English FA to raise concussion issues with FIFA medics
April 11 – The English Football Association wants FIFA to investigate whether there are definitive long-term health hazards from too much heading of the ball.
A tale of two cities: Leicester rise as Villa plummet
By Andrew Warshaw
April 11 – It’s less than 50 miles, a one-hour drive on a good day, between the respective grounds of Leicester City and Aston Villa in the English midlands. But the mood and atmosphere surrounding the two Premier League clubs could not be more extreme.
NFF revolution as Pinnick’s Board is dismissed by Nigerian court ruling
By Mark Baber
April 11 – With Nigeria having been eliminated from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, the factional struggle for control of the Nigerian Football Federation has returned with a vengeance as, on Friday, Chris Giwa’s group returned to court, winning a ruling which effectively makes Giwa head of the federation and overthrows the Amaju Pinnick-led board.
Florence names streets after Borgonovo and Segato
By Bernd Fisa
April 11 – Florence, Italy celebrated the lives and achievements of Stefano Borgonovo and Armando Segato, last weekend. Both men were former strikers for Fiorentina and Italy’s La Squadra Azzura, who lost their battle with neurological disease ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Mourinho waiting for right club before getting back in the ring
April 11 – Fans eager to know what the future holds for Portugal’s famed former Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho will have to wait a bit longer.
Thursday’s draw will identify Brazil’s first three rivals as they to break Olympic duck
By David Owen
April 10 – Brazil, Argentina, Japan and Mexico, the defending champions, will be the top four seeds in this week’s draw for the men’s Olympic football tournament. Their counterparts in the women’s competition will be Brazil, the United States and Germany.
Guest column: ‘Plan U’ – Destroy FIFA, an excuse called Panama Papers
When Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung received a message in spring 2015 that it would be receiving access to – as they say – some 11 million documents hacked out of Panamanian Law Firm Mossack Fonseca, the excitement was tremendous. One of Germany’s leading dailies was an odd target for whoever stole the documents from the large law firm in Panama, a solid US protectorate. The apparent logic was quickly established, considering that Mossack is a German national who chose to seek greener pastures in a land whose president had been kidnapped by the USA,
The latest Greek affair shows how Infantino and Theodoridis are not Knights in shining armour
“Politics, these days, is no occupation for an educated man, a man of character. Ignorance and total lousiness are better.” Aristophanes, The Knights
There was of course no football 2,400 years ago when Aristophanes was writing his plays, and still less a FIFA or UEFA. But were the Old Comedian to be as popular a satirist now as he was then, he might be expected to use the same words to describe the people who have been governing our game for us as he used to describe the polis of ancient Athens.
Chinese whispers ground Qatar Airways rumours on Barca shirt deal
By Paul Nicholson
April 8 – Speculation is mounting over who will have the sponsor position on the front of Barcelona’s shirt – probably the most valuable football sponsor position in world football – once the Qatar Airways deal ends at the end of June.
West Brom bags another profit amid takeover talk
By David Owen
April 8 – West Bromwich Albion, the Midlands football club now assured of at least one more season of English top-tier football, remained in the black while suffering a near halving of profits in the year to 30 June 2015.
AFC taskforce warns FIFA its sanctions only hit football, not governments
By Andrew Warshaw
April 8 – Asian football leaders are becoming increasingly concerned over individual member federations being suspended by FIFA because of government interference in their affairs, a trend they warn is seriously hindering development in the region.
Dutch agents earn €9.5m from their players
By Samindra Kunti
April 8 – In the past year Dutch football agents and intermediaries pocketed €9.5 million from professional clubs for their transfer and player contract services, according to the Dutch FA, the KNVB.
Former Leeds boss claims he was abused in Dubai prison
April 8 – A British businessman who was managing director of iconic English club Leeds United has alleged he was mistreated and physically abused whilst detained in Dubai for almost two years.
Beijing Gouan launch co-branded card with CITIC Bank
April 8 – News from the Chinese football market is generally about big money acquisition of football assets outside the country, or the import of what look like very expensive international players. But there are signs that the domestic football marketing opportunity is not being lost with Super League clubs who are usually owned by one funding sponsor or business conglomerate.
Figueredo rushed to hospital in Uruguay for emergency surgery
April 8 – Eugenio Figueredo, the former FIFA vice-president not only indicted in the United States as part of the FifaGate scandal but who has also become embroiled in the Panama Papers debacle, has undergone emergency prostate surgery at home in Uruguay.