Money makes the boardrooms go round at English clubs

Boardroom cash

By Paul Nicholson
July 8 – English club ownership continues to attract investors though the anticipated sale of Premier League Aston Villa by its American owner Randy Lerner has faltered. Neighbouring Premier League club West Bromwich Albion has seen ownership control shift further to chairman Jeremy Peace, while mercurial sports entrepreneur Barry Hearn has sold his League 2 club Leyton Orient to Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti.

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Osasu Obayiuwana: Africa must find an edge to smash the ‘glorious loser’ tag

With two African teams making the knockout rounds in Brazil, the continent has obviously written a new chapter in tournament history.

Ever since Morocco became the first African team, at the 1986 finals in Mexico, to reach the Round of 16, the continent has maintained a solitary presence there.

Considering that I had, in a previous piece, seriously considered the possibility that its five teams were at risk of being knocked out in the first round,

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Ukraine drops Crimean teams From Premier League

Ukraine flag

By Mark Baber
July 7 – The Ukraine Football Federation (UFF) has bowed to the inevitable and cut Crimea-based PFC Sevastopol and FC Tavriya from the 2014-15 season of the Ukrainian Premier League. The move follows the reunification of the Crimea with Russia following a disputed referendum in March.

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FIFA start probe into Fofana and World Cup ticket re-selling

world cup tickets

By Andrew Warshaw
July 7 – The son of one of FIFA’s most powerful administrators has denied claims he illegally sold a World Cup ticket to touts in order to make money. Humberto Grondona, whose father Julio is FIFA’s senior vice-president as well as being head of the Argentine football association, has been asked to explain how a ticket he bought ended up in the wrong hands.

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