Andrew Warshaw: The one that got away?
The politics of football have long been rife with allegations of corruption, hypotheses, behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and a fair share of proven malpractise.
LibDems manifesto pledges to make homophobic chants a crime
By Mark Baber
April 16 – With the UK’s Labour Party having already entered the race to woo football fan voters in the upcoming general election May 19, now the Liberal Democrats have included a football policy to win over those same fans. Though one suspects the LibDem policy might be less of a vote winner.
Spurs head to US for pre-season MLS all-star game in Colorado
April 16 – In a further boost to their brand awareness drive, Tottenham Hotspur are to become the latest European club to take on an all-star MLS side during the off-season.
Judge pours water on Bradford stadium fire arson claims
April 16 – The judge who chaired the inquiry into the Bradford City fire disaster that killed 56 people in 1985 has described claims the blaze may have been started deliberately as “nonsense”.
Klopp wants out of Dortmund. Which stop next on management merry-go-round?
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – The race is on for one of the most colourful and charismatic coaches in European football after Jürgen Klopp announced he would be leaving Borussia Dortmund in the summer after seven years in charge.
Klopp’s contract expires in 2018 but he has asked to be released after a tough season by Borussia’s high standards.
Carvajal claims bite charge is toothless. UEFA brushes it off
April 16 – UEFA have decided to take no action against Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal following allegations that he bit Atletico forward Mario Mandzukic in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final, first leg between the city rivals.
Caribbean federations have a hot day in the FIFA political sun
By Paul Nicholson in the Bahamas
April 16 – For anyone taking the global annual football confederation congress tour, the Caribbean is the current stop on the schedule which will end in Zurich in May with the main event of the election of the FIFA president. And as in previous elections, the Caribbean is having its day in the FIFA political sun.
FC Twente under pressure as XXImo pulls out of main sponsorship
April 16 – FC Twente and its main sponsor XXImo have reached an agreement to terminate their contract. The Dutch club is going through troubled times after losing the Dutch Cup final against PEC Zwolle.
CFU Club Championship kicks off with Champions League as the prize
April 16 – While their federation presidents were in the Bahamas at the CONCACAF Congress, 15 clubs from nine Caribbean Football Union (CFU) member associations were starting their quest for qualification to the CONCACAF Champions League for the 2015/16 next season.
Man Utd, Liverpool, Real, Inter and Roma return to US for pre-season match-ups
April 16 – Manchester United are to return to the US for their pre-season tour this summer and will defend their ‘International Champions Cup’ title which they won last last year.
Osasu Obayiuwana: African rule changes ensure there will be no change
A sad, very disturbing, fact remains constant, over the decades I’ve covered the African game, which is fuelling my deepening pessimism about its future – the ruthless cultivation of a reactionary climate that is extremely hostile to the desperately needed transformation of CAF, the continent’s governing body, into an organisation that will finally command the genuine respect of the global fraternity and use its political capital in the interests of those it ought to primarily serve.
Social media backlash after Man City’s Duggan pictured with van Gaal
April 15 – A striker with Manchester City’s women’s team has been forced to apologise after causing a social media storm by posting a photograph of herself sharing a laugh with Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal just hours after City’s derby defeat on Sunday.
Croatian FA officials in motorway stand-off with Hajduk Split fans
April 15 – Croatian football, marred by constant problems involving hooligan fans, is back in the spotlight again for all the wrong reasons after national team coach Niko Kovac was assailed by a group of supporters wearing Hajduk Split colours.
Bulgaria hit with further match-fixing allegations
April 15 – Bulgarian football is facing yet another potential match-fixing scandal following allegations of games being manipulated in the country’s second division.
Russian racism escalates with Spartak under fire after Arsenal game
April 15 – Anything Torpedo Moscow can do when it comes to discrimination, Spartak Moscow can seemingly match. Within days of Torpedo being found guilty of racism and ordered to play two more home games behind closed doors after their fourth offense of the season, so Spartak Moscow have been punished after fans displayed racist images during the April 9 fixture at Arsenal Tula.