David Owen: Is the sports world overexposed to the threat of a new cold war?
Recent reports suggesting that European Union countries were mulling a possible future sports boycott against Vladimir Putin’s Russia triggered two immediate thoughts.
Author: Paul Nicholson
FIFA ask Canover Watson for more information over arrest
September 9 – FIFA has contacted Cayman Islander Canover Watson for more information regarding his arrest in connection with an alleged corruption and money laundering investigation.
Vancouver Whitecaps in deadline crunch over adding USL franchise
September 9 – MLS team Vancouver Whitecaps are still in the process of discussing plans for a USL Pro team with the local community, despite their intention to start play in the 2015 season. The club signed a memorandum of understanding with New Westminster (part of the Greater Vancouver district) in July but have yet to finalise stadium plans.
Women’s draw emphasises progress being made in the CONCACAF region
By Paul Nicholson in Miami
December 8 – CONCACAF has completed the final draw for the CONCACAF Women’s Championship 2014. The eight team finals, to be played this October, will not only crown a CONCACAF champion but will also qualify three teams for the finals next year in Canada (Canada qualify automatically as hosts) with a fourth team getting a play-off against the third-placed CONMEBOL team.
Prince Ali warns FIFA it needs to get ‘positive’
By Andrew Warshaw in Manchester
September 8 – Twenty-four hours before he was due to address many of the game’s movers and shakers at the Soccerex convention in Manchester, FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan, one of world football’s most committed reformists, warned that the next four years would be “make or break” for the governing body to get its act together.
FIFA investigator Garcia submits final ethics report into 2018 and 2022 bidders
By Andrew Warshaw
September 8 – The eagerly anticipated FIFA-commissioned report into possible corruption surrounding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bid process, which took a year to compile, stretches to 350 pages and recommends sanctioning “certain individuals” .
Sacramento MLS bid warms up as Vegas plan catches a chill
By Ben Nicholson
September 5 – MLS executive officials have set a September 18-19 date to visit Sacramento to assess their potential as an expansion team, according to Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. MLS Commissioner Don Garber is expected to be on the trip.
Nigeria collision course as Giwa refuses to budge saying there will be no FIFA ban
By Mark Baber
September 5 – Whilst a faction of the Nigeria’s football hierarchy has acted immediately to implement FIFA’s directive to restore Aminu Maigari to presidency of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chris Giwa remains adamant he is the legitimate President and that, mindless of what they may say, FIFA will not ban the country.
Boost for WADA as China commits $1 million to new research fund
By David Owen
September 5 – China has provided a significant boost to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), becoming the first country formally to announce its contribution to a fund for new anti-doping research.
Red Stripe commits to further five seasons of Jamaican league sponsorship
September 5 – The Jamaican Premier League launched this week with the announcement that Red Stripe has committed to the sponsorship of the competition for the next five seasons.
Coaches unconcerned by seeding changes but split over ‘sin bin’ proposal
By Andrew Warshaw
September 5 – Europe’s top coaches are not convinced that UEFA’s plan to change the seeding system for the Champions League will be that significant. The format is being altered in future to avoid domestic champions being ranked lower than other clubs from the same country and to prevent them being drawn in the same group such as Group A this season where the champions of Italy (Juventus), Spain (Atletico Madrid),
Scrutiny falls back on Qatar as workers’ rights researchers go missing
By Andrew Warshaw
September 5 – Human rights organisations have renewed their offensive against 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar, this time after the apparent disappearance in the Gulf state of two British researchers probing workers’ rights. Krishna Upadhyaya and photographer Ghimire Gundev reportedly arrived in Qatar on August 27 to research a forthcoming report on the conditions of Nepalese migrant workers but there are fears they may have since been detained according to the body that employs them,
SAFA call on FIFA to speed up match-fixing probe
September 5 – South African officials say they are becoming increasingly frustrated by a match-fixing saga that has been dragging on for four years and has still not been resolved.
FIFA task force meets to review issues of TPO
September 5 – A diverse group of stakeholders set up under the auspices of FIFA to get to grips with third-party ownership of players’ economic rights met for the first time this week with a view to coming up with concrete proposals later this month.
Rojo wrangles fade as he is cleared for Man Utd debut
September 5 – Manchester United’s £16 million Argentine signing Marcos Rojo has been cleared to join the club following a third party ownership wrangle and the complications of a criminal case back home.