FIFA takes its 2016 Congress to Mexico
January 7 – Mexico will host the 2016 FIFA Congress in a year which is increasingly becoming of huge importance for the country and its regional confederation CONCACAF.
OFC votes in Chung who immediately sets sights on a full World Cup berth
January 7 – Oceania Football Confederation President David Chung says obtaining direct entry into the World Cup instead of his region being forced every time into an intercontinental playoff will be a major priority after he was re-elected unopposed to run FIFA’s smallest regional bloc, in terms of footballing stature at least.
FIFA presidential race: Champagne calls on Prince Ali to deliver a ‘concrete’ manifesto
By Andrew Warshaw
January 7 – FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne insists he will not pull out of the contest as a result of Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein’s decision to run – and has called on the Jordanian to reveal the actual changes he wants to implement.
NWSL appoints Plush to lead expansion as league preps for 3rd season
By Paul Nicholson
January 7 – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the US has appointed Jeff Plush as its new Commissioner. Plush has a background in soccer having been managing director of Colorado Rapids in the MLS from 2006 to 2011 and a board director of English Premier League club Arsenal with specific overview of the global media business.
Messi tops CIES transfer value list, Real Madrid have most valuable squad
January 6 – With the January transfer window starting to warm-up the player market, the CIES Football Observatory has released its latest ranking of the 120 big-5 league players with the highest transfer values.
Heat controversy ignites after Aussie A-League match temps hit 39º
January 6 – An A-League clash between Perth Glory and Adelaide United, which reportedly left a number of players suffering the symptoms of heat stroke, has reignited the debate over the temperatures it should be considered acceptable for matches to be played and whether player welfare is being sacrificed in the interests of television.
FIFA visit Gaza to support Palestinian right to play and pledge rebuilding funds
By Mark Baber
January 6 – On the eve of Palestine’s participation in the Asian Cup finals, a FIFA delegation arrived in Gaza on Monday to witness at first hand the long struggle of Palestinians to realise their right to play football, in the face of the conflicts with Israel and the bombing of playing fields and stadiums.
VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96 renew kit deals with Puma, Jako
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 6 – German football clubs VfB Stuttgart and Hannover 96 have extended their technical sponsorship deals with sports apparel makers Puma and Jako, respectively.
Barca fire Zubizarreta, Puyol quits, as Spanish giant re-groups
January 6 – The off-the-field crisis at Barcelona has deepened with the news that the Catalan giants have sacked Andoni Zubizarreta (pictured) as director of football.
Andrew Warshaw: Brave Prince on a suicide mission?
A courageous and defiant move by FIFA’s most principled young reformer or a foolhardy risk that could backfire? Reaction to Prince Ali’s overnight announcement that he has decided to take on Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency looks certain to move into overdrive in the coming days.
Prince Ali takes the plunge and takes Blatter on for FIFA presidency
By Andrew Warshaw
January 6 – After months of speculation, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan has announced he will stand against Sepp Blatter for the presidency of FIFA in May, bringing to three the number of candidates vying for the top job in world football. His likely challenge was first revealed by Insideworldfootball last October.
CSKA Sofia money man calls for player wage cut but bigger win bonuses
By Alexander Krassimirov
January 6 – One of the largest shareholders in Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia, Petar Mandjukov (pictured), has called for aggressive cuts in player wages, but the introduction of a bigger bonus system if the club qualifies for European competition.
Diary dates that will shape football’s political landscape
By Andrew Warshaw
January 5 – The FIFA presidential election may not be until May 29 but as 2015 gets into its stride, Insideworldfootball identifies a number of key dates over the first quarter of the year that could shape the direction of football politics.
Nigerians edge towards arbitration in attempt to keep football out of court
By Mark Baber
January 5 – The request of Leo Iyke Igbokwe for an arbitration committee to be set up to examine the validity of the September 30 Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) elections is expected to be presented to the NFF Board on January 8, offering another chance for football in Nigeria to bring the current leadership crisis to an end, without the involvement of civil courts.
Lee Wellings: Is American soccer really moving forward?
There was a time, when Beckham’s Miami project was first gathering pace and New York and Manchester City first joined forces, that I suggested in this column a crucial period for club football was emerging in the States. Or more accurately franchise football.
But three thirtysomethings from over the Atlantic indicate things haven’t actually changed that much from the 70s. The idea back then was to hire legends like Pele, Beckenbauer and Moore to sprinkle their stardust over the league.