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.
Greeks unmoved by warnings that new sports law will exile their national teams
By Andrew Warshaw
April 23 – The deepening impasse between Greece and football’s governing bodies has intensified after Greek authorities angrily rejected an ultimatum from FIFA and UEFA to stop interfering with football or risk being thrown out of international competition.
Cash crisis bites deep in Romania as FC Brasov struggles to avoid relegation
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
April 22 – In another sign of the worsening condition of Romanian football, FC Brasov has entered insolvency proceedings, and shortly after lost its chief executive.
Battle rages in Sierra Leone as congress is halted
By Andrew Warshaw
April 22 – The confusion and chaos ripping through Sierra Leone football shows little sign of abating after the national association’s long-awaited congress was brought to an abrupt end.
Uganda: FUFA/Azam win decisive court victory over USL/SuperSport
By Mark Baber
April 22 – The Ugandan Court of Appeal has rejected the Uganda Super League (USL) Limited application to stop the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) and Azam TV implementing their sponsorship and broadcast agreement for Uganda’s Premier League.
Fitch report rates football infrastructure as a low(er) risk place for investor cash
By Paul Nicholson
April 22 – Credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings has highlighted the current strength of the sports market in its Infra-Read market briefing newsletter issued from its US offices. The newsletter examines the health of a number of infrastructure sectors but leads its editorial with a focus on sports saying that the explosive growth in sports media rights is driving revenue, flexibility and stability.
Liverpool sign Standard Chartered for another 3-year £90m deal
April 22 – Liverpool may have under-achieved on the field this season after finishing runner-up in the Premier League last term but their brand shows little sign of being adversely affected. The club has signed a three-year extension to their main sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered.
West Ham promise to cut ticket prices when new TV deal kicks in
April 22 – West Ham United have become the first English top-flight club to announce they will reduce season ticket prices as a result of the Premier League’s eye-watering new bumper television deal.
NGOs call for FIFA candidates to make human rights a priority issue
By Andrew Warshaw
April 22 – A coalition of non-governmental organisations has written to FIFA President Sepp Blatter and the three candidates bidding for his job urging them to make tackling human rights a priority as soon as the May 29 election is over – especially when it comes to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Mutko hints at clampdown on foreign ‘mercenaries’ to boost World Cup hopes
By David Owen at the SportAccord Convention World Sport & Business Summit in Sochi
April 21 – Vitaly Mutko, Russia’s Sports Minister, has hinted at an impending clampdown on the number of foreign players permitted to be fielded by Russian clubs, while indicating that the country’s President harbours doubts over how the national team will perform at the 2018 World Cup.
Inside Editorial: New world order
When CONCACAF president Jeffrey Webb addressed his constituent federations for the first time at the confederation’s annual congress in the Bahamas last week, his speech was all about business, reflection on their progress to date, and setting goals for the next four year cycle. It was about setting the agenda and outlining the challenges. Three hours later, having been elected unopposed for a second term as president, he gave quite a different speech.
Club fears as Argentina losing control of its violent fans
April 21 – Argentina is losing the battle against football hooliganism , according to the president of one of its top clubs. Fans of first division Huracan clashed with police last weekend and an officer was hit in the face by a stone, the latest in a series of violent incidents.
Beitar Jerusalem ordered to end racist ban on Arab players
By Mark Baber
April 21 – The Israeli Equal Employment Opportunities Commission has demanded that Beitar Jerusalem retract statements the team’s coach made against Arab players joining the team in a move which highlights the failure of the Israeli Football Federation (IFA) to eliminate racist and apartheid practices within its own leagues, just five weeks before FIFA’s annual conference and the debate on the motion to suspend the IFA over its racist policies towards Palestinians.
Bayern break into US with Beckenbauer spearheading MSN content deal
April 21 – Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich have agreed a new media partnership with MSN for the broadcasting and publication of the club’s content in the USA.