Belgian stars will get a €700K pay day if they win Euro 2016
By Samindra Kunti
April 19 – The Belgian Red Devils will earn a handsome €700,000 per player if they win this summer’s EURO 2016 in France.
US investigators take hard look at banks, broadcasters and sponsors
April 19 – The US investigation into football corruption that rocked FIFA to its core has now apparently shifted focus away from football officials and deeper into the banks, broadcast and sponsorship markets that made the bribery and money laundering possible.
Villa crisis deepens as Bernstein and King quit board, but sale talks still on
April 19 – Just days after being relegated for the first time in 28 years with a month of the season still to play, Aston Villa have been plunged into yet more turmoil with two board members resigning.
US judge pushes corruption trial date back as ‘discovery’ continues
By Andrew Warshaw
April 19 – The US federal judge overseeing football’s sweeping corruption scandal is reported to have conceded that February next year will be too early to start proceedings.
Wolves come under fire for taking Money Shop cash
By Mark Baber
April 19 – The announcement that Wolverhampton Wanderers have agreed a deal with US headquartered payday lender Dollar Financial for their Money Shop brand to be the club’s main sponsor has stirred up controversy, with two local MPs and the heads of two local councils writing to the club’s chief executive Jez Moxey asking him to reconsider the deal in the interests of supporters and constituents.
Webb expresses ‘regret’ and remorse over bribery schemes
By Andrew Warshaw
April 19 – Jeffrey Webb, the former CONCACAF leader who fooled the world as the self-proclaimed arbiter of morality and good governance, says he “deeply regrets” taking bribes on his way to the top of football’s political ladder before falling dramatically from grace.
European leagues scotch talk of clubs forming breakaway Super League
April 19 – The European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) has spoken out against the idea of a European Super League and backed the current UEFA-based system.
Blatter says he would help US law. Ocampo accuses him of cover-up
By Andrew Warshaw
April 18 – Sepp Blatter may still be banned from football for alleged ethics breaches but that doesn’t prevent the former FIFA president from speaking his mind in an unofficial capacity when invited to do so.
Liverpool and Man City successes could rob Premier League of fourth CL spot
April 18 – Finishing fourth in the Premier League has traditionally been the goal for achieving Champions League football the following season.
Playing by FIFA’s rules? Did Becks, Figo and pals deliberately defy FIFA’s ban on Kuwait?
By Mark Baber
April 18 – FIFA are reportedly “reviewing” the circumstances in which David Beckham, Fabio Capello and others were involved in a football match held in Kuwait on December 18 in defiance of a FIFA ban on any sporting contact with the country. The game was played two months after FIFA imposed a ban on sporting contact with Kuwait under the slogan #wewillplay which was prominently displayed around the pitch and as a hashtag on Twitter.
Deadlines loom as CAS sets end April date for Platini appeal
By Andrew Warshaw
April 18 – Michel Platini is facing a race against time to be able to resume his role as UEFA president before the 54-nation confederation’s annual congress in Budapest at the start of next month.
Are long ball Leicester City taking us back to the future?
By Paul Nicholson
April 18 – Wonderful as the Premier League Leicester City story is, are we seeing an English return to long ball football? Could we soon be crying out for more of the same and a demand for the likes of the old Wimbledon to return to the top flight? Could Sam Allardyce be right after all?
Messi joins an exclusive club hitting 500-goal milestone
April 18 – Lionel Messi chalked up his 500th career goal on Sunday, his 319th in La Liga, in Barcelona’s 2-1 home defeat to Valencia.
Italy chosen to be test bed for video ref technology
April 18 – Italy has been selected by football’s law-makers as the first major league to test technology for video replays.
Grindel takes over at DFB and sets sights on clean-up and 2024 Euros
By Andrew Warshaw
April 18 – Reinhard Grindel, the only candidate for a job that has become something of a poisoned chalice, has officially taken over as head of the German football association (DFB), the sport’s biggest single federation.