FIFA

FIFA bosses fire African development staff but fail to meet their severance payments

By Paul Nicholson

February 28 – FIFA’s firing of all its development staff across Africa and the closing of offices in four countries was met with a barrage of criticism within the region last December. Now the governing body of world football is facing a series of legal challenges from former employees to whom it has allegedly refused to make severance payments in accordance with national law.

FIFA

Former SAFA chief Sedibe demands $5m from FIFA for defamation from match-fixing ban

By Andrew Warshaw

February 28 – I’ll see you in court if necessary. That is the defiant message issued to FIFA by former South African Football Association (SAFA) CEO Leslie Sedibe (pictured) who has served world football’s governing body with a claim for $5 million for defamation of character after being banned for five years over the 2010 matchfixing scandal along with three other SAFA officials.

FIFA

Ceferin warns Trump’s US border policy would prevent 2026 World Cup hosting

February 28 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says Donald Trump’s immigration policies could potentially work against the United States in their bid to stage the 2026 World Cup.

Europe

Nordic nations scrap Euro24 bid plans leaving Germany and Turkey to battle it out

uefa flag

By Andrew Warshaw

February 28 – Just days before the first UEFA-imposed deadline for national associations to confirm their interest, Nordic federations have ditched plans to bid for the 2024 European Championship – leaving Germany and Turkey to fight it out.

FIFA

Former FIFA boss Valcke appeals his 10-year ban at CAS

jerome valcke8

By Andrew Warshaw

February 28 – Jerome Valcke (pictured), former number two to Sepp Blatter who spectacularly fell from grace after spending years as the organisation’s go-to troubleshooter, is taking his 10-year ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

South America

Brazil state championships prove to be the drag on progress of club game

Brazil eye

By Samindra Kunti

February 28 – This weekend Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo and Fluminense will dispute the final of the Taça Guanabara. It is but a footnote in the drawn-out and archaic state championships, which are increasingly holding back Brazilian football.