More UEFA federations pledge support for Infantino’s FIFA push
February 15 – Thirteen more European federations have pledged unanimous support to Gianni Infantino in his bid to become FIFA president, according to the Serbian FA (FSS).
Liverpool ‘tops out’ Anfield’s revamped Main Stand
February 15 – Liverpool’s ticket prices weren’t the only activity at the club that stopped rising last week. A ‘topping out’ ceremony was held at Anfield to mark the new Main Stand having now reached its maximum height.
David Owen: Will Chinese transfer splurge be the death of FFP in Europe?
Manchester United exec Ed Woodward sees the newly-acquisitive Chinese Super League (CSL) as “another useful market if we are looking to sell players”. And the recent £20 million-plus deal that took Ramires to Jiangsu Suning, to the considerable benefit of Chelsea’s bottom-line, surely demonstrates that he is right.
Mihir Bose: Clubs should treat fans not as customers but investors
The sorry Liverpool saga about season ticket prices, increasing prices, fans walking out, then price rise rescinded, has once again raised the question of what is the place of fans in modern football.
FIFA ethics judge hits Valcke with 12-year ban
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – Jerome Valcke, for years Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man and his most senior day-to-day administrator, was sensationally banned from all football activities for 12 years today for serious misconduct including underselling TV and media rights for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, using FIFA’s money for private travel and destroying evidence.
Salman signs human rights pledge
February 12 – FIFA presidential candidate Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has signed an amended version of an Amnesty International pledge to end human rights abuses and corruption in the sport.
Andrew Warshaw: Of smoking gun-slingers and mud-slingers
At the start of the FIFA presidential race, all we heard was the need for a clean campaign, with each candidate energetically promoting his own cause. No finger-pointing, no duplicity, no mud-slinging.
Stoke, Spurs and Chelsea top attendance table as Villa win but fans stay away
February 12 – Attendance figures picked up slightly on the previous week for round 25 of the Premier League season but with 19, 356 seats unfilled across the 10 fixtures, Aston Villa despite a 2-0 win accounted for more than half of them.
Mwendwa takes top job at Kenyan federation as Nyamweya withdraws
By Mark Baber
February 12 – A new era has dawned for the Football Kenya Federation as Nick Mwendwa has been voted in as the new president of the Football Kenya Federation, finally bringing to an end the controversial reign of incumbent Sam Nyamweya.
Infantino feels the Miami heat as FIFA hopefuls chase American dreams
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – If Africa is regarded as the main battleground to pick up votes in the forthcoming FIFA presidential election, then CONCACAF runs a close second.
Man United score in first half (!) with jump in profits
By David Owen
February 12 – The return of Champions League football has benefited Manchester United, with the Old Trafford club announcing doubled pre-tax profits of £33.1 million for the six months to December 31.
Man Utd set to knock Arsenal off Twitter table top, West Ham hit growth spurt
By Paul Nicholson
February 12 – The long held lead by Arsenal as the Premier League club with the most Twitter followers is likely to end this week with Manchester Untied having closed the gap on their London rivals to just 6,500 followers.
Germans bid to be testbed for video ref trials
February 12 – Germany will officially bid to be among the first countries to experiment with video replays if lawmakers approve live trials next month.
CONCACAF say house is now in order and they want their FIFA cash
By Andrew Warshaw
February 12 – FIFA’s decision to freeze funding to CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, the two confederations most affected by the ongoing corruption scandal with a spate of officials charged and arrested, has drawn a carefully worded response from CONCACAF who insist they are putting their house in order and clearly want the payments resumed.
Palace profits drop £15m as staff costs soar like an eagle
By David Owen
February 11 – Soaring costs have taken their toll on profits at Crystal Palace, the south London Premier League club which recently received an injection of new money from US investors.