By Tom Parsons
April 15 – Sunday saw a first in football history as Atlético Madrid assistant coach German Burgos used Google Glass to help his team keep their La Liga hopes on the right track with a 2-0 win over Getafe.
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
April 15 – The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) has signed a contract with Russia-based InStat Football for the provision of analytical tools for technical and tactical evaluations of footballers’ performance.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 15 – Austria’s match-fixing scandal has escalated still further with the news that former players Dominque Taboga (pictured) and Sanel Kuljic and several other unidentified people have now been charged.
April 15 – A Swedish first division game abandoned after a supporter died in clashes before kick-off will not be replayed.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 14 – Two weeks before the deadline for final bid dossiers to be submitted to UEFA, Turkey looks to have cemented its status as favourites to stage the semi finals and final of Euro 2020.
Dicono che i momenti di crisi siano quelli che portano alla rinascita. Si spera davvero che per il calcio italiano l’affermazione abbia del fondamento, visto che nel ranking europeo ormai anche il Portogallo – approfittando della nostra debolezza – si sta preparando al sorpasso. Per questo, dopo gestito con poca oculatezza per quasi un ventennio le enormi risorse provenienti dal mercato televisivo, i club italiani provano a mettersi al passo imboccando decisamente la strada virtuosa da tempo intrapresa da Gran Bretagna,
By Mark Baber
April 14 – The Indian Super League (ISL) franchises were announced on Sunday and the winning bids include leading celebrities of Indian film and cricket, much to the delight of promoters IMG Reliance. Even cricket legend and indian superstar Sachin Tendulkar (pictured) got in on the act. Local media and football officials have described the move variously as a big leap forward for Indian football, or marking its doom.
April 14 – Asian football has been rocked by yet another match-fixing scandal, this time involving 11 players of the high-flying Vissai Ninh Binh club.
By Paul Nicholson
April 14 – The Moroccan Royal Football Federation (FRMF) has a new president. Skhirate-Fouzi Lakjaa (pictured second left), the only candidate standing, was elected on Sunday for a four-year term.
April 14 – Sepp Blatter has apparently told Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff that the World Cup will be the most successful ever – even though three stadiums are still not ready.
By Paul Nicholson
April 14 – Rangers’ financial turmoil has received a much-need positive boost with the announcement of online gaming firm 32Red as its new shirt sponsor. The three-year deal will start next season. 32 Red takes over from Blackthorn cider.
When UEFA and its member countries take a decision to fundamentally restructure the way in which international football, within its continent, is played, it ought not to concern the rest of the global fraternity.
What European football does within its borders is, in principle, their prerogative.
BUT – and this is a big but, obviously – when a continental decision is taken without any cognisance of the effect that it would have on the WORLD game,
By Paul Nicholson
April 11 – Antiguan clubs are rebelling against their federation, the Antiguan and Barbuda Football Association (ABFA), and calling for FIFA or CONCACAF to step in and take control. They want the ABFA audited and full financial transparency by an independent body.
April 11 – UEFA have issued a warning to Chelsea against trying to seek a fee for loaned out goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois playing them in the Champions League semifinals for Atletico Madrid.
By Mark Baber
April 11 – The ongoing saga of the much-hyped Indian Super League (ISL) begins a new chapter on Sunday as the eight franchises for the new tournament will be unveiled. The organisers including IMG-Reliance, marketing partners of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), are seeking to revolutionise football’s fortunes in the cricket-mad country, whilst the existing Indian clubs are looking on in trepidation, with calls for FIFA to intervene.