Neymar now faces Brazil courts over new tax cheat claims
February 4 – Brazilian star Neymar, already embroiled in a legal case over his move to Barcelona, is now facing separate allegations of tax evasion.
Gold Cup 2025
Unconvincing but into next round. USA dispatch Saudi Arabia, just
USA 1 Saudi Arabia 0
June 19 – American comedian Rodney Dangerfield used to say, “I don’t get no respect.” The same could be said for the United States Men’s Soccer Team as barely 10,000 fans showed up for a supporter friendly 8.15 pm kickoff versus Concacaf Gold Cup, Group D opponents, Saudi Arabia in a 1-0 win that again raised more questions than answers.
Mutko hints of secret FIFA presidential hustings event pre-election day
By Andrew Warshaw
February 4 – The five rivals running for FIFA president have agreed to hold a private summit in mid-February shortly before the February 26 election to succeed Sepp Blatter, according to FIFA’s Russian powerbroker Vitaly Mutko, one of the most influential figures in European football.
Russia unveils Confed Cup 2017 branding with 500 days to go before kick off
By Paul Nicholson
February 4 – With all the noise around FIFA presidential elections and reform you could be forgiven for forgetting that the Confederations Cup, the warm-up for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, is just 500 days away. That is unless you were in the GUM department store by Red Square in Moscow yesterday.
David Owen: Infantino’s general secretary and the Confederations’ unhealthy grip on FIFA
Even the slickest, best choreographed media events – and I have attended few slicker than this week’s descent on Wembley by FIFA Presidential candidate Gianni Infantino and his footballing legends – have revealing moments.
A message from Germany to Qatar: We like your money but we don’t like you
By Mark Baber
February 3 – A German court has ruled former president of the German soccer federation Theo Zwanziger was exercising his right to free speech in referring to Qatar as a “cancerous growth of world football” just as Germany’s most successful club, Bayern Munich, signed a partnership with Qatar’s Hamad International Airport.
Exclusive: Scala ruling questions integrity of CONCACAF and CONMEBOL leadership
By Andrew Warshaw
February 3 – The growing influence of Domenico Scala as the prime mover in the drive to clean up FIFA has been further underlined by this week’s unprecedented ruling to block $20 million of payments to CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, the two confederations most seriously damaged by football’s ongoing corruption scandal.
Zero tolerance? UEFA halves Dynamo Kiev’s racism sanctions in time for Man City visit
February 3 – Dynamo Kiev will no longer have to face Manchester City in the Champions League behind closed doors after UEFA’s appeals committee controversially reduced a sanction imposed for racist behaviour and crowd disturbances.
Sunderland and Dafabet look east with Chinese language web site
By Mark Baber
February 3 – Sunderland AFC have become the latest Premier League club to launch a Mandarin version of their web site, building on the success of their Chinese social media platforms Sina Weibo and Tencent WeChat and working in association with the club’s principal partner Dafabet.
Russia and Italy roll in behind Infantino as Europe falls into line
By Andrew Warshaw
February 3 – Just days after dismissing Gianni Infantino’s World Cup promises as pure electioneering, Russian football boss Vitaly Mutko says his federation will support him at the February 26 ballot to succeed Sepp Blatter.
CONMEBOL exec quits over cut in Boca Juniors’ mustard gas attack sanction
February 3 – The vice-president of CONMEBOL’s disciplinary committee has resigned in protest at the governing body’s top brass reducing Boca Juniors’ stadium ban for crowd violence from eight games to two.
Anfield revamp sees Liverpool launch £9 ticket, but fans call for more
By Paul Nicholson
February 3 – Premier League Liverpool have unveiled a revised match day ticket pricing structure which includes a rock-bottom £9 ticket price as well as priority access to 20,000 tickets for local fans. The club will have an additional 8,500 tickets available for matches next season with the opening of its new Main Stand.
The show must go on: Costa Rica steps up to host regional Futsal finals
By Paul Nicholson
February 3 – FIFA may have suspended their funding but CONCACAF are getting used to operating on reduced cashflow. The US Justice Department partially froze funds back in May 2015 when they arrested then president Jeffrey Webb and Costa Rican president Ricardo Li, and followed that up with a raid the confederation’s Miami headquarters.
Brussels’ €432m new stadium plan hits environmental and cost roadblocks
By Samindra Kunti
February 2 – Brussels’s EURO2020 stadium may face delays in construction after an environmental report cast doubt over the viability of the venue. The projected public funding of €432 million is also raising eyebrows.
Mancini’s Milan derby rant results in one-game ban
January 2 – Under-fire Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini has been given a one-game ban for his antics during Sunday’s derby defeat.
Qatar feels the pain of extra time as AFC qualifies Rio 2016 finalists
February 2 – Qatar have failed to qualify for their first Olympic football tournament since 1992 after losing 2-1 to Iraq, a significant blow to their strategy of developing a credible squad ahead of the 2022 World Cup.