FIFA makes Aussie bans on English match-fixers a global sanction
March 19 – Two English players have had life bans extended worldwide by FIFA for fixing matches in Australia’s second-tier Victorian Premier League.
Inside Insight: Cold War football
What began as a peaceful protest against one deeply corrupt President’s reign – no, I don’t mean some weird country in tropical climes, but rather Ukraine’s Yanukovich – rapidly degenerated into snipers murdering friend and foe alike and paid thugs creating havoc on Kiev’s Maidan Square. What followed were scenes that are reminiscent of a revolution, and subsequently bore the hallmark of a well orchestrated coup d’état.
The phone conversation between one Victoria Nuland,
Warner dismisses Qatar allegations as a ‘witch hunt’ but gets heat in Trinidad to clear his name
By Andrew Warshaw and Paul Nicholson
March 19 – Disgraced former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner has dismissed the latest corruption allegations against him as “foolishness” and says there is a “witch hunt” against 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar.
Mihir Bose: Football racism; personal or institutional?
You may think, if you live in England, enough has been said about Sol Campbell’s extraordinary claim that had he been white he would been an automatic choice as England captain. Despite all those who have rubbished his claims he remains adamant, as he told me, that the colour of his face, as opposed to that of Michael Owen, just did not fit with the FA. All Campbell will budge on was that he did not mean to say he would have led the national side for ten years as originally reported but for a long time during the ten year period he played for his country.
FA grabs Tiger by the tail and throws out Hull name change
March 18 – The ownership of English Premier League Hull City has been plunged into doubt after the Football Association announced it had been advised to reject plans to change the club’s name to Hull Tigers.
Matt Scott: Yeung experience should show Leeds Cellino is no way forward
“Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters,” Albert Einstein
Football, to paraphrase the former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, is a very important matter. Most would agree that paying your debts should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds too, but for years some of those involved in the game have played it fast and loose with their obligations to the tax authorities.
Warner still casting a long shadow as Qatari cash linked to his accounts
By Andrew Warshaw
March 18 – Qatar’s winning 2022 World Cup bid has been plunged into renewed controversy – just when FIFA are about to be given an update about the treatment of migrant workers employed on its stadium projects.
Supponor and Umedia extend global ad deal for La Liga pitchside boards
March 18 – The digital media revolution continues to reshape the sports advertising and sponsorship landscape with more targeted advertising opportunities at matches for the global broadcast audiences. La Liga is the latest of Europe’s big leagues to embrace the technology available with an extension of its deal with digital billboard replacement specialist Supponor via sports advertising agency Umedia.
Exclusive: Fury mounts over AFC chief’s bid to change election rules
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 18 – The man who has been running Asian football for just under a year faces a revolt from within his own Confederation amid accusations of trying to increase his power base by unconstitutionally changing the statutes.
Qatari investors eye Poland’s Ruch Chorzow
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
March 18 – A group of investors from Qatar is considering to invest in Ruch Chorzow. The club could be the first in Poland with an owner from the Middle East.
Qatar 2022 organisers slam latest ITUC report as incorrect and a smear campaign
By Andrew Warshaw
March 17 – Qatar’s World Cup organisers, buffeted by constant attacks about the country’s human rights record, have gone on the offensive by branding the latest report into the mistreatment of workers as a smear campaign “riddled with factual errors”.
Adidas’ Hainer gets his foot in the door at Bayern
March 17 – Adidas boss Herbert Hainer is to take over as the new chairman of Bayern Munich following the resignation of Uli Hoeness in the wake of his tax evasion scandal.
Anelka quits West Brom over refusal to accept ‘quenelle’ conditions
March 17 – Former French international striker Nicolas Anelka faces an uncertain future following the latest development concerning his infamous ‘quenelle’ gesture that landed him with a five-match ban and a hefty fine from the English Football Association.
Hayatou says its time for an African nation to crash the 2014 party
By Andrew Warshaw
March 17 – African football chief Issa Hayatou says it’s time the Continent provided at least one World Cup semifinalist.