Bolton given lifeline in search for cash to pay £2.2m tax bill
January 12 – Bolton Wanderers, one of the most iconic names in English football, have been given a stay of execution by avoiding an immediate winding-up order.
Gold Cup 2025
Pochettino happy with USA’s new-found ‘fight’ but wary of the Guatemala challenge
July 2 – Having looked like a team that were struggling to find any cohesion or common purpose after four straight losses, including a miserable performance in March at the Concacaf Nations League final, suddenly the USA look as though, if not the real deal, they are certainly worth a reappraisal.
Galatasaray face ban; Hull, Panathinaikos and Sportlng Lisbon clear FFP
January 19 – Hull City, Panathinaikos and Sporting Lisbon have all settled their financial fair play issues with UEFA but Galatasaray have failed to comply with break-even rules and have been referred to the governing body’s adjudicatory chamber.
Swimming with the fish. Arrested Swiss banker could open a new can of worms
By Paul Nicholson
January 19 – The US investigation into money laundering by South American football officials has gained a wider perspective as news has broken that one of the senior bankers at Swiss bank Julius Baer has been in US custody since the autumn.
After Spain, Premier League clubs will be next to get hit by FIFA transfer bans
By Mark Baber
January 18 – According to Real Madrid general manager Jose Angel Sanchez, Premier League clubs are under investigation by FIFA over transfers of minors and could face bans similar to those imposed on Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid last week.
Hayatou temporarily hands over CAF reins as FIFA role escalates
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – In a seemingly deliberate move to avoid being accused of conflict of interest, African football boss Issa Hayatou is distancing himself from his confederation while the FIFA presidential campaign gains momentum.
La Liga says Real and Atletico transfer bans are excessive
January 18 – The Spanish league has come out in support of Real and Atletico Madrid describing the FIFA transfer bans meted out to both of them as “disproportionate” and “excessive”.
Does the punishment fit the crime? Mayne-Nicholls to appeal ban
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – Harold Mayne-Nicholls, the FIFA-appointed Chilean who headed the inspection team that examined the credentials of all nine candidates for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, is to appeal against his seven-year ban imposed six months ago by FIFA’s ethics committee, saying he cannot understand why he has been treated so harshly.
David Owen: Rwanda spat raises question of how much football politics is really changing
United States attorney general Loretta Lynch may change FIFA, but old school football politics is likely to prove an altogether tougher dragon to slay.
FIFA election: Now BBC wants to host presidential TV debate
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – Negotiations are under way for the BBC to stage a live debate with candidates in the build-up to the FIFA presidential election on February 26.
FIFA election: A sign-ing of the times. Prince Ali turns CAF/AFC event sour
By Paul Nicholson
January 18 – FIFA presidential candidate Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan has accused rival candidate Shaikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa of trying to engineer a bloc vote for himself in the upcoming FIFA presidential elections with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Asian (AFC) and African (CAF) confederations.
Sexwale gets cold shoulder from Ghana as he struggles for African votes
By Andrew Warshaw
January 18 – FIFA presidential candidate Tokyo Sexwale’s hopes of gaining the unanimous support of his own African confederation have suffered a further blow with Ghana saying the South African lacks the requisite leadership skills.
Salman scores points, Ali flies out, Infantino looks on
By Paul Nicholson
January 15 – FIFA’s presidential lobbying has been most active in Africa this week with three contenders – Gianni Infantino, Prince bin al-Hussein and Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa – all present in Kigali, Rwanda, for the West Africa Football Union meetings.
Matt Scott: Infantino has not got UEFA’s house in order. So why let him into FIFA House?
“Birds of a feather flock together.” Aesop
When Sepp Blatter gave an interview to the Tass news agency recently it made headlines everywhere. The Football Association chairman, Greg Dyke, even took what Blatter had said to the British parliament. The widespread outrage arose from Blatter’s claim that he had intended to stitch up the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding in favour of the US and Russian World Cups.
‘They made me feel like a king!’ Ballon d’Or giants honour Ricksen
By Bernd Fisa
January 15 – There was a touching and humbling backstage aside at the Ballon D’Or Awards earlier this week when Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar paid tribute to former Glasgow Rangers captain and Dutch international Fernando Ricksen.
NSCAA showcases U.S. Futsal and unveils first Futsal Coaching Diploma
January 15 – The first official Futsal coaching badge in north America has been announced at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) conference in Baltimore this week. The NSCAA Diploma for futsal will be created with the co-operation of U.S. Futsal.