Controversy over Barca’s Neymar payments as DIS calls foul play
By Mark Baber
June 6 – A row has broken out over the fees paid to rights holders in the transfer of Neymar from Santos to Barcelona.
Women's Euro 2025
Portugal on goal hunt in Sion
July 11 – Portugal head into tonight’s final Group B fixture in Sion with a simple brief on paper — win and score plenty. In reality, their path to the Euro 2025 quarter-finals remains steep, narrow, and dependent on favours from elsewhere.
Social media powers record U21 Euros ticket sales
By Paul Nicholson
June 6 – The UEFA U21 Championship kicked off in Israel last night with two opening matches played in front of full stadiums.
Jordanians make complaint over detention at Aussie border control
By Andrew Warshaw
June 6 – Jordan are planning a formal complaint to FIFA after national team coach, Iraqi Adnan Hamad (pictured), was detained for questioning by Australian immigration authorities for more than four hours when the team flew into Melbourne – and into an international storm – ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifier on June 11.
Debt crisis deepens for Zaragoza, Depor and Mallorca as relegation adds to woes
By Gareth Messenger
June 6 – Real Zaragoza, Deportivo La Coruna and Real Mallorca face further financial meltdown after their relegation from Spain’s Primera Division last weekend.
Premier League revenues set to surge beyond £3 billion
By David Owen
June 6 – Aggregate revenue at English Premier League clubs is projected to surge through the £3 billion barrier next season, on the back of the league’s new broadcast deals, according to the latest report by professional services firm Deloitte. The 22nd Annual Review of Football Finance compiled by Deloitte’s Sports Business Group says that Premier League clubs’ revenues nudged up 4% in 2011-12 to a record £2.36 billion.
Andrew Warshaw: Are the old perceptions still the reality?
When Sepp Blatter praised FIFA’s ship for emerging from troubled waters as the waves lapped gently against the shores of Mauritius last week, cynical heads turned away in barely suppressed mirth. “How many times have we heard that before?” was their silent refrain.
As self-proclaimed “captain” of that ship, Blatter was in congratulatory mood as he cajoled his audience to show their appreciation of past misdemeanours being replaced by a new era of transparency with a collective round of applause.
Indonesian Thohir tight-lipped over progress of Inter Milan purchase
By Mark Baber
June 5 – Indonesian billionaire Erick Thohir, touted to take over FC Internazionale from Massimo Moratti (pictured), was reluctant to comment on the negotiations – but did let drop the process would probably be completed “within 1-2 months”.
Iconic Cosmos announce Emirates deal and repeat MLS ambition
By Mark Baber
June 5 – New York Cosmos and its Honorary President Pelé have signed a kit and sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines. The new deal awakens nostalgia for the 1970s, but the club has some major hurdles to overcome to add to its former glories.
Pitch battle prompts Manchester United to switch to new surface
By Tom Parsons
June 5 – Manchester United have begun work on their Old Trafford pitch after plans were announced to adopt a part-synthetic playing surface at the home of the 2012/13 Premier League champions.
Fox and ESPN agree to share TV rights to European qualifiers in the US
June 5 – FOX Sports is to sub-license its broadcast rights to qualifying matches for Euro 2016, and the European qualifiers for 2018 FIFA World Cup to rivals ESPN. The networks will split the inventory 50/50.
PSG extends Qatar National Bank sponsorship for new 3-year term
June 5 – Qatar National Bank has agreed a three-year extension of its sponsorship deal with Paris Saint-Germain from next season, further strengthening the French champions’ new-found status as one of Europe’s richest and biggest-spending clubs.
Malaga hopeful CAS will overturn UEFA ban and allow them into Europa League
By Gareth Messenger
June 5 – Malaga director general Vicente Casado is confident that the club did enough to convince the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that UEFA must overturn their ban from European competition next season.
Canadian turban turmoil prompts call to FIFA to seek resolution
By Andrew Warshaw
June 5 – An unusual and unsavoury row has broken out in the Canadian province of Quebec with the region’s football federation pledging to uphold its ban on young Sikh players wearing turbans and warning that those who don’t obey the rules can “play in their backyards”.
Spurs winger Townsend banned for breaking English FA betting rules
June 5 – Andros Townsend, one of the most promising young wingers in English football, has been banned from the game for four months, three of them suspended, and fined £18,000 after breaching betting regulations.
Osasu Obayiuwana: A symphony of equivocation
Since Sepp Blatter’s intriguing statement, at the last Asian Football Confederation (AFC) elective congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, that 2015, the year he promised to bid adieu to the FIFA presidency, will mark the “last term, not of office, but of the reform [of football governance],” the cat has, without question, been set amongst the speculating pigeons.
Surely the 77-year-old, who will be on the cusp of becoming an octogenarian, by world football’s next elective congress,