Inside World Football - Page 1858 of 2167 - For the Business of Football

Mihir Bose: Why match fixing cannot be fixed

The story of match fixing in football is very like the story of Lance Armstrong. The world knew, with the singular exception of UCI, cycling’s world body, that Armstrong was a cheat. The problem was finding enough evidence to prove that he had doped his way to victory. And once the Americans had seen the light it was always a matter of time.

Of course even now the UCI refuses to accept responsibility for the fact that Armstrong cheated right under their noses.

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AC Milan plunged into fresh racism row

balotelli

By Mark Baber

February 6 – A storm of protest has been unleashed by vice-President of AC Milan, Paolo Berlusconi, the brother of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi, after he described the club’s new acquisition, Mario Ballotelli, as “”il negretto della famiglia” (the n***** of the family).

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‘Old’ Russia is still keen for the return of a CIS league

russian league

By Richard van Poortvliet

February 6 – The idea resurrecting the Soviet Top Football League or ‘Vyshaya Liga’ is growing in popularity.

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Brazil friendly kicks off new global marketing deal

brasil football

February 5 – Tonight’s friendly between Brazil and England, part of the FA’s 150 year celebration, is the first match under a new deal between Pitch International and the Brazilian football federation (CBF) under which the London-based sports rights agency has all commercial and marketing rights for Brazil’s friendly games for the next 10 years.

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Canadian Soccer explores new pro league options

canada soccer

By Mark Baber

February 5 – The Canadian Soccer Association has released a report that looks set to pave the way for the establishment of a second tier of professional football in Canada.

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Hungary and Bulgaria lose appeals against racism penalties

no to_racism

By Mark Baber

February 6 – The FIFA Appeal Committee has rejected the appeals lodged by the Hungarian Football Federation and the Bulgarian Football Union against the sanctions imposed last November for racist behaviour by their fans.

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Comply or die is the message as the Financial Fair Play rules start to impact Europe’s clubs

financial fair_play

By Mark Baber

February 5 – The challenge of keeping club costs under control and within sustainable limits has been at the heart of the European Club Licensing Benchmarking Report which is now providing a measuring stick for what UEFA terms fair financial play and how the governing body will implement the rules and, most likely, enforce them.

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Player wages continue upwards spiral, by 38%

uefa flag

By Mark Baber

February 5 – Player wages have jumped by a massive 38% over the past five years, according to the UEFA European Club Licensing Benchmarking Report, more than absorbing the increase of 24% in revenues for clubs over the period.

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Rangers stalked by persistent UK tax authorities

charles green_rangers

February 5 – Rangers chief executive Charles Green (pictured) has reacted angrily to the UK tax authorities reopening its case against the club and lodging an appeal against the verdict of the First Tier Tax Tribunal that had ruled in favour of the Scottish club.

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Emirates renews PSG shirt sponsorship in 5-year deal

PSG shirt

February 5 – The Emirates airline has agreed in principle to a new 5-year shirt sponsorship deal with Paris Saint-Germain, for an undisclosed sum.

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Europol investigation finds organised crime knee-deep in match-fixing across Europe

europol

By Mark Baber

February 5 – Europol has revealed results of a major investigation across 13 European countries that has uncovered an extensive criminal network involved in widespread football match-fixing, implicating more than 425 people across 15 countries and 380 professional matches.

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Gate money in decline at top-flight European clubs

turnstiles

By David Owen

February 5 – Top-flight European football clubs took less in gate money in 2011 than they did in 2008, according to UEFA.

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Dodd to challenge Nsekera for Exco hot seat

Lydia-Nsekera1

By Mark Baber

February 4 – Australia’s Moya Dodd will challenge Lydia Nsekera (pictured) for the newly created position of women’s representative on FIFA’s Executive Committee.

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Diego Maradona and the hand of the €40 million tax collector

maradona

By Mark Baber

February 4 – The saga of Diego Maradona’s tax woes in Italy has taken another turn with his solicitor, Angelo Pisani, claiming that the Argentine’s tax bill, had been cleared by the Central Tax Commission, a claim that has been dismissed by Italy’s tax collection agency, the Agenzia delle Entrate.

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IFAB to discuss offside, goal-line technology, women and its own reason for being

IFAB

February 4 – The International Football Association Board (IFAB) will discuss a clarification of the offside rule as well as consider a report on goal-line technology at its 127th Annual General Meeting on Saturday 2 March under the chairmanship of The Scottish FA in Edinburgh.