South Korea drop K-League Cup in war against match fixing
By David Gold
February 28 – South Korea has dropped the K-League Cup in a bid to clamp down on match fixing in the wake of last year’s scandal.
Mihir Bose: Despite the turmoil, the racism debate might spark some good progress in English football
Good can sometimes come out of evil, and the debate on racism that the game is going through could well lead to English football going down the road of America and adopting the Rooney rule. This rule, named for Dan Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the league’s diversity committee, was introduced in 2003 so that minority coaches, especially African Americans, were at least considered for high-level coaching positions.
It basically states that,
Troubled Syria and Yemen to play Asian Cup “home” games abroad
By David Gold
February 29 – Due to the deteriorating security situation in both Syria and Yemen, the country’s clubs have been told by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to play their “home” AFC Cup games abroad.
German champions announce record revenue
By David Gold
February 28 – German champions Borussia Dortmund have registered revenues of over €100 million (£84 million/$135 million) for the first time in their history.
Agreement with UEFA is major breakthrough, says ECA chair Rummenigge
By Andrew Warshaw
February 28 – Europe’s leading clubs today struck a landmark agreement with UEFA giving them a bigger share of the European Championship pot – but warned their relationship with FIFA was still deadlocked.
Revenues from Egypt friendlies to be donated to Port Said disaster victims
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – The revenues earned by Egypt from three forthcoming friendlies in Qatar will be donated to the victims of the Port Said disaster following direct intervention from national coach Bob Bradley (pictured), the former United States World Cup coach.
Gold Coast United in hot water with refugee supporting slogan
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – An Australian club is on a collision course with its national association, Football Federation Australia (FFA), after sending out its players bearing a slogan supporting the plight of refugees.
Beşiktaş President Demirören named as new TFF chairman
By David Gold
February 27 – The embattled Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has elected Beşiktaş President Yıldırım Demirören (pictured) as their new chairman at a general assembly today.
UEFA President Platini slams goal-line technology as “nonsense”
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – UEFA President Michel Platini (pictured) has racked up the anticipation ahead of next weekend’s International Football Association Board (IFAB) meeting by once again slamming the idea of goal-line technology, this time describing it as “nonsense”.
Exclusive: There has been no satisfactory answer to our demands, says ECA vice chair Gandini
By Andrew Warshaw
February 27 – One of the leading officials driving the campaign by Europe’s top clubs to have a greater say in the way the game is run, Umberto Gandini (pictured), has added his voice to the breakdown in talks with FIFA.
European Clubs Association boycotts talks with FIFA
By Andrew Warshaw
February 26 – The European Club Association (ECA), which comprises Europe’s top 200 clubs, is boycotting all further talks with FIFA because of its reluctance to streamline the international match calendar.
World Cup 2014 Bill will be signed next week, insists FIFA’s Valcke
By Andrew Warshaw
February 25 – The so called 2014 Bill that has caused so much tension between Brazil’s World Cup organisers and FIFA should finally be signed by next Tuesday (February 28), according FIFA general secretary Jérôme Valcke.
Exclusive: Warner seeking “substantial damages” over Haitian earthquake claim
By Duncan Mackay
February 25 – Former FIFA vice-president Jack Warner claims he plans to sue a Trinidad newspaper and journalist that he accuses of libel and defamation regarding stories involving funds slated for Haiti reconstruction efforts following the earthquake there.
French women’s team should secure a London 2012 medal says confident Bini
By David Gold
February 25 – French women’s football coach Bruno Bini has set his team the target of picking up a medal at this summer’s Olympic Games in London.
IMG pull out of football representation
By David Gold
February 25 – Sports management moguls IMG will no longer represent professional footballers, including Manchester City and Argentinian striker Sergio Agüero (pictured), after deciding the business does not represent value for money.