New owners, old faces, at Poland’s Legia Warsaw as ITI Group exits
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 13 – Poland’s ITI Group has sold Legia Warsaw to Boguslaw Lesnodorski, the club’s chief executive, and his business partner Dariusz Mioduski.
Russia allocates $34m for 2018 training facilities
By Paul Nicholson
January 13 – Russia’s Cabinet of Ministers announced yesterday that the country will spend about $34 million on developing training grounds for the 2018 football World Cup.
LFP poised to take its clubs and ‘brand Spain’ on a 3-year world tour
By Andrew Warshaw
January 13 – Spanish football authorities, many of whose clubs are struggling financially, have launched an ambitious new tournament designed to increase brand awareness overseas. The so-called ‘LFP World Challenge’ will see friendly games played in Europe, North and South America and Asia between the 2014/15 and 2016/17 seasons.
Mauri wins match-fixing appeal and set for February return
January 13 – Lazio and Italy midfielder Stefano Mauri will be back in action on February 2 after his nine-month ban for failing to report match-fixing was reduced on appeal.
Ronaldo closes in on Ballon d’Or as greats gather for Zurich Gala
By Andrew Warshaw
January 13 – After consistently losing out to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo is favourite to clinch FIFA’s prestigious Ballon d’Or award later today. Real Madrid’s Portugal captain is named on a three-man shortlist to be crowned world player of the year at the annual gala in Zurich, along with Barcelona’s Messi and Franck Ribery of Bayern Munich.
Barcelona questioned over Neymar transfer and ‘unexplained’ €40m
January 13 – Barcelona’s signing of Brazilian forward Neymar last June has attracted intense attention from the Spanish courts following a complaint by Barcelona club member Jordi Cases, who wants clarification of how the €57.1 million fee was distributed.
David Owen: Is it time to designate permanent homes for the World Cup and Olympics?
I was not altogether surprised on Friday to open my copy of The Guardian newspaper and find that the latest twists in the Qatar World Cup saga had combined with the approach of Sochi 2014 to provoke columnist Simon Jenkins into an elegant tirade.
These mega-events, Jenkins argued, “are about the crudest form of politics, that of national prestige.
“The athletico-military-industrial complex seems to have a mesmeric appeal to world leaders,
Andrew Warshaw: Timing, protocol and the bigger Winter 2022 picture
Let’s put things into perspective. Whilst no-one would deny that Jerome Valcke’s off-the-cuff remarks over a winter World Cup in Qatar were untimely in the extreme, was Sepp Blatter’s right-hand man really telling us anything we didn’t know already?
Stakeholders throughout the game have understandably cried foul at Valcke seemingly jumping the gun before the time frame for global consultation is anywhere near complete.
Insideworldfootball has learned, for example, that the Qatar organisers received more concerned calls over this particular 2022 story that at any time in last two years –
Adidas and Nike face UK probe over ‘cartel’ accusations in UK
By Paul Nicholson
January 10 – Nike and adidas have been referred to the UK government’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) anti-cartel unit following their decisions to supply major outlets only. So far, though, adidas have not been contacted by the OFT regarding an investigation.
Swiss coach Hitzfeld adds voice to 2014 anti-Amazon match schedule
January 10 – Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld has joined the chorus of disapproval over FIFA’s decision to select Manaus in the heart of the Amazon rain forest as one of the World Cup stadiums.
‘Quenelle’ comic banned from taking stage in France
By Andrew Warshaw
January 10 – The controversial French comic whose alleged Nazi-style gesture was copied by former French international Nicolas Anelka, prompting a global outcry by anti-racist groups, was banned from performing this week by the highest court in France – just before he was about to go on stage.
Aperol brings a bit of fizz to Man Utd’s lean spell
January 10 – Gruppo Campari’s Italian aperitif brand Aperol has become the official global spirits sponsor of Manchester United Football Club. The multi-season sponsorship officially launched January 1 and runs until the end of the 2016/2017 season.
Poland’s Kolporter chief returns to Korona Kielce as €2.4m stadium sponsor
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
January 10 – Poland’s Korona Kielce has signed a sponsorship deal with Kolporter, one of the country’s largest press distribution companies. Under the contract, which will be effective “until at least end of June 2018”, the club’s stadium will be renamed Kolporter Arena.
Platini goes on attack over ‘early’ winter 2022 comments
By Andrew Warshaw
January 10 – UEFA president Michel Platini has turned up the heat over the timing of FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke’s much-publicised remarks about the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Lee Wellings: Saints and sinners. Blaming refs demeans football
The very last subject I’d usually want to talk about is referees.
I mean, have you heard yourselves?
Moaning at the ref, accusing him of bias, pointing to your watches. As if it’s an easy job, as if decisions are not made in the split second under high pressure. As if we actually give credit for the many decisions that are correct.