English roll out the great, the good and the grassroots to celebrate their football heritage

Bernstein 150

By Mark Baber

January 16 – The English Football Association, The FA, launched its 150th year anniversary with a heart-warming display of appreciation to the Football Association and English football by football leaders and legends from around the world, as well as a demonstration by the FA of the great emphasis it places on grassroots football, inclusion and the endeavours of volunteers.

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Exclusive: Cypriots prepare to repair football divisions

hasan sertoglu

By Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent, in Nicosia, Cyprus

January 16 – After more than half a century of isolation during which they have become international outcasts, football officials of Turkish-controlled northern Cyprus will sit side-by-side with their Greek counterparts on Thursday for landmark talks aimed at unifying the sport on the deeply divided Mediterranean island.

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Mihir Bose: What has the FA done, Daddy?

mihir

The 150th anniversary of the Football Association certainly deserves to be celebrated. Any organisation that has reached such a venerable age has the right to celebrate its birthday and no doubt get a telegram from the Queen, or however Her Majesty marks such occasions these days.

But the tipple for the occasion should not be Krug champagne but a glass of Prosecco. For all the warm words that are now being showered on the FA from far and wide the best thing that can be said about the FA is that it still exists.

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Agent body slams FIFA transfer proposals

Mel-Stein-001

By Andrew Warshaw

January 15 – The Association of Football Agents (AFA) has angrily criticised FIFA’s plans to introduce a new system to reduce the influence of agents, denouncing it as unworkable. The UK-based body represents about 350 agents.

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