Gibraltar bring in Sportradar to deliver match-fixing workshops
April 24 – The war on match-fixing continued this week with a series of workshops delivered in Gibraltar, the home of Europe’s off-shore internet gaming industry.
Ajax poised to take control of Amsterdam ArenA
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
April 24 – Ajax Amsterdam aims to acquire a majority stake in the company operating the Amsterdam ArenA where the side plays its home matches. The Dutch club currently has 13% of the shares in the sports facility, while the municipal authorities of Amsterdam hold a 48% stake.
FIFA tells PACE to jog on as Qatar vote-collusion claims rear their ugly head
By Andrew Warshaw
April 24 – FIFA have been quick to respond to a resolution tabled by a group of European politicians calling for a re-rerun of what they describe as the “illegal” bidding process for the 2022 World Cup which has been dogged by unsubstantiated corruption claims ever since Qatar won the vote by a landslide in December 2010.
FIFPro meet EU sports chief with player transfer reform top of agenda
April 24 – The president and secretary general of the international players’ union FIFPro have met with the EU’s commissioner for Sport to re-iterate their opposition to the current transfer system.
Russians on track for 2018, but budgets keep rising
By Paul Nicholson
April 24 – Russia’s stadium preparations for the 2018 World Cup are on schedule in terms of delivery dates, but off-schedule in terms of cost. An issue that is forcing the organisers to continually re-evaluate, but which they have repeatedly said will not derail the overall plan.
Third time ‘lucky’ – Nigeria finally reappoint Stephen Keshi
By Mark Baber
April 24 – The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has finally reappointed Stephen Keshi as manager of the national team for the third time, bowing to the wishes of Nigeria’s out-going President Goodluck Jonathan, in a ceremony at which NFF President Amaju Pinnick was conspicuous by his absence.
Somali FA chief calls for troops to move camp from their national stadium
April 23 – The Somali Football Federation (SFF) has again called for African Peacekeeping troops to withdraw from the country’s National facility in Mogadishu and allow it to be returned to football.
John Yan: To Russia with hope 出线第一
If one can believe the social media world, Team China should have already qualified for World Cup 2018. Even though the AFC has only just announced the draw for the eight groups, which is only the secondary stage of a long long qualification process for the Russian tournament.
Israeli NGO hits back at Palestinians calling for suspension of ‘terrorist’ Rajoub
By Andrew Warshaw
April 23 – A rightwing Israeli non-governmental organisation has stepped up the propaganda war of words over the treatment of Palestinian footballers in the West Bank and Gaza by blaming Palestinian football leader Jibril Rajoub for deliberately stirring up trouble.
PSV seek new shirt sponsor as Philips takes a step back
By Mark Baber
April 23 – One of the longest shirt sponsorships in professional football is coming to an end as PSV Eindhoven and Philips announced on Wednesday that Philips will no longer be the shirt sponsor of PSV from the start of the 2016-17 season.
UEFA get shirty after Guardiola supports ‘Topo’ campaign
April 23 – Despite steering his Bayern side to a stirring 6-1 thrashing of Porto for a 7-4 aggregate Champions League quarterfinal win, Pep Guardiola has fallen foul of UEFA who took exception to a T-shirt he was wearing in the build-up to the game in support of a tragically killed journalist colleague.
Sick new low in racism battle: Silva forced to apologise for being called ‘monkey’
By Alexander Krassimirov
April 23 – CSKA Sofia’s Portuguese winger Toni Silva (pictured) would appear to have been forced into what is a remarkable public statement saying that insulting remarks made to him by the club’s fans (including ‘monkey’ insults) are not racist.
Qatar unveils design for Al-Rayyan stadium, the fifth new build to date
April 23 – Qatar’s 2022 World Cup organisers have unveiled plans for a fifth stadium as they attempt to focus on infrastructure despite the continuing scrutiny about workers rights and the fact the tournament will be staged in winter.
Martin Volkmar: Bayern can win only
How fast can one game change everything. Until Tuesday, FC Bayern had not shown in the second round that they really had a compelling game to win at the highest level.
Rajoub says ‘no compromise’ unless Israel lift Palestinian restrictions
April 23 – Palestinian football chief Jibril Rajoub (pictured) insists he will not back down from demanding Israel be suspended from world football until and unless the Israelis are seen to have totally lifted their restrictions on free movement of players and officials between the West Bank and Gaza.