Al Hilal Bank signs on for fifth year of UAE’s Presidents Cup
May 28 – Al Hilal Bank, the Abu Dhabi bank, has renewed its sponsorship of the UAE’s premier club tournament, the UAE President’s Cup, for a fifth year. The other major sponsors are Etisalat and the Abu Dhabi Sports Channel.
Qatar’s Barwa denies it plans $5.5 billion island to house World Cup fans
By Mark Baber
May 28 – Qatar’s Barwa Real Estate Group has denied its proposed Oryx Island & Gulf Resort projects, widely reported as planned to house World Cup fans, are in any way related to projects for the 2022 World Cup.
Brazilian plans awash as Arena Fonte Nova stadium roof collapses
By Mark Baber
May 28 – Just when it looked like everything was at last under control in Brazil in readiness for the Confedertion Cup which kicks off mid-June, another building disaster has sruck.
UEFA’s big week out in London sets new TV and social media highs on Finals day
May 28 – UEFA have released a set Champions League numbers that show another year of impressive growth and making the final, says UEFA, “the world’s most-watched annual television sporting event on television and social media platforms”.
Cardiff owner Tan weighs up stock market float for Premiership newcomer
May 28 – Vincent Tan, Malaysian owner of newly promoted English Premier League club Cardiff City, has indicated that he would be prepared to sell or float the club on the stock markets.
Kevin Phillips and the art of the £120 million spot-kick
By David Owen
May 28 – He is within two months of his 40th birthday – and now he can claim to be the £120 million man. Kevin Phillips, the former Baldock Town, Sunderland, Southampton, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham, Blackpool and (eight times) England striker, blasted Crystal Palace back into the Premier League from the penalty spot on Monday, sending opponents Watford, another of his former clubs, into the depths of despair.
Inside Insight: Über Abschreiberlinge und andere Erstaunlichkeiten
Es schallt und raucht. Die Bildschirme biegen sich allenthalben unter dem Gewicht des Wortschwalls, der da laut und unmissverständlich aus angelsächsichen Laptops in den Cyberäther drängelt, dicht gefolgt von plagiarisierenden Deppen teutscher Sprache, die anstelle des Selbstgegorenen (weil eben schwieriger, eine eigene Meinung zu haben, als eine andere kopiert zu wiederkäuen), lieber den Schwachsinn aus englischen Landen, als die scheinbar abscheuliche Manna der “real existierende Rechstprechung” herumreichen.
Die Rede ist vom Abschreiberling, der – selber eher unzureichend mit Intellekt ausgestattet – die Kunst der Boulevaldisierung von allem und jedem bis hin zum Gehtnichtmehr beherrscht.
Aussies crack down on live betting odds in sports broadcasts
By Mark Baber
May 27 – Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard (pictured) has announced the broadcasting of live betting odds will be banned from sports coverage, with gambling advertising relegated to designated commercial breaks during quarter and half-times.
South Asians move championship forward to avoid AFC date clashes
By Mark Baber
May 27 – The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has moved this year’s edition of the biannual SAFF Championship, to be held in Kathmandu, forward by two weeks.
Calm before the storm. Idyllic Mauritius starts to welcome FIFA delegates
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent, in Mauritius
May 27 – It’s not every day that Mauritius, renowned as one of the world’s most exclusive tourist destinations, becomes the centre of attention for footballing reasons.
David Owen: The FIFA Club Protection Programme – delving into the detail
I have been delving further into the detail of FIFA’s new Club Protection Programme (CPP), the scheme designed to remove a longstanding bone of contention by compensating clubs when players they employ are injured on international duty.
I was concerned lest an unforeseen spate of injuries sent costs soaring to the point where they absorbed most or all of FIFA’s positive annual result. This stood at $89 million in 2012.
The world football governing body has now told me that they have moved to protect themselves against unexpectedly high costs.
Osasu Obayiuwana: Is ‘reform’ forgotten in Africa?
As the fraternity’s mandarins descend upon the picturesque Island of Mauritius, for the supposedly decisive FIFA congress, where ‘reform’ and ‘improving the quality of governance’ are the catch-phrases of choice, it is poignant to remember – for those who are conveniently beginning to forget – that the scandal over the award of World Cup hosting rights, for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, played a key role in igniting the ‘change’ process in the first place.
Platini casts doubt over reform proposals ahead of FIFA congress
By Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
May 24 – Playing politics in immaculate style, UEFA president Michel Platini gave a veiled hint for the first time today that his 53 members may not support FIFA’s reform process for cleaning up the game, due to reach its climax in Mauritius next week after two years of rhetoric and table thumping.
Gibraltar gets in, Europa League winners get CL entry, Gill gets exco seat
By Andrew Warshaw
May 24 – Gibraltar officially became the 54th member of UEFA today when delegates voted at their annual congress to give the tiny British colony full membership – with the Euro 2016 qualifying competition expected to be its first major tournament.