Sunderland double up with Betfair for season start
By Mark Baber
July 21 – Sunderland have announced a new partnership with Betfair who become the club’s official UK betting partner for the 2015-16 season.
Who really owns Neymar? Now DIS claim they have been ‘cheated’
By Ricardo Setyon
July 21 – The on-going saga of Neymar’s transfer to Barcelona and who actually ‘owns’ Neymar has taken another twist with one of the third party owners, an investment group from Brazil, claiming they have been cheated by Neymar’s father and Barcelona.
First out the blocks? Platini poised to announce run at FIFA presidency
By Andrew Warshaw
July 21 – Michel Platini could announce as early as this weekend or the start of next week that he will stand for FIFA president after consulting colleagues attending the 2018 World Cup draw in St. Petersburg.
Lee Wellings: FIFA still putting on a show
Just when you thought things couldn’t get any crazier at the HQ of football’s world governing body, along came Simon Brodkin. That’s the British prankster who suddenly showered Sepp Blatter with fake dollar bills in his attempt to “secure the 2026 World Cup for North Korea”.
Hannover 96 fans park camper vans on pitch for a night
July 21 – For Hannover 96 fans the often used football phrase “they came and parked their bus in front of the goal” took on a more literal meaning when 12 of them actually did it at the club’s HDI Arena.
Matt Scott: FIFA has created a moral vacuum that other interests will fill
“The danger is that the indulgence and attachments of the people will keep a man in the chair after he becomes a dotard, that reelection through life shall become habitual and election for life follow that.”
“I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.” Thomas Jefferson
Young nation though it still is,
Man City warm up for Real Madrid as CFG finds some Coco Joy
July 21 – As Manchester City prepare for the new season in Australia, including a first time-ever match against sister club Melbourne City FC, owner City Football Group (CFG) is starting to show the benefits of the sponsorship leverage a larger group of clubs can provide.
New means new, says Blatter, as FIFA sets election and reform agenda
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
July 20 – Sepp Blatter’s often tempestuous and acrimonious reign as FIFA president will finally come to an end on February 26 next year, the date set today for an extraordinary congress to elect his successor after what will be almost 18 years in charge.
Liverpool adds Marathonbet who open with 10/1 for Reds to make top 4
July 20 – Premier League Liverpool have added Marathonbet as one of its suite of betting partners that currently includes 188BET and Comeon.
US leaks Warner case as it readies to file extradition request
By Mark Baber
July 20 – In yet another apparent leak from inside the US Department of Justice investigation into FIFA corruption, the Trinidad Sunday Express has published details of the evidence against Jack Warner provided by “a US law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation” who says the statement of case against Warner is now complete and the formal “record of case” will arrive in Trinidad by Wednesday.
Belgian clubs hit by new violence but league denies it’s on rise
By Samindra Kunti
July 20 – Football-related violence and hooliganism is back on the rise in Belgian football, according to statistics released by the Belgian interior ministry. The Pro League vehemently debunks such an assertion.
Barcelona: Big win for Josep Bartomeu and Qatar
By Mark Baber
July 20 – Josep Maria Bartomeu won the backing of 54.63% of Barcelona members voting in the club’s presidential election, decisively beating former president Joan Laporta who received only 33.03% of the votes.
Polish to limit number of non-EU footballers in top two tiers
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
July 20 – Poland’s football federation PZPN has passed draft regulation under which sides competing in the country’s top tier Ekstraklasa will be allowed a maximum of three players from outside of the EU on the pitch at one time. In the 2016/2017 season, this will be further decreased to two players per team.
Has Platini got what it takes? Rumours grow that 4 confeds will back him
By Andrew Warshaw in Zurich
July 20 – The prospect of Michel Platini becoming the new FIFA president has taken a potentially decisive turn with the suggestion that four of FIFA’s six confederations would like him to stand.
Anelka buys Belgian club Ath as he moves towards coaching
By Samindra Kunti
July 20 – In a surprise move former France international Nicolas Anelka has bought Ath, a Belgian fourth division club on the brink of extinction.