Lazio’s Mauri gets 6-month ban for failing to report match-fixing
August 2 – The Italian football federation has banned Lazio captain Stefano Mauri (pictured) for six months for his part in the 2011 Italian match-fixing scandal.
Wells Fargo harnessed for MLS exclusive sponsorship
August 2 – Wells Fargo has become the exclusive retail banking and commercial lending sponsor of MLS following a deal struck with MLS commercial rights agency Soccer United Marketing (SUM).
Indian IMG-R league gains pace as Nike extends its AIFF sponsorship to 2017
By Mark Baber
August 2 – Nike has extended its apparel sponsorship deal with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) till 2017 whilst the AIFF continues its moves towards the creation of an IMG-Reliance League to run separately to the I-League.
ICSS joins European body in fight against match-fixing
August 2 – The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) has been accepted as a member of the Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) Consultative Committee.
FIFA monitors Italian racism, as minister likens her abuse to Balotelli’s
By Mark Baber
August 2 – Italy’s first black government minister Cécile Kyenge has likened the racism she has received – she recently had bananas thrown at her – to the racism that Mario Balotelli has received, saying that “a multi-ethnic nation is both inevitable and natural.”
Russian PM criticises Aeroflot’s United deal on Twitter
By Andrew Warshaw
August 2 – Russia’s deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozon (pictured) has issued a veiled attack on the decision by the country’s national airline Aeroflot to sponsor Manchester United rather than pour funds instead into domestic sport.
Exclusive: Mayne-Nicholls talks on 2022 inspection report and Winter wrangling
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
August 2 – The FIFA-appointed expert who first cautioned about the dangers of taking the 2022 World Cup to Qatar says he made it abundantly clear that playing in the tiny Gulf state would be too hazardous – but was ignored by the majority of voting members.
Osasu Obayiuwana: Nigerian football totters on the edge
If you’re a coach that recently delivered your country’s first Africa Cup of Nations trophy in nearly 20 years and also happen to be the only living player in the continent with the distinction of captaining your country to the same title, you would think that the least that could be expected is the prompt payment of your wages.
But that is not the case for Stephen Keshi.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has failed to pay his salary for nearly half a year –
Matt Scott: Cardiff has a certain kind of attraction
At home to Barnsley on April 9 Cardiff City picked up the point that would ultimately guarantee their promotion to the Premier League. But Mehmet Dalman could have been forgiven for sitting out the celebrations with his fellow board members in the Cardiff directors’ box.
Because 125 miles away in London David Green QC, the director of the Serious Fraud Office [SFO], was considering whether allegations over bribery and corruption at Eurasian Natural Resources Corp [ENRC] justified a formal criminal investigation.
Lee Wellings: The Disappearing Players
What motivates footballers? Playing or their bank balance?
It’s easy for critics to say footballers are mercenary.
But it’s also easy to trot out the old adage: ‘players just want to play’.
I think we’d agree that for most young players, the chance to earn fortunes while doing what they love is a winning combination. But if one of these pivotal factors is removed, where does that leave a footballer?
Makudi says promises were broken on AFC vote
By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – Three months after being well beaten in his campaign to become the new leader of Asian football, FIFA vice-president Worawi Makudi insists he was promised support which never materialised.
United adds to its Asian roster, Old Trafford MUST stay as home ground
By Mark Baber
August 1 – Manchester United and PepsiCo yesterday announced a multi-year regional sponsorship agreement in Asia-Pacific which will see PepsiCo will become the Official Soft Drinks Partner of Manchester United in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.
Jack is back, in Trinidad parliament with landslide win
By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, who quit football over the infamous 2011 cash-for-votes scandal during Sepp Blatter’s re-election campaign, has staged a political comeback after winning back his parliamentary seat in his native Trinidad and Tobago.
Despite conflict and match-fixing scandals, Haidar wins Lebanese vote
By Mark Baber
August 1 – Hashem Haidar was elected to his fourth term as head of the Lebanese Football Federation on Wednesday, winning votes from 49 of the 50 clubs attending. Haiddar’s electoral list, which included 10 other members was elected unopposed so Raymond Semaan will retain his position as first deputy president and Ahmad Qameradine as second deputy.
Koreans wade into battle over Japanese complaint
By Andrew Warshaw
August 1 – The Korean Football Association (KFA) has defended its supporters for unfurling a politically charged banner in last Sunday’s East Asian Cup final against Japan which prompted a diplomatic spat between the two nations – and says Japan should shoulder some of the blame.