Austria matchfixing case hands down jail terms
October 6 – Austria’s notorious match-fixing case has been concluded with a series of jail sentences handed down to those at the centre of a nine-year manipulation scandal.
Uefa lose patience with CSKA Moscow fans and impose strong sanction
By Andrew Warshaw
October 6 – Two weeks after pleading with misbehaving fans not to push the club “over the edge”, CSKA Moscow have paid a heavy price for continuing racism and violence by being ordered by Uefa to play their next three Champions League home games behind closed doors.
Messi to face trial after all over tax allegations
By Andrew Warshaw
October 6 – Months after learning that he would not be charged with tax evasion and could concentrate on his playing career, Lionel Messi looks set after all to stand trial.
Nigerian football chiefs face prospect of mass imprisonment
By Mark Baber
October 6 – Hearings on Wednesday in Jos will determine the future of many of Nigeria’s football administrators, ironically just at the point when it looks like the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is finally putting its house in order, with some help from FIFA.
More rumour than reality as club sale hype excites the MLS market
October 5 – MLS franchises continue to create heat and rumour with Red Bulls saying that any offer of $300 million for the franchise would be agreed and completed within 48 hours, while news of Chivas USA’s sale expected in the next couple of weeks has thrown up controversial Cardiff City owner, Vincent Tan,, as a potential buyer.
David Owen: TV just keeps growing as 2014 World Cup viewing outscores South Africa 2010
I have been privileged to receive, in advance of this week’s Sportel sports content media convention in Monaco, a briefing on 2014 World Cup viewing trends from a leading specialist in the field. The briefing – from Kevin Alavy, managing director – mediabrands at Futures Sport+Entertainment, a US-based sports research consultancy – was unofficial in nature. But it gives an idea of what to expect when the official television audience report for the tournament is published by FIFA.
New investors to acquire Slavia Prague with city backing
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
October 3 – A group of investors led by Czech businessman Karl Pražák is targeting a takeover of Slavia Prague. The group says it will also bring in over the municipal authorities of the Czech capital’s Prague 10 district as a new shareholder, reported local daily Mlada fronta DNES.
Court issues deadline for FIFA and CSA response in World Cup 2015 turf war
By Andrew Warshaw
October 3 – FIFA and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) have been given until next Thursday to respond to the legal action being taken by a group of leading players who are suing both organisations claiming gender discrimination over the planned use of artificial pitches at next year’s Women’s World Cup.
Exclusive: FIFA caps club player injury payouts through to 2018
By David Owen
October 3 – Compensation terms payable under FIFA’s Club Protection Programme (CPP) are to remain unchanged over the next four years.
FIFA backs Nigerian election as cash for votes allegations mount
By Mark Baber
October 3 – FIFA has thrown its weight behind the newly elected Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick (pictured) who has promised to go to Jos to speak to Chris Giwa. But the situation remains on a knife-edge as another rival declares the election was bought and all factions stay away from the fire-damaged NFF Headquarters Glass House which is guarded by plain-clothes security with Jos High Court injunctions stuck to the doors.
Platini OK with bid report disclosure, if it is within FIFA ethics code
By Andrew Warshaw
October 3 – UEFA president Michel Platini has broken his silence over FIFA’s refusal to publish the 430-page report into the bidding process for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups by saying he favours disclosure – but with the caveat that FIFA’s code of ethics is not breached.
Ricksen takes the fight for his life to ALS
October 3 – In September 2013 the 38-year-old former Dutch international Fernando Ricksen was diagnosed with the terminal nerve disease ALS. A year later, the former football Wildman with a best-selling autobiography under his belt, has become the face of the fight against the killer disease. Interview extracted from FIFA Weekly
AFC opens probe into suspicion of match-fixing at Asian Games in Incheon
October 3 – The Asian Football Confederation is looking into reports of possible match-fixing at the Asian Games.
San Antonio put stadium plans in place in race for MLS
By Ben Nicholson
October 3 – San Antonio’s MLS expansion bid campaign has slipped under the media radar in recent weeks. Las Vegas’ clamor for city backing and Sacramento’s joy at their on-field success and off-field visits from MLS reps have kept the formerly favored San Antonio bid relatively underrepresented. Perhaps unjustly as the bid appears to tick the appropriate boxes.
Lottery firm FDJ opens France 2016 Euro sponsorship roster
October 3 – UEFA have announced FDJ (Française des Jeux), a lottery with 33,000 points of sale in 12,000 towns and villages in France, as their first main national sponsor for the expanded Euro 2016 finals.