Premier League season-ticket sales set new record for 2012-13
By Mark Baber
September 11 – According to figures collated by the English Premier League, last season’s season ticket sales at both junior and adult level achieved new records.
Gold Cup 2025
USA clinch last four slot with penalty win over Costa Rica
USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
ASPIRE4SPORT opens gateway to $200bn infrastructure build in Qatar
By Paul Nicholson
September 11 – The ASPIRE4SPORT Congress and Exhibition is expected more than 3,000 attendees and is already close to beating last year’s exhibitor numbers. Taking place November 16-19 at the Aspire Dome in Doha, the organisers are reporting a diverse set of registrants spanning geographies and business disciplines looking to tap into expanding sports business sectors including construction, sports medicine and sports technology.
New Olympic boss Bach ‘preferred football’
By David Owen in Buenos Aires
September 11 – The new President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revealed in Buenos Aires that he is a keen football fan, even, as a youngster, preferring the sport to fencing, the activity in which he went on to win an Olympic gold medal.
Bulgaria’s Bojinov takes action against Sporting for ‘absence’ sacking
By Alexander Krassimirov
September 11 – Bulgarian international Valeri Bojinov and his agent Gennaro Palomba have initiated proceedings against Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon. The footballer has filed a complaint to FIFA after the Portuguese club sacked him disciplinary and terminated his 3-year contract.
Istanbul confirms Euro 2020 candidacy alongside Budapest and Belgrade
By Mark Baber
September 11 – As the deadline for candidates to inform UEFA of their candidacy to host matches of the 2020 European Championships beckons, Istanbul, Budapest and Belgrade have officially thrown their hats into the ring.
US through to Brazil, tears of joy for Costa Rica and pain for Mexico
By Andrew Warshaw
September 11 – While the United States and Costa Rica celebrated qualification for next year’s World Cup finals, perennial powerhouses Mexico have been plunged into further anguish after a dramatic night of action in the CONCACAF region.
Clubs reject shorter transfer window but say FFP is working
By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
September 11 – European clubs are refusing to condone UEFA’s efforts to shorten the summer transfer window but hope to find common ground to avoid the disrupting scenario of star players being bought and sold when league seasons are already well under way.
European club leaders demand a voice at the 2022 decision-making table
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Geneva
September 10 – Europe’s leading clubs today urged FIFA not to rush into moving the 2022 Qatar World Cup to winter as debate intensified over Sepp Blatter’s support for an unprecedented switch. Twenty-four hours after the FIFA president re-iterated, an exclusive interview with Insideworldfootball, that he would seek approval in principle for a one-off winter World Cup from his executive committee next month, the European Club Association,
European League body urges FIFA go slow on Winter 2022 decision
By Matt Scott
September 10 – European leagues have responded to Sepp Blatter’s recommendation to shift the 2022 World Cup to the northern-hemisphere winter by demanding FIFA pull back from a “hasty decision” on the matter.
FA spurred to issue warning over use of Yid term
By Mark Baber
September 10 – The English FA are discouraging the use of the word ‘yid’ which derives from the Yiddish word for Jew, but which has been used in a derogatory and offensive way by anti-Semites. Despite the word’s origin and its use as a badge of honour by Tottenham fans, the FA has said it “is likely to be considered offensive by the reasonable observer.”
Real Madrid just get richer and richer at the top of the money league
By Mark Baber
September 10 – Real Madrid’s revenue figures for 2012-13 show the club is getting richer and richer, having again achieved a record revenue total, significant profits and paying off debt at a rapid rate.
Olympic blow out could put Turks in pole position for Euros hosting
By Andrew Warshaw
September 10 – Istanbul’s failure to land the 2020 summer Olympics could have a direct knock-on effect in terms of Turkey bidding for a slice of Euro 2020. UEFA president Michel Platini has long insisted that if the Turks staged the Games they would be ruled out of the selection process for the one-off pan-European Euros the same summer.
Gazprom talks stall as Levski cut budgets for player living
By Alexander Krassimirov
September 10 – The management of Bulgaria’s Levski Sofia has been taken bizarre measures to reduce the club’s monthly budget. Bosses have decided to limit the money that is given to players for rent of their homes.
Clubs head to Geneva for ECA meet and expected to back Winter 2022
By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
September 10 – Europe’s leading clubs are expected today (Tuesday) to back FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s call for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be switched to winter as a one-off. The formal part of the European Club Association’s annual general assembly in Geneva will focus on the election of a number of new executive board members but behind the scenes the discussions will be all about 2022.
Matt Scott: Following the cash trails
From Abidjan to Zagreb this week, after the last of the FIFA World Cup group-stage qualifiers, football fans will have a pretty good idea about their nations’ chances of playing at the finals tournament in Brazil next year.
What awaits those who travel to Brazil might not be the samba and carnival that has been promised by organisers but instead a protest against the corruption and cynicism that a maturing nation’s growing middle class angrily rejects.