Albertini suggests cutting Serie A to 16 or 18 to bring back competitive edge
By Mark Baber
April 25 – Italian football federation vice-president Demetrio Albertini has suggested cutting Italy’s Serie A to 18 or even 16 teams.
FIFA provides assurances Brazil 2014 will enjoy a local flavour
April 25 – As World Cup 2014 nears, hype, rumour, misinformation and emotions is rising -are starting to raise a level – and nowhere more so than in Brazil itself.
Suarez ban has wider implications for Liverpool’s brand
By Andrew Warshaw and Mark Baber
April 25 – Liverpool have expressed their “shock and disappointment” after striker Luis Suarez was banned for 10 games for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic towards the end of Sunday’s 2-2 draw.
Mihir Bose: Old Trafford’s Overlords have always picked it right
As Manchester United celebrate yet another Premiership, and a record haul of 20 of the most sought after prize in English football, spare a thought for Dave Whelan. Had things turned out differently the Wigan owner would today not be fearful that his team may not survive in the Premiership. Instead he would be lording it over Old Trafford and joining the celebrations of the fans as the owner of greatest club in the land.
Merkel drawn into Hoeness tax evasion scandal
By Paul Nicholson
April 24 – German Chancellor Andrea Merkel has been dragged into the tax evasion scandal surrounding Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness.
FIFA extends Lebanese match-fixing bans globally
By Andrew Warshaw
April 24 – Twenty-three players and one official who were sanctioned by Lebanese authorities in February for helping to rig international and regional matches have had their bans extended worldwide by FIFA.
Polish league in turmoil as Polonia Warsaw hit the rocks
By Krzysztof Baranowski
April 24 – The crisis facing Polish top division football is deepening with Ekstraklasa club Polonia Warsaw on the brink of going out of business.
Tebas puts ending Spanish match-fixing to top of his agenda
By Andrew Warshaw
April 24 – The new president of the Spanish Football League says his top priority is bringing an end to match-fixing.
Qatar may reduce the number of stadiums proposed for World Cup 2022
By Mark Baber
April 24 – According to Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Qatar may reduce the number of stadiums for the 2022 world cup from the widely expected 12 to 8 or 9.
Beckenbauer signs up for Gazprom social project
April 24 – Former German icon and FIFA administrator Franz Beckenbauer has signed a personal endorsement deal with Russian gas giant Gazprom designed to promote football as a tool for social integration among children.
Another one bites the dust, Leoz exits FIFA citing health reasons
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
April 24 – Here we go again. Veteran FIFA powerbroker, about to be exposed, quits citing health reasons. The figure this time is 84-year-old Nicolas Leoz, head of CONMEBOL, who has announced he is stepping down as well as relinquishing his place on FIFA’s executive committee, held since 1998.
Judge threatens Deportivo liquidation unless deal struck over Media Pro cash
By Monica Villar
April 23 – A Spanish judge has threatened Deportivo de La Coruña with liquidation unless an agreement can be found between the banks and the club over the share out of the Media Pro money held in escrow buy the court.
Twitter hack rebounds around the world
By Andrew Warshaw
April 23 – Surely it couldn’t possibly be genuine? After all, April 1 was three weeks ago. Sepp Blatter, according to Twitter, was sensationally stepping down as FIFA president and the decision to award Qatar the 2022 World Cup involved money illegally changing hands.
Spanish consider passing law to force collective sale of TV rights
By Gareth Messenger
April 23 – The on-going Spanish debate over the collective sale of club TV rights could be ended by the government if a new law is passed to force the teams into group sales.
Builder guarantees Brasilia airport will be complete for 2014
April 23 – Work upgrading the Juscelino Kubitschek International Airport in Brasilia has been guaranteed to be completed on time for the World Cup in June 2014, as negotiations for new retail concessions get under way.