Inside World Football - Page 1846 of 2026 - For the Business of Football

Mihir Bose: Blatter’s outrageous racism comments have done untold damage to him and FIFA

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Sepp Blatter may believe the furore he provoked by his comments on racism in football is behind him. He could not be more mistaken. He will have to live with the consequences of his absurd comment that if there is racism on the field of play it can be got rid of by a post-match hand shake.

Worse still, the damage he has done to FIFA, when the organisation is already so beleaguered, cannot be overestimated.

Archive

Chelsea explore viability of new stadium at Battersea Power Station

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By David Gold

November 24 – Chelsea have appointed Mike Hussey, chief executive of property investment and development company Almacantar, to investigate the possibility of the club constructing a new stadium at Battersea Power Station.

Archive

Rift between Morocco and Nigeria overshadows African Olympic qualifiers

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By David Gold

November 24 – The African Olympic football qualifying tournament gets underway in Morocco this weekend, but a row between the hosts and Nigeria is overshadowing the build up to the event.

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AFC President Jilong puts controversy to bed saying it’s “business as usual”

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By David Gold

November 24 – Zhang Jilong (pictured right), the acting President of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), has claimed that it is “business as normal” after a controversial year for the organisation.

Archive

Russia agree deal with Transport Directorate for 2018 World Cup

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By David Gold

November 24 – The Russian organising committee for the 2018 FIFA World Cup have signed an agreement with the Olympic Games Transport Directorate, who have worked on the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games and the Kazan 2013 Summer University Games, to develop transport links during the competition.

Archive

Anti-corruption guru Mark Pieth to lead FIFA reforms

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By Andrew Warshaw

November 24 – A Swiss anti-corruption expert has emerged as the key player in FIFA President Sepp Blatter’s quest to rid the organisation of sleaze and scandal.

Archive

David Owen: Could financial fair play be ruled offside by an all-out eurozone crisis?

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Here’s a thought for these turbulent financial times in Europe: Could UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations (FFP) survive a collapse of the Euro?

These are the rules through which the governing body’s boss Michel Platini hopes to save European football from itself by, to oversimplify outrageously, obliging clubs to operate on a break-even basis.

Archive

Warrant issued for arrest of Portsmouth’s Russian owners

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By Andrew Warshaw

November 23 – A European arrest warrant has been issued by Lithuanian prosecutors for the Russian owner of troubled English Championship club Portsmouth.

Archive

FIFA vice-president Al Hussein to review hijab rule at Executive Committee meeting

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By Andrew Warshaw

November 23 – FIFA’s youngest Executive Committee member, Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan, has been mandated by his Confederation to press for women footballers being allowed to wear the hijab, the Islamic headscarf.

Africa

Jordaan eyes up top role at COSAFA

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By Andrew Warshaw

November 23 – Danny Jordaan, organiser of last year’s World Cup in South Africa, is targeting the Presidency of the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) as he bids to re-enter football administration after a year out of the limelight.

Archive

Malaysia to host London 2012 qualifying tournament

By David Gold

November 23 – Malaysia will host the final stage of the Asian men’s football qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in March next year, following a decision made at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Executive Committee.

Archive

Blatter calls for changes to MLS calendar

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By David Gold

November 22 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter (pictured) believes that the American Major League Soccer (MLS) calendar should be aligned with the main European leagues, so that the domestic season is played from autumn to spring.

Archive

“This matter is over,” says Blatter as he draws line under racism row

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By Andrew Warshaw

November 23 – FIFA President Sepp Blatter today attempted to close the book on the recent racism in football row, insisting he was not a racist and was determined to move forward with his oft-stated policy of zero tolerance.

Archive

Johan Cruyff and Edgar Davids play down race row

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By David Gold

November 22 – Former Ajax legends Johan Cruyff (pictured) and Edgar Davids, now both members of the club’s Supervisory Board, have played down a race row which emerged this week, but doubts persist over the former’s future at the Dutch champions.

Archive

Bin Hammam formally launches battle to clear his name at CAS

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By Andrew Warshaw

November 22 – Mohamed Bin Hammam’s appeal to the highest sports authority against his lifetime ban is now official, with the former Asian football chief determined to clear his name.