Liverpool unveil designs for new stand concourses
March 14 – Liverpool have unveiled a series of artist impressions of facilities that will be available in their Main Stand which opens later this year.
Are Perumal and Dan Tan still fixing matches? Zimbabwe FA says they are
By Andrew Warshaw
March 14 – The latest match-fixing scandal to strike at the heart of African football, and Zimbabwe in particular, has taken a significant turn with the alleged involvement of former Zimbabwe FA chief executive officer Henrietta Rushwaya, who had a life ban for her role in what became known as ‘AsiaGate’ lifted only in January.
Philippines secures stadium and right to co-host Suzuki Cup
By Mark Baber
March 14 – The 2016 AFF Championship, marketed as the 2016 AFF Suzuki Cup will, after all, be co-hosted by the Philippines after problems with the stadia were ironed out, the Philippines Football Federation (PFF) announced on Saturday.
Court clears Benzema to play for France with sex-tape ‘rival’ Valbuena
March 14 – Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema (pictured) will technically be eligible to play for France at Euro 2016 after certain legal restrictions were lifted in the sex tape blackmail investigation that has rocked French football.
Esquivel under house arrest after posting $7m bond
March 13 – Former CONMEBOL vice-president Rafael Esquivel, who pleaded not guilty last week to receiving bribes worth millions of dollars in connection with the sale of tournament marketing rights, has been placed under house arrest while he awaits trial.
Como name square after Borgonovo: Italy pays tribute to former striker
By Bernd Fisa
March 13 – The world’s football community will pay a further tribute on the next few days days to former Italian striker Stefano Borgonovo who in 2013 passed away at the age of 49 following a long battle with motor neurone disease also known as Lou Gehrig disease.
Andrew Warshaw: All the President’s men?
When Sepp Blatter celebrated his 80th birthday this week in the bosom of his ultra-loyal family, perhaps with more than a touch of resentment at seeing his contribution to the game all but ignored during last month’s presidential hand-over, the man who replaced him was just completing his first week in charge.
DraftKings expands offering to UK’s fantasy footballers with Europa League games
By Paul Nicholson
March 11 – Daily Fantasy Sports gaming giant DraftKings boosted its UK offering yesterday with the introduction of the Europa League and Liga MX to players.
Brazil’s CBF chiefs maintain refusal to work with corruption inquiry
By Samindra Kunti
March 11 – When Carlos Dunga, Brazil’s head coach, called up his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Paraguay respectively earlier this week, the interim president of the CBF, the Brazilian FA, Antonio Nunes (pictured) mockingly responded to a reporter’s question about Nunes’s possible cooperation with the parliamentary inquiry (CPI) into the business dealings of his organisation.
West Ham bid to increase the Olympic Stadium capacity to 60,000
By Mark Baber
March 11 – As West Ham supporters pay their respects to the Upton Park/Boleyn Ground, the club’s Board has revealed that it is working to increase the capacity of their new home to 60,000.
Could Italian match-fixing scandal count Conte out at Chelsea?
March 11 – Italy national coach Antonio Conte is edging closer to taking over at Chelsea’s but hanging over him is a match-fixing debacle from his time at Siena.
Kuwait miss second World Cup qualifier as FIFA ban holds
March 11 – FIFA’s suspension of Kuwait, which caused the Gulf state to be banned from voting at the recent presidential election, has again hit the Asian World Cup qualifying campaign with the upcoming fixture against South Korea called off.
Inside editorial: Did soccer just have its WMD moment?
Reflecting on the way FIFA history is being rewritten with its new reform championing president, one wonders if two weeks ago football (we’ll soon be calling it soccer) had its WMD moment.
Paulista calls in Sportradar to run match-fixing detection system in Brazil
March 20 – For the first time on the continent, a South America football rightsholder has enlisted the services of a match-fixing detection service.
Aston Villa thumped again – this time off the pitch to the tune of £28m
By David Owen
March 10 – Aston Villa, the Birmingham club marooned at the foot of the Premier League table, have reported a £27.8 million loss for the year to 31 May 2015. The deficit, which compares with a loss of just under £4 million the previous year, is the biggest among Premier League clubs yet to have reported, just ahead of Chelsea.