Faulkner finds feet at Leidar consultancy
March 28 – Rob Faulkner, former head of media relations and corporate PR at UEFA, has landed a job round the corner from his previous employers.
Japanese complain over laser treatment in Jordan
By Andrew Warshaw
March 28 – Japanese football chiefs have lodged a formal complaint with FIFA over alleged dirty tricks during their shock World Cup qualifying loss to Jordan earlier this week.
Newcastle in black, but Coventry and Dunfermline see red and rock bottom
By Paul Nicholson
March 28 – Newcastle United have recorded only their second year of profit since billionaire Mike Ashley bought the club in 2007 for £135m. The £1.4m profit is a drop on the previous year’s £32.6m profit, but substantially better than the finances at Coventry (English Championship) and Dunfermline (Scottish Division 1) who both fell into the hands of administrators yesterday.
Bosman lawyer warns UEFA Fair Play rules may break EU competition law
By Andrew Warshaw
March 28 – The lawyer who helped changed the face of European football has warned that UEFA’s Financial Fair Play system may not stand up in court if challenged. Jean-Louis Dupont (pictured), part of the legal team who brought about the Bosman ruling back in the 1990s, says FFP risks violating competition law and freedom of movement.
Supporters reject sectarianism as Iraq host Syria in Baghdad
March 27 – Iraq defeated Syria 2-1 on Tuesday at the Shaab stadium in Baghdad in only the second time the stadium had been able to host an international fixture since the invasion in 2003.
Match-fixing discovered in more than 45 UEFA countries, says security firm
Exclusive: by Andrew Warshaw, chief correspondent
March 27 – A vast majority of countries in Europe suffer from match-fixing with up to 300 games per season rigged, according to the company widely regarded as the world’s leading experts in betting fraud detection.
Petition against 2015 World Cup on artificial grass gathers pace
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – FIFA’s decision to play the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada on artificial turf has prompted an unexpected backlash.
FIFA prepares referees for Brazil 2014 World Cup
March 27 – As the Ralf Willi cartoon pictured here says, the referees take this seriously (personally) as well. FIFA is running a series of seminars for prospective referees and assistant referees in April in preparation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Snakes in football, Indian venom-busters told to clean up game
By Mark Baber
March 27 – Mohun Bagan beat Pailan Arrows at the Kalyani Stadium on Sunday 3-2, in front of 5,000 spectators, blissfully ignorant of over a dozen poisonous serpents lingering nearby.
Costa Rica appeal for replay of US 2014 qualifier turned down
March 27 – Costa Rica’s protest to FIFA over being forced to play their World Cup qualifier against the United States in a snowstorm has been thrown out on a technicality, a ruling that seems certain to incense the central American country.
UEFA ExCo meetings kick off with 2020 Euros topping agenda
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – The bidding process for the groundbreaking pan-Continental Euro 2020 finals dominates the agenda of a two-day UEFA executive committee (ExCo) meeting today and tomorrow.
Russians warm up for 2018 with 2014 fan fests in host cities
March 26 – Russian World Cup organisers are planning to stage fan fests across the country during next year’s tournament in Brazil – four years before their own event.
Artificial turf for women’s world cup sparks player protests
By Andrew Warshaw
March 26 – The next Women’s World Cup will make history as the first major FIFA trophy to be decided on artificial turf – but leading players have been quick to express their disapproval.
Whistleblower breaks silence on ‘slavery’ of Indonesian football
Exclusive: by Andrew Warshaw, Chief Correspondent
March 26 – The full extent of the alarming state of Indonesian football has been laid bare by the federation’s chief physiotherapist who claims he has not been paid for five months and has written to FIFA pleading with them to intervene.
Hungarian nationalists use World Cup qualifier to stage violent protest
By Mark Baber
March 26 – There were disturbances outside the Ferenc Puskas stadium and teargas fired as Hungary and Romania played out a 2-2 draw in their World Cup qualifier behind closed doors. FIFA had ordered the match to be played in an empty stadium following anti-semitic incidents during a Hungary vs Israel friendly in Budapest last August.