Ukraine face sanctions as FIFA opens racism investigation
September 23 – Ukraine could be docked points or forced to play a potentially decisive World Cup qualifier behind closed doors after FIFA launched an investigation into racism.
MediaPro settles Athletic Bilbao dispute with €11.5m payout
By Gareth Messenger
September 23 – Spanish club Athletic Bilbao have reached an agreement with multimedia communications group, MediaPro, regarding a long-running dispute over television rights. The Basque La Liga side said an agreement had been reached which will see Mediapro pay the “full amount” of the money owed. The rights agency must now pay €11.5 million to Athletic Bilbao.
El Salvador slams life bans on 14 national team players for match fixing
By Andrew Warshaw
September 23 – El Salvador’s football federation has imposed life bans on 14 national team members for their roles in a match-fixing scandal. One other player was given an 18-month ban, two were suspended for six months, one was acquitted while four others face further investigation.
Zurich voters say No to new 19,000 capacity stadium
By Andrew Warshaw
September 23 – Voters in FIFA’s home city of Zurich have rejected plans to build a 19,000-capacity football stadium, the second time in five years that residents have given the thumbs down for a new venue.
FIFA expects to run up extra World Cup drug testing costs
By David Owen
September 23 – FIFA is resigned to running up unexpected extra costs to ensure that an effective drug testing programme is in operation at next year’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Michel D’Hooghe (pictured), the governing body’s leading medical expert, acknowledged as much in a short telephone conversation with insideworldfootball at the weekend. D’Hooghe said the cost issue was one of the reasons FIFA was “not happy”.
Exclusive: Mayne-Nicholls re-enters fray with a Winter blueprint
By Andrew Warshaw
September 20 – The FIFA-appointed expert who first cautioned about the dangers of taking the 2022 World Cup to Qatar has come up with a timetable he says would allow for a winter tournament in January – and would satisfy most stakeholders.
Orient hammered as legal appeal to share Olympic Stadium rejected
By Andrew Warshaw
September 20 – English third tier club Leyton Orient have lost their bid to win a judicial review into the controversial decision to grant Premier League side West Ham sole football tenancy of London’s 2012 Olympic Stadium.
Venky’s post a record £27m loss at Blackburn but say funding is secure
By Mark Baber
September 20 – Venky’s London Ltd (VLL), parent company of English Championship side Blackburn Rovers, and owned by the Indian family has recorded losses of over £27 million in the past financial year.
UEFA federations clamour for a piece of the Euro 2020 action
By Andrew Warshaw
September 20 – The revolutionary multi-venue European Championship finals in 2020 have attracted no fewer than 32 applicants from across the Continent, well over half of the entire UEFA membership, it was announced today. Thirteen cities will be chosen in September next year to stage the one-off pan-European finals which UEFA President Michel Platini hopes will reduce construction costs and travel.
J-League switches to two-stage season in bid to boost fans and revenue
By Mark Baber
September 20 – Japan’s J-League will be returning a two-stage season in 2015, according to an official statement, in a bid to increase interest from fans and sponsors which has been in decline since 2008. The move has met opposition from core supporters who have demonstrated outside the Japan Football Association’s Headquarters as well as at recent games.
€40m Sofia new stadium talks back on with Ludogorets Razgrad in the frame
By Alexander Krassimirov
September 20 – Bulgaria’s Sofia stadium debate has taken another twist with president and owner of Slavia Sofia Ventsislav Stefanov (pictured left) announcing that he is in negotiation with the owner of PFC Ludogorets Razgrad, Kiril Domuschiev (pictured right), to build a new joint stadium in Sofia. PFC Ludogorets have won the Bulgarian champions for the past two years but play home games at Razgrad – a small town in north-east of Bulgaria.
Red Devils play their Gulf cards in UAE and Qatar
By Andrew Warshaw
September 19 – Manchester United have made inroads into the Gulf market by announcing two regional deals, one with Commercial Bank of Qatar and the other with Emirates NBD Bank.
Dan Tan believed arrested as Singapore raids hit matching fixing ring
By Andrew Warshaw
September 19 – Dan Tan, the elusive and notorious match-fixer who is on almost every football crime-busting wanted list, is understood to be among at least 12 people arrested following a breakthrough operation by Singapore authorities.
Prosecutors demand Maracanã stadium provide further safety documents
By Mark Baber
September 19 – The threat of closure on safety grounds again looms for the Maracanã Stadium, scheduled to host next year’s World Cup final, as the 4th District Attorney’s Office requests a new engineering report.
Man Utd reports record financials and focuses on US as land of opportunity
By Mark Baber
September 19 – Manchester United Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2013 Earnings Conference Call reinforces the club’s impressive growth figures, whilst demonstrating the club sees the USA as a land of opportunity.