LA’s new MLS franchise gets official name and sets sights on Galaxy
By Ben Nicholson
September 18 – The official naming of LAFC has been formally decreed. They are to be called, LAFC – Los Angeles Football Club.
Gold Cup 2025
USA clinch last four slot with penalty win over Costa Rica
USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
Orlando City apply to expand into women’s pro league with NWSL franchise
By Ben Nicholson
September 18 – MLS newcomers Orlando City SC are looking to establish itself in the women’s game, while, concurrently, Kaka and co continue to build on the success of the men’s side debut season.
Brazil to push FIFA for green light to test video refs for Brasileirão
By Samindra Kunti
September 18 – The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) is to ask FIFA permission to use television images to help referees during the 2016 season of the Brazilian topflight Brasileirão.
FIFA stands Valcke down over allegations of World Cup ticket fraud
By Andrew Warshaw
September 18 – Just when you thought the corruption scandal enveloping FIFA could not get any deeper, Jerome Valcke, Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man, was dramatically relieved of his duties today, hours after he was the subject of allegations over a scheme to sell 2014 World Cup tickets above face value.
Man Utd end year with loss – but better days ahead
By David Owen
September 17 – Manchester United have kicked off the 2014-15 Premier League reporting season with a small pre-tax loss, reflecting the absence of Champions League football during the relevant period. The Old Trafford club suffered a dip in revenue to below £400 million over the 12 months to June 30, while operating expenses edged up to £387.6 million.
FIFAgate: Swiss agree to release Figueredo for extradition to US
By Andrew Warshaw
September 17 – Eugenio Figueredo (pictured), one of the seven high-profile figures arrested in Zurich at the end of May accused of receiving bribes worth millions of dollars, could soon be on his way to face trial in the United States after Swiss authorities ruled he can be extradited.
Poland’s Ekstraklasa clamps down on anti-refugee incidents at league matches
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
September 17 – Poland’s top tier Ekstraklasa has launched an investigation into racist incidents which targeted refugees at several matches played in September at Polish stadiums, and decided to punish several clubs.
Nigeria: NFF agrees ‘no price tag’ deal for youth development
By Mark Baber
September 17 – The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Lagos-headquartered Zenith Bank PLC have announced a new partnership for youth football development and capacity building programmes.
Sports needs protection from $1.5 trillion illegal gambling market, says Eaton
September 17 – The vast majority of the €1 billion gambled globally on every English Premier League game constitutes illegal betting, according to one of the world’s leading sports anti-corruption experts.
South Asians to follow AFC ‘directive’ and vote for Platini
September 17 – The general secretary of the seven-strong South Asian Football Federation (SAFF), says his members will all tow the party line and vote for Michel Platini in next February’s FIFA presidential election.
‘Platini: Skeletons…’ scribe written out of FIFA script
By Andrew Warshaw
September 17 – The FIFA staffer who penned a 1,400-word document questioning Michel Platini’s credentials for taking over from Sepp Blatter has quit the organisation.
Man Utd is the world’s only €1bn asset-rich football club
By Paul Nicholson
September 17 – Manchester United is the only European club with more than €1 billion of fixed assets, according to the latest article by Football Benchmark, the research arm of consultancy and accountancy specialists KPMG Sports. While no comparison is made with non-European clubs, it is pretty safe to assume Man Utd would top a world table.
UEFA ponders launch of third European club competition
September 17 – UEFA have refused to confirm or deny reports that they are in discussions to create a third club competition for the first time since the old Cupwinners Cup was disbanded 16 years ago.
Uruguayan clubs say FIFA reform member Villar is ‘extorting’ their cash
By Andrew Warshaw
September 17 – The credibility of FIFA’s already controversial Reform Committee has suffered an embarrassing blow with the revelation that one of the two South American members on the 12-member panel, Gorka Villar (pictured right), has been accused of “pressure and extortion” by eight Uruguayan clubs.
Matt Scott: Managers are too important to hire and fire on a whim. But are they all up to it?
“Sacked in the morning, your getting sacked in the morning…” Terrace chant
It is one of football’s accepted truths that no employee in a club is more important than the manager. His influence on the most decisive input into the club’s operations – the results on the pitch – makes him so. It follows then that with so much swinging on how they do, there must be some objective measure for the quality of their performance.